Fulani Kitchen Foundation: Reviving the Story of the Fonio Grain 

One of West Africa’s most ancient and resilient grains is enjoying a makeover as an essential tool in climate adaptation and food security. 

The Fulani Kitchen Foundation, a women-led cultural and social enterprise, is helping female fonio growers to rebrand their crops as one of Africa’s most enduring and climate-resilient agricultural traditions. 

Fonio, a grain tracing its roots back thousands of years, thrives in arid climates and uses minimal resources. But despite the crop’s rich nutritional and ecological value, the women who cultivate it often face challenges of limited visibility and infrastructure as well as access to market. 

The Fulani Kitchen Foundation aims to enable female farmers to tell the story of fonio from their unique perspective as cultural stewards. While being trained in sustainable agriculture, post-harvest processing, cooperative building, and business development, the women are also given access to storytelling platforms to talk about the miracle grain. These workshops, gastronomy events, and storytelling campaigns promote their visibility and value in both local and international food systems. For these communities, fonio transcends being merely a crop, becoming a hero grain and a symbol of resilience and cultural pride as well as an economic opportunity. 

Female smallholder farmers are often the unsung heroes of rural food production in West Africa, and the Fulani Kitchen Foundation argues that by investing in their skills, leadership, and market access, whole communities can thrive through the ripple effect of improved nutrition and increased household income. 

Fulani Kitchen Foundation claims to stand out as a rare and holistic initiative uplifting women and embracing sustainable practices. Its aim is to build inclusive food systems that not only celebrate cultural significance but also meet future challenges head-on.  

The foundation has partnered with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to strengthen its reach and influence. This collaboration has been pivotal in scaling the foundation’s initiatives, enhancing technical support for growers, and drawing global attention to the significance of empowering women within traditional food economies. The initiative claims that it serves as both a changemaker in the field and a thought leader which advocates for more inclusive, just, and resilient food policies. 

Learn more about the Fulani Kitchen Foundation.

Written by Gilly Smith
Photos provided by the Fulani Kitchen Foundation