Hawaiian Chicken in Southern Africa

Hawaiian Chicken in Southern Africa
By Anthony Butz

When I visit a new place I like to take things back with me. I don’t necessarily mean physical objects. There are plenty of those in America. I mean less concrete things. Things like a fun phrase from a foreign language, a story, or a fresh perspective. Perhaps even a recipe. 

4 years ago when the world was shut down, I packed my bags and got on a one-way flight to Hawai’i. I spent about 9 months there before moving on and I owe much of my character to that place. Many life-changing experiences took place there on the Big Island and there were many takeaways that I brought with me from my time in Hawai’i. One of those was a favorite food.

Shoyu chicken is a common Hawaiian comfort food. It’s made by simmering bone-in chicken pieces in a sweet soy sauce marinade until the meat is ready to fall off the bone. When I tried it for the first time I instantly fell in love. I had to figure out how to make it. So I did. And when you find something you love, you feel the need to share it with people. So when I learned to make my own Shoyu chicken, that’s what I did. Every once in a while, I would cook it for some people. Whether it be for a family dinner or a boys’ trip up north, my Hawaiian chicken traveled with me. 

Some years went by and I was given this incredible opportunity to go to Africa and serve Hosea’s Heart as a teacher. As a result, my Hawaiian chicken followed me all the way to the Kingdom of eSwatini. Upon arriving there, it didn’t take long before I got an itch to cook Shoyu Chicken for dinner. I wasn’t sure if an African grocery store would carry soy sauce but I was pleasantly surprised. I bought all the ingredients and got to work. After trying it for the first time in Africa a thought crossed my head. I wonder if the girls would enjoy Shoyu Chicken. Maybe I can make it for them for Christmas.

I was instantly sold on the idea. I figured it would be a nice Christmas present to all of them, especially since they don’t often have meat. However, I had to test the waters first. Who knows? Maybe they won’t like Hawaiian food. I was in need of a test subject. And I knew exactly who to talk to. 

I called Ayanda, a graduate and staff member of Hosea’s Heart, and everyone’s best friend. Ayanda is incapable of saying no to food, so she was a perfect fit. Not only that, she happened to be having some of the older girls over for a weekend. This was great! Now I had 3 guinea pigs to test on! The weekend came and I cooked the meal at Ayanda’s apartment. Once served, I was eager to hear their thoughts. Little did I know, Swazis LOVE chicken. And I’m not just saying that! Every fast food and chain restaurant in the country is all about cooking and serving chicken! It was an instant hit among the 3 girls. Everything was going according to plan.

The weeks went by and a Hosea’s Heart Christmas party was announced in early December. All the staff members were called together for a meeting one morning to plan for it. When it came time to decide about the food, everyone was hesitant to volunteer and provide the meat. One of them would need to provide enough meat for about 40 people, which was a significant financial sacrifice. I saw this as my golden opportunity. I told them that I wouldn’t mind buying all the meat as long as someone could find a big enough pot to cook enough meat for 40 people. They were thrilled. 

I was lent a very large pot (Thank you Make Tsitsi and Pastor Justice) and began preparing for the big day. On the morning of the party, I woke up at 3:00 am to start cooking. That way, I could have it all prepared before driving to the girls’ home and serving it for lunch. The plan worked and by the time lunch came around everyone was eager to try the foreign dish they had all heard about. 

I was hoping to take some proud pictures of my Shoyu Chicken that day but by the time I got my camera ready, it was all gone! Everyone inhaled that chicken! I was lucky even to get a piece! It’s safe to say that my Hawaiian recipe was a hit, not only for the girls but for everyone who worked for Hosea’s Heart as well. Many of them even asked me how I made it. This made me smile. They wanted to know the recipe, just like 19-year-old me in Hawai’i.

It was a beautiful experience. That day there was more than just food and fellowship shared. In a way, I got to see 2 cultures collide. 2 cultures that I love so dearly. 2 peoples that I’m not even a part of. Swazi and Hawaiian, all in one place.

That meal was more than just chicken that day. For me, it represented growth. I was taking my past experiences and bringing them to new places. In a way, I was taking everything I learned during my 9 months in Hawai’i and using it here in Africa, and now beyond. And in the end, there were many fresh new things that I took away from my time in Eswatini. Too many to fit into one blog post! Like before, most of them were little lessons, reflections, and stories like this. However, I may or may not have packed a few African hot sauces in my bags before returning back home.

Thanks again to everyone who donated to support my mission. You are the reason why I was able to share this chicken with everyone.

-Anthony Butz