Rising Stars: Meet Jamila Kizondo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamila Kizondo.

Hi Jamila, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, in a Swahili community and with Swahili parents I gained my knowledge of Swahili foods and cooking at an age of eight yrs. Back at campus in Uganda 1999 /2003 dad would delay sending me pocket money and my cooking talent would help me survive. I did cater for my fellow college mates during parties and gatherings. After graduation in 2004 my journalism and IKEA retail journey ( 2010- 2016) diverted my food passion until later in 2016 when we moved to Japan as a wife and a mother of two girls. I was pretty bored in Japan due to it being a reserved country. I couldn’t work or serve because of language barrier. My husband Samir St Clair a professional basketball coach (International certified coach) was then coaching in Japan then inspired me in picking up on where I had left on my cooking. Hence, in 2017 JKIZONDO SWAHILI BITES was born. J stands for My name Jamila and Kizondo is my dad’s name. In the year 2020 to date JKizondo Swahili Bites has and is still gaining momentum. We realized Swahili Cuisine wasn’t really represented in this part of the world unlike other cuisines. We also noticed a big gap between culture and human well-being, people don’t know the basis of the Swahili foods and language, the culture of sharing and eating together or the history of certain foods. In general we don’t only serve the Swahili foods but also educate our clients more about the Swahili community, the culture and the language (Kiswahili).

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Some of the biggest challenges I have faced is getting people familiarize with Swahili food. Swahili food encompasses a wide range of flavors, spices and herbs with a blend of Bantu, Arabic, Portuguese and Indian. The Swahili community in states is spread all over the states and sometimes shipping out can be challenging especially with perishable foods. The reception is widening and the demand is high yet am currently the only cook. Almost all Swahili foods are In Kiswahili and translation is a great task because foreign clients have rights for the meaning. I get lots of questions about JKIZONDO as my business name and why I have to use such a name. 🙂 and not my husband’s name. I use JKizondo because of the love I have for my late dad.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Culinary Swahili specialist. Am more of a Swahili oriented cook however with an American husband, I developed my own Swahili Americanized foods. My mom’s (Mrs Leila Kizondo) Indian Yemeni background plus The opportunity of me living in the Arab world (United Arab Emirates and Qatar) as well as Japan contributed into expanding my cooking repertoire. My pride is in the ability to branch out the Swahili community talent in America. From Swahili foods and cooking, I speak and teach Kiswahili, am an artist (Swahili Henna tattoo and beauty artist), I use our common Swahili wrap.

What matters most to you? Why?
Customer Satisfaction: by creating a tastier everyday Swahili experience for all. Because a happy client would always come back with a referral. – Swahili Culture glues us.

Swahili Culture and Tradition
– It’s my strength and Brand that I will forever show it through food.
Why- Because it’s through Food, Culture and Tradition that people connect and gain pride.
Am proud of my Roots and who I am. I wanna stay intimately connected to my roots, by replicating practices of my motherland. Through Swahili Culture and Tradition I stoke the flames of Mombasa, keeping it alive and running.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @JKIZONDO_SWAHILI BITES
• Facebook: Jkizondo Swahili Bites
• YouTube: JKizondo Swahili Bites
• TikTok: JKIZONDO_SWAHILIBITES

Image Credits
Untamed Royalty Enterprises