English poet William Cowper once said: “Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour.”
For 27-year-old Onezwa Mbola of Willowvale, flavour is the foundation on which she built her business, which officially launches on June 23.
Mbola is the founder of eMandulo, a company that produces and sells home-grown and handmade condiments and seasonings. The range includes hot sauces, flavoured salts, chutneys and jam.
The name eMandulo means “in the beginning”.
Mbola said the inspiration behind the company came from a desire to live a simpler life.
She wanted to grow and produce her own food to give her two-year-old son the best possible life while connecting with her ancestors and how they lived.
Mbola said the brand was about taking food production back to the days when it was chemical-free and mostly sustainable.
“I’m very passionate about cooking and any good cook will tell you how important it is to source the best ingredients.
“Those ingredients for me is what I grow. I wanted to share that with everyone by creating products from what the land provides.”
Mbola has no formal training in agriculture.
However, she grew up in a home where everything the family ate was grown at home. They also had their own livestock.
She said this experience was what prepared her for the leap of faith needed to start her own business.
Mbola said being away for home for so many years, she started to forget the skills she had learnt while growing up and had to teach herself gardening all over again.
Getting the business up and running was a challenge. Mbola tried for nearly two years, but the timing was not right.
She said it was surreal seeing her dream finally become a reality and being able to hold her finished products.
There were times she wanted to give up, Mbola admitted, but she persevered.
Funding was her biggest challenge, but she made a decision to invest in her dreams and used her savings to start eMandulo.
Not only does she grow and make her own products, she also packages, labels and markets them herself.
“As a queer black woman who at most times has felt underrepresented in the food industry, it is important to create space for people like me and launching during Pride Month is a bold stamp declaring that we’re here to take up space.”
Mbola uses social media to grow her clientele base, posting videos of recipes using her products as well as pictures.
My advice to fellow entrepreneurs would be to understand that sometimes things fail and that’s OK because everything is a lesson
“My advice to fellow entrepreneurs would be to understand that sometimes things fail and that’s OK because everything is a lesson.
“So many of us fail at something once and decide to never try again but business is about being innovative and flexible.
“Take those failures and see what changes you can apply then try again and again until you get to where you want to be.”
People who want to order Mbola’s products should go to her social media pages and Twitter and Instagram: @eMandulo_.
• Sandisiwe Buthelezi is a lifestyle blogger (www.sandys-place.co.za).
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