Anguilla made history over the weekend as the island hosted its first-ever Superfood Breadfruit Festival, a vibrant celebration of culture, cuisine, and Caribbean unity held from Saturday, 10th January 2026 to Monday, 12th January 2026. The Anguillian Newspaper attended the Sunday segment of the festival, which took place at Chillax Restaurant in East End and drew a steady stream of residents and visitors alike.
The festival, centred on the humble yet powerful breadfruit, brought together people of all ages and backgrounds from across Anguilla, as well as visitors and vendors from neighbouring islands including Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Maarten, and beyond. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, with the scent of roasted breadfruit in the air and conversations flowing easily between strangers who quickly felt like neighbours.
One of the key organisers and spearheads of the event, Mr. Salih Abdur-Raheem, described the occasion as both symbolic and historic for Anguilla. “We’re hosting the first superfood breadfruit festival event in Anguilla, and thus far it’s a huge success,” he said. Speaking on the motivation behind the festival, Mr. Abdur-Raheem emphasised the deeper meaning behind choosing breadfruit as the focal point. He explained that the idea was born out of recognising breadfruit as a staple food and an important element of food security, while also using it as a unifying force across Caribbean cultures. “Integrating our Caribbean islands, and also cultures, and our diverse individuals with different languages, we can come as one and use breadfruit as a superfood to make us come together,” he said.
The festival also placed a strong focus on education and intergenerational awareness. According to Mr. Abdur-Raheem, while older generations may already understand the value of breadfruit, the festival also aimed to plant seeds for the future—engaging young people to ensure that breadfruit remains a staple for generations to come. “We are here to create a movement, to incorporate the younger generation, and to introduce breadfruit as a staple in schools,” he noted.
Despite being organised by a small team, the scale and impact of the event were significant. The team also collaborated with participants from Trinidad, Grenada, Antigua, St. Martin, Dominica, Martinique, and other Caribbean territories. “We are here trying to do our best in our capacity, to make Anguilla super proud,” he said.
Minister of Agriculture, Kyle Hodge, praised the innovative agricultural efforts of the visitors and lauded the work of the local farmer, Mr. Raheem: “This is a good start for the Breadfruit Festival,” Minister Hodge noted.
“This festival really showcases the power of this super fruit. Breadfruit is something that we can grow locally and it can help us in our efforts to bolster food security. I commend Mr. Raheem for his efforts and I envision this festival getting bigger and better year after year,” Minister Hodge said.
Building on the festival’s focus on food security, participants also took practical steps to ensure breadfruit’s future on the island, by planting trees in Shoal Bay and Sea Feathers. Mr. Raheem highlighted the significance of the effort: “In a few years these trees will be providing food for us, and they will help to sustain our people. Our people will appreciate the importance of breadfruit as a super food.”
The tree-planting initiative underscored the importance of cultivation, a topic further explored by St. Maarten-based visitor and vendor Ms. Dianne Felix. She spent much of the day educating festival-goers on the origins, benefits, and cultivation of breadfruit. Her enthusiasm was evident as she explained that breadfruit trees typically take three to five years to bear fruit and can produce over 200 fruits in a single season depending on conditions. She highlighted the crop’s versatility, noting that breadfruit can be roasted, boiled, fried, and incorporated into a wide range of dishes.
Ms. Felix also shared historical and nutritional insights, explaining that breadfruit originates from New Guinea and the Indo-Malay region and was brought to the Caribbean by the British and French. Reportedly rich in fibre, antioxidants, and potassium, breadfruit supports gut health, immune function, and heart health, while helping blood pressure. She stressed that breadfruit has sustained tropical cultures for centuries and remains just as relevant today.
Touching on broader regional concerns, Ms. Felix spoke candidly about food security in the Caribbean, referencing recent tensions between the United States and Venezuela. She warned that any conflict affecting Caribbean waters could disrupt food imports, but noted that communities could survive, “even if just a little bit,” by relying on what they grow in their own backyards. She added that in St. Maarten, she often teaches the importance of planting and consuming breadfruit and other ground provisions, including through school-based initiatives.
Food, of course, was at the heart of the festival. After learning about breadfruit’s origins and versatility, visitors got to experience its magic firsthand, as food took center stage at the festival. Visitors were treated to an array of breadfruit-inspired dishes, including oil down, breadfruit bread, soups, johnny cakes, ice cream, and chips, alongside meats designed to complement the starch. The diversity of preparations offered a glimpse into how different islands interpret and celebrate the same ingredient. One particularly nostalgic moment came as onlookers watched johnny cakes being baked in an old-time oven by putting burning wood below and on top of a steel drum. “This is what we used before these new technologically advanced ovens we have now,” one woman remarked.
As the afternoon unfolded, the crowd continued to grow, with people gathering to sample food, share stories, and simply enjoy one another’s company. The scene felt less like a formal festival and more like a large community cook-out, where origins and accents mattered little, and connection mattered most.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Abdur-Raheem expressed gratitude to those who helped make the event possible. He also thanked attendees from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Anguilla, as well as the media for their support.
As Anguilla reflects on the success of this inaugural Superfood Breadfruit Festival, one message rang clear throughout the weekend: breadfruit is more than food. It is history, resilience, culture and a reminder that sometimes, the strongest bonds are formed around a shared table.
By Janissa Fleming
