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<\/p>\nStaff members at Nedbank Eswatini brought colour, culture and cuisine together over the weekend during the bank\u2019s annual cook-off challenge, which this year was held as part of Africa Month celebrations.<\/p>\n
The event four saw different staff teams competing in preparing a variety of African dishes while dressed in colourful cultural attire blended with the bank\u2019s signature green theme.<\/p>\n
Unlike previous editions of the competition, this year\u2019s challenge placed a stronger focus on celebrating African identity and unity through food.<\/p>\n
Speaking during the event, Managing Director of Nedbank Eswatini, Fikile Nkosi, said the initiative was important in strengthening relations among employees while also giving them a chance to unwind away from the pressures of office work.<\/p>\n
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Nkosi said activities such as the cook-off helped create a healthy working environment by allowing staff members to interact outside the formal office setting.<\/p>\n
She explained that while the cook-off challenge had become a regular event within the bank, this year\u2019s edition carried a special meaning because it was aligned with Africa Month commemorations observed in May.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted this year\u2019s event to be more than just a competition. It was also about celebrating who we are as Africans and appreciating the richness of African cultures,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Nkosi added that teams were specifically encouraged to use African cuisines in their dishes as part of embracing the continent\u2019s diverse heritage.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs emaSwati, we recognise Africa as a whole. We did not want teams to limit themselves to only local dishes, but rather explore and celebrate food from across the continent,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The atmosphere at the event was filled with excitement as staff members showcased not only their cooking skills, but also cultural pride through music, attire and teamwork.<\/p>\n
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Different teams prepared a range of meals inspired by various African countries, with judges assessing the dishes based on taste, presentation, creativity and cultural representation.<\/p>\n
At the end of the competition, TTPN Pot Rocket emerged victorious and walked away with an E5,000 cheque after impressing judges with their performance and culinary presentation.<\/p>\n
The Umsoco Team secured second position and received E4 000 as runners-up.<\/p>\n
Employees who attended the event described the cook-off as a refreshing experience that promoted unity and teamwork within the organisation.<\/p>\n
A judge from the panel, Mbongeni Mbingo, said the cook-off challenge allowed them to learn more about different African cultures and cuisines.<\/p>\n
According to Nkosi, the cook-off challenge also highlighted the growing importance of workplace wellness initiatives that encourage employee engagement beyond daily duties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Staff members at Nedbank Eswatini brought colour, culture and cuisine together over the weekend during the bank\u2019s annual…","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7612,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,23,24,25,34,26],"tags":[46,73,56,58],"class_list":["post-7695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-eswatini-daily-news","category-finance","category-future","category-national","category-pop-culture","category-swaziland","tag-africa","tag-eswatini","tag-markets","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"\n