INDONI FESTIVAL

My culture your culture one nation

By Themba Nkabinde

In the spirit of South African Heritage Month, the Indoni Cultural Festival hosted in Durban culminates in the annual Cultural Miss SA pageant.

It aims to promote the diversity in African art including dramatic, musical, textile design and poetic art in home languages. The festival comprises of the Cultural Parade, the Cultural Exhibition and the Cultural Beauty Pageant. Indoni Cultural Festival  promotes a tool for educating people on culture and promoting cultural pride in young people.This is also a moral regeneration programme targeting young boys and girls, using culture, identity and indigenous knowledge to bring about behavioural change. The celebration seeks to enlighten the youth and the world at large on the richness of each of the cultures in South Africa.

Twelve finalists from nine provinces participating in the Indoni Miss Cultural South Africa have been unveiled in Durban at the Indoni Cultural Festival. The theme for 2016 is “My Heritage, My Pride”.

As a celebration of culture and identity, the Indoni Miss Cultural South Africa was launched in 2011. Its aim is to groom young girls in to being successful individuals in future.

The term ‘Indoni’ is derived from an African Nguni word that refers to a special species of the Blackberry fruit family. Because it often grows in tropical areas around water beds, it has been pseudo-named the ‘waterberry’. On a metaphorical level clans of Nguni origins used the idiom 'Indoni yamanzi' translated as 'A water berry' to describe the extraordinary beauty of a young woman in relation to the sweet blackberry fruit.

More specifically, each province in which a specific culture is demographically represented showcases a celebration where several young women and boys compete in demonstrating special knowledge and a potential to represent their culture exceptionally well. The winner then moves on to national competitions where they represent their culture and accompanied by other cultural dancers/maidens, participate in a theatre production.

The overall qualification of the Indoni Miss Cultural SA participant will be graduation from a culture school. In each and every identified culture, there will be culture schools directed by a pool of culture resource persons unit over the school holidays, i.e. Culture Camps.

Young girls and boys will go through several workshops in which they will be taught more about the spirit of Ubuntu, Indigenous Knowledge and crafts. Most importantly, they will then be taught how they can use the gained skills to emancipate and share it with other young people, hence they will be role models to the youth.

MY FRIENDS FROM ROSEBANK COLLEGE ARE MY FRIENDS FOR LIFE

friends who never shy to be friends
photographer: Themba Nkabinde

By: Themba Nkabinde

When I was in high school, this was me. While my friends were talking about applying to universities across the country, I just wanted to go to braamfontien. Somewhere that wasn’t too big, somewhere that didn’t have endless streets of high rises, somewhere I could start my future. However, it seemed like I was the only one – none of my friends wanted to go to Braam, which I thought was strange, considering they were all from Auckland Park. This meant that once high school finished, I was off to Braam and to a college where I knew no one and didn’t really know how I was going to cope without my school friends by my side.

Fortunately, in my first day I met someone in the library who was also studying at the same college as me, Itumeleng Lesejane, and he introduced me to three other boys he was with. It turns out that this boy went to school with my cousin and my new friendship began to form.

Forming friendship group’s on-college can be difficult if you class yourself as an introvert. At the start of my college life I certainly was (not that anyone would believe that now), but forming new friendships on-college was one of the most important things I ever did. Now I have so many more friends from different colleges, degrees and of all different ages.

So why are the friends you make on college friends for life? When you live on-college, you go to breakfast with your friends, have lunch with your friends, play sport with your friends, study with your friends, go to social events, such as formals, and have fun with your friends, and you live with them 24/7, much like your family. And much like your siblings, parents and loved ones, college friends get to see you at your best, happiest, lowest, most stressed and well, worst moments. They’re there when you snap over your assessment deadline, yell at your computer, are annoyed with work, frustrated with friends and are plain angry with the world. This variety of emotional moments experienced when living with people creates strong relationships, and develops a depth of intimacy that maybe only your family have ever felt. Few people get to see the good and bad sides of you, but when living in such close proximity, your college friends will get to know all of you and this is why college friends are friends for life.

I don’t know what I would do without the friends I met on-college. They have helped me through some of the toughest times and also helped me create memories I will never forget. The friends I have made while living on-college have supported and guided me to my final year of study and have always encouraged me to never give up and always go one better at everything. If I have a bad day, I just can just send them a simple ‘I need a group hug’ and they are there for me. They are just around the corner when I need them, and I do the same for them!

Moving away from college at the end of my diploma, will be ten times as hard than moving on from my high school. Not being able to see my uni friends every day for lunch or get that high five when I need it most, will be so difficult. But I know we will remain friends for life, just like my mom told me when I started at Rosebank College, and we will always be there for each other!

I would encourage you to make the most of your on-college experience and cherish the friendships you develop, because the friends you make at university and on-college can be friends for life

FILL UP ORLANDO STUDIUM

by Themba Nkabinde

He started about the with the famous hashtag( #fillupTheDome) and he achieved it, he was recognised and complemented by the president Jacob Zuma after he filled about his dream of #FillUpTheDome, who else then Nyovest the first South African musician to perfume live to 20 thousand people on one night. Now his living his dream and now his focusing to make history by filling up Orlando Stadium.

Doubt if this show will ever match to last year's one. Too many artists this time around and it makes it lose what the original show was all about, supporting an SA to be the first local musician to fill up Dome. The coming show is just too clustered. Perhaps your performance will be 30mins too. Nonetheless, I like your business spirit. All the best to you Mr nyovest

For the fact that people will also judge him, students from Guateng universities surely will judge him because of the issue of #FeesMustFall campaign one may say that they are still focussing on #FeesMustFall! That R300 is supposed to contribute to their registration fees should they not be able to achieve our goal by the end of the year. But that doesn’t mean they problem must affected the concert as I think his also worried about the future of students and surely he support them by all means to complete their studies at the end of the year.

I also think the price will help us to feel safe at the event because all free events or cheap event attract certain kind of people. So we will come back with our cell phones and wallets after the event. This is like restaurant if u can't afford to eat there you go to which ever you can the likes of KFC or McDonald's one day you will be able to do whatever you want when you put action it turning your dreams to reality. We don't buy the tickets because we are rich it's because we admire and we are inspired by what a boy who left school to chase a dream had turned his dream it to a money making machine. Some of the comments deserves comedy awards.

It's that time of the year again where @CassperNyovest aims to make history and as universe of Africa, we got his back!! As an official it’s our time to support him.

 We can't wait Cassper nyovest the momentum is built up defy the odds again.  Let’s support our best SA hip hop artist the soccer fans are supporting the always being the for their players so why can't we be there once in year to our best artist musician

You actually going to do this man, I thought filling the dome was the pinnacle but you keep doing the utmost. You're such an inspiration to aspiring artists such as myself but also to the youth in General... I wish I was around that week to be able to come see you, but I saw you at the dome and it was lit, but I feel that this is going to be historical.

my journalistic ambitions

My future is determind by the books i read daily

By themba Nkabinde

If wishes were horses, everyone would like to ride. In fact, many of the wishes of the people die in their budding stage. Still man cannot give up ambitions. My ambition in life is to become a great journalist.

A journalist has nothing else to do with electricity except how he should use journalism for gathering news. Even during my childhood, I used to think of many problems faced with journalism. Does photojournalism than news journalism? Are the news better than all the photos of the world? Are all negative part of journalism discourange the world? This flood of questions used to arise in my mind and I used to feel disturbed when I did not get any reasonable explanation.

I am not hungry for fame. Rather I think that fame is like a bubble which can burst on anyway. I think it is my childish curiosity that makes me to belittle the efforts of the journalist.I wish I get the noble prize in the field of journalism for my country one. Sometimes I think that this is an idle dream. Still my imaginations refuse to accept this as a mere wishful thinking. I become conscious of my purpose. I started thinking that those who get noble prizes are also human beings. This thought gives me encouragement.

 I’ve loved writing since I was in fourth grade. My sister was in her sophomore year of university and she told me how frightening her first year in university was. After being an over-achieving student in high school, she struggled with university writing. She told me that due to a lack of practice in high school, she did not feel fully-prepared to write at the varsity level.  She urged me to read literature above my grade-level and to continuously practice my writing skills because it would be beneficial to me in the long run.I’ve loved writing since I was in fourth grade. My sister was in her sophomore year of university and she told me how frightening her first year in university was. After being an over-achieving student in high school, she struggled with university writing. She told me that due to a lack of practice in high school, she did not feel fully-prepared to write at the varsity level.  She urged me to read literature above my grade-level and to continuously practice my writing skills because it would be beneficial to me in the long run.

 When I entered high school, my desire and hunger to write was bigger than ever. I looked for programs and internships to participate in. My first writing opportunity came when I was accepted into the Teens Reviewers and Critics program. My group and I watched theatrical performances, films, and modern art at museums that we later wrote about in our own reviews. My instructor and my peers were a great help in my ongoing journey to becoming a writer. In the writing programs I have been able to take part in, I have learned ways to structure my writing, edit correctly and compose more sophisticated pieces of writing in school and in my short-stories.When I entered high school, my desire and hunger to write was bigger than ever. I looked for programs and internships to participate in. My first writing opportunity came when I was accepted into the Teens Reviewers and Critics program. My group and I watched theatrical performances, films, and modern art at museums that we later wrote about in our own reviews. My instructor and my peers were a great help in my ongoing journey to becoming a writer. In the writing programs I have been able to take part in, I have learned ways to structure my writing, edit correctly and compose more sophisticated pieces of writing in school and in my short-stories.

I dread math classes in school. The difficulty to memorise theorems and formulas and input them in quick quizzes and tests are not my strong suit. Because of my love for writing and reading, my history and English classes are heavens for me. Learning from past peoples’ mistakes and growing, as a human race throughout history is titillating and a great experience to have within the confines of a school classroom. Being able to relate to protagonists’ lives and problems in the literature read in my English classes help me adjust with the transition from adolescence into adulthood. After taking classes at school, I attend college courses at Midrand institute College. Most recently, having taken political science has helped me meet deadlines, learn of the political and economic aspects of our world and has made me a more aware person. I am now able to form deeper understandings of how industries, economies, government agencies all come together to run countries. The classes I take are helping me mature as a writer and person.I want to become a journalist to develop understandings of the world around me and provide insight to the people reading my work. I want to serve as the eyes and ears to my audience; to help them see and read true and unbiased information about the world around them.I want to become a journalist to develop understandings of the world around me and provide insight to the people reading my work. I want to serve as the eyes and ears to my audience; to help them see and read true and unbiased information about the world around them.

I am not hungry for fame. Rather I think that fame is like a bubble which can burst on anyway. I think it is my childish curiosity that makes me to belittle the efforts of the journalist. I wish I get the noble prize in the field of journalism for my country one. Sometimes I think that this is an idle dream. Still my imaginations refuse to accept this as a mere wishful thinking. I become conscious of my purpose. I started thinking that those who get noble .

MTN 8 CHAMPIONS: CLEVER BOYS SCHOOL SUNDOWNS

Bidvest wits mtn celebtrations

Gavin Hunt’s side made their intentions clear early when Daine Klate opened the scoring 34 seconds into the first half with a right-footed drive from outside the area. The Clever Boys continued to push and were rewarded with a second goal in the 20th minute. Denis Onyango came for a cross but spilled it into Eleazar Rodger’s path who made no mistake from close range. Msandawana struggled to assert themselves in the first half with Darren Keet a spectator for large parts of the half. Pitso Mosimane made a double change at the start of the second half introducing Yannick Zakri and Siyanda Zwane as Anthony Laffor and Tebogo Langerman were withdrawn. Despite the changes, it was Bidvest Wits who were ruthless in front of goal. Rodgers slipped in a perfectly weighted through ball for Klate, who made no mistake to bag his brace and increase the lead to 3. The Braamfontein outfit looked disciplined and comfortable in defence as the men from Mamelodi looked for a late consolation goal. The win sees Gavin Hunt secure his first silverware for the club in what looks to be a promising season for The Clever Boys.

The conditions made going into tackles a dangerous prospect and some may deem Hlompho Kekana lucky to have escaped with only a yellow for a wild challenge on Klate but the usually uncompromising Victor Gomes showed leniency. Pressure from the Students intensified and Mhango saw his headed effort fly into the ground and just wide with Denis Onyango scrambling.It wasn't long before Wits had a second with Klate playing provider as he challenged bravely in the air before the ball broke for former Sundowns man Rodgers to sneak the ball in from a tight angle.

Finding themselves a further goal down Sundowns tried to get a foothold in the game but had a difficult time breaking down a disciplined Wits backline.Wits, too, did not carve out the same kind of opportunities they had been creating earlier in the game as they were resigned to shots from range.Sundowns registered a first shot of the game in the dying seconds of the half as Keagan Dolly curled a free-kick just wide .Mosimane's men came out of the break looking like a different side and had a host of opportunities early in the half with the best Tiyani Mabunda's looping header which forced Keet to tip the ball over the bar.

The Brazilians looked to be in control but Wits hit them on the counter with Rodgers slipping in Klate who stretched to stab the ball home. Seemingly relaxed by the substantial advantage they were enjoying Wits began to enjoy themselves and saw effort from Thabang Monare force a save from Onyango before Pelembe fired just wide.

At the other end a set-piece presented an opportunity for Mabunda but he slammed the ball over the crossbar from close-range. Wits could have added further gloss to the score line as they game approached the final 10 minutes but Onyango got down bravely to take the ball of Rodgers' feet.

As time ran out Sundown’s began to visibly lose hope of salvaging the game but Kekana did attempt the spectacular but his acrobatic effort was nowhere near troubling Keet.Wits turned on the style in the closing stages as they coasted to a comfortable win and a first trophy in six years.Daine Klate received the Man of the Match award

Ben from rags to riches

The absolutely goal of the season winner

by Themba Nkabinde
It all start as a dream from the childhood playing soccer on the street most people from the township knows it as(tim tim) "street soccer" three aside playing on the tared roads where massive injuries one can get the sun blazing fire in summer, colds makes people feeling cold in winter. it all started as a simple plan it the early age of 10 years back in the street of Rietvallie extention 2&3.Ben Mosthwari commonly known as Stigga from the people of his home town he grew up at west rand of Gauteng born in the year 1990 March 21. He starting schooling at the age of 6 years at Phandulwazi primary school, at Mohlakeng and he furthered his high school education at S.G Mafasa at Kagiso, that's where he completed his high school. Unfortunately he didn't went to tertiary education due to lack of money from his single parent, but that didn't let him down it was not his conclusion of his life and didn't define who is he.He started playing soccer from his township teams like real touch, super heroes , and as growing up he stopped playing for his township and went to play for the his neighbours  Real Madrid under coach VK and thats where his talent started to develop and he was recognised by the team trabzone fc from Randfontien the team that procuded the likes of the great Oupa Manyisa Edward Manqele, he played there and he once leaded the team as captain and about 3 years he went to try his luck at Bidvest Wits and by the mercy of the lord his dreams become true and his one of he regular players at Wits and after playing for a season he was nominated as absolutely goal of the season and he won the award and that is what is called dreams do come true only if people believe. From rags to riches Ben's life is truly blessed by Jesus