A third culture kid, Filly is a second generation born in Malawi, but is of Portuguese descent and nationality. She grew up in Malawi until she moved to Cape Town to further her studies in Social Development and Policy. She then moved onto England for 8 years before moving back to Malawi 10 years ago with her English husband. Jack of all trades, master of none she has qualifications in TEFL as well as hairdressing and has worked as a nanny, waitress, housekeeping maid, kitchen porter, assistant chef, teacher, carer for the elderly, recruitment assistant, operations manager, guest house management and events planning before opening Kaza. She loves art, plants, food and cooking, music, ambient spaces, warm light, films, theatre, documentaries and dancing. She finds joy in random acts of kindness and loves surprises especially when it involves making someone’s day stand out a bit more than the other days in their week. She loves linking people together and believes in the power of community and paying it forward. Filly strives to become the best version of herself and help others do the same. She loves learning new skills and facts though she hardly remembers any of it. Finding her keys or phone is a constant roll your eyes, humorous yet exasperating event at Kaza and she’s even been known to lose her car. She is a techno dinosaur, loves anything old and hates waste.

Born in 1981 she has the most bountiful and infectious energy levels and smile. A real ‘do-er’ and ‘go-getter’ she is a natural people magnet, leader and saleswoman. Always with a smile for everyone and so eager to help people, Tshidi’s family hails from Mzuzu while her husband is from Nkhata Bay. She has worked in South Africa in the printing industry as well as in the UK where she has administration and customer service experience, as well as having had employment as a support worker. Married with 2 lovely teen daughters her dream job as a teen herself was to be a politician or movie star… now days she would like to do anything to do with humanitarian work so long as she can help others who lack, and can continuously meet people (old and young). When she is not busy being big mama to our Kaza family she enjoys cooking, bike spinning and learning new things. People in our team value that she is not afraid of hard work or above getting involved in helping with any job. She makes up the most fun names for people and keeps us all on our toes and laughing.

Mary is a ray of sunshine at Kaza as well as to those in her home. Up until recently she has been a strong, awesome single mum of 4 children (2 adopted) – she will soon be getting married! Self driven, highly motivated, keen to continuously learn things and improve on what she knows, she is a wonderful leader to our kitchen team. Her multitasking and urgency to get things done well – be it in the kitchen or making coffee – makes her our 'busy bee' - always with a smile on her face. Born in Nkhata Bay, she still has a grandmother there who she is close to. Prior to Kaza, Mary worked as a housekeeper to a lovely Kaza customer – who recommended Mary come join Kaza when she left. Starting as a timid and unsure of herself young chef in training she has outdone herself with her eagerness and ability to learn and excel at whatever she puts her mind to. She loves to cook and dreams of becoming the best chef possible. When she is not cooking she loves to sing, read and run (she is super fit even if she hasn't run for a while!). She also has a keen interest in natural plant medicine and nutrition. Mary also has a driving license – we are just working on getting her more experience and confidence to use it. She has a Homecraft Worker Certifacte which she got in Zomba.

Aged 35, Esther is a single mum of 3 kids and is one of the two dancing queens at team Kaza and, along with Mr. Masamba, is our team Singer – she loves to sing and we still dream of getting her to form our Kaza Krazy family choir. Esther has a delightful laugh and at the Republic of Kaza, like Claus is our Lord, she is our Queen (it seems we just can’t help but give people fun endearing names). Style icon who loves to dress up she loves to see life as adventure too. She has work experience as a chef in South Africa as well as Malawi. Born in Nkhata Bay she moved to Lilongwe in 1990 because her dad got a job as a chef at the American Embassy. She grew up in Lilongwe and did her schooling here till going to South Africa on her own! She then returned and joined Kaza, took a break, went back to SA and now back at Kaza again. When she is not working she loves doing peoples hair and making a business out it and is doing well at it too! Her personal wish for the future is to have her own big hair saloon and nail parlour here in Lilongwe – so watch this space and make your future bookings here! Everyone at Kaza loves Esther and all comment on how much she talks – which keeps energy levels up, until she takes a power nap after lunch, exhausted by all the chat!

Angie has slowly worked her way from Kaza Kitchen porter to assistant chef to chef. Speaking no English when she started, she has made massive steps in not just acquisition of a new language but also in her ability to learn recipes, cook and plate dishes. A keen observer, hard worker and team player, she is a gentle giant. Her eagerness to learn, and smile match her height and she is no push over single mum of 4 children. Born in Dedza in 1969 she moved to Lilongwe through marriage in 2007 and Kaza is her first job. She is one of the most dedicated committed team members. If she could have any dream come true she would love to be a mid wife because she is interested in how the body of a woman changes through birth, and would love to learn more about this. In her spare time she loves to dance and cook – lucky for those of us who she works with that she also likes to do those on the job! She would love to earn enough money to meet not just her own needs but to also help others. The Kaza team loves that she has different laughs – and laughs as if she is singing! She has been voted the most jovial person in the kitchen many a time.

We call him ‘My Lord’ in the kitchen and it may have sowething to do with the fact that everyone thought it fun when they found out he is a chief of a village in Salima. The village is called Ntandaza (meaning nsima made from Kondowole). A spring chicken in our kitchen, he was only born in 1971 in Karonga, but his dad was from Mangochi and mother from Ntcheu. He moved around Malawi due to his dads job working with the fire brigade. Now a father himself he has 4 children of his own. Jobs that he has done in his lifetime include working in a cotton ginnery factory, working in the military and then entering the hotel industry in a surprising way: it happened because the owner at Livingstonia Beach Hotel in Senga Bay saw him delivering things and because the owner knew his grandfather (who used to supply milk to the hotel) offered him training and a job on the spot! Since then he has worked as a chef in domestic and commercial settings in both in Malawi and South Africa. He is also a farmer and livestock has been his passion since forever. When he grows up (because 51 years old is still young) he would like to be a prosperous farmer and professional chef – more than he already is! We love the way he is eager and happy to teach and share his experience with less experienced members of our team and how he makes us all laugh and keeps us on our toes. He gives good advice and has great reggae playlists too!

For some reason we have only ever called Patrick by his surname: Masamba – and it’s hard to revert to anything other than that, though the irony is brilliant – masamba in Chichewa means vegetables but a bigger meat eater and vegetable hater we have yet to meet/meat. The most patient man you will encounter, with the kindest eyes, biggest heart and listening ears, he is also the kitchen clown – making everyone laugh ALL the time. Masamba worked with Filly 8 years prior to joining Kaza, and has much experience as a chef. A peacemaker and pastor for one of the churches called the Church of Christ in area 10 he is also extremely wise and takes on a fatherly figure at Kaza. Always keen to sing a song, his smile also melts troubles away. Representing the south of Malawi, Mr. Masamba is from Phalombe – however he may also fool you into thinking he is from Florida, a cold place apparantly, in the United States, and would have gone back but Filly employed him so he had no choice – Kaza is the only reason he is still here in Malawi. He has 4 children and a wife he has been married to for 21 years. A one job man, Mr. Masamba has always been a chef working in domestic capacities and also in the hospitality industry. His favourite dish to prepare is a beef stew, bourgignon or chicken stroganoff, and his favourite Malawi fruit is the Mango. If you were to ask him what he would like for his future his answer: ‘I would like to have my own restaurant because I love cooking!’

Wise, is wise, even if he is only 35 and the newest member to team Kaza and is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you are going to get – the surprise that keeps giving: introspective quiet some days and the life of the kitchen on others. Also from Nkhata Bay, he is curious about other and easily fitted into the team at Kaza his second ever job, coming to us with some prior kitchen experience. Single with no children he has no immediate plans to change this and dreams of having his own restaurant one day where he aspires to be the manager and less in the kitchen. He would also love to visit the UK one day and go see his favourite football team Manchester United play. In addition to being a football fan and follower he loves to listen to R&B and Hip Hop music with a particular like for R Kelly and Cardi B. He loves to sing but alone and solo – you won’t catch him singing in front of others though we hope that one day we might get a sneaky peak listen.

Gloria was born in Blantyre and is a single mother of two – a 7 and 13 year old, both girls and moved to Lilongwe through marriage and for work. Prior to joining Kaza she was working in a factory manufacturing hair weaves, she has experience working as a housekeeper and was also selling bananas as her own business. She is very thorough in all she does. With the most exquisite chitenje dresses in her wardrobe she always arrives to work and leaves looking like she has got off a models runway. If she could rub a magic lamp she would wish to have her own farm with pigs, goats, cows and chickens, and be able to feed and look after her family. Her hobbies include singing to gospel music and playing with her kids. Our team love that she is a story teller and has a unique laugh that everyone loves.

Affectionately known as Manzo by our team, Emanuelle has spent most of his life working as a driver and only ventured into work as a waiter when COVID hit, and Kaza had to diversify and change our model of operation. Flexible to learn and adaptable to help with the business needs Emmanuelle is always eager to help and does most of our shopping and admin drop offs and collections around town as well as waiting on tables. A man who knows his mind, he has 4 children and a lovely wife. He is a doting and loving dad and always puts family first. Born in Lilongwe and having worked in house keeping and then radio controller at a once medical health clinic, a messenger and wages clerk for a security company and driver for diplomats and a minister…he knows SO many people in town! His dream in life would be to have his own transportation and logistics company and his hobbies include watching TV (especially Nigerian movies because he likes to learn about their culture) and listening to music (with a soft spot for Jimmy Reaves and Dolly Parton). He loves to get customer orders out to them quickly and is great at pushing the team and we have good jokes about this – more fire more fire – lets go lets go! He tells funny stories which keep our team entertained over lunch and at social gatherings and everyone laughs at how generally his stories don’t have endings as he gets distracted with side narratives.

Quiet Richard is new to the Kaza front of house scene, learning the waters and ways of waitering with Emanuelle.  Like Manzo, he is also a driver who is learning a new skill at customer service and doing a great job in his quiet humble way.  With many years work experience as a driver and personal assistant his experience extends from knowing where to buy building, electrical, plumbing, carpentry and DIY things, to food shopping, and running all and every other job ad hoc job errand.  He also has experience in carpentry and enjoys it when he has the chance.  His knowledge of Lilongwe roads and places is extensive and admirable and Richard is a dependable asset to anyone he works with.  A father of 3 girls he enjoys watching and playing football  and if dreams can come true he wishes to be a farmer with cows, goats and chickens.  A deep thinker, he is loved by our team for his modest, honest ways and occasional unexpected jokes.  He laughs like a gentleman (imagine that as you will) – a word that everyone thinks perfectly describes him.

Jaco is the shortened name our team lovingly use to call Jacob as they holler for him from the kitchen. If you happen to be at Kaza as we run out of our organic salad in the kitchen you will no doubt hear the call, ‘Jacooooo!’ as chefs ask him to bring us a top up of fresh leaves from the garden. Jacob is a man of endless wonder and a sponge that soaks up knowledge and genuinely cares about gardening. He is a self driven learner and achiever. Jaco has grown in gardening knowledge and experience at an exponential rate. Having participated in a 2 week permaculture course at Mushroom Farm, he took in all the knowledge and generously imparts to those who care to listen, and practices it all, in combination with Kaza’s wish to recycle. He is creative and an incredible communicator of thoughts and ideas. He also dreams of having a big campus with trees – a small fruit forest, rearing rabbits, goats and having dogs and cats too! Inside the forest there would be a small stream to beatify the area and bring animals to it. Some animals would be for food and some for sale and some to just be in the plot. He would grow vegetables and feed for the animals too and then use their waste for compost and manure. Our Kaza indoor kitchen team LOVE Jocob for his jokes and a good advisor encouraging them to grow things at home. He is young and fun but wise! You can ask him to help with ANYTHING and he will help and is SO humble and respectful. He loves listening to music (traditional Malawian music) and watching and following football as well as watching gulewankulus, playing with his son and going to church.

Florida recently joined Kaza as a day guard and is also learning the role of a recycling assistant who will be able to convey to customers what recycling we take and what we do with it. Prior to joining Kaza she had work experience typing, printing and photocopying as well as having her own small business selling tomatoes in town. Smiling with a quiet presence at first meeting, Florida also has another side to her. She is a confident woman and a quick learner who loves to dance, particularly Chiterera (a traditional dance for girls in Malawi). Apparently she has some real moves! Mother of 3 girls and married, her hobbies include singing, playing netball, reading (in particular the Bible and books that inspire people) and spending time with family. She would love to be a nurse/ paediatrician and be able to have enough money to help her widowed mother and extended family have better lives.

Bambo Chi is our Kaza grandfather, born in 1938. He has been a father 12 children, with one wife, but now remains only with 4 children, and has 17 grandchildren. Born in Blantyre he then moved to Balaka (where his father was from), in his mid thirties before travelling to Zimbabwe where he worked as a gardener for 4 years and where he also learned to drive a tractor. He then came back to Malawi for a few years before going to South Africa in 1962 where he stayed for 2 years working in the gold mines. Upon returning to Malawi he started doing his own business buying and selling different food products until 2011 when business started slowing. He then decided to come to Lilongwe to stay with nephew and got a job as a night guard for several years which is how he landed up meeting us and then came to work for us privately. His determination to work when we all think he should take well deserved rest is a flame in him we love. Always on time to work and the last to leave, he keeps the whole team laughing with his jokes and giving young people advice. Sweeping the Kaza outdoor seating area, wiping the tables, watering some plants and making Eco bricks with our re cycling are huge jobs he helps us with at Kaza.
His hobbies include reading, listening to the radio and visiting friends. Unfulfilled dreams to do would be to have his own house here in Lilongwe (as his wife and children are in Blantyre) and do small business again.