SANDILE (SANZA): THE YEOVILLE DINNER CLUB SPEARHEADS AFRICAN RENAISSANCE

Above and beyond the beautiful landscapes of Africa, lies a continent rich in culture and tradition. One may argue that in a world that’s constantly evolving, culture and tradition may not be able to keep up, but Africa, with its vast and diverse cultures, is experiencing a renaissance. It’s experiencing an awakening that celebrates the rich culture, arts and traditions that reside within the continent. At the forefront of this awakening is emerging African chefs who are redefining the continent’s culinary landscape, which also extends to the continent’s holistic cultural identity. Among these shape-shifters is the idea of a Pan-African dinner club, a unique platform created not only to celebrate African cuisine, but where African cuisine becomes a vehicle for cultural exchange, unity and empowerment. One of the well-known chefs from South Africa who has tapped into the concept is Chef Sanza Sandile.  

Chef Sanza Sandile & the Yeoville Dinner Club 

Chef Sanza Sandile is the founder of the Yeoville Dinner Club. The African continent is known for its diversity, and Yeoville is one of the most diverse South Africa’s suburbs – being home to many residents of different cultures and religions. “It was more about the neighbourhood, I grew up in Yeoville and I didn’t think this thing (Dinner Club) will work outside of Yeoville. It was more of a love letter to my neighbourhood”, says Chef Sanza. Starting the Yeoville Dinner Club was more than just about food to Chef Sanza, but also about storytelling and creating a balance between the ‘old’ Yeoville and the ‘new’ Yeoville. Sanza’s idea of storytelling and celebrating African cuisine plays a huge role in reviving and preserving traditional African culinary practices. His passion on storytelling is closely linked to his interpretations of African cuisine as he believes that people interpret food differently which could translate into how they make and prefer certain dishes. 

Pan-African Unity and African Cuisine 

Beyond the rich, delicious flavours of African cuisine, the Yeoville Dinner Club embodies the spirit of Pan-Africanism by uniting Africans from different parts of the continent with different backgrounds to share a meal. In doing so, the dinner club forms a sense of community, and belonging. This shared experience creates a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and cultural exchange, giving the diners an opportunity to engage in conversations that explore the shared challenges, opportunities, and aspirations of Africa. Through the dinner club, Chef Sanza is challenging stereotypes and reshaping how African cuisine is perceived globally.   

He grew up with his grandmother, who’d whip up some delicious meals, especially on Sundays – living in South Africa, nothing beats a “Sunday kos” meal. He may have learnt a lot of cooking skills from his granmother, but the chef says that he doesn’t necessarily use the old/traditional way of cooking – different cooking techniques with the same outcome (dish). Chef Sanza’s work is continuously paving a way for a new era of African culinary excellence, one that celebrates the country/continent’s history while pushing its culinary traditions into the future. 

A Taste of the Future

By reclaiming and celebrating the rich culture and diversity of the African continent through African cuisine, Chef Sanza is laying the groundwork for a new African Renaissance – one that is rooted in tradition but forward-looking in its approach. Through the universal language of food and the true appreciation of South Africa/Africa’s heritage, he is redefining what it means to be an African in the 21^st century one meal at a time. In doing so, the chef solidifies the beautiful relationship between storytelling and food.