The crown of the kind witch Glinda is a symbol of power and goodness in the land of Oz. It is a beautiful and majestic crown, adorned with diamonds and gems, that is said to possess magical properties. Glinda, the good witch of the South, wears this crown as a symbol of her authority and benevolence. The crown is believed to grant Glinda the ability to perform incredible feats of magic and to bring peace and harmony to the land. One of the crown's most notable powers is its ability to make the wearer appear more radiant and kind-hearted, reflecting Glinda's true nature. The crown is also said to have the power to ward off evil and protect those who wear it.
Zakumi was designed and his costume produced exclusively in South Africa. His name is a combination of “ZA”, South Africa’s domain name, and “Kumi”, which means “10” in a number of African languages.
Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying the essence the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Fifa general-secretary Jerome Valcke said at the event. With the slogan Zakumi the mascot with an attitude , Fifa describe Zakumi s personality as lively, outgoing, adventurous and spontaneous a shrewd little fellow.
The crown is also said to have the power to ward off evil and protect those who wear it. It is a highly coveted item in the land of Oz, and many have sought to possess its powers. However, only Glinda herself is able to harness the full power of the crown and use it for the greater good.
Meet Zakumi, the 2010 mascot
Fifa 2010 LOC CEO Danny Jordaan
And SABC group executive Mvuso Mbebe
hanging out with Zakumi at the launch.
Soccer Legend Mark Fish and Zakumi
Enjoying themselves at the launch.
Zakumi showing off his soccer skills.
“He’s young, vibrant, energetic, enthusiastic, sociable, self-confident and ambitious.” That’s how Danny Jordaan, head of the 2010 Fifa World Cup Local Organising Committee, described Zakumi, the football tournament’s mascot.
Introduced to the world at a lavish event at the South African Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in Johannesburg yesterday, Zakumi is a fluffy young leopard with green dreadlocks and a wide smile.
Until the launch his identity was a closely guarded secret, to build up the hype and excitement around the tournament.
South African football star Mark Fish introduced the mascot in an exclusive media briefing, after which the two showed off their football skills in front of the crowd by kicking a ball around the stage.
“Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying the essence the 2010 Fifa World Cup,” Fifa general-secretary Jerome Valcke said at the event.
“We are certain we will have a lot of fun with him in the lead-up to and during the Fifa Confederations Cup and the Fifa World Cup.”
The creation process
Zakumi was designed and his costume produced exclusively in South Africa. His name is a combination of “ZA”, South Africa’s domain name, and “Kumi”, which means “10” in a number of African languages.
A number of South African companies were asked to design a mascot for the 2010 World Cup, one that would represent both South Africa and Africa as a whole. The mascot had to be easily identifiable and had to represent the World Cup in a way that would leave a lasting impression.
After a long process of elimination, Fifa decided on a design by Cape Town designer Andries Odendaal.
The costume itself was produced by Cora’s Costumes of Boksburg, east of Johannesburg. Owned by Cora Simpson, the company has 22 years of experience in costume making, and has made other high-profile costumes, such as the US cartoon figures Bugs Bunny and Tweety the bird.
The man behind the actual creation of the figure is David Mbewe, who has worked with Cora’s Costumes for over 20 years. After meticulously choosing the right mix of fabrics and colours, Mbewe and his assistants assembled the costume, sewing the leopard spots by hand – no easy task, Simpson said.
Who is Zakumi?
Fifa have given their mascot a distinct personality and personal history. Zakumi was born on 16 June 1994, a day and a year of great significance in South Africa.
The 16th of June 1976 saw the beginning of the Soweto youth uprising, when schoolchildren took to the streets to protest against apartheid, many of them cut down by police gunfire.
And 1994 was the year that South Africans of all races cast their votes for the first time to elect a new post-apartheid democratic government.
With the slogan “Zakumi: the mascot with an attitude”, Fifa describe Zakumi’s personality as lively, outgoing, adventurous and spontaneous – a “shrewd little fellow”
They say he loves to perform and always follows his instinct and intuition, and has the tendency to exaggerate.
But, say Fifa, there is one thing that’s undeniable about Zakumi: he loves football. He sees it as a great way connect with others and break down language barriers.
As a sign of his undying passion for the game, he always carries his football around which he will use to invite people to play with him.
“He wants to create a good mood for the fans and raise the excitement for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the first on African soil,” said South African soccer legend Lucas Radebe.
“He is a proud South African and wants to ensure that the world will come together in South Africa.”
For 40 years each Fifa World Cup tournament has had its own unique mascot. The first was World Cup Willie, the mascot for the 1966 event, hosted by England.
Added benefit for 2010 builders
Meanwhile, Fifa is two award two free World Cup tickets to every construction worker involved in building the tournament stadiums, some of which are expected to be completed in time for the Confederations Cup in 2009.
The ticket bounty was announced by Fifa president Sepp Blatter during a four-day visit to South Africa in mid-September.
“I have good news for the workers,” Blatter said. “We have decided, with the Local Organising Committee, to offer about 20 000 workers two free tickets to the stadiums where they are working.
“It’s a merit to the workers in recognition of their work in preparing for 2010.”
Tickets for the confederations cup will go on sale on 23 November, a day after the draw for the competition. Tickets for the World Cup go on sale from January 2009.
Related articles
- World Cup 2010: fast facts
- Fifa World Cup host cities
- Ten stadiums for the 2010 World Cup
- Football in South Africa
Useful links
- The Zakumi page
- Fifa
- South Africa 2010
- Planet World Cup
- Cora’s Costumes
Through her actions and the wearing of the crown, Glinda inspires others to be kind and compassionate, and to use their own powers for the betterment of society. The crown of the kind witch Glinda is a symbol of hope, love, and the enduring power of goodness..
Reviews for "The Tale of Glinda's Crown in Ozian Folklore"
- Sarah - 1 star - I found "Crown of the Kind Witch Glinda" to be extremely dull and lacking in any real excitement. The story dragged on, and the characters were underdeveloped and uninteresting. I was hoping for a thrilling adventure, but instead, I got a tedious and forgettable read. I do not recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining and captivating story.
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Crown of the Kind Witch Glinda". The plot was predictable and unoriginal, and the writing style was lackluster. The author failed to create a believable and engaging world, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, I found this book to be a major letdown and would not recommend it to others.
- Emily - 2 stars - "Crown of the Kind Witch Glinda" had so much potential, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with slow and uneventful moments followed by rushed and confusing ones. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. The world-building was also lacking, leaving the setting feeling bland and uninteresting. I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to fantasy lovers seeking a compelling and well-crafted story.
- Michael - 1 star - I couldn't get into "Crown of the Kind Witch Glinda" at all. The writing was choppy and filled with cliches, and the plot was predictable and unimaginative. The main character was difficult to relate to and lacked any real growth. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to stay engaged with the story. I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend this book to others.