Celebrating Youth Day with Boitshwarelo Moaneno: TikTok is a great platform for sharing history and culture

Soccer player, TikTok creator and the hero of her own story, Boitshwarelo Moaneno one of South Africa’s young aspiring footballers, talks about how important it is for young people to understand their history and learn from it.



What does Youth Day mean to you?

Historically, Youth Day is when we remember the fallen young heroes of 1976, who fought against the apartheid regime.


Can you share any personal experiences or stories that have shaped your understanding of South African history and culture?

My exposure to social media as a creator has given me a platform to interact with many different cultures and get to know more about South Africa's history.


What message do you hope to convey to your followers on Youth Day?

Young people must stand up and fight for their rights just as the youth of 1976 did. They must pursue education and know their history in detail so that they can learn from it.


In your opinion, what is the biggest issue South Africa’s youth face today?

Unemployment is the most challenging issue facing the youth of SA.


How do you see TikTok as a platform for promoting South African culture and heritage?

TikTok gives young people a platform and the exposure to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of particular things; to share their experiences of different backgrounds; and to showcase their culture and history.


What favourite South African traditions or customs would you like to see preserved for future generations?

I think native South African languages such as that of the Khoisan people should be preserved.


What advice would you give to other young South Africans who aspire to be content creators?

They must do research about the kind of content they want to share with their audience first and they must be confident about their content.


Finally, what do you hope to achieve through your work as a TikTok creator, and how do you see yourself contributing to the future of South Africa's creative industry?

I’d like to grow my audience and be recognised as the most influential young person in SA and share content that will help and inspire young people to work hard for their dreams.