Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu,Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE Amagugu International Heritage Centre (AIHC) in Natisa, Matobo, was a hive of cultural activity on Saturday as scores of people gathered for the annual Amagugu Food and Beverage Festival — a vibrant celebration of traditional cuisine, knowledge sharing and cultural identity.
A key highlight of the two-day festival was the launch of the compelling Ukudla kweMatojeni Photography Exhibition, a visual feast curated by AIHC’s Mellisa Nonhlanhla Moyo, with support from seasoned photo-videographer and YouTuber Prince Sivalo Mahlangu, of Magriza Made Me Cook fame.
Moyo, a tourism and heritage conservation professional, described the exhibition as a heartfelt tribute to the culinary traditions of the Matobo Hills region.
“Ukudla kweMatojeni invites people to explore the profound connection between food and identity within the Matobo Hills. This exhibition is a visual anthology of my culinary travels. I believe food is the most eloquent expression of a people’s culture. These photographs trace the lineage of flavour and memory, showcasing dishes I’ve known since childhood — meals that shaped my identity.”
She also highlighted the exhibition’s deeper mission: to celebrate often-overlooked indigenous ingredients, ancestral cooking methods and the historic art of fermentation.
“We are paying homage to the ingenuity of our forebears, who perfected fermentation and gave us ancestral beverages with character. Each image is a deep dive into the soul of our culinary heritage,” she said.
Mahlangu, who photographed 13 traditional dishes including inkobe zofutho, isitshwala senyawuthi, isiswayo senkomo (adopted from Botswana’s Tswana people), inyama yenkomo edwaleni (braaied meat on the rocks), amasi omcaba, and isihaqa, said the project was intended to honour the healing and cultural power of food.
“This pictorial experience is not just about beauty, but about knowledge. Our traditional foods carry medicinal properties. In our culture, esintwini sethu, food is medicine — ukudla ngumuthi. That’s why dishes like isihaqa had to be included.”
Beyond the exhibition, the festival hosted interactive cultural and gastronomic sessions, with presentations by heritage experts and community leaders such as Wayne Malinga, Ayanda Mafela, Matobo District Development Co-ordinator Obey Chaputsira, Michael Ndiweni, Makhosi Mahlangu, Arnold Mayibongwe Nkala and Prince Mahlangu.
One of the attendees, Chris Musariri, praised the event’s educational value.
“It was quite a fruitful experience, especially as it was my first time attending. Capturing images of traditional dishes, ingredients and cooking methods creates a powerful record for future generations. I was particularly impressed to see young girls from Minda Girls High School taking part,” he said.
Celebrated poet Sithandazile “Um’Africakazi” Dube, led the programme and hosted a lively traditional food quiz that captivated the audience. The festival also featured food stalls set up by the local community and Minda Girls High School learners, proudly showcasing traditional dishes that told stories of heritage and healing.
The Amagugu Food and Beverage Festival continues to grow into a vital space for cultural education and culinary storytelling — a living archive of Matabeleland’s rich traditions. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
