Freedom of Minority Languages in African Broadcasting

Thesis: The Representation of Minority Languages on SABC 1

Multi-award-winning filmmaker, director, producer and story development consultant Sihle Hlophe explores the representation of SiSwati on SABC 1 and the challenges surrounding language parity in South African public broadcasting.

Grounded in Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony, the research examines how political, economic and institutional forces influence the representation of minority languages.

The study considers the gap between South Africa’s commitment to multilingualism and broadcasting practice, highlighting how commercial pressures and institutional constraints contribute to the continued marginalisation of SiSwati.

Key Outcomes

Attendees will gain:

• A deeper understanding of the challenges facing minority-language representation in South African broadcasting.
• Insight into the gap between language policy, legislation and actual broadcasting practice.
• An understanding of how political, economic and institutional pressuresinfluence language parity.
• Greater awareness of the role of public broadcasting in protecting cultural identity, language and representation.
• A critical perspective on the visibility of SiSwati within the national television landscape.

Sihle Hlophe
Sihle is a multi-award-winning filmmaker with over 18 years of experience working as a Director, Producer and Story Development Consultant.

Her achievements include Best Achievement in Directing at the South African Film & Television Awards (SAFTAs), an Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award, and two African Movie Academy Award nominations. Her work has been featured at more than 80 film festivals worldwide.

Culture, Commerce & Belonging

Thesis: Exploring South African Consumers’ Interpretations of Nike’s Brand Storytelling in Relation to Brand Resonance

Banesa Tseki’s research explores how South African consumers interpret Nike’s brand storytelling and how these interpretations shape brand resonance.

The study considers how consumers experience Nike across campaigns, products, events and community encounters, and how local recognition and lived experience influence whether consumers feel a genuine sense of belonging.

The research highlights an important insight: storytelling does not automatically create resonance. Deeper connection develops when consumers can recognise a credible place for themselves within the brand world and when the brand’s actions continue to reinforce that meaning.

Key Outcomes

Attendees will gain:

• Insight into how South African consumers interpret and make meaning from brand storytelling.
• A better understanding of the relationship between global brand narratives and local cultural experiences.
• An understanding of how recognition, relevance and belonging influence consumer–brand relationships.
• Insight into why storytelling does not automatically create brand resonance.
• Practical perspectives on how brands can build more meaningful connections by understanding consumer experiences and interpretations.

Banesa Tseki
Banesa is an interdisciplinary creative, brand strategist, wellness practitioner and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of culture, community and brand meaning.

She is co-founder of The Nest Space and works on community wellness programming with Nike Shapa Soweto. She has been recognised as one of the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans in Entrepreneurship, and her work has been featured on CNN’s Inside Africa.

She is currently completing postgraduate studies in Brand Building at Emeris Vega Brand School.

Queer Visibility and Cinematic Freedom in Africa

How are queer relationships represented on African screens — and how do these representations shape conversations around family, culture, spirituality and social acceptance?

Drawing on research into queer romantic relationships in South African reality television, this session explores how screen representation can challenge dominant ideas about queer identity and belonging.

Key Themes

• Queer representation and visibility in African screen culture
• Queer love, family and belonging
• African spirituality, culture and identity
• Reality television and audience perceptions
• Social acceptance and public conversations around queerness
• Authentic, diverse and locally grounded African storytelling

Zara Nonkosi Xaba

Zara Nonkosi Xaba is a PhD candidate and associate Lecturer in Women and Gender Studies at the University of the Western Cape. Zara’s research focuses on how queer representation in South African reality television influences public conversations about gender, sexuality, and social change in the Global South. Zara's wider interests encompass queer narratives in African film and media, as well as issues of queer migration on the continent. With a strong background in sexual reproductive health, LGBTIAQ+ health research, Zara is committed to bridging academia and the creative industries to promote more inclusive and authentic storytelling.

Translating Queerness: Black Queer Youth, Digital Identity and Platform Visibility in South Africa

How are Black queer young people navigating, adapting and reimagining queer identity in the digital age?

This session explores social media and digital platforms as spaces of belonging, self-expression and community, while also examining the pressures and complexities of visibility in online spaces.

Key Themes

• Black queer youth and digital identity
• Global queer identities and local realities
• Digital platforms, visibility and belonging
• Influencer culture and algorithmic visibility
• Authenticity, self-expression and community
• Platform capitalism, commodification and surveillance
• Digital inequality and access to online visibility

Obvious Nomaele

Obvious Nomaele is a final year doctoral candidate in Critical Diversity Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and leads the Film and Studio Production programme at the University of Mpumalanga, South Africa. They hold an MA in Film and Television, and their research focuses on queer representation, narratology, self- representation, and visual activism. Their creative work includes Closet Hookup short film and Choice Assorted, a ten-part educational drama recognized locally and internationally through platforms such as the Durban Talents programme and the Berlin International Film Festival.