Nomvundla and the Chilli-Eating Contest

The story offers a chance to talk about what makes someone a friend, and whether winning matters more than following the spirit of a contest.

The contest centres on eating hot chillies; Soko says he is scared, and other contestants react dramatically to the heat. The discomfort is played for comedy.

What do you think of Nomvundla’s song: does it follow the contest rules, and how might Soko feel about being named her best friend?

Pause at the rules and again during Nomvundla’s song. Invite your child to notice what the judges might be hearing, then compare their interpretation with the ending.