Nfor Bright Bungansa, Bright Grillzz Global
THE TOP10 MAGAZINE CELEBRITY CHEF OF THE YEAR
It is often said that opportunity could spring out of adversity, depending on how you respond when it strikes. The story of Mfor Bright Bungansa is a vivid illustration. His father died when he was a young boy and had to drop out of school. But instead of folding his arms and bemoan his fate, he embraced his childhood passion: animal grilling.
Today, the Abuja-based Cameroonian grill chef not only titilates the palate of the rich and celebrities across Africa, his culinary art has made him a celebrity in his own right. Well-known celebrities seek Bright’s services; he rubs shoulders with the high and mighty; acts and dreams big like them. You may call him Celebrity Chef, Super Chef, Executive Chef, International Chef – all would be fitting. And he attained that height on the wings of adversity.
Bright’s childhood dream was to become a medical doctor but the painful loss of his father at an early age put paid that. He had to make do with the high school education he had acquired in North Western Cameroon. He returned to animal grilling. “Growing up, I have always had a passion for grilling,” he recalled in an interview. “I used to grill for friends at parties or other ceremonies, not even knowing that I could make money from it.” Then a friend told him that he could make money out of his hobby if he relocated to a city. Young Bright took his friend’s counsel and moved to the city of Douala where he perfected the art of preparing barbecue and events planning and other ancillary services. He upgraded his skills and worked for others to raise money to set up his own small grill business back then in Cameroon. By 2006, Bright was established as one of the best hands in grill business in Douala.
He turned down many offers from Nigerians living in Douala to cross over to Nigeria as he stood to make more money in his chosen business. Then, one day, Bright met Obi Cubana, the celebrity Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, in Cape Town, South Africa, who was a guest at an event where the chef was contracted to provide grilling services. That chance meeting made all the difference. They discussed business with Cubana promising to open a place in Nigeria where Bright would manage the grilling section. The chef relocated to Nigeria 12 years ago.
While with Cubana in Abuja, Bright participated in the construction of the building housing Ibiza in Mararaba, near Abuja, trained their staff on grilling and, after some time, left Ibiza to join Caramello Lounge in Utako. It was from Caramello that Bright decided to be his own boss. He set up Bright Grillzz Global.
Bright grills any animal, ranging from different types of fish to any exotic animal. ”I grill any kind of animal apart from humans. I grill exotic animals like ostrich, crocodile, anything. Even lion, I’ll grill.” The one animal many would find intriguing and awesome is cow – yes, cow; Bright grills a whole cow!
Bright’s client base and service offerings cut across all segments of the society and sizes of social events. Bright and his team have catered for social events of almost any magnitude. Two of such events stick out in his memory: a burial ceremony in Anambra state and the Ochacho carnival in Benue State. He said the two events were tasking as he strived to feed a combined population of more than 8,000 people. The biggest of his career was the one in Anambra where he was restricted to the VIP section while other people took care of the rest of the crowd. “They bought all the animals and everything. I was paid a huge sum of money for my services. We were grilling 24 hours for three days.” The second event was the Ochacho carnival in Benue State which lasted for one week. “It was very big because I grilled for 5,000 people. I am proud to say I am the first ever in Nigeria. Bright jokingly added that he deserves a place in the Guinness World Record!
Bright admitted that at times he can be selective in functions he accepts to showcase his trade at. People invite him a lot, but when he reckons the payment is not worth his while, he would politely turn it down. This has given rise to the widely-held notion that he caters for the rich and the upper class only. He explains: “Sometimes, if we say that we do not grill for the poor, it sounds like we are not humble. But the honest truth is that even if you do good food, the poor man will not afford it. For instance, most Nigerians prefer to eat catfish, croaker, and tilapia. But the big boys will always go for fish like salmon. It is very expensive and it’s not found around here. So it is the food that makes the difference.” Bright travels across the country – Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Anambra, etc – and internationally, to deliver his culinary services.
Like the big boy he is, Bright is thinking big for both his company and the grilling business worldwide. To consolidate on its market share, Bright is intensifying efforts to move into his corporate headquarters sometime soon. He said that having a space exclusive to Bright Grillzz Global will offer him the opportunity to own both the grill and the bar as well as other additional services he can render to his clients. He regretted that as at the moment, he does not have the “opportunity to make use of the bar. And I bring the crowd coming to this place.”
Bright will soon introduce his exclusive spices and sauces into the Nigerian market. “I want to expand my business, very soon, I will be selling my own spice and sauce in tin that one can go to any supermarket and get them.” And for the industry, he does not hide his plans to float a culinary school where he will train the next generation of chefs. “I have all the plans and everything, but I’m still waiting for a good time to generate funds and prove to the world the talent God has given me.” In the interim, he is engaged in online training school for people across the world – America, Canada, Germany, London and other farflung parts of the world.
The grill Chef-in-Chief remains grateful to Nigeria for the opportunities he was given to blossom. “I want to appreciate the country Nigeria and Nigerians. I came to Nigeria. They accepted me as their own. They patronize me, and they promote me. If you check all my staff, I don’t have any Cameroonian among them. So I appreciate them so much, I love them, and I thank them for patronizing us always.” He plans to establish a foundation through which to give back to society that has been so kind to him. Until then, he’s quietly supporting deserving individuals or causes financially, directly or through fundraising on his social platforms.
Like fellow celebrities, the celebrity chef occasionally comes under pressure from those, especially his female clients, who are desperate to date him. When that happens, Bright’s business instinct pops up with a wedge. “I relate with you very normally. All I want is my money. When you pay me for my food, I go my way.” The good news, however, is that he is now engaged to his heartthrob and celebrity wedding bells will ring any time this year.
Mfor Bright Bungansa is being honoured by The Top10 magazine as the Celebrity Chef of the Year 2024 in recognition of the innovative value addition he has brought into the grilling business in Nigeria.
