Sustainable Indulgence: The Artisanal Bakery Revolutionizing South Africa’s Indigenous Culinary Scene

Have you ever tasted a cookie that tells a story? At ka Mafuri Artisan Bakery, each bite is a narrative of tradition, sustainability, and innovation.

It all began in a village next to Zebediela Citrus Estate, about 45 kilometers from Polokwane City, Limpopo Province, South Africa, which used to be one of the biggest citrus plantations in the world. Oranges were in abundance including dry ones that we consumed in winter. In hindsight, these were the batches that could not pass the regulatory citrus standards for exports that the Estate offered to the surrounding villages. At that time my grandparents were subsistence farmers and every family in the village.

My grandmother, a meticulous artist, and cook, used to feed the entire family with seasonal farm fresh produce that included, maraka, mafodi, dinawa,diphara, merogo in multiple varieties, and African watermelon and red sweet sorghum for a sweet treat. As the village was still small there were areas of land separate from farming sides(mashemo) where the children enjoyed wild fruits like dithwetla, mago, mabilo, etc. Come winter my grandmother would make delicious, satiating nutrient dense dishes like kgodu, dikgobe, khusha, and other delicacies that she so lovingly and delicately prepared for winter using farm produce specifically preserved and stored in the pantry (ka Mafuri ). These stories and many others coupled with a background where sustainable farming methods of indigenous food brought ka Mafuri Artisan Bakery to life.

At the beginning of 2020, I got a call from a prospective customer referred to me by a local farmer. The customer required cookies baked only with indigenous ingredients, which could not be found in any of the bakeries in Gauteng Province. Because I am passionate about what I do, I was so fascinated and driven by the challenge that I formulated a recipe and baked the cookies based on his needs with sorghum as the main ingredient. By the time I was finished with his order, another customer came to collect her regular order, and I let her taste the new custom-made cookies. She tasted and loved the cookies and instantly placed an order for the weekend. I had 2 orders for a new product in less than a week. This further fuelled the drive to take ka Mafuri Artisan Bakery to another level.

ka Mafuri Artisan Bakery is a specialist bakery offering nutrient-dense, scrumptious bakes using climate-smart ingredients sustainably grown by local farmers as part of our strategy to promote good health while bringing these markets to the mainstream food value chain. We are founded by Imelda Kekana, a food enthusiast, recipe developer, seed collector, and passionate baker to craft healthy and innovative food solutions for the body and the mind. We are more than bakers; we are storytellers. We weave a narrative of South Africa’s vibrant heritage into every baked product.

We envision driving innovative sustainable food choices with environmental, social, and economic impact and a future where indigenous ingredients are appreciated and integrated into everyday culinary experiences.

We understand the relentless pace of modern life. That’s why we offer a variety of delicious and nutritious options to suit our customers’ dietary needs and busy schedules. Our muffins, cookies, and crackers are made with naturally gluten-free finger millet, pearl millet, sorghum, moringa, and marula packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants all of which are great for gut health, diabetics, and those with celiac diseases and many other non-communicable diseases. These are available in dairy-free, sugar-free, nut-free, egg-free, vegan, and vegetarian-friendly options to cater to the needs of those with food allergies and intolerances. We plan to incorporate baobab in our bakes, a naturally growing superfood that supports the immune system with adaptogenic effects that decrease stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

Our exciting and trend-setting innovative use of indigenous ingredients and attention to detail gives us a competitive edge. Our boldness to try new recipes not only keeps our customers coming back but also influences their healthy eating choices.

Part of our unique selling proposition is that the founder, an Indigenous Food revivalist and Innovator, has lived this lifestyle and understands traditional South African food cuisine. This will assist ka Mafuri Artisanal Bakery in unlocking the value of artisanal food mastery that will make our customers feel comfortable and confident in our product offerings whilst at the same time revolutionizing the bakery/food industry.

ka Mafuri Artisan Bakery represents a brand that defines and communicates our uniqueness and speaks to who we are, what we do, and what we believe in, all of which reflect our ancestry and heritage in terms of food mastery and intelligentsia.

We are endorsed by Proudly South African.

Our vision is bigger than us hence we collaborate with industry experts including but not limited to Food Scientists, Dieticians, Researchers, Indigenous knowledge Holders, and Academia to travel this f lavourful journey towards a greener future and greater impact. Amongst other such initiatives in 2022, the founder Imelda Kekana was invited by Dr Hema Kesa, Director of Food Evolution Research Laboratory (FERL) School of Tourism & Hospitality, University of Johannesburg for a guest talk to post-graduate students on a module, Sociology of Food and Beverage: Food and Nutrition Security. It is through such collaborations that South African indigenous food mastery will be revived and practiced, and hopefully stimulate further research and indigenous knowledge preservation.

For businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry, partnering with ka Mafuri Artisan Bakery means offering your clients an authentic slice of South Africa. Whether you’re a hotel looking to impress guests with our Sorghum, Moringa & Poppy seeds cookies for afternoon tea or a tour operator seeking our satiating Finger Millet, Chocolate & Vanilla muffins for the long road ahead, ka Mafuri Artisan Bakery is your partner in creating memorable experiences. Our bakery has the potential to enhance your value proposition by providing baked products that are not only delicious but also aligned with the growing demand for sustainable and responsible travel experiences that reflect and connect clients with local culture.

ka Mafuri Artisan Bakery is based in Centurion and can be contacted at +27 76 814 3317/ imeldam@vodamail.co.za

“Dignity in every bite”, a celebration of Africa’s unique flavours.

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