SA Repatriates Fallen Freedom Fighters
September 30, 2024Springboks Secure Rugby Championship, Proteas Ready for T20 Battle
September 30, 2024A local pageant platform, founded by culture enthusiast Sicelo Nkuna, aims to foster a love of culture, instil good values, and promote self-confidence among young people. Nkuna, a former Indoni King and Mr Ubuntu SA, established Mr and Miss Cultural Roots three years ago to share his passion for cultural education.
“We bring young people together in this space to share our cultural backgrounds, norms, and values as African people,” Nkuna explained. “We also promote modelling as a talent, using pageantry to instil pride in our culture. Through storytelling and folktales, we learn valuable life lessons.”
On 31 August, the third annual crowning ceremony took place at Tonga View Primary School. Andiswa Valoi was crowned Miss Cultural Roots, with Nokhanya Mabuza and Oratile Mongwe as runners-up. Additionally, Qondile Makamu won the Miss Cultural Roots Confidence category.
Nkuna highlighted a challenge in attracting young boys to participate in the pageant, which meant they could not crown a Mr Cultural Roots this year. To address this, the organisation plans to host school presentations in Nkomazi to encourage more boys to get involved.
The pageant is part of Nkuna’s non-profit organisation, Ubuhle be Masiko ne Mvelo. Through this initiative, he hopes to inspire young people to embrace cultural creativity while steering them away from harmful activities such as crime and risky behaviour.