At the second community dinner of the year, the afternoon is guided by Aaron Samuel Mulenga and Nkondelina Chileshe, a couple from Zambia—a nation nestled in the heart of southern Africa. They carry with them the spirit of their Bantu ancestors, whose journeys across the continent shaped not only language and culture but also the food that sustains generations. Among their favorite traditions is Ubwali, a humble yet deeply meaningful dish made from cornmeal. Known as Ugali in Eastern Africa, Pap in the south, and Fufu in the west, this staple tells a story of travel, settlement, and resilience—echoes of the great Bantu migrations that began in the mid–second millennium BCE.

As we gather, our hands and senses will trace the journey of the corn seed—its soft grind into meal, its transformation through patience and care. In this simple act of making, we touch the wisdom of generations who have listened to the rhythm of grain and fire. Through the warmth of Zambian cuisine, the flicker of film, and the cadence of folklore, we enter a world where food becomes memory, and memory becomes story.

Ubwali carries with it the taste of home and the echo of history—from family tables to moments of upheaval, like the 1990 riots sparked by a sudden rise in cornmeal prices. In its quiet strength, this dish reminds us that nourishment is never just sustenance—it is resistance, identity, and the heartbeat of a people.

Attendance is limited to the first 20 sign ups!

Nkondelina Chileshe works as a corporate lawyer, but her main interests are rooted in the use of public policy to shape a better Zambia and Africa at large for the community of under-resourced individuals. Aaron’s work as an artist and a scholar seek to preserve and share Zambian cultural histories of marginalized individuals.

Aaron Samuel Mulenga is an artist and a scholar whose work seeks to preserve and share Zambian cultural histories of marginalized individuals.

This event will be hosted at The Greenhouse Project on the UCSC farm, at 152 Farm Rd. More information below:

UCSC Permitted and non-UCSC Pay-to-Park sites are available at Parking Lot 116 or Parking Lot 168. The closest bus access to the site is located at Hager Dr. and Village Rd. Please reach out if you have additional transportation needs in order to participate in programming.

We really want the space to be accessible to you, so if that’s a challenge in some way, please don’t hesitate to contact us. TGP is an outdoor community garden space within a farm setting. Accessible bathrooms are available on-site and limited accessible parking is available upon request. Please let us know if you have additional questions or requests related to accessibility.

This dinner is part of the Seeds of Resurgence research cluster and is supported by University of the Future Award, ARI Collaborative Grant, and the THI Research Cluster for ‘Seeds of Resurgence’.