Meet This Week’s Photo Challenge No.1 Winner From 10/08/24 – 16/08/24

Valeria Mhlanga was voted for by her fans as number one winner of this Week’s Photo Challenge Powered by Kasi Stories.

She is a 21 year old lady who is into hair dressing, clothes designing, singing, and is passionate about acting and writing but her strength is in singing.

In an interview she stated that she has matured enough to the level of making her own decisions.

“Well I think my brain has matured completely. I make decisions the same way adults do especially in situations involving socializing and passion.

“I am a very outgoing person, a super extrovert I may say. To add on I am feminist, I advocate for young girls and women but that doesn’t mean I don’t involve or accommodate men in my circle.

“MORE SO, I am a GOD fearing lady, who loves worshipping and praising God through singing.

“I see myself as a multi talented person, who is carrying that “Grace”.

“In a nutshell I am so happy to partake on KASIE STORIES BYO and newspaper Celebrity Breeze.

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Kasi Stories Bulawayo is a cultural and literary initiative rooted in the vibrant townships (commonly referred to as “kasi”) of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city. The project serves as a dynamic platform for storytelling, community empowerment, and cultural preservation, celebrating the rich oral and written traditions that define life in the city’s townships.

Overview

Kasi Stories Bulawayo is more than just a storytelling platform—it’s a social movement. It aims to provide a space for emerging and established writers, poets, musicians, and spoken word artists from Bulawayo’s high-density suburbs to express their creativity and share authentic, grassroots narratives. These stories reflect everyday realities, dreams, struggles, humor, and resilience of township life, often overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream media.

Objectives

1. Preserve and Promote Township Culture: By documenting and sharing local stories, traditions, and languages (especially isiNdebele and other Zimbabwean tongues), the initiative keeps township heritage alive.
2. Empower Local Voices: It creates opportunities for young and marginalized storytellers to gain confidence, exposure, and recognition.
3. Bridge Generations: Through storytelling sessions and community events, Kasi Stories brings together the young and old, creating a sense of shared identity and continuity.
4. Encourage Literacy and Education: Hosting workshops and reading programs promotes literacy and educational growth within township communities.

Activities and Platforms

Kasi Stories Bulawayo engages the community through a range of events and media:

• Open Mic Sessions & Storytelling Nights: Live events where participants share poetry, short stories, spoken word, and music in local community centers, parks, and schools.
• Writing Workshops: Capacity-building sessions that train young writers in storytelling techniques, editing, publishing, and digital content creation.
• Digital Storytelling: Use of social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to publish stories and reach wider audiences.
• Collaborations with Artists: Integration of visual art, photography, and film to expand storytelling mediums and create powerful cross-genre content.

Themes Commonly Explored

• Life in the Kasi: Humor, slang, social dynamics, and daily struggles that define township living.
• Youth Identity and Expression: Navigating identity, peer pressure, dreams, and modern urban influences.
• Gender and Social Issues: Including domestic violence, unemployment, drug abuse, and gender-based inequality.
• Historical Narratives: Reflections on Bulawayo’s past, liberation war stories, and intergenerational memory.
• Love and Relationships: Told in a raw, often poetic township context.

Impact

Kasi Stories Bulawayo has become a voice for the voiceless—celebrating urban African stories in their truest form. It has helped nurture a new generation of creatives who use storytelling not just as an art form, but as a tool for social commentary and transformation. It has also attracted interest from cultural organizations, NGOs, and media platforms looking to engage with authentic Zimbabwean narratives.

Conclusion

At its core, Kasi Stories Bulawayo is a celebration of local identity. It’s a tapestry of lived experiences woven into words, poetry, performance, and digital media. In a world increasingly influenced by global culture, Kasi Stories reminds people of the power of homegrown expression, community solidarity, and the enduring value of storytelling.