In partnership with the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, and Community Chest, and with the support of Assitej South Africa and Harambee, FunDza launched the #Slam4urLife competition at the beginning of May. The aim of the competition was to get young people to submit their creative response to the theme: Living in a world with Covid-19.
Since the launch, FunDza has received and reviewed more than 1,000 entries from young people from all corners of the country… there’ve been amazing poems, songs, tik-toks, artwork, flash fiction, comedy sketches, raps, dances and more… what a treat it has been to see and celebrate our country’s talent!
Even though the coronavirus pandemic has kept us in lockdown, this hasn’t Locked down the creative potential of South Africa’s young people. They have done themselves and their country proud!
With all these entries, judging was tough. There were of course fights over favourites and laughs and aha moments from all the variations of artistic expressions. The competition had four sets of heats, in which the three winners in each category (text, image and video) each walked away with R250 airtime.
Then on 8 June, FunDza announced the 16 finalists in each category. These were sent to an external panel of expert judges in order for the final decisions to be made. The winners were announced in a Live Facebook event presided over by the Western Cape Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais, and Community Chest CEO, Lorenzo Davids, on 16 June – Youth Day. Watch the event on the Facebook page here.
The three winners walk away with a laptop, which we hope will be useful in this difficult time, and six runners-up (two per category) have each received a cash prize of R1,000.
And, the winners are…
Video winner: Yollande Tshimanga, Gauteng
See her winning entry here:
“I am so excited to win this competition and cannot wait to recieve my laptop,” the excited Yollande said.
Image winner: Sibusiso Lee Mokoena, Free State
See his winning entry here:
(With his family, screaming from excitement in the background) “Thank you so much, you have no idea what this means to me!”
Text-based winner: Olwethu Cloe Ngcobondwana, Western Cape
Read her winning entry here:
“Are you serious, I won the competition? Thank you so much, this laptop will help me so much with my studies as we are unable to attend classes right now!” the grateful Olwethu said.
FunDza has published the two runners-up and the other finalists in the text category on its site. Read them here.
Re sentse resa bone by Omphile Jennifer Mokoena (runner-up)
Dear Covid-19 by Freddy Jay Nyezi (runner-up)
The sun will rise again by Maria Thuli N Mbonani
A poyem (poem) by Umnikazi Wempilo
Kuzizijwili by Nomaphelo Pheshy Jamani
*Chasing**11.59* (Life of a university student during Covid-19) by Motshidisi Mokoena
Not too close by Nkwana Joshua
Senzenina by Bulelani Happyboy
Passionate solitude by Gashmée Harrison
Sundown by Olweth
I live with a superhero by Mihlali Gwalisa
Equally worthy of mention are all the runners-up in the image and video categories.
Video category:
Zuko Sikhafungana, watch his video here.
Aphiwe Qhama Menziwa, watch here.
Image Category:
Peter Mkansi, see image here
Lonwabo Ngqongwa, see image here
Congratulations to all who entered. And a huge thank you to our partners – the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, and Community Chest – and our promotional partners, Assitej South Africa and Harambee for their contribution. Thank you too, to our internal and external judges, our celebrity influencers, and our social media supporters. It would not have been possible without you all!