As the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) got underway in Cape Town on Thursday, a 19-year-old imbongi, Inako Mateza, took centre stage, embracing a role deeply rooted in tradition.
The Xhosa-speaking poet was honoured with one of the important elements of the SONA, which has become a tradition since the birth of democracy.
Praise singing is meant to give "Africanness" pride of place.
Mateza's voice, narrating the President's personal history, clan, and family lineage through song, dance, and narration, filled Cape Town City Hall. Her praise song concluded with a reference to his nickname, "Cupcake," which was met with laughter and applause.
@weekendargus Praise singer refers to President Cyril #Ramaphosa as "Cupcake" - is met with laughter at #Sona. 📹 Armand Hough #southafricatiktok ♬ original sound - WeekendArgus
Earlier on Thursday, Mateza told SAnews she was ecstatic about being chosen to be the Imbongi at this year’s SONA.
“Being chosen as an imbongi to welcome the President in Parliament means a lot to me because, firstly, I'm a young person who embraces culture and tradition at a time when young people are focused and celebrated for amapiano music. So, for me being the imbongi that will be welcoming President Cyril Ramaphosa makes me feel ecstatic,” she told SAnews.
Born in Ludiza Village, Willowvale, in the Amathole District of the Eastern Cape, she founded the Inako Foundation, an initiative dedicated to preserving cultural heritage and educating over 400 young people about their cultures and traditions.
As a passionate praise poet, she has been honing her craft since 2016, participating in poetry, prepared, and unprepared speech competitions, where she consistently claimed first place at both provincial and national levels.