World Service

Yewande Komolafe has spent her life telling stories through food. Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, she was immersed in the magic of the kitchen, watching her mother create recipes for Cadbury and learning how food could carry memory and belonging. But it was science she chose to pursue, moving to the United States as a teenager to study biochemistry. Her plans took an unexpected turn when her older brother died following a sickle cell crisis, a condition she also lives with. This tragedy inspired her to pursue a new path in professional kitchens, and she'd go on to become a celebrated recipe developer, cookbook author, and New York Times food writer. Shortly after the publication of her cookbook, My Everyday Lagos, Yewande fell sick, was placed in an induced coma, and had both legs and most of her fingers amputated. After months of recovery, she had to rediscover her relationship with cooking. Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Marcia Veiga Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp 44 330 678 2707 (Photo: Yewande Komolafe looks directly into the camera. She is seated in her wheelchair with her left hand resting beneath her chin. A grey brace covers her fingers, leaving only her thumb visible. Her background is her kitchen with personal objects of everyday life. She wears her hair in dreadlocks, dark lipstick and a loose-fitting black robe decorated with an artistic pattern. Credit: Lanna Apisukh )