Celebrities Camu Moth, Jojo Mawini, Zoe Mudega, Mondley Makhoba share what Freedom Day means to them.
Every year on April 27, South Africans celebrate Freedom Day, commemorating the first democratic elections held in South Africa in 1994.
This was the first post-apartheid national election held in South Africa where anyone could vote regardless of race, gender and religious belief.
Celebrities share what this day means to them and whether it still matters.
camo moth
She is the host of the new unfiltered talk show Heavy Hitters on SABC 1 with Naked DJ and Radio Producer on YOU FM.
What does freedom day camo mean: Freedom Day is meant to be a day to remember those who fought tirelessly in the apartheid struggle to ensure that we are all equal in treatment and finance and that the South African constitution is just and representative. This day represents an awakening of some sort, and it is not just political. We need to get to a point where we celebrate this freedom daily, not just one day. We’ve come this far. We have a dark history. Young people do not really understand the essence of Freedom Day but we need to continue to include it in our education systems so that history does not fade away.
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Mondley is disappointed
Actor and voiceover artist, Mondley Makhba, is featured in the latest music video for Zacks Pantwini’s song Imali alongside some of the cast of The Wife.
What does Mondli Freedom Day mean: Freedom Day means nothing to me these days because before 1994, when we celebrated freedom after our first post-apartheid election, we all hoped for a change.
We trusted the people we positioned as leaders, but none of that happened.
Freedom Day has lost the value it deserves. Our leaders tend to take advantage of the poor and take over themselves. We are not free, the people are poor. Leaders need to understand first what they stand for, why they are in office and why they want to vote.
None of the people in power understood, some lost the purpose of why they went into conflict, to begin with. Young people try and when they do, the old who are in power oppress the young. Our politics has guns in it, you tell the truth, you kill. So, Freedom Day is a very emotional day.
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Zoe Modiga
Singer-songwriter Zoe Modiga has toured the world since starting her career and is sharing a portion of her travels as the headline for the next edition of Bassline Live premieres at Lyric Theater on April 30.
What does Zoë Freedom Day mean: For me, Freedom Day is multi-layered and so many things I can still find words for. It is a hope for us as a people that we will be able to live our utopia than we are. I think it’s more than losing its essence, it’s an opportunity to reawaken what freedom is for ourselves in the modern age.
I find that from my experience in life, true freedom is also an act of remembering ourselves and so I would encourage young people to search for themselves and the truth they see, I find that allows a lot of affirmations to flow in.
Jojo Mawini
She is one of the most outspoken and controversial sangomas who are not afraid to speak their minds. She stars in the reality show Izangoma Zodumo.
What does Jojo Mawini Freedom Day mean: Many people say we are free as South Africans, but I feel that I am not free to express my identity as a black female South African, as a traditional healer who practices in South Africa under the Certificate of Traditional Healing.
I don’t think I will celebrate this day because there is nothing to celebrate. I acknowledge the work done by those who fought in the apartheid struggle, but their efforts seem to have been unsuccessful. Society always judges me how I express myself and my spirituality.
The government opened doors and gave traditional healers opportunities to practice and express their cultural views. I am one of the most popular sangoma songs in South Africa because of that, there is still a stigma around African traditions and we are still derided.
I would like Freedom Day to be a day when people are allowed to be themselves freely, whether they are black, white, male-female, or any cultural group of color without being judged or discriminated against.
