These were the words of Nelson Mandela University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor for People and Operations, Luthando Jack, keynote speaker at the University’s Ebuhlanti / The Kraal Men’s Leadership Programme’s regional symposium.
The recent event was held at the University’s Ocean Sciences Campus, together with Ebuhlanti’s partner Reslife & Development, under the theme “African Men Rising: Conversations of Purpose, Identity and Leadership.”
This year’s symposium drew more than 200 delegates, including students and staff from Walter Sisulu, Fort Hare, Rhodes and Mandela universities. It was further amplified through national visibility, with coverage by Mpuma Kapa TV (DSTV Channel 260) in its Friday evening news broadcast.
The programme, founded in 2019 by Yanga Lusasa of Student Governance and Development, has steadily grown into a transformative platform for young men across the University’s residences.
Based on African traditions of dialogue and collective wisdom, Ebuhlanti provides a safe space for men to reflect, learn, and reimagine leadership in ways that advance equality and social responsibility.
Speakers including Luthando Jack, Dr Thobekani Lose, Professor Bhekithemba Mngomezulu, Dr Mthokozisi Ntuli and Yanga Lusasa
Creating safe and transformative spaces
Mr Jack further urged men to reclaim ebuhlanti as a space of intergenerational dialogue and identity and stressed that Ubuntu must be lived as justice and equality, not nostalgia.
Professor Bhekithemba Mngomezulu from CANRAD reminded participants of the importance of reading and awareness, while Dr JJ Klaas, historian, sociologist, author and explorer of historical heritage. challenged young men to reconnect with African history and culture to shape healthier futures, making clear that alcohol is not an African tradition.
Holistic wellbeing: mental and sexual health
Local psychologist, Qhawe Plaatjie, reframed African approaches to mental health, showing how practices such as igwijo, storytelling, and community rituals, have long functioned as group therapy, emotional regulation, and resilience-building. “The man who tends to his mental health is not weak, but wise,” he said.
Medical Doctor, Dr Afrika Mbombo, facilitated candid conversations on men’s sexual health, offering students a stigma-free platform to ask personal questions and gain practical insights.
Accountability, law and social responsibility
Lwandile Msimanga, master’s student in Public Law at Mandela University, highlighted the importance of consent and the legal responsibilities that men must uphold, while Dr Sibusiso Mchunu, the Dean of Students, called for mobilising men against social ills, such as gender-based violence.
Dr Mthokozisi Ntuli, Director of Student Governance & Development, added that men must intentionally build character to lead their communities, warning that failure to do so would place society at risk.
Financial empowerment and future planning
Dr Thobekani Lose, Director of the University’s Africa Hub for Entrepreneurship, shifted the conversation to financial resilience, emphasising the value of multiple income streams, early investment, and adaptability in the workplace. “It’s not about how long you live, but how effectively you live,” he noted, urging young men to link innovation with responsibility.
A call to reimagine manhood
Founder Mr Lusasa reflected on the journey of Ebuhlanti since 2019, noting its unapologetic focus on men’s empowerment as a cornerstone for healthier communities.
“Ebuhlanti is about creating spaces where young men can interrogate who they are, dismantle harmful stereotypes, and rise with purpose,” he said.
And all this growth and programme reach was made possible by the close collaboration with ResLife and Development with Sibusiso Thwala, as a co-facilitator.
The symposium ended on a high note, with students chanting “Ebuhlanti forever” — a reaffirmation of the programme’s vision.
As the voices of heritage, mental health, financial wisdom, and accountability echoed through the auditorium, one truth stood clear: African men must rise with dignity, courage, and collective responsibility to shape a just and humane future.
