Indonesia’s Gastrodiplomacy in East Africa: Culinary Promotion and Public Diplomacy at the ASEAN Food Festival 2025 in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32663/qr7q1143Keywords:
Indonesia, Gastrodiplomacy, Public Diplomacy, ASEAN Food Festival, KenyaAbstract
This study examines Indonesia’s gastrodiplomacy through the participation in the ASEAN Food Festival 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. The research is motivated by the limited scholarly attention to Indonesian culinary diplomacy in Africa, despite Kenya’s strategic position as an East African hub and Indonesia’s growing interest in strengthening cultural and economic engagement with the continent. The objective is to analyze how Indonesian cuisine, cultural symbols, and diplomatic narratives were used to support public diplomacy. This study employs a descriptive qualitative method with a case study approach based on secondary data. Data were collected through library research and document analysis of official reports, policy documents, academic literature, and credible media sources, then interpreted through qualitative content analysis. The findings show that Indonesia’s participation promoted iconic dishes such as rendang and chicken sate, supported by batik, wayang, diaspora involvement, and institutional coordination. These elements strengthened cultural recognition, people-to-people interaction, and Indonesia’s image as a multicultural and tolerant country. The study concludes that AFF 2025 became a strategic platform for expanding Indonesian gastrodiplomacy and engagement in East Africa.
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