Schoolchildren explore Zimbabwe’s culinary heritage at BAF

In front of dozens of eager schoolchildren, Amagugu International Heritage Centre, in collaboration with Magriza Made Me Cook and the British Council, hosted a traditional food heritage workshop at the Small City Hall on Wednesday as part of the ongoing Bulawayo Arts Festival.

Facilitated by Amagugu International Heritage Centre director Allington Ndlovu, the workshop provided an engaging educational experience for young learners, who watched a documentary exploring the heritage of Zimbabwe’s traditional staple foods.

Produced by traditional food brand Magriza Made Me Cook and directed by Prince Sivalo, the documentary offered a blend of storytelling and education, highlighting the cultural significance of indigenous cuisine.
“It’s important to note that food is an important cultural expression, just like spirituality, clothing, language, architecture and cosmology. Its importance within the Zimbabwean context is further enhanced by the fact that food is something we consume daily. It also demonstrates how, as a country, we utilise the richness of our indigenous ingredients and recipes that have been passed down from one generation to another,” said Sivalo.

Through the documentary, learners gained insight into the rich history of traditional Zimbabwean cuisine, its nutritional benefits, and the growing threat posed by the increasing popularity of fast foods and convenience meals, which are gradually replacing indigenous diets in many African households.
“The Long Lost Cuisines workshop, which we conducted in collaboration with Amagugu International Heritage Centre, was focused on highlighting indigenous dishes that are disappearing before our eyes. We hope to expand the initiative to other areas and document more recipes and cultural practices,” said Sivalo.

As the workshop progressed, learners were given an opportunity to engage with the facilitators, asking questions about traditional cuisine and the preparation methods behind some of the dishes featured in the documentary.