Johannesburg-based digital creator, influencer, content strategist, and co-host of the culture-driven podcast Rhythm and Vibes with Kagiso and Hlomani Hlomani Nketani has built a distinct digital presence shaped by lifestyle vlogs, fashion storytelling, and a consistent visual language that feels both curated and lived-in. He stands among a new wave of South African creatives reshaping how culture is documented and shared online.
From early ambitions in modelling to navigating setbacks within the industry, he chose to redirect his path by building his own platforms and refining a voice rooted in intention and identity.
A graduate of the University of the Free State, where he studied Human Resource Management and Industrial Psychology, he moves with a balance of structure and creativity, turning strategy into expression.
For Youth Day, Previdar Magazine caught up with him to unpack identity, success, culture, and what it truly means to be a young South African in 2026.
1. What’s something people constantly get wrong about young people today?
(What’s the misconception you’re tired of hearing?)
I am tired of hearing that the youth is “too woke”. That being more aware about issues has become a problem. That taking things lightly should be a good thing. I just feel like we should be a different generation that holds people accountable for their actions in order for the generations to come to find better societal systems, at least better than what we found and have. The generations before never really had the liberty to have a voice so it’s not a bad thing for the youth to want to be. It’s okay to stand for something that is currently ‘unconventional’. It’s okay to be offended by things that you don’t stand for. It doesn’t make us an angry generation, it makes us an accountable youth for our mistakes.
2. What does “making it” look like for your generation now? (Is it money, peace, freedom, visibility, community… or something else?)
I think for the youth, success looks like having your Instagram look like a Pinterest board. A beautifully curated photo dump with a selfie in Gucci. It looks like a combination of videos being put together into the most aesthetically pleasing 15-second clips and captioning it ‘life lately’ with an empty stomach and lost morals. While it looks like that for the youth, for me making it means being content. I am not saying that people shouldn’t post luxurious content, I just want the youth to be content with the life that they live outside of that 15-second vlog. Learn to be content in what you have right now, so that when you do ‘make it’ you can be happy because even rich people are not satisfied with the plenty that they have. So for me, you have made it when you are happy with your “RIGHT NOW.”
3. If your current era had a title, what would it be. (Think album name, YouTube vlog title, or fashion collection.)
DO WHAT I WANT, GET WHAT I WANT, BE WHO I WANT.
4. What’s one thing South African youth culture does better than anywhere else in the world? (Put us on.)
I recently had the honour of travelling abroad and I was so impressed by how the Amapiano culture has spread across different countries. I was shocked to see how close to home a place can feel while being so far away from home, just because of how the youth has pushed Amapiano so far into the rest of the world. Hearing people who speak English only sing word for word Zulu lyrics from songs they do not even understand, seeing them do the dance moves we created here, and seeing them excited to hear the music is something I think we can be proud of.
5. Which conversation do you think young people are finally having honestly? (Could be mental health, identity, masculinity, money, burnout, relationships, anything.)
I feel like a lot of conversations are being had because the digital world has made voices louder. I just feel like they are not always being had in the correct way. It is more content creators with large followings going on podcasts and speaking about serious matters with either the wrong people or without proper understanding. We are not having psychologists, sex coaches, people in law enforcement, social workers or teachers being interviewed. Instead, people who have not taken the time to properly learn about certain things are being given large platforms to speak loosely about serious issues.
6. What keeps you inspired when life, the country, or the industry feels exhausting? (What keeps you going?)
My family, my friends and, as vain as this may sound, myself. Whenever I feel demotivated or exhausted by the industry, I remind myself that I have done it once, so I can find a way to do it again but better. A simple example is that when I am in bed and feeling down, I watch about 30 of my videos that make me smile or laugh. A lot of them include my friends and family, so that is what keeps me inspired.
7. You get one tweet to describe the state of South African youth right now. What are you tweeting? (Keep it real.)
“The black boy child is being left behind because we want the easy way out. STAY IN SCHOOL”
8. What’s the softest thing you’ve done for yourself this year? (We love intentional living over here.)
I went to London for work and while I was there, I decided to extend my stay just so I could spoil myself. I said to myself, “Baby boy, whatever you want, if we can afford it, we are taking it”. I do not usually do that because I am more of a responsible spender, but that entire week I left that mindset in South Africa.
9. Which South African creative, movement, or moment feels important to this generation? (Could be music, fashion, activism, sport, art, or internet culture.)
Definitely the purple profile picture for GBV awareness. The youth gathered in various public parks and spaces while taking over the very platforms they spend the most time on to communicate the seriousness of the matter. The movement was so big and impactful that it also reached people globally. It was powerful to see the youth as upset and passionate in person in the same way they were online.
10. What kind of future do you want young South Africans to inherit? (Big dreams only.)
A future of togetherness, success in all aspects of life, a government that works for the betterment of people, and most importantly a youth that is content with themselves.
11. What’s one thing your younger self would be proud of today? (A little reflection never hurt anybody.)
My younger self would be proud that I have put so much effort into making a name for myself in an industry I did not think I would be part of. All the fears I had about being perceived are something I have left in the past. I would also be proud that my identity is something I can celebrate rather than feel different about.
12. Previdar celebrates style, culture, and impact. What do you think your generation’s legacy will be?
My generation will be celebrated for opening up ways to express ourselves freely. A generation that changed the trajectory of how South Africa has always been perceived. A truly free generation that puts an end to issues that have been normalised.
As South Africa celebrates Youth Day, Hlomani Nketani stands as part of a generation redefining what it means to build, create, and exist publicly. Through digital storytelling, fashion entrepreneurship, and cultural commentary, he reflects a youth that is self-directed, globally aware, and committed to shaping its own narrative.
