Monicca Thulisile Bhuda, 32, is an academic trailblazer elevating indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) as vital to education, heritage and identity. As a lecturer at the University of Mpumalanga, she teaches, mentors and researches with a singular mission — to institutionalise African knowledge and ensure its legitimacy within South African academia and policy-making. Holding a PhD in social sciences with IKS from North- West University, Monicca serves as chair of the national IKS institutionalisation committee under the department of science and innovation. She also advises the minister of sport, arts and culture on intangible heritage and sits on the national IKS authentication panel. Her commitment to cultural preservation earned her the National Voice of Heritage Award (2023) and North-West University’s Alumni Excellence Award. She’s been profiled by the University of Calgary and represented South Africa at the 2024 international book fair in Venezuela. In media, classrooms and communities, she promotes indigenous scholarship with clarity and pride. For Monicca, every lecture and advisory role is a step toward rewriting academic narratives. Her vision is bold: a future where African girls rise as scholars, storytellers and leaders shaping policy, identity and nationhood.
I look up to women in leadership roles, particularly in academia. South Africa has undergone significant changes, enabling women to hold senior academic and management positions, including deans, deputy vice-chancellors, vice-chancellors, and chancellors. These women challenge the status quo in what remains a male-dominated field. Their presence inspires hope for the future, especially for young girls, and they serve as role models for my academic journey and that of other aspiring female scholars.