Chef Vusi Ndlovu brings African open-fire cuisine to Niyama Private Islands Maldives
Niyama Private Islands Maldives will welcome acclaimed African chef Vusi Ndlovu for a culinary residency at Tribal from 23 to 30 October 2026, featuring fine dining experiences, an interactive cooking class and a traditional braai evening celebrating African culinary heritage.
The programme will explore indigenous African ingredients, traditional cooking methods and contemporary interpretations of regional cuisine, with open-fire cooking forming a central part of the experience.
Ndlovu, who has more than a decade of international culinary experience, is recognised for his approach to African gastronomy, drawing inspiration from traditional ingredients and cooking practices while applying contemporary techniques and presentation.
His achievements include reaching the Top 7 at the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition, being recognised as the No. 1 Young Chef in Africa and the Middle East in 2018, and receiving One Knife at The Best Chef Awards 2025.
Through EDGE Group, his collaboration with Absie Pantshwa, Ndlovu continues to explore and develop contemporary African cuisine, placing cultural heritage and culinary identity at the centre of his work.
Fine dining and open-fire cooking at Tribal
The residency will feature three Fine Dining Dinners on 23, 29 and 30 October, from 6.30 pm to 10 pm at Tribal.
The dining experiences will showcase Ndlovu’s interpretation of African cuisine, bringing together indigenous ingredients, traditional flavours and modern culinary techniques.
For chefs and culinary professionals, the programme highlights the growing international recognition of African gastronomy and the role traditional cooking methods continue to play in contemporary restaurant kitchens.
Open-fire cooking, in particular, is central to Ndlovu’s culinary approach. The technique requires careful management of heat, fuel and cooking time, allowing chefs to develop flavour through direct exposure to fire, embers and smoke.
The residency will also feature Braai Night on 27 October, from 6.30 pm to 10 pm.
Braai, a cooking tradition deeply rooted in Southern African food culture, centres on preparing food over an open fire and is closely associated with communal dining and social gatherings.
The event will provide guests with an opportunity to experience this tradition within the setting of Tribal, bringing another dimension of African culinary heritage to the Maldives.
Interactive cooking class with Chef Vusi
Alongside the dining events, Ndlovu will host Food Play, an interactive cooking class on 25 October, from 12 pm to 2 pm.
The session will provide an opportunity for participants to engage more closely with the chef’s culinary philosophy and explore the techniques and ingredients behind his cooking.
For culinary professionals, visiting-chef programmes of this nature also create opportunities for knowledge exchange, introducing different approaches to ingredient preparation, flavour development and cooking methods.
Ndlovu’s residency will bring the culinary traditions of Africa into focus through a combination of fine dining, hands-on learning and open-fire cooking.
Across the programme, Niyama Private Islands Maldives will use Tribal as a platform for exploring African gastronomy, connecting traditional culinary heritage with contemporary techniques and guest experiences.
