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.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
South African Culinary Heritage
The Basotho people, especially the men, wrap their
traditional blanket as an accessory. The blanket is not
only a part of the Basotho people’s everyday life, but a status
symbol as well. It is a mark of their ethnic identity and,
therefore, a token of cultural identification. In fact, for the
people of Lesotho, theirs is the only nation south of the
Sahara that illustrates the culture of an entire nation through
such an individualistic item as a tribal blanket. The visible
stripes on the blankets are known as pin-stripes. According
to historical records, these 1cm stripes originally came about
as a weaver’s fault. Instead of correcting this fault, the
manufacturer shipped them with these mistakenly woven
pin-stripes, which had then subsequently became a
traditional feature. The Basotho traditional blankets differ
from most modern blankets, in that these are almost entirely
made of wool (88% wool and 12% cotton), hence their typically
rougher and firmer texture.
These blankets are used during ceremonial occasions.
Although these blankets’ styles have been subject to outside
influences, they are still – to this day – closely linked with
the milestones of Basotho family life. Boys preparing for the
circumcision ritual don special fertility blankets which are
known as the Moholobelo. After the ceremony, the boys are
considered to have reached manhood, and they are then
expected to wear yet another kind of blanket, which is called
the Lekhokolo.
On his wedding, a man wears a blanket that is called the
Motlotlehi, and he presents his wife with a blanket that is
known as the Serope when their first child is born. Before
her wedding day, a woman spends a great deal of time trying
on and selecting blankets for her bridal attire. Women’s
blankets are quite different to men’s blankets, and theirs are
designed to be pinned over their bosoms, whereas the men
pin the blankets over their right shoulder.
43
Change language