Cooking My Grandmother’s Ndebele Sorghum Recipes

In this video, I’ll be sharing how to make two incredible Ndebele sorghum dishes. This is in preparation for the Good Seed and Food Festival happening on the 19th and 20th of September 2025 in Harare.

First, we’ll cook Isidlwadlwa, a hearty and savoury dish combining sorghum and tender beef. Back in the day, the dish was made from Uhayezi, gravy and small pieces of meat, preferably an ox-head.

Then, we’ll prepare Umcaba, a refreshing and unique recipe that blends sorghum with amasi (fermented milk). Umcaba is my favourite dish and reminds of my initial cooking lessons with my grandmother. The opening narration was done by the late historian and cultural icon, Pathisa Nyathi, in one of our last projects with him. He shared incredible insights on how maize made its way to Africa. A tribute to his immense legacy.

These are more than just recipes; they’re a celebration of tradition and flavour. Join me as I walk you through the simple, step-by-step process for each dish. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more indigenous African recipes!