Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena [email protected]
South Africa-based Zimbabwean dancehall and reggae artiste Buffalo Souljah, born Thabani Ndlovu, has expanded his entrepreneurial footprint beyond music with the launch of his first restaurant, Sadza ne Nyama, in Fourways, north of Johannesburg.
The restaurant officially opened its doors on July 9, marking a new chapter for the award-winning musician, who says the venture is about far more than food. For him, it is a celebration of Zimbabwean culture, identity and heritage.
Having established himself as one of Zimbabwe’s most recognisable musical exports in South Africa through collaborations with artistes across the region, the multi-award-winning musician is now using cuisine as another platform to promote his roots.
His latest venture follows a growing trend of entertainers diversifying into the hospitality industry, joining names such as MiCasa member J’Something, owner of Artistry, music producer Oskido of Daruma by Oskido, DJ Shimza, founder of The Hang Awt 1632, and entrepreneur Louis Roux, whose ventures include Pablo Eggs-go-Bar and Pablo Sandton.
As its name suggests, Sadza ne Nyama celebrates one of Zimbabwe’s most cherished culinary traditions. The menu features authentic home-style dishes centred on sadza, alongside free-range chicken and Highfields’ famous Hifiridzi, a seasoned leafy vegetable dish inspired by the iconic Harare suburb.
Buffalo Souljah said the dream of opening the restaurant had been years in the making after watching other communities successfully preserve and promote their cultures through food.
“I’ve always admired how Nigerians and Asian communities proudly promote their culture through food. For me, music and food go hand in hand because both bring people together. It has always been my dream to establish a Zimbabwean restaurant that represents our cuisine on an international stage,” he said.
Choosing the restaurant’s name, he said, required little debate because sadza remains the cornerstone of Zimbabwean cuisine.
“We wanted a name that immediately tells people what we are about. Sadza is the foundation of our meals, so Sadza ne Nyama felt natural. It’s simple, memorable and authentic, just like some of the biggest food brands that are instantly recognised by what they serve,” said Buffalo Souljah.
While he oversees the business, Buffalo Souljah has entrusted the kitchen to experienced Zimbabwean chefs he has worked with over the years through catering events.
“I’ve partnered with chefs I’ve known and trusted for a long time. They’ve been cooking Zimbabwean food professionally at different catering events, so bringing them together for this project made perfect sense.
“While they handle the kitchen operations, I remain actively involved in managing the business and ensuring that the vision is realised,” he said.
Although Zimbabweans remain the restaurant’s core market, he said the response from other African communities has exceeded expectations.
“What has surprised me the most is the diversity of our customers. We have South Africans, Congolese, Zambians and Nigerians coming in regularly to experience Zimbabwean cuisine. It’s encouraging to see people embracing our culture through food,” he said.
For Buffalo Souljah, entrepreneurship is nothing new. The Mufakose-born musician said his business instincts were nurtured from an early age in Harare, long before he pursued music professionally. Before relocating to South Africa, he was already involved in cross-border trading, buying and selling clothing, cellphones and computers.
“I’ve always balanced business with my artistic career. Even as a young boy in Mufakose, my mother would send me to sell freezits during school sports events. Those experiences taught me the value of hard work and entrepreneurship from an early age.
“I used to buy and sell clothing, cellphones and computers across the border. Business has always been part of my journey, so opening a restaurant feels like a natural progression rather than a completely new venture,” he said.
With a career spanning more than a decade, Buffalo Souljah has amassed 10 awards, including honours at the Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, Soundcity Music Awards and Zimdancehall
Awards, while also earning nominations at major platforms such as the AFRIMMAs.
Despite branching into the hospitality industry, the musician has shown that his passion for music remains unwavering. Last year, he released his long-awaited album Motherland, and this year reaffirmed his relevance with a standout feature on Nutty O’s hit single Pane Acha Chema. The song quickly became a fan favourite, amassing close to one million views on YouTube within a short period.
