Lusanda Madikana
Nominee's Province:
Free State
Age:
29
Project Name/Description:
Founder – The Nozizwe Foundation & The Woman Sorrows
Born in Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape, Lusanda Madikana believes she is a dynamic force for healing, education, and cultural revival. Her life’s journey—shaped by personal hardships, a deep love for community, and spiritual conviction—led her to found The Nozizwe Foundation and The Woman Sorrows, creating safe spaces for women and children facing poverty and gender-based violence. Madikana says after spending five years striving to enter university, she became the first in her family to graduate, earning degrees in leadership communication. Her mission was clear: to become a leader who serves with empathy and action. Today, she is a proud academic, language activist, and spiritual teacher dedicated to preserving African identity through the power of language. “As a champion of isiXhosa and an ambassador with SADiLaR, I empower young people to take pride in their mother tongues. My initiatives—like the African Languages Reading Club and the African Languages Writing Project—have inspired a cultural renaissance across South African campuses,” she added. In 2025, Lusanda made history by coordinating the first-ever Ancestors Day Conference at the University of the Free State, a landmark event in African spirituality and decolonisation. She hopes to be remembered as a woman who led when it was difficult, who challenged the status quo, and who empowered a generation of spiritually rooted, culturally proud young Africans. Lusanda’s legacy is a living one, paving the way for youth to embrace their heritage and boldly rewrite the narrative of African identity, one act of courage at a time.
