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Nthati Mabena

South Africa & University of Pretoria, 2021

I was born and raised in Mamelodi South Africa and I consider the vibrant township my favourite place in the world. I am currently completing my honours degree in Anthropology. My research is on the role of museums and the use of visual art in social commentary and advocacy in post- Apartheid South Africa. I am passionate about social justice advocacy, design, art and pop culture. I am invested in African development and believe that young people should be at the forefront of change. I am constantly thinking about ways to use art, design and pop culture to tackle issues of social justice. I am also passionate about social entrepreneurship and want to fulfil the needs of communities by providing services and products that are culturally sensitive, environmentally sustainable and economically empowering. I have been on a responsible entrepreneurship learning journey with the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation for the past two years but my strengths lie in leadership and thinking about social development which is why I am so honoured and excited to be a part of the 2021 Mandela Rhodes Foundation cohort. I love to travel and draw inspiration from the everyday person. My dream is to see as many people as possible expressing their identity without fear of repression. I am proudly African, queer, feminist and living with mental illness. I ultimately want more young people to be honest and open about their lived experiences and to form communities wherein we can remove stigma and shame from our societies. I a life-long learner, dreamer and a rebel with a cause.

DecorationNthati Mabena

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