Eating The Other: Food, Blackness and representation

They say: ‘You are what you eat’. But there’s more to the intersection of food, society and culture than our habits and choices. Food is intrinsic to our communities – and this is something we aim to explore through our series of gatherings – Cities Without Houses Table Talk and Brunch. The latest installment took place in Johannesburg where writers, queer activists, beauty entrepreneurs, media personalities, musicians, influencers and strategists came together. The event aimed to centre the voices of women, trans and non-binary creatives in debating image-making and transformation.

The location was integral to the experience. Following a short tour of the Constitutional Court, Lwando Xaso – a constitutional lawyer, writer and speaker – opened the conversation in relation to Constitution Hill. The precinct (built in 1893 and repurposed in 2004), which includes a women’s jail, ties into how physical spaces and institutions represent Black women in particular and how we might like to see ourselves reflected. Prisoners here used to be served different meals according to their race – the least nutritious, no-fat diets were assigned to Black inmates. The irony is not lost on anyone reminded that all these kinds of decisions, which helped fuel the Apartheid regime, emanated from between these walls.

The prison kitchen is now home to Mpho Phalane’s eatery, Food I Love You. Phalane, a young Black woman chef, created a menu that reimagined local favourites, including mini magwinya (fried dough balls) served with whipped goat’s cheese and tomato relish.

Theoretical framework for the evening was inspired by bell hooks and her essay on race, culture and media representation, Eating The Other: Desire And Resistance. ‘The over-riding fear is that cultural, ethnic, and racial differences will be continually commodified and offered up as new dishes to enhance the white plate – that the Other will be eaten, consumed, and forgotten,’ she wrote. 

In response to that, guests including DJ and music producer, Deniece Marz; satirist, Lesego Tlhabi; cofounder of NPO Blackboard Africa, Amonge Sinxoto; brand specialist, Prince Mphomane, and model Elle Rose, discussed the representation of Blackness in fashion, the workplace, popular culture, and art. There is still a great deal of work to be done to counter stigma, racism and social biases, but we were honoured to host this inspiring, transformative and healing conversation. 


If you’d like to experience some of the sounds from the night, here’s the playlist on Spotify that we enjoyed: Eating The Other | Table Talks JHB.