Miss TiBaKalanga  2024 Lands in Asia

20-year-old Sikhanyisile Ndlovu, winner of the 2024 Miss TiBaKalanga Beauty Pageant competition has arrived in the Indian state of Odisha to pursue her tertiary level studies, a development she didn’t anticipate just a few months ago.

Miss Ndlovu is a recipient of the Zimbabwe government’s Presidential Scholarship which sponsors high achievers across the country. She was nominated after she obtained 3 distinctions in English, Ndebele and History at A’ level which she sat in November 2023 at Sikhathini High School in Bulilima District. Prior to her A’ level studies, Miss Ndlovu attended Phakama Secondary School, also in Bulilima District where she obtained 7 O’ level passes.

A native of Damani Village in Bulilima District, Miss Ndlovu’s meteoric success is attributed largely to her own efforts.  She has been able to overcome many obstacles through her strong will and desire to succeed. She is able to keep a positive attitude in face of adversity. That is the spirit with which she approaches her work as seen through her determination to win the Miss TiBaKalanga Beauty Pageant competition in recent years.

Miss TiBaKalanga Beauty Pageant competition 2024 was Sikhanyisile’s 3rd attempt to win the now very coveted title for many young girls in Bulilima District. In each attempt she fell just a few points short of an outright win but received the 2nd and 1st Princess status respectively. On April 6, 2024, Sikhanyisile turned on her charm offensive a notch higher, thrilling the audience with her Kalanga oratory skills in the introduction round and with her fancy footwork in the talent category leaving the hundreds of spectators in awe. She breezed through the remaining categories; traditional wear, sportswear and nightwear and went on to win the competition where a total of 20 models from different villages participated. The judges in that competition, Misses Sincominkosi Khumalo, Nkanyezi Malunga and Confidence Dube unanimously took ownership of the points which they awarded, which ultimately put her on the winning lane.

Sikhanyisile’s association with the TG Silundika Cultural Community Centre, the TGSCCC dates back to the time when she was an aspiring model enrolled at Phakama Secondary School. She often showed up at the cultural centre for rehearsals and stood out because of her eagerness to help others. Her desire to do volunteer work earned the admiration of the staff and the respect of her peers. From then on she received periodic assistance from The Silundika Family Foundation to help pay for her studies. Throughout her modelling adventure at the cultural centre, Sikhanyisile recieved sponsorship from Gatsheni Meats Company based in Bulawayo, owned and operated by Mr and Mrs Ndlovu of the Gatsheni totem like her.

In line with her wish to keep in touch with her followers Miss TiBaKalanga has sent a recorded message to her followers, sponsors and well-wishers to express her gratitude for the love and support over the years. More importantly she shares that she is now in pursuit of her studies at tertiary level. She promises to continue her role as a volunteer for the cultural centre by mentoring aspiring models from her village and beyond. The TG Silundika Cultural Community Centre would like to take this opportunity to wish this outstanding young lady every success in her studies and looks forward to her continued involvement with the cultural centre.

The next Miss TiBaKalanga Beauty Pageant Competition is scheduled for April 6, 2025. For more details contact:

Mrs Mandy Sibanda – (TGSCCC Pageant Director) + 263 77 631 9837

Mr Nkosi Nkomo – (TGSCCC Models Trainer) +263 77 440 5171

By Felix Silundika