African Bar Shows

Bar shows, cocktail weeks and other industry conferences are commonplace around the world, from Singapore to São Paulo – but there are excellent conventions to attend in Africa too, whether you live on-continent or are travelling in. Three key events to put in your annual calendar are Lagos Cocktail Week, Nairobi Bar Show and Accra Bar Show – plus we’ll spill the tea on an exciting, shiny new bar show in the pipeline, which is set to hit the circuit sometime in 2024.

Lagos Cocktail Week | Nigeria

The longest running of the three events we’ll showcase, Nigeria’s Lagos Cocktail Week has been going since 2014, when it was first held at Lagos Continental Hotel on Victoria Island. Since its humble beginnings, founder Lara Rawa – a beverage consultant and lawyer – and can now count on 1,000+ enthusiastic attendees, her most recent venue being the Balmoral Convention Centre at the Federal Palace Hotel, also on Victoria Island. Rawa said her motivations behind creating the event were,

“To celebrate the cocktail culture in Nigeria, and Africa at large, as well as to educate bartenders and bridge the gap between brands and consumers.”

Her target audience is comprised of spirit and beverage brands, cocktail enthusiasts and industry stakeholders. To kick off Lagos Cocktail Week, partner bars and restaurants launch cocktail promos; these continue throughout the week, so consumers can bar hop. These festivities lead into a two-day cocktail village pop-up, where spirits and beverage brands set up stalls to give registered attendees a brand experience, alongside music and bar-related games. The event climaxes with a bar battle, where bartenders compete to win prizes in various brand challenges.

Rawa’s biggest struggle is the educational aspect of the week.

“It would be nice to partner with international speakers, writers and educators who are interested in impacting knowledge,” she shares.

However, there has been plenty of success too, most notably being the organic growth of the community.

“Having all the big brands in a space was termed impossible when we started back then; now we have grown beyond that,” Rawa observes.

“Also, the growth in our bartenders is phenomenal; they are beginning to see it as a profession, and not a means to an end. They are representing Nigeria in global competitions. This is a win for the continent,” she continues.

Rawa’s biggest lesson overall is to always chase your dreams.

“No matter how silly it may seem, with dedication, patience and doggedness no dream is impossible to achieve,” she asserts.

How to get involved Global individuals can get involved by presenting seminars or being guest judges. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic brands who are looking to have a presence in Nigeria can also use the platform to network and look for marketers, and of course brands already in the market use the opportunity to connect with their target audience. Web: https://lagoscocktail.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/lagoscocktail

Nairobi Bar Show | Kenya

Across the continent, in East Africa, Kenya’s Nairobi Bar Show was founded in 2019, when it was held at The Pool House in Loresho. Its most recent rendition was over two days, from 30 September to 1 October 2023, at Shamba Events Space – in Loresho as well – with some 300 people in attendance. Founder Brian Owango, who’s also the East Africa Academy Chair for the World’s 50 Best Bars, first decided to host the event for community building, and as a vehicle for veteran bar professionals to pass on their passion to the next generation.

“In Kenya we work in silos,” Owango imparts. “From silo to circle is the thinking.”

The mechanism to this end was the creation of an educational platform, where both consumers and hospitality professionals could engage with the brands that are doing particularly good work in the Kenyan market. As such, the target audience is both discerning drinkers and industry pros. While attendees are welcome to join in as they choose, the two-day affair is split by the focus on each of these demographics.

“The current format is that we have one consumer-focused day, where the brands get to show off their peacock feathers at a sundowner party,” Owago explains. “This is the kick off to the bar show.”

“The second day, the Sunday in this case, is very focused on brand immersion and sharing industry stories with our target audience. I’ve coined it: expo-riential,” he shares.

“All of the brands involved come to the Nairobi Bar Show ready to immerse our guests in their world – whether through simple sampling stations or more in-depth brand adventures,” he continues

When asked what his biggest struggles and successes have been to date, Owango had the same answer to both: getting everyone together to play in the same space. The desire to bring people together is evident not just in his attitude towards the local landscape, but in his global outlook, manifesting in Owango’s rationale behind the event scheduling, which allows for global attendees to join in too.

“The Nairobi Bar Show is typically in September; I chose this month because the global scene is just coming off summer holidays and is poised to sprint to the end-year finish line with 50 Best, London Cocktail Week, RumFest UK, Athens Bar Show, Whisky Live etc,” he affirms.

“So, people have the chance to come to Africa first, before the scene accelerates to full tilt in Europe and the UK,” he elaborates.

While Owango clearly has global ambitions for the bar show, he’s also pragmatic, taking a long view towards the anticipated growth of the event.

“Building culture takes time, dedication and hard-nosed grit,” he concedes.

“The Nairobi Bar Show – given the ‘sales is our gospel’ business style in Kenya – may take several years to grow, to sit at par with other globally recognised bar shows. I am fully cognisant that I am likely pioneering this effort for the benefit of those who will take the wheel after me,” he reveals.

How to get involved Owango starts planning every January. Interested individuals and brands are asked to reach out then, advising what they’re looking to do to help elevate the African beverage scene. Web: https://nbske.fun Instagram: www.instagram.com/nairobi_bar_show

Accra Bar Show | Ghana

The new kid on the block is Accra Bar Show – back in West Africa, but Ghana this time – which is set to hold its inaugural event in March 2024, at Zinnia Events Centre in Cantonments. Together, founders Kojo Aidoo and David Nyamekye lead the team at Front Back Accra, a wildly successful member’s bar that hosts regular large events. In the conceptualisation of the bar show, they were motivated to create a platform for hospitality industry players to share knowledge and learn emerging trends, as well as for outlets to connect with manufacturers and distributors of essential business tools and equipment to facilitate effective and profitable operation. As such, their target audience are the likes of bar, restaurant and hotel owners, operators and staff, including both front and back of house.

The show will include exhibits, where participating businesses can showcase new or existing products, as well as conference sessions, where industry experts will deliver keynote addresses on topics such as service excellence and sustainability. There will also be tasting, food pairing and mixology workshops, as well as industry mixers and networking opportunities, as well as a cocktail competition. The pair are keen to get going.

“Hospitality industry players in Ghana are eager to create an ecosystem where there can be a concerted effort for improving every aspect of the industry, instead of businesses striving for excellence for just themselves. This will enhance interaction between the industry and other sectors of the economy,” asserts Nyamekye.

This enthusiasm has helped push the concept, despite challenges in sourcing the necessary funding.

“The feedback and enthusiasm of businesses and decision makers about the concept, and the need for a platform like this for the industry, have been big motivators to drive the team to bring the idea to fruition,” says Aidoo.

How to get involved Exhibitors and attendees are invited to contact the team to find out more. Web: www.accrabarshow.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/accrabarshow_/

Coming soon | South Africa

South African brothers and industry giants, Kurt and Etienne Schlechter are currently firming up plans to partner with US based Ghanaian Colin Asare-Appiah to bring us a Cape Town bar show. The three bring extensive experience in bar ownership, eventing, training and advocacy, as well as global connections and acclaim, making this an exciting endeavour indeed. Dates and format for the maiden 2024 show are still being discussed, but it’s safe to say we can expect both educational and exhibitor aspects, and – Cape Town being the beautiful, magnetic city that it is – hopefully a goof show of international support. Watch this space for details, as we learn more.