From recording food videos in her modest kitchen in Accra to standing face-to-face with TikTok CEO Shou Chew in Cannes, Chef Abbys’ journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
The Ghanaian creator, who was the only African selected by TikTok for the 2025 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, described her meeting with the CEO of one of the world’s biggest tech platforms as “surreal.”
“I couldn’t believe someone at the top of this massive platform was shaking hands with me,” she recounted in an interview.
“It felt like a full-circle moment. From filming in my kitchen to standing in front of TikTok’s leadership it reminded me that storytelling has no borders.”
Chef Abbys was one of 50 creators featured on TikTok’s global Discover List, and her inclusion at Cannes highlighted the platform’s efforts to uplift diverse creative voices.
During the festival, she appeared on a Nestlé panel, engaged with fellow creators, and hosted meet-and-greet sessions but her interaction with Shou Chew marked a personal and professional high.
Rather than diving into self-promotion, her first words were those of appreciation.
“I thanked him for giving us such an incredible platform to share our passions, our crafts, and our stories,” she said. “I told him we don’t take it for granted.”
Chef Abbys then seized the opportunity to advocate for African inclusion in the global creator economy.
“I asked him a question that’s close to my heart: how TikTok can ensure sustainable growth for African creators and include us in global creative economy conversations,” she said.
Her interaction with Chew wasn’t just a photo-op it was a meaningful moment of representation and purpose, underscoring the importance of creators from the continent being heard at the highest levels of decision-making.
The Cannes Lions Festival is the world’s most prestigious event celebrating creativity in advertising, marketing, and communications.
It is held every year in Cannes, France, typically in June, and brings together professionals from brands, agencies, media companies, and tech firms.
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