ADAF 2024: The Gamaal dynamic homecooked food app

ADAF 2024: Spotlight on The Gamaal dynamic homecooked food app  - presented 8 November 2024 at the African Diaspora Agrofood Forum

Gamaal - The journey to empowering the Communities

GAMAAL is a dynamic homecooked food app dedicated to connecting cultures through the universal language of food. Gamaal is a Social entrepreneur. The Gamaal App connects talented home cooks with food lovers who long for healthy authentic, home-cooked meals.

The Gamaal App developed in the UK connects talented home cooks with food lovers who long for healthy authentic, home-cooked meals. 

This app can promote the consumption of forgotten foods in the Global South by showcasing traditional, nutrient-rich ingredients that have fallen out of favor. By featuring these foods in their recipes, cooks – overwhelmingly women - can educate users on the historical and health benefits of indigenous crops like millet, amaranth, and native legumes. 

This increased visibility can spark renewed interest and demand for these crops, encouraging local farmers to grow them, which also enhances agricultural biodiversity. 

Furthermore, by offering healthier, culturally authentic meal options, the app can promote dietary alternatives that may improve health outcomes among the urban youth accustomed to more processed foods.

The app also supports the preservation of culinary heritage by documenting and sharing traditional recipes and food stories, making it a valuable resource for cultural preservation. 

Additionally, it could help bolster local economies by creating demand for ingredients grown by small farmers, who often use sustainable methods. 

Features like recipe tagging for heritage ingredients, educational content, and social sharing could transform the app into a network for food advocacy, highlighting the environmental and social benefits of forgotten foods. 

Through these efforts, the app can help reconnect users with their culinary heritage while supporting sustainable food systems in the Global South.

When women’s incomes rise, they tend to invest more in the nutrition, education, and health of their family, causing a ripple effect that can benefit entire communities in their long-term economic growth.

Gamaal’s Progress

The founder, Fatoumata Diallo of African descent, saw a gap in modern city life where people were losing touch with traditional flavours and the cultural connections that come with them. She was driven to bridge that gap, and she founded Gamaal in February, 2023. This is not just a food tech business but a platform for culinary enthusiasts to revive thousands of lost recipes and share their talents with the communities to earn income. The foodies too nourish their bodies.

"This year, Gamaal made a significant step forward with our official launch in Camden on 8th June, 2024. The event was graced by the Mayor of Camden, Rt. Clr. Samatha Khatoon, who not only celebrated our mission but pledged her support to help us empower local culinary talents. This support strengthens our commitment to bring traditional recipes back into modern kitchens and communities. We were also honoured to cater for the luncheon for the World Summit on Women and Girls, celebrating the United Nations International Day of the Girl World Day in London. Being chosen for such a meaningful event showcased the trust in our brand’s quality and our alignment with values of community, empowerment, and sustainability.Gamaal is on a mission to empower communities through reviving, cooking and eating authentic healthy home-cooked meals with traditional recipes. We will empower millions of culinary enthusiasts and revive thousands of lost traditional recipes worldwide."