Our Name
We are passionate about offering the finest spices West Africa has to offer, with a focus on freshness and flavor. Our products meet or exceed FDA food quality standards. Every batch is freshly milled and blended to ensure maximum potency and eliminate the risk of stale spices, delivering bold flavors with every use.
Our Founder
Anne Toba
Food is an important marker of cultural identity, history, and lived experience for the African Diaspora. In honor of that, our founder Anne Toba was inspired to call this brand Yaji, after the signature spice blend of her birth country, Nigeria. Yaji Spice brings together the vibrant flavors of West Africa, offering a taste of home while celebrating the rich culinary traditions of the region.
Anne Toba is a seasoned economic development leader with over 25 years of experience working across Africa, Europe, and the US. She has a proven track record of developing innovative, sustainable strategies that drive long-term economic and social impact. Her work focuses on creating market-based solutions that connect people and planet, emphasizing sustainability and ethical practices in the spice industry.
As the founder and CEO of Yaji Spice, Anne is committed to building sustainable, direct-from-farm supply chains that connect West African flavors to global markets. By sourcing high-quality spices directly from women-run farms, she ensures farmers receive a fair share of the value chain, empowering communities and enhancing livelihoods.
Professionally trained in human resources and general management for the luxury hotel and culinary sectors, Anne is passionate about African food and agriculture. Her mission with Yaji Spice is to share the bold, authentic flavors of West Africa with the world, while creating a platform for economic empowerment and cultural celebration.
