History

The African Ornamental Breeders Association (AOBA) was founded in 2019 by Congo/Belgian philanthropist and entrepreneur Jean Kiala-Inkisi. During a visit to Kenya, he observed a significant gap in the breeding sector: many breeders imported poultry from Europe, focusing on quantity over quality. This led to challenges in sourcing purebred animals. Additionally, across West and Central Africa, exotic breeds (European and Asian), introduced by the African diaspora, were becoming increasingly popular—often to the detriment of indigenous breeds.

Inspired by the European Association of Poultry, Pigeon, Cage Bird, Rabbit and Cavy Breeders (Entente Européenne EE d'Aviculture et de Caniculture) and regional organizations such as Poultry Club SA and the Southern African Show Poultry Organisation (SASPO), Jean Kiala-Inkisi founded AOBA to protect native breeds and manage the introduction of exotic ones. AOBA primarily serves breeders in West, Central, and East Africa, while welcoming members from across North and Southern Africa.