#1 Ngicela ukubonga bhuti. Thank you for your honesty. For telling stories of ikasi as they should be. The attitude and passion in your voice represented the true essence of a real Sowetan. #1 Soweto Boy is a title that you have earned and will remain yours forever.
#2 Ngiyaziqenya ngawe. The pride you had for the township, where black people were forcefully placed with the intention to segregate and demoralise their humanity, inspired and encouraged me to challenge the stereotype of being 'ghetto'.
One event that stands out the most was when I went through a testing week at Umuzi.org, an advertising academy that educates and elevates young black creatives within the world of advertising.
It was bootcamp week. All the selected applicants attend short workshops and are then put through the ultimate test of creative ability before making the final list of recruits. A sponsored year-long programme will commence with a monthly stipend to feed you while you chase the dream.
Unaware of my own abilities and the advantage of being a true Soweto girl, the second last day I was given a brief that would change my life.
Loxion Kulca was the brand and Kasi was the concept. At that point, I had two choices: to either succumb to my insecurities and accept defeat or be true to myself and talent.
On the morning of the final day on my way to the academy, I still had nothing tangible to present to the Copywriting panel that would decide my fate, until PROKID's 'Sekele' played on the radio and sparked my mind back to life. My cue came in the form of a poem.
"Loxion. Kasi la ma kasi.
We refuse to conform. We pimp our poverty.
We change everything, nje ngoManyisa, we are the ACE in your space.
Michael Jackson tried to define it - ke bao ka di potsotso, chelete e fedile.
So, the struggle is real, but so is the growth.
Bafowethu, Loxion is not what it used to be.
Our geology is now technology.
Train surfers now surf the web.
Tablets don't only heal us, they teach us.
Loxion Kulca revolutionised Mzansi.
Dankie wena Pantsula, wena Mrapper, wena Hustler, wena Achiever.
You upgrade ikasi and that's why Loxion is not what it used to be."
Needless to say, I made it into the programme in August 2017 for after previously failing twice in the application phase.
Dankie PROKID, Dankie San.
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