Anika Dambuza on being The City Makoti
Anika Dambuza opens up about her life as a modern makoti.
With her warm smile, infectious humour and cultural charm, Anika Dambuza has taken social media by storm as ‘The City Makoti‘. Known for her entertaining TikTok content and distinctive phrases such “Molweni julle” and “Umyeni wami”, she mixes up her Afrikaans roots with the Xhosa culture she married into. As she embarks on a new chapter of motherhood, she’s excited to keep blending the best of both worlds with style and grace.
How do you navigate cultural differences in your relationship, such as language or customs?
Sihle and I are both very open to learning from each other. Instead of seeing our cultural differences as challenges, we actually find them fun and enriching. At the core, both of our upbringings and values are so aligned that the differences don’t shake us. They just add flavour to our relationship!
What's one surprising thing you've learned about your husband's culture?
How deeply rooted the sense of community is. It really surprised me just how important it is — there’s always a connection, a helping hand or someone showing up for you, even when you don’t ask. It’s beautiful.
How do you balance modern city life with cultural traditions?
I incorporate the cultural practices that feel natural to me and align with my own values, especially in how I run my home. That helps keep tradition alive in our everyday city life. For more deeply rooted or ceremonial traditions, we travel to Makhanda. So, the real balance comes down to being intentional with our time and resources — making the effort to go home, show up and support, even if it means sacrificing time in our own space.
What traditions or practices have you incorporated into your daily life or special occasions?
Definitely cooking – and especially how I present meals to Sihle. I’ll plate his food on a tray and serve it without asking if he wants something; it’s just done. That’s one of those subtle but meaningful traditions that’s part of our everyday life. When it comes to special occasions, my cultural background tends to take the lead… we celebrate everything! At first, Sihle found it a bit strange, but now he’s fully embraced the vibe.
Have both of your families blended their cultural traditions?
To be honest, the real blending happens between Sihle and me. Our families live far apart, and the only time they’ve all been together was during our weddings. So it’s really up to us to be fluid and respectful of both sides. My sister Anandi has been incredible – she’s learned so much about what it means to be umakoti, and she always shows up to help me honour that role in my own home.
Does your child's name combine both cultures?
Yes, absolutely —but with a twist. I’m Afrikaans, and there’s a big difference between Afrikaans and English, so we chose a truly Afrikaans first name —one that must be pronounced in Afrikaans, not an anglicised version of it. His second name will be Xhosa. That way, from the moment you see or hear his full name, it’ll be clear that he’s both Xhosa and Afrikaans. If we’d gone with a Xhosa first name and surname, he might be seen as just Xhosa on paper — and we wanted both cultures to be equally visible in his identity.
Which cultural values would you like to pass on to your children?
There are certain values that exist in both Afrikaans and Xhosa culture, and those are the ones I’d pass on. Things like respect for your elders, knowing your place and role within a household, and understanding the importance of family. Those values ground you, no matter where life takes you.
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By: Emma Mbuthuma
Text courtesy of Jet Club magazine
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