AJABU Spirits And Cocktail Festival

AJABU, Africa’s first bi-annual international Cocktail and Spirits festival, returns to Cape Town from Wednesday, November 20th to Sunday, November 24th.

This year’s festival promises another electrifying program, featuring world-renowned international bars, diverse educational seminars, and innovative new initiatives, such as the AJABU Scholarship Program.

Curated by Colin Asare-Appiah (Bar World 100 Most Influential Figures 2023, co-author of Black Mixcellence, and recipient of Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s 2024 Visionary Award) and Mark Talbot Holmes (founder of U’Luvka Vodka), AJABU—meaning “miraculous” or “wondrous”—aims to establish itself as Africa’s foremost spirits and cocktail festival. It celebrates the vibrant diversity of Africa’s hospitality industry by connecting brands, the bar trade, media, and cocktail enthusiasts, while championing the next generation of African bartenders and hospitality professionals.

Global Meets Local

The second installment of AJABU will showcase bartenders from 10 internationally acclaimed bars across four continents, including:

• Milady’s (New York)
• True Laurel (San Francisco)
• Jewel of the South (New Orleans)
• Handshake Speakeasy (Mexico City)
• Atwater Cocktail Club (Montreal)
• Front/Back (Accra)
• Hero Bar (Nairobi)
• Jigger and Pony (Singapore)
• Library by the Sea (Grand Cayman)

These world-class establishments will collaborate with outstanding Cape Town venues such as Cause Effect, Tommy’s Chop Shop, Art of Duplicity, Hacienda, The Drinkery, and more. Together, they will create unique cocktail experiences highlighting African ingredients over three unforgettable nights.

AJABU will also feature an array of seminars and masterclasses led by industry legends. Highlights include:

• Steve Olson (co-founder of Del Maguey and Stray Dog Gin) delivering sessions on Bourbon, Rye, and Kansas City whisky.
• Simon Ford (founder of Fords Gin) leading an in-depth discussion on gin.

This year also introduces the AJABU Scholarship Program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering Africa’s bar community through hospitality-focused educational courses.

Entry is free. Spots can be secured online through Quicket.

Click here for more events.