In a world filled with endless digital distractions, actress, television producer, and entrepreneur Ntando Rambani has captured the hearts of South Africans with a beautifully simple, heartwarming video of salon-chair storytelling.
Rambani took to Instagram to share an adorable exchange between herself and a young client named Afikile. While visiting Rambani’s specialized children’s hair care haven, Sbahle Siyakhula Salon, the confident young girl decided to turn her pampering session into a classroom—teaching the TV star how to read in Afrikaans.
In return, Rambani shared her own linguistic expertise, helping young Afikile read across three other official languages: English, Xhosa, and Sotho.
“Met the sweetest little Afikile today,” Rambani shared. “She has so much love and passion for learning and reading, and the funniest, smartest energy… I absolutely love having your kids here at the salon. Not just to grow and care for their hair, but to grow their minds and love for learning too.”
More Than a Salon: Cultivating “Beautiful Minds”
The delightful encounter isn’t just a one-off moment; it is part of a larger, deliberate mission by Rambani to merge child wellness with active education.
Rambani recently launched Sbahle Siyafunda (meaning “we are beautiful and we are learning”), a dedicated reading and literacy corner inside her brand-new, state-of-the-art Fourways salon. The cozy space is designed to transform waiting time into reading time, inspiring a deep-seated love for books in young minds.
A Golden Opportunity for SA Children’s Authors
To keep the bookshelves stocked with fresh, representation-rich content, Rambani has officially opened the doors of Sbahle Siyafunda to local children’s book writers.
In an open invitation, she called on authors to bring their creations to the Fourways branch, offering them an unmatched platform to connect directly with young families:
- In-Store Displays: Showcase physical books in a high-foot-traffic retail space.
- Monthly Read-Alouds: Host interactive story sessions directly with the salon’s young clients.
- Direct Sales: Sell books directly to parents seeking diverse local literature.
By integrating literacy into the salon experience, Ntando Rambani is proving that Sbahle Siyakhula is far more than a hair salon—it’s a community-driven incubator where young minds, confidence, and cultures are beautifully nurtured.
