Tastes of Africa, a new three-part series hosted by Santilla Chingaipe, will explore the food, culture and stories of Melbourne’s African-Australian community when it launches on YouTube.
The 3 x 15-minute series takes Chingaipe into home kitchens and hidden eateries across Melbourne, meeting aunties, chefs and younger African-Australians who are keeping traditional recipes alive while putting their own spin on them.
From Ghana’s waakye to umxhanxa from Zimbabwe, Chingaipe explores the flavours behind dishes from across the African continent, while hearing the stories that have travelled with them.
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Santilla Chingaipe explores Melbourne’s African food scene in Tastes of Africa (image – Nicole Cleary / Blacksand Pictures)
The series also looks beyond the food itself, exploring migration, survival, memory and belonging, and how African food in Australia is evolving alongside new generations and communities.
In the final episode, Chingaipe returns to her own kitchen to host a celebratory feast, bringing together some of the dishes and memories gathered throughout the series.
“Food is like a language. And like language, it evolves, but it also roots us. It reminds us where we come from, even as we find new ways to belong,” Chingaipe says.
Produced by Blacksand Pictures, Tastes of Africa is created and produced by Kauthar Abdulalim, written and directed by Rendah Haj, and edited by Kalu Oji.
Chingaipe is a Zambian-born filmmaker, historian and author whose work explores settler colonialism, slavery and contemporary migration in Australia. She was recognised by the United Nations in 2019 as one of the most influential people of African descent in the world.
The series has received principal production funding from Screen Australia in association with VicScreen, with its promotion and industry development supported by the Kenya Film Commission.
Tastes of Africa will be available globally through the African Australian YouTube channel from Monday, August 31.
Episodes of Tastes of Africa will be available on the African Australian YouTube channel from Monday, August 31.
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