Cookbook Author and Founder, Jikoni Recipe Archive; Los Angeles, CA

Kiano Moju is a Kenyan, Nigerian, and 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. Her debut cookbook, AfriCali, comes out on August 13, 2024 with Simon & Schuster. @kianomoju (Instagram)