Ester Silas’ persistence in competing finally paid off when she was crowned the 2023 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off winner in Ongwediva this past weekend.
She walked away with the life-changing grand prize of a fully-equipped mobile food trailer, N$10 000 cash prize and a N$5 000 Bakpro vetkoek voucher.
“I have been taking part in the competition for the past three years, but apart from that, I am also a frequent food seller, and my meals are usually kapana and chicken wings. I do this usually from the 28th to the first week of the following month,” said the 27-year-old who operates from home in Greenwell Matongo.
“Winning this competition means the world to me. It’s a validation of my hard work, and it fuels my passion for sharing my love for Namibian food, such as kapana,” said an excited Silas told New Era.
2021 winner Kristy Shomongula (37) advised the new champ to focus on the business and work extra hard to make sure the items bought and cooked are sold.
She added that Namibian meat is the best but it is expensive.
Since winning, her business has been doing well, but it is hampered by economic activities; hence, she advises prospective winners to have a plan in place before getting into the trade.
“The biggest challenge is setting up a place to operate the sale of kapana. I was at Agra but there were no customers. Food business owners must study the market. People are more into traditional food nowadays. Sometimes, when you go with your meat, you will come back with it,” said Shomongula, who is based at Otjomuise.
As a cornerstone of Nedbank Namibia’s commitment to supporting the informal market and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the competition showcases the remarkable growth and potential of the proudly Namibian Kapana delicacy – from being a beloved street snack into a thriving commercial venture.
“The Kapana Cook-off competition serves as a heartfelt effort to connect with and give back to the communities that our operations touch – all while fostering economic growth and honouring the cultural significance of Kapana,” said Martha Murorua, Nedbank’s managing director.
A testimonial of what can happen when one takes this business seriously is that of Sakeus Kateya (2018 winner), who has gone on to start a business, where he employed five Namibians. Kateya has managed to buy another food trailer for a second location.
- psiririka@nepc.com.na