Onezwa Mbola has thanked supporters after her cookbook, “A Food Love Story”, became the number one selling cookbook in South Africa.
Image: Facebook/Onezwa Mbola
South African content creator and author Onezwa Mbola has expressed gratitude to supporters after her cookbook, “A Food Love Story”, became the number one selling cookbook in the country.
Taking to social media, Mbola thanked readers, home cooks and supporters who helped make the book a success since its release last month.
“To everyone who bought my cookbook, cooked from its pages, shared your photos, sent messages and supported this journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she wrote.
Mbola said that seeing the cookbook reach the top spot was something she had only dreamed about and credited supporters for helping turn that dream into reality.
“Every purchase, every recommendation, every meal you created from these recipes has meant more to me than words can fully express,” she shared.
She explained that the book was created with the intention of bringing people together through food and creating meaningful moments in homes and kitchens across the country.
“This book was made with love, passion and the hope of bringing people together through food. Knowing it has found a place in your kitchens and homes is the greatest reward I could ask for,” she added.
Published in April, “A Food Love Story” features more than 80 recipes inspired by Mbola’s sustainable farm to table lifestyle as well as her cultural background and international experiences.
The cookbook is more than a recipe collection. It also tells the story of Mbola’s relationship with food, family and heritage.
She reflects on growing up in a seaside village along the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape, where her love for cooking first developed in her mother’s kitchen.
Her mother played a major role in shaping her understanding of food by growing and foraging ingredients to feed the family.
Before becoming a full-time content creator, Mbola worked as a marine navigator. Her travels around the world exposed her to different flavours and cooking techniques, which she later blended with traditional South African cooking styles.
The cookbook also reflects the lifestyle that made Mbola popular online. Known for her introduction, “Hi, I’m Onezwa and I make meals using items that I’ve grown, raised or foraged,” she has built a following around sustainable and self-sufficient living.
Despite her connection to farm life, Mbola ensured that the recipes remain approachable by using ingredients that are easy to find.
The book caters to both beginners and experienced home cooks by focusing on basic cooking techniques before introducing more advanced dishes.
Recipes featured in the cookbook include homemade bread, hearty stews and rich mutton curries.