EA 

iNspired

Bujumbura, Burundi – Along Avenue de l’Université, one of Bujumbura’s busiest streets, the aroma of smoked goat, sizzling fish, and richly spiced sauces drifts from a modest but vibrant restaurant. Outside, customers line up with phones in hand, recording short videos before stepping inside. At the centre of the activity is Joyce, a Congolese migrant woman whose culinary talent and entrepreneurial spirit have turned a small kitchen into one of the city’s most talked-about dining spots.

Born and raised in Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Joyce learned to cook from her mother. A dedicated caterer, her mother passed down not only recipes but a deep appreciation for food as a way of bringing people together. When Joyce lost her mother in 2016, the kitchen that once echoed with laughter became a place of bittersweet memories. “After my mother died, it became very hard for me to stay. Everything reminded me of her,” she says.

With her children, Joyce decided to move to neighbouring Burundi, determined to rebuild her life. She arrived with few belongings, carrying only the skills she had learned at home. “I came with almost nothing,” she says, “except my recipes and my hope.”

For several years, Joyce relied on small-scale cooking to support her family. She prepared beignets and flatbread from home, going door to door and asking local shops to sell them. Some agreed; others turned her away. “It was a modest beginning,” she says, “but it helped us survive.”

In 2024, a customer’s craving for Congolese food sparked a turning point. Encouraged by the response to her cooking, Joyce took a leap of faith and decided to open her own restaurant, which she aptly named Joyce Food.

What followed was more than just business growth. Joyce began documenting her cooking journey on social media, posting short videos on TikTok that showed her preparing traditional dishes such as ntaba (smoked goat) and fish liboke. Often dancing and laughing with her staff along the way, she offered viewers a glimpse into the life behind the kitchen. Her videos quickly gained traction, resonating with audiences far beyond Burundi.

Source: IOM Press Bujumbura, written by, Kenny B. Irakoze, Communications Assistant with IOM Burundi.

IOM Press Bujumbura : by, Kenny B. Irakoze, 23rd 2026

How a Migrant Woman Became Burundi’s Culinary Sensation

Ntaba, smoked goat meat, is one of the signature dishes Joyce serves at her restaurant, celebrating Congolese cuisine in Burundi. Photo: IOM 2025/Armand Nibitanga

Urge- Growth Daily

Urge- DevWire

Urge Skill-Up

Knowledge is power.

Stay connected. Be iNspired.