Chef Djamil Djibril Bah-Traore talks about a passion for cooking beginning in his childhood home in Togo, honoring a long if counter-cultural tradition in his family. Immigrating to America Bah-Traore has founded a family of culinary organizations furthering his belief that you can’t hate someone whose food you love.

Chef Djamil Djibril Bah-Traore is a West African immigrant from Togo. He is a chef and entrepreneur who aims to cast fresh and diversified light on Africa's rich culinary history. Prior to founding his House of Bah nonprofit and business entities, Bah-Traore spent over a decade working for corporate America in management capacities in numerous industries before making a major career transition to culinary arts and hospitality in 2013. Bah-Traore holds an associate's degree in culinary arts from Metropolitan Community College, a bachelor's degree in business, and a master's degree in hospitality and restaurant management.