Local learner is 2018 Story Bosso

Praises Banda, a 13-year-old Grade 7 pupil from Leboho Primary School at Ga-Kibi in the Senwabarwana area, was announced as the winner of Nalibali’s 2018 Story Bosso contest recently.
Praises beat 2 000 pupils from different primary school across the country to take home R5 000 in cash, a book hamper and R500 worth of airtime for her endeavours.
The countrywide competition was run in September under the theme ‘South African Heroes’ and all primary learners could enter. The campaign aimed at inspiring greatness in South African children by allowing them to remember and tell the stories of the nation’s heroes. Praises’ winning story featured her personal hero and fellow classmate, Kholofelo Sasebola who put an end to the bullying she endured at school.
Lorato Trok, judge of the competition and children’s story development expert, said the sadness in Praises’ voice was palpable when relating the story. “You can tell the bullying was traumatic, but, at the same time, you can hear her passion for celebrating the deed of her hero. Her command of Sepedi is commendable. Though the story is told in simple sentences, Praises used the language playfully, and the story is easy to understand.”
Nalibali managing director, Jade Jacobsohn was quoted to have said: “Heroes guide us about how to live our lives, they give us hope and motivate us to overcome challenges. We were blown away by young Praises Banda as her story, skilfully told in her home language Sepedi, did exactly that.”
Nalibali’s annual storytelling competition is a multilingual storytelling contest designed to provide aspiring storytellers with an opportunity to showcase their talent and to promote storytelling in all official South African languages.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com