On Monday the 9th of August the South African nation celebrated National Women’s Day. A day which remembers and celebrates not just the role which women played in the struggle against the apartheid regime, but the critical role that women play in our current society as well.
This year the Londolozi family celebrated the public holiday by holding a Londolozi Women’s Day Festival. The festival was used to celebrate outstanding women in South African history and the outstanding women currently at Londolozi. South African female icons such as Emily Hobhouse, Charlotte Maxeke, Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Suzman, Miriam Makeba & Dulcie Evonne September were all remembered for the part they have played in South Africa’s history. Whilst Constance Khoza, Annie Mnisi, Sarah Burns, Jess Boon, Maggie Mnisi and Mo Groch were voted Londolozi’s most outstanding women of the year.
In addition to the awards the Londolozi staff village also played host to the Dabuka Ladies theatrical performance, a children’s play as well as choir drumming and poetry recital. It was however, when the traditional, cultural dress competition started that things began to get very serious. A traditional bushveld fashion show that drew many of the ladies at Londolozi down the runway kitted out in their best traditional dress. After much deliberation, Winnie Kubayi was voted as having the best traditional dress.
This Women’s Day celebration was one of the most memorable that we have ever had at Londolozi. With a new sense of national pride and energy after our successful hosting of the 2010 World Cup, South African men and women are vibrant, enthusiastic and alive with the possibility of taking our nation forward.
Such amazing women!!! Well done to all the ladies – extremely proud of you all!
I was privileged to participate in the celebration of Women’s Day (truthfully, it was my first women’s day). It was an amazing experience. Thank you to GoGo Mo!
Hi Julie, It is always great to hear from people who have experienced and witnessed in person, events that we put up on the blog. I am so glad that you got to participate in what was a very special and meaningful day for so many of the amazing women who make up the Londolozi family. Gogo Mo will be delighted to hear from you and I will pass on your comments.
Thanks,
Rich