Our COLLABORATORS

Cassandra Eichhoff is the Principal of Africa’s leading bar school and a driving force in South Africa’s hospitality scene. Known for her magnetic energy and fierce commitment to mentorship, she blends education with empowerment, training aspiring bartenders while building a bold, connected drinks community. As a multi-award-winning Bar Mentor and recognised Global Influential Figure, Cass is not just shaping skills, she’s shaping futures. At European Bartender School Cape Town, she develops high-impact training programs,

curates flavour-driven masterclasses, and creates pathways for young talent to break into the industry with confidence. Her work sits at the intersection of education, brand partnership, and cultural storytelling. From developing regional training initiatives across Southern Africa to crafting collaborative experiences for festivals, events, and global beverage brands, Cass champions accessible, world-class

drinks education rooted in authenticity and opportunity. Driven by community and fuelled by a love of bold flavour (and a fair amount of tequila), she believes in collaboration over competition and in building platforms where Africa’s bartenders, creatives, and hospitality

leaders can thrive. Whether she’s in the classroom, behind the scenes, or behind the bar, Cass leads with heart, hustle, and a relentless vision for a stronger, more inclusive drinks future.

I am Stephen Kojo Aidoo popular called Kojo Bordorvic and 37 years of age with a degree in Business Administration from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
(GIMPA) Greenhill and Diploma in International Bar Management from Bols Bartending Academy (Amsterdam). And a Certificate in Hospitality management from GIMPA. I am General Manager of Front/Back Accra, a unique members club in Accra Ghana that focuses on food, music, cocktails and arts from Africa and its diaspora.

Over the last six (6) years, I have helped shape Front/Back into the space that is beyond F&B, hosting several African-specific events (fashion talks, photos shoots for Vogue, Gucci, book launches, artist’s talks), listening sessions, video shoots, workshops, cocktail masterclasses, and biggest brunch parties and concerts as well as hosting a bartending school.

Also the General manager of No19 Accra Bar and restaurant in Accra Ghana.
I am also the founder and current president of Bartenders Guild Ghana, Ghana’s official bartender’s association which have done so much for the bartending community in Ghana and Africa through constant training through workshops and master classes and competitions. We have been able to raise Global Champions throughout years since establishment in 2014.

Co-Chair of the Spirited Awards Judging Committee Africa and Middle East
Also had training with Jägermeister in Wolfenbüttel (Germany).
Also had an opportunity in attending 50 best bars awards ceremony in Barcelona in Spain as a voting Committee member for West Africa.
Also attended Perfect Bar Show (Amsterdam) 2022, Belin Bar Convent 2022.
Middle East & Africa (MEA) Co Chair for Spirited Awards (Tales of the Cocktails) 2023/2024
Bar manager Global Citizen Ghana Event 2022
Bar manager for Afrofuture Ghana (VIP, VVIP, Back Stage, General Admission)
2021/2022/2023
Bar manager for Afronation Ghana (VIP, VVIP, Back Stage, General Admission )2022

Currently the Group General Manager Food & Beverage of Tribe Hotels Group, a family-owned and operated enterprise with its marquee Tribe Hotel, a 5-star luxury hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, that channels African authenticity and excellence. Richie is a beloved stalwart of the global cocktail scene and is a Spirited Awards Middle East & Africa co-chair for Tales of the Cocktail. At Tribe Hotels Group, Richie oversees 400+ team members who bring outstanding F&B programs to life 365 days a year. These include Jiko at Tribe Hotel, a pioneer of pan-African cuisine, and Hero Bar, which ranks No.69 on The World’s 50 Best Bars’ extended list and recently crowned Africa’s best bar 2025. It is located at Trademark Hotel, a sister property. Richie has held previous roles in both Ireland and Scotland and returned back home to Kenya in 2014. He is passionate about positioning modern Kenya and Africa on the global food and beverage scene.

Co-Founder of Kenya Bartenders Week
Co-Chair of Tales of the Cocktail regional
Co-Founder of Nairobi Bartenders Association
Group General Manager Food and Beverage at Tribe Hotels Group
and a consummate hospitality professional on the Cutting Edge of Nairobi’s Dynamic F&B Scene Bringing the Global Spotlight to Kenya

Simbi Nkula is the visionary founder behind Nkula Cocktail & Wine Boutique, a bold Long Street concept created to celebrate Black excellence and amplify underrepresented voices in South Africa’s wine industry. His vision was inspired by the principles of Black Consciousness and the legacy of Steve Biko, aiming to create more than just a wine venue but a cultural space rooted in pride, ownership and storytelling. Through Nkula, Simbi seeks to spotlight Black and brown winemakers, revive the cultural energy of Long Street, and build a premium, proudly African experience that centres community, creativity and legacy.

Alecs Besier, hailing from the Cape Town bar industry, has spent over 10 years in the industry as a barista, bartender, events planner, bar manager and Bartender trainer. Starting her bartending career at Cause Eﬀect Cocktail kitchen, Alecs has a flair for flavour and niche skills with foraging and botany. Vowing to learn as much about the industry as she could, she has worked for local distilleries and went onto work for Campari to gain brand knowledge. She spent time creating cocktails in Saudi Arabia when covid hit, and eventually took up at 50 Best ranked bar Art of Duplicity, delving into her love for classic cocktails. She has guested in prestigious bars in Milan and Dubai. While she was at the helm of AoD, she went on to win Remy Martin BTA, and represented South Africa globally in France. Since then, she has been nominated as South Africa’s best bartender 2023, ran the bar program at the Michelin star restaurant, managed events for Ajabu Africa Cocktail Festival and teaches at EBS and Pull North Yachting.

Evert de Jong has been working in the industry for 13 years, of which he has worked a wide variety of roles in the industry, from bartender, to events manager, from staff co-ordinator to GM and finally as an owner and director of Sin Tax Bar and Just Short. His passion for people, flavour and experience are what drives him and his teams. He is extremely proud to be a part of such an energetic industry in South Africa.

Co owner of the top 50 Discovery bar, Smoking Kills in Melville as well as a Project manager for Battalion Bars. Having started her career in the event industry 15 years ago while she studied her degree in the field found a deep love for cocktail culture, and how the industry brings people together when being forced to take a step back from the event industry in 2020 during prohibition. Although she has only been a part of the cocktail industry for 5 years, she has hit the ground running both locally and internationally with travel to Germany with the Hubertus Circle and consulting work in Africa. With a focus on making cocktail culture accessible and creating space for both Femme Presenting and Queer members of both the hospitality industry and guests, Aimee has fostered an environment and change in the industry built on inclusion, innovation and fun, because the drink as a part of the hospitality is as important as its ability to allow you to escape, relax and truly be yourself.

Sabrina is a charismatic woman with an untamed passion for all things spirits, cocktails, people, and building vibrant hospitality spaces. Since beginning her journey in the industry in 2016, she has held various impactful roles - from Bar Manager at The Athletic Club & Social to Head Instructor at the European Bartender School in Cape Town. She is currently the General Manager at BATANGA on Kloof Street, where she brings her signature energy, creativity, and operational expertise to one of Cape Town’s most dynamic hospitality venues. With a deep love for cocktail culture and education, Sabrina has also established herself as a systems-focused leader who thrives on building structure, developing talent, and creating platforms for others - most notably through TERRA Industry Nights, which launched in December 2024. Her goal is to continue championing growth, connection, and creativity in every space she steps into.

Josh Sarembock is a founder, entrepreneur, and brand builder shaping the future of South African hospitality. As the driving force behind Fable, he has positioned cape town as a rising voice on the global stage, using cocktails as a medium for storytelling, connection, and cultural pride. At the core of Josh's work is his belief in people. He is a team builder who prioritises culture, collaboration, and growth, creating environments where creativity flourishes and communities form around shared experiences. Under his leadership, fable’s team has become a family of hospitality artists—curious, cheeky, and deeply committed to craft—earning international recognition as one of the world’s most exciting bar collectives. Through his mix of entrepreneurial vision and cultural storytelling, Josh is not only growing brands but also pushing Africa forward, one cocktail and one community at a time.

Steven Olson has been helping to shape the beverage industry for almost 50 years. Getting his start in service, managing and operating restaurants and bars, he also carved his niche in the industry as writer, consultant, educator, lecturer, and even TV host, in his chosen profession, as the founder of aka wine geek, an educational and consulting group that he led, preaching the gospel of tasting for 25 years. Olson is particularly known for his pioneering work with Gin, Sherry, Spanish wine, Greek wine and spirits, Sake, Vermouth, Amari, Brandy of all types, and Whisky/Whiskey from all places, but is probably most well-known for his work with Agave spirits over the past 35+ years. For most of those years, he worked as aka maguey geek [co-operating and founding partner] for Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal. Olson may be best known to many, however, for his restaurant and bar consulting, having designed the innovative beverage programs and service systems for 50+ restaurants and bars in his career, including the Mayflower Inn in Connecticut, Gramercy Tavern in NYC, Christopher’s in Phoenix, the Borgata in Atlantic City, Aqua in Mexico, and the Summit at the BROADMOOR in Colorado Springs…amongst many others. Of his many accolades, Steve was selected as Santé Magazine’s Spirits Professional of the Year for 2003, awarded CHEERS Magazine’s Beverage Innovator of the Year, a lifetime achievement award in 2005, and was honored as Best Bar Mentor at the Spirited Awards at the 2012 Tales of the Cocktail. He currently is involved in some exciting projects, including: J. Rieger & Co, a craft distillery producing Gin, Whiskey and Amari in Kansas City, MO; Stray Dog Wild Gin and a portfolio of handcrafted spirits from Greece; and Uncle Waithley’s Ginger Beer, from founder Karl Williams. He will of course always work in agave spirits, acting as a liaison, and continuing his work with the palenqueros and the team in Oaxaca currently as consultant with Del Maguey. He continues to spend a large measure of his waking hours, however, as co-founder, and serving as co-operating partner with Doug Frost, MS, MW, in Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR), presenting the world’s most comprehensive distilled spirits and mixology program.

Thalitha Roux is a digital marketing and strategic branding consultant who has worked with AJABU since its inception, contributing to the development and refinement of the brand’s visual identity.

Active in the marketing industry since 2019, she has partnered with brands across technology, high end luxury jewellery, e commerce, and small local businesses, helping them build meaningful digital presence and commercial clarity. Her work has increasingly focused on FMCG and the hospitality industry, fueled by a deep passion for Cape Town’s cocktail culture.

Thalitha is the founder of Kopfkino Studios, a strategic brand agency specializing in thoughtful brand building and experience driven storytelling. She draws inspiration from travel, art, textiles, and the details that elevate everyday life.
“The cocktail industry feels like liquid art. It is a medium where people create experiences by layering flavor, technique, and storytelling.

What inspires me most is the passion and sense of purpose within this community. It is a space that supports one another, constantly pushes creative boundaries, and finds new ways to create meaningful moments for the people they serve.”

https://kopfkinostudios.com/

Our Partners

You’re invited to celebrate at Ajabu Cocktail & Spirits Festival!

The Ajabu festival is all about connecting, collaborating and creating, and the best of the global bars will be collaborating with the best of the local bars to create amazing cocktails that celebrate the incredible diversity of talent and ingredients in South Africa. And when you put incredible talent together and they collaborate … magic happens.

The top bars and restaurants of Johannesburg and Cape Town are easily accessible centres of excellence that provide the perfect forum to gather Africa’s – and the world’s – many influencers and tribes of spirit brands, trade, hospitality professionals, entrepreneurs, event producers, bar and restaurant owners, spirit makers, writer, marketeers, branding and marketing agencies, consumers, cocktail and drinks enthusiasts, and more!

AJABU Spirits & Cocktail Festival Cape Town | Starts in: