Borrowed from Southern African mining pidgin and derived from Zulu and Xhosa words, “aikona” is widely used in South Africa to express shock or disbelief and it is a perfect example of some of the unique ways South Africans use to communicate with each other.
The actual word roughly translates to mean “No Way!”, as in… “Aikona, this is NOT Jerky! It’s Biltong!” – yes, we might have said those exact words a few times around here.
We are a humorous, sarcastic lot in Southern Africa, so we’re always looking to tickle that funny bone.
Est. 2006
From South Africa, with love
All our Biltong products are hand-made right here in Beautiful British Columbia. We go the extra mile to source only the very best ingredients and to imbue our Biltong lines with bold, rich and distinctive flavours that will have you hooked from your first bite. Our passion for this product is evident in our incredibly loyal customer base.
We love every Aikona product just as much as our customers, and it shows. Our goal is to make an old-school African product with a modern North American high standard. It takes time to make something amazing, and we have been doing it since 2006.
The Fealess Leader
Jamie
“Captain Jim”
Born and raised in South Africa, Jamie studied Culinary Arts in his home country and worked as an apprentice in London, England. His passion for exciting professional and personal experiences took him all over the world – think South Africa, UK, New Zealand, US. Finding love along the way ultimately brought him to his new home in Canada.
Ask anyone and you’ll quickly learn that Jamie is a family man first. His family is the reason he works to be a better version of himself every single day. When he’s not at work (which is quite rare), he’ll be found out in nature with his wife and kids. Look for them skiing or mountain biking the amazing British Columbian ranges, or exploring his (other) true passion – the ocean. He’s a certified master diver and volunteer with several coastal associations.
Jamie is truly passionate about building his business and creating something that we can all work within. For him, the Aikona team is a family: if one succeeds, we all succeed.
Lulu
Senior Sausage Master
Lulu has been with us for many years. Having immigrated from mainland China, she moved her family to Canada many moons ago. Lulu lives with her daughter Tianna and devotes every available hour to her. Her heart is definitely in the arts, having been passionate about dance and theatre for many years. Now she spends her free time taking her daughter Tianna to any and all dance and theatre productions (Broadway or otherwise) that make their way here to the beautiful B.C.
Lulu also has a sneaky collection of bone china tea sets, a developing passion. When she is not out galavanting, Lulu will be found running our kitchen with ruthless efficiency. She is the heart and soul of our production here at Aikona.
Charles
Account Manager
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa and raised largely in Vancouver, BC. Charles De Vries is an outgoing, self-motivated professional with a knack for computers and urban exploration. He spent his early life in Burnaby, B.C., gaining experience with local meat cutters at Safeway Inc and spending his free time learning and expanding knowledge on the technological side of his life. He learned the value of hard work and determination from his first mentors, which carried him to future success.
In later years, Charles expanded his knowledge and passion for computers and data to school for studies in accounting at Douglas College. Wanting to explore his roots while furthering his professional journey, Charles was taken under the wing of Jamie at Africa Trading. Here, he enjoys exploring his culture of birth, all while engaging with dynamic partners and projects.
Charles is a huge fan of biltong! He loves to bring a bag on the occasional hike – he’s eaten it all his life and undoubtedly will continue to do so! Charles also spends his spare time with his partner Jason and creates worlds for D&D with his friends. He aspires to earn his CPA designation in the coming years.
Lauchlin
Apprentice Biltong Master
Lauchlin has a strong fundamental work ethic. Having come to us a couple of summers ago for part-time weekend work in the Pot Wash, he has proven to be not only a great asset but also a great team member who has built solid bonds here.
Always ready to tackle new challenges and build new skills, Lauchlin has shown an incredible willingness to learn and grow. He has worked his way up to retail sales, and now to Summer Meat Cutter.
When not giving his all in his role here, you will find Lauchlin devoted to soccer, hanging out with his friends and family, or exploring new video games. He is currently working towards his post-secondary degree in North Burnaby. Before we forget: young Master Lauchlin is a member of the Burnaby Metro Soccer team and an SFU clinic member!
Yolanda
Team Specialist & Events Maestro
Yolanda is an ex Zimbo/ South African who loves people. Her family is her priority, and that includes her beloved pets – two cats and a dog. Even though it is temporary, she loves working with Aikona at Africa Trading as this is a place where she gets to meet and engage with loads of great Africans and Canadians. It helps her to stay connected with her roots.
Yolanda’s full-time job consists of working with grants to help the sick and needy children of B.C. Every now and then, Jamie will cause chaos in the store and, of course, Yolanda is the one who has to save the day. The truth is – she is always happy to help as they have been great friends. In Yolanda’s words: “Jamie has a heart of gold and will always give someone the benefit of the doubt. He makes me work at being a better person.”
She has been an Aikona customer and an employee, both exceptional experiences. We hope you get to meet her when you come in!
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