South Africans celebrate Youth

South Africans celebrate Youth Day in London

DIARY OF AN EXTROVERT | Southern Africans from across the country descended on South African pub The Orange Bull Sports Bar over the weekend to celebrate Youth Day.

South Africans celebrate Youth

CollageImageJune 16 is a public holiday in South Africa commemorating the Soweto Riots in 1976 in which black high school students in Soweto protested against the Afrikaans Medium Decree, which forced all black schools to use both Afrikaans and English in a 50-50 mix as languages of instruction causing moral panic.

The iconic image of the 1976 Soweto Uprising was a dying Hector Hector Pieterson,13, being carried by another pupil, with his sister by his side, which was published around the world. He was killed when the police opened fire on protesting students. In the weeks that followed over 700 people, mostly youth were killed.

For years, 16 June stood as a symbol of resistance to the brutality of the apartheid government. Today, it is a designated National Youth Day – when South Africans honour young people of the past and celebrate the youth of today, our future.

170px-Hector_pietersonIt was no different here in London where, Southern Africans from across the country came together over the weekend to celebrate this special day. South African pub The Orange Bull Sports Bar was the hosts of the event organised by South African Youth Development which saw the likes of multi-talented songstress Noni Zondi and up and coming singer Lebo Snookums grace the stage and none other than Asanda Jezile, the talented 11-year-old talented singer with a bubbly personality who impressed the judges and the nation on this year’s Britain’s Got Talent.

“Home away from home” is how I would describe this past weekend. The pub’s garden had a full-on braai with pap, boerewors, and chakalaka along with a variety of Southern African alcoholic beverages. People were speaking in their mother tongue and the kwaito and house blazing through the speakers took me back home, until a harsh moment of reality hit as I realised I was quite cold, yes you guessed it – typical British weather.

Everyone’s spirits were lifted and I met some amazing people. The Southern African talent we have in this country is overwhelming and I am looking forward to the future, where we put South Africa on the map.

See a gallery of photos from the event