Lusanda Madikane, 29, a communicator and community development practitioner, was raised in Mqanduli, a small town in the Eastern Cape. She is the founder of the Nozizwe Foundation, which runs grassroots projects focusing on education, cultural preservation and child support in rural areas. She also established The Woman Sorrows, a platform that highlights the realities of rural women, including abuse. One of its flagship projects, the Active Youth Leader Campaign, recognises young women who are creating positive change in their communities. Lusanda is a master’s student in communication science, a research assistant, a student mentor and content developer. She is a Wikipedia isiXhosa editor and is chairperson of the Xhosa Students Association and the African Languages Student Association at the University of the Free State. She also represents arts and culture in the student parliament, promoting the use of indigenous languages and cultural expression. She has honours in communication science and is a two-time recipient of the National Research Foundation scholarship.
I deeply admire Dr Imboni Uzwi-Lezwe Radebe. His unwavering commitment to the restoration of African identity, indigenous spirituality and self-reliance has profoundly influenced my journey. As a visionary spiritual leader, philosopher and founder of the Revelation Spiritual Home, he teaches that greatness begins with knowing who you are — a principle that has shaped how I view leadership, culture and service. Dr Radebe’s courage in confronting colonial narratives and his work in reawakening African consciousness inspire me to remain grounded in my roots as I serve my community, pursue academic excellence and lead with authenticity. His teachings have helped me embrace ubuntu, spiritual intelligence and the importance of restoring dignity to African knowledge systems — all of which form the foundation of my work with the Nozizwe Foundation, the Woman Sorrows and my advocacy for indigenous languages and cultural pride. He reminds me that transformational leadership begins with spiritual clarity, and for that, I will always regard him as a mentor and guide, even from afar.