Mphikeleli: The One Who Perseveres
RICHARD SEMBANI
Originally Published: 10 October 2026
My name is Mphikeleli.
But growing up,
I sometimes heard something else.
Ukuphika.
To deny.
To refuse.
To argue.
And hearing it so often
made me question myself.
Maybe they were right.
Maybe there was something in me
I could not see.
But my name was never about denial.
Mphikeleli.
The one who perseveres.
The one who keeps going.
And life has given me
enough reasons to stop.
I have stumbled and questioned myself.
I have faced moments where I didn’t know
if I could carry on.
But I did.
Not because I was never afraid,
but because something within me
kept saying:
Keep going.
So now, when I hear my name,
I hear something different.
Not denial.
Perseverance.
Not the person
who never falls,
but the one
who rises again.
Mphikeleli.
I am still here.
Vision Board
The Creative
RICHARD SEMBANI
Richard Sembani, Financial Director at NUMXN, is a passionate advocate for the arts and humanities who seamlessly integrates his leadership role as Financial Director of NUMXN with a profound commitment to cultural enrichment. As an active contributor to the #NoSTEMNoShade project, he champions the belief that every academic discipline is essential in fostering a balanced and innovative society. Richard is dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, inspiring critical thought, and driving progressive social change, all while leveraging his expertise in financial strategy, accounting, and systems analysis to empower creative and intellectual endeavors.