Leletu Jikela from Khayelitsha wins prestigious award

Khayelitsha’s Leletu Jikela has been named this year's winner in the community development category at the Forty Under 40 South Africa awards.

The event was held in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday, October 18, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the arts, culture, and social upliftment.

Mr. Jikela said he was recommended for the award by someone he does not know. 

“I was shocked but happy at the same time to be nominated by somebody I do not even know. That person must have seen my work, and that paid dividends for my non-profit organisation,” said Mr Jikela.

Through his organisation, Jikela Studios, Leletu has spent more than 15 years using music and culture to empower youth, women, and people with disabilities, creating sustainable opportunities in under-resourced communities. A former DJ and trained violinist, his journey from local stages to national recognition has become a beacon of hope for young creatives across South Africa.

He now wants to expand and build a music school in Khayelitsha. He said he has seen how emerging and upcoming artists are struggling to record their music.

“The win has opened up my eyes to say, I am doing something good. We now, as a non-profit, want to have our own music school in Khayelitsha,” he said.

Mr Leletu’s innovative work includes national campaigns with various brands and mentorship for rising stars like Dee Koala. His organisation's programmes range from music bootcamps to community workshops and have helped create hundreds of jobs, mentorships, and professional opportunities.

“The bootcamps are practical. We have professional people to speak with. The young artists have to come out of the boot camp with something. They have to write some. We have professionals who provide them with beats. We are now left with one bootcamp for this year, and we are done. But we are happy because these artists are growing with us,” he said.

Beyond the arts, he champions disability advocacy through IQhayiya Care and Support House and promotes digital literacy in collaboration with Iziko Museums and the Isivivana Centre.

In 2024, Mr Leletu was a Top 10 ACT finalist, honouring his leadership in arts and culture. This year, Jikela Studios was also nominated in the Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs Awards for its Innovative Community Arts and Culture Initiative.

“All this shows the good work that we are doing. But we want to build Khayelitsha and change the narrative. We have to document the story on our own and not people telling us about our area”.

With his blend of grassroots impact and industry influence, Mr Jikela continues to reshape South Africa’s cultural economy, proving that creativity, when rooted in community, can drive lasting change.

He now wants to win the Forty Under 40 Africa awards and move on to win the global award before he is over 40.

The Forty under 40 Africa awards is to identify, honour and celebrate a cross-section of the continents most influential and accomplished young business leaders under the age forty from a wide range of industries we cover, who are committed to business growth, professional excellence and community service and have risen the ranks of their companies or industries at a relatively young age as result of this.