World Tuo Zaafi Festival held in Tamale - Hundreds treated to scrumptious traditional dishes
Hundreds of people in Tamale and its environs were last Friday treated to scrumptious traditional dishes at the maiden edition of the World Tuo Zaafi Festival, aimed at promoting northern Ghana’s rich culinary heritage and cultural identity.
The festival, held at the Jubilee Park, brought together food enthusiasts, cultural performers and stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry to celebrate tuo zaafi (TZ), a staple food widely consumed mainly in northern Ghana and across the other parts of the country.
The event was spearheaded by Ghanaian Chef, Failatu Abdul-Razak, who used the platform to highlight the cultural and economic potential of indigenous cuisines.
Patrons were served tuo zaafi prepared with a variety of local soups such as ayoyo , dry okro soup, and other traditional accompaniments.
Aside from TZ, other indigenous dishes such as tubaani and bambara beans were also served at the event.
Activities at the event included live cooking sessions, cultural displays, music and dance performances, all of which highlighted the traditions and lifestyle of the people of the area.
Tuo Zaafi
Tuo zaafi is a staple dish made from maize or millet flour, prepared into a soft, smooth ball and typically served with green vegetable soups such as ayoyo or okro.
Consumed in the Northern, Upper East, North East, Savanna, Upper West regions and many other parts of the country, it is valued for its nutritional benefits, affordability and cultural significance.
Beyond its dietary value, tuo zaafi represents a key element of Northern Ghanaian identity and is often associated with communal living, hospitality and traditional food systems.
Boost tourism
Speaking at the event, Chef Abdul-Razak said the event sought to promote the local dish to attract global recognition and boost tourism.
Beyond that, she said the festival would also preserve tuo zaafi as a symbol of cultural pride and identity.
She announced plans to institutionalise the festival as an annual event and develop it into a major cultural and tourism attraction capable of drawing both local and international visitors.
Chef Abdul-Razak, who attempted a Guinness World Record Cooking marathon in 2024, thanked all individuals and corporate institutions for supporting the event and pledged to initiate other interventions that would create employment opportunities and support livelihoods within communities.
Commendation
In his remarks, the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, lauded the initiative and called on stakeholders to support efforts aimed at promoting indigenous foods.
He pointed out that the tuo zaafi Festival had the potential to position the Northern Region as a key destination for cultural tourism, while also preserving the rich heritage for future generations.
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