Abongwe Mseleku to cook with 'Shaka iLembe' and Knorrox
Izingane Zes'thembu star Abongwe Mseleku has gone from learning to cook on TikTok to collaborating with some of South Africa's biggest brands.
Abongwe was one of the guests for Knorrox at the launch of Shaka iLembe Season 2, which premiered on Sunday, 15 June, with Knorrox as the associate sponsor.
As part of the collaboration, Abongwe and fellow TikTok influencers MaMbomvu and Mprudie will take part in a weekly live series every Sunday.
The trio will share their personal cooking journeys and prepare traditional South African dishes with a fresh, youthful twist, while also sharing their individual food stories.
Speaking to The Citizen, Abongwe said she started learning to cook during her first year at university.
'I had to start preparing my own meals. I spent the whole year eating wraps and some weird combos I've never seen — not because there wasn't food, but because I didn't know what to do with the food.'
She then started her 'teaching myself how to cook' video series, which has since become popular online and led to collaboration deals with brands like Knorrox.
'I wasn't expecting to be recognised by such a big brand because I was just doing it to teach myself how to cook.
'But as the saying goes, you reap what you sow — so if you sow good, you reap good, which I am very grateful for.'
She said the brand has been part of her life since childhood, which makes the partnership feel particularly special.
'Knorrox was in every meal prepared at home. It gives me a feeling of home. My mum used those cubes almost every time she made curry,' she added.
ALSO READ: Mzansi celebs dazzle in African royalty fashion at the 'Shaka iLembe' season 2 launch
Abongwe on merging her food passion with studies
Currently, studying film, Abongwe said she hopes to merge her passion for cooking with her studies.
'The progress I've made has really encouraged me. I've found joy in being in the kitchen, especially because no one's forcing me to do it.
'I definitely think I'll continue cooking, and I'd love to create something bigger from it when I'm done with my studies. I see a collaboration between my cooking and my film.'
NOW READ: WATCH: 'Youngins' stars confirm final season in Soweto
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ For veteran actor Melusi Yeni, the spark came early-right in the heart of Durban.'Growing up in KZN, I had the opportunity to see the cast of the original Sarafinarehearse, under the directorship of the late Mbongeni Ngema. This encounter was the catalyst for my interest in the arts.' 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Image: Supplied This is especially important to younger filmmakers like Jerique Bernard, whose films are rooted in impact and identity. Yet like many in the early stages of their careers, she struggled to fund her work. 'I've had a lot of opportunities but finding the money to finance them has alwaysbeen difficult. I've received donations to attend a film festival in Italy that kickedoff my journey with international films.' Bernard has travelled in Europe and was the cinematographer and co-director of the short film Cassine From 5 to 7 alongside Anne-Sophie Charon. The film is part of the 2024 Duemila30 Lab and offers a poetic exploration of theItalian town of Cassine. She also won the Best Student Film award for the uMgungundlovu FilmFestival, attended the Golden FEMI Film Festival in Bulgaria, and was also among others who received an honorable mention at the Student World Impact Film Festival in the UK. She is currently an assistant producer and has worked on TV series, Roots, etc. Well-known filmmaker Kethiwe Ngcobo in her edit suite during the making of her documentary film, And She Didn't Die which has received international acclaim Image: Supplied For Kethiwe Ngcobo, the story runs even deeper — through exile, return, and legacy. 'Storytelling is in my blood, and that blood is Zulu. My mother Lauretta camefrom a lineage of storytellers — her great-grandmother was a praise poet whopassed stories down through generations.' Ngcobo recently produced the documentary, And She Didn't Die, funded by the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTAFA), which earned two major accolades at the 2025 Encounters South African International Documentary Festival - winner: Ronelle Loots Award for Best Edited South African Feature Documentary; and runner-Up: Encounters Al Jazeera Award for Best African Feature-length Documentary. 'In 2004, I returned to the SABC as the inaugural head of drama — a homecoming of sorts. We created innovative programming… bringing Zulu narratives to national television.' She encourages KZN youth to see their heritage not as a limitation, but as asuperpower. 'Embrace your heritage as your superpower… the praise poetry, the oral traditions… These aren't old-fashioned. They're your competitive advantage in a global industry hungry for authentic voices.' From television series like Uzalo, Umkhokha, and Shaka iLembe to awards recognition at the Simon 'Mabhunu' Sabela Awards, KZN's presence is no longer a footnote in South African film. It is the headline. Thanks to the catalytic work of the KZN Tourism and Film Authority, whose support for local development, location tours, and international collaborations continues to elevate homegrown talent, the province is poised to become apermanent fixture in Africa's cultural capital. Ngcobo said: 'Home isn't just a place — it's the stories we carry and thevoices we choose to amplify.'And as Yeni affirms: 'It seems like a dream to me that I am able to do the work from my beloved KZN.' It is not just a dream anymore. It is the new reality — and it's rolling on set. SUNDAY TRIBUNE
