AfriCali

“Moju’s chic yet approachable dishes reframe the many influences behind West and East African cooking, with zesty herbs, piquant chiles, and aromatic spices brightening up every dish.”—Saveur“Kiano Moju’s AfriCali cookbook shares her perspective as someone who was born to a Kenyan mother and a Nigerian father, grew up in the Bay Area (with summers often spent visiting her Maasai family in Kenya) and has since traveled all over the world… Moju demonstrates the universality of the cuisines that shaped her with dishes that merge influences.”—Named a Los Angeles Times Best Cookbook of 2024“Recipes are fusion at its best… Moju flexes her recipe-creation talents and shares her love of cooking in this collection that highlights her roots with great taste… Moju delivers a culinary journey that is infused with personality and flavor, designed for modern home chefs looking for kitchen inspiration.”—Library Journal“Explore the world of AfriCali, Kiano’s debut book that weaves together the flavors of her California upbringing with the richness of her Kenyan and Nigerian roots. Through enticing recipes, she invites you on a culinary journey that not only fills your kitchen with delicious aromas but also celebrates the joy of family and community. Join Kiano as she shares the warmth of her heritage, one recipe at a time.”—Marcus Samuelsson“With each recipe in AfriCali, I find a connection to my roots, a taste of California living, and a celebration of rich history. AfriCali is more than a cookbook; it’s a journey of flavors that resonate with the soul.”—Amin Joseph, actor“Kiano Moju turns up the flavor on traditional African recipes with a California-cool vibe in AfriCali. Reading through it is like having a seat at her dinner table, where every recipe is carefully crafted to keep things relatively unfussy while maintaining a dedication to flavor. AfriCali is a must-have for anyone seeking a contemporary take on time-honored dishes.”—Hawa Hassan, author of In Bibi’s Kitchen“The best cooks can imbue their dishes with deliciousness and heart, and Kiano Moju does both in abundance in AfriCali. Each recipe and picture make me feel invited to stand with Kiano at the stove as she talks about her favorite memories growing up in California, the Kenyan and Nigerian dishes her parents made for her, and the world of flavors she found in her travels.”—Korsha Wilson, writer and host of A Hungry Society podcast

Kiano Moju is a Kenyan/Nigerian American author, recipe developer, producer, director, and video host. Kiano’s culinary identity draws on her Kenyan and Nigerian heritage, her upbringing in the melting pot of California, and her travels abroad. Until 2019, she was a creative video producer at BuzzFeed’s food video vertical, Tasty, where she amassed over 100 million cumulative video views in recipe content. After departing from BuzzFeed, Kiano set her sights on starting her own media company, which led her to launch a nonprofit organization called The Jikoni Recipe Archive. It celebrates the rich cuisine of Africa and across its diaspora by documenting the legacy of traditional and modern cooks, while amplifying its vibrant food culture. Kiano also opened her own production company in Los Angeles called Jikoni Studios. Since opening, Kiano has produced cooking videos for the Food Network, Tastemade, and the USDA, to name a few. Kiano lives in Los Angeles, California.