Port Harcourt’s Bole Festival, From Street Food to Global Stage.
How Africa’s Biggest Food Festival is redefining culture, tourism, and identity
Port Harcourt|September 7th, 2025. By: OVL N e w s
A Local Delight with Global Aspirations
Port Harcourt’s humble roadside delicacy, bole and fish, has transcended street corners to become a global cultural phenomenon.
The Bole Festival, first held in 2016, has grown into Africa’s premier food carnival, attracting tens of thousands of visitors annually.
What began as a gathering of about 300 food lovers has blossomed into a mega-event, now pulling crowds of over 35,000 from across Nigeria and beyond.
Organizers predict a record-breaking over 40,000 attendees in 2025, with vendors from Ghana, Kenya, and the UK.
“Bole is not just food; it’s our identity. This festival tells the world who we are as Port Harcourt people,” says Kennedy Nonso, founder of the Bole Festival.
The first edition held in 2016, had about 300 participants, and attendance jumped to 8’000 participants in 2018, attracting National vendors.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the festival still managed to record over 15,000 participants, and in 2023, over 30,000 participants attended, with celebrity chefs, and International tourists present
This years edition recorded over 40,000 ticket sales, with expanded global attendees and partnerships.
The festival has been endorsed by the Rivers State Government, which notes its role in boosting the hospitality and tourism economy. Hotels in Port Harcourt report nearly 100% occupancy rates during the festival.
Held every August, the festival combines food with entertainment and education:
Food exhibitions by chefs from across Africa.
Music and dance performances by top Nigerian artists.
Competitions for the best bole and fish recipe.
Panel sessions on food business and youth empowerment.
“Bole Festival is more than just roasted plantain. It is culture, it is economy, and it is pride,” says cultural analyst Dr. Adaeze Okon.
Experts believe the Bole Festival could soon rival global food festivals like Taste of Chicago and Singapore Food Festival.
Plans are on the way to franchise the festival internationally, with London and Toronto being considered for pilot editions.
If successful, Port Harcourt’s signature dish could be catapulted onto the world stage, bringing with it opportunities for tourism, investment, and cultural diplomacy.
As the 2025 edition draws to a close today, excitement is all over Port Harcourt and Nigeria at large.
What started as a street meal shared among friends has now become a cultural export with the potential to unite Africa through food.
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