1st African Spelling Bee SABC
Posted by Patrice Hara on 18 July 2016, 11:10 SAST
![Patrice Hara photo](/image/2008090514-25872-28249-100x100/IMG-20211219-WA0000.jpg)
South African Teen wins 1st African Spelling Bee
SA teen swoops spelling bee championship
Saturday 16 July 2016 17:53
Mahlako Komane
Some of the countries represented in the competition include Zimbabwe, Malawi, Nigeria and Lesotho.(SABC)
TAGS:West RandMuldersdriftAaron KirundaMahlako KomaneZameer Dada
Fourteen year old South African Zameer Dada has been crowned the 1st ever African spelling bee champion.
Dada beat 26 other top spellers from nine African countries to be crowned Africa's champion orthographer.
The contestants came from all corners of the continent. Some of the nations represented include Zimbabwe, Malawi, Nigeria and Lesotho.
Competitors may be separated by borders, but are united by a mastery of the Queen's language. One by one they took to friendly rivalry, belting out words in an attempt to be Africa's top speller.
As the words got trickier the numbers dwindled.
First prize proved elusive to many.
It was down to the top three contenders - South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia all looking to make history.
Dada was all too happy to share his winning formula.
Organisers say they are working towards greater participation. They say the inaugural competition is one way to celebrate the African child.