21 Icons featuring Grace Masuku

As a descendant of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela people Masuku has worked tirelessly to preserve the tradition and culture of the Batswana people. She has established numerous community outreach projects aimed at improving the lives of her community and restoring their traditional respect for the environment. The preview is available on YouTube.

Accompanying each short film is a black and white portrait of the 21 ICONS. The portraits appear in the weekend paper on the same day as the film is flighted, and will be sold later this year at a charity auction, with funds donated to the charity of the icons’ choice.

On her selection as an icon, Steirn had the following to say, “Mmakgotla Grace Masuku is a wonderful example of the diversity that characterises a country like ours, which is home to a broad range of South Africans, who have a strong respect for their cultural traditions and environment, while always displaying the utmost humility. She is also deeply rooted in her community and strongly believes in the Ubuntu creed that “without you, there is no me”, and she represents a South Africa that many of us have left behind.”
Masuku’s life stands as a stark contrast: she has always strived to be an anchor of the community, a role she first fulfilled by qualifying as a teacher before going on to become a school principal. While she may have bid farewell to the classroom, her work in education continues in the broader sense: her goal now is to ensure that her people understand the importance of their culture, that they do not lose their essence by becoming beguiled by the conveniences of a modern world and thus lose sight of who they are.

Catch 21 Icons on SABC 3 at 20h27 on SABC3.

For more information, follow us on:

Twitter: @21 ICONS,

Facebook: www.facebook.com/21Icons

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/21ICONS/

www.21ICONS.com.