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It’s Time to Celebrate Youth Day With Cartoonito

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It’s Time to Celebrate Youth Day With Cartoonito:

Johannesburg, SA 12 June 2025: This Youth Day, Cartoonito celebrates the power of African stories, from homegrown songs and local voices sharing their passions, to fan-favourite Grizzy & the Lemmings landing in the African Savannah. As part of Cartoonito’s Youth Day celebration is Akissi, the pan-African animated special that captures the joy, mischief, and magic of childhood, voiced by none other than Johannesburg’s own Phophi Muleya.

At just 19 years old, Phophi brings fearless energy to the title character, a spirited Ivorian girl full of courage and charm. For her, Youth Day is more than a calendar date, it’s a reminder of what’s possible. “Youth Day reminds me that my voice, and every young person’s voice, matters,” she says.

“I’m living proof that creativity can open doors you never knew existed. From recording lines between classes to seeing my name in the credits of an international show, it’s been magical.”

A Journey Powered by Creativity & Courage

From student to screen star, Johannesburg’s Phophi Muleya brings heart and humour to Akissi, the story of a bold Ivorian girl navigating childhood with courage and curiosity, a perfect reflection of what Youth Day stands for.

“As a young person in South Africa, Youth Day is a reminder that I can push beyond any societal boundaries set for me or the youth,” Phophi explains. “There’s a lot we can learn from the youth of 1976. They proved that when we stand together, we can tackle the challenges that matter most to us as young people.”

She adds, “Voicing Akissi and seeing young Black African children feel seen on screen has been the most rewarding part of this journey. We’re a creative generation — and our stories are powerful tools for connection and change.”

From local songs and African stories to fan favourites, it’s all about homegrown fun this Youth Day

Grizzy and the Lemmings even goes local with two brand-new episodes premiering on Youth Day and every weekday from 17:05. This season returns with its signature slapstick formula rooted in classic silent comedy and cartoon rivalry. Grizzy and the Lemmings land in the African Savannah, where they clash over everything from comfy naps to loud parties and mouth-watering treats. In true “frenemy” fashion, their wild disputes often lead to clever compromises. This batch of episodes sees the Lemmings throwing mega dance parties, playing video games, and stirring up chaos with games like hide-n-seek and racket sports, all while encountering exclusive new characters including elephants, warthogs, ostriches, termites, and grasshoppers.

Catch the sequel to Grizzy & the Lemmings: World Tour as the slapstick rivals land in the African Savannah, with dance parties, wild games, and brand-new animal characters.

The full day’s line-up is packed with joy, music, and imagination, a celebration of African childhood in all its creativity and colour:

  • Akissi – Join Akissi, the fearless Ivorian girl with a cheeky monkey sidekick, Boubou, as they take on hilarious adventures in a vibrant African city. Voiced by local talent, Phophi Muleya
  • Cartoonito Tunes – A catchy, colourful sing-along playlist filled with tunes sung in isiZulu, isiXhosa, English, Pidgin English, and Swahili. It is a joyful celebration of the continent’s sounds
  • My African Stories – Children from South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya share heartfelt slices of their daily lives, offering authentic glimpses into different African cultures
  • CoComelon: It’s Cody Time – Join the gang on CoComelon Lane and sing and dance along to culturally relevant songs, including ‘Anansi Song’ and ‘African Melody Song’
  • Grizzy & the Lemmings: Premiering at 17:05, the new season takes the hilarious rivalry to the African Savannah! Grizzy and the Lemmings discover new ways of turning situations to their advantage and continue fighting over yummy and loud parties. They also confront new dangers, exotic animals, experiment with unseen technologies, and don’t think twice about playing with magical items!

Tune In, Laugh Loud, Dream Big

“I hope every child watching Cartoonito on Youth Day feels proud of who they are and starts believing in what they can become. Our stories matter. Our voices matter,” concludes Phophi Muleya.

Join Cartoonito on Monday, 16 June from 08:00 for a magical Youth Day celebration bursting with local songs, local African stories and familiar characters reimagined in proudly African settings and discover just how far creativity can take Africa’s young dreamers.

– MyZA

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The FNB Stadium: The “Calabash” of a Nation

While the original stadium was built in 1989, its current iconic form was the result of a massive reconstruction for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The design, led by the architectural firm Boogertman + Partners, is deeply rooted in African symbolism. Its exterior is modeled after a calabash, the traditional African gourd or “melting pot.” The facade is composed of thousands of fiber-cement panels in eight different earth-toned colors, mimicking the fire and earth used to kiln the traditional pot. At night, the stadium is illuminated from below, creating the visual effect of a glowing fire beneath the “pot,” a symbol of the warmth and hospitality of the African continent.

The stadium’s capacity is a staggering 94,736, making it the largest stadium in Africa and the fourth largest in the world. But its significance transcends its scale. The site is a “theatre of history.” In 1990, just days after his release from 27 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela delivered his first speech to a massive, roaring crowd at the original FNB Stadium. It was here that he effectively signaled the beginning of the end of Apartheid. Decades later, in 2013, the same stadium hosted his memorial service, bringing the world together in a final farewell to “Madiba.”