Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund embrace Africa spelling Bee.

The 2016 Annual Children’s celebration hosted by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (Fund) had a very strong Continental focus; this African perspective was reflected in the welcoming address by the Fund CEO Sibongile Mkhabela.

She described Mr. Nelson Mandela as a leader who stood for the rights of all children, and particularly the African children.  It was befitting for this year’s birthday celebration to have guests from the eight African countries that are also in South Africa for the Africa Spelling Bee contest which is scheduled to take place on Saturday 15 June at the cradle of Human Kind.  A total of 27 children from 9 African countries will participate in the spelling contest.

Story teller and Author Gcina Mhlophe also welcomed the spelling bee delegates and presented them with CD’s and Books as a gesture of appreciation for promoting literature.

Mzansi and Africa spelling bee spokesperson Lucy Mofokeng says their purpose is to unite Africa in words, and this objective played itself out when Mhlophe asked the delegates to translate the words Thank you in their own languages, while acknowledging that South Africa has 11 official languages.

• Kenya – Asante Sana
• Uganda – Webale inho
• Malawi – Zikomo Kwambiri
• Ethiopia – Amese gnalew
• Zimbabwe – Maitu Basa
• Botswana – Ke a leboga
• Nigeria – Nagode (Hausa), Ndewu (Igbo) and Oshe ( Yoruba)
• Lesotho – Re a leboha​

​According to Mzansi and Africa spelling bee, this year’s event is the first of many to come, and according to Mofokeng, the aim is to use the power of words to change afro pessimism.
Mofokeng concluded by saying the partnership with the Fund is very progressive, and it reflects the Fund’s philosophy of being an African organisation with an international appeal.