Dr Yemisi Bokinni’s documentary exploring the heritage-rich foods in Brixton Market will launch today (Saturday 14th June).
Dr Yemisi Bokinni was born and raised in the neighbourhood around Brixton Market and it was here that Caribbean elders, West African aunties, local traders, and families from all backgrounds crossed paths daily.
Yemisi’s diet became enriched with flavours she thought were completely ordinary: tangy tamarind, hairy cocoyams and African garden eggs.
“It wasn’t until I met people from outside London during university that I realised the uniqueness of our everyday meals”, she says. “To my peers, these ingredients were exotic. To me, they were dinner.”
& Caribbean Food Store. Credit: Zarah
Dolz/Remede Storylab.
The documentary draws upon Yemisi’s own upbringing, medical background and cultural roots to explore the story of foods that nourish communities across Brixton and beyond.
It is set entirely within Brixton Market, a place that has served Afro-Caribbean, African, Latin American, and Asian diasporas for generations.
The film features traders from Senegal, Jamaica, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Korea, the UK, Brazil, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and more.
Yemisi explains how the project also links to a wider global issue. Despite the large number of edible plants cultivated worldwide, over half the world’s calories come from just three crops: rice, corn and wheat. She says we risk losing both cultural heritage and food biodiversity itself.
“The fact that just nine crops make up 66% of global crop production is not only unsustainable, it’s unimaginative,” said Yemisi. “In cities like London, diversity of people brings diversity of ingredients, which is ultimately better for our health and the planet.”
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One section, titled “A Supergrain Symphony,” explores climate-smart grains that are not only nutritious but also sustainable. These resilient grain crops require little water, thrive in tough conditions, and grow without need for much fertilizer or pesticides.
The film was launched on Youtube at 8am, Saturday 14th June 2025.
To watch the full documentary and to get notified when it is released: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs0OiFk1Mzo&list=PL0cW71PYc9SDXPt53DbKorHEaP66_Sik9
