Latest news with #Sepedi
IOL News
8 hours ago
- Science
- IOL News
Enhancing research accessibility: University of Pretoria's innovative AI translation initiative
The University of Pretoria's library services has launched an AI project aimed at translating academic research into several languages. Image: File The University of Pretoria's Department of Library Services (DLS) launched the groundbreaking 'Translation of Abstracts' project - an initiative that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to make research accessible in multiple indigenous languages. The project is the product of collaboration between professional and academic departments, reflecting the university's commitment to transdisciplinary work. 'This is about the kind of university we want to be,' said Professor Suni Maharaj, UP Vice Principal for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education, in stressing the need for collaboration and to bridge not only the digital divide, but also the emerging AI divide. 'AI is a tool that allows us to do things we never thought possible. We must ensure it becomes an opportunity for all, not a barrier for many.' The DLS sees this project as more than just a technical exercise - it is an invitation for students to engage with issues beyond their academic timetables, through activities such as book clubs and poetry nights in indigenous languages, said the DLS Director, Lindiwe Soyizwapi. It was further said that providing access to knowledge is central to the library's mandate, and with research capable of addressing societal challenges and shaping policy, this project aligns with a broader movement toward inclusive, multilingual knowledge that benefits both academia and society. The project was linked to the long-held dream of a decolonised education system, in which students can think, learn, and create in their mother tongues. 'This is cultural and linguistic preservation. It's equity. It's self-determination. We are making history by ensuring no student is excluded,' student David Kabwa said. A representative from the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), Professor Langa Khumalo, reinforced this by stating that language humanises us. 'The choice of language in education has historically been weaponised to suppress other ways of learning. We must actively cultivate indigenous digital knowledge, challenging the notion that English equals knowledge.' Professor of Computer Science, Vukosi Marivate, explained that systems don't know our languages. 'We need to build systems that recognise them.' He added that this work is driven not by ego, but by care - care for communities, for future generations, and for the survival of linguistic diversity. The project's development involved training AI models with 25 academic abstracts into Afrikaans, IsiZulu, and Sepedi, refining them through human translation and validation to ensure academic precision, accuracy, and language context. Khumalo described the aim as 'not to dumb it down, but to maintain scientific rigour while broadening access.' Early results have shown the unique challenges of different languages. For example, Afrikaans translations required only minor human editing, while Sepedi translations demanded significant reworking due to missing terminology - a process likened to 'building a house while manufacturing the bricks.'
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
The literary girlhood we need: awards celebrate young women authors during Women's Month
As the South African Literary Awards (Sala) mark two decades of honouring literary excellence, in Women's Month they turn the spotlight on women authors, especially the young, who are telling stories and shaping a literary future rooted in identity, resistance and renewal. By recognising voices who have emerged through poetry, prose, essays and indigenous language storytelling, Sala asserts that literary spaces must reflect the full spectrum of South African womanhood and girlhood. From school journals to book festivals, young women are finding ways to document their world, defying stereotypes and forging new possibilities for African narratives. 'Sala's commitment to literary excellence has always included elevating women and the youth, not as symbolic gestures, but as essential architects and vessels of South Africa's narrative,' said Prof Zodwa Motsa, chairperson of the Sala advisory board. 'This Women's Month we honour the literary womanhood whose voice is unapologetic, creative, courageous and future-focused. The stories of young women are not marginal; they are the marrow of our national imagination.' Among those previously recognised is Lebogang Masango, whose work in children's literature and poetry has inspired a new generation of feminist thinkers and readers, and Deidré Jantjies, a cultural activist passionate about the historical stories of women. She is the author of the illustrated children's book Stories in die Wind (2022) written in Nama and Afrikaans. Terry Ann Adams' first story in White Chalk, Rock a Bye, Baby, was her attempt to make sense of one of her worst memories, followed by The Ouens, a story based on the collective memory of boyhood and the painful collective memory of Nathaniel Julies. Tshepiso Makgoloane, the 25-year-old multi-award-winning poet and writer from Limpopo's Motetema township, said she never thought Tša Ma Africa would take her so far when it started as an e-book. The motivational speaker and editor of Sepedi poetry books promised her followers more for the future and encouraged the youth to empower themselves through reading and acquire as much knowledge as possible. Anelisa Thengimfene, who won the 2023 Poetry Award for her isiXhosa collection Amajingiqhiw' entlalo (The Ups and Downs of Life), continues to inspire through her dual role as a writer and lecturer at Sants Private Higher Institution. Her writing reflects the lived experiences of many South African women, blending resilience and reflection. Also honoured is Fhulufhelo Ntsieni, a 25-year-old poet and the youngest winner at the 2024 South African Literary Awards, recognised in the Poetry category for Rudzani. Her work contributes to the evolving landscape of South African poetry, rooted in memory, language and identity. Over the years, categories such as Youth Literature, First-time Published Author, Poetry and Creative Non-Fiction have become critical entry points for emerging women authors. The categories have nurtured talents whose books are now studied in classrooms, circulated through book clubs and cited in academic discourse. As part of its 20th anniversary campaign, Sala is calling on the public to actively support authors by reading their books, sharing their stories and following their journeys online. Institutions are encouraged to invest in youth-led publishing initiatives and to bridge the access gap faced by women under 35 in literature. During August Sala is inviting South Africans to celebrate Women's Month not only in tribute, but in action by buying books and honouring the young women whose pens are documenting our hopes, struggles and histories. 'The process of writing a children's story book is incredibly fun. It is something I always wanted to do. Children's books are very exciting objects, and it was incredibly fulfilling', said Lebohang Masango, who won a Sala Children's Literature Award in 2019. Alongside her academic pursuits, she aspires to release two new children's books, further securing her identity as a leading voice in literature. 'I want to be counted among the voices who told the truth and preserved it,' she said. For aspiring writers, Masango shared invaluable advice: 'Read more than you write' and 'Start a blog'. She emphasised the importance of reading as a method to explore diverse styles and genres while encouraging writers to cultivate their unique voices without reliance on artificial intelligence. As we prepare for the upcoming Africa Century International African Writers Conference (#ACIAWC2025), the presence and perspectives of young women remain central to shaping the literary conversations ahead, said Motsa.
TimesLIVE
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Masango by Siphosihle to shine among SA's top influencers at the Hollywoodbets Durban July
Doromongy What comes to mind when you think 'Marvels of Mzansi' and how are you interpreting the theme this year? When I think of Marvels of Mzansi, I'm instantly drawn to the untold magic that lies beneath the surface of our everyday South African lives — the textures of our heritage, the rhythm of our languages, the landscapes that raised us. For me, the marvel isn't just in the obvious beauty, it's in the complexity of where we come from. That's why I chose to celebrate both the spiritual rootedness of my Sepedi ancestry and the mystique of Limpopo's natural wonders. My two looks for this year's Durban July are a deeply personal tribute to those stories: one grounded in the soil of my people, the other echoing the ancient caves that have held our histories in silence for centuries. What is the most exciting element about your outfit? The most exciting part is how nothing is purely decorative — everything has meaning. In my first look, every single macramé knot was crafted to represent memory and lineage. In the second look, the way the silk catches light feels almost other worldly; it's like I'm carrying the energy of those limestone chambers with me. Wearing something that tells a layered story,that honours where I come from while still feeling current and powerful — that's a thrill you can't replicate. What inspired your choice of outfit and designer for this year's Durban July? Siphosihle Masango has this rare ability to turn heritage into haute couture. I knew I wanted a designer who could honour my Sepedi background without reducing it to a surface-level reference. With MASANGO, we went deep — we talked about the reddish hues of Limpopo's earth, the dance movements of my childhood, the weight of silence inside Echo Caves. He didn't just design for me, he translated me into fabric, texture and silhouette. What are you most looking forward to at Durban July this year? I'm most excited for the moment when the crowd goes quiet — not because there's no sound, but because presence fills the space. It's that breath between footsteps when you're about to make an entrance, dressed not just in fashion but in memory, culture and intention. I'm looking forward to being seen as myself, through the lens of legacy, celebration and power. That's what Durban July allows — it creates a stage where our stories can walk unapologetically into the sun.
TimesLIVE
26-06-2025
- General
- TimesLIVE
Pretoria PhD graduate creates Sepedi comms tool for disabled children
For many children with communication disabilities, expressing their thoughts, needs and feelings can feel impossible, especially when the tools available are not coded in their language. But one South African scholar made it her mission to change that. Dr Ngwanamaishe Rahab Mothapo, a University of Pretoria PhD graduate, has developed a communication system that allows Sepedi-speaking children with communication impairments to express themselves in their language and on their terms. The non-electronic, picture-based tool is specifically designed for preliterate children who speak Sepedi, a language spoken widely in Limpopo. Her work marks the first culturally rooted augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system of its kind in the country. 'It's really about giving these children a voice,' said Mothapo. 'Enabling them to take part in communication, which is a human right.' Her motivation was deeply personal. Growing up in Polokwane, Limpopo, she had a relative whose son lived with an intellectual disability and struggled to communicate. 'Because we knew our way around him, it was much easier for us to understand him,' she said. It was during this period that she became increasingly aware of a gap in the field. That experience stayed with her and later shaped her career as a speech-language pathologist and audiologist. When she entered the profession, she found that the resources available to support children with communication needs were not only limited, but also culturally foreign. 'Our profession is very Western-centric. The tools we use, the tests, the assessment frameworks are all based on English-speaking children in Western contexts,' she said. 'That is a problem when you are working in Limpopo with Sepedi-speaking children who can't relate to those tools at all.' Her research journey began by developing the 222 most commonly used Sepedi words, which she calls 'core vocabulary' words, which laid the foundation of her PhD. Her doctoral study aimed to create a usable system that children could hold in their hands, and use at home, at school or in clinics and 'feel seen' by using it. Her PhD research, conducted at the university's Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), used a design methodology that places users at the heart of the process. She engaged a range of stakeholders, including teachers, parents, linguists, speech therapists and even adults who had grown up using AAC devices. 'If we don't consider the people who will use the system, their culture, their language, daily lives, then we end up with tools that people abandon,' said Mothapo. 'That is something we see globally with assertive technology. It is not used because it does not resonate.' The picture-based board contains more than 600 items, grouped by how children use language socially and contextually. It includes: Greeting phrases and everyday expressions; A QWERTY keyboard with Sepedi-specific phonemes; Core vocabulary including nouns, pronouns, verbs and adjectives; Fringe vocabulary, tailored to specific settings such as playtime or weddings 'The system is intentionally flexible, allowing children, caregivers and teachers to adjust vocabulary according to the situation, whether a child is at school, in a park, or attending a ceremony,' she said. The board also contains emojis that reflect the reality of children who use it. Her findings highlighted the importance of dialectical variations. 'Polokwane Sepedi is not the same as Sekhukhune Sepedi,' said Mothapo, adding that teachers and therapists must consider these differences when using the system. The final product is now being used by some of the schools and families who took part in the research. Mothapo has also shared the tool with the Limpopo education department and hopes it will soon be rolled out more widely. 'This is not something I'm trying to sell. The aim is not to monetise it,' she said. 'Raising a child with a disability is already expensive. Communication should not be a luxury; it is a basic need.' Her vision reaches beyond Sepedi-speaking children. She hopes her work will serve as a blueprint for other South African languages, particularly those that have been historically marginalised in healthcare and education. 'If this device is going to act as my voice and I'm going to use it to interact with my community, then it must reflect who I am, my culture, my language,' she said. 'Otherwise, it only adds to the isolation.' To future researchers from marginalised backgrounds, Mothapo offers encouragement and a challenge. 'There is a phrase I believe in: 'Nothing about us without us.' We can't keep letting outsiders define our languages and our communities. Don't be afraid to explore new ground, even if there is not much research already done. Be fearless.'
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Local star Clement Maosa releases uplifting ‘Lekompo Anthem'
Quick read 'Skeem Saam' actor Clement Maosa has released a vibrant new single titled Lekompo Anthem with up-and-coming artist Bayor97. Rooted in the joy and unity of Lekompo culture, the track blends nostalgic influences from the Dalom Kids with fresh energy. Maosa hopes the feel-good anthem will unite families and find success on radio and TV. Bayor97 sees the collaboration as a stepping stone toward more partnerships and greater exposure. Full story POLOKWANE – Clement Maosa, best known for his role as Kwaito in the Sepedi soapie 'Skeem Saam', has released his new single, 'Lekompo Anthem' alongside rising artist Bayor97. Rooted in the joyous spirit of Lekompo culture – where communities stay united and dance their troubles away – the track pays homage to a classic tune by the Dalom Kids while adding fresh energy for today's audiences. Maosa sees Lekompo's rapid rise as the perfect moment to share a hit that bridges generations. 'My dream is to keep releasing music that travels internationally, bringing families together with that nostalgic, feel-good vibe,' he said. He hopes the anthem will earn widespread radio and television play, becoming a staple at family gatherings. Music has always been at the heart of Maosa's life. From school choirs to Sunday school performances, he has embraced every opportunity to tell stories through song. 'An authentic artist pours their soul into their music,' he said. Behind the scenes, Maosa faces familiar industry hurdles: securing effective public relations, marketing to broader audiences, and overcoming low streaming revenues. He tackles these challenges by leveraging his social media presence and seeking creative alternatives to keep his music in the spotlight. For Bayor97, inspiration struck organically during a studio session. After reaching out to Maosa about a collaboration, he found the perfect moment to introduce a classic sample into the mix. 'I want to push this track to the limit, open new doors, and spark more collaborations.' With ambition and openness to wherever the journey leads, both artists are poised to take Lekompo culture, and their careers, to new heights. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
