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South Africa

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5:00 PM-7:30 PM

Panel Discussion: Food, Art and Activism

panel|The 3rd Panel Discussion under the Cultivating Sustainable Futures project will speak to the topic of “Food, Art and Activism”.

Web teaser for Panel Discussion: Food, Art and Activism © Goethe-Institut

Web teaser for Panel Discussion: Food, Art and Activism © Goethe-Institut

Food is not only a source of nourishment - but it also carries culture, traditions and stories and it is an expression of creativity and identity. This panel examines how creative practices transform food into a tool for cultural dialogue and activism.

The discussion will explore the ways in which artists, chefs, activists and cultural practitioners challenge dominant narratives and reimagine food systems through art and storytelling. Through artistic interventions, culinary creativity, and activism, food becomes a medium for resistance, healing, and dialogue. The discussion will highlight how these practices amplify marginalized voices, foster community resilience, and inspire systemic change in the face of inequalities embedded in global and local food systems.

This conversation invites participants to reflect on the transformative potential of food as a cultural and political force—shaping identities, reclaiming traditions, and building sustainable futures.

Speakers

  • Tammy Langtry is an independent curator and cultural producer based in Johannesburg. Her work explores historical sense-making through memory, psychology, and cultural activism. She teaches Fine Art Ecologies of Practice at Wits University and serves as Managing Editor forEllipses Journal for Creative Research. Tammy previously managed LAPA, a project space hosting residencies for African cultural practitioners. Her curatorial projects often investigate critical histories, includinguMqombothi, uBhokweni neJubawith Russel Hlongwane, which examines the colonial Durban System and indigenous grains.

  • Madison Bannon is an activist, organiser, and storyteller dedicated to making systemic change irresistible. She works with nonprofits to translate complex issues—racial and gender justice, climate change, and neo-colonial economics—into narratives that inspire action. Madison is passionate about food sovereignty and advocates for radical systems change rooted in community care and sustainability.For her, food is central to resilience and justice.

  • Chef Noni is a culinary innovator and indigenous food activist committed to reconnecting people with ancestral food traditions. Through Noni’s Fire Food Experience, she promotes indigenous knowledge systems, foraging, and forgotten culinary practices. Her work fosters healing and sustainability, inspired by ancient food rituals and wellness practices. She is also the founder of Emandulo Livity, restoring balance between humanity and nature.

  • Inolofatseng Lekaba is a knowledge worker focused on Global South epistemologies, decolonial research, and creative placemaking. Their practice spans food sovereignty, urban renewal, and art-led activism, advocating for economic systems change and collaborative governance. Inolofatseng works on solidarity cities, peri-urban transformation, and transdisciplinary knowledge production, while engaging in guerilla gardening and organisational systems that decentralise power.