Durban - While the box office hype around movie Black Panther may have died down, for some children who set foot into a cinema for the first time, the message of the movie is something they believe goes hand in hand with the legacy of former president Nelson Mandela.
“The movie is about loyalty, honesty, greed and staying true to where you come from.
“As young people we need to overlook the material, not be greedy and remember where we come from, much like Mandela’s legacy,” said Terine Khonny, 18, from Mariannridge.
Khonny was one of 100 children hosted by the Suncoast Cinema, in partnership with the Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF), as well as the Mariannridge Co-ordinating Committee.
Ninety of the 100 children had not been to a cinema before. Khonny said being a future leader and a good example required that you be ambitious but grounded in your roots at the same time.
“Keeping Mandela’s legacy alive means that the youth must not be distracted by materialistic things in pursuing their dreams.”
The Suncoast’s Kelly Graham said when AHF approached them with the idea of hosting the children it was a “no-brainer”.
“This is because we are passionate about the youth and education, and for us to be a part of this was fitting.
“Having given a child an experience they would not have otherwise had means a lot to us and this ties in with Mandela Day,” he said. Graham said they would also be going to Chesterville, where they would hold a soup kitchen, on Thursday.
The 100 youngsters were also addressed by an anti-HIV/Aids activist, who did not wish to be named. She said Mandela was a superhero “like those in the movie” and that young people must strive to have a positive outlook on life, adding: “It is a good thing for South Africans to celebrate their heroes.”
The Mariannridge Co-ordinating Committee’s Jenny Boyce said they were looking at a creating a generation of citizens who were leaders.
“We create a safe environment for our youth to deal with key issues in the community and these range from drug abuse, violence, crime and dysfunctional families.”
She said Black Panther highlighted the importance of not forgetting where you came from.
“Those are the type of future leaders South Africa needs,” she said.