Hi and welcome to my blog. I am so glad you landed on this page to meet me, Freda Muyambo, author of My Burnt Orange! So let me tell you a little bit about myself.

About Freda Muyambo, Author of My Burnt Orange

My name is Freda Muyambo, author of My Burnt Orange blog. My blog is dedicated to my love of family, African food and a few moments where I describe how I balance it all as a career woman. I have 4 children, have started up and run businesses and I love cooking dishes from across Africa and beyond. You can probably tell I have a very busy life. However I ALWAYS make time to focus on what I want to achieve.

My Career Path

I am a certified project finance professional and have lived and worked in several countries across the world. I started my career path in electrical engineering at the Australian Gas and Light Company (AGL) in Melbourne. Next, I got into project management in the UK where I ended up at Transport for London. After that I took on further studies in Construction Economics and Management, plus a certification in project finance. Today I am equiped with the skills and qualifications to look at major infrastructure projects at scale.

My Motivation

Over the years I learned how my career had less to do with machines but had a higher focus on what machines could do for humanity. Infrasturcture particulary helps women and children in under-developed parts of the world.

During my time in Australia and the UK, I saw how much power and light literally liberated women. Energy frees us from being stuck at home for hours on end with the burden of housework. We now have machines that can do this for us. These are powered by electricity. We also have vast rail transport networks and brightened up roads and footpaths. These create a safer way for women and children to get from point A to B.

Therefore throughout my work life I have thought about how wonderful it would be if we could achieve the same for people in the continent of my birth. Moreover that inspired me to do the most I can with my career, education and professional development. I started out as an engineer and developed my career as a project management professional. Finally I am venturing out into the world of project finance and private equity to further Africa’s develpoment. If you want to read more about my career and check out my professional profile on LinkedIn, you can do that over here.

My mantra is taken from the KiSwahili proverb “Mwanamke ni chachu ya maendeleo.”

A woman is an important part of any development effort.

Food is My Personal Passion

I travel the world in search of culinary inspiration and find one of the best ways to immerse myself into a culture is through food. Therefore I take the opportunity to learn about local foods in my travels. We had a wonderful experience learning about Thai Culinary Arts from the head chef at a hotel in Thailand and then Portuguese cuisine at a country cooking school in The Algarve. It is my hope that in sharing my recipes, I will challenge the misconception that African food is unhealthy, and even throw in some great Afro vegetarian ideas.

Since starting this blog in 2011, I have received an overwhelming amount of accolades from publications such as the African Economist, CNN, BBC, the Guardian, contributed my knowledge to other sites and got published in some multi author books. I was the official African Cuisine expert writer at TheSpruceEats and also contribute to the vibrant internatinal food blogs 196flavors and Curious Cuisiniere.

What Is My Cultural Background?

I was born and raised in Botswana to Ghanaian parents, and now I am married to a Zimbabwean. Therefore I have what I like to call a pan African flavour with a world wide reach. I have lived and worked in the most amazing international cities out of Africa, namely Melbourne and London and am also well travelled. These international cities gave me my cosmopolitan flair.

Where Can You Find Me

Right now we are in Lagos, Nigeria with our four children. Prior to this, we lived in London where our family grew from two to five through the addition of three little kids. Before the kids came along, we met in Melbourne, Australia. As you can see my family has been on the move quite a bit as we have grown and pursued careers and a life fit for us. So who knows where the next adventure could lead us?

Support me online!

Other than that you can always find me online on my various social media platforms.

Please follow me on Instagram.

Check out my informative videos on YouTube.

Like my Facebook page.

Ask me a question on Twitter.

Connect with me on LinkedIn.

Most importantly, share my content 😃.

*My Burnt Orange is the home of the Afro Cosmopolitan Diet. I am not a dietitian. Views are my own and based on personal experiences I am happy to share if it helps. If you need access to dietitians, I know a great African Dietitian.*