Dar es Salaam. Few aromas capture the Tanzanian spirit like nyama choma sizzling over hot coals. Add live music, laughter, the clinking of glasses—and this year, the smooth pour of Black & White whisky—and you have the perfect recipe for a weekend to remember.
That was the scene last weekend as thousands thronged the Leaders Club grounds for the Dar es Salaam edition of the Nyama Choma Festival, a celebration where tradition and modern lifestyle blended seamlessly.
From smoky grills to whisky cocktails, the festival offered an atmosphere where flavors met friendships, and food met music in a way that only Dar can deliver.
The heart of the event, as always, was the meat. Stalls lined with skewers of beef, goat, and chicken offered smoky flavors seasoned with marinades that sparked friendly debates among festival-goers about whose spice blend reigned supreme.
The grill smoke rose in rhythm with the music, as Bongo Flava hits and Afrobeat anthems set the tempo for the night.
Yet this year, it wasn’t just about what was on the plate. Alongside the food and music was a vibrant social energy—an invitation for strangers to share a platter, dance together, or raise a glass to the weekend.
Whisky and cocktails poured almost as freely as the laughter. At the Black & White whisky experience zone, bartenders kept the mood light and the glasses full, mixing cocktails that complemented the charred flavors of nyama choma. For many, the pairing of smoky nyama with a smooth whisky-based drink became a surprise highlight of the evening—one that sparked conversations as the night wore on.
More than just a festival
Events like the Nyama Choma Festival are a mirror of Dar’s evolving urban culture. They are about more than food or drink—they’re about connection. People came not only to eat but also to celebrate community, whether by bumping into old friends, making new ones, or simply soaking in the atmosphere.
By midnight, as the music still rolled and the crowd thinned only slightly, it was clear the festival had delivered more than entertainment. It had given people a chance to pause from the week’s routine, to share in Tanzania’s enduring love for nyama choma, and to toast to life’s everyday joys.
In the glow of the grills and under the pulse of the music, one truth was hard to miss: nyama choma tastes best when paired not just with spice, but with moments of connection—moments that, for one night, were shared across a city.
