When stories rise from the kitchen table, they carry more than recipes , they carry memory, heritage, and the warmth of belonging.

This year, at the 25th anniversary of the South African Book Awards, Salamina Mosese’s Cook-Off at Gogo’s Spaza did more than win , it made history.

Crowned both the Children’s Category Winner and the Overall 2025 SA Book Award Winner, the book has become a beacon of how deeply local stories can resonate across generations.

What makes this recognition extraordinary is that the SA Book Awards are voted for by booksellers, the very people who place books into readers’ hands, who know what sparks curiosity, joy, and connection in communities.

For Mosese, the story began in her late grandmother’s kitchen in Moletlane. Between scones, laughter, and love, a narrative was born that celebrates food, family, and the pride of heritage. Today, that intimate memory has become a national treasure.

“This award is not just mine, it belongs to every Gogo, every kitchen table, and every child who finds pride in where they come from,” Mosese shared.

The triumph of Cook-Off at Gogo’s Spaza is also a triumph for South African literature — a reminder that our stories, rooted in everyday life, carry the power to travel far and inspire deeply.

As Mosese thanks her publisher NB Publishers, illustrator Vian Oelofsen, NielsenIQ Book Data, and her family — the heart behind her creativity , the rest of us celebrate the ripple effect of her win.

Here’s to more kitchens becoming classrooms of heritage, more Gogos becoming muses, and more African stories finding their rightful place on the world’s bookshelf.

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#SABookAwards #AfricanStories #HeritageThroughStories #ChildrensLiterature #Storytelling

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