17 hours ago
Celebrating Youth Month through legacy and action
Siya Kolisi singing the national anthem at the Cape Town Stadium. Today, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika is intertwined into South Africa's national anthem, alongside parts of Die Stem van Suid-Afrika, symbolising 'unity' in a post-apartheid era, as declared by Nelson Mandela in 1994.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane /Independent Newspapers
June is Youth Month in South Africa, a time to honour the fearless spirit of young people who dare to dream, act, and shape the future.
While we commemorate the historic uprising of June 16, 1976, when Soweto's youth stood resilient against an oppressive system, Youth Month is more than a reflection on the past; it's a call to action for today's generation.
It's a reminder that your ideas, no matter how small they seem, can ignite change that will echo across time and borders. Take inspiration fromEnoch Sontonga, a young visionary whose creativity left an indelible mark on Africa. This Youth Month, let's ignite that same courage and drive in you to turn your ideas into reality.
The Legacy of Enoch Sontonga, A Young Dreamer's Impact
In 1897, a 24-year-old Xhosa teacher and choirmaster named Enoch Mankayi Sontonga sat in a Methodist mission school in Nancefield, near Johannesburg, and penned a hymn that would become a beacon of hope for millions of people across Southern Africa.
He was born around 1873 in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, and he was a product of the Lovedale Mission Training College, where he honed his skills as an educator and poet.
At just 24, he composed Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika ('God Bless Africa'), a prayer for unity and liberation, initially intended for his school choir. Little did he know that his words and melody would transcend his lifetime, becoming a pan-African anthem of resilience and freedom.
First performed publicly in 1899 at the ordination of Reverend John Hlengani Mboweni, the hymn gained traction when John Langalibalele Dube's Ohlange Institute choir sang it at the South African Native National Congress in 1912.
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By 1925, the African National Congress (ANC) adopted it as their official closing anthem, and it became a defiant cry against apartheid, banned by the regime for its association with the liberation struggle. After Sontonga's untimely death in 1905 at age 32, Xhosa poet Samuel Mqhayi added seven stanzas in 1927, deepening its call for Africa's redemption.
Today, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika is intertwined into South Africa's national anthem, alongside parts of Die Stem van Suid-Afrika, symbolising 'unity' in a post-apartheid era, as declared by Nelson Mandela in 1994.
Beyond South Africa, its melody has been adopted as the national anthem of Tanzania (Mungu Ibariki Afrika), Zambia, and briefly Zimbabwe and Namibia, proving the universal power of a young person's vision. Sontonga, who died young and relatively unknown, shows us that age is no barrier to impact. His story challenges you to act on your ideas now, trusting they can ripple far beyond your immediate world.
Sandile Mlangeni is a 2019 GP-based Activator. He is passionate about youth activism.
Image: Supplied
Your Ideas Matter: Turning Vision into Action
Sontonga and the youth of 1976 share a common thread: they didn't let their age or circumstances define their potential. You, too, have the power to execute your ideas, whether it's starting a community project, launching a business, or creating art that speaks to your truth. Here's how to channel that energy this Youth Month:
1. Start Small, Dream Big: Sontonga wrote Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika for his school choir, not imagining it would become a continental anthem. Your idea doesn't need to be grand from the start. Write that poem, code that app, or pitch that project. Small steps can lead to monumental outcomes.
2. Embrace Resilience: The Soweto youth faced unimaginable odds, yet their courage persisted. When setbacks hit, whether it's funding, doubt, or failure, keep pushing. Resilience turns ideas into reality.
3. Collaborate and Connect: Sontonga's hymn grew through the voices of choirs and activists who carried it forward. Find your community friends, mentors, or online networks who share your vision and can amplify your impact.
4. Act Now: At 24, Sontonga didn't wait for the 'perfect moment.' The youth of 1976 didn't hesitate to demand change. Your age is your strength; your energy, fresh perspective, and boldness are assets. Seize this moment.
June 16, 1976, The Resilience of Youth. Youth Month's roots lie in the courage of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, when thousands of students, some as young as 13, marched against the apartheid government's imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools. On June 16, these young people faced brutal repression; hundreds were killed, including Hector Pieterson, whose image became a symbol of resistance.
Their defiance wasn't just a protest; it was a declaration that the youth could challenge injustice and demand a better future. Their resilience galvanised the anti-apartheid movement, proving that young voices could shift the course of history.
The lesson from 1976 isn't just about rebellion, it's about conviction. Those students didn't wait for permission or for someone older to lead. They saw a problem, organised, and acted, despite the risks. Their legacy reminds us that youth is not a time to wait but a time to move, to create, to build.
