February 18th, 2026 - From ‘Corn Lady’ to Culinary Success and Controversy

When Tshephiso Marumo graduated with honors from a university in Botswana, few imagined she would soon be knocking on doors to sell roasted corn. In a country where such work is often dismissed as something for the poor, not for an ambitious graduate who once dreamed of becoming a journalist, her decision drew sharp criticism. A former professor even mockingly nicknamed her “Mmammidi,” meaning “Corn Lady” in Setswana.

Ms. Marumo, now 33, ignored the ridicule. What began as door-to-door corn sales evolved into a thriving food business in Gaborone, Botswana’s capital. Today, she runs two popular roadside stalls specializing in traditional Tswana village cuisine rarely found in the city. For many customers, her cooking offers a nostalgic return to heritage in a landscape increasingly dominated by Western-style fast food.

Rather than distancing herself from the nickname meant to belittle her, she embraced it. She branded her business Mmammidi, printing the name on T-shirts, aprons and even company cars. With more than 240,000 followers on Facebook, nearly a tenth of Botswana’s population, she has turned her once-mocked identity into a powerful personal brand. “Through the corn, I got an identity,” she has said.

Her background shaped her resilience. Raised between Gaborone and the village of Kalamare, she learned to cook from her grandmother, who ran an informal tavern from her home. Though the arrangement drew community disapproval, Ms. Marumo remembers feeling cared for and proud of her roots. That early exposure to traditional cooking stayed with her and later became the foundation of her business.

After building a following through her corn sales, she began hosting home-cooked dinners featuring Tswana dishes prepared the traditional way: in cast-iron pots over wood fires. The meals, seasoned simply with salt and natural fats, highlighted the authentic flavors of ingredients like shredded beef (seswaa), tripe (mokoto) and sorghum porridge mixed with melon juice (bogobe jwa lerotse). Demand grew so strong that in 2019 she cleared a field at a busy intersection and opened her first stall. A second followed in January, and she now employs 11 people.

Yet as her visibility increased, so did controversy. Known for her blunt commentary on social media, Ms. Marumo has weighed in on sensitive topics such as parenting and drug addiction, earning both praise and criticism. Some see her as outspoken and empowering; others describe her tone as harsh. She says her words are often misunderstood and insists that her success has made her an easy target.

Despite the backlash, business remains strong. Supporters admire her confidence and refusal to conform. Privately, she acknowledges that criticism can sting. Each morning she reads the Bible and writes motivational reminders on sticky notes, including one that reads, “I will fear no evil.” From mocked “Corn Lady” to influential entrepreneur, Ms. Marumo continues to chart her own path unapologetically.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Goldilocks (adj, GOHL-dee-lahks) - Goldilocks describes something that has or produces an optimal balance usually between two extremes. In astronomy, it specifically designates an area of planetary orbit neither too hot nor too cold to support life.

Example: The couple, undecided between country and city living, took the Goldilocks option and moved to a bustling college town surrounded by nature.

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