Online Reporter
Gift Moyo, [email protected]
ONE of Zimbabwe’s leading traditional cuisine and cultural storytelling platforms, Magriza Made Me Cook, has announced August 5 as the official release date for its second season, with a special live premiere screening of the opening episode set for the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
The documentary-style series, which has gained a loyal following for celebrating Zimbabwe’s culinary heritage and cultural traditions, is entering a new chapter with a stronger emphasis on cinematic production, immersive storytelling and audience engagement. The focus of the brand is to document and highlight the uniqueness of African food, African culture and African traditions.
Founder Prince Sivalo Mahlangu said the team had deliberately chosen to launch the new season with an exclusive premiere, a first for the brand since its inception. The invitation-only event will bring together selected guests for an intimate viewing experience before the series is rolled out across major social media platforms.
Mahlangu said the decision was inspired by the desire to create a deeper connection between the production team and its growing audience.
“As a team, we realised that since the show’s inception, we had never actually held our own dedicated premiere. Our work has often been launched on other platforms or screened at various festivals, but never through an event created entirely by us, for our audience.
“We wanted to change that. We decided to create a space where people can experience first-hand the passion and craft behind our work, engage directly with our creative journey, and ask any questions about what went into producing this season,” he said.
The premiere marks a significant milestone for the platform, reflecting its evolution from a digital food series into a cultural documentation project with ambitions of reaching international audiences.
Mahlangu said the team had invested heavily in strengthening the production process while remaining committed to showcasing Zimbabwe’s rich culinary identity to the world.
“I’m committed to taking our work to the highest possible standard, and a big part of achieving that has been bringing stronger structure to our production process. I’m supported by an incredible team — Thembani Melusi Phakathi, Tswarelo Mothobe, Fungai Linda Mawada, Terrence Aswell, Ishmael Mkandla and Thamsanqa Sibanda — who have helped deepen and execute this vision.
“Above all, we are driven by the firm belief that Zimbabwe possesses a rich, world-class cuisine and cultural heritage that deserves to be documented and shared globally with pride,” he said.
Following the premiere, the remaining episodes will be released every Saturday across the platform’s major digital channels. Season Two will comprise 13 episodes, each continuing the series’ mission of preserving and promoting Zimbabwe’s diverse food traditions, cultural stories and heritage for both local and international audiences.
