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BANZA MAGAZINE CEO Joseph Rutakangwa Support African Leadership University
BANZA | Editorial Unit COLUMNISTS
BUSINESS
FASHION FACE
LIFESTYLE
Kabo Madigele
Mary Mang’eni
Hawi Tiyo
Maatla Kgasa
Meklit Baye
Torey Foss Houcem Khlifi
Mohamed Maalainine
Gcinekile Zwane Charles Msilanga Joseph Rutakangwa GUEST WRITERS Kaone Tlagae—Botswana Fanidh Sanogo —Burkina Faso
GUEST CONTRIBUTORS
PHOTOGRAPHERS
FEATURED
Eric Maingi
Sookara Akshee
Yasmin Affejee
Editor-in-chief
Mauritius
Melissa Njeri
Ermias Mehari
Grishon Njoroge
Sofonias Negussie
Graphic Designer
Kenya
Katleho Mohono Britannia Nicolas
Elsa Yeboah-Boateng Creative Director
Ebelee Molua
Jayson Rai
Michael Muturi
Makeup Artist
Lawrenda Adzomani
Photography
Nigeria
Linda Admassu Photography Hawi Tiyo Hair and Makeup
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BANZA I was on Instagram the other day, smiling as I scrolled down the screen admiring cats (thank the heavens for @Cats_of_Instagram) when I came across this photo that made me giggle. Then laugh. Then roll on the floor. But, then I got thinking. Don’t we all hesitate from looking at ourselves in the mirror? Is it not amazing how every time we are on Instagram, everybody else's photos and videos look better than our own? How many people do you know who double-tap on their photos? There are 29 days in this month. That’s one extra day by the way, for all the calendar-obsessed persons. That is an exclusive 29 opportunities to lavish yourself. If it is inspiration you want, then our Corporate Feature, Yasmin, will bless your heart with her story running a program for autistic children. If it is the success you need, our Business Segment looks at how not to fail. And if it is beauty you desire, then flip away through our fashion face and get to see why red polka dots are what to strut in for men. Garner all the energy you need this month with our restful habit in our fitness segment. And better your lifestyle with these easy-to-achieve habits in your life. It's time to be your cheerleader. To give yourself all the hugs and kisses you need and to surround your whole being with love.
| Editor’s Note
Back to Instagram As the cats continue to entertain me, I hope that for this month, you will learn to Value Yourself, your creative genius and your whole being. As you grow in love with yourself, and as the 29 days rise and fall; your love will transcend to your family, friends, and all your circles. And in your endeavours, think of these words in the interlude of the song, I stand Alone, by Robert Glasper (interlude by Michael Eric Dyson.) Thank God we've still got musicians and thinkers whose obsession with excellence and whose hunger for greatness remind us that we should all be unsatisfied with mimicking the popular, rather than mining the fertile veins of creativity that God placed deep inside each of us . Make every day count. Love Yourself. Happy Reading.
Eric Maingi, Editor-in-Chief
BANZA
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Chinyelu Ikeliani Nigeria
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| Behind the Scenes
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Editorial Unit
Cover Model
Editor’s Note
Meet the Team that works to make this issue of Love Yourself.
Meet Melissa Kariuki, the Pan African Model who flaunts her beauty and embraces herself.
Our Cheif Editor spoils himself to Cats and Instagram as he sheds light on #LoveYourself.
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Teen Space Our new feature walks in the shoes of, Britannia, who loves water, pasta and Bruno Mars.
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Feature Katleho Mohono; The human being on a journey.
24 Fashion Face Love Yourself to the bone. Spoil yourself this season of love and adorn yourself with nothing short of elegant, sassy, flossy and hot. With expert tips on how to do your makeup to why you should wear Polka dots in your tie and socks, this month is all about you.
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Do yourself a favour and look good for yourself. Look in the mirror more often, post more optics on Instagram and work that gorgeous body of yours!
60 Seconds with...
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Our fashion agenda is off limits. We feature, from the two ends of our continent, Ghanaian regalia that will make you pop and glow everywhere, anytime with Lawrenda Adzomani. Jayson Rai holds it down for the men in his Dashiki shirt as the Kenyan gentleman enjoys the sunset at the bus stop.
Diary Is Nolwazi having an affair with the Lecturer?
Opportunity of Time
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The best way to start the month is to sieze every opportunity that comes your way. And even when the world seems so cruel, you break out or the rut and succeed!
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How not to Fail Wondering why your business or startup is not performing? Wonder no more with these three guidlines with Mohamed.
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A case for PORN
8 Steps to Truly Love Yourself Follow these principles to become selfess, complete and contented.
ind K ht eup g i e r ak Th of M
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Life never seems to take the same straight path. There are always twists and turns, like the Bold and Beautiful. Yasmin brings to the fore how her Artistic life turned her into a Social Entrepreneur as President and Founder of Autisme Maurice.
REST for YOU
Fall in Love or Rent out Love?
Blast Workout you’ll Love and that’ll bring out the best in you!
Corporate Feature
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Good Habits for this Year
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How to become an Important YOU.
N E E T ACE SP
Britannia Nicolas
BANZA
|Teen Space
Hometown: Phoenix, Mauritius. School: Lorette de Vacoas. Favourite Subjects: Physics, Additional Mathematics. My typical day: Wake up at 6 AM, start classes at 8 AM, and get lunch at 11 AM. Classes end at 2:30 PM then I go to tuition until 5 PM and go back home afterwards. Aspirations: Becoming an aviator. Fun activities in Mauritius: Partying at the seaside, sunbathing and walking on the rocks. Sports: Swimming and running. Favourite Music: K-pop (a mixture of various styles like dancepop and pop ballad,) a.k.a. PSY trends. Favourite Artist: Bruno Mars. Where would you like to live? Not in Mauritius, that’s for sure. I want to do the ‘around the world’ tour. For settling, maybe Australia or France but I have to visit many countries before making up my mind. Favourite food: Pasta. Favourite drink: Water. Role Model: My Dad, we have been close. He’s my best friend, he guides me and it’s because of him I’m passionate about aviation. Colour: Black. Favourite movie genre: Romance, especially tragic movies. Hobbies: Reading, going out with friends.
Advice for teens We’re still young we need to have fun and focus on building our future. Just concentrate on what you have now and have fun with that. Don’t deal with things that can hurt you.
Katleho Mohono A Human Being on a Journey By Joseph Rutakangwa
BANZA
Beau Plan Estate is a ritzy hideaway in the sugar country of northern Mauritius where most tourists cluster. The Moka Range foothills rearing up behind the estate make a spectacular backdrop for all the charming heritage buildings. And on a pretty day, it is a beautiful place to wait for someone who is stuck in traffic in Port Louis. So when the African Leadership University, ALU, compassed the estate like the Mali Empire in West Africa, it’s like the beginning of a movie. To be precise, it’s an African version of 300: Rise of an Empire with Katleho Mohono as Themistocles. I revere a capable man who can lead like Lee Iacocca; especially since he had to guide me through entrepreneurial learning. Why here, why now? Katleho responds, “Because Africa is changing fast. The heart of what’s happening in Africa today is the need for a paradigm shift in every individual. They need to realize the power they have, and we’re making that happen at ALU.” He’s in a check button-down shirt in shades of zaffre. As the incarnation of a world-class university, he is a leader, a project leader of the ALU Arts program, and acts like one: he had today’s meeting tightly planned weeks before. Today is Sunday: Monday he is off to work on redesigning the entrepreneurial leadership course, which he facilitates, to optimize the students’ experience and impact. His other hand is in the midst
| Feature
of running a three-week orientation program for the new students, but he won’t talk much about it. A young South African who is ardent about developing people, Katleho Mohono studied organizational psychology and human resource management at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. That’s not how he enrolled, though; he was a law major for the first two years. “The challenge I started having is that I couldn’t see myself as a lawyer. For a good debater and public speaker that I was, in high school, everyone looked at me as a lawyer. I was good at law, but I wasn’t passionate about it.” You called the shots to drop out then, I say, having read various biographies of entrepreneurs and how they love dropping out of college. He says, “No.” You switched your major or took a break? He says, “Took a break.” Oh, my. I just made an assumption that he dropped out of college to start his own business or organization – but he cuts in: “No, not at all. I took a gap year and joined the Volunteering in India project, did a TED talk program, and later I joined Fundisa.” Fundisa is an e-learning platform which aims to bridge the gap between high schools and universities in South Africa.
Plus, he had more time to work with Wits Golden Key Thinker Symposium, a youth-lead forum that he started which aims to create a platform for sharing thoughts and creating solutions.
change my course at university. I realized that I was learning so many things, but I couldn’t see their relevance in real life. There was a lot of reading information and regurgitating in a text. So, I was like – what’s the purpose?”
We are both enjoying this moment and the set, except for one thing – the fan. It’s been humming for a while now, and it’s rather annoying, so I propose to turn it off – we did.
The way Fred Swaniker envisioned the African Leadership University’s learning model made sense to Katleho, and that’s when he loomed up on him. He wanted to get involved and help make the ALU dream a reality. Little did he know that one-year-later he would be running the orientation program for the first-ever ever batch of the inaugural class. “I didn’t see myself at that time working at ALU,” he chuckles. Katleho works with the student life team as the project leader of the ALU Arts program.
“I met Fred Swaniker, the founder of ALU, after attending his session about the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program at my university,” he recalls. “And what caught my attention was his understanding of the African crisis and centralizing it around the idea of transforming the future generation of leaders – it was something I was very passionate about.” He repositioned himself in the seat. “One of my passions is transforming leaders because I have very close to my heart this belief that leadership is where things are going to happen. We need to develop leaders beyond just those in high positions, but throughout the community, and empower people to lead their lives and transform society. So, Fred’s vision resonated with me.” He got me cogitating, and I dig delicately into what seems to be a pool of philosophical thoughts. He adds, “But beyond that, rethinking education was another thing that attracted me. Rethinking education for a different generation in an unalike form so as to create a space for people to learn differently. It was one of the reasons I had to
He is also one of the facilitators for Entrepreneurial Leadership.
Why did he choose to facilitate? Katleho says, “Because of the transformational moments when you can see in students’ eyes – the ‘I get it’ look. And the interaction with the great minds that exist in the ALU community is very exciting.” Halfway in the talk, the room gets superhot – Banza and Katleho debate in their minds on whether a fan should be on; Katleho decides – we turn on the fan, and are both left mostly in peace.
This is why Fred Swaniker hand-picked him in a minute and a half, I’m thinking: because of the quick-sharp mind, daring, and philosophical approach. When they had their first conversation, they must have come over as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.
Being in the ‘kitchen’ of ALU, Katleho says, “When you are looking at education, consider your passion, what you’re good at, what else is available, and always work “In most societies people wait for from there. My guide always said, ‘go to governments to act, for power to make a school to get an education and not just a transformation. This needs to change,” he profession.’ Many go to university with a says. “We need to empower people with particular passion but end up working in mindsets to act in whatever environments areas that are very different. What puts a they are in, and transform their person ahead in life is the ability to respond immediate space.” to that change, because life by its very nature is very unpredictable.” As one of the Entrepreneurial Leadership facilitator, he gets to do just that – to empower people’s mind-sets.
“
... everyone looked at me as a lawyer. I was good at law, but I wasn’t passionate about it.
”
Will he switch careers in the future? “Not really,” he replies, “I think that facilitation will always be something that’s very close to me.” I have to say, I didn’t see that coming. “In a long-term, I’d like to run leadership development training programs and coaching.” We are talking about leadership and transformation, but I’m curious to know where he sees himself in 25 years. After thinking about it, he says “I plan to build institutions that are focused on transforming society and helping people develop. I’m not sure yet about how they would look. I would like to work as an advisor or leadership consultant primarily in Africa helping organizations develop their leaders and skills. I always see myself in a space where I’m training people to become better.” He’s doing the right thing, in the right place, at the right time. But what makes ALU so special for him? He says, “I love, and I often have to pinch myself about being at the helm of a transforming institution, something that’s making a big difference in Africa. I just look up and say, ‘Wow! It’s crazy what we’re trying to do’. If I joined three years from now, it wouldn’t have been like this.” Katleho puts his two cents in to “live fully and be present every day. I often think in life we are absent; either we are too far in the past or we live too far in the future.”
Wait a minute, who is Katleho Mohono? He is a “human being on a journey: one who is passionate about helping others on their journeys.”
“to empower We need
people with mindsets to act in whatever environments they are in, and transform their immediate space.
”
When you are looking at education, consider your passion, what you’re good at, what else is available, and always work from there.
fashion Dear you, Make peace with the mirror and watch your reflection change this month with what’s trendy and elegant. Love your clothes, love your style, but above all, Love Yourself.
MARY MANG’ENI
PHOTOGRAPHERS Elsa Yeboah-Boateng Michael Muturi Grishon Njoroge
MAKE-UP ARTIST Ebelee Molua
HAIR ARTIST Hawi Tiyo
face Melissa Kariuki
Bodycon dresses have evolved from a simple style and now appear in various guises. Some are strapless while others have wide straps or sleeves. Show off your killer shape this month, in this Red Strapless Sheer Mesh V-Neck Bodycon Dress. It is designed to enhance your figure and perfect for flaunting what you’ve got! Accessorize with a golden Cartier bracelet and pilgrim gold black earrings. Arm bracelets are an excellent addition to an elegant outfit and can be adjusted comfortably to any part of your arm. This Golden Brass Upper Arm Bracelet is the perfect balance of stylish and sassy as you #LoveYourself this month.
And as our Makeup artist, Ebelee Molua suggests, go for makeup that gives you the love yourself touch. Express your heart and the love that is within. Show your confidence and let your face shine in colours that are soft but placed on a tougher base. The dark pink colour, the maintenance of the tone, the lips, contour and blush are the various aspects that show a softer shade layered on a more solid colour.
Sofonias Negussie
A R pla ed C in in k hec h a pa St aki ked r Wa ir of iped pant Long Ro lk d whit Silk s ste Slee the bin L own e soc Kni als th ve S #L ace the ks w tted e s hirt h ov eY Tan stair ith Tie w ow. in a r ou Le ca p A rse ath se ed p itho cce air o lf T er flau olk ut sso f ou Fo tin a d for riz ch rm g t ots gett e it . al h ing Sh e M . a oe i s s t sus os pe ll o ut
Black Dollhouse Peep Toe Curved Wedges are a fashion statement. This fierce and chic pair of booties have a padded insole, peep toe front, a rear side zipper and a velvet material to keep you comfy. You can dress this fierce pair up or down depending on the occasion.
Tan Brown Leather Backpack Owning a leather bag is just something that every man should do. They look good, they are handy, and they give a sense of style. #LoveYourself and complete your look with a tan, brown Leather backpack which helps you to carry your things comfortably and stylishly.
Gold is a colour that gives shine and value. For the eyes, add a gentle wash of gold to your brow bone, just below the eyebrows to 'open up' your eyes.The look compliments the black dress and gives it a classy feel by the use of gold.
If it’s super stunning glamour you’re after, a Strapless Black Dress is perfect for you. Every lady should have a Black Dress in their wardrobe as they are suitable for any occasion and can combine perfectly with anything. When it comes to choosing the jewellery for your black strapless dress, choose rounded and chunky gold or silver necklace that give a unique touch to your chest. Another option is for long and thin chains with statement bracelets. Keep it simple with short earrings and golden rings to match the necklace. The trendiest way to accessorize a black dress!
Fashionable Lace up peep toe heels with double colours will match perfectly with the black dress.
Consider venturing into the world of ‘smart-casual’ with a good-looking blazer. It will give you an easy way to smarten even your simplest outfits up a bit. Put on a pair of slim fit chinos matched with a Cotton Long Sleeved White Shirt, add a blazer, and suddenly you look pretty damn sharp!
Decorate your wrist with a gold or silver band timepiece to complement your look. A silk knitted polka dot navy blue and red tie completes the outfit. A brown Navy blue Leather belt is an attention grabber that goes well with the Chinos. Team up the look with a pair of black pointed toe Leather shoes.
If you are wearing very long earrings, forget about wearing a necklace. This will lengthen your face as it is, and a necklace will just be too much.
The go-to casual legwear for any guy is a pair of jeans. Keep your jeans simple. Go for a straight, clean, blue pair that fits like it's been made for you. They will not only look better, but they are more versatile. They look good dressed up and dressed down. Pair the jeans with a green plain round neck t-shirt with a pocket chest or any other plain colour that will match with the shoes. As for the shoes, go for matching Suede Desert Safari Boots. They’re perfect for casual wear, and they’re super comfortable. A statement timepiece is a must have to complete this smooth look. Wrap your wrist in a White face, dark-green Leather strap watch and don't forget to team it up with Aviator Sunglasses.
Black and white stripes, go with everything. They're so simple; they're pretty much the neutral of prints. So #LoveYourself this month with Black and White Striped Shorts teamed up with a black sleeveless crop top. You can dress them up or down with the right accessories. A light shade of makeup is necessary for elegance and glamour. A White face, black strap watch is an outstanding match for this simple look. Accentuate with a silver metal arm cuff bangle and Silver Cross Earrings to complete the smooth look.
A beautiful bag can easily complement and enhance your outfit. Accent your look with a stunning Black Leather Clutch bag either plain or with gold detail to match your accessories.
6 0 seconds with Jayson Rai
What I love about African wear is the mixture of colours that it has and how vibrant it looks. Who I looked up to when I was a child was my father. He owns a lot of cultural clothing, and he embraces his culture. Why I admire African wear is that we can alter to our design and represent not only our culture but also our personalities. I design most of my clothes in a way it suits me. Last comment I would like to tell everyone to embrace their culture and that African wear is not obsolete. It can be modernized and fashionable.
6 0 seconds with Lawrenda Adzomani
What I love about African wear is that it can be altered to my standards. For example, when Karl Lagerfeld designs his cloth he has an image in his head which might not be fit for me, but African prints can be designed to our desires. Who I looked up to growing up was my cousins who were fashion designers that worked with African fabrics. Why I admire African wear is that it is unique and is beautiful when its done in a modernized way. For me, my African dresses are custom made. Last comment I would like to say let’s embrace our fabrics and prints. Each colour and pattern tell a unique story about our African heritage.
OPPORTUNITY OF TIME
Opportunity of Time Maatla Kgasa
In 1935
, there was a type writer manufacturing company called Smith Corona which was the world's largest company by turnover. A young man by called Richard walked into the offices of Smith Corona to pitch an idea of making a computer the size of a typewriter. They turned him down. He went on to start his company. His last name was Dell. Richard Dell started Dell Computers which went on to become the largest private company ever.
My point is a simple one; the extent at which we are ready to cannibalize our business innovation happens when something we know meets with what we don't know. It's high time we stop asking our kids what they want to be when they grow up and instead switch the question to what problems do they want to solve. In that manner, we are challenging them to look for opportunities that lie in these problems and capitalize on that.
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BANZA Business
Seizing an opportunity is all it took nine years ago; on the fourth 4th of February Mark Zuckerberg called five of his friends to his Harvard dorm room to discuss a business opportunity. Only two of those five people showed up, Dustin Moskovitz (Currently worth $6.5 Billion) and Eduardo Savarin (now worth $3.4 Billion dollars).
Nothing is more expensive than a closed mind and a missed opportunity. The only time you have is now!! Tomorrow is costly. Successful people always tell us that it's all about showing up, being there, and seizing the opportunity and perfect timing. I tell you these stories because there will be moments in your life when you have to make those hard decisions that can only come from listening to the deepest part of yourself.
And you will certainly have those moments if you decide to venture out and try to do something few have ever done. I don’t say this lightly. I know it comes at a price. You will find that people might not always understand you. You might even close off certain relationships. But in paying that price, you will discover who you are and what you are capable of doing. And of course, that journey of change and selfdiscovery comes with a high risk of falling flat on your face, repeatedly. I have fallen and gotten up more times than I can say. But as the great American philosopher John Wayne used to say: life is about getting up one more times than you’ve been knocked down. (Jacqueline Novogratz)
...that journey of change and self-discovery comes with a high risk of falling flat on your face, repeatedly.
See that one opportunity, perfect that one craft, live it! Breathe it! And do not waste time for time is all it takes. See the future for what it could be and create going forward. The world's greatest companies today are constantly re-creating themselves and their products so as to capitalize on the numerous opportunities around us. Let's work together, animosity and hostility towards each other bring us down. If you help me shine, I liberate you and give you the power to believe that you can shine as well. Let's Seize the Moment. Opportunity Galore! Close your eyes and open up your mind.
I was in an audience listening to a motivational speaker. The speaker got out his wallet & pulled out a $100 note. Holding it up, he asked, "Who wants this $100 bill?" Lots of hands went up, including mine. A slow chorus began to build as people started to shout "Me!" "Me!" I began to wonder who the lucky person would be, whom the speaker was about to choose. And I also secretly wondered (I am sure others did too) why he would simply give away $100. Even as the shouts of "I want it" grew louder, I noticed a young woman running down the aisle. She ran up onto the stage, went up to the speaker, and grabbed the $100 note from his hand. "Well done, young lady," said the speaker into the microphone. The speaker simply says "Most of us just sit and wait for good things to happen. That's of no use. You've got to make things happen. Make a move."
''Simply thinking about doing something is of no use and not good enough.'' Our lives are like that. We all see opportunities around us. We all want the good things. But the problem is we don't take action. We all want the $100 notes on offer. But we don't make the move. We look at it longingly. Get up, and do something about it. Don't worry about what other people might think. Take action.
Later, the speaker got another $100 note and held it up for all to see, I thought I knew what's up. But he just asked a simple question. "How much is this worth?"
"One hundred Dollars!" the crowd yelled in unison. "Right," said the speaker. He then took the note and crumpled it into a ball and asked: "How much is it worth now?" "One hundred Dollars!" screamed the audience. He then threw the note on the ground, stamped all over it and picked up the note and asked one more time: "And how much is it worth now?" "One hundred Dollars!" was the response. "I want you to remember this," said the speaker. "Just because someone crumples it, or stamps on it, the value of the note does not diminish. (Prakash Iyer)
We should all be like the 100 Dollar note. In our lives, there will be times when we feel crushed, stamped over, beaten. But never let your self-worth diminish. Just because someone chooses to crush you, that doesn't change your worth one bit! In 2009, a certain gentleman applied for a job at Facebook and was turned down. In the same year, he created WhatsApp and just in 2014 WhatsApp was bought by Facebook for $19 Billion dollars. What are you going to do next time you face rejection? Carpe Diem! Seize The Moment. Opportunities are out there. Grab them! Shine!! Be great, do good!
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In our lives, there will be times when we feel crushed, stamped over, beaten. But never let your self-worth diminish.
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THE MASTERSTROKE OF A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP BRUSH Kabo Madigele
BANZA
| Business
President and Founder: Autisme Maurice, Painter
Yasmin Affejee narrates the tale of a young woman whose childhood dream was to be an artist and explore the beauty of nature around the world. However, she realised there was more to life than that. Now, she is the forefront of a movement that seeks to make an impact in the social realm.
Success, often ascribed to as life in the fast lane, revolves around multi-million mansions, sports cars, designer garments, private jets and sports cars. It is those who own massive empires of capitalist enterprises that we label and recognise as exceptional entrepreneurs. It is solely those who create disruptive technological innovations that we shower with accolades in the form of awards, honorary degrees and predominately capital. In the midst of these Forbes 400 lists and all that are homogenous to it, we totally forget to celebrate our very own heroes and heroines; social entrepreneurs. They pursue exercises which bring remedies to problems that are plaguing our communities.
A new home At some point, while holidaying in Mauritius, she instantly fell in love with the place and unequivocally decided to prolong her stay. She secured a job with an international secondary school teaching art. The end of her two-year stint there was initiated by her recent marriage. She wanted to dedicate all her time to raising her little kids.
Life takes a different twist At four years old, her son was diagnosed with autism. "This was the most painful moment for my family, chiefly because we had limited comprehension of this condition. However, this was a learning curve, as we had to educate ourselves continually.’’
Yasmin Affejee was born in Queen of the Midlands, Nottingham, England. She gratefully asserts that her middle-class parents gave her a decent upbringing. After high school in 1988, she enroled at Sheffield University to study fine arts, where she graduated with a BA in 1991. She immediately got into London College of Arts for postgraduate studies. Upon graduating with a Masters of Arts in 1993, she was now set to follow her lifelong passion for travelling around the world.
By sheer coincidence, she met a mother who also had an autistic child. They bilaterally decided to form an association that will be a focal point of all autism concerns. They wanted to converge all voices and advocate for adequate care and support for the autistic population. Subsequently, the organisation was formally registered in 2009. The Autisme Maurice, located in Rosehill, Plaines Wilhems District, Mauritius, has a school and a diagnostic centre as its principal organs. The school has six classes of 6 children each and 12 specially trained teachers, for individual needs of the students.
The diagnostic centre, on the other hand, has a team of specialised personnel; 2 speech therapists, two occupational therapists, two psychologists and two teachers. On the administrative arm, there is a secretary, director and supervising psychologists. The centre’s principal vocation is early diagnosis and early intervention. "We believe that by availing a good school with adequate tools, therapists, teachers and specialised programmes, we can afford these kids an opportunity to reach their full potential."
It is not a smooth ride As with any other human initiated enterprise, the organisation encounters a potent concoction of problems. Insufficient inflow of finance is the most formidable problem. As mentioned, the centre functions with highly qualified people, who have to be remunerated at market rates, otherwise they will depart to greener pastures in private practices. A large volume of money is also used to settle transport, utilities and staff training expenses. She also laments that the government has turned a blind eye to them as their attention to ailments such like autism is critically limited. "Almost all of our funding is from private companies through their CSR programmes. But of recent, their support has been declining, mainly precipitated by the mushrooming of many NGO’s. This means the cake is now divided among many, thereby reducing our share.’’
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This was the most painful moment for my family, chiefly because we had limited comprehension of this condition. However, this was a learning curve, as we had to educate ourselves continually.
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This development severely compromises their operations. Honouring the employees payroll is difficult. Also, they are critically understaffed, because the teacherstudent ratio is 1:3. The significant number of prospective students, who have created a waiting list for enrolment up to October 2017 overwhelms them. The magnitude of the prevalence of autism (1%) and the need for specialised support is evident.
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We believe that by availing a good school with adequate tools, therapists, teachers and specialised programmes, we can afford these kids an opportunity to reach their full potential.
"
Partnerships and networks are essential No man is an island. Autisme Maurice has partnerships with other organisations which are involved in the same exercise around the world. They have a partner organisation in Reunion which offers assistance with specialist training and education and advice. On the other hand, Alefpa France deals with an assortment of disabilities and it provides managerial support. Locally, they are a member of Inclusion, an umbrella organ for 12 organisations dealing with disabilities. Its primary role is to create awareness about disability. Apart from that, volunteers, who are mostly student interns work with them especially in fundraising.
Motivation is essential "My prime motivation is my son. Because of him, I am always in motion, pursuing this course. One day he’ll be grown up and independent. Therefore, I want to walk with him in all stages of that transition.’’ Although she is a talented and passionate artist, Mrs Affejee has not been practicing for a long time now. "Life is incessantly evolving. Priorities change. Right now I am not even thinking about it.
“
...one day he’ll be grown up and independent. Therefore, I want to walk with him in all stages of that transition.
’’
BANZA
A zoom into the future “Our main aim this year is to fight for the recognition and understanding of autism. We also seek to be the figurehead of autism advocacy." We also intend to take the government head-on. They shoot foot much of our bills. There is inequality in how the government allocate finances. For instance, they spend 4000-4500 Rupees per month (about US$122) on an able child and give the same amount per year on an autistic child. This should not be condoned.’’
A dash of hope ‘’In any endeavour that you pursue, be motivated, be determined and develop a positive mindset. You will go far.’’ ‘’Today is bad, tomorrow will be good.’’
"
Life is incessantly evolving. Priorities change.
”
1 100
The number of people affected by autism today.
Make a difference by Giving Visit our website today and make a difference. www.autismemaurice.org
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How to (not) fail
Mohamed Maalainine
This article is your shortcut to failure. It may be your broader way to success as well. Knowing that there are infinite ways to fail in business, this write-up will focus only on the most common mistakes done by our fellow entrepreneurs so as we avoid them.
The idea Obviously, to start a venture the first thing you need is an idea. Not every idea is the right idea. Numerous entrepreneurs failed on account of starting the seamlessly greatest business in the world. But that seemed truthful only in their mind. No one else related to them. This is mainly due to two major reasons, whether the idea was too good to be true, or it was obsolete, exhausted by competitors. Innovation doesn’t require creating something entirely new; it requires looking into the details and trying to innovate a small portion of them. Another reason of failure is jumping into a field that doesn’t spark your interest. Lack of passion ended more businesses than we can count. Your idea should align with your passion. Before you start any venture, as Fred Swaniker says, “ask yourself: Is it big enough? Am I uniquely positioned? Am I truly passionate about it?”
BANZA
The team “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”. Reading such a quote encourages you to create a team. It is a given that trying to do everything by yourself is an unnecessary burden. The “one man show” businesses fail more than often. However, the problem with the quote is that it doesn’t tell the full story. It should say: If you want never to move at all, go with a bad team. The easiest way to fail a promising business is surrounding yourself with unproductive teammates. You would like to go right; they will take you left. Before partnering with someone or hiring him, give him a task. Don’t rely on interviews or empty promises. If he performs the task well, only then you can start considering whether he joins or not.
The capital “To make an entrepreneurial venture: Firstly you need a great idea, a team and some funding/ capital.” A business without a capital is not a business, yet. The lack of capital will hold your grip and twist it painfully. Leading your team without funding wastes your energy. At the end of the day, someone with more resources might easily start a similar venture to yours. How would you deal with that? Nowadays, with the grants and investors’ money at your disposal, all you need to do is to plan for getting them. You can still start with a limited budget. But, if you don’t plan to get funding, you will never get it. Even if you start with no penny, always have the capital acquisition in your mind.
|Business
Reaching for the Stars but the Clouds Won’t Let Me Boom!
Gcinekile Zwane
A loud noise sounded in the room as if it was a bomb attack. “What could it be?” Nolwazi asked herself with her eyes shooting open and her heart pounding. She had jumped out of her chair, and her face landed on the wardrobe door. She looked around the room. A smile dawned on her face when she noticed her humongous Economics book on the floor. The sun bathed her skin as she knelt down to pick it up. Suddenly, she realized something was not right. Silence. The room was too quiet. Where was Zama? Her bed was already made. The moment her eyes got sight of the wall clock, she was shocked. 08:57 AM. She had exactly three minutes before her class started. Hastily, she made her way to the bathroom. She grabbed her toothbrush and hurriedly brushed her teeth. From the wardrobe, she took out some of her clothes and cast them on her bed. Then she changed into her wrinkled blouse and jeans. She snatched her bag from the floor and dashed out of the room like a mad dog. Perspiration all over her face, she opened the classroom door. Her heart almost stopped beating when she saw the school’s dean, Ms Gule, standing in front of the students.
BANZA “Oh look who decided to show up for class,” Ms Gule said sarcastically. Dear Lord, let the earth open up and swallow me right now, she murmured as she walked towards the dean. The humiliation seemed to overwhelm her.
| Diary
Professor Lukhele is kind. He gets me. Honestly, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. The thoughts ran through her mind as she walked to her room.
“Nolwazi, look at you. You poor child! You work very hard. Did you sleep at all last Back in her room, she pushed the door night?” Prof. Lukhele said emerging from open. Her room was clean and inviting. the back door. The only messy place was her study table. Empty teacups lined up at her study table He knew all the struggles that Nolwazi seemed to form a pyramid that had been had been through in the university to knocked down and left scattered. How the present time. She always asked for much coffee did she drink last night? She extra work and took extra classes. As could smell the mild aromas of the coffee. her professor, he did all he could to help her out with her studies because he saw It is my addiction, she would say. Not a the drive and determination in her, and day passed by without her drinking it. that he liked. Nolwazi was the most Near the edge of the table, a pile of books hardworking student in his class and were about to fall over. Past exam paper admired her for that. Utterly relieved by spread all over the table. Her eyes turned the voice of her professor, Nolwazi turned away to her bed. It was neatly made. to him with a smile. Jackpot! At that moment, she had no doubt in her mind She couldn’t even remember the last time that she was out of that sticky situation. she slept on it. Suddenly, a hollow echo He asked the dean to excuse her, just of knuckles rapping on the door was like he had a few times before with other heard. Without hesitation, Nolwazi went school officials. to the door. She opened. Her heart almost skipped a beat when she saw Dr Msibi “Nolwazi, a minute, please .” Prof. standing right there. Lukhele yelled out at Nolwazi after class. She stopped with anticipation written all over her face. Without a word, the Professor closed the door after the last student went out. But then again she knew what exactly he was going to say, or so she thought. “Thank you for saving me Prof,” Nolwazi said. Grinning cheerfully, he told Nolwazi that he has got her back, and whenever she needs something she should not hesitate asking him. “That was it, you can go now,” he said concluding his speech.
Follow These 8 Steps to Truly Love Yourself – It’s the Most Selfless Thing You Can Do By Joseph Rutakangwa
On every path, the important thing is: Keep going! Keep loving yourself! Keep pampering yourself and noticing! Keep noticing what is happening to you and how our society and the way we treat our earth is changing. Why? Because taking care of yourself, loving yourself, and living your purpose will lift the entire planet. Christina Zipperlen contributed to an earlier version of this article.
1. Serve the world by living your purpose What is your soul's deepest desire? What is your biggest dream? The chances are that it's not a 9-5 desk job. However, when first pondering this question, your thoughts might seem selfish. Start by seeking out those people who celebrate you being big. In most modern societies, this isn't an everyday behaviour (at least not yet) and you'll need a bit of creativity to make it work and yes, there will be a few lonely moments. But the feeling of your soul smiling is priceless. And once you experience this feeling, it will be hard ever to go back. Consider this powerful quote by Marianne Williamson: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small, does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
2.
Empower people by being confident
It's easier to reduce yourself to a being worthy of compassion. People will feel your misery and will try to help you. But on the contrary, how inspiring is it to be around somebody who is genuinely confident? It makes you feel that you can do it too, right?
3. Stop the gossip. Stop the complaints Complaining is a negative energy that locks us into a certain way of thinking. When we look for the negative in others, we zoom in on exactly that -- the negative surrounding us. Once we shift our radar towards what inspires us in others, we are instead looking for a connection, growth, love, joy, and uplifting energies. Those are the qualities we will then be able to nurture in our lives. It takes time and practice to achieve this shift. The road might be bumpy, and you might have to redirect some conversations when you first start practicing. But it will get easier and easier until it turns from a practice into your second nature!
4.
Balance of gentleness and firmness
The best thing you can do for yourself is finding that balance for yourself. Find out when you need to give yourself a kick, but also, when you need to give yourself a big hug and a bubble bath.
BANZA
|Better Me
5. Keep promises made to yourself When you make a commitment to yourself, KEEP IT! Honour your word to yourself, whether that is to take a break, go on a holiday, eat more healthily, or go to bed early. Imagine what your friend would say if you'd let her down as many times as you let down yourself. To make things easier, find yourself an "accountability buddy." Tell each other the things you have planned to nurture yourself -- and check up on each other once a week to see how you are doing.
6. Nourish and celebrate yourself You need to be grateful for receiving life and honour it by living your highest purpose. Therefore, allow yourself to nourish you -- no matter if that means going to the gym, getting a massage or buying new shoes -- do it with a huge smile on your face. Living in Bali has been a huge inspiration to me in that regard -- people in Bali dress up in the most beautiful ways for their ceremonies to go to the temples or to give daily offerings. And then they change into leggings and flip-flops to go to work. It is such a sweet symbol of dressing up - for the divine, not to impress others. We need to embrace the fact that we are material bodies living in a material world. Make your life a celebration of the beautiful world around you, every moment, and every day!
7. Have integrity with the people who surround you “Be impeccable with your word.� There is such depth in this agreement. If we make a promise to ourselves to always be true to ourselves, we start having quality control in the most genuine way. We speak with love. There are certain attitudes and behaviours we don't accept. And by doing so, we serve humanity. There are so many people out there -- it is totally okay not to open up to all of them. But we can find ways to be respectful and friendly in all situations. However, if somebody weighs you down by their continuous negativity, it's fine to set boundaries. It is just as much of an inspiration to watch someone who has healthy boundaries, as it is to watch somebody be all-embracing love. Trust your intuition. Trust your gut.
8. Step by step towards your soul's alignment -- don't ever think you have more time Do it now! Take a little step at a time -- but don't put it off. Take baby steps in the right direction, even if it's just a little today and a little tomorrow. Honoured to be walking right there with you!
Get More Personal Energy: Easy Habits for 2016 By Joseph Rutakangwa
Few
people realize how much you can impact and boost your energy levels by consciously investing in them. Investing in energy has a higher impact than focusing on managing your time, because, unlike time, energy is a source we can enlarge. Being active enables you to meet the demands of work, life and family, even though the hours available to you remain scarce.
Tyne Thygesen contributed to an earlier version of this article.
Keep a holistic outlook When you’re stressed out, force yourself to look up and think of the big picture. While it’s important that you perform today, it’s, even more, important that you continue performing over the next many years. As such, life is a marathon, not a sprint. Thinking of the long run will help you cut out some of the worst energy draining decisions, where you push yourself over the edge. Rather than compartmentalizing parts of your life, start noticing how to work, personal matters and interests all impact your energy as one whole person, and make wise decisions accordingly.
Delegate energy draining activities We’re naturally wired to get energy from activities we enjoy and lose energy from others. As such, the time to perform a task isn’t the most important aspect; rather, it’s the energy output of the work. Start keeping a list of activities you get energy from, and the opposite. Soon you’ll see a pattern. It might be noise that’s a stress factor to you, or it could be social interaction, extensive detail, confined rules, sitting still too long, etc. wOnce you have a clear picture of your most energy impacting activities, you can start taking action to reduce and increase. As people are different, it’s likely that the tasks that drain you of energy are common to others, and that they experience some form of strain by something neutral to you. So, in collaboration with your partner, manager, family and colleagues you can start to swap tasks that drain you, for tasks that don’t.
Prioritize Sleep as if your life depended on it (it does) Current culture has it all wrong about sleep. It shouldn’t give bragging rights to do an all-nighter or to be able to survive on 4 hours sleep per night. All people make better decisions when they have received a sufficient amount of rest which means you need less time to do the same job. New research has revealed that the brain needs sleep to clear toxins, so it’s a physical necessity for a well-functioning mind. So go sleep and get your required eight to ten hours of sleep, even if you have stuff that needs finishing. It’s an investment in quality rather than quantity.
‘Me’ time People that are partly or wholly introverted need to pull back from human interaction to restore energy. It takes emotional strength to step outside of the program and tell people you need a break during a family weekend, a conference or a day filled with meetings, but for people who need quiet, this is required to restore energy and bring you back to be a happy and active person. So don’t be afraid to take time out, even if the rest of the group doesn’t.
Border zone time Big ideas don’t come from sitting behind your computer or intense concentration. Often, the best strategic insights come from the border zone between relaxation and concentration, where the brain has the freedom to connect dots from different parts of your brain. Most people benefit from incorporating some “border zone time” into their work schedule, such as walking meetings, biking to work, running or thinking-in-peace activities. You will, in turn, focus more on output, rather than input.
Reduce the sweat of small decisions All decisions drain energy, even small ones. That’s the reason Steve Jobs wore the same clothes every day believing that even small decisions, such as what to wear, uses mental capacity that he could otherwise channel into productivity. You can start by reducing everything you can; your outfits, your routines, your possessions and then progress to making fixed rules for what you spend your time. Fixed rules make it easier to say no quickly to requests that would drain your time and energy and save up energy for the important things in your life.
Drink more water There are piles of evidence that link wellbeing with water intake, as well as with reduction of unnecessary calories that make you gain weight and lose speed. Drink lots of water a day (for details, read Muscles and Water in Banza Health, January 2016 Edition) and feel how you need less sugar and coffee to stay alert, and you’re naturally more energetic.
Eat healthy food and exercise A healthy diet and regular exercise give you sustainable energy and build up your immune system, so you don’t get sick.
Retreat While it sounds counter-intuitive that working less will help you achieve more, holidays and breaks do wonders for the mind. Try to get away for at least one longer break a year. It takes 3-4 days to get down in gear, and only after that your mind will start to build up reserves. You’ll find you’re more clear-sighted and have bigger strategic overview after a break away from your usual surroundings.
a case for
PORN Fanidh Sanogo
So,
I recently decided to try something new, something that I had not done before. After brainstorming on all the cheap and entertaining things I could work without leaving the comfort of my bed, I was left with very few options. Then I thought, ‘Hey, why don't you watch porn? You could learn something new!’ I got browsing. The first thing I Googled was ‘sex.’ After a few seconds, I figured that it was not enough; I needed more details. ‘Hot horny lesbian sex’ Yes, lesbian! The first video I watched was interesting. I liked it; it was more sensual than the classic porn where women were like sex toys, being used anyhow. In those excellent videos, I always had the impression that they were suffering more than they were pleasured and that is one thing most men do not understand, they are so...what's the word? Erm, raw! No sensuality, just straight to the goal. In case you are wondering, I am straight, very straight, but it would be cool if men could learn a little from our lesbian friends. Back to Google, ‘Lesbian Hermaphrodite sex.’ I tell you, I had the shock of my life! I was baffled. Up to that moment, Hermaphrodism sounded more like a myth to me. I don't know why, but it seemed fresh and scary at the same time. Also, for some unknown reason, I never really bothered to look it up on the internet. The video lasted about ten minutes, and I can assure you, it was one of the most confusing, nasty, beautiful, ten minutes of my life! Confusing? Because I saw two women with breasts, and each of them had a penis of normal size, right on top of their vagina! How is that possible? I mean, HOW? Nasty because well, it's porn. Beautiful? I am not sure, but that video was like a dream, the light glowing in their eyes...I could see that this was more than just a sex tape to get money; they loved it! I don't know how, but you will certainly understand if you watch the video. Plus, they were both so beautifully created. They had a penis and a vagina, they knew how men and women felt when having sex. I was almost; I said almost, jealous!
BANZA
| Case
Yes! They get twice as much pleasure as the ‘average’ person does! I think that is beautiful. In fact, I almost cried! Titanic did not make me cry, but that video; mind blowing! After my little pornographic expedition (Wow! that sounds wrong.), there is one thing I did not understand. How do people get addicted to porn? Seriously!? I got bored. I explored so many things but still got nothing. Two straight days and still, nothing! The first day was fun; then it got monotonous. Most of them even have the same dirty talk. How bored can someone be in life to get addicted to porn?! I just cannot fathom why someone would choose to get addicted to pornography in this world when there is cocaine or crystal meth. But, that is just my point of view. Objectively speaking, porn has always been something indecent or inappropriate in the society. When I was a little girl (well, not so little since I knew about porn), I thought all porn stars had HIV! Little did I know that there are series of medical exams that porn stars take before acting. Porn can very well be another form of entertainment for people above 18 years. Porn has saved a lot of marriages! According to Colorado psychologist David Schnarch, author of Resurrecting Sex: Solving Sexual Problems and Revolutionizing Your Relationship, porn can help foster emotional and sexual intimacy (africansindmix.com) If you are above 18, and you watch porn from time to time, it's OK. I honestly see no reason to hide or to be ashamed of it, unless you watch the nasty ones where they abuse children and senior citizens. If you do that, you are a horrible offensive (enough said) person that needs help. Other than that, I think it's no big deal. But, if you are addicted, you need Jesus in your life! I am not sure why I wrote this nor how to end it but yeah, I think porn is not that bad, (if you are not the religious type of course.) Live your life, and as my cousin Steve Jobs said, ‘Do not be trapped by dogma!’
Blast Workout Torey Foss
BANZA
|Fitness
The blast workout for this month is all about incorporating exercise in a fun and easy way into your current lifestyle. Go to sleep a little earlier, set your alarm a little sooner, and start your day by improving the already incredible person that you are! Each exercise should be performed at one-minute intervals- doing as many repetitions as you can for the time. For this excercises, E stands for Easy and H stands for Hard. The descriptive text is on Medium difficulty.
X-Jumps Begin with your hands at your sides, standing with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Distribute your weight into your heels, keeping a flat back, and lower down into a squat while twisting your upper body until your right-hand touches your left ankle. From this position, jump up and immediately repeat the exercise on the opposite side.
E H
Do not lower yourself into a full squat (bend your knees slightly) and only stand up instead of jumping when crossing sides. Jump as high as you can, and lower yourself immediately into a deep squat, jumping up from the squat position once again.
Superman Push-ups Begin in a straight-arm plank, pushing up through your shoulders. Slowly lower your chest to the ground bending your elbows. From the ground, extend your arms out in front of your head. Bring your arms back to the push-up position and lift yourself up, and through your chest, push up to return to the straight arm plank. Repeat!
E H
Perform the exercise with knees on the ground- ensuring you still have a flat back. Raise alternating legs off the ground while performing the exercise-engaging the core to stabilise yourself.
Hip Thrusts Begin lying on a flat back with legs extended. Keeping legs extended, raise torso while keeping back as straight as possible, and once in an upright position twist to touch right hand to left leg. Twist back to an upright position and slowly lower body back down ensuring to keep the back straight. Repeat on opposite side.
E H
Remain in an upright sitting position and twist from the torso to touch each hand to each leg. Do not use any momentum to raise and lower your torso- do the movements as slowly as possible while maintaining control with a completely flat back.
Straight Leg Sit-up with a twist Begin lying on back with feet placed firmly on the ground. Engaging your core and glutes, lift hips off the ground to form a straight line from knees to chest. Hold this position for 5 seconds and in a controlled motion with your lower back down.
E
Decrease the amount of time that the hips are held up.
H
Extend alternating legs, making sure that for stabilization, your core is engaged.
Plank Form a triangle with hands and elbows, placing your feet slightly apart. Raise body up and hold, forming a straight line from shoulders through to feet. Hold for one minute (or as long as possible).
E
Lower alternate knees to the ground to decrease the stress placed on the core.
H
Extend the alternating legs off the ground while engaging the core to stabilize yourself.
MAKE YOURSELF THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE
We all long
for love- to be loved, as well as to give love. However, we often forget that the root of any love comes from within and we are therefore required to love ourselves before we are capable of both receiving love from, and giving love to others. It is like learning a new language- you are unable to communicate in the language until you have first learnt it yourself. How do you learn this language? You start by treating yourself with love. What exactly does this mean? It means learning what your body needs to fuel it, to rest it, to push it, to take care of it, and you actively pursue these things on a daily basis. The three broad categories through which this can be done is:
sleep- to rest you, exercise- too energise you, and nutrition- to sustain you.
Getting enough sleep in a night is often overlooked, as soon as work or social activities come up, sleep is generally the first to fall. However, this is incredibly bad for one’s health. According to the Sleep Foundation, most young adults need between 8-10 hours of sleep in order to function optimally. Although this varies between individuals, this is far from the average amount of sleep received in University life.
The negative effects of a lack of sleep can be seen in things such as an inability to concentrate and remember information, increased weight gain due to overeating to compensate for a lack of energy, and can also aggravate skin disorders such as acne.
BANZA
|Health
So what can you do to make sure that you take care of yourself? Set regular bed times and treat them as strictly as you would your waking times. Keeping this constant, and trying not to deviate too far from it will cause your circadian rhythm (your bodies innate sleep and wake cues) to strengthen and you will find it easier to fall asleep. Blue lights (like those produced from your cell phone or computer) suppress the release of melatonin in your brain which makes it harder for you to fall asleep. Staying away from technology and instead, doing things that calm you, such as reflection, reading a book, or meditation in the hour before bed will prepare your body to fall asleep.
You need sleep to rest you, but
as humans we are naturally active beings, and therefore we require exercise to energise us. It is important to find the form of exercise that resonates with you, and perform it regularly. I find it is best to work it as the ‘rule of 3’. Each week you should do three different types of exercise- repeated at frequently as you would like to. These should be divided up as:
performing one type of exercise that you really enjoy- this is something that will relax you, which you will have fun with, but does not strain your body too much both mentally and physically- the aim of it is to simply enjoy being in your body and moving it. The second exercise type that you should do is something that really challenges you- both mentally and physically. This may be learning a new sport, or pushing your body’s limits with an already known sport- either way, you should end it feeling exhausted! Finally, the third exercise that should be done is something that you are able to master. This should be of a fairly difficult level, but you are able to set achievable goals for yourself and should bring a sense of accomplishment when you do them- for example running 3km without stopping, or setting baseline exercises with which you can track your fitness levels on a weekly basis. When doing these exercises it is important to remember to include a rest day in the week to allow your body to heal. Your number one priority must always be taking care of your body in order to be the person you want to be on a daily basis.
The third and final aspect that
you need to ensure if you want to be a fulfilled, engaged, and energized person is that of your nutrition. Eating foods that fuel and drive you, that sustain your energy levels throughout the day will keep your blood sugar levels constant- balancing your moods and keeping you engaged and focussed. Incorporating these foods into a balanced diet is very important for your physical and mental health and wellbeing. Foods with a low glycaemic index such as proteins or complex carbohydrates will give a slow release of energy, and should therefore be dispersed throughout the day in 5 small meals. Examples of these types of foods are meats (red meat, chicken, fish), beans, yoghurt, cream cheese, nuts (or nut butter), chickpeas (or hummus), whole wheat bread/pasta, brown rice, sweet potato, butternut, and many more. These foods should be had in 5 small portions in order to constantly give your body energy to keep you going- but not too much that it gets stored as excess energyand therefore adipose tissue (body fat).
Taking the time to implement these 3 things into your life will allow you to function as a fulfilled, energised, loving person. Once you start treating yourself with the love and care that you deserve, you will be able to do the same for others.
Be-you-tiful 10 1
By Hawi Tiyo Your skin type should determine what kind of foundation you want. It is better to use liquid and hydrating powder formula If you have dry skin. Use powder or matte products for oily skin and their combination for normal skin. Find the right Shade: Pick products that match your skin colour.
Powder People with oily skin should use powder to reduce shine. It is also essential to use it for normal-to-dry skin time for a glamorous look. It also helps to absorb any excess moisturiser or lotions that may make the face look too moist and wet.
Bronzer Choose the type you want, based on the look that you want to get. You can use a matte formula for a subtly contoured look. Or you can choose a shimmer bronzer to highlight certain features. Most importantly again choose the right shade of your colour.
Blush If you have normal-to-dry-skin, you should use a powder or cream blush. And preferably a powder blusher if you have oily skin. Only, match your blusher with the foundation type you use.
BANZA Lips Selecting a smooth tone will minimise the chances of a mismatch for a daily natural look and help your lip shine. Stylists also recommend nude, natural coloured lip liner for its versatility compared to the colourful ones because it might not be easy to find a lip liner that exactly matches a lipstick. The natural one works with every colour.
Eyeshadow Makeup experts say matte over eyeshadow to give your skin a smoother and prettier look. Natural tones such as brown and taupe give a universal flatter. Grey and muted purples also give a classy look.
Eye Liner Pencil eyeliners resist smearing; i.e., are ideal for ladies on the go. The gel liners provide water resistance and allow increased control over line thickness.
Mascara It is advisable to select a mascara with a large fluffy brush to reach every lash.
|Health
LOANED LOVERS OR SOLITUDE? Is the Debt Worth Taking? Kaone Tlagae
More than half the population of women find themselves tangled in a web of 'lovers-on-loan' and this is increasingly becoming a norm in society. Marriages and courtships have blatantly lost their real essence as the modern world brought with it, the thrill of a fast-paced and deceptive lifestyle which has unfortunately affected uprooting generations. Faithfulness has become a thing of the past and so is the value of family. In this edition, Kaone Tlagae probes further to find out why becoming a side chic is gradually becoming an attractive trend to women. Despite bad press against having one’s bread buttered on both sides, recent studies show that many women opt to become concubines to married men. This, however, may startle some readers as women are known to be emotionally-clingy but of late, this has been an issue of controversy. In an interview with some women, Kaone got an insight from women who have been- or are still involved with loaned lovers and here’s what they had to say.
BANZA
|Pink Print
The Gamophobia Generation
The Desperate Granny Smith
Contrary to the ancient belief that marriage is every woman’s dream, women nowadays flee at the sight of a ring or the mention of wedding bells. Modern age women would rather opt for the position of being a concubine solely because they feel it’s safer that way. Civilization has bred career-oriented and independent women who consider marriage and relationships a trap rather than fulfilment. They regard it as one of the harbours to personal achievement since marriage implies social and personal responsibilities alongside societal expectations to bear children and make a home for a family. To meet these and more needs, they add that some personal goals must be forsaken. In addition to that, some women interpret commitment as a tool that compromises individuality. Because marriage intertwines two people, this poses a threat to some women who value personal freedom and fear that they would be forced to live in the shadows of their partner’s lives. Hence, such women opt to be mistresses as opposed to being wives.
No woman wants to be a loner or is defeated by the biological probation but, unfortunately, such things are inevitable and so for some women, it calls for emergency measures. “To see our friends getting married and establish healthy families while you are still in the search game is nothing less than misery,” adds one woman during the interview. “A wrinkle and the odd grey hair is a reminder that time is not on our side. The looks are going down the tubes, and this humiliating phase could coerce any woman in the very situation, to do just about anything to be ahead of her timeline. Including lending someone else’ partner."
Hunting and Gathering Missions
The reckless go-getter
Most women also admitted to borrowing men from other women solely for material comfort and satisfaction. They put less emphasis on marriage as it is nothing but a means to ground and control women. They stick to being ‘Plan B' rather than having their choices and lifestyles managed. An assurance that they would have personal freedom and quench their self-gratifications for a less demanding role is satisfactory. Making men feel like kings while their wives do their laundry is intimidating. “I get expensive shoes and designer bags from my loaned lover and we have quite a good time together. I know it won’t last a lifetime but who cares? Why not enjoy myself while it prevails,” middle-aged woman remarks.
For most independent women, getting to the top is a must! They would kill to be on top and so, for such women who have the achievement-fever and are more-than-prepared to go the extra mile for the title, using someone at the top to give them a lift could be more than just a strategy, especially if the boss is married. When 30-year old Dynar found promotions slagging on her side, she figured out that the easy way round to climb the career ladder was to acquaint herself intimately with her boss. “I knew very well that he was married. But I needed that job post. So I thought to myself, why not scratch his back when it’s itchy? After all, I’m not pleading him to walk me to the altar.”
These are just a few common reasons why women choose to be mistresses and although it’s with fair motives behind, the truth is, women are far more valuable and worth more than all these reasons- even the ones not highlighted. No woman deserves to be an option which can be discarded if priorities are met. Women should understand that the ephemeral pleasures they might have from trading themselves are of no benefit when they come to an end. There will be no value added to their stature but instead personal fulfilment and growth will be deprived of them. By placing yourself as an option in a relationship, you are allowing the other person to milk out the good in you.
These men will eventually have enough of you and will return to their wives while you are left with a scar. Moreover, he has made no commitment to you. Can you dispute then, that there are no number threes on the list? In other words, he is making it a sight for a sore eye that he just wants to take you for a ride. He’ll make you try hard to be his number one, to be loved and feel noticed while there could be a better man out there whom you wouldn’t have to beg for love. Cut that relationship if you know for sure that you are a side dish and own your worth!
The importance of Rest and
Recovery for Athletes and Spovers Houcem Khlifi
T
ons of research concerning the recovery of the human body has been carried out. After enduring endless hours of toil and hard, intense sets of exercises, spovers and athletes believe the more they practise, the more miles they cross. The harder they hit, the greater they will become. But such facts are more often than not, misleading, particularly because most people ignore one significantly necessary and essential truth. A high percentage of athlete's injuries is due to a lack of rest? Are you familiar with the inexplicable withdrawal of the most accomplished players just a couple of minutes before the competitions? Well, athletes and spovers will continue with the habit until they take into consideration the recovery of the human body and its effects on a person's metabolism. It is worth highlighting that building recovery time is crucial in any training program. It also acts as a reliable source of energy that expedites the development of athlete's bodies and keeps them geared up, refreshed and energetic. Secondly, during recovery time, the body adapts to the stress of exercising and the real training effect takes place. Elite spovers should bear in mind that every step they take during their sports careers is important, and thus, any mistake they make profoundly affects their performances. And because life is full of ups and downs, losing remains, well, inevitable.
BANZA
|Sports
The loss will, however, create two different paths for spovers. One, a creation of confusing and negative thoughts. Two, a promising opportunity to grow from a daunting challenge and work harder to improve their well-being. Back to rest and recovery. Our body system needs time to repair itself. This happens after the workouts when the muscles are rebuilt and strengthened. Getting enough sleep plays a significant role in an athlete's life. Those for body resting argue that getting enough sleep is the salient core of development, and it's admittedly essential nature for optimal sports performance. Researchers have recently endorsed this claim by unveiling how much sleep deprivation can impact our athletic performance and slow our glucose metabolism by as much 30 to 40 percent. Glucose and Glycogen are the primary sources of energy for athletes. Being able to store glucose in the muscles and the liver is of particular importance especially for endurance athletes. However, if you are not sleeping enough, you experience a slower storage of glycogen and increase the level of cortisol (a stress hormone) in your body. A high degree of cortisol can lead to many issues concerning your tissue repair and growth. Over time, this could have an adverse impact on the athlete like preventing him from responding to substantial training and lead to overtraining. Symptoms of overtraining are a feeling of a general malaise, depression and an increased rate of injury.
To optimize your performance and to be prepared for exercising, you also need a proper hydration. Whether you are a serious athlete or a recreational exerciser, make sure you drink enough water before, during and after exercise. Water is a regulator of the body temperature and a lubricator of our joints. It also facilitates transportation of nutrients to give you energy and keep you healthy. Low hydration means your body can’t perform at its peak. You may experience fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness, or other severe symptoms. A simple way to check if you are properly hydrated or not is to look at your urine. If your urine is colourless or slightly yellow, then you are well hydrated. However, yellow or amber coloured urine means that you are dehydrated. Dehydration happens when you lose more fluid than you consume. It can range from mild to severe. Symptoms of mild dehydration are nausea, muscle cramps, dry mouth, hyperhidrosis, (absent sweating) and a strong heartbeat. Mental confusion, weakness and lack of consciousness are symptoms of severe dehydration.
I spent 15 years of my life swimming in the elite level, and this was a highlight in my life because it provided me with the right environment and space to discover my potential as a human being. I now realize how the human body had man-made limits that block us from improving, growing and believing in our capability to achieve what we want to accomplish. I acknowledge that my swimming career was exhausting; I suffered to succeed, and I cried to win.
Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them called a desire, a dream, a vision.� But truth be told, what helped me win was my commitment to care for my body and my well-being. Follow your dream because if you have the desire to win, winning will come to you. So, drink enough water, eat well and sleep well.
FEBRUARY MUSIC ALBUM RELEASES
Is the Is Are DIIV Release Date: 05/06/2016
Wonderful Crazy Night Elton John Release Date: 05/06/2016
Time of My Life Ronan Keating Release Date: 12/06/2016
South, West, North, East Stephen Kellogg Release Date: 12/06/2016
Taking One for the Team Simple Plan Release Date: 19/06/2016
Side Pony Lake Street Dive Release Date: 19/06/2016
For All Kings Anthrax Release Date: 26/06/2016
Plaza Quilt Release Date: 26/06/2016
Day One From Ashes to New Release Date: 26/06/2016
FEBRUARY MOVIE RELEASES
BANZA
|Reviews
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Genre: Adaptation Release Date: 05/02/2016
Hail, Caesar Genre: Period Release Date: 05/02/2016
The Choice Genre: Adaptation Release Date: 05/02/2016
Deadpool Genre: Sci-Fi Release Date: 12/02/2016
How to be Single Genre: Romance Release Date: 12/02/2016
Zoolander 2 Genre: Sequel Release Date: 12/02/2016
Risen Genre: Religion Release Date: 19/02/2016
Triple 9 Genre: Crime Release Date: 26/02/2016
Gods of Egypt Genre: Fantasy Release Date: 26/02/2016
A letter from uncle Charles Dearest, In our lives today, we go through so many disappointments, heartbreaks and discouragements and end up being sad weary and depressed. We sacrifice so much to please other people. We, at times, compromise on our principles to please them. We give everything away; our love to those who we think will reciprocate, only to find out that our sacrifices were in vain. The feeling is unthinkably sad when we realise that all the love we had for them is not the same as the love they had for us. All these happenings in my life directly or indirectly through family and friends have made me question, ‘what if I first fell in love with myself?’ We all need to love ourselves, to be true to ourselves and to realise that how we treat ourselves sets the standards for how others will treat us. No one is going to love you genuinely if you don’t truly love yourself. Nobody will value you if you do not value yourself. How do I love myself? You may be wondering about that but worry out; with these three considerations, you should be on your way to start loving and living.
BANZA
|Letters
Be True to Yourself.
Be True to God.
Spend time alone this month and have a profound conversation with yourself. Get to know more about yourself. Ensure that the discussion involves no one else. Get to know what you want to achieve; the things that you want to do that make you happy and what your purpose in life is. Drift in that direction and never compromise. Look at yourself in the mirror and appreciate the beautiful and intelligent individual you are and thank the creator for that. Take care of your body and keep yourself healthy, always striving to make the choices that will build you and not destroy you.
He is our creator and he surely does love and care for us. We always need to align our plans with him and stand up for what we believe. I hold to be true the knowledge of life comes from God. For us to know ourselves and relate to others, we need to connect with the supreme power from above so as we can live happily and achieve our destinies.
Be True to Others. Be kind yet assertive enough to set out clearly who you truly are and what exactly you stand for in life and everyone will respect you for that. People will treat you the way you want them to treat you. Thus, you’ve got to show honesty to others by standing out to be the Real You. Clearly state your values and what you stand for rather than hiding in the pretence of life and save yourself disappointments and discouragements. You will observe that genuine people will walk with you throughout your life. Though they may be few, they will be the right ones.
Be your biggest cheerleader, be there for yourself even in the loneliest of hours and be your best friend. For this month and the remaining 10, Love yourself! Best, Uncle Charles.