On 31 October, Elevate Africa hosted its 5th annual public speaking final competition with what Dr David Kabwa, the Mayor of Tshwane’s speechwriter and an adjudicator of the competition, described as “world class public speaking skills, a benefit to this university, to our city, and to South Africa.”
The seven finalists, namely Nobukhosi Ncube, Calia Nel, Anastacia Couloubis, Jessica Towani, Kofi Donkor, Bokamoso Tshetlho and Paballo Mokhawane were given the topic of Futurism. The diversity of approaches to this topic and the high calibre of delivery was commended by the cohort of highly accomplished judges. Alongside Dr Kabwa, Musa Sono, the director of the Emuseni Foundation, Kefiloe Kolopang, a data engineer and nonprofit founder, Linda Ndungane, an author and employer branding specialist, and last year’s winner Bongeka Disane.
Elma Akob, the CEO and founder of Elevate Africa, noted that public speaking is the 4th most in-demand skill globally that is critical in the job force, and is required in every field. Akob notes that, “When AI is replacing everything, public speaking is the connector of human beings.”
Preshalia Naidoo, the chairperson of Elevate Africa and one of last year’s finalists, says the organisation “gives students a platform for their voices to be heard in a world bombarded with so much chaos and so many push notifications. It can be easy for students and the youth to feel like their voice doesn’t matter or have lost hope in the power of their voice, but this platform allows you to hone that skill and have confidence in the power of who you are and the message you want to share with the world.”
In third place, Donkor spoke about the rise of manipulative leadership through fear, manipulation, and propaganda, respectively drawing from cases of the Trump Administration, the xenophobic agendas of March & March, and the Palestinian genocide.
In second place, Couloubis spoke about the successes in women’s football in parallel with the disparities and discrimination women face in the sport. She illustrated these systemic inequities by highlighting the stark financial chasm between athletes, noting that while Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest paid player, earns $300mil annually, Trinity Rodman, the highest paid female player doesn’t earn half, she doesn’t even earn a quarter. She earns 150th of what Ronaldo earns.
And in first place, drum roll please: Jessica Towani, who spoke about bringing AI to the forefront. Not artificial intelligence, but African intelligence in a world where western intelligence takes centre-stage. Towani suggests, “The problem is not that we lack intelligence, but rather that we fail to acknowledge it even when it has stared us dead in the face. We use Western solutions to problems that are authentic to Africa.” Her innovative speech has won a TedX Talk as the first place prize.
Elevate Africa’s world-class public speaking has given many students the opportunity to develop communicative skills and further career opportunities. The organisation is planning to extend to other Gauteng universities in the coming year and nationally in the next two.
