GOOD QUESTIONS. HONEST ANSWERS.

ASALI celebrates Africa’s food heritage, culinary traditions, indigenous ingredients and the people who preserve and develop them. Through its competitions, ASALI provides a platform for participants to showcase their knowledge, skills and contributions to African food culture.

ASALI is designed for people who have a connection to African food culture, culinary traditions or indigenous ingredients. The specific eligibility requirements may vary by competition, country, event and category. Please review the requirements for your chosen competition before submitting an entry.

You should not assume that professional culinary training is required. ASALI focuses on food heritage, knowledge, craftsmanship and innovation, rather than professional status alone. Check the eligibility requirements for your chosen category to confirm who can enter.

Review the available categories and their descriptions before starting your entry. Choose the category that best matches your knowledge, culinary practice, ingredient, traditional preparation method or innovation. If your entry could fit more than one category, use the category guidelines to determine the most appropriate option.

ASALI aims to recognise the substance, heritage, craftsmanship and context behind each entry. The judging process and assessment criteria will depend on the applicable competition rules. Review the published criteria for your category so you understand what the jury will assess.

ASALI’s competition outcomes should be understood through the official rules and judging process. Public voting should not be assumed unless it is explicitly announced for your competition. Please refer to the event guidelines for confirmation of whether voting is available and how it works.

Competition locations, dates and event arrangements may vary by country and competition. Check the relevant country or event page for the latest confirmed information, including registration deadlines and any in-person participation requirements.

Registration begins with your competition entry. You select the relevant competition, country or event, and category, then complete the required entry form. Where a registration fee applies, you proceed to payment. After successful payment verification, an account is created using the details you provided so you can access your entry and receive updates. For free entries, account creation follows completion of the required submission process.

A parent or legal guardian should review the competition’s age requirements and any consent rules before starting an entry for a minor. Where minors are eligible, the guardian may need to provide their own details, confirm their relationship to the entrant and complete the required permissions. The exact process will be provided in the relevant competition guidelines.

Available payment methods depend on the payment provider and the country or event you select. The payment page will display the methods supported for your entry. Please confirm the amount and currency shown before completing payment.

Registration fees, where applicable, depend on the relevant competition or event. The entry form and payment page should show the applicable fee and currency before you pay. If an entry is free, no payment should be required.

ASALI aims to recognise participants’ contributions to African food heritage, including progression through competition stages and recognition such as category or country-level achievement where applicable. Specific prizes, awards and recognition depend on the competition and will be communicated through its official guidelines.

Submitting an entry should not be interpreted as automatically transferring ownership of your heritage knowledge. However, the permissions required to submit, assess, document, publish or promote an entry may vary. Read the competition’s intellectual property, consent and usage terms carefully before submitting, particularly if your entry includes community knowledge, traditional practices, recipes, photographs or other cultural material.

Start by reviewing your chosen category’s requirements and preparing the information requested in the entry form. Depending on the category, this may include a description of your knowledge or practice, the ingredients or methods involved, its cultural or community context, supporting photographs or other materials, and any required declarations or consent. Only submit materials you are authorised to share, and check the official guidelines for the exact requirements.