Thembisa dancer proud of Banna Re Mokgobe’s national achievements

I’m Cedrick Makua, born in Limpopo under the Nebo district, and I’ve been living in Thembisa since 2022 because of work.
I’m a proud member of the dancing group Banna Re Mokgobe, which started in 2011.

Our group began performing at Thembisa Plaza and then moved to other shopping complexes, but Thembisa has always been our home ground.

One of my favourite memories is performing for the community in Thembisa.

Over the years, our group has grown and gained exposure, performing at events across all nine provinces. In 2025, Banna Re Mokgobe achieved something incredible: we won best dance of the year and best group dance of the year at the annual Manyalo competition at Zebediela Fun Corner.

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Those awards were a proud moment for all of us and a reflection of the love and support we’ve received from the community.
I really value the support system from Thembisa.

We even created a WhatsApp group for our supporters to show love and follow our journey. Many of our wins were a result of supporters voting for us. It helped us reach more people and grow our presence on social media.

Thembisa has some great spots for relaxation and performances.

We often book entertainment spaces at shopping complexes, and places like Zebediela Fun Corner host Manyalo and Dinaka dance performances every weekend.

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It’s where our dance roots grew, and because of the community’s love, we’ve been able to showcase Bapedi, Matsonga, Zulu, and Venda cultural dances across the country.

Mr Kekana, the owner of Zebediela Fun Corner, has been a huge inspiration for us.

He created the 1st Annual Awards Competition for all Manyalo groups in the nine provinces, and thanks to his support, Banna Re Mokgobe became the champion winners in 2025 for best dance of the year and best group dance of the year.

When we started, our goal was simple: to inspire other Manyalo groups and bring back a modern style while keeping our cultural roots alive.

We even introduced stylish uniforms from Brendwood and Saxone to look smart and respectful, like true Amagroodman.

Our vision is to grow talent and skills for upcoming artists and dancing groups, helping them reach professional levels.

We dream of partnering with media outlets, TV channels, and radio stations to showcase our performances and take the Manyalo dance overseas.

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Entertainment is important; it helps the community de-stress, inspires young people, and can even steer them away from negative influences.

The best advice I get comes from our supporters on social media: “Keep up the amazing work, don’t drop your standard, and we can’t wait to see you on TV or overseas representing South African Manyalo dance.”

Their encouragement keeps us motivated every day.

Thembisa is home for me.

Because of the community’s love and support, we’ve grown, performed across South Africa, and become champions.

Winning top awards is proof of what can be achieved when talent meets community support.