Nyala honours generations of cultural pride, family and connection with Ziqhenye! launch
Nyala, the trusted maize meal brand of KwaZulu-Natal, recently unveiled its new brand-hero film as part of its “Ziqhenye! With Nyala, the Taste YaseKhaya” campaign. The film celebrates Zulu pride, family and the rich cultural traditions that shape every home and meal across the province. Through the film, Nyala brings to life the embodiment of “Ziqhenye” – taking pride in your roots, your family and the flavours that connect generations. It reflects the brand’s commitment to keeping Zulu culture and culinary heritage alive while supporting families in their everyday role as proud providers.
Community leaders, local celebrities and CSI beneficiaries came together last week to mark a heartfelt celebration of the values, traditions and resilience that make KwaZulu-Natal home. Captured in the defining essence of Nyala’s “Ziqhenye! With Nyala, the Taste YaseKhaya” launch, the event honoured the rich traditions and deep cultural heritage that has shaped the region, and celebrated Nyala’s place at the family table.
“Nyala has always been woven into the fabric of KZN life,” said Phumzile Nhlapo, Premier Senior Brand Manager: Maize, Breakfast and Pasta. “We aren’t just launching a brand film; we are celebrating our authentic connection to this region and its people. This campaign was inspired by listening deeply to KZN families who told us that heritage, culture and tradition matter profoundly to them. They want brands that understand and respect their values. Nyala has earned this trust over generations.”
The brand-hero film follows diverse KZN families throughout their day – from mothers preparing porridge for schoolchildren at dawn, to young executives pursuing their ambitions, to taxi drivers and their daily interactions – all converging for a shared family meal that transcends generations. “We wanted this to be a visual celebration of what it means to be Zulu today: modern yet rooted, ambitious yet grounded in heritage. The film captures intimate moments of pride – a child presenting confidently in class, a grandmother passing down cultural treasures, laughter around a table – each scene capturing the warmth and authenticity that defines KwaZulu-Natal. At its heart, the campaign speaks to a simple but powerful truth: no matter where life takes you, the taste of Nyala brings you home.”
Alongside the film, Nyala also introduced its KZN-inspired recipe book, which was created through a consumer competition. Filled with cherished family recipes and memories, the book captures the authentic Taste YaseKhaya and celebrates the meaningful moments shared around the table. “Participants shared recipes that took them back home, along with heartfelt notes about how these dishes connect to their isiZulu heritage and family traditions,” noted Nhlapo.
The 13 winners will see their recipes preserved well into the future in the limited edition Nyala Cook Book which was shared with guests. They also received beautifully framed professional family portrait shoots and shared in R70 000 worth of premium kitchen appliances.
“Nyala has been the foundation of family meals, the taste that evokes memories of Gogo’s cooking and a constant presence at tables where pride, love and ubuntu are shared daily,” said Nhlapo. “This is the ‘Taste YaseKhaya’ – the taste of home – made real and preserved for generations.”
The evening also celebrated the impact of what can be made possible when communities come together around shared values and purpose. “Over the years, Nyala has been a key contributor to the empowerment and growth of local communities, with a particular focus on those in the province’s deep outlying regions,” explained Nhlapo. “Since 2023, we have invested over R3 million through comprehensive CSI initiatives that have seen us build authentic, long-term partnerships with the communities we serve.”
CSI commitments include education programmes and initiatives that empower youth while preserving Zulu heritage for generations to come. “In 2025 alone, we invested over R1 million in partnership with schools and community organisations to preserve cultural traditions through dance and food support programmes, creating platforms for cultural expression and skill development,” added Samukelo Nkosi, Premier Regional Community Development Specialist. “These initiatives have touched thousands of lives throughout Zululand.”
He shared how through Nyala’s Pride with Purpose CEO-initiative campaign, consumers of Checkrite are currently raising money for Crossroads – a locally-based NPO dedicated to empowering underprivileged communities in KwaZulu-Natal through its comprehensive education, skills development and community support initiatives. “Here support is generated at the till-point – where a contribution is made directly by Nyala for the NPO for every Nyala purchase in-store. In this way, we’re unlocking the power of purchasing with purpose.”
The evening included a celebration of traditional dance and storytelling in the build-up to the brand film’s first viewing.
“Nyala has always been here and will continue to be here,” said Nhlapo in her closing address. “Our presence in your hearts and homes has been earned through decades of being part of KZN families’ lives, by supporting communities when others weren’t watching and respecting the heritage that makes this region special. ‘Ziqhenye!’ is just a promise of what is yet to come. We are just getting started.”
The Nyala brand-film can be viewed on Facebook https://fb.watch/F0lI1-5dCg/ or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUSZuYCiXB3/?hl=en
