Toba Owojaiye ReportingÂ
Lethukhanya Mjaja, a three-year-old girl has gone from being an errand girl to a global celebrity. She was sent to buy bread and ended up playing in muddy water with the bread in her hand. Her uncle, a commercial photographer, noticed her and took some captivating photos. He shared the pictures online, and they quickly went viral, becoming the talk of South Africa’s social media platforms.
The bread company whose product she held in the pictures took notice and decided to use her image on their billboards and delivery trucks. This move resulted in a significant boost in their sales, prompting them to reward Lethukhanya with both financial compensation and other benefits.
From her innocent play in the mud, Lethukhanya transformed into the face of one of South Africa’s top bread brands. What started as a simple errand to buy bread for her family turned her into a breadwinner, bringing success to the bread company.
Her story is reminiscent of Jumoke, the breadseller, who accidentally became a photographer’s subject and now graces our television screens. Jumoke’s life has completely changed, and her story exemplifies the power of grace when it intervenes.
The concept of “time and chance” comes to mind. We never know when it will happen, but once it does, there’s no stopping its impact. Both Lethukhanya and Jumoke were simply going about their lives when grace found them at the perfect moment.
For Lethukhanya’s uncle, LungJisNi Mjaji, I believe his career will never be the same. It wouldn’t be surprising if he becomes the official photographer for numerous brands in South Africa.
He was just being himself, pursuing his passion for photography. Little did he know that capturing pictures of his three-year-old niece would catapult him to fame as well. The story of Lethukhanya is incomplete without mentioning his name.