Inspired by her late mom, Onezwa Mbola shares over 80 recipes and the story behind them in her debut cookbook.
By Bulelwa Hoala
South African food content creator Onezwa Mbola has announced that her brand-new cookbook, A Food Love Story, is now available for preorder.
In a video posted on social media, the visibly emotional former MasterChef South Africa contestant shared that writing the book was a tribute to her late mother.
“Let’s unbox what’s undoubtedly one of the most important packages that I will ever open. I’m seeing it for the first time with you guys, like the physical copy. This is the first time I’m actually holding one in my hands.
“And it’s all because of my mom. I miss her food so much that it led me down a path to me having a book in my name. I’m a published author. I have a book, and you guys can now preorder it on the link in my bio,” she said.
Onezwa first announced that she was working on her book after signing with leading publisher Jonathan Ball Publishers in May 2025.
Titled A Food Love Story, the 192-page book features over 80 recipes.
According to the book’s description, Onezwa traces her culinary journey from her mother’s kitchen in her Eastern Cape seaside village to destinations around the world.
“Onezwa Mbola is a passionate food enthusiast who believes in the power of home-cooked meals to connect people and create lasting memories. As a mother with roots in rural life, she shares this love for food not only with her son but also with her wider family, using the kitchen as a space for bonding, learning and nurturing,” the description reads.
The book retails for R370, but readers can find preorder deals across several platforms:
- R305 on Takealot
- R333 on Wordsworth
- R333 on Graffiti Books
- R280 on Loot
Preorder the book here.
Onezwa first rose to prominence for her sustainable farming and cooking methods. She has built a large following on Instagram and TikTok, where she shares her cooking skills and passion for foraging her own ingredients.
She is also the founder of her brand, Emandulo, which produces locally made sauces and condiments using natural ingredients.
In 2025, she hosted her first pop-up restaurant, A Harvest Table With Onezwa, which was a great success.
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