Sinoyolo Sifo was listed among Africa’s 100 most impactful people in travel and tourism for 2025 by the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit (AYTIS) 2025, an influential platform that highlights young entrepreneurs and innovators shaping the future of African travel.
Sinoyolo Sifo is a pharmacist by profession who has built a notable career as a self-taught home cook, social-media food influencer, and published cookbook author. Growing up in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, his culinary passion was sparked by watching his mother cook and helping his father in his butcheries during school holidays. Inspired and motivated by his wife, Nondumiso, Sifo launched his food journey on Instagram in 2020 under the name “The Cooking Husband,” where he shares easy-to-make, hearty, and delicious recipes that have garnered a large and loyal following.
His work focuses on breaking gender stereotypes around men in the kitchen, encouraging more men to cook and share domestic responsibilities. The brand “The Cooking Husband” was chosen to grab attention and motivate men to become active in cooking. Sifo’s cookbook, titled Sifo: The Cooking Husband, features nearly 70 accessible and affordable recipes, blending traditional South African dishes with family stories and cooking tips, making it easy for readers to follow. The cookbook has won awards, including Best Cookbook at The Book Beyond Awards and Best Family Cookbook in South Africa at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
