The aroma of traditional cuisine, the richness of Tamil heritage and a powerful celebration of women filled the MTSS Hall on Sunday, August 9, as the Tamil Federation of KwaZulu-Natal (TFKZN) hosted a special Sunday Sappadu in honour of Women’s Day, Sunday 9 August.
Sponsored by KNFT Shipping and Women of Africa, the celebration brought together food, culture and conversation in honour of the women whose strength, sacrifices and contributions continue to shape families and communities.
The highlight of the gathering was renowned Malaysian chef and storyteller Shankar Santhiram, whose appearance brought a distinctly personal dimension to the celebration. Known for his engaging social media presence and passion for Tamil food, Santhiram used his time with the audience to explore the stories, memories and people behind the food he prepares.
For Santhiram, much of that culinary journey began with the women in his own family.
“A lot of what I have learnt and what I do comes from years of observing my mother, my grandmothers and my aunties. There were incredible cooks in my family, and there was always a competition over who made the best curry or varuval. As a young boy, I had the privilege of learning from all of them. So when I cook and tell these stories today, I am also carrying forward something that those women gave me,” he said.
His message extended beyond the kitchen, reflecting on the shared identity of Tamil communities scattered across the world.
“I think the real connection between me and the people here is that we come from the same place, even though our journeys have been very different. You look at me and I look like one of you. We may have travelled to different countries, spoken different languages and developed different traditions, but when we sit around a table and share food, we remember where we came from.”
Founder and CEO of Women of Africa, Advocate Pria Hassan also challenged women to view leadership as an opportunity to uplift others in her keynote speech at the event.
“Leadership is not about standing above people; it is about standing beside them, creating opportunities and reaching back to bring other women through the doors that we fought to open. The real measure of success is not how high you climb, but whether the women who come after you have a shorter road than the one you had,” she said.
TFKZN president Gan Moodley said the event was an opportunity to honour women not only as custodians of culture, but as leaders shaping its future.
“Culture is not static; it lives and breathes through the people who nurture it. For generations, Tamil women have been the custodians of our language, traditions, culinary heritage and values. Today we are recognising the women shaping the present and empowering the young women who will carry our culture into the future,” said Moodley.
The Sunday Sappadu ultimately became more than a celebration around a shared meal. It was a meeting of generations and a reminder that food can preserve memory, culture can strengthen identity, and women remain central to carrying both into the future.
