Africa-Press – South-Africa. Not many 3-year-olds can read and identify letters and shapes, but Lethukuthula Bhengu is one who can.
She was first thrust into the spotlight in 2022 when her mother, Ntombikayise Bhengu, created a TikTok account and used it to share videos of Lethu, as she’s affectionately known, reading words and sentences, or sounding out letters.
“My bag is open,” Lethu reads in a TikTok video, which has garnered more than 32 million views and more than 5.5 million likes.
“She’s going to change the world! Good on you, mama bear,” reads one of 42 000 comments in response to the video.
Lethu, who lives in Soweto with her parents, has come a long way since then.
Earlier this month, she was voted kidfluencer in Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards.
Her father, Phakiso Masooa, told News24 they were notified about Lethu’s nomination last year and campaigned for votes until she won. Her legions of online followers voted between 31 January and 4 March.
WATCH | Good news: A look back on the stories that made us smile in 2022
On 8 March, she was announced the winner and soon she’ll hold her award when it arrives from the US.
Ntombikayise told News24 that Lethu’s interest in reading was piqued by a game she had played on her cousin’s phone.
She said:
Ntombikayise said this was when she realised children could master reading if they were taught early and consistently.
Ntombikayise researched different teaching methods.
“She reads everything, even food labels at grocery stores,” she said.
She added that the award would show parents that children could learn.
She described Lethu as a bubbly child who has an incredible memory.
“She loves acting. She’s good at imitating. I don’t know. She’s an entertainer,” she added.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
