BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MANZINI – Eswatini is set to become the continent’s culinary capital as the Southern African Food Festival (SAFFEST) 2026 brings Africa’s biggest food celebration to the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre from 15 to 18 July.
Held under the theme “Uniting Nations Through Flavour,” the four-day festival will unite chefs, food lovers, hospitality professionals and culinary enthusiasts from across Africa to celebrate the richness and diversity of African cuisine.
Delegates from 13 confirmed African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana, are expected to participate, positioning Eswatini as a hub for culinary tourism and hospitality excellence.
The festival programme includes live cooking competitions, culinary exhibitions, educational seminars, networking opportunities, professional masterclasses and cultural experiences aimed at showcasing Africa’s rich culinary heritage while promoting collaboration across the continent.
One of the event’s key attractions will be the SAFFEST Thought Table, where chefs, tourism leaders, farmers, educators and industry experts will discuss culinary tourism, youth empowerment, sustainability, indigenous African ingredients, innovation and the future of African gastronomy.
A series of paid masterclasses, each costing E300, will also give participants the opportunity to learn from renowned African chefs.
Friday, 17 July
• 11:30am – 12:30pm: Vegan Foods with Chef Milly B. Pabari
• 12:30pm – 1:30pm: Italian Desserts with Chef Dibuseng
• 1:30pm – 2:30pm: Red Meat Masterclass with Chef Nario Tala
• 2:30pm – 3:30pm: Trout Masterclass with Lesotho’s Chef Mopeli
Saturday, 18 July
• 9:00am – 10:00am: Cooking the Perfect Oxtail & Ox Tongue with Chef Andile Somdaka
• 10:00am – 11:00am: Seabass & Tilapia with Chef Sive Bhembe
• 11:00am – 12:00pm: Seafood Boil with Chef Nthabeleng
• 12:00pm – 1:00pm: Butter Chicken with Flavour Lab Chef William Norry
• 1:00pm – 2:00pm: Stir-Fry & Pasta Creations with Pesto Princess Chef Pitso Qwabe
• 2:00pm – 3:00pm: Beef Pilau with Chef Andrew Alikuluya
• 3:00pm – 4:00pm: Legume Salads with Chef Mahlomola Thamae
• 4:00pm – 5:00pm: Product Demonstration – Cooking with Tolokazi Beer by Chef Absa
Organisers say SAFFEST 2026 aims to strengthen collaboration within Africa’s food and hospitality sectors while creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, business networking and tourism growth through the universal language of food.
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