While on the rise to building her multifaceted media powerhouse brand, Siyamthanda Ndamase is equally enjoying the ride up. Through her YouTube channel and her brand, she has solidified herself as a prolific MC/host and one of Mzansi’s most talented content creators. One who is rooted in her authenticity and her truth. And she is doing so one building block at a time.
And while her life is very full of adventure and diversity, the creative has selected 10 of her most favorite things that really speak to who she is. She shares those with us. Enjoy!
Journaling: I’m a prayer warrior, so I journal as much as I pray.
I’ve always been aware of journaling but never practiced it. However, as a kid, I used to have a diary, and I don’t know whether that was journaling, but I really liked talking to my diary about things that I was going through. Whether it was bullying or whatever I was experiencing, I always found comfort in talking to pen and paper. I stopped after 7th grade after someone read it without my permission. Now, as an adult, I found my way back to it after I lost my mother. That is what I knew, and that is where I feel free to express how I feel and write about things I wish we could have done together. I always found comfort in talking to a pen and paper because I could trust them, and I wouldn’t fight with them or let them betray me.
Family
My family played a huge role in who I am as a person and who I am yet to become. Everything started at home. Those are the first people to tell me I am beautiful, that they love me, and that I can achieve all that I desire. For example, my aunt, who is the one who named me, has always recognized my outspokenness and would always want me to MC at parties, family gatherings, and even on her 40th birthday. She has always wanted to cultivate this gift and make sure I never give up, even though, at the time, I wasn’t known. My family has always made me feel seen, and that is why I am so confident in this path.
Running
It soothes my mind because, when I am running, I am focused on what is right in front of me. I don’t allow my mind to wander much, and that helps relax and release thoughts. I am not thinking about anything—whether it’s content, a fight I just had, or what’s for dinner. It helps one focus. But also, being able to set a goal—that I want to run 5km or 10 km—stretches you, and when you achieve that goal, it is everything. Lessons that can also be applied in your everyday life.
Filming my Youtube channel
I have labeled my channel as my safe space, where I get to be who I am. That is where I get to express myself as freely as I want, unlike when I am on someone else’s set, where you have to abide by their rules. Here, I am in control of what I let out there; it is my space and a safe space for me. I get to share information, which is something I prioritize, and grow with others. More than anything, I love my subscribers, who love to listen to me talk. They allow me to be me and accept me for me, and that is extremely validating.
Fine dining
Dining in the most fabulous restaurants in Mzansi is an exciting adventure for me. I love food—maybe not a lot of food at once, but I love exploring with my tastebuds. Recently, I was taught in Cape Town how to properly eat a cheeseboard. That those items there are actually meant to be paired together, and when I tell you that the flavors that came out of them were things I have never tasted and were delicious,! So being able to discover new things with my taste buds and travel to somewhere (a country or experience a tradition) in one sitting is worth the experience.
Presenting, be it on TV or radio
I also love being out of character, as much as I enjoy being myself on my YouTube channel, because this also teaches me growth. I love being in front of the camera; I believe people deserve to see my face, LOL, and just being out of my comfort zone and getting to see how other things work out there. But also, seeing myself here speaks to the hard work that I have put in over the years. All the training that the Youtube channel has given me is paying off, and it is always rewarding to see yourself grow.
Car Reviews
I don’t know much about cars. I grew up in a very small town where I didn’t know much about anything, so cars are one of those things I just never got exposed to. Moving to a bigger town, I obviously started seeing different car brands that I didn’t even know about. I found myself saying, “I want to know about cars” or “I want to see myself in that car.” And that’s the adrenaline side of me speaking. I also want to simplify cars so other women can be in the loop and make them real beyond just aesthetics. Again, grow with others as I grow.
Traveling
Like I said, I grew up in a small town, which didn’t expose us to much, but my family always made sure that we traveled and explored to the extent of what they could afford at the time. That wet my appetite by saying I wanted to see more beyond Durban. I always knew that the minute I was able, I wanted to explore the rest of the country and beyond. And get these surreal experiences that change your perspective in one way or another. With the car reviews come the travels. I remember traveling with Ford to a location I had never heard of: Montagu, a small town that is so rich in history. Their way of life is so simple, as they ride bicycles from one place to another, and it just made me want the simplicity of it all. Maybe I should retire there.
Over all, traveling opens your eyes to so much more that life has to offer.
Big in supporting local shows like watching #RHOD
This speaks to the homebody side of me. As much as I love all these big experiences, it is also so nice to recoup in your personal space, unwind with some great TV content, especially our own, and decompress. I love what Mzansi has to offer, and I also believe in supporting our own. So I am intentional about making my small contribution to this industry that I am also in.
MC’ing or hosting any red carpet event or being on stage
I am a performer, and this is in full circle with how my own family encouraged it. It is like taking them with me, and it also brings back everything I worked hard for over these years. I built my brand to be a star, and being on stage affirms that. Building myself, putting myself out there, and perfecting my skills were all for a good reason, and they are working out. But also, I love interviewing people. I love getting the information. I love celebrating the arts and making my contribution to the arts because sometimes our jobs can be looked down upon. I am here to show how serious being a host or even an influencer is and that so much hard work goes into it.