Young beauty aims to promote her culture

NKOMAZI – A 17-year-old Mbangwane-born lass prides herself on being a Swazi who embraces her culture.
Thembelihle Mpofu is among 12 finalists from nine provinces who will participate in this year’s Indoni Miss Cultural South Africa competition.

She is not just only a natural beauty, she knows who she is as she takes pride in her culture, background and historic clan and the praises of the Swazi nation, as well as her her surname.

Fascinated with her siSwati language, culture and its people, she entered for the competition and her qualities, confidence and love for her culture made her a choice of the judges.

She will hence represent the province in the Indoni Miss Cultural South Africa in the ICC Durban Arena on October 15.

The pageant is uniquely African and participants will showcase not only their natural beauty, but also use the platform to educate and promote their culture and express themselves in their indigenous languages.

“I entered the Indoni competition because I wanted to know more about my culture and my roots as a Swazi girl because we live in a modern world where traditions are ignored. I also wanted to honour the blood of the heroes and heroines who sacrificed themselves for our liberation during June 16, 1976,” she said.

She told Mpumalanga News that she would work towards the establishment of youth service centres in the province, should she win the title. Here the youth will be taught on the values of their origins and culture, coupled with the importance of practicing good moral behaviour and preserving one’s youthfulness.

Thembelihle has attended the Swazi Reed Dance in Swaziland twice before, but couldn’t attend this year because of her busy schedule with the Indoni competition.

“This is where I learned a lot about my culture and the significance of respect for both young and old members of the community. We went to Matsamo Cultural Village and this revived my pride as an African and instilled pride in my culture,” she said.
She also motivates children from disadvantaged backgrounds not to give up in life. “I always like to encourage them to concentrate in their school work so that they can be better people in the future,” she said.

She also loves modelling, athletics and plays netball for her school, Mgubho Combined.
She is also the captain of the school’s debating team.

This physical science pupil is currently in grade 11 and aspires to be a lawyer in order to represent issues of the youth and the community at large.

Indoni Miss Cultural South Africa was launched in 2011 to celebrate culture and identity.
It aims to groom young girls into being successful individuals. It also educates teenagers on social ills such as drug abuse and teenage pregnancy.

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