The Standard
APRIL 19 TO 25 2015
I SSUE 50
April Cover Girl
AmA
Inside Davina Green
sannz photography
Style
2 THE STANDARD STYLE / CONTENTS
April 19 to 25 2014
3 Woman Profile Davina Green
5 Motivation Tafadzwa
7 Man Profile Zowie Craig
The Standard
Style
Arts
Contents
P08
Home & Garden 9 Home of the Week Enter our competition
26 Breaking New Ground
10 Trends
28 Bookworm
12 Gardening
29 Arts
Food & Drink
Elizabeth Vavashe Harlem
Celeb news
Colourful Kitchen
Grow an edible garden
14 Wine Guide Afdis
16 Wine Lebbie
Family 19 Family of the Week
Mr & Mrs Chipadza and family
21 Education
Midlands State University
24 Family Getaway
Post-race in Cape Town
P07
P09
P19
To advertise in The Standand Style magazine please phone Michael Munaki, mmunaki@alphamedia.co.zw and Nyasha Borerwe, nborerwe@alphamedia.co.zw
THE STANDARD STYLE / WOMAN / PROFILE 3
April 19 to 25 2015
“
I am very grateful for my humble background, it grounded and shielded me from a lot
“
By prudeNce mugANiwAh
R
aised by her parents alongside her sisters in the little reserved, safe town of Kadoma, Davina Green is a songstress whose passion for music has brought her where she is now. For as long as she can remember, Davina sang. “I am very grateful for my humble background, it grounded and shielded me from a lot.” The Bachelor of Laws graduate who obtained her degree from the University Of Kwazulu Natal in Durban started singing after watching her sister rehearsing for a performance of Mariah Carey’s Hero for her school talent show. “I quickly learned the lyrics and started ‘performing’ it myself in front of the mirror with a perfume bottle as my mic every day. One day my mother caught me and was amazed at how well I sang it for my age. From then on I realised I had a special gift and never shut up!” With her newfound confidence, Davina seized every opportunity to sing for her family and at school, entering and winning talent shows with her friends. She knew by then that she would one day seriously take up music as a career, and recorded a few tracks during her high school and early university days, although they were never released. “It was very frustrating at the time but looking back I think ‘my time’ just hadn’t arrived yet. I wasn’t ready. Once I had almost completed my degree, I took my career into my own hands and finally began to release material I had been working on and ‘Davina Green’ was born!”
She explains her challenges as not being able to push her music as much as she wanted to as she was still in school, not having much of a supporting team and being in another country other than her own. “I relied on the internet a lot to share my music and interact with people, but there was still a bit of a gap because I was not physically there for them to see me out and about or doing live shows.” Her lead single at the time, Everytime, however was doing pretty well online and on radio stations and it became the track that everyone associated her with. Subsequent to that release, Davina released a few other tracks online and started recording an album with the talented producer David Sengwayo. Davina says it was a relief when she finally completed her degree and moved back to Zimbabwe as this meant she could finally focus on finishing the album and doing more live performances here. “This was my chance to finally build a real fan base as I felt I had become somewhat a ‘mysterious artist’ who people may have heard of but had never seen. I was also very fortunate to get the Culture Fund people interested in my music and they are now funding the recording of my album.” Davina describes a time wherein a new Davina was born as she took a breather and regrouped – although she was doing shows here and there, she was not releasing new material as she was reassessing her image, goals and her music. “I realised that I had to adjust accordingly and that’s where my album title Rebirth came from. My music
Star Profile
Davina Green
4 THE STANDARD STYLE / WOMAN / FASHION
Style sessions!
March 22 to 28 2015
The whats hot list
Whats hot on the local fashion scene?
Dear Fashion Lover!! What inspires your personal style? This week, we are so excited to put notable fashion boutique WISTERIA LANE on the Fashion Map! Owned by Fashionista Joyce Hondora, the store hosts a range of beautiful, wearable and affordable clothes for the Zim fashion lady! Ranging from $15 - $220 you will find a great array of casual sun dresses to sophisticated cocktail dresses. Jojo, as she is lovingly known explained to us that the Wisteria Lane name is “derived from the popular show Desperate Housewives: we aim to reach out to every woman with our value for money, high quality designs all designed to give you the confidence that comes with that exceptional unique look. We provide exclusive pieces for our individual client needs and we also carry a mixture of inspired looks and trends from different worlds providing our clients with the season must have pieces.” All dresses modeled by Fai.
Location: 4 David Morgan Crescent, Avondale, Harare +263 783 362 228 / + 263 772 542 298 Fb.com/Wisteria Lane ZW Instagram: WisteriaLaneZW Twitter: @WisteriaLaneZW
THE STANDARD STYLE / INSPIRATION 5
April 19 to 25 2015
When the going gets tough (3)
Who do you talk to?
By cyNthiA hAkutANgwi
WHEN we encounter tough times and our lives are not rolling out according to plan, the temptation is often to shut down everyone around us as we are enveloped with overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and despair. Sometimes we can get caught up in self blame and condemnation which pushes us to carry the entire weight of our challenges on our shoulders. It is deciding who to talk to during tough times that can be such a daunting task, especially if you have few people around you that you can trust to share your burden. Very often the act of reaching out can be perceived as a sign of weakness or even failure to stay
on top of your game. It is the fear of appearing weak and needy that forces many of us to cave in under the weight of our challenges, despising the thought of reaching out to unburden our souls. Tough times come to anyone and everyone under the sun, it is how we choose to respond to them that can either shape us or break us. In the previous instalment in this series we established that if we do not face our fears, they will end up controlling us. We highlighted the need to differentiate between rational and irrational fear and how the latter often causes the most difficulty and distress. In spite of your levels of perseverance, faith, hope and creativity, there comes a
time when your survival tools are depleted and you need solutions that you have failed to find inward. The tools and attributes that you could have used to weather previous personal crises may not always work when you face a new set of challenges which appear to be insurmountable before your eyes. It is at such times that you need to consider reaching out beyond and outside of yourself to not only face, but walk through and overcome the tough times that stare you squarely in the face. Linda Nusbaum, a Marriage and Family Therapist advises that talking to someone is a gift that each of us can give to ourselves. She says that “when we hold on to our worries, they turn into stress in our bodies. Sometimes they come out in angry outbursts or feeling overwhelmed. When we talk about our worries we release them so they do not stay in our head and fester or shift to our body and shut us down. The act of sharing your thoughts, especially your worries, helps you release the stress, and this is healing.� Working with individuals from various walks of life in personal and profes-
sional development planning, I have discovered a disturbing common thread that is found in many people who are in pursuit of significance. The struggle is embodied in the issue of TRUST. Working with individuals and corporate teams I have found that in spite of age or the number of years that work colleagues may have shared the work space, the ability to trust one another and allow for vulnerability remains a risky and sensitive endeavour. So who do you talk to when the going gets tough? Making the decision of who to talk to is not a simple straightforward prescription. Before you make that decision there are so many factors to consider such as whether you can trust them, or whether they can give you a hard time or even aggravate your distress. You will also need to consider whether they will tell other people, thus increasing your vulnerability even further. In addition to these factors, you will also need to assess their capacity to help or give you the support you need. All these qualities could be wrapped in the form of your partner, a friend,
a parent, a family member, a mentor, a colleague, a licensed professional or someone in your faith. As you face tough times it is easy to feel as though you are totally alone. Everyone around you may seem to be handling everything in their lives just fine, while you feel like you are struggling alone. Sometimes you will go through things that you just don’t feel comfortable telling a friend about. There are times we just need our family members. Healthy families generally want nothing more than to be supportive of each other. However, when families are dysfunctional the dynamics can create more complications than solutions. If you run through the factors to consider and decide that you cannot talk to a family member or a friend, it is perfectly normal. Sometimes speaking to someone outside the situation is easier and can really help. In the end the decision of who you talk to ultimately rests with you. It is important to remember however that when you are going through a tough time, talking to someone can make a big difference. Cynthia is a Communica-
6 THE STANDARD STYLE / MAN / PROFILE
April 19 to 25 2015
By prudeNce mugANiwAh
Star Profile
T Craig Zoowie
here is a new breed of fashion conscious men in the country, men who care about their image, the impressions they give wherever they go, and the impact they have on their audience. And Craig Zoowie is one of them. The Zimbabwe Fashion Week Zim Style Icon 2014, Craig is a luxury event designer, stylist and grooming consultant who brings a new meaning to the word “style.” His career as an event designer with VIP Hosting, the leading Event Management firm in Zimbabwe, he says, is the most exciting thing he wakes up to daily, as he gets to meet clients and put together amazing events, from the conception to the actualisation of
the event. “Seeing the joy on clients’ faces makes my heart melt. My passion drives me to do it all over again.” In addition to his regular job, Craig Zoowie is a stylist for an online Lifestyle TV show, The Teapot Zimbabwe; as well as a
Correspondent and Fashion & Style Contributor in The Standard Style. He is also the Style Director for The Men’s Journal, a new men's magazine in Zimbabwe. “Style for me is an individual with confidence, in terms of one’s lifestyle, health, interaction with others and general influence in society. One can have loads of fashion yet fail to attain and execute style.” The Bulawayo-born young man is the youngest in a family of two boys who did his High School at St Columbus and went on to study Travel and Tourism, Hotel Management as well as Information Technology locally. After having been a hotelier for three years, he received mentorship in Event Management and immediately grew into that culture of organis-
THE STANDARD STYLE / MAN 7
April 19 to 25 2015
“The classic skinny tie”
F
rom long ago in the 1950’s, the tie has always been wide, then in the 60’s the Beatles made a fashion statement with the skinny tie that was much narrower.
The materials used to make the skinny ties vary widely. Some designers have solid coloured black skinny ties made from leather, while others produce ties that are knitted from cotton and even wool. Knitted skinny ties usually have a flat tip.
with either jeans or chinos. These work best with a loose fitted shirtun-buttoned top button with sleeves rolled up and with sneakers. This look is edgy and fresh when pulled off well. We continue to see the skinny tie on major fashion show runways where most celebrities adopt the skinny tie look for their red carpets ensembles with tuxedos. Dark coloured tuxedos look great with skinny ties teamed with a contrasting pocket square. One can accessorise the skinny tie with a sleek tie-pin and/or cufflinks on the shirt when going for the formal look. The skinny tie has made its appearance in boardrooms but still with the younger men than the older clientele. For the young formal executives, teaming the skinny tie with a good-fitting suit will give that lean looking silhouette. And always have shoes that complement the whole look.
fort. With changing eras, we’ve come to see the bowtie also making waves, so it seems the skinny tie might have some stiff com-
Share content easily between devices with Pushbullet We all know the time-consuming struggles of having to email a file to ourselves so we can open it on a mobile device. Well, struggle no more! Pushbullet is here to the rescue. Pushbullet is a simple, but ingenious app and browser extension that uses push technology to transfer files from a computer to a mobile device and vice versa. Here’s this week’s Tech Tips on how to start using it! Getting set up 1. To start, you need to download the free Pushbullet app onto your device. Currently only iOS and Android versions are available and these can be downloaded for free by simply searching for Pushbullet in the respective app stores. 2. Next download the browser extension onto your PC browser. At the moment, only Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox support the extension. To install the extension on Google Chrome, go to the Google Chrome web store and simply search for and install the Pushbullet extension. Mozilla on the other hand is a bit complicated; you can however avoid the trouble by accessing it straight from this link in your Mozilla web browser: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/pushbullet. 3. Then you'll need to sign in with your Google or Facebook account. This will allow you to store and open the items you've pushed, as well as configure your settings to fit your usage. Pushing files for the first time 4. To push files from your mobile device to your computer; open the Pushbullet app on your mobile device and tap the bullet icon at the upper right corner to push a new item. Choose the type of file you want to push and fill in the necessary fields. Choose the location where you want to push the file to and tap the arrow icon to send it. If the push was successful, you should see a small pop-up notification. 5. To open files pushed from your mobile device on your PC, simply click on the pop-up notification that appears immediately after your push, or go to the Pushbullet website (www.pushbullet.com) to view a list of recently pushed items. 6. To push files from your PC to your mobile device, navigate to the Pushbullet website (www.pushbullet.com) and sign in if you are not already signed in. In the form provided, choose the file and the location you want to send it to and click on the green "Push it!" button to send the item. You can open the received file by either going to the Pushbullet app or swiping downwards to access your device's notification centre.
A great sleek look these days is wearing a tie that contrasts with the colour or pattern of your shirt, carefully done shows off sophistication, character and fashion sense.The skinny tie is a classic accessory that can also be accessorised with waist-coat, a trilby or some caps too. The trick with fashion always lays in com-
Craig Zoowie is a gentleman passionate about Style & Life. An Event Designer as well as a Stylist & Grooming Consultant with VIP Hosting. Zimbabwe Style Icon 2014. You can follow him on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter @CraigZoowie for some LifeStyle inspiration.
Happy Days! Let’s Get Pushing! DDH&M/DAN12769
Today we see skinny ties on the younger guys and the fashion oriented men and women. If one does like this accessory do consider your height and/or weight, as the skinny tie can show off different contrasts depending on each wearer as skinny ties look best on tall lean body types. Most young men wear skinny ties informally
Pushbullet offers some other really features like getting your phone notifications on your PC and Universal Copy & Paste where you can cut text from one device and paste onto another device!
8 THE STANDARD STYLE / MAN
Datsun Go
April 19 to 25 2015
Datsun GO is bigger inside and out
By FAct Jeke
T
he return of Datsun didn’t start with what cars to launch, but with the people, the young risers living in high-growth markets. I remember back then in the 90s growing up seeing Datsun 120Y vehicles on the streets of Harare. I always admired the fine architecture and engineering but decades on sees the introduction of the Datsun back onto the market. Speaking to Admire Ndumo, the Marketing and Sales manager at Clover Leaf motors he said “Affordable and practical is what every parent or company owner wants, so the Datsun Go is offering that to the buyer. This is a must have A-B vehicle and its priced right.” The Datsun has always been ahead of the curve, waiting for that one chance that will propel youngsters in their careers and futures with a vehicle simplified. For the young risers, mobility is both physical and social access to opportunities. They deserve nothing but a brand of their own. That’s why Datsun is returning and rising as the badge for the risers. The Datsun brand dates back to the earliest days of Japanese car building. Datsun evolved to become an automaker recognised as Durable, Attractive and Trustworthy. More than 20 million Datsun vehicles were sold in 190 countries during its more than 50-year run. A brand supported and loved by many worldwide, this is the spirit the new Datsun brings to young risers. Our heritage and guiding principles are reflected in the badge of the risers. Honouring the spirit of an earlier Datsun, the centre portion retains the essence of the original logo. Surrounded by a hexagon inspired by shiny bolts, the rest of the badge conveys a modern robustness and the confidence to succeed in a new world. It has a well-built physic, which makes it outclass some of its narrow, flat-sided competitors. The wide, deeply curving shoulders on Datsun GO suggest substance and strength. And they make a nice impression on the driver behind you. Its reliability, durability and quality are must-have traits and help in your decision making. Its sculptured, bold and curvy fenders flowing smoothly into the front end make a statement. It’s the kind of daring design you usually see in more expensive luxury cars. It’s crazy how the same language someone would use to describe their love for fashion are the same that I would use to describe a well-engineered vehicle….. It has a sleek interior design that is classy and too nice for its price. Inside, clean, simple and modern is the key, with an emphasis on thoughtful details that reflect quality. Consider the elegant dipping line of the dash inspired by a bird’s wing, just the right touch of silver accents, and the gearlever placed on the instrument panel in easy reach of the steering wheel, and even the clever shape of the door handles. For a tiny car, it has a responsive powertrain, obviously better than the Datsun 120Y. There’s a little bit of racecar in every Datsun GO. Its 1,2-L engine is one of the largest in its class, borrowing “perfect circle bore machining” from racecar technology to deliver class-leading power and torque. You’ll love the get-up-and-go, while a counterbalance system minimises noise and vibration to give you a quiet, smooth ride. The cherry on top is its frugal fuel economy. Datsun GO gets an impressive 5,2l/100km – competitive in its seg-
THE STANDARD STYLE
HOME & GARDEN
COMPETITION
Send us a picture of your Home and enter “ZIMBABWE’S MOST BEAUTIFUL HOME” competition and stand a chance to win a self catering holiday for two couples in the picturesque Eastern Highlands
style@standard.co.zw
Specification: JPEG minimum size 2MB picture quality 300dpi
this week’s code: StdStyhm50
10 THE STANDARD STYLE / HOME & GARDEN / TRENDS
April 19 to 25 2015
Colourful Kitchens Trends
Blue, white and grey kitchen. Vibrant. Suitable for kitchens where there is a lot of natural light streaming through. Keep it warm and interesting by adding quirky personal items. Image www.housebeautiful.com
Live and love your home By NomA Ndlovu
C
ontinuing with the colour thread from last week, I came across these colourful kitchens and I thought they were bold and quirky enough to be mentioned. We use colour to define our spaces and create zones in our homes to demarcate the functionality of an area. Kitchens are getting colour treatment turning them into soulful spaces that are both functional and exciting. Get creative and be inspired by these simple ways to add colour to your kitchens.
colourful cabinets If the basic structure of your cabinetry is in excellent condi-
Break the clinical look of white and grey with pastel shades of blue and gentle greens and yellows for an eclectic personal style. Image www.housebeautiful.com
tion, get the cabinets painted in the new colour of your choice. Dulux Colours of the World and Plascon have a great colour palette for 2015 that will certainly
make you smile. Always get a tester post and thoroughly consult with your designer or paint specialist before taking on the challenge. This is so you can acclima-
Understated elegance? Go warm and fuzzy all over with Beige. It is a very safe
THE STANDARD STYLE / HOME & GARDEN /INSPIRATION 11
April 19 to 25 2015
Paint your dreams onto the wall! By mildred mpAlAle
S
ee it in the images on the wall, sense it from the order in your things & smell it in the odour of the room. Whatever you desire, a wealthy and healthy life for yourself and, an inspired life for your child, create it first in the place of your dwelling and it will manifest everywhere else, in all aspects of your life. Organise your home into that of a King and so become one, organize your office into that of a business magnet and so become one! When you visualize, you materialise. So, paint your dreams onto the wall and surely they will come to pass.
The practice of controlling our environment in order to affect the lives that we lead is popularly known as creative visualisation. According to Shakti Gawain, a popular psychologist, “Creative Visualisation is the technique of using your imagination to create what you want in your life.” Also, one of Albert Einstein’ famous quotes reads, “Imagination is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” However, our imaginations are inspired by what we see, hear, feel and touch every day. As such, it is important that we expose our senses to the kind of things that we would wish to keep imagining and thus, manifest in our lives.
Therefore, the importance of lending that extra touch to the interior of the places where we spend most of our time cannot be overstated. Such places include our homes, our offices, the chil-
dren’s bedrooms and playrooms. So, sit down and reduce your thoughts on the kind of life you want to live into words on a piece of paper. Write down your goals and anything else you may want
to achieve and then, figure out how you may translate that into the design and decoration of your living space. It is every parent’s desire to have a united family, that when
12 THE STANDARD STYLE / HOME & GARDEN / GARDEN
April 19 to 25 2015
Best Herbs To Grow In Your Home
T
here is nothing more satisfying and simple than snipping off just what you need and enjoying the garden fresh flavour without having to fork out a few bucks per bunch at the market. Herbs are among the easiest plants to grow. If you have a piece of land to plant them, great, but many actually do better in a container because their prolific nature can be contained. You can also place them right near your kitchen for quick cooking access. Here is my list of my top 10 “can’t live without” garden herbs.
1. rosemary: Use it fresh or dried — the flavour is fantastic either way. If you grow it in a pot, it will happily move inside when the weather gets too cold. Also, since
it likes to dry out between waterings, it likes its own space, as there aren’t too many other plants that prefer the same treatment. Favorite uses: Holiday gifts (the piney smell is perfect for the season) and chopped and sprinkled atop store bought pizza dough, baked and drizzled with olive oil and Parmesan cheese.
2. thyme: I use this for two main types of cooking: wintery stews and summery meat grilling marinades. Thyme is a low growing plant and my favourite, lemon thyme, is really a ground cover. It is perfect for edging beds or placing in the front of a mixed container planting. The plant is very hardy; if you can see it (for lack of snow cover), you can har-
vest it. Favourite uses: Ina Garten’s recipe for beef bourguignon is my favourite, but when I make it, I substitute lemon thyme and I triple the amount the recipe calls for.
3. Sage: At nearly five years old, my sage plant is quite expansive (about 3 feet in diameter) and woody. Planting it in a container and cutting it back more regularly would control this. My baby is due for some TLC and tough love and I plan to donate the cuttings to some yogi friends who want to make smudge sticks. Favourite uses: Infuse white beans with sage by adding leaves to the cooking water then douse bean in olive oil infused with even more sage. Also — this list of 45
things to do with sage has some other great recipes and ideas.
4. lemon Balm: Until about two weeks ago, when I took a teas and tinctures class, I had really only grown lemon balm for a few reasons. It’s easy, has a nice shape and fresh green leaf color (and sometimes that’s all I want in a garden plant), and my whole family enjoys walking by it and pinching off a leaf and giving it a good sniff.....ahhhh so relaxing. Favourite uses: Trim leaves, and use either fresh or dried, (dry leaves in a paper bag and store in a dark place) steep in hot water. Strain with a tea strainer and serve the best cuppa afternoon tea. 5. parsley: I happily discovered last year that parsley, which is normally grown as an annual, can overwinter. This spring, the seeds
I put in the ground in 2009 are once again growing and one of my plants is actually big enough that I clipped sprigs for dinner last night. Favourite uses: Parsley is ones of those super foods that do more good things for a body than seems possible for such a little leafy green plant. Among other things, it contains more vitamin C than basically anything else you can eat. You can make lots of things with it, but I pretty much chop and sprinkle it on almost every dish that comes out of my kitchen.
6. chives: Another perennial favourite. I have two plants, timed differently. One stays outside planted in the ground and its natural calendar supplies me with snips this time of year. The other is at the base of a potted orange tree that I haul in and out of the
THE STANDARD STYLE
FOOD & DRINK 1
In this issue of Food & Drink
(1) Wine year simpliďŹ ed
(2) Wine: Afdis
(3) Wine: Lebbie
(4) Recipe
14 THE STANDARD STYLE /EATING OUT
April 19 to 25 2015
April 19 to 25 2015
THE STANDARD STYLE / FOOD & DRINK / WINE / AFDIS 15
meet the StArS
the 4th Street Sweet range is an easy to drink, naturally sweet, naturally low in alcohol range of wine. There are three variants in this range: white, red and rosĂŠ. This range of wines is made from grapes sourced from selected vineyards throughout the Western Cape. The grapes are harvested during February and March at optimum ripeness to give maximal fruity expression. Standard winemaking practices are followed to produce the white and red base wines. The fruity sweetness comes from preserving fresh grape juice and allowing no fermentation. Careful blending in the cellar yields a wine low in alcohol, bursting with freshness.
4TH STREET Natural Sweet Rose – serve with trendy salmon sushi rolls or simply with some indulgent chocolate covered strawberries
4TH STREET Natural Sweet Red - serve with spicy mini wraps or tacos, or gingered chicken
4TH STREET Natural Sweet White is bright and fresh with a delicious fruity sweetness. Serve chilled with creamy, cheesy pizzas or salty pretzels and a tangy mustard dip
4th Street is all about living the sweet life, and the sweet life is about being at places and being seen, about good times, good friends and good tunes.
4th Street wines are unashamedly uncomplicated, easy drinking and inspired by a passion for friendship and sharing. With 3 shinning stars in the range to choose from, there is a 4TH STREET wine to cater for every taste and any occasion. Wherever there is a party, 4TH STREET is a must have!
Alcohol may be hazardous to health if consumed to excess. The operation of machinery or driving after the consuption of alcohol is not advisable. Not for sale to persons under 18 years of age.
16 THE STANDARD STYLE / FOOD & DRINK / WINE
April 19 to 25 2015
A wine year simplified
amaze yourself in April with a MERLOT (MIR-LOH)
“I have lived temperately, I double the doctor’s recommendation of a glass and a half of wine a day and even treble it with a friend” – Thomas Jefferson DW024
By leBBie muSAvAyA
You have just got to love wine. The month of April is that reminder we all wait for to remind us of the winter months to come. Yes, they’re short when I put the whole year into perspective, and yet, I look forward to these months. I must admit, another excuse to drink more red wine. Merlot is a red grape variety, well-known for its contribution towards the great wines of France, specifically St. Emilion
and Pomerol. Easily classified a few years ago as the most widely planted grape variety, it is a grape that fascinates me with its widely accepted characteristic associated with “smoothness”, derived from less tannins, and a texture filled with complexity. Full of luscious and fleshy fruit of plums and dark berries, it presents itself as the perfect companion to Cabernet Sauvignon in blends, including of course, the famous Bordeaux Blends originating from France,
now made the world over. This grape variety is popular throughout the world and its recognition as a substitute for
down on the list of wines on my shopping list. Not that it had anything to do with taste, it was, yes, a wine I had rediscovered
Chardonnay is debatable, in my opinion. Going back to basics, Merlot pairs effortlessly with an array of foods, to mention a few, lightly spiced red meat dishes and chicken recipes filled with flavours. For the vegetarian, rich tomato based dishes will pair beautifully. Merlot always stood further
during the winter of last year and as summer came, the excitement had fizzled out. It’s just one of those varieties I am not overtly drawn to, almost like I need a reminder of it. During the month of February this year, I again had another shot at Merlot and for me, this was a “not to be missed” occasion as the wines in question were Bulgarian wines, by Enira. I can’t help giving you the following tidbit of information, as it has always fascinated me. Actually, I think this is what led me to attending the tasting. Bulgaria was one of the largest wine producers in the world, before the anti-alcohol purge, during the reign of the then President, Mikhail Gorbachev in the mid 1980s. Its wine production was ETHOS
THE STANDARD STYLE / FOOD & DRINK 17
April 19 to 25 2015
Spoil your family this Sunday with Pan-Grilled Tuna and Cucumber Sandwich
This is a simple and tasty sandwich that takes only 5 min to prepare. I used a griddle pan to achieve the grill marks on the bread. If you don’t have a griddle pan you may still use your normal pan and have a lovely pan-toasted sandwich. It’ll be perfect as a light lunch, for breakfast or in the lunchbox for the office or school.
Servings: 4 Cooking time: 5 min
4.
5.
Ingredients 8 slices of bread Margarine/ Butter to spread Sugar for sprinkling 1 tin (120 g) tuna 1 tbsp red pepper, chopped 1 tbsp green pepper, chopped 1/2 small tomato, chopped 3 tbsp English cucumber, chopped 2 tbsp mayonnaise 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
6.
of sugar then place the slice in a plate, the spread side facing down. Add the filling and cover the sandwich with another slice of bread. Spread more margarine on the top slice of bread and sprinkle more sugar (I just love how the sugar adds a tad bit of sweetness while not being overwhelming at the same time). Place the sandwich in the preheated pan and gently press it down. Allow the bottom side to turn golden brown and flip the sandwich over and again allow the other side to brown. Remove from pan and slice as desired. Repeat process until all the filling is used up. Enjoy!
Instructions
3.
ESPON S
LY IB
KR
SPA12724
by Rumbie - Zimbokitchen www.zimbokitchen.com
Get your ingredients together. Put all the ingredients save for bread and margarine in a bowl. Mix gently until well combined. Preheat your pan. Spread margarine on one slice of bread; sprinkle a bit
DRI N
1. 2.
18 THE STANDARD STYLE / FOOD & DRINK
April 19 to 25 2015
CCZ432
THE STANDARD STYLE
FAMILY
Chipadza family
Send us pictures of your family and a short caption of your values. email your photos with the weekly code in the subject heading to style@standard.co.zw Specifications: Jpeg minimum size 2mB min. 300dpi
20 THE STANDARD STYLE / FAMILY
April 19 to 25 2015
Your Marriage with Evan
The secrets that ruin a marriage crets, the question is, do you intend on revealing them and if so, when? Here are types of secrets that usually lurk in our lives and threaten to derail our marriages should they ever be discovered.
Secret of the ex
By evAN mAwArire
I
remember watching a movie a couple of years ago entitled I Know What You Did Last Summer. The title alone was enough to make me look over my shoulder. The movie features a group of young people who whilst on a joy ride accidentally kill a pedestrian and then try to secretly dispose of the body and cover it up. The incident later comes back to haunt them. Let me ask you a direct and challenging question; do you keep secrets from your spouse? Whenever I’ve had discussions
with people about this, they tend to defend their decision to keep secrets from their spouse. Some say “if I tell my spouse it will hurt them or it will destroy our marriage”. Others argue that there is no need to divulge what has not been asked for. “Let sleeping dogs lie”, so goes the saying. You have to understand that whilst secrets will be painful to reveal or to receive, that pain is far better than that of discovering a secret or having yours discovered. What do I mean it’s far better? To have a secret discovered communicates many things (true or false) about your character and intentions. Firstly, it paints a picture that
you are quite possibly not who you say you are. Secondly, it is a most difficult task for you to now have to explain the truth after having been caught out. Finally, the bigger question brewing in your spouse’s mind is “What else are you hiding from me that you have no intention of ever telling me unless I discover it myself ?” Admittedly, it is next to impossible to never have kept a secret from your spouse. My point in this; article is to flash a warning light on the dashboard of your marriage concerning the grave danger of never revealing certain things about your past, and your present to your spouse. Whilst we may all keep se-
Right off the bat I know you’re thinking “Absolutely no way am I revealing my escapades as a bachelor or spinster before I met my spouse. What for?” Your reasoning is right. Your past love life has no bearing on your marriage today, or does it? Your spouse may not like to hear all the details (nasty or nice) but they will sure appreciate the fact that you wanted them to know who was in your life before they came along. Try your best not to let them find out via other people about things you should be telling them yourself. Revealing this actually builds trust in you as a faithful partner. By revealing your former love life, you are in a way guarding yourself (and enlisting your spouse as an accountability station) from the trap of returning to your ex when your marriage is going through difficult times, or when your ex pursues you. This happens to so many marriages and yet if the spouse had come clean about the status of certain people in their life disaster could have been averted. Don’t just say they’re a friend from high school or varsity. Reveal to your spouse the truth. Even if they were your
secret crush and nothing eventually happened. Just put it out there and let it be known.
Secret expenditures They say you can tell a story of the kind of person someone is by studying their spending habits. Your marriage is going to be a difficult team effort if the money in your marriage is spent on things that your spouse does not know about or approve of. “Are you saying I have to tell my spouse if I bought a coffee and doughnut earlier in the day?” yes I am and no I’m not. Ridiculous as it may sound, I need you to look at it from the perspective of your goals as a marriage. If you are working towards a goal of paying your child’s fees in advance, then that coffee and doughnut was out of order and must be declared. Keeping it secret is tantamount to stealing from the marriage and shutting up about it because no one asked and you never got caught. The bulk of money problems in marriages are usually not to do with the amount of money available, but with the management of the money available. When your spouse finds out that you spent part of the children’s college fund or mortgage down payment on a fancy shoe or car rims, a huge chunk of trust shears off your relationship and disappears into the abyss like a giant piece of ice slides off an ice-cliff into the Antarctic waters. Secret
April 19 to 25 2015
THE STANDARD STYLE / FAMILY / EDUCATION 21
Manicaland State University, where art thou? By JANe NyAmANdwe
R
enowned for its majestic Inyangani Mountains, Vumba Mountains and the much coveted Marange diamonds, Manicaland still points at Mutare Polytechnic and Mutare Teachers’ College as some of the highest tertiary bodies in Manicaland. The people of the Manyika tribe, alongside other inhabitants, still expect the coming of a state university to their land despite the province’s ability to churn out high-performing students at both primary and secondary level. Nyanga High, St. Faith, Kriste Mambo and St. David’s Girls High Bonda are some of the schools the province can claim to be theirs with pride. In the past, there was the famous quote that if one had not attended school at St. Augustine Penhalonga, then one had not learnt at all. This is Manicaland’s legacy that is, unfortunately, crippled by the absence of a corresponding state institution to uphold this brilliance. Africa University has commendably stood in the gap as the populace in the eastern part of the country awaits the government to play its role. Being a private institution, tuition has remained beyond the reach of many who have to seek solace in other provinces. Whilst the steady increase in the number of degreeawarding institutions in Zimbabwe is applaudable, Manicaland does not know when and how this blessing shall be bestowed upon them. Gone are the days when University of Zimbabwe enjoyed monopolistic dominance having received university status in 1952. Back then, the only degreed persons nurtured in Zimbabwe, were exclusively from this institute. However, the establishment of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in 1991, partially absolved University of Zimbabwe of the burden of being the sole degree provider in the country. NUST is a major development in Matabeleland province which has gained momentum over the years, despite undergoing construction spanning over two decades. The initial construction plan had optimistically set 2002 as the year of completion. In the face of these challenges, the Ndebele are still proud of a university in their midst. Masvingo’s development is attributable to mining operations as well as the famous tourist attraction, the Zimbabwe Ruins. Great Zimbabwe University — also known as Masvingo State University — has sustained the name of the popular site and has contributed immensely to the availabili-
ty of tertiary education in Masvingo. Established through the recommendations of the Chetsanga Commission of August 1995, Great Zimbabwe University was launched in June 1999 as Masvingo Degree Programme of the University of Zimbabwe with 120 students. Chinhoyi University of Technology was later established under the auspices of the same commission.
Manicaland’s scenic beauty, its clement climate and vast mineral resources are a formidable force that form a foundation for economic and consequent educational advancement. It is a province that is elated to have produced the current Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education, subsequently, its much anticipated blessing cannot be very far.
22 THE STANDARD STYLE / FAMILY / HEALTH
April 19 to 25 2015
Disabled Minors By pAidA duBe
Health is the state of physical, mental and social well-being according to
the World Health Organisation. Iyengar says that, “Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit…” It is difficult to main-
tain one of the above and yet remain health that is to say one has to keep in check all of the aspects in order to enjoy being health. What makes the body
stand tall when in actual fact the mind and spirit are pierced through? I can go on and on writing about health because it is broad. To avoid that here, I am going to concentrate on the wellness of the disabled minors. Disabled minors face a challenge when it comes to healthcare is concerned both in the ‘homes ‘run buy the social institutions as well as in their families. This is because most of people do not want to get associated with the disabled or they rather despise them and take them as less human. This is a matter of concern that in turn tends to influence their access to health services. Some of these experiences I got as I was doing my voluntary work in one of the homes, thus I am not trying to make up stories. The children live in the conditions that are not so favourable when it comes to wellness. Their blankets will be stinking and sometimes they will use the blankets damp because they have enuresis (they urinate while they are asleep). The bad odour obviously does affect their respiratory system. Apart from that the flies, like bees to flowers charge on them and feast on them and their food. During my visit on one of the homes the white tiles could be hardly seen because of the flies that were on them. During their time to eat, the flies reach their plates before they could even start to eat, increasing their chances of falling ill. It is worse because some of the disabled minors hardly can express themselves when they are sick for they cannot talk. They can cry but it will take time for the caretakers to note where exactly the pain will be. It is easy to talk and write about health but not everyone can help himself or herself to remain health or go back to the state of health. Even in their original homes the disabled minors mostly are prone to diseases because some families fail to accept these children as they are thereby denying them access to health. This physical exposure to disease by negligence of the care takers in turn affects the mental capacity of the children. It does not take time when one spends time with the children in these communities to realise that they value love rather than anything else. Their mental capacity seemed to grasp well the basic concepts they were taught when the one helping them was loving.
THE STANDARD STYLE / NAC SUPPLEMENT 23
April 19 to 25 2015
Continental World AIDS Day Campaign 2014-2015.
Getting to Zero in Africa:
Africa's Responsibility: Everyone's Responsibility.
Be sure to visit The NAC stand at The ZITF! By tAdiwA NyAtANgA-pFupA (NAc commuNicAtioNS oFFicer)
T
he The National AIDS Council (NAC) –the Statutory body mandated to co-ordinate the country’s multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS, will be exhibiting at the 56th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo from 28 April 2015 to 2 May 2015 under the theme: Getting to Zero to Stimulate Trade.
The meeting is also aimed at encouraging business executives to promote productivity in the private sector by reducing employee mortality and morbidity and their related monetary costs being experienced by companies. NAC will use this platform to showcase how it has effectively responded to the epidemic through the multi-sectoral approach over the years. During the exhibi-
…….. all people are encouraged to
visit the NAC stand in Hall 2A, ZITF grounds, for up-to-date information on HIV, AIDS and other related conditions.
This year, the National AIDS Council has also partnered with the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) to take advantage of the ZITF and hold a half day workshop on the 28th of April 2015 to sensitize the private sector on the importance of implementing and strengthening HIV and wellness programmes within their companies.
tion, NAC will showcase its achievements and programmes, under the following thematic areas: Monitoring and Evaluation, Care, Treatment and Support, Enabling Environment, Gender and Workplace as well as Finance. NAC staff will demystify all myths on HIV and AIDS and will be giving an update on these. Specifically, informa-
tion on nutrition for people living with HIV, gender and HIV, National AIDS Trust Fund, HIV & AIDS in the workplace and basic facts on antiretroviral therapy will be disseminated at the stand. Exhibitions have been one of NAC’s several platforms to interact with clients and share relevant information on the pandemic. In this regard, NAC has been making its presence felt at most exhibitions in the country including all provincial agricultural and related shows. Last year the NAC stand was duly crowned as the best stand in the Medical Aid and Health Related sector at the ZITF. NAC’s Communications Director, Ms Medelina Dube said that by exhibiting at the ZITF, NAC is not focusing on winning a prize. “We are going to share experiences in the response to HIV and information, for the benefit of the people. If NAC wins another accolade, that will be a welcome bonus and we will accept it with pleasure,” she said. Zimbabwe, like other countries, has embarked on a Fast-Track strategy
ZitF 2014 pictures
(From Left) Dr Gibson Mhlanga, Minister of Health and Child Care: Dr David Parirenyatwa with NAC’s Bekezela Mudzindiko at the NAC stand
Zero New Infections. Zero Deaths. Zero Discrimination www.nac.org.zw
National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe
@naczim
24 THE STANDARD STYLE / FAMILY / GETAWAY
April 19 to 25 2015
Post-Race Good Times in Cape Town The famous Food Market at Cape Town's Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock By roSie mitchell
O There are beautiful views everywhere, and easy access to wild places which are really close to the city
nce their Two Oceans races are over, most runners, their supporters and families, who’ve travelled to Cape Town for these exciting annual events, make the most of being in this beautiful city and surrounds. After chilling out for a day to recover from stiff legs and sore knees, bask in the satisfaction of a successfully completed running event — or come to terms with the disappointment of a DNF (Did Not Finish — this year, around 78% of registered Ultra and 82% of Half Marathon runners finished by cut-off times, with both races fully subscribed), it’s time to set about enjoying and exploring! It’s hard not to fall in love with Cape Town and want to keep coming back again and again to discover even more of its magic, or to return to those places that most inspire and take one’s breath away every time. This city is so particularly scenic because it is
situated on a narrow peninsular, around a particularly beautiful mountain covered in unusual, and in fact, endangered vegetation (fynbos) and between two oceans — the Atlantic and the Indian. Thus, for those who love the outdoors, it has everything — truly gorgeous white-sand beaches on both the very cold Atlantic side and on the slightly warmer Indian Ocean side; water sports such as surfing, kite and wind-surfing, deep sea diving, mountaineering, hang-gliding, hiking, running, cycling and walking. There are beautiful views everywhere, and easy access to wild places which are really close to the city, yet give the sense of blissful isolation and quiet; all this, combined with really interesting flora and fauna. The mountain and surrounds form Table Mountain National Park and the vast area this encompasses is truly unspoilt and lovely. There are excellent hiking trails everywhere, and as soon as you start climbing upwards, you’ll hardly ever meet anyone, except at the
busiest part of Table Mountain which is where the famous cable car arrives and leaves and has all the usual tourist accoutrements; shops, restaurants, interpretive centre, informative signage and so forth. For the less energetic who’d still like to enjoy the breath-taking views Table Mountain affords and take a shorter walk along some of the trails at the top, the cable car is a very good option — though during busy holiday periods, be prepared for the long queues at the bottom. Cape Town does not just cater for the outdoorsy types –though you’ll see such people out and about everywhere. It is also a culturally and artistically rich city, with plenty of shows on offer, from theatre to ballet to modern dance, from classical music performances and recitals to art exhibitions. The foodies and wine aficionados feel well at home here too. There are great restaurants and gourmet food markets, and the Cape is home to some of the world’s greatest and longest established wine estates. Moseying out on a Wine Route or two is a
popular option. Many of the wine estates also boast top notch gourmet restaurants so you can fully indulge yourself in the finest food and drink on such a tour. Our party popped along to try out one of the famous Saturday food markets on this trip — a new experience for three of the four us — held weekly at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. We went along at exactly the right time — feeling really hungry — thus we appreciated all the fascinating foods and drinks we sampled all the more and had ourselves a spectacular lunch! This food market is very trendy and targets health and conservation conscious people — and most of what was offered was high-end organic and home-grown or hand-made — all very “green”! I was interested to observe just how many of the stands offered “Banting” (low carbohydrate) meals — and indeed opted for one of these, which was truly delicious — a “Butter Chicken Curry” with “Cauli Rice” — which isn’t rice at all, it’s made from cauliflower, but serves
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THE STANDARD STYLE
ARTS & CULTURE
1
LEXI100
In this issue of Arts & Culture
(1 Breaking New Ground (3) Bookworm
(2) Arts (4) Celeb News
26 THE STANDARD STYLE /COMMUNITY/ BREAKING NEW GROUND
Meet Elizabeth Vavashe, Zimbabwe’s first female helicopter pilot!
April 19 to 25 2015
and as if this was not enough, it would take Elizabeth another seven years after qualifying before she was allowed to fly. Elizabeth is grateful to God that a job she was denied to take up in 2008, was eventually offered to her in April 2015, after putting up what has probably been the biggest fight of her life. ‘‘The idea of a woman flying the helicopter made a lot of people uncomfortable. Unfortunately, by the time I had finished training, which was a very difficult and trying period, I had developed such a love for flying that nothing could possibly stop me from doing it,’’ she said. Elizabeth Vavashe was born an ordinary girl in 1982 in Hwange. Her desire was to become an accountant. Her mother worked for the National Parks as a secretary and so soon after her ‘A’ levels she secured a job as a ranger. In order to fulfill her dream of
‘The organisation I worked for in Hwange needed some helicopter pilots and they put out an advert for anyone who was interested to apply to train as a helicopter pilot,’’ she said. Elizabeth had no idea what helicopter flying was all about. However, the interviews were going to be held in Harare and the thought of getting away from Hwange for a couple of days to Harare excited Elizabeth so much that she responded to the advert. Once in Harare, Elizabeth sat for the exam alongside 65 other candidates. ‘‘When I was preparing to leave Harare we were advised that the exam had been marked. We were all gathered together and names of those who had passed the exam were announced. I couldn’t believe it when I heard my name be ing called out as being among the top 12 candidates who had qualified into the next round of
becoming an accountant, she also took up a part-time chartered accountant’s course through a distant learning programme. Not even in her wildest dreams did it occur to her that in August 2008, at the age of 26, she would obtain a commercial pilot’s licence in South Africa and become the first woman in Zimbabwe to qualify to fly the helicopter.
interviews. I was also the only woman. I didn’t expect it and I was in shock!’’ said Elizabeth. While the other candidates were asked to return home, the top 12 candidates sat for another interview in which Elizabeth emerged one of the top five candidates. She went on to excel in the third interview and in June 2005, Elizabeth and her
By pAtriciA mABviko muSANhu
I
t is said that there are people who are born great, ‘‘some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them’’. I believe that achieving greatness is something that everyone must aspire to do if our African society is going to transform to a measure of greatness. Having the idea in itself is not a problem. However, anyone who attempts to break new ground i.e. do something great, something new and something different faces enormous opposition and must therefore be prepared to put up a fight. Elizabeth Vavashe’s achievement to become the first woman in Zimbabwe to fly the helicopter did not come easy. She faced opposition and prejudice at every level and in every sphere. A professional pilot’s training that was meant to take nine months lasted three years
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THE STANDARD STYLE / ARTS 27
April 19 to 25 2015
T
Aussie/Zimbo band True Vibenation set to wow HIFA 2015 on Southern African tour
he Australian Embassy is excited to bring the three-man band True Vibenation to HIFA this year, where they will perform on the ZOL Main Stage on Wednesday 29 April at 10pm (CABS Day). The band consists of Zimbabwean-born twins, Verbaleyes and Native Wit and their childhood friend Klue, a New Zealander with Eritrean roots. Bheki Mkwananzi (Native Wit) of True Vibenation says: ‘It's a huge honour for us and we're really excited to be playing at HIFA. My brother and I were born in Harare but have lived most
of our lives in Australia so for us to be able to come back to the place it started through playing music is very special. We can't wait to get over there and share our music with everybody!’ Since the debut of their first album ‘The Sunshower Phenomenon’ the group has become known for their vibrant live shows in which they prove themselves masters of many styles. Their music blends together hip hop, Afro-beat, jazz, dubstep, soul, Latin and electronic music to create a unique but distinctly Australian sound. The trio sets themselves apart from the mainstream
hip hop scene by incorporating instrumental music with traditional turntable beats. With self-made instruments and while blowing the horns, they excite crowds with their infectious energy. Ambassador-Designate Suzanne McCourt said ‘We can’t wait for Harare to enjoy the amazing True Vibenation experience. They are a wonderful example of the strong ties between Zimbabwe and Australia and their live show is sure to wow the audience and get people moving!’. For more information or a request for an interview
CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards JOURNALISTS and broadcasters across Africa have been invited to enter the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards competition for 2015, open to nationals of every African country working on the continent and providing content aimed at African audiences. Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said she hoped for a good entry from Zimbabweans and looked forward to the possibility of winners emerging from within the country. This will be the 20th anniversary of the African Journalist Awards, hosted by CNN International and MultiChoice Africa. “The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards have enjoyed 20 years of encouraging excellence in journalism across the continent and are designed to honour the journalism profession in Africa. We have noted a tremendous growth in stature and prestige of the competition and the organisers hope that 2015 delivers another set of outstanding work,” said Ms Dziva. Kenyan Joseph Methenge was awarded the top prize at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards ceremony in 2014. His work, Images of Terror, which appeared in Kenyan daily newspaper The Standard documented the moments of terror experienced by Westgate Mall shoppers in Kenya when the mall was attacked by gunmen in September 2013. It was named winner from scores of entries originating in a total of 38 countries. Since the first awards competition in 1995, the competition has grown in size and status to become Africa’s most prestigious me-
dia event. In 2014, a highlights programme of the ceremony, held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was broadcast across Africa and to countries such as Britain, the United States and Caribbean island nations. Open to journalists working in any medium, this year the competition will recognise excellence in a selection of relevant categories: - Culture Award - Dow Technology & Innovation Report ing Award - Economics and Business Award - Features Award - Francophone General News Award - GE Energy and Infrastructure Award - Mohamed Amin Photographic Award - MSD Health and Medical Award - Portuguese Language General News Award - Press Freedom Award - Sport Reporting Award - The African Development Bank Environment Award - The Coca-Cola Company News Impact Award After selecting category winners, the independent judging panel then choose the overall winner, named The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015. Finalists in the competition will take part in a special programme that will include a media forum and networking opportunities with senior journalists, editors, business leaders and media owners from across the continent, culminating in a gala awards ceremony.
POETRY CORNER
BERENICE BOELL
28 THE STANDARD STYLE / ARTS / BOOKWORM By Bookworm
I
have been in New York for a few months, though admittedly, I had never been to Harlem as I live on the other side of the city, in Brooklyn. Harlem is America’s most famous black community and the cultural capital of black America. The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 30s — a movement which saw the blossoming and wider recognition of AfricanAmerican literary, musical and
The Overtown Music Project celebrates the music, history and spirit of Overtown in its heyday
From one harlem to another You would think the world had grown past the black-white racism, but clearly not
political culture through the talents of artists like Langston Hughes, Billie Holiday, Paul Robeson and Duke Ellington — continues to resonate today. It also forms a cornerstone of the neighbourhood’s tourism industry, with visitors hoping to get a feel of Harlem’s heyday by immersing themselves in a culture of jazz, gospel, blues and soul food. I had a sense of de javu coming out of the subway in Harlem at 125 Street. The energy and dynamism in this part of New York city is different from the rest. And it is the one place I have seen the most black people all round at once. The bustling streets of Harlem reminded me of Harare streets — you can get anything you want on the streets — cheap T/shirts, two burned CDs for $5, love portions, sidewalk booksellers. Everything is familiar, it is so much like home, but not. I went to the intimate Studio
April 19 to 25 2015
Museum Harlem, an art gallery dedicated to African-American, African and Caribbean art and objects. In fact, the Studio Museum in Harlem is the nexus for the artists of African descent and for work that has been inspired by black culture. Current exhibitions include Trenton Doyle Hancock: Skin and Bones 20 Years of drawing; Concealed Selections from the permanent collection and Salon Style which features the works of a young New York based Zimbabwean artist Nontsikilelo Mutiti. There was nothing more than this that could make me feel prouder. Two of the main streets in Harlem are named after iconic figures — Martin Luther King Jnr and Malcom X. Here is what struck me. With all that I know of the two characters from their historiography, the streets felt mismatched. Martin Luther King Boulevard is the busier artery that cuts Harlem in the middle, while the twoway street named after the radical militant Malcom X Boulevard, also known as Lennox Avenue, is strangely serene and quiet. The poetic contradictions of Harlem. If there is any place in America that had always tickled my imagination prior to moving to the US, it was Harlem. A few years ago I bought Sharifa Rhode’s book Harlem is Nowhere, a beautifully drawn map of Harlem in words that crisscrosses the present and the past. Its words and images have always played in my head in a jazzy-soul sequence. I needed to feed off the spirit and energy of Harlem. The people, the food, the arts, music and fashion, all these, tell the story of the places history and the many cultures that have shaped it. My time in America has also greatly coincided with the unnecessary killing of blackmen by the people expected to protect them. You would think the world has grown past the black-white racism, but clearly not. The only
time I have been self-conscious and afraid to be black is now, and living in America as a 30-something blackman means that I am a suspect of a crime that I am not even planning to commit. In this day and age, is a #BlackLivesMatter campaign necessary? But doesn’t any life, all life matter? The xenophobia in South Africa, the killing of blacks by blacks confuses things even further. Out on the streets I saw the women sitting outside their hair salons waiting for customers. The teasing sunshine on this springy day gave their smiles a glow. Every time I passed near such a group they would call at me, “Brother, do you want styling for your hair?” I would smile at them, shake my head and move on. It’s a place you see a concentration of many barbershops. A barbershop is an important cultural and identity site for the AfricanAmerican. The men assembled on the sidewalks arguing about politics. In Harare it is now not unusual to see street doctors sitting on the pavements selling love portions such as “dried baboon urine” which is considered an aphrodisiac. I was hit with a sense of de javu to see some Harlem hustlers also selling love portions. They have portions for all kinds of things. I had become a part of the Harlem landscape, a place I have always associated with blackness and black history and black space. The vibrancy, the colour, the energy, that’s all here because of those things. This is what fascinated me, the characters that populate Harlem. Like in my beloved Harare, people respond to the street as a community in and of itself. While in my imagination I had not so much imagined or anticipated parasitic corporates such as Starbucks in my cultural and historical Harlem, I think that ten-
THE STANDARD STYLE / ENTERTAINMENT 29
April 19 to 25 2015
DSTV: THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS DStv brings kiddies entertainment this holiday season days at 5pm as well as the werewolf hit series Wolfblood on weekdays at 6:30pm where the characters’ wolf behaviour is based on real life wolves. For the budding tween fashionista, aspiring fashion designer or fashion blogger, there’s Fashion Fortnight until April 20 from 1pm CAT which features carefully-selected fashion dos and don’ts from some of the Disney shows. For your tiny tots who might be missing their playmates in kindergarten, there are plenty onscreen friends to entertain them on Boomerang (channel 302). Set a reminder for the premier of Mr Bean on Mondays to Fridays at 3pm, a new animated series based on the hilarious shenanigans of real life Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson) that will entertain children with the insanely funny ways he overcomes obstacles. The channel will also bring young viewers the exciting Paws vs Claws weekend (25-26 April at 10:50am CAT), a full house of all-time-favourite feline and canine characters like Scooby Doo, Garfield and more who not only find ways to keep out trouble but also unique ways to solve problems.
April 2015 The young ones are currently on school holidays and this means they have plenty of free time to pursue their favourite pastime….watching TV! The 2015 CHILDWISE Monitor Report compiled by market researcher ChildWise suggests that children aged five to 16 spend an average of six and a half hours a day in front of a screen. What’s more, children not only consume their TV on multi-screens (on the TV and phone/tablet simultaneously) but they also increasingly use Catch-Up services. This means that during school holidays, the hours clocked in front of the TV screens are bound to increase. But, fear not dear parent. DStv has got your back! Switch on the parental control and let your young ones surf through DStv’s wide variety of kiddies’ channels that offer quality entertainment and edutainment shows to keep their minds engaged, excited and informed. The lessons commence with DStv’s three Disney channels: Disney Channel (channel 303) Disney XD (channel 304), Disney Junior (channel 309) and which offer a wide selection of series, sitcoms and movies. Disney Channel, the tweens’ ultimate favourite channel, has some of the entertaining programmes including the new season of Austin and Ally on Saturdays at 9:55am who tackle issues like bullying and overcoming fear, plus the never-ending teenage twin problems and complications in Liv and Maddie on Saturdays and Sun-
Cartoon Network (channel 301) has an exciting line-up that includes the return of Gumball and his chaotic family in the new season of The Amazing World of Gumball which premieres on Mondays to Fridays at 4:10pm and on Saturdays and Sundays at 8:20am and 2:35pm. There’s also a brand new special of Mixels Mondays at 2:05pm and 4:35pm where the mischievous gang of Mixels teach little ones the art of combining with different tribes to gain special skills. Plus, there are more brand new episodes of children’s favourite problem-solving uncle-slash-grandpa, Uncle Grandpa at 3:45pm to enjoy every week day. There are also plenty of movies awaiting kids on the M-Net movie channels and with more blockbuster movies from Studio Universal which include their favourite superheroes; Superman and the Incredible Hulk, as well as the classic film Jurassic Park which are sure to capture any child’s imagination. DStv Premium subscribers with an activated HD PVR and Explora will be able to treat their children to even more exciting shows on Catch Up and Box Office. You’ll also get access to Disney’s incredible box sets of some of their classics as well as titles like Avatar, Sanjay and Craig, Dorah the Explorer, The Power Puff Girls and the ever-popular Ben 10 which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. And if you have your smartcard linked to your DStv Connect account, your children can also watch their favourite shows on the Kids section of the DStv Now app via a mobile phones or tablet anytime you need some adult TV time!
30 THE STANDARD STYLE / ENVIRONMENT
April 19 to 25 2015
Silent and tireless workers for the environment
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mercial scale. Programmes are already well-established in Wedza, where farmers are learning about the benefits of growing food in the natural way, and the results have been very encouraging. 100 farmers have already been trained and at least another 100 will soon be taking part in the exercise. This project is run in conjunction with Hivos. Another programme is planned for the suburb of Sunningdale in Harare, projected to make residents more self-reliant and more ‘food secure’. Not only does the project improve soil fertility, decrease reliance on chemical fertilisers and assist with
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Earthworms feed and improve the quality of the soil in a natural and sustainable way
he first “Green Revolution” has been a disastrous and dismal failure. Yields are down and pests and diseases are flourishing. Huge swathes of land are no longer productive and chemicals and fertilisers are destroying our environment and our health. Mechanisation and industrialisation have destroyed our connection to natural environmental cycles. Bill Mollison, the founder of Permaculture, has said our actions amount to “waging war upon the environment. We have been using the same tactics that would be used in conventional warfare…Airplanes and helicopters drop tons of chemicals each year in an attempt to control the forces of nature. Large equipment has been employed to alter the surface of the earth, manipulating it to conform to our de-
this precious resource to our maximum benefit? Earthworms can assist with solid waste management, relieving the pressure on council waste collection and on our overstressed landfill sites. Currently Zim Earthworm Farms is working in conjunction with the City of Harare to recycle much of the organic waste from Mbare market. Solid vegetable waste from the market is supplied to the worm project to feed the worms and in turn produce more food. The project currently runs a huge worm farm near Chitungwiza producing fertiliser and foliar feed on a com-
Wan gu
By michAel Nott
Drea d
Lettuce grown with earthworm technology
sires. We have been treating the environment as if it is diseased and depends upon us for prescribed courses of medication.” GMO seeds and crops are increasing in popularity with small-scale farmers — exactly the producers who need our support the most. Many varieties of food are disappearing, heritage seeds are becoming a rarity and more people are living with too little food or food lacking in good nutrition. Is this really the future that you would like your children to be forced to deal with? There is an alternative. Ephrem Whingwiri of Zim Earthworm Farms has a solution. And it’s ecofriendly, uses appropriate technology and almost free. Using earthworm technology as an integral part of food production — whether on a small “back yard” scale or on bigger commercial farms – addresses and solves many problems. Earthworms feed and improve the quality of the soil in a natural and sustainable way. Crop yields are higher, and continue to improve over the years, and healthier plants are less susceptible to pests and diseases, meaning that less pesticides and herbicides are needed. Good healthy soil also means less water runoff, less erosion and better water absorbing capacity. Fresh water is becoming such a scarcity and luxury all over the world; can we really afford to allow clean unprocessed rainwater to escape without using
mm2331
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April 19 to April 25, 2015
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