Oyama Mzayidume

Biography

Oyama (22) was born and raised in East London, before attending the Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) in Makhanda, where she matriculated. She is a final-year LLB student at Rhodes University, Makhanda and is deeply proud of her Eastern Cape roots. Oyama enjoys thinking about the relationship between law and politics and the influence this has on how courts adjudicate disputes. She has received awards for being the top student in her class for two years. Oyama is a keen mootist, having participated in moot court competitions at Rhodes as well as nationally and internationally. She won and was awarded the Best Speaker prize at the Kate O’Regan Moot (2024). While at Rhodes University, Oyama tutored first-year Politics and Law students, sang in the Rhodes University Chamber Choir and served in residence leadership structures as Head Student and a Sub-warden. Oyama also sat as a member of the Rhodes University Student Parliament in 2022. She was awarded an Abe Bailey Travel Bursary for 2024. At Oxford University, Oyama hopes to pursue a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree. She spends her free time reading and listening to podcasts on pop culture, history and current affairs.