In South Africa, Heritage Day is celebrated on the 24th of September. It’s a day where many people honour their roots by wearing traditional attire, enjoying cultural performances, and, most notably, through food. I believe food is one of the best ways to celebrate our diverse heritage—it’s a universal language that brings us all together. One entrepreneur who has truly embraced her heritage through food is Shizeeda Osman, with her creation of the Mosindi chilli sauce.
Shizeeda’s heritage is a rich blend, with a Mosotho mother and an Indian father. She’s a photographer who also practises crystal and reiki healing, but what truly brings her joy is cooking for her loved ones. This passion eventually blossomed into her business venture: Mosindi, a chilli sauce that she makes and sells with love.
A few years ago, when her father fell gravely ill, Shizeeda and her sister frequently visited home. On these visits, her younger brother, who had become a farmer by then, would send her home with an abundance of vegetables and chillies. It turned out he was doing the same for her sister, and soon they both found themselves overwhelmed with chillies. Not one to waste, Shizeeda began experimenting with different recipes. One of them, inspired by her mother’s cooking, incorporated the chillies, and after many trials, the Mosindi sauce was born.
The name ‘Mosindi’ is a personal reflection of Shizeeda’s heritage. She explains, “I wanted the name to embody who I am because the ingredients come from both sides of my family. ‘MOS’ is for Mosotho, my mum’s heritage, and ‘INDI’ is for Indian, my dad’s side. Together, they represent who I am.”
The flavour of Mosindi is a perfect metaphor for Shizeeda herself. “The sauce is a blend of sweet and fierce heat, just like I’m a blend of my parents’ cultures. It’s a mix that just works.” And it does! Mosindi has become a hit, appealing to all kinds of people. Whether it’s enjoyed with curry and rice, pap and chicken, or even as a dip for crisps, it adds a special touch. “It represents me in a way—people see me and think I’m of all sorts of different nationalities, but really, it’s just a beautiful blend.”
Mosindi comes in four flavours: Milder than Mild, Mild, Hot, and Extra Hot. The range ensures that there’s something for everyone, from those who enjoy a gentle kick to those who crave serious heat. The Milder than Mild option is almost like a chilli jam, perfect for people who want a touch of spice without the burn. The Extra Hot, on the other hand, is not for the faint-hearted!
Shizeeda’s journey with Mosindi wasn’t without challenges. “When I first started, I was just throwing ingredients together without measuring, so the recipe took time to perfect. Then I had to figure out how to preserve it and make sure it would last. A friend who’s a food technologist helped me with that,” she recalls. Selling it came next, and although she didn’t have much experience with eCommerce, she created a WhatsApp broadcast list and began selling to friends. Word quickly spread, and now she has a loyal customer base.
For Shizeeda, food is more than just sustenance—it’s comfort, belonging, and connection. She shared, “Food gives us stability. Those family recipes, passed down for generations, create a sense of security, especially in a world that can feel chaotic. Food links us to each other, and it’s how we learn about different cultures. No matter what, we always come back to who we are through the food we eat.”
What she loves most is how Mosindi brings people joy. “I love meeting people who tell me how much they love the sauce. It’s the little moments, like when someone says it makes their food taste better or that they can’t live without it…it’s so genuine.”
So, this Heritage month, why not celebrate with a bit of Mosindi? After all, what better way to honour our roots than through the flavours that connect us all. Send a WhatsApp to order your sauce at 0829640553.