Imagine that
APR 2016
FASHION FACE
Experience YOU in white, green and all things stunning that spell out the EARTH in you
BUSINESS
Entreprenuership redefined. The successful and significant among us.
LIFESTYLE Stay physically, emotionally and mentally healthy and wealthy
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW W ITH MARTIN MHA NDO ZIFF
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E MEZO
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Volume 1
Imagine That Imagine that
Fashion Face Blame it on the NET
8 Ways
to Flow with Foes Roy
Lollchand SUGAR SPICE
SUMMER
SWEET SUCCESS
The Pressure
to 9 Ways to NEVER Love
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the CREW CEO - JOSEPH RUTAKANGWA
Banza Magazine The CREW herein represent all individuals who facilitate the Banza Expereince APRIL 2016
COLUMNISTS BUSINESS
FASHION FACE
Kabo Madigele Maatla Kgasa
Mary Mang’eni Meklit Baye
LIFESTYLE Hawi Tiyo Fanidh Senanta Kaone Tlagae Charles Msilanga Joseph Rutakangwa Gcinekile Zwane
GUEST WRITERS Julie O’yang China FEATURED
CONTRIBUTORS Eric Maingi Editor-in-Chief Ermias Mehari Graphic Designer Elsa Yeboah-Boateng Creative Director
Aimée Vanessa Hirwa Kola Olajide Martin Mhando
MARKETING Andrew Wani COMMUNICATIONS Baraka Pilipili
Michael Muturi Copy Editor Linda Admassu Sookara Akshee Linda Onyango Photography
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Adetimehin Ariyike Thomas Mbajjwe Adnane Mezouar Maty Diop Linda Nnona Eric Sewankambo
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Maty DIOP
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I’m grateful to have gotten an opportunity to grace the cover of Banza Magazine for their March Women Empowerment issue. I use fashion, music and social activism as my weapons in the war against gender inequality.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Doing is one thing, doing it right is a whole different story. As I listened to the song by Drake, the only words that echoed in my head were; doing is one thing, doing it right is a whole different story. And I just kept thinking, doing it right, doing it right, doing it right. Every time I watch movies; I am more than impressed by the level of excellence and the quality of production therein. Consider your best song, or your best movie. If you were to inquire and extract the details about why it falls in your top merited list, chances are you cannot explain for a certainty, why you love it. Andy Goodman suggests that it is because 'you have more than a product or service. You have an experience.’
something for you in the fashion face. Our business features young entrepreneurs who are shaping the face of the earth through education, innovation, and technology plus the film industry with an exclusive feature from the curator and CEO of the Zanzibar International Film Festival. As we go back to the groundings of the earth, take the time to experience you. With four months down, whatever it is you love doing, whatever gets your muscles up and running, experience it to the full.
Let the world know that you do what you do because you experience an awesomeness that cannot be Only you know what you felt! Only you articulated. And you do it excellently! know how it made you feel, Only you know what you went through. This April, dedicate your time and And as I reflect on my life, I ask, do I channel your energies into experience me? experiencing a whole new level of you. While the crew sat down and discussed the theme, what surfaced more than once was the notion of going back to self. And this April, we have for you Healthy Earth.
This April, Don't settle for mediocrity. Don't just do it. Do it right. Happy Reading Eric Maingi
We feature an inspiring and insightful lady who shares her two cents on living in the diaspora. The Lifestyle team has redefined health and its components-with a lil' special
Editor-in-Chief
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TABLE OF CONTENT
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Meet the crew behind Banza Magazine
Editor’s Note
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His two cents on excellence and Heathy Earth
Feedback
March Banza cover graces more than the good looks from the edition.
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Feature Story
How does it feel to be in the Diaspora while having your mother at heart meet Hirwa and all she has to say about impacting change in Africa
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Fashion Face
The brains and beauty of Senegal and Morocco redefine colour, style, sexy, and brilliance of fashion.
60 Seconds with
Nigerian lady who is fashion fierce and beauty brilliant. Mr Uganda himself adorns his traditional attire and is proud to rock in them.
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Business
Entrepreneurs are those who seel after opportunity and maximase utility. Find out how you can disrupt the environmental market with Maatla Kgasa
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How can you empower young Africans via education and technology whilst emerging successful and significant. Kola, in an exclusive interview, shares how, at 24, success is more about significance than the dollars.
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Our guest writer, Julie O’yang features the CEO and curator of the Zanzibar International Film Festival, ZIFF. He shares his wisdom on the ever-rising African film industry and why his next production is a secret. Meet Martin Mhando
Health
We feature Ariyike from Nigerian who delves into the health space and why it is important to her to maintain her healthy heart. We feature Thomas from Uganda who emphasises on the importance of having the right mindset and outlook on life and emotional health.
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Banza Beauty
Fear no more because we will fix everyday makeup mistakes and get our sexy back.
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86 Lifestyle
Nolwazi finally finds her long lost love. But, she finds it hard to open up to Professor Lukhele.
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6 lessons that you can learn from the heartaches, the heartbreaks, and the heart as a whole. Because you are stronger than adversity
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D for Depression Have you ever wondered how depression kicks in and distorts the balance in our emotional being? Have you ever wondered how life after depression would play out?
A Letter from Uncle Charles
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98 Case Files
A case for indefinite pessimism
Aimée Vanessa Hirwa
O
n the surprises
of life in Belgium (“I don’t think being a Belgian is ‘Wow!’ I feel Africa would have given me more”) … the plans she’s laid down for herself (“I want to work and live in Africa as soon as possible”) …and how she hopes to use “one of the best jobs in the world” to play a part in the transforming continent.
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FEATURE STORY
‘I am an African before I’m anything at all’
by Joseph Rutakangwa One afternoon in mid-March, I am standing at one end of the Arch of Septimus Severus when Aimée appears at the other. “Heey you,” she calls as she approaches my end, with a big smile. “Do you like the place?” Aimée asks, walking towards the cracked, fluted column of a nearly vanished Temple of Vespasian and Titus and touching the walls. It is a dry, chilly Thursday in Rome, during the Harvard World Model United Nations, , and we have just met Pope Francis at the Paul VI Audience Hall in Vatican City. >>
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FEATURE STORY
Aimée Hirwa beams with pleasure – a
“Rwanda is also on my list because that’s
friendly and genuine smile – that is familiar
where my parents are from. It’s not easy to
to many of her friends. And when she talks
go back, though. We came to Belgium as
to you, she focuses all her cool attention on
refugees. So, politically it’s like why would
your face. With her bold, stubborn,
you want to go to a country that you left
extroverted – but yet composed – person-
because of war? I still want to go. But
ality, she talks as if she could have run for
Rwanda is changing the constitution to
Vice President alongside Hillary Clinton in
extend the presidential term, and my
another life. Leaning over the balcony on
parents fear that the 1994 events might
top of Platine Hill, wearing sneakers as she
recur.”
bends on the balustrades, she almost seems like any other girl exploring a new city.
Approved by 98 percent of Rwandans in a referendum in December, the constitutional
“I want to visit a country where I was
amendments allow the current president to
born,” she says of the Democratic Republic
stand for a further two terms in office after
of Congo. Aimée was born in Goma, DRC.
2024, potentially allowing him to remain in
Her parents moved from Rwanda due to
power until 2034.
political instability. They later moved from Congo to other African countries. “It was
“There’s no real democracy in Rwanda,”
not an original plan to go to Belgium, the
says Aimée. “I think people misconceive
plan was to try other African countries, but
that. If you say ‘democracy’ you cannot
they were not that open; there were asking
rule for decades – I’m sorry. And if you
Rwandans to go back home. People were
did a lot of positive things, that’s good, but
selling passports and tickets, so it
give other people who are young and fresh
depended on what you got – we got
the opportunity to take your position and
Belgium. We took a boat from Morocco
change the country.” >>
and then made our way to Belgium. I was about three,” she recalls.
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“And if you did a lot of
positive things, that’s good, but give other people who are young and fresh the opportunity to take your position and change the country.”
“I don’t think my roots are different from Congo or Senegal; the fact that I’m an African in Belgium – I’m not happy. I might say I’m happy with the education I got, but if I recall my father had the same education in Rwanda. If the civil war didn’t happen, I would have received the same education, which was great, and it would have been in
My parents tell me if I go to Rwanda now,
Africa. My dad is teaching mathematics and
it might be dangerous because one day may
sciences in Belgium, and he learned
seem fine and another day a war might
everything in Rwanda. There’s a lot of
break out. And what would I do? I don’t
misconception about the quality of
mind. I feel like I want to be part of the
education in Africa. There’s a single story
revolution. I am planning on going, but I
being told, and people don’t want to listen
haven’t made up my mind yet. On the other
to other stories.
side, if I want to do something in Africa I have to be alive. Maybe it’s safer to go to
Often many people ask me ‘are you
another neighbouring country.”
blessed?’ I’m not blessed.”
As our feet pound against the worn flagstones of Rome’s original 2,000-year-old roads in Foro Romano, Aimée shares her experience growing up in Belgium. “How is it?” she asks, “You should not ask that question to me, I’m the worst representative,” she laughs looking away.
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FEATURE STORY
“For some reason I ended up in a country
“There’s a new generation, that I’m
which colonised Rwanda, so there’s no love
discovering online and everywhere I read,
towards that country,” she adds.
with big ambitions and visions. They want to be Western to some extent. I feel there’s
“I am grateful that there is political stabil-
a lot of ‘copy-paste’ going on and loss of
ity and democracy, to some extent, where
the African tradition.
I live. Besides that, I feel like Africa would have given me something that is
When I see an African youth, I would
unchangeable.”
expect so much ‘Africanity’, but I see a lot of similarity to me. They’re so much into
We are now sitting in the backyard at
media; they want to say “I studied in the
Sheraton Parco de Medici on a wet, chilly
UK”, and I feel it’s quite sad. Africa has such
Friday afternoon. I’m curious to know what
a beautiful culture; why would anyone want
Aimée sees in Africa. “I see hope,” she says,
to mimic the western culture?”
“There’s a new generation,
that I’m discovering online and everywhere I read, with big ambitions and visions.”
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She doesn’t end there. Aimée takes me through what she thinks African youth are experiencing. “I think when young Africans watch the media, the western world looks great. But they don’t see that there’s poverty in Europe; people are struggling. Some people can barely pay their rent. There’s a huge gap between the upper and lower class. And people don’t see all this, they think these countries are developed – they’re not. I feel like people should make videos of how unstable these countries are.” Aimée volunteered for three weeks at the beginning of the year when Syrian refugees arrived in Brussels. The refugee crisis facing Europe today “is revealing the true Europeans,” she claims. “There were no Belgians in the camp. There were only foreigners and people from the Netherlands. Because we felt that we understood the situation, especially me, from the fact that >>
FEATURE STORY
I was once a refugee. But when I asked Belgians in my class, they would say ‘we don’t have room for them, we need to think about our economy.’ These refugees were sleeping in tents outside. In Brussels, we have so many buildings which are vacant but refugees not allowed to stay there. I think to deny refugees proper shelter is the most inhumane thing.” After relocating to a more suitable spot, with half sun and half shade, we now dive deeper into our conversation. She’s in the sun because she missed it. I, on the other hand, sitting in shade – the sun is no big deal for me. Aimée has a different view of Africans living outside Africa. “I feel there’s an identity crisis in some Africans
“Some of us
do have a mission to bring positive change in the continent. We want to start companies and boost economic development or whatever our different visions are.”
living outside Africa, not all,” she says. “Some of us do have a mission to bring positive change in the continent. We want to start companies and boost economic development or whatever our different visions are. Others would say ‘I feel like my identity aligns more with Europeans; when I look at Africans, I do not see myself.’ But Africa is a long list of countries; you don’t put it in one block. There’s someone you will identify with. >>
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Obviously, we pick up other traits, I have them as well, but it doesn’t mean you cannot be African. The joke is when they are in groups with non-Africans, they become the Africans of the group. They’re like ‘Oh, I’m African’. All of a sudden they got the identity. Besides that, when they are with Africans they’re like ‘I’m French’ or ‘Belgian.” In her new future, Aimée sees herself working and living somewhere in Africa. Her first choice is Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. “I want to contribute to Africa’s economy. I want to be there when it changes,” she says. “Because at some point it’s going to change and I just want to be with that change, be a part of something great. By all means, I am an African before I’m anything at all. Maybe if I were Belgian I would have stayed in Belgium, but I’m not. My roots are Rwandan; I think as an African, most of the time, and people say that I always stay African whether I’m in an African group or a Belgian group. I don’t change; I don’t shift.” Let me take you five days back. I am walking in Palazzo Dei Congressi when I come across a young lady, and we end up having a good conversation. When I write African Leadership University as my institution in the registration form, she’s surprised. She tells me how in love she is with what B
ALU is doing to transform the continent. I’m amazed and excited.
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“and I just want to be with that change, be a part of something great.�
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Fashion
S
he lives each season as it passes and breathes the air into her lungs. She resigns herself to feel the influence of the healthy earth, clothed in her sparkling earthly style.
Face
maty diop EBELE MOLUA HAWI TIYO
by MARY MANG’ENI
makeup artists
ELSA YEBOAH-BOATENG
LINDA ADMASSU
creative director/photography
stylist
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When searching for the perfect dress, sometimes the answer is as simple as black and white. There’s nothing chicer than pairing the new shades together, and nothing more foolproof. In fact, it’s hard to look bad in black and white. This white with black contrast skater dress and a black bow waistband with an interesting shaped neckline speaks for itself. Team it up with royal blue suede leather high heels. Toughen up your black and white dress with simple accessories and outerwear. Accessorize with a golden cartier bracelet and pilgrim gold black earrings. Introduce Black to your outfit by using a black nail polish.
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The denim shirt is one of the few pieces truly worthy of its essential tag. It offers something unique to every wardrobe; it transcends age, season and style with little effort and brings a rugged texture and blue collar roots to any look, never appearing out of place. Dress it up, dress it down, layer it, leave it open over a vest (white preferably); the possibilities are practically endless, and you can rock them all and still look in trend. Finish up the look with matching leather boots and a black leather timepiece. And let the earth know that every stride you take is worth the elegance.
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THE DRESS Strapless dresses look elegant, sexy and refined. Get the earthly vibe in this Afrocentric Ankara Strapless dress. It is sophisticated and makes a fashion statement whenever you wear it. The green and pinkish colour works perfectly with our Healthy Earth, and the shape and style are universally flattering and timeless. The best thing about this dress is the detail along the neckline that gives it an edgy and sophisticated look. Accessorize the look with your signature piece silver necklace that matches the silver arm cuff.
THE ARM A classy arm cuff is an accessory to complete your look. This silver arm cuff wraps around your arm and can be adjusted to your liking. You can also opt to wear it on your arm or as an ankle bracelet for a unique take. Make sure to just wear one. You do not want to look like Wonder Woman!
THE SHOES For the shoes, embrace your inner lady in comfortable black Suede Cut-Outs Lace-Up High Heels. This pair of heels can be matched perfectly with the long Ankara dress. Black heels are a style that looks good with almost anything. These heels offer the height and the stability to prevent those much-dreaded falls.
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Flower crowns are one of the prettiest, easiest accessories to wear with your ritzy outfit. An earthy evergreen entwined with white flowers crown provides a fresh and unexpected trendy look which compliments the attire. For a more delicate look, tuck the hair into the crown to reveal the makeup on the face. If you’re not sure that you can commit to a full-on flower crown on you, consider incorporating a few blooms into a braided crown hairstyle. The petals will still look lovely tucked into a braided hair.
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Ripped jeans are supposed to look effortless. Pair this white ripped jeans with simple clothes like a plain black T-shirt and desert boots. To smarten up the look, add this dark green-black checked flannel with a zip. Flannels, especially lightweight ones; are ideal layering pieces, whether under a fleece, a puffer vest, a denim jacket, or a wool coat. They go with just about everything and can serve as the first, second, or even third layering piece, depending on the weather. They are a powerful tool in making your outfit fit for any occasion. Accessories are also key. A black face, black leather strap timepiece is a great way to complete the look. Team it up with a beaded black bracelet to compliment the timepiece.
Tying a flannel. To tie the sleeves, tie how you normally would but remember which sleeve went over first so when you tie it the second time the other sleeve goes first. By doing this, you’ll get even hanging sleeves.
Nothing spells glamour like a gorgeous tribal print jumpsuit. It comes in different variations, from pants jumpsuits to halter rompers, and with so many types and designs available today, almost any woman can find a jumpsuit that will make her look smart and sophisticated. Pair the jumpsuit up with black leather peep toe boots to match the leather belt on the waist. The jumpsuit itself can be an overwhelming piece, and may need minimal accessories. A pair of matching silver necklace and simple stud earrings can help carry the ensemble, but don’t overdo it with chunky necklaces or thigh-high boots. Note: An ill-fitting jumpsuit can highlight unsightly bulges and imperfections, and may cause some embarrassing situations. When in doubt, a good rule when fitting jumpsuits is to ensure the fabric remains loose and draped while cinching the waist. For those who want to highlight their derriere, a jumpsuit that’s a little clingy around the buttocks area would be suitable.
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finally... SLAYING!
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What I love
about modern fashion is that it can be recycled, for example, we wear tight pants now, which I first saw worn by an actress in a 1994 movie.
I looked up
to my mother who would wear a traditional attire adding some modern touches and also award-winning actress Genevieve Nnaji.
I incorporate
my traditional dressing in my modern clothing because I just love my cultural attire and cannot do without them. I particularly love combining a piece from my country Nigeria called ‘sample’ which is very beautiful. You can always see me wearing sample tucked into a high waist.
I define my fashion as
6 0 seconds MEKLIT BAYE
eclectic. I mix several different styles and they blend. I generally go with whatever I feel comfortable in.
I feel
I am a trendsetter, who has managed to create a style so wide-ranging that people back home have started going with it.
Lastly,
with Linda Nnona
I would like to say a dear friend once asked me which clothes make me feel especially beautiful; my answer was, all my clothes. So my advice to everyone is to make sure you buy what you want, a cloth that makes you feel comfortable be it cultural attire, business wear or denim.
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with Eric Sewankambo
What I love
about my traditional attire is that it is a visual aid to showcase my identity. Each and every piece of my attire links to my identity.
I looked up to
my community as a whole. As a child, I wasn’t really exposed to cultural attires but whenever I wore my cultural clothing while attending a grand event, I noticed the respect that people gave me because of it.
I incorporate
some modern fashion to my traditional wear. We all wear a modern coat on the top of our traditional attire because when the British came to my country, Uganda, our traditional coat was replaced by the modern one.
I define my fashion as
unique and a symbol of my identity.
I feel
apter to current trends that are in the market. I also modify the trends into what I like.
Lastly,
I would like to tell everyone to wear what they like and don’t settle for people’s expectation. Wear clothes that convey yourself !
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Business Opportunities FOR Sustainable EnvironmentAL Management. by Maatla Kgasa
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Entrepreneurs
are opportunistic problem solvers. The existence of any problem regardless of the field is a perfect opportunity for them to rise to the occasion by finding solutions that are conscious of the environment at the same time. In deep thought, the bigger the problem in society, the higher the possibility of giving rise to extensively large and successful enterprises. In the current moment, the world is in the worst environmental state ever seen; climate change, drought, an increase in poaching and industrialisation which contributes to urbanisation as well as factories polluting both air and water resources. The big question is, how do we merge sustainable environment usage with entrepreneurship in a capitalist world which is profit oriented and will do anything to maximise returns at the expense of environment destruction? There are various business opportunities rooted in current environmental problems that are not explored to their potential. These opportunities are solutions in the form of goods and services that could reverse these harsh climatic conditions as well as safeguard the environment.
Solar Energy
Most parts of Africa are characterised by hot weather conditions and the direct sun for most parts of the year. Harnessing and rolling out extensive rural electrification campaigns are thus essential. Africa has acute power shortages which are made worse by rising populations as well as increased development. >>
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BUSINESS
It is an irrefutable fact to say that the core of all environment management practices and policies is to prevent the extinction of endangered species for a balanced ecosystem, depletion of natural resources and harsh climate conditions. All these are done to avoid present generations from sustaining themselves at the expense and exploitation of future generations. In essence, all that is done today in all corners of the world is to safeguard the future and stop the whole world from absolute destruction. It’s only through comprehensive and cohesive structures that we can combine both environmentalism and entrepreneurship to solve these problems.
It’s only through comprehensive and cohesive structures that we can combine both environmentalism and entrepreneurship to solve these problems.
Wind Energy
Another mechanism that can be used to provide the much needed power without even an iota of damage to the environment. Biochemical fuels have an enormous potential as well.
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The renewable energy is quite a priceless tool because it eliminates greenhouse gas emissions, use of deforestation and oil explorations which have dangerous effects on the environment. Sustainability is key in business and project, and just like the name suggests, renewable energy offers long term solutions to water, food and power needs without damaging the environment. However, advocacy alone will not help solve these environmental problems, but structures and policies which mandate and infuse green energy or renewable energy into national development plans on a very large but economical scale. The reason many environmental projects fail is because they fail to address the socio-economic side of environmental utilisation. Most of these environmentally degrading practises such as cutting down trees for firewood and using forest resources to build houses are cultural, meaning they are traditional ways of life, and means of sustenance especially in rural economies. How do you tell or convince a 50 or 80-year-old woman to stop cutting down trees for firewood without giving her an alternative source of income? Our point is that current environmental education initiatives in Botswana target people with specific messages aimed at changing their attitudes and behaviours without an understanding of the context of their daily lives. Such approaches to environmental awareness fail to achieve their goals as people cannot just give up their means of sustenance and ways of life without any other promises of support. BUSINESS
The reason many environmental projects fail is because they fail to address the socio-economic side of environmental utilisation
Human beings
We depend on the environment for everything, hence having an understanding of both entrepreneurship and proper environment policies and projects ensures that nothing or no one prospers at the expense of the environment. A mutual beneficiation is a priceless tool for co-existence and sustenance of the world’s resources and future generations. Stakeholders such as the NGOs, private sectors and governments through their key departments entrusted with environment conservation and wild life protection continue to sideline the youth and downplay their role in working together for an environment that will sustain both the present and future generations. We have amazingly talented and academically gifted young people who can contribute immensely to monitoring, conserving, protecting and sustainably managing the environment. World leaders especially those from highly industrialized economies who account for a larger percentage of greenhouse emissions cannot sacrifice and compromise the present for the future by agreeing to international environmental policy ratifications. This stalling failure to agree and compromise is a cause for concern and continued destruction of the environment.
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This says a lot about the leaders we are grooming and raising. In that way, there is the need for holistic environmental education and capacity building projects. Their main aim should be to develop young avid environmental advocates and leaders who understand the problems we face and are committed to providing solutions. To build the capacity and composure of the youth in dealing with environmental problems, engaging tools such as debates, panel discussions, and essay pieces should be used. B
BUSINESS
Coding the Future
of Education
Kolawole Olajide by Kabo Madigele
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CORPORATE FEATURE
HE IS A GEEK
,
a programming whizz, a prodigy and another plethora of names, but under scrutiny, there is more to this towering figure. You could see the complexity of his art from the string of lines of code on his Apple iMac Desktop - a product of ingenuity — a man’s dream transcribed into reality. Kolawole Olajide’s eyes are zoomed into the screen, paying undisrupted attention to the interesting development in front of him. I hesitated to make a move, but quickly garnered enough guts to disengage him, although I feel sorry. But we have to do this. Kola was born 24 years ago in the west Africa’s economic superpower, Nigeria. He is the second born of six children. He is quick to point out that his family was not wealthy, but his parents managed to provide for them. His childhood fantasy was to work in the military and nothing else, hence his enrolment into the Airforce Military School. One would have thought that now everything that was to shape a bright future had fallen in place, but surprisingly, things took a different turn. “My expectations were not met. I left after six years, not knowing the direction I was heading or what I wanted to do with my life, but the most important thing was that I left.’’ Technology was not something that captivated him as a young boy. “I had good phones of that time, but I was just not interested in knowing how they functioned. I began coding at about thirteen or fourteen years old, but I discarded it after some time. It was boring, easy and it did not challenge me.”
Opportunities Unbundle In 2009, Kola flew thousands of miles to the south most tip of Africa, the Mother City, Cape Town, South Africa, to seek further education or enlightenment as Plato’s students would say. He read Information Systems Engineering at CTI Education Group. He discovered his ingrained passion for education while working with several technology companies. Throughout, he had a project in mind. He realised that there was an acute crisis in education: existing learning management systems disconnected students from their peers and teachers. Therefore, he challenged himself to invent solutions that will bridge this gap. “I began by leading a project that allowed students to collaborate in their Matric exams. I told myself that the hour has come, that I have to initiate the change I wanted to see.” This is how Funda was conceived in 2012. In no time, a team of five co-founders was assembled, all from different parts of Africa. ‘’This was the A-Team, and it was on fire! It was a solid team of people from diverse backgrounds. This diversity was the magic piece of our chess board since we understand problems from different perspectives.’’ Kick-starting Funda was not a smooth sail, as they had to battle turbulent currents in many instances. >>
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BUSINESS
“
I began by leading a project that allowed students to collaborate in their Matric exams. I told myself that the hour has come, that I have to initiate the change I wanted to see
�
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The biggest challenges were access to finance and the right level of mentorship. On top of that, they had a hard time finding the right talent. “Initially, we were two different teams in Cape Town, me with the other Co-founder and the other three existing as a separate start-up. So what happened is that someone said he will only invest in us if we merge. So we sat down to see what we can do collectively and said yes, we are a solid team. That is how everything evolved. Currently, Funda has twelve fulltime employees, and I am now a dormant shareholder. ‘’
Clearly, Funda was not the solution for Africa’s education crisis.
‘’Funda’s goal was to help already accredited institutions to take their courses online. So our model was to work with big players in education in Africa, such as the University of Pretoria to roll out their digital learning strategies and take their courses online. Our model was pretty simple. We digitize and provide the technology at no cost, and when most courses are online, we split the revenue with the institutions.’’
Crucial Growth Points
‘’It was a risky model, that is why we banked on the credibility of institutions, and that is the reason for designing the model around existing accredited institutions.’’
The Road Diverges ‘’These institutions determined the courses they wanted to take online and the price with which they wanted these courses to be accessible. Also, innovation moves at a slower rate within their environments.”
“The solution was to identify all forward thinking institutions such as African Leadership University and others in the continent like Instill Education, who believe that part of the solution is training more teachers just as ALU prepares students. So I told myself that my focus should be providing the best technology in the world and make it accessible to all these institutions so that they can provide quality education at scale. This is how Clock was born last year.’’
“Surround yourself with lions. People who push you every day, smart people. Secondly, don’t take the paperwork and due diligence for granted. Lastly, give ownership to your employees, make them feel like they own your vision. That is the only way you can get them to give their best to the company. Be open to giving equity and stock options at the beginning, but of course smartly do it. For instance, I wanted to recruit someone from the University of Cape Town, a top student having many job offers from corporate Goliaths, but he had a passion for education. For me to bring him into my team, he didn’t want to be just a developer; he wanted to feel like an owner. So for employees to feel like owners, give them enough room to make decisions and provide equity options.” >>
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Surround yourself with lions. People who push you every day, smart people.
”
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Beating Competition ‘’ We pride ourselves as having the best user experience in any learning management system globally, that is the ALU’s platform. We have presented our work in many places, and people have come back to us as said ‘Yes! It is.’ We believe that we should let the product speak for itself, and that makes things easy for us.’’ “Second, we involve real users in our technical roadmap. We prioritize features based on the requests of our customers and that way we cannot lose them. The beauty of what we do is that we build our technology from scratch, making sure that there are no limitations and teachers and students were involved in the design process from day one which is rare in all technology companies. So this is the unique scenario for us.” “As we talk to various clients, we have come to the realization that no other technology can compare to ours. It is the first learning management technology built around the learning model. We have positioned ourselves strategically by allowing our product to speak for itself, so I do not see Clock investing heavily in marketing.”
ters a myriad of challenges. “I am struggling with work-life balance. I am just 24 years old, and many people always say I have made it. I seem to disagree because I don’t think success is defined by the amount of money you have in the bank or how fast your company is growing. I define it with the lives I impact with my work and keeping my relationships with people that care about me intact. So I want to work on these things.’’
A Man on a Mission “I want to democratize education. Your geographical location should not be a barrier to high-quality education. This is to say, wherever you are, you should have access to the best education in the world especially because of the current advances in technology. Of course, there are some limitations such as physical infrastructure that are beyond our control, but over time, as these barriers subside, we should be strategical to roll up products to ensure universal access to education. In future, Clock will be the backbone of all forward thinking institutions in Africa.” “Another thing is redefining
Struggles of an Entrepreneur As it is with any vocation, he encoun-
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I define it [success]with the lives I impact with my work and keeping my relationships with people that care about me intact.
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BUSINESS
education. We want people to be known based on their skill set, not to the school they went. I look forward to seeing that world.” “I foresee an interesting future for technology, in all aspects. There are many technological advances, but our progress in concepts like artificial intelligence would not always be positive. So I see a future of regulatory bodies designing frameworks around what direction we choose to advance in technology.”
Mistakes Made ‘’Totally cutting off from the business operations of the company and focusing on technology at the early stages. It was the Steve Wozniak instead of Jobs. You need some oversight. Technology is addictive, as a developer you can decide to focus only on building great things. Winning an award for the Best Innovation in Education for meeting the Millennium Development Goals globally as we did with Funda makes you want to do better. But the business then suffers, as you are working on the business but not in the business. As a result, your weak muscled competitors end up having all the customers, despite you having the best technology. So I learnt this lesson the hard way.’’
“ 2% of something is better than 100% of nothing. ” Lessons Worth Sharing ‘’Surround yourself with lions. Remember that 2% of something is better than 100% of nothing. You could say you don’t want to share equity so it’s better to own a big piece of the pie or everything of nothing. Lastly, the difference between 99% and 1% is 101%. It’s easy to get closer to your goals, but it takes a lot more work to reach them.’’ B
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FILM IS A LANGUAGE, says Martin Mhando, the current curator and CEO of Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF). Because film is about breaking narrative conventions and about diversity. The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is an annual film festival held in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Being the largest cultural event in East Africa, ZIFF is a non-governmental organization established in 1997 in order to develop and promote film industry as a catalyst for the regional social and economic growth. The annual multi-disciplinary cultural event is an All Arts Affair, with 8 days of local and international discussion panels, workshops, 10 days of screenings of the best local and international cinema and evenings of musical concerts, including a Gala opening and wrapping-up finale. All festival programs are to fuse together diverse artistic expressions and forms, offering a wide range of entertainment, educational platforms and networking opportunities for professionals as well as audiences from all over the world. The ZIFF’s unquestionable position as a large multi-disciplinary festival in Africa continues to lead as a tourist attraction event in the region. It is estimated that 7,000 tourists from the West came to Zanzibar to attend the festival and the total festival audience in the past years was in excess of 100,000 with wide appeal across race, class and religions. Its impact on the economy of Zanzibar is indisputable. ZIFF gives 12 International Awards presented by 5 International Juries. >>
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
An exclusive interview with Professor Martin Mhando, CEO of Zanzibar International Film Festival A shared journey, a shared dream by Julie O’yang BUSINESS
Uniqueness of Zanzibar Julie: So what kind of a place is Zanzibar? Martin: “Since the early 20th century, Zanzibar has been an autonomous island loosely joined with mainland Tanzania. Due to its unique geography, Zanzibar has developed a matchless sense of tolerance for multicultural and multiracial civilizations throughout its history. Arabic rule and colonial past aside, the demographic realities of Zanzibar today reflect the cosmopolitan qualities different from, shall we say, the mainstream of African image, which forms an essential part of social life of the Swahili Coast.
Like most complex and living things, in fact, Zanzibar refuses to be thrust into neat bags. My home is an extremely lively island immersed in the spirit of Dhow Countries. Like the ancient Silk Road, Dhow is about connecting different peoples and cultures.” Julie: Zanzibar, ZIFF, is relevant in today’s globalizing world? Martin: “A film festival always creates a community around it. If not, it’s the first sign of its failure. What does ZIFF stand for? ZIFF is for people who feel about Zanzibar and its larger context and environment, about African people, especially our women and children. I want ZIFF to be a home for African voices.” >>
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Julie: Then what? It would be vain for us to believe film can change the world… Martin: “The world is not flat and films may not be, in the hierarchy of human needs, in the first five categories…Let us give art the place to improve the lives of the world’s poorest...” Which is why ZIFF films are shown in Stone Town in Zanzibar City as well as rural Zanzibari villages. Martin Mhando loves films! He loves making them and curating them. Associate Professor Martin Mhando is a Research Fellow in the School of Media, Communication and Culture at Murdoch University in Western Australia, as well as being Co-editor of the Journal of African Cinemas, published by Intellect, UK. >>
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HIS first full feature Maangamizi
(The Ancient One) is a 2001 American/ Tanzanian drama film. Co-directed by Martin Mhando and Ron Mulvihill, the film premiered at the Pan African Film Festival and has played in over 55 Film Festivals worldwide ever since and won various prestigious prizes. The intriguing story tells about Dr Asira who is faced with the contrast between Western medicine and traditional East African spirituality when a woman, Samehe, who is admitted to a psychiatric hospital, claims to be under the power of Maangamizi, a mysterious ancestor…
I guess it’s safe to say Martin Mhando is a natural optimist. He uses his popularity to connect local people to the silver screen by not being a glamorous star. Sure, he wears a traditional white kanzu under a stylishly cut western jacket plus Italian leather shoes on the opening gala evening – and delivers vivid, firm hand gestures while he talks to me – what makes him and ZIFF a distinguished assembly, though, I believe, is the dynamic strength like a quietly soaring tower that breathes the past, the present and the future.
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Africa needs and has always needed technology for its development. I think nothing is wrong with that.
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Chairman Mao, soap opera and China Martin Mhando is China’s old friend. Martin: “China and Tanzania have enjoyed a long and friendly relationship during the past decades. One notable highpoint is the 1800-kilometer-long Tanzania-to-Zambia Railway, which was built with the help of China. Africa needs and has always needed technology for its development. I think nothing is wrong with that. In many ways, my personal career path has echoed [an] African call for openness for opportunities in both cultural and business aspects. China is ready to provide all that. The close ties between the two countries are rooted in history. My very first visit to your homeland was in the year when Chairman Mao died. In 1986, I went to Beijing and visited China’s capital and paid homage to that giant of ideas. I felt I had a real connection to this place; I even wrote a poem about my first China adventure (laughs). I wrote something like: Today the sky fell and I along with it When a large tree falls, its branches reach afar And I cried along on the death of a fallen giant! Back then, socialist China was trying hard to re-enter the UN. In 1971, China was finally readmitted to the UN. Among the African countries that supported this motion, Tanzania played an active role.”
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Martin Mhando
Julie O’yang
BUSINESS
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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oday, the two countries still maintain close ties. Of the five East African Community member states, Tanzania continues to attract the most Chinese investment, with 3 billion US dollars flowing into its mining sector in 2011. Julie: And you returned to China many times in the years to follow. What brought you back again? Martin: “It was…soap opera. During the past decades, I have visited various Chinese metropolises, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. More recently, I have been invited by Yunnan Nationalities University to make documentaries of the local subjects and mainly to present the African point of view on China’s multicultural life. In this context, I have worked in the city of Yuxi in China’s southwest province of Yunnan as a filmmaker and guest lecturer at the Yuxi Normal University. I used well-known soap operas to teach my Chinese class of filmmakers about narrative structure and conventions. I must say it was an effective way of communication between me and my Chinese colleagues and students, who didn’t speak English well. In the end, they were keen to participate and were less shy and reserved. So that was my bit in ‘living your life as a soap opera!’”
BUSINESS
Julie: You brought Africa to China. Did you bring China to Africa? Martin: “It has always been my motivation to work more and more with China and the Chinese subjects. Back in 2008, a Qingdao dance group attended ZIFF and brought Zanzibar an
unforgettably spectacular show including acrobatic acts. Introduced for the first time in 1960’s, Chinese acrobatic tradition has taken roots in Tanzania in a very special way. We can easily say that every Tanzanian theater group today has its past in cultural exchange with China and Chinese acrobatic companies sent to Africa. Chinese acrobats and Kung Fu stars are time-honoured areas of interest, even iconic for China. And noodle making and drying are a familiar scene under the Zanzibari sun! We welcome continued co-operation in these fields, in the meanwhile, we are looking for
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
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ZIFF is all about our tradition and past, but ZIFF stands equally for future and for novelty and freshness of new film voices!
” new challenges. For example, this year we have signed an agreement with Beijing Film Academy to exchange a selection of our ZIFF films to be screened in China. In return, we expect Chinese filmmakers to submit their works either independently or through official channels to enter Africa and reach out to the audience over here! In 2009, ZIFF poster was designed by a student of the Yuxi Normal University. I just want to emphasize that ZIFF is all about our tradition and past, but ZIFF stands equally for future and for novelty and freshness of new film voices!”
When film is a metaphor For me, art, film is a legitimate tactic to shake up and challenge the intellectually lazy minds. It takes more than money to make a good film. What is Professor Martin Mhando’s next good, important film, if I may? Martin: “It is secret.” He laughs cunningly, eyeing me as if I had flouted some unwritten rule of professional discretion, adding, “But that’s the title of my next full feature, Ni Kunga, meaning it is secret. It’s a love story. A love triangle, to be precise.” He pauses; I’m all ears. “Tanzania, like some other African countries, took the socialist path shortly after obtaining independence in the 1960s. Meanwhile, newly-inde- >>
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pendent Zambia had a hard time exporting bronze from its mines. China decided to help build the 1,800-kilometre-long Tanzania-Zambia Railway in the 1970s so that Zambia could export bronze through Tanzania. This forms the background. Yes, China plays a central role in Ni Kunga. However, few people today know that it was the Americans who wanted to build the railway. So originally, the idea did not come from China at all. After the Nyerere government took a turn to the left, the Americans decided to walk out on the railway project as a warning lecture, before the Chinese stepped in. But it came all at a hefty price. At the time, China was suffering economic difficulties. And during the arduous task of railway building, over 64 Chinese workers paid with their lives. That’s not the focus of my film, though. While China engaged itself in railway building, the US took a new project: to build a road parallel to the Chinese railway. And these two long paths only cross each other once at one single point!” Julie: This IS a love story laden with metaphors? Martin: “So, in my story, there is this American guy working in the American project and this Chinese guy working in the Chinese project. They both fall in love with a Tanzanian girl. The planned deadline is 2017. I would like very much to co-direct Ni Kunga with a Chinese director. I think bringing two different cultural views in a story is of invaluable importance. It gives extra layers and creates unexpected narrative tension, which I appreciate as a filmmaker. Right now, I’m looking for the perfect match for my project. Making a feature film one has to deal with very mundane, practical things. It’s not sexy from the red-carpet point of view. Filmmaking is about making genuine human connections.” Julie: Can I say that ZIFF’s mission is to continue to strengthen already robust relations between China and Tanzania? Who wins in the end in Ni Kunga? Martin: “It is secret. B
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
“Filmmaking is about making genuine human connections.”
READ ALL ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW IN CHINESE Visit our website today and get the exclusive interview with Martin Mhando. LINK
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Gcinekile Zwane
She could hear
Basil’s fruity voice in her head as if he was reading the letter to her. It was like he was there with her. Her mind was moving through a Kaleidoscope of euphoric memories-memories she shared with Basil in the last 12 months they had been together. Oh, what a wonderful year it had been! Looking back, she recalled the time they had a weekend away in Durban. It was her first time out of Swaziland. She marvelled at that thought. She went on to think of how Basil had always been her biggest support system. He completely understood her. She was wholly herself when she was with him. Basil was an electrical engineer student in South Africa and was Professor Lukhele’s cousin. Most of all, he was the apple of Nolwazi’s eye. Everyone could see the radiant smile on Nolwazi’s face. The way she smiled expressed the joy in her heart.
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Diary
As she proceeded to the library, she thought of nothing but Basil. She couldn’t help but smile to herself. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her. She sat down at desk closest to the glass wall. She looked out to the school’s crop fields. Her mind raced again.
“Nolwazi, how nice to see you again, please come in,” he cooed, showing her inside his office.
Her face dropped when she recalled the quarrel she and Basil had before he left.
“Thank you Doc,” Nolwazi said tremulously sitting down.
“Clearly your past is haunting you and I can’t help you, so why can’t you just talk to someone professional?”
“Nolwazi, I just want to let you know that I am here to help in any way I can. Feel free to say everything. This is a safe space. Whatever you say inside here never escaped these walls, it remains between the two of us. Now tell me, how are you feeling?” elaborated Dr Msibi.
She never forgot that statement in particular; it was the first time Basil used a raucous tone on her. Now as she sat there alone she thought that maybe he was right. Maybe it was time to face her past instead of running away. Maybe it was time to tell somebody the truth, her version of the truth. Maybe it was time for her to heal and look ahead without thinking of the past. She thought that maybe Dr Msibi was heavenly sent to help her out of her misery. She thought that there was no better day than to do that than today. Part of her was sceptical though. What if she messes things up again? What if the whole process turns out to be useless? Her thoughts contradicted. In due course, she said, “Today is the day!” She took a deep breath, said a little prayer, picked herself up from the chair and headed for the door.
He continued in an unrehearsed manner, “I’m happy you changed your mind, eventually. Please relax and sit on the couch. Feel at home.”
“I’m okay” she answered promptly without thinking. He moved on and said “That’s good. What is bothering you LaGule?” Silence. He watched her mouth quiver as she struggled to answer the question. She felt the hot wet tears fill up her eyes; her throat closed up tightly and each word pitched higher than the last to speak out the words that were bottled up inside of her. Finally, the tears spilt over and flowed down her face like a river escaping a dam. B
LIFESTYLE
I have met many a people whose lives were actually better following their worst experience in life. Many of them say they feel healthier, happier and even more hopeful after a major crisis. It does not imply that they didn’t have a hard time after a traumatic event. Just like any other person they also experience a great deal of distress. Yet, for them, a major life crisis helped to set a path to a better and more fulfilling life. Here are six lessons you could learn from adversity:
1. You are mentally stronger than you think After living through a stressful experience, you may learn that you’re mentally stronger than you once imagined. Withstanding storms in life provides an opportunity to bring out inner strength you never knew existed. These crushing hardships may be of assistance as a reminder that you’re emotionally equipped to face anything you come across with in life.
2. There are new possibilities in life Hard knocks can also open your eyes to find a new purpose in life. Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba Group, would not have found his company had he not failed to get a job at KFC, among other things he failed in. The assassination attempt on Malala Yousafzai, an activist for the right to female education, sparked international support and led to the ratification of Pakistani’s first Right to Education Bill. Adversity may be a door to the discovery of opportunities you never knew existed.
your worst experience can bring out THE BEST
in YOU
by Joseph Rutakangwa
3. Life is priceless Experiencing sickness, near death situations or a major loss, can serve as a reminder that life is valuable and time is precious. Coming through after something horrific may help you better appreciate those ‘little’ things in life, like looking at a colourful flower or hearing a child laugh.
4. Relationships need to be updated Some of your relationships may be strained as you endure a tragic experience. But, tough times can also increase your connection with others. During your life’s toughest challenges is when you can see who is there for you. A crisis is an opportunity to filter your relationships. A deeper sense of connection might be established between you and those who stay at your side through tough times.
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5. There’s a new meaning in life A crisis might lead you to re-examine your spiritual beliefs. Sometimes you might feel that your beliefs are challenges or faith shaken – which is not a bad thing. Such experiences can help you pay more attention to thinking about your beliefs and better understand spiritual matters, strengthening your faith. A life-changing event can help you find a new meaning in life, regardless of your belief.
6. Thriving Vs. Surviving It is possible that you may come across tough moments in your life. But the good news is, a life crisis will not make your life worse. It might be your opportunity to revive. There are many factors that play a role in your growth following a life crisis. Readjusting your core beliefs and learning skills to minimize psychological distress, and seeing yourself as a survivor are some of the ways that can help you experience positive change after a life changing event. B
LIFESTYLE
Adetimehin Ariyike Banza set out to find out how some people perceive health. And for most people, health was not all about Physical fitness or sports. It was so much more. Like a collection of things that converge at a point. That point being health. What makes you happy is healthy. Of course, this doesn’t justify detrimental behaviour in anyone’s life. We needn’t say more. We share some of the two interviews we had.
by F
HEALTH
B: What does a healthy and wealthy life style mean to you? (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) A: For me it’s waking up in the morning, looking in the mirror and feeling happy with myself, being comfortable in my own skin. It’s also being able to sleep peacefully. I always avoid holding grudges against someone because I believe it affects me emotionally. B:
How do you achieve that?
A:
Fanidh Senanta
“ Looking in the mirror and feeling happy with myself, being comfortable in my own skin.”
“First of all, I am careful about what I eat. I always make sure not to eat more calories than I use. I feel this is essential. Also, I try to do a lot of sport. I love jogging, but if you’re not comfortable with running, there are other alternatives such as swimming, dancing, floor exercises, or playing football. The most important is to find something you enjoy doing because the moment it starts looking like work, you’ll hate it and stop doing it. Second, smile and laugh a lot! Being healthy outside is as important as being heathy inside. It reduces likelihood of having wrinkles. Plus, when you smile, people feel more comfortable talking to you. Finally, don’t hold grudges, be nice to people. Even though many do not deserve it, just be nice because it’s healthy. If you have nothing nice to say, just don’t say anything. When I’m upset with someone, I feel like I’m constipated. Don’t allow people to pollute your inner being just because they’re being annoying. Also, be careful with the snacks you eat. For instance, I love ice cream, and I know eating it often isn’t the best for me. So I look for heathier option. Whenever I feel the urge to eat ice cream, I go buy yoghurt. So instead of buying chocolate, you could buy a granular bar. There is always a healthier option. Discipline plays a great role as well. It does not mean I don’t eat junk food. I love pizza. But whenever I eat junk food, I make sure I do extra exercise to balance it out.”
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LIFESTYLE
B:
What is your motivation?
A: “The most important is to find a good reason to be healthy, and to remind yourself of that reason. For me, I have notes on my wall that always remind me of my goals. It’s like your mum staring at you, always telling you to clean your room. So you feel guilty when you don’t do it. Moreover, experience has proved to me that trying to be healthy or to lose weight just because of someone is definitely not the best. You should love yourself enough to make that choice. I am also careful about role models because it might be counter effective. You might get depressed when your body doesn’t become like someone else’s. You can admire someone, but being yourself is the most important.”
“You can admire someone, but being yourself is the most important.”
B:
Is there a connection between being healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually?
A:
B:
Final piece of advice?
A “Love yourself. If you love yourself, you’ll take great care of yourself. B
“I feel like everything is connected. The core of all religions is love. How you treat yourself will affect how you treat other people. It is therefore essential that we stay physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy to have a good social life. Also, when you look around you, you’ll notice that even though there are natural disasters and wars, the earth still remains a beautiful place. You don’t want to be the mess in such a beauty.”
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Thomas Mbajjwe LIFESTYLE
B:
What does a healthy and wealthy lifestyle mean to you? (physically, emotionally, and spiritually)
T:
I believe that a healthy and wealthy lifestyle is one where someone is at peace with their body, soul (mind, emotions) and spirit. For one to have a healthy lifestyle, they should be in command of each of these three important facets of their being. It is a place where one manages to balance all the aspects of their life to lead a happy and purposeful life.
B:
“I believe it is important to have the right mindset and outlook on life because your thoughts affect your emotions and actions.”
How do you achieve that?
T:
One achieves this completeness by catering for each of these three parts of their being and seeing to it that they appropriate enough attention to each of these parts of their existence. For example, to take care of one’s body, it is of paramount importance that people pay attention to their diet, ensuring a healthy and balanced diet. Taking lots of water is also important for the body. For one’s emotional health, I believe it is important to have the right mindset and outlook on life because your thoughts affect your emotions and actions. People should learn skills such as emotional intelligence, optimism and proactivity. With these, one’s mind will be at bay. Spiritually, it is so important that we ascribe to a power that is above us, and admit that there are times in our lives we need divine interventionTimes when we are weak, and when we are low. It is also nourishing and refreshing to know that there is a God that loves and cares for you.
B:
What is your motivation?
T: I believe It is expedient that everyone gets a motivation for their lives since our motivation is what rolls us out of bed every morning to do whatever we do. I believe a great way to get motivation is setting goals and giving them a timeframe. That way, you know exactly what you should be working on at a given time, and you will get the morale to accomplish these goals. My motivation is derived
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from my dreams and passions for my country, my continent and the world at large. I believe that I was born as an answer to the needs of billions. From my passion for changing Africa and contributing to making this world a better place. And, from assisting people who are helpless and needy, such as prisoners, the orphaned, the old and the homeless all over the world. With this dream, I wake up every morning knowing that all my efforts are for changing my country Uganda, Africa, and the world.
B:
Is there a connection between being healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually?
T:
There definitely is a connection. I believe that every wo/man’s physical existence is a total sum of their emotional and spiritual health. One’s thoughts and perceptions, as well as beliefs, affect what manifests in their lives.
“...every wo/man’s physical existence is a total sum of their emotional and spiritual health.”
B:
Final piece of advice?
T:
Always believe in yourself.
B
A case for Indefinite Pessimism by Fanidh Senanta
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CASE FILES
I promise you
,this article is not as boring as it seems.
The truth is, the word boring itself is relative. I can assure you. It is just in your head. I have recently engaged in some form of unusual and special activity; the kind that satisfies and gets you hungry at the same time. After each dose, I find myself craving for more and more. I had never done this before, and now I wonder why I did not start earlier. It feels extremely good. I know I should be ashamed to say this, but I think it’s become an addiction. This is all new to me, and I would like to share this with the world. Yes. Recently, I have been doing something most people refer to as thinking. Studies* have showed that 75% of people do not think, 15% of people think they think, and only 10% of people actually think. Hence, you may be reading this article thinking that you are thinking about what I am talking about now, but you are actually not thinking. You may think you are, but you are not. Fascinating, huh? This, however, is beside the point. I have been doing a lot of thinking on our identity as Africans. As a result, I came up with one main question that I will be attempting to answer throughout this exciting article. Yaay! Why are most black people, indefinite pessimists? An indefinite pessimist, according to Peter Thiel, is an individual that looks out onto a bleak future but has no idea what to do about it. Indefinite pessimists do not know when the “inevitable” decline will come. They are just certain it’s going to come, so they might as well eat, drink and relax all day while they are still alive. The typical behavior of the African/ Afro-American man. For hundreds of years now, black folks have been described with words like lazy, violent and defensive. As hard as it is for me to admit, it is somehow true. According to Dr Joy De Gruy Leary, we tend to act the way we do because we are still suffering from what she called Post Traumatic Slave Disorder. Some of the symptoms of clinical trauma include feelings of foreshortened future, an outburst of anger, hypervigilance and difficulty falling asleep. >>
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As unbelievable as it is, we are still suffering the consequences of an event that took place hundreds of years ago because, right after slavery, there was no taking steps to help the victims. The Jews were sorted out after the holocaust, but nobody worried about the effect of the slave trade on black folks. One wonders why‌ And, guess what happened next? Our directly traumatized and untreated ancestors raised our grandparents up with feelings of a foreshortened future, an outburst of anger and hyper-vigilance. Our grandparents learned from this and then raised our parents in the same way. By the time it got to our generation, this feeling of a foreshortened future, an outburst of anger and hyper-vigilance had been normalized to the extent that it had become our culture.
Enough is enough. It is time to get the dead elephant out of the closet and talk about it (not sure about the dead elephant metaphor, but I guess you know what I mean). It is our duty as black, white, red, yellow or whatever your complexion, to deal with it for a better Africa and a better world. See, I told you it was not that boring! B
Note that although black people are the main victims in this story, some white people are also going through their own kind of struggle. Most of them try to ignore that part of mankind’s history; that their ancestors were capable such atrocities and caused so much pain. Finally, although post traumatic slave disorder is a delicate topic of discussion, it is an issue that must tackled as soon as possible.
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Behind the scene
never miss a moment.
Be-you-tiful 10 1
by Hawi Tiyo
We wake up, dress up for parties, take 45 minutes to get all dressed up but end up getting the make up wrong. there is a slight glitch or some extra smudge! Shucks! But, fear no more. Here are everyday makeup mistakes that we make and I will share how to fix them!
Creating a face mask
When we put on the foundation, typically we forget to put it down on the neck. We put it on our face and then stop there. Then the difference between our face and neck region makes it look like we have a mask. So we should always bring it all the way down to the neck and blend it, to have a uniform and flowy look.
Applying a makeup in different lightning
We all know the effect of light on our faces. We usually put on our makeup with dimmed or too bright of the light from the outside.
Everything looks perfect inside, but when we go to the outside natural light, we will see a different shade of colour and ashyness on the makeup we spent hours on. So always being cautious of the lightning we are doing our makeup in matters. A lot! Preferably a natural lighting.
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Applying matte lipstick on dry lips
When we apply lipstick on a dry lip, it will look cracked and not cute. So make sure always to moisturize before the lipstick, then put on your favourite lipstick.
Stretching the area around your eye to make the perfect wing We usually tend to stretch the end of our eyes when we put on eyeliner. Pulling our eyes back when putting on eyeliner not only breaks down the sensitive skin and elasticity around the eye but also, if it isn't relaxed when applying makeup, we could end up with a horribly uneven line. So always apply eyeliner while your eye is in its natural setting to get an even line.
Testing your foundations in the wrong spots When on a mission to find the perfect foundation match, many smear a little on our hands or wrists for a quick test before buying. More often than not, however, doing this can cause us purchase a shade that's too dark on our face and doesn't match our pigment. Instead, try dabbing a little on the neck and on the outside of your cheek to pick the perfect shade. B
BEAUTY
D
for Depr
During my sophomore year when Brad was leading a Justice society in school, Alice making waves in the Malcolm Mash band and I being the popular cheerleader on the sidelines, life was perfect. I was Sweetville’s limelight; I had everything figured-out and a biting sense of style that backed me up. My ability to juggle between school and social life was just another cherry-on-top that landed me a few opportunities. I was a part-time beautician in a local clinic and also had my own clothing line, Devour, which hit the fashion arena big time. Everything seemed perfect until I met a middle-aged Latin-American young man, Greg, who later proposed to marry me. It was a sight for a sore eye that Greg was amongst the luckiest fellow to grace the planet. Ours was a perfect love story and there was no turning back.
Soon afterwards, life took a toll and as the gaping cracks began to widen between us, it dawned on me that this was not a romantic movie; pure bliss. We hardly ever talked and when we did, the whole house turned into a ballistic fury of fire. Greg was running a hardly ever profitable business and I gave up all that I had to cover all the expenses we incurred on our wedding. Meanwhile, I was a stay-at-home mother on a full-time babysitting duty. I grew weary, and so did Greg. Our lives dissolved into the dullness that had engulfed our once-upon-a-time happy home and our marriage was the taste of carpet. “Maybe we got married for the wrong reasons,” was the thought colonising me. I remember one day, on a weekend when I went shopping for groceries, I stumbled on a book by the shelves.
Life after Depression
ression by KAONE TLAGAE
Being the kind of avid reader I used to be at one point in my life, I shuffled through the pages and the content promised to rekindle the sparks in our relationship. I went home on a spring step thinking that I’d finally found a solution to my dreadful life. But I was wrong. Greg had become so difficult to deal with and no matter how hard I tried to stick by the book, nothing changed. Our marriage was just a hard lump of ice and often, I found myself morosely contemplating prospects of divorce. >>
LIFESTYLE
The more he grumbled, the more I felt edged. And the only ones who were ever the objects of his anger were me and the children. He would say words that crippled me; words that would pierce my heart like a sliver and I would also manoeuvre ways to bounce back. In less than a year, I had a history of divorce to my name and an inheritance I never wanted to leave for my children. I was alone again and had to find my way back to life, again. It’s funny how I viewed the world when I used to have vast platters before me.
I was just an ordinary lady in her prime 20s, trying to define life like an eightyear-old would. This cookie we call life has a funny way of crumbling, from a cloud-nine standard to nothing! I cursed under the thought of Greg and how deceptive he was. As time welled by, I got a job at a small fancy coffee shop as a receptionist. The job was not my ideal kind but it was enough to put food on the table for my children. I took another job as a bartender at a local near my 2-bed-roomed apartment and life as you know it began to unfold.
A woman has to “learn that she cannot command things, but that she can command herself
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It all started with a couple shots and before I knew it, I was a full-time alcoholic. My solace was that alcohol was an outlet for me to bury my frustrations but I was wrong.
As if that was not enough, my children were taken away from me by the social workers in our local community because I had taken to roaming the streets with them.
Each time I let my soul flow with the sharp liquid, I found myself diving into a dark valley. I could see that my life had spiralled out of control and that there was nothing left to it. I became a bitter person and was emotionally abusive to my children. My drinking habit escalated to a point where I was unable to pay rent and got evicted.
It is then that I realized how much life had thrashed me and you see, sometimes when you hit rock bottom, you come into a deep connection with your inner self. A wo/man has to learn that he cannot command things, but that he can command himself; that he cannot coerce the will of others but that he can mould and master his own will and things serve
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him who serves the truth; people seek the guidance of him who is master of himself. Somewhere along I’d not trodden carefully and that I had to take a long journey back to my former self. I did not know where I’d lost it but one thing I knew for sure was that, I’d never found closure after divorcing Greg and that I blamed him for all the downfalls I had. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I had to start somewhere, taking dainty steps that had to shape my direction to reach my biggest goal of finding myself again. It wasn’t at all easy.
Being broken gives you the “chance to build yourself all over again and this time, stronger than you were before so.
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There were times when I broke down but I learned that, until you are broken, you don’t know what you are made of. Being broken gives you the chance to build yourself all over again and this time, stronger than you were before so I fell down many times and still had the courage to stand up again. In less than a year, I had made an enormous improvement and earned myself a decent job again. I was a flight attendant and because of my extensive travelling, I was unable to stay with my children. I travelled the world and went to many different places. Hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of life; I can testify of that. Today, I am much stronger and happier. I live in the capital of Atlanta with my lovely children and work as a Human Resource manager for an airline company. I also own a small beauty shop and when Love came knocking at my door, I thought, “why not?” I am content with life. This is the beauty of my life after depression. B
LIFESTYLE
RECOMMENDED
MUSIC RECOMMENDATION
Untitled Unmastered
“
Kendrick is deliberately giving us an organic experience. He is removing the safety jacket that a lot of artists put on through flashy productions and precise editing. Instead he’s giving us these tracks with a very live, in-the-moment sound. With interesting fusions of soul, jazz, hip hop, funk, Untitled Unmastered is 35 minutes long - doesn’t over stay its welcome.
”
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APRIL MUSIC ALBUM RELEASES
The Life of Pablo Kany West
This Is What the Truth Feels Like Gwen Stefani
Lonerism Tome Impala
Barbara Barbarea, We Face a Shining Future Underworld
Post Pop Depression Iggy Pop
Aa Baauar
In Colour Jamie xx
Black Star David Bowie
RECOMMENDED
MOVIE RECOMMENDATION
The Jungle Book
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It appears like they have some
real animals in the background. I’m not sure if it’s true, but that’s how real it looks. I wonder if some scenes were shot in the actual wilderness or if it’s all animated. The fact that there are some of the most realistic talking animals you’ve ever seen on screen puts this movie on a-must-watch list. Without forgetting Lupita Nyong’o, Idris Elba and Bill Murray who are starring.
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APRIL MOVIE RELEASES
The Boss Genre: Comedy Release Date: 08/04/2016
Criminal Genre: Thiriller Release Date: 15/04/2016
The Huntsman: Winter’s War Genre: Fairy Tale Release Date: 22/04/2016
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Barbershop: The Nect Cut Genre: Sequel Release Date: 15/04/2016
Comrades Genre: Action Release Date: 22/04/2016
Ratchet & Clank Genre: Animation Release Date: 29/04/2016
Green Room Genre: Suspence Release Date: 29/04/2016
A letter from uncle Charles Charles Msilanga
W
hen talking about health, so many of us think of the physical body and how we can keep fit to stay healthy and well. We think of doing exercises, going to the gym for work outs, visiting doctors for medical check-ups... but one thing we forget most of the times to take care of is our minds.
It was Earl Nightingale who said, “Our brains are like a bank Account, we withdraw what we deposit in it.� I am currently reading a great book, The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, by T Harv Eker and in it, one concept explained is; our thoughts lead to feelings, feelings lead to actions, and actions leads to results. It is clear that what we decide to get into or allow to enter in our minds gets translated into an action which brings results.
Mindset needs Care We are what we think about. Our minds are the compass of our future and determinants of our destinies. It is necessary to take good care of our minds and ensure that it stays healthy and positively wealthy because it will make us the people we ought to be in future. For us to have a bright future, for us to arrive at our greatness destines, we need to ensure that we have in us a positive mindset to experience transformation in our lives and worlds as well. Here are 3 simple ways you can use to help yourself achieve positive influence, transformation and a healthy mindset in your life;
1) Surround Yourself with inspired people We are a sum total of the people we spend most of our time with. I read somewhere that if you hang around with nine broke people, then you will be the tenth. It is necessary, thus, to hang out with more inspired people who have brilliant mental attitudes because you will drift towards that direction.
Everything that everyone is going through now was once experienced by someone and recorded in books. Books energize us, inspire us to be better people and even raise our wisdom levels. It is Mark Twain who said, “A person who won’t read has no advantage over a person who can’t read.”
3) Have a positive attitude Just as the whole body needs exercises to stay fit, your mind needs a positive attitude so that you are able to be focused on becoming better and getting on track in your goals and missions in life. A positive attitude will awaken your happiness, inspire and motivate you to greatness, raise your self-esteem, improve your relations with people around you and even enhance your physical health than when you have negative vibes.
May you invest in yourself this month by looking after your mind and keeping it healthy. God Bless You so much. Charles Msilanga. B
2) Read Books In my life, I believe that there are two things that will change your life. The people you meet and the books you read. There is nothing new under the sun.
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LIFESTYLE
One night in July oman W n a ic fr A e th g celebratin anza B n o y a M in s more detail