DAMILOLA AWOLAJA, Tells The Story Behind Amala Cookout

From Family Kitchen to Community Celebration

The Story Behind Amala Cookout 2026

By TAARi Diaspora Media Magazine

Some meals feed the body. And then there are meals that awaken memories.

For Damilola, food has always been about family, heritage, and bringing people together. Raised in Ibadan, with family roots in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria, she grew up in a household where cooking was more than a daily responsibility—it was part of the family’s way of life.

Today, that heritage has taken on a life of its own in Pittsburgh through Amala Cookout, an annual celebration that brings people together over hot, freshly prepared Amala, traditional Nigerian dishes, music, laughter, and community.

What began in 2019 as an idea inspired by an Amala gathering she saw in the United Kingdom has grown into one of Damilola’s most anticipated community celebrations.

Ahead of Amala Cookout 2026, TAARi Diaspora Media Magazine sat down with Damilola to talk about her journey, the family traditions that shaped her, the inspiration behind Amala Cookout, and her vision for taking the celebration to an even bigger stage.

TAARi: Before we talk about Amala Cookout, tell us about yourself and your journey.

Damilola: My name is Damilola. I am a native of Oyo State, specifically Ogbomoso, although I grew up in Ibadan. I studied nursing and later moved to America in 2015.

When I came to America, I started working as a CNA and later moved into home care because of the stress of the job. I am also a mother of two.

Cooking wasn’t initially my career path. People would come to my house and see me in the kitchen all the time. They loved my food and encouraged me to start cooking professionally.

That was really how everything started. I thank God for where I am today because I never imagined that I would be doing this.

TAARi: It sounds like cooking was already deeply rooted in your family. Where did that influence come from?

Damilola: Definitely from my mother.

Growing up, we cooked almost every day. My father loved fresh meals, and my mother eventually started a restaurant in Ibadan called With God Restaurant.

She had originally operated a supermarket and other businesses, but when my sister became sick, my mother changed direction so she could take care of her and make sure she was eating properly.

We grew up helping my mother in the kitchen. She went to catering school, and every weekend we were baking, making meat pies, cakes, and other things.

It wasn’t only me. Many of my siblings are involved in food or other food-related businesses. One has a restaurant in the UK, another does barbecue, and another makes cakes.

So cooking is really part of our family history.

Even my grandmother was involved in food. One grandmother sold moi moi and later peanuts, while my maternal grandmother traveled to buy meat and other products to bring back home.

So whatever I cook for people today is really an extension of what my mother taught me.

TAARi: So, how did that family tradition eventually become Amala Cookout?

Damilola: In 2019, before COVID, I saw a video on Instagram from the UK where people were making a lot of Amala together.

I remember telling some friends, “We can do this here.”

They encouraged me, and eventually we decided to try it.

We started with a flyer and a budget. The first AMAla Cookout was held in 2019 at Boyce Park.

People showed up, and although we didn’t really make a profit that first year, we knew we had something special.

Since then, it has continued to grow.

TAARi: Why Amala?

Damilola: It’s simply the love for Amala.

One special thing about Amala is that people want it hot and fresh. They want the Amala made right there, on the spot—not something that has been sitting somewhere getting cold.

When you eat it hot, you enjoy it differently.

And it’s not just the Amala itself. It’s everything that comes with it: gbegiri, ewedu, buka stew, and different meats.

That’s what makes the whole experience special.

TAARi: For someone who isn’t Nigerian or isn’t familiar with Yoruba food, how would you describe the Amala experience?

Damilola: Amala is a traditional delicacy, particularly associated with Oyo State.

It is made from dried yams, processed into flour, and cooked with hot water to create the smooth texture of Amala.

But what really completes the dish are the soups and sauces.

There is gbegiri, made from beans, palm oil, pepper, and seasonings. There is ewedu, made from jute leaves, and then there is the buka stew.

The buka stew can include beef, various cuts of meat, and offal.

When you put everything together, that’s what gives you the complete Amala experience.

TAARi: Beyond the food, what does AMAla Cookout mean to you?

Damilola: It brings people together.

That is what I love most about it.

You see people you haven’t seen for a whole year. People come, laugh, sit together, and have fun.

I have people who volunteer to help me. They don’t get paid. They just show up because they believe in what we’re doing.

That support means a lot to me.

When I see people smiling and enjoying themselves, that motivates me to keep going.

TAARi: The event has continued to grow. What have you learned along the way?

Damilola: Every year teaches us something.

Last year, for example, we had problems with the payment system. The line grew very long, and people waited for their food.

This year, we’re preparing differently.

We’re improving the payment process with card payments, Zelle, Cash App, and scanning options. We’re also increasing the number of people helping with service to move lines faster.

We’re preparing more food as well.

Last year, the Jollof rice finished around 5 p.m., so this year we’re making much more. We’re also preparing more chicken and goat meat.

The goal is to improve the entire experience.

TAARi: What can people expect at Amala Cookout 2026?

Damilola: This year will be bigger and better.

There will be Amala made on the spot, Eba, Pounded Yam, Fufu, and Egusi. We’ll have Jollof rice, chicken, beef, and goat meat.

There will also be other vendors offering a variety of foods and products.

We’re going to have music playing throughout the event, and we’re making sure there are enough canopies, chairs, and industrial fans so people can sit comfortably.

I want people to feel like they are at a Nigerian party.

I want people to come, eat, meet their friends, bring their children, and have fun.

TAARi: Why is bringing people together particularly important right now?

Damilola: Because people need each other.

Sometimes people are afraid to take the risk of organizing events. They ask, “What if people don’t come?”

I’m always afraid, too, but I use my faith to keep pushing.

And every year, people show up.

When you see people from different backgrounds sitting together, laughing and enjoying themselves, you realize that it’s worth it.

Life is too short.

Come out. Let’s celebrate together.

TAARi: What is your dream for Amala Cookout five years from now?

Damilola: I see it in a very big field.

I want live music on a big stage. I want vendors from different countries to come together and serve their food.

I want it to feel like a carnival.

Most importantly, I want people to keep coming together.

Sometimes, Pittsburgh can feel boring if you stay inside your house. But when there is an event, come outside.

Let’s celebrate together.

TAARi: Finally, what would you say to the people of Pittsburgh and the wider African diaspora who are considering coming to AMAla Cookout?

Damilola: Hi everyone!

I’m inviting you all to AMAla Cookout 2026!

We’re going to have Amala made on the spot, Eba, Pounded Yam, Fufu, Egusi, Jollof rice, chicken, beef, and goat meat.

Please come out and support us. We’re getting ready for you, and we can’t wait to see you all.

Come and have fun. Come and see your old friends.

It’s going to be a blast!

See you there!

MORE THAN A MEAL

Amala Cookout is ultimately about more than the Amala itself.

It is about memory.

It is about migration and identity.

It is about preserving the flavors of home thousands of miles away.

It is about parents introducing their children to foods and traditions they may only know through stories.

And it is about creating a space where Africans and friends of African culture can meet, reconnect, and celebrate.

For Damilola, the journey from her mother’s kitchen in Ibadan to a growing community celebration in Pittsburgh is a reminder that sometimes the simplest ideas carry the greatest power.

A pot of hot Amala can become a gathering place.

A plate of food can become a bridge between generations.

And a community cookout can become a celebration of who we are and where we came from.

AMAla Cookout 2026

📍 Location: 2399 Community Park, Monroeville — Pavilion 2

🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring your appetite.

Come for the Amala. Stay for the community.

Amala Cookout 2026 — where food brings us together.