Zakumi

Zakumi is a teenage leopard who’s spent most of his early years travelling the savannahs, fields, forests and jungles of Africa. However, there’s much more to this fluffy young leopard with green dreadlocks than meets the eye.
 
Zakumi is a mascot on a mission. His goal is to turn the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ into a memorable party, while showing thousands of international guests the warmth South Africa and Africa have to offer.

At his unveiling in September 2008, the official World Cup mascot was introduced to the world as a vibrant, energetic, self-confident and adventurous party animal who loves football.
According to FIFA, this “mascot with an attitude” sports green dreadlocks as they are the perfect camouflage against the green of the football pitch. They work a bit like his leopard spots do when he hunts in the African wilderness!

His green and gold colours also appear on the South African football team’s kit and his personal motto is “Zakumi’s Game is Fair Play”. He’s also never seen without a football, which leaves no doubt that Zakumi is a funky, feisty football fan.

FIFA marketing director, Thierry Weil, has said that the mascot’s role is to be an ambassador for the World Cup in South Africa and a symbol recognised around the world. International footballers are already acquainted with the globe-trotting leopard. He has performed the soccer-inspired diski dance in Brisbane, ridden on an open-top-bus through Luxembourg and joined Spain’s national team on one of their training camps.

Designed and clothed in South Africa, Zakumi is also the perfect ambassador, embodying the country’s spirit. The first part of his name refers to South Africa’s international country code, ZA, while “Kumi” is a Swahili word, meaning 10.

Zakumi’s birthday coincides with Youth Day in South Africa. He will celebrate his 16th birthday on June 16, when millions of South Africans celebrate 16 years of democracy and commemorate the youth activists who died on this day in the Soweto Uprising in 1976. The group A match, between South Africa and Uruguay, also falls on this day.
 
Zakumi sees football as a way to connect with others and break down language barriers. And because he’s no ordinary leopard, it’s likely he will not be forgotten after the World Cup.

The Organising Committee believes the lovable leopard will remain in the hearts of football fans long after the World Cup, as he has become the ambassador for all our hopes, dreams and aspirations.

See him work his magic in the YouTube video below.