The Cultural Politics of Food in South Africa

This book straddles disciplines that are usually separated to provide an overview of how food both shapes and is shaped by interpersonal, psycho-social, socio-political and historical dynamics in South Africa. It courageously acknowledges and respects a very wide range of disciplinary and theoretical approaches to food in South Africa.
Desiree Lewis, Professor, University of the Western Cape

Food is never just food. This interdisciplinary volume examines the cultural politics of food in South Africa, revealing how nourishment is bound up with histories of colonialism, apartheid, migration and enduring inequality. Drawing on perspectives from media studies, sociology, history and cultural studies, the chapters explore how food functions as a site of identity, resistance, memory and aspiration.

From Indigenous food systems and missionary food regimes to television, advertising and social media, the book traces how meanings around food are produced, contested and mediated. It considers the everyday and the symbolic, from home-cooked meals and community cookbooks to performances of culinary capital within foodie cultures.

Through this diverse and critical lens, the volume argues that food in South Africa cannot be separated from the power structures and social dynamics that shape it. In doing so, it offers a vital counterpoint to dominant narratives from the Global North, contributing to a richer understanding of how food intersects with representation, access and cultural expression in the Global South.