Celebrating voices of youth at the St John’s College Youth Speaking Festival
South Africa’s youth took centre stage, where their voices sparked fresh conversations on heritage and unity.
St John’s College hosted its 7th annual Youth Speaking Festival on September 21, a vibrant celebration of young voices engaging in thought-provoking debates about South Africa’s shared heritage. In a country as diverse as ours, where each individual brings unique perspectives, fostering dialogue is essential to understanding and embracing our differences. The festival provided an opportunity for the youth to exercise their public speaking talents and reflect on the nation’s past, present, and future.
Eleven schools from across Gauteng participated, each entering a junior and senior speaker. The juniors grappled with the poignant words of President Cyril Ramaphosa, exploring the theme: ‘Yet, we are one people. And we share a common destiny’. This topic prompted them to delve into the complexities of unity in diversity, a theme deeply resonant in today’s South Africa.
On the other hand, the seniors took a lighter yet equally significant route, using popular South African slang words like: ‘Eish!’, ‘Lekker!’, ‘Yoh!’, and ‘Shame!’, to reflect on the colourful linguistic identity that ties South Africans together. Their discussions were a perfect blend of humour and insight, as they brought to life the colloquialisms that so many of us use daily.
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The festival was graced with an esteemed panel of adjudicators. Carol Crosley, registrar of Wits University, and attorney Raksha Semnarayan, a member of the St John’s College Council, oversaw the senior competition. Meanwhile, the junior competition benefitted from the expertise of Denise Newfield, an English lecturer at Wits University, Delela Ndlela, a St John’s Old Johannian and winner of the first-ever Youth Speaking Festival, and Phillipa Yaa de Villiers, a renowned writer and performance artist.
In addition to the lively debates and compelling speeches, Exclusive Books generously sponsored gift vouchers for the winners, MCs, and adjudicators, further encouraging a love of reading and intellectual exploration among the participants.
The St John’s College Youth Speaking Festival remains a highlight on the school’s calendar, offering young South Africans a platform to voice their thoughts and ideas, while also celebrating the nation’s diverse heritage.
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