Grade 11 NC pupil a finalist in national Indoni beauty contest
A GRADE 11 Khoi-San pupil at Kunkwesa Combined School, Bianca Katjorro, is a finalist in this year’s Indoni Miss Cultural South Africa.
Katjorro said she entered the competition because of her love for her culture. “I want to share my culture with other people as we are the forgotten people South Africa.
“I loved learning how to make my traditional outfits and making fire without matches.”
The 2017 finalists, who each represent their respective cultures, were announced earlier this month in Ballito, KwaZuluNatal.
At this event, Katjorro was accompanied by her chaperone, Stefanus Dala.
The event formed part of the Indoni Women’s Summit where inter-generational discussions were held on issues such as culture, its values, moral regeneration, and on growing young women leaders.
The young finalists were chosen by a panel of judges within their regions to represent their cultures, based on a variety of criteria that include Indoni Culture School exam results, their understanding of their cultures, living their cultural values, cultural performances, and their confidence and ability to be an effective ambassador for their culture in the forthcoming year.
Sibongile Nzimande, CEO of Indoni SA, explained that the event was not a true beauty pageant.
“It’s much more than that. It is founded on the premise of moral regeneration, which is desperately needed in this country. With the upsurge in crime and abuse against women, through our Indoni programmes and festivals, we hope to achieve a return to true African cultural values where the spirit of uBuntu and respect and caring for all people is prevalent.”
The young girls will go on to the Indoni Carnival in Durban on October 7, which will followed by the finals at the Durban ICC in the evening, where the finalists will answer questions and perform before judges and an audience and the new 2017 queen and her princesses will be crowned.
Nzimande adds that the Indoni programmes are targeted at boys as much as at girls. “Our young men need to understand their uBuntu heritage, how to respect and treat their elders, women, and their peers, and to take pride in rejecting lives of crime and substance abuse.”
Cultures
Indoni is a celebration of South African culture and heritage, bringing together various cultures from across the country while showcasing their diversity and richness through various activities and functions.
“The rich tapestry of our culture and heritage is used as a tool for promoting tourism and economic activity through the hosting of various events and functions during the year, leading up to the Indoni Festival in Durban during Heritage Month and October,” Indoni founder, Dr YN Mthumbu, explained.
Members of the public who would like to support Katjorro can sms: Indoni San to 48496 at R1.50 per SMS