Kota Festival | How Phumzile Turned Pain into Kota Perfection
The queen of garlic bread Kotas, is redefining Kasi cuisine
Phumzile Kunene’s journey with Zile Foods started in the most unexpected way – as an escape from heartbreak. After losing her mom, she turned to cooking as therapy, posting pictures just to show the world she was okay. But those posts sparked something bigger than healing – they sparked a business revolution.
The struggle was real. When she first hit the streets in 2020 with her creations, nobody was buying. “People kept saying they just want a kota, a quality kota,” Phumzile recalls. That rejection could have broken her, but instead it became her breakthrough moment.
Back to the drawing board. Using her catering background, she completely reimagined what a kota could be. “I stayed away from traditional ingredients and created my own version. For me, it was about defining what a ‘quality kota’ really is.”
The result? Signature garlic bread kotas with guacamole twists that you literally can’t find anywhere else in Mzansi. “You can find a kota anywhere, but you won’t find one with guacamole or made with garlic bread. It’s not just food, it’s an experience,” she says proudly.
From Vila Lisa, Ekurhuleni to the Jozi Kota Festival stage on 25 April, Phumzile’s story proves that sometimes our biggest losses lead to our greatest wins. She’s not just serving kotas – she’s serving innovation on garlic bread.
#ZileFoods #JoziKotaFestival #KotaInnovation #FromGriefToGreatness
