SOUTH AFRICAN CULINARY HERITAGE
The book South African Culinary Heritage by Eunice Rakhale, is about local food history and traditions interlaced with family conversations. It illustrates the culinary diversity of Southern African cuisine and some neighbouring countries, comparing the similarities and unique palatable heritages thereof. Written in a conversational style, the book is a handy culinary compilation which will bestow the reader with explorations regarding local African lifestyles history, art, clothing, music and perhaps even some song and dance. For tourists visiting these African countries – possessing a diversity of ethnic cultures, it is a worthy read regarding heritage and of-course African cuisine. A guide which should be included in any tourist’s travel pack and families. It is about a genuine story told with an extraordinary ability that draws parallel between the author’s struggle in the restaurant industry and in her personal life. Ultimately, her passion for food is where she finds solace to learn, heal and grow. Mother Daughter relationships can be extremely complex and Eunice is no exception. In the book, besides a plethora of authentic recipes and history, she shares candidly about her strained relationship with her daughter Mothei Makhetha. Being estranged for seven years, Mothei writes her mother a letter, in a desperate cry for help, which she hopes will begin the healing process. After receiving the letter, circumstances of her life took Eunice back home to her mother in Moletsane, Soweto. This happens while she is researching her culinary book authenticating the recipes through the help of her mother. This handing down of recipes from her mother gets them connected on a very deep level, thus, creating compassion and trust they never had. In desperation Eunice seeks counselling from her own mother to try and mend the relationship with her daughter. Their journey is one of true and sincere conversations handed down from one generation to another, around family meals and prayerful family meetings.
The book South African Culinary Heritage by Eunice Rakhale, is about local food history and traditions interlaced with family conversations. It illustrates the culinary diversity of Southern African cuisine and some neighbouring countries, comparing the similarities and unique palatable heritages thereof. Written in a conversational style, the book is a handy culinary compilation which will bestow the reader with explorations regarding local African lifestyles history, art, clothing, music and perhaps even some song and dance. For tourists visiting these African countries – possessing a diversity of ethnic cultures, it is a worthy read regarding heritage and of-course African cuisine. A guide which should be included in any tourist’s travel pack and families.
It is about a genuine story told with an extraordinary ability that draws parallel between the author’s struggle in the restaurant industry and in her personal life. Ultimately, her passion for food is where she finds solace to learn, heal and grow.
Mother Daughter relationships can be extremely complex and Eunice is no exception. In the book, besides a plethora of authentic recipes and history, she shares candidly about her strained relationship with her daughter Mothei Makhetha. Being estranged for seven years, Mothei writes her mother a letter, in a desperate cry for help, which she hopes will begin the healing process. After receiving the letter, circumstances of her life took Eunice back home to her mother in Moletsane, Soweto. This happens while she is researching her culinary book authenticating the recipes through the help of her mother. This handing down of recipes from her mother gets them connected on a very deep level, thus, creating compassion and trust they never had. In desperation Eunice seeks counselling from her own mother to try and mend the relationship with her daughter.
Their journey is one of true and sincere conversations handed down from one generation to another, around family meals and prayerful family meetings.
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Eunice Rakhale-Molefe
with my son brought me face-to-face with who I was as a
parent; that is, from his perspective; and, definitely, not
from the way I had been seeing myself, as a parent. The
reality made me see the pain and hurt I had caused him, and
I was filled with Godly sorrow!
The pain was too difficult for both me and my distraught –
but now healing son, leaving us both emotionally drained
and worn-out. I had learnt about this later from my daughter
in law and my daughter, as we reflected on our healing as a
family. We both could not comment about our meetings to
them except being so drained that all we could do was sleep
on the days after our discussions. The meetings took
different turns, from walk-outs, angry outbursts, to tons of
tears. We both painfully allowed the process to take its
course. Sadly, this is the part that families fear the most.
Grueling as it was, my son and I were committed to talking
things through.
The workshops, as we came to call these family meetings, just
like losing the restaurants, brought me to my knees. I had to
pray for God to give me courage and understanding.
Someone reading this should understand that this sadness
was eventually going to bring joy; therefore, it was critical
for me to endure each painful moment. I got to understand
what the Apostle, Paul, had meant when he described his
joy in 2 Corinthians 7:10: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that
leads to salvation and leaves no regret; but worldly sorrow brings
death.” Worldly sorrow is when we feel sorry for ourselves.
God was showing me the mistakes I had made as a parent;
not to penalise me, or because I was a bad mother; and was,
rather, giving me an opportunity to make amends with my
children. For the resultant healing to happen, I did not need
to feel sorry for myself; but I had to feel the sadness of God
in my children’s pain, instead. Feeling sorry for ourselves is
what stands in the way of healing for our families.
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