Ajabu Cocktail Festival Returns Celebrating Craft, Culture, and Community
Africa’s most dynamic AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival returns to Cape Town from the 24th to the 30th of November 2025, uniting some of the world’s top bartenders with Africa’s most exciting bar talent.
Born from the Swahili word meaning miracle or something wondrous, AJABU continues to redefine Africa’s position on the global drinks stage — not just through its world-class events, but by building pathways for education, equity, and representation across the industry. A festival that celebrates more than cocktails AJABU has evolved into a global movement that champions creativity, community, and connection. Each festival edition brings together leading local and international bars to collaborate on exclusive educational seminars, workshops, experiences, and AJABU Mashups; unique one-night pop-ups designed to celebrate the art of the cocktail through African ingredients, stories, and style.
Empowering Africa’s bartenders through AJABU Scholarships Beyond the bars, AJABU’s lasting impact is rooted in its Scholarship Programme, which has become a cornerstone of professional growth in Africa’s bar scene. In 2025, 49 scholarships were awarded through partnerships with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), Professional Bar Training, and the Edinburgh Whisky Academy, with an impressive 70% going to women. This initiative continues to spotlight African talent while driving diversity and inclusion.
“We’re proud to support bartenders who are shaping Africa’s cocktail culture and redefining global standards,” said Colin Asare-Appiah, co founder of AJABU. “This year’s scholars represent the future — talented individuals from across Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Congo, South Africa, and beyond, each ready to lead Africa’s bar movement into a new era.” From training academies in Namibia to bar consultancies in Ghana, many scholars are already mentoring others, leading programmes, and running their own businesses — building a foundation for long-term transformation across the continent. “This is just the beginning,” adds Mark Talbot Holmes, co-founder of AJABU.
“We’re building a sustainable ecosystem where African bar talent has access, visibility, and opportunity on the global stage.” This year, AJABU will also host a special collaboration with Anna Sebastian and her global movement “Celebrate Her”, an initiative dedicated to creating safe, welcoming spaces for women in the hospitality industry. Focused on community, education, career development, safety, and wellness, “Celebrate Her” champions women through mentorship and shared experience. In partnership with The Cape Grace Hotel, AJABU and Celebrate Her will co-host an invite-only lunch honouring excellence, resilience, and leadership among women shaping the future of hospitality.
Recognition on the world stage AJABU’s influence continues to ripple beyond the continent. Following its acclaimed pop-up at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans earlier this year, African bars made historic strides on the 2025 international nominations list — with 15 African bars recognised across categories such as Best International Bar Team, Best New International Cocktail Bar, and Best International Hotel Bar.
This marks the first time Africa has outperformed the Middle East in total nominations, solidifying the continent’s growing reputation for excellence and innovation.
Introducing the AJABU Cocktail Safari
Three years in the making and new for 2025, the AJABU Cocktail Safari sees the festival evolve a new offering for aficionados – monthly pop-ups presented as urban cocktail-making adventures. Each month, this three-stop experience leads a group of 12 guests through Cape Town’s most iconic venues for an afternoon and evening of immersive mixology, live entertainment, and sensory storytelling. From crafting your own cocktails to sipping curated creations and rounding off the night with music and entertainment, each Safari promises a journey of flavour, fun, and friendship.
Look out for a limited edition AJABU Cocktail Safari in November 2025, hosted by Collin Asare-Appiah, founder of AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival.This season’s lineup of bartenders, bars, seminars, mashups and highlights will be released on the AJABU social media platforms.
What to expect in AJABU November 2025
AJABU Seminars
We journey behind the bar and into the minds and beating heart of Africa’s growing cocktail and hospitality movement.
The AJABU Seminars bring together the world’s most creative mixologists, hotel and restaurant professionals, baristas, sommeliers, general managers, media, and brand custodians to impart stories, education, masterclasses, inspiration, skill-building, and connection.
Designed for everyone in the industry! From bar owners and beverage directors to waiters, chefs, bartenders, and front-of-house teams — these sessions unpack the latest trends shaping the global drinks industry, from sustainability and local sourcing to innovative flavour techniques and guest experience excellence. Each seminar is led by industry icons and visiting international talent, offering live demonstrations, spirited discussions, and practical takeaways.
For those perfecting their craft, looking to network with global tastemakers, seeking fresh ideas and inspiration, AJABU Seminars are an opportunity to grow, learn, and be part of the evolution of Africa’s spirited culture. Register online to attend the seminars on the AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival website.
AJABU Mashups
This season, guests are invited to explore select bars across Cape Town, each offering a signature half-price crafted cocktail (R86) as part of the festival menu. Celebrating collaboration and creativity, globally recognised local distillers, makers, and bar owners have joined forces with international brand ambassadors to curate a series of inspired menus that showcase the very best of Cape Town’s cocktail culture.
The following international bars will be joining AJABU to celebrate Africa and the growing AJABU community:
● Front/Back — Accra, Ghana: Discovery Bar, The World’s 50 Best Bars.
● No.19 — Accra, Ghana: Discovery Bar, The World’s 50 Best Bars.
● Hero — Nairobi, Kenya: Ranked No.70 on The World’s 50 Best Bars and awarded Best Bar
in Africa.
● Amor y Amargo — New York, USA: Recognised for the World’s Best Spirits Selection at the
Spirited Awards.
● Funky Monkey — Diani, Kenya: Discovery Bar, The World’s 50 Best Bars.
● Atwater Cocktail Club — Montreal, Canada: Ranked No.39 on North America’s 50 Best
Bars 2025.
● Bissa — Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
● Trailer Happiness — London, UK: BIH Spotlight Awards 2025.
● LAB Bar Revival — London and Cape Town: Originally founded in 2002.
● Fire Station — Brussels, Belgium.
● Muthaiga Country Club — Nairobi, Kenya: Procera Gin Best Bartender 2025.
Discover more about the bars, bartenders, and festival information by following our social media platforms for updates.
AJABU Cocktail Safari
Every month, from November 2025, Learn to make cocktails, join our urban adventure on a three-stop route for masterclasses, tastings, and playful touches to make lasting memories. Tickets and registration Festival passes are priced at R150, granting guests access to the full AJABU experience — including exclusive entry to 30 participating bars over five nights. Each venue will feature three bespoke cocktails, one of which will be available at the special festival price of R86. Your registration and festival bracelet will unlock access to this special offer. Your festival pass also includes entry to Celebrate Africa Night on Thursday, 27th November, where eight of the top bars from across the continent — including Hero from Kenya, recently named Best Bar in Africa by The World’s 50 Best Bars — will pop up across Cape Town to create unique cocktails.
On Friday, 28th November and Saturday, 29th November, ten world-class bar teams from leading international venues will collaborate with ten of Cape Town’s finest bars to create once-in-a-lifetime cocktail experiences. The festival pass ensures guests enjoy a seamless journey across all venues while supporting international and local bars, brands, bartenders, and the artists who bring the city’s cocktail culture to life.
Quicket Link