Arawelo Eats

19/01/2024

Always terrible at reposting but if fancy trying some lovely Sambusa please see its been lovely working with a team that views food in such an expansive way.

Also love the Palestinian design concept by artist and designer Ayed Arafah .designs which preserves Palestinian food culture, wisdom, struggles as well as recipes through aprons.
Mine features the Sambusa or Sambusak on them. May the Palestinian cause see through this awful time to a Free and always beautiful Palestine. 🍉 🇵🇸

Regram- This week in Vittles Recipes, the first of Fozia Ismail's Experiments in Yam series, about healing, Black kinship and the many meanings and powers of yam. Today's recipe is roasted sweet potato, puy lentil and coconut sambusa 🍠

Our columnists are all creating their recipes around different prompts: language, home, technique, cooking for two, trial and error. Fozia's comes from bell hooks:

‘… Yam was a life sustaining symbol of black kinship and community. Everywhere Black women live in the world, we eat yam. It is a symbol of our diasporic connections.'

Check the link in our bio for the recipe. Up next week, Nick Bramham! You can find all the recipes and essays so far on the website.

17/11/2023

We keep it moving come through to
Tonight thanks to all organisers trying to stay positive through the many crises upending our world. We are feeling a little run out of words but hoping the sunshine and sharing stories with these wonderful humans will revive us and of course we always lean into & look to strength by the amazing humour of our elders. Nothing gives you prespective like a Somali nomadic elder!

Join us this Friday night for an exploration of the intersection of migration and climate justice through the lens of artistic practice and the works of artists and guests who harness the power of storytelling.

This Salon is a part of the series of Pop Change Salons presented with Climate Spring, in collaboration with the .

By bringing into a conversation visionary guests and artists, it explores approaches that shine a light on new narratives uncovering the intricate connections between migration and environmental justice.

We will hear from , , , and .

Friday the 17th, at 06:30 PM at .
Register now in Link in stories.

Images credit:
Image 1 .odonovan
Image 2-4

10/11/2023

So proud of the work that and I have been doing with it's been a wonderful way to express and find solace in Somali nomadic stories, people and culture. Thanks to for his phenomenal archival work and for giving space to these stories
📼”Love letters, gossip, prayers & poetry: the tapes that sustained the Somali diaspora”. My feature on the legacy of cassette tapes in the Somali diaspora. Was a pleasure to interview on their incredible project highlighting this unique history. With all the tragic depictions of Somalis, often our humanity gets lost — our sense of humour, creativity & most importantly resilience ❤️ A lot was edited out of this. Some very important voices that point to how expansive cassette tapes reflect Somali history & culture.

I will try post an unedited version asap. For now link in bio 💋

17/10/2023

It's been a heavy week. There's some beautiful examples of creativity that come through surviving displacement that I hope will bring some solace to anyone affected by the ongoing genocide of Palestinian people really honoured to be chairing this talk tomorrow come through


Friends in Bristol and beyond,

Picturing Displacement is a symposium organised with Counterpoints Arts at Martin Parr Foundation, an exhibition and a new network that will explore the ways visual art can illuminate and reshape narratives around migration, refuge and belonging.

I will be sharing with ✨ The panel is moderated by Fozia Ismail of 💥🔥

Join us at the on the 18th October 6pm for a series of short talks. The discussion will touch on questions of representation, activism and lived experience.

Plus (!) food inspired by Middle Eastern, African and Eastern Europe cuisines will be made by for all the share. 😋

Thank you to the featured photographers for sharing your work, it was honour to curate the group exhibition outside

Photo: by Adiam Yemane

Supported by:

06/01/2023

Throw back to this wonderful photo by for the project for I was approached to reflect on the colour I most associate with Somalia. I chose Orchre because of our use of henna. Henna varies from light orange to deep brown and for me represents a spiritual intimacy between Somali women.

Colours of Africa is a kaleidoscope of 60 artists from across the continent, curated by Design Indaba. Link in bio

29/06/2022

kunstraumlondon 🔥 This Thursday - Audible Tapestries, as part of Numbifest 2022: All Flourishing is Mutual 🌺 Audible Tapestries focuses on finding new ways to combine sound with physical & woven artefacts, exploring the links between Somali nomadic weaving patterns and the songs that are an inherent part of the weaving process. The evening includes sharing of Camel Meat + Tapes soundscape, talk with Q + A and screening of short film Kabniin. The dhaqan collective, led by Ayan Cilmi & Fozia Ismail, is a feminist art collective of Somali women, centering the voices of womxn and elders in their community, and privileging co-creation and collaboration. Check out Instagram for the full festival programme! There’s events every day till Saturday! About Numbi: NUMBI is a kind of dance that happens in Somalia where one lets go of one’s inhibitions and gets free. It is that ethos, with the emphasis on freedom, that inspired NUMBI founder, Kinsi Abdulleh, to set up the organisation. We’re about celebrating the global and local voices that don’t have the materials or platform to express their voices. We’re about art, we’re about beauty and we’re about fostering a sense of community and solidarity amongst artists, art-lovers, creatives and dreamers of all stripes.

15/06/2022

Send through your cookbooks people!

Feel honoured to be the food assssor for this wonderful award

Can't wait to get stuck in. See you on otherside!


andresimonawards

We are delighted to announce this year's food assessor of the André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards is Fozia. Fozia is a scholar, cook and founder of Arawelo Eats, a platform for exploring politics, identity and colonialism through East African food. She has worked with a range of cultural institutions on links between food, power and empire in the arts. When not critically eating her way through life's messiness she can be found plotting with dhaqan collective, a Somali feminist art collective based at the Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol.

25/02/2019

So this afternoon my sis tells me I am in Observer Food Monthly, I thought she was joking! Massive thanks to and particularly Asma Khan who is as generous with her time as she is with her spirit. She has such an awe inspiring sense of integrity! Can’t wait to watch her Netflix Chefs Table documentary! Also can’t go without mentioning .sen who is an awesome food writer and profiled me two years ago! Look at all the wonderful immigrant food chefs/writers doing our thing in our own way! Somali food in the Observer Food Magazine??? Who’d of thought it!

06/12/2018

Looking forward to this workshop with this Sat. Ginger cake and spiced tea ☕️ whilst unpicking all things food and empire 💥

23/11/2018

Really looking forward to Black Girl Convention this Sunday! I will be doing a talk on Food as Resistance part of ongoing research on power dynamics in the food scene. https://www.instagram.com/p/BqfSK-1goWi/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1mgu0ao302o6l

26/10/2018

Lem Lem Kitchen by Makda is such uplifting food. As an East African it makes my heart burst with love for the way in which she does Eritrean food in a modern but familiar way. The Ful on the menu at their pop up made me so happy but every single dish they do is delicious thank you Makda!

07/10/2018

Team arawelo- my gorgeous sis and ever suffering husband worked like troopers today! They are awesome and I am very lucky x

07/10/2018

Exhausted but elated- it’s so wonderful when people enjoy the Somali dishes and flavours! My highlight was my sis saying I had cracked the code to my mums lamb Sambusa! That made my heart sing! Thanks to all who came out and to wonderful team . thank you for your generosity- not just with space but with your time. Wonderful pic by 😘

05/10/2018

Thanks for sharing article on the pop up this Sunday . Can not wait! Finally figured out how to repost stuff. Yes I am still rubbish at social media 🙈

20/09/2018

Hello all,

Arawelo Eats heads to Darjeeling Express in London! Really excited about heading back to my home city for a special Somali style Sunday lunch- get booking!
Foz x
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/arawelo-eats-at-darjeeling-express-tickets-50642191157

Join us for a special pop up at the wonderful Darjeeling Express. If you haven't heard of Asma Khan then you are in for a treat. She is the inspiring and straight up awesome woman behind the gem of a restaurant that is Darjeeling Express and she is also the first British chef to be featured on the a...

14/09/2018

Looking forward to taking part in Abergavenny Food Festival tomorrow alongside chaired by . come by x
https://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/programme-2018/new-voices-in-food/

There’s never been a more interesting time to get involved in UK food. The face of the industry is rapidly changing to embrace more… Read more New Voices in Food

18/07/2018

Roasted sweet potato, puy lentils, coriander and coconut with a little Xawaash spice mix. Delicious vegan Sambusa for my Chilli event tomorrow summer pavilion designed by

18/07/2018

Honoured to be commissioned by to take part in their Radical Kitchen programme as part The Pavilion designed by who I had the pleasure of meeting a few weeks back. Tomorrow at 1pm.
http://www.serpentinegalleries.org/exhibitions-events/radical-kitchen-2018-fozia-ismail-chilli

Building on the Radical Kitchen: Recipes for Building Community and Creating Change programme launched in 2017, Serpentine presents a second season of its lunchtime gatherings in the Serpentine Pavilion, designed by Frida Escobedo. On Thursday 19 July, researcher Fozia Ismail addresses chilli.

07/07/2018

Old friends, Sunshine, St Paul’s Carnival & England in the semi final-what’s going on??? But whatever it is long may it continue ❤️

21/06/2018

Awe inspiring day! What a beautiful space Wonderful people all using food in fantastic ways. Thanks and

10/04/2018

Hi all,
It's a drizzly day out there - get yourself some East African sunshine by booking a ticket to Arawelo Eats! Go on you know you want to!

Arawelo Eats was recently featured on BBC Radio 4 The Food Programme on African Food:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09v0xbs

Here are a couple of comments from the last supper club:

'From start to finish our evening was fantastic! Friendly welcome, delicious food and the perfect place to meet new people and learn new things.'
Maisy

'We have now been to two of these supper clubs and it is consistently excellent. Great food and Foz is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about her cuisine.'
Dom

https://shoutout.wix.com/so/3MAlAF_B #/main

Hi all, Apparently, spring has finally arrived and with that some exciting plans for Arawelo Eats starting with our next supper club on Friday 20th April! I had a wonderful time speaking to Zoe Adjonyoh of Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen about African food for The Food Programme on BBC Radio 4 in March. If yo...

12/03/2018

Listen to Radio 4 Food Programme at 3:30pm to hear me and others chat to Zoe Adjonyoh about African Food!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09v0xbs

Food writer Zoe Adjonyoh wants you to think again about saying 'African food'.

31/01/2018

Hi all,
Shake your winter blues away- here are the dates for our next supper club!
Look forward to serving you some tasty treats.
Foz

Hi All Happy New Year. I hope you have had a good break over Christmas and New Year. It's been a great start to the year with the Keep it complex reactivation day for the arts which happened on Sat 13th January. It was good opportunity to recharge and focus on the exciting and creative ways in which...

09/12/2017

Thanks to all our lovely guests- it was an awesome night and left me feeling 👇🏾 hope yr all sliding into yr weekends with the legendary Mary J moves x

29/11/2017

Hey all,
The Matatu Kitchen supper club is no longer but fear not Arawelo Eats is here bringing East African goodness through food and thinking Arawelo style.
Arawelo was a legendary Queen of Somalia who defied gender roles and fought for female liberation. Given the state of the world we can all do with bit of Arawelo’s spirit helping us navigate the s*** show that is politics right now.
Check out the website www.araweloeats.com and menu for the supper club on Friday 8th December!
Foz

Hi All We have launched the new website for Arawelo Eats check it out here - araweloeats.com Come help us celebrate by getting some of that East African sunshine on a plate. Great food, music and atmosphere to welcome in December! Friday 8th December