The AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival, Africa’s leading Pan African bi-annual cocktail and spirits festival, is back in Joburg for its second consecutive year, connecting top global and local bars in extraordinary pop-ups and masterclasses from 9 to 11 March 2025. Here’s what you need to know.
Bar hop till you drop at the AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival
The AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival will take place at various participating bars in the city, with this year bringing an even richer lineup of acclaimed international bars.
Bartenders from some of the finest bars around the world are flown into South Africa, including Panda and Son (Edinburgh), Tommy’s (San Francisco), Front/Back and Soul Lounge (Accra), Library Bar (Toronto), Hero (Nairobi), Sips (Barcelona), NoMad’s Side Hustle (London) and Atwater Cocktail Club (Montreal).
Participating in AJABU’s signature ‘bar mashups,’ these renowned global bars will partner with the various Johannesburg institutions to collaborate and create delicious cocktails celebrating the incredible diversity of African ingredients and talent.
The spirit of collaboration and creation make for a magical and memorable experience for all attendees, who will have the pleasure of trying these incredible cocktails. Participating Joburg bars in the ‘bar mashups’ include local favourites like Sin+Tax, Smoking Kills, Saint and Obscura.
AJABU Cocktail and Spirits Festival seminars and scholarship opportunities
In addition to the AJABU ‘bar mashups’, the team will host a series of seminars and masterclasses for cocktail aficionados, bartenders, and beverage industry professionals alike.
These education sessions will be led by bartender and spirits industry titans from Reign Rum, Bacardi, and more. These experts will touch on topics such as the representation of women in the bar industry, upcycling and sustainability of cocktail ingredients, and the ongoing rise of agave spirits.
Additionally, AJABU’s fan-favourite seminar, Africa Rising, will be returning for its second year, featuring panelists Kojo Aidoo (Accra Bar Show, Front/Back), Richie Barrow (Kenya Bartender Week, Hero), Kurt Schlecter (Cause Effect), and Alexander Quest (Abidjan Cocktail Week).
The AJABU Scholarship Program will also be returning this March with another 50 scholarships to give, continuing its mission to uplift the African bar community through educational, hospitality-focused courses.
The scholarships are open to African-based applicants who work in the drinks industry, with 70% of the grants allocated to women – supporting one of AJABU’s core missions of increasing female representation in the bar industry.
The minds behind AJABU
Co-founded by Colin Asare-Appiah (Bar World 100 Most Influential Figures 2023, Co-Author Black Mixcellence, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s 2024 Visionary Award Recipient) and Mark Talbot Holmes (Founder of U’Luvka Vodka), AJABU – meaning ‘wondrous’ or ‘miraculous’ – is Africa’s largest, bi-annual cocktail and spirits festival.
AJABU not only shines a light on Africa’s hospitality industry but also fosters connections across the continent’s bar industry, while building an international community of bars and beverage professional through collaborations between global and local bars.
How to book tickets
Get a free ticket on Quicket, then join the fun at ‘bar mashups’ at participating bars. Note that space is limited, so act fast. Present your QR code at the first bar you visit (via printed or digital ticket), and you’ll receive an event wristband that gives you access to any of the mashups at the participating bars. Drinks are for your own account.
Cost: FREE entry. Registration is required via Quicket due to limited capacity.
When: Running from Sunday to Tuesday, 9 to 11 March 2025. Sunday from 5pm to midnight. Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 11pm
Where: Various bars in Johannesburg including Sin+Tax, Smoking Kills, Saint and Obscura
Website: ajabufestival.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @ajabufestival
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