Aug 2016
Imagine that
ALEX MATIVO BUSINESS
Breaking the conventional Office Space with DodoWorkPlay Joe Lodge and Coralie Marti
FASHION FACE The gentleman’s Bible Your Monday to Friday fashion devotion
LIFESTYLE Accountability Partners- Why you need them You and I need lasting happiness, this is how to get it
U&I
BANZA
BANZA
Afro Women Workshop Clothing : A'S de la Perfection Photography : Christelle Cognac MUA : Jennifer Bui
BANZA
Models : Angélique Marguerite Berthe Diène Alice Niang Mariama Dabo (Afro Women Workshops Founders)
BANZA
COLUMNISTS BUSINESS Kabo Madigele Maatla Kgasa FASHION FACE Mary Mang’eni Meklit Baye LIFESTYLE Torey Foss Hawi Tiyo Kaone Tlagae Fanidh Sanogo Joseph Rutakangwa CONTRIBUTORS Eric Maingi Editor-in-Chief Ermias Mehari Lead Designer Elsa Yeboah-Boateng Creative Director Ebenezer Graham Asst. Graphic Designer Phillippe Rutaganza Sookara Akshee Fanidh Sanogo Linda Admassu
MODELS
Alex Mativo Evon Evance Emmanuel Kabeya Arinze Obiezue FEATURED Sonia Mugabo Flora Nyoro Joe Lodge Coralie Marti COMMUNICATIONS Baraka Pilipili MARKETING Andrew Wani
Imagine that
THE CREW
CEO - JOSEPH RUTAKANGWA
41K
reach in 24 hours
Thank you to our Facebook fans!
@sophiaseketo if everyone worked like the people in Banza, we would be on cloud 9
@stephaniegogo this is the best Banza Magazine that I have seen
2K @lawrendaadzomani you guys killed it. Perfect model. Perfect pictures. Just don’t repeat the pictures for each outfit
BANZA
GRAB THEM ALL!
1
send in your story/article/picture
BANZA
2
3
GET
send in your bio
you're a star
published today
EDITOR'S NOTE
The Lotus offers its beauty to the heaven, the grass its service to the earth- Rabindranath Tagore you and I have been given individual traits, characteristics, talents, among others that make you, you and I, I. Upon realization of this, you and I will stop seeing what the world considers wrong or faults as bad things, things worthy of judgment. I was reading a book by Chin-Ning Chu, Thick Face, Black Heart, and she suggests that all things and creatures are one with our Maker, just as in the material world, all elements consist of atomic particles yet they manifest themselves in infinitely different forms. I have finally gotten a clear comprehension of the phrase 'be you.' All our lives, we strive for meaning. We seek to grow and succeed. We endeavour to be applauded, approved and awarded for our actions. In so doing, benchmarks have risen. Benchmarks of beauty- slender and fair. Benchmarks of success- hard workers and early risers. Benchmarks of good-silent and peaceful. Anything that doesn't match up to this standard is considered not-good-enough if not good at all! And that marks the start of lifelong problems- we focus our energies no wanting to fix the perceived wrongs rather than channeling our energies on embracing ourselves as we are to better the world with our glows and grows. For the month of August, you and I need to realize that we have a responsibility to embrace ourselves and use ourselves to further our universe. Happy reading.
Eric Maingi Editor-in-Chief
BANZA
BANZA
The originality of the brand lies in the choice of its ambassadors Models Fanny Wong Blacky Gyan Photographer Beethoven Saintiche Designer A’S de la Perfection MUA Servonne Ku Location Montreal, Canada Paris, France Dakar, Senegal
BANZA
BANZA
BANZA
BANZA
BANZA
Table of Contents 12
Meet the crew
94
Accountqablity Partners
A case for Cs and Ds
16
Banza Talk-to-us
98
102
Blast Workout
17
Letter from the Editor
34
Feature Video Sonia Mugabo
60
36
Fashion Face The gentleman’s Bible
66
60 seonds with Meklit Baye
You and I, and our continent, Africa
70
The conventional office takes a turn with DodoWorkPlay
92
Beautiful You
BANZA
82
You and I need lasting happiness
86
Flora and Africa, a tale of love
Sonia Mugabo K iga l i, Rwa n da
Sonia Mugabo (SM) is a Rwandan fashion brand established under the owner’s name in 2013. It was born out of the owner’s keen interest in design and the desire to tap into the existing local artisan talent to make high-quality men and womenswear. SM made its first showcase in October 2013 at the Kigali Fashion Week and attracted media coverage and market interest, confirming the need for its presence in Rwanda and Africa. In October 2015, Sonia Mugabo left her day job to commit fully to her brand. Since then, her business has grown exponentially. Sonia Mugabo works with tailor artisans to bring her designs to life. She designs for the young contemporary African, who looks to bring out a piece of their personality through style. SM develops two collections each year and makes bespoke items for its clientele all year round. A pioneer of Rwanda’s fashion industry, Sonia is setting the standard for Rwandan fashion in global and local markets.
BANZA
FEATURE STORY
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VIDEO
E C A F N O I H S A F d suit up black. Keep calm an Classy is the original Do not shing sense of style. this month with a da dance an and let the world m e th ay pl , ds od e play th to your tunes Full black suit
Creative Director Elsa Yeboah-Boateng
Photographer Phillippe Rutaganza Fashion Directo rs Mary Mang’eni Linda Admassu Hawi Tiyo
BANZA
BY MARY MANG’ENI
Model Alex Mativo
BANZA
Bow tie Leather shoes Whiteface black leather strap watch White pocket square Suspenders White Long-Sleeved Shirt Checked navy blue suit Navy Blue and White Polka dot pocket
BANZA
BANZA
BANZA
BANZA
Full gray suit Polka dot tie Gold strap watch Tribal pocket square Black leather shoes
BANZA
BANZA
square Navy blue woolen tie White long sleeve shirt Black leather shoes Leather Chelsea boots
Fedora Denim jeans
BANZA
BANZA
White long sleeved shirt
BANZA
BANZA
6 BANZA
seconds
with Meklit Baye
I like my fashion because it is a medium through which I can express myself, and reflect how I feel.
My style is unique because my style is a projection of myself and there is only one of me around.
In the future, I want to be known for my style which is dressing very simply and looking very stylish.
Do you consider yourself as a trendsetter? I do not consider myself a pacesetter. I just dress how I feel or most times, how I want to feel.
Lastly, I focus on my fashion because I believe looking good is always good business.
I like my fashion because it reflects my personality. It reminds me of the control I have over people’s perception about me. It is a platform I can manifest my creativity and just have fun. I look up to my mother. I am her mirror image; no matter what she has on, she has a way to look beautiful. The repetitive shade she threw my way whenever I wore something ratchet, has inspired me to pay more attention to what I put on. And most importantly ensuring that my outfits tell the best version of my story.
In the future, I would like to run an art school. I would like to reimagine how the story of Africa is told using art, especially fashion and music. I aspire to create space for people to expose the potential that Africa has using art as a medium. Do you consider yourself as a trend setter? I wouldn’t say a trendsetter, maybe an individual who inspires the love of self and appreciation of what one has in their wardrobes. If torn jeans can pass for Prada, I’m pretty sure what one has in their closet isn’t that bad. It’s all about your confidence BANZA and how you carry yourself.
I like my fashion because My fashion is artsy. If you look at me at first glance, you can tell that I know a thing or two about the arts. I am an artist, and this identification starts with my first line of communication; fashion.
I looked up to Myself because every day I have a version of me that I look forward to becoming, and I always look up to that.
Do you consider yourself as a trendsetter? I don’t consider myself a trendsetter because I love to do me. I’m a guy who doesn’t care what the world wants to think of me. I like to be in my zone with my swag, and those who wish to follow are more than welcome.
My style is unique because My style defines my passion. I’m a systematic guy. I plan everything. I know all my outfits before I wear them. But I also get bored quickly so every time I pick out an outfit it’s one that makes me feel adventurous and outgoing. I love hip-hop! Hip hop is all that. It’s systematic and outgoing. Hip-hop kids are cool, and I like the cool kid look because, for me, cool is never boring. In the future I would like to be known for my cool kid style. Like, wear my brown hair and jeans to the office as I head out to change Africa. Lastly, I am an artist. I wish for my swag always to display that.
BANZA
You and I Maatla Kgasa
I have observed that perhaps in a lot of situations, intelligence and talent can be attributed to exposure. You will agree with me that some of the people whom we grew up with are who or what they are because of the life they have been primarily exposed to. A kid who grows up in a family of singers and actors is likely to excel in arts at school and even grow up to take a career in entertainment.
BANZA
Similarly, a kid who grew up helping out at his father’s shop during school holidays is likely to pursue a course along the lines of Business or Economics and be quite good and them. Your knowledge of something is only as extensive as your exposure to it. This is why I feel the need to change the course Africa has taken over the years to something completely different by
BUSINESS
huffingtonpost
exposing our young people to a broad spectrum of avenues that will create employment, foster technological advancement, peace, and food security; just to mention a few. You and I are part of a movement larger than ourselves. There can be no better time for us to act and play our part in changing our destiny than now. Perhaps the same approach we are
taking to develop athletes into the finest sportspersons is the same one Africa should take to solve its problems. We have to build schools and academies created solely to cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship in young people at a tender age. The same sports development approach that targets kids at the earliest ages of 4, 5 and 6 years should be used to build a new Africa.
Why do we have to wait for you to get to high school or university to teach you basic computer skills? Why wait for your mind to harden and lose its youthful flexibility and dedication then attempt to empower you? In Setswana, we say: it is easier to mould and discipline a child while he is still young than to let him take shape into something different.
aspect of life, specific traits, or ways of life that are abundant or visible in a lot of individuals. The ‘lot’ or majority now start to believe that by virtue of them having those particular traits in abundance, they are normal. You and I are different in the same ways.
The same line of thought is what you and I should take to propel ourselves to greatness. Let’s mould our young people at a tender age when they are still full of energy.
I may want to be a doctor, you may want to be an entrepreneur; at the end of the day, we need each other to propel this continent to greatness.
These entrepreneurship and innovation academies will provide a platform for some of the continents’ most creative and intelligent youth to harness their brain power and solve the problems this continent faces.
We are already intertwined by destiny and invisible systems; why not capitalise on such synergies to publicly empower our youth and expose them to streams of avenues that will ensure we change the fate of this continent?
We expect Americans and Chinese to come to our countries, investigate problems our farmers and financial systems are battling with, then expect them to create solutions and products for those problems, and then sell them to us.
We cannot continue to go about our daily ways acting like Africa is not collapsing even when it makes a loud, shattering noise as it slams the ground.
What is stopping us from doing the same? Resources? Competition, lack of Government support?
Be good, do good.
No one knows your problems and challenges like you! By virtue of you experiencing them can you solve them better. Earlier on, I was telling a friend that normality is to a certain extent quantitatively objective, especially because a lot of people believe in a certain
BANZA
It is all on you and I.
I’ve got PERSONALITY
U?
The Conventional Office Space
BANZA
BUSINESS
Is Not Here to Stay Kabo Madigele
They come out as a passionate, fun loving and creative couple. That I was able to decode from the nature of their creation-DodoWorkPlay. Joe Lodge and Coralie Marti are on to create something new with a fresh and disruptive approach to work. It’s a paradigm shift. We met over smoothie fruit cocktails at Café Muller, just a stone’s throw from Grand Baie Beach, after failing to locate it for more than an hour. Although I’m late, it’s a relief to finally meet these industrious people for the first time.
Where it all began Coralie is Franco-Mauritian and defines herself as an international citizen, as she moved to a different country every 5 years. “We met in Montreal in 2010 in a student exchange program. Afterward, we both went on to study Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, but in different institutions, me at Paris Dauphine University and him at Newcastle University Business School. Since then, we always thought of how to make the distance shorter, because he went back to the UK and I went back to Paris. For 2 years, we did everything we could to shorten the distance, for if could work online for dissertations or any other thing, I visited and he did that too, just to see each other as much as possible.”
“Yes, we travelled backward and forwards and thankfully we had Skype to help us keep in touch. We graduated at the same time in 2013, got corporate jobs and finally moved in together in London. We were quite happy with our jobs initially, they were exciting and it was like a new stage of life. But we realised that we didn’t want to be stuck in the corporate lifestyle. I think because we studied entrepreneurial subjects, we both had a deep drive in us to do something different, we were just waiting for the idea,” Joe adds. Coralie says they knew they wanted to travel, do something international. “My family was in Mauritius and I found it silly that I had to plan my holiday: ask my manager, make sure that my team was OK with the date. When I only had my laptop, that’s the only thing I needed, so, in theory, I could work just anyway I wanted. There’s a disconnection between the tools we have and the lifestyle we have to follow.
BANZA
I didn’t have enough holiday time to stay in Mauritius, so I asked my boss to let me work from Mauritius because it was a small, flexible company. But then I moved I moved to a bigger company where it didn’t work like that.” Joe thinks his interest in coworking stemmed from university when he was working on his dissertation. “I used to work in the library with my friends and it was a productive environment; working with many people, but not doing the same work and you can chat about many things. I would later work for a tech company, which was open and forward thinking, but it didn’t have the same feeling, it was not diverse and there were all sorts of office politics. We used to travel out to unwind from the hustle and bustle of London and during one camping weekend we came up with the idea of DodoWorkPlay.”
“So we believed that there are so many other people who want to travel and work at the same time,” Coralie continued. “Mauritius is great, it’s modern and not just about beaches- we thought; why not help people work and discover Mauritius at the same time? Our research led us to find a huge community of digital nomads: estimated to be 3 million people with a nomadic lifestyle (bloggers, entrepreneurs, and employees of flexible companies.)” A lifestyle enthusiast, Joe points out that people nowadays care a lot about their lifestyle. “It’s not all about owning lots of things. Our generation wants to enjoy a meaningful life, be healthy and not be in a cubicle all day. Infrastructure is booming in Mauritius: good transport and fibre optic links, so it can be a co-working hub and a breeding ground for entrepreneurial innovation.”
It’s impossible to improve if you don’t make mistakes; every mistake you make will help you.
BANZA
BUSINESS
Our generation wants to enjoy a meaningful life, be healthy and not be in a cubicle all day.
“We started with research, which spanned about 9 months before we left for Mauritius (and it’s still ongoing). We then got more involved, writing to people, calling, talking to co-workers, digital nomads and also people running co-working spaces to fill in the gaps, get advice and inspiration. It began with seeing whether the idea already existed and if there was a demand.”
Everything falls into place “Our plan was to move to Mauritius within 2 years, when we were more settled in London-we were still in a career mindset that time. But then everything changed in November last year when heard about a business idea completion in Mauritius. It was organised by the Turbine incubator to attract interest to their incubation program, which is going to be launched this year. We had a big advantage going in since we had spent a lot of time researching and we were selected as finalists. We came to the awards ceremony in December after meeting many people and getting positive feedback that week we decided to move here and pursue this. One of the perks of being a finalist was the Turbine’s month long Inspire Program, which gave us the contacts and motivation to start, and we registered the company shortly afterward.”
According to Coralie, this was empowering. “Turbine motivated us to use the Lean Startup method: it means not spending 3 years writing a business plan or looking for investments, but instead bootstrapping and searching for a business model that works, so we said- we have a nice villa and we know our neighbours so we can use the space we live in as temporary co-working space. We ran that co-working and co-living space for a week in June.” “We bootstrapped, just to recover costs and see what people liked. We had three objectives: test our idea and get feedback, let Mauritius know what co-working is and get our brand out there. Our product was well received.” Joe points something interesting: “Dodo is French slang for sleep, so our name means sleep, work, and play. Our vision is to create a lifestyle experience with permanent space where you live with amazing people, work and play with them and do cool activities like hiking and yoga. We have also realised the importance integrating this with local activities like getting people involved in social enterprises and by that, we are demonstrating that we can bring value to travellers and locals by building connections.” “One piece of advice we received early on in our research at the beginning was not to open until we had built a community. It’s better to spend two years building a community with events and online opportunities to connect and then open when you have enough interested people because it’s not just service that we are providing, it’s an experience. That’s what makes differentiates co-working from office sharing.”
“We have run events, co-working and co-living experience at our pop-up space. We’re building a community online and starting to receive enquiries from people who want to co-work in Mauritius, from India, South Africa, and Malaysia, so there is demand.” “We are opening a co-working space this month which is going to be like a satellite space and there will be a few of these to help people get used to the idea of co-working. We will have a central space next year which will offer co-working and co-living.”
Challenges “The biggest challenge is that few people in Mauritius know about co-working, even though they do sign up for our events. We have to educate the market, so it’s an ongoing process. We need to have a permanent space to show what it is. Our permanent place will help.” “So from next month, people will get a taste of this, paying for daily, weekly or monthly plans without having to commit to a long-term contract. We are also running a series of events with Startup Events Mauritius, organised between Coralie and a friend we met through Turbine. They run monthly brunches where like-minded people meet and share ideas and learn from guest speakers.”
Revenue model “There are many different things that we provide, other than just the Wi-Fi and desk to work on. The revenue model has co-working as a central point but also includes activates, workshops, training and retreats for teams from abroad. All these combine to give additional revenue. Then we have a normal accommodation
BANZA
and co-working package. So if you’re coming to Mauritius, you don’t have to worry about accommodation.”
Marketing Strategies “We market through our community, in a natural way, instead of paying for adverts that people will forget and not identify with. We use word of mouth, which is strong here as well as Social Media. In Mauritius, Facebook is popular; it drives so many businesses that many companies do without websites. We post to our blog- like profiles on local innovators and entrepreneurs to build an organic following. We also do experiential marketing through events and pop-ups.”
Changing lanes Joe admits that leaving his job was a difficult decision. “Stability and career prospects were clear. But what made the choice to leave easier was that it was a stressful, sometimes unhealthy work routine that would take a toll on your body. I was a consultant, so I travelled a lot. It was glamorous during the first few weeks but after some months you are ready to have something healthier. We had a huge opportunity with Coralie’s parents living in Mauritius, so we grabbed it. Thanks to the lean startup method it isn’t so much a financial risk, but a risk on your reputation, because after leaving your job, you want to prove to your former colleagues and friends that you’ll succeed.” “It’s satisfying as well to know that this is ours, it’s no none else’s and that boosts our confidence,” adds Coralie, and Joe agrees. “There is a direct link between what you do and the reward whereas in a big company, you can work hard and even your manager sometimes doesn’t recognise it.”
BUSINESS
For Coralie she never lived more than 5 years in one place, so “this is helping people do that and promote it as well because you have one life and there are so many places to discover, so do it.”
Dots are connecting “I have always been pushed to do what I’m good at, what I want to, what makes me feel good. I always made autonomous decisions, I first studied physics, but left it after realising that it wasn’t for me, and went on to study music. After that, I did business, all in staying true to myself. And I always knew that I would do something unconventional,” says Joe.
Lessons Learnt “Never make the same mistake twice. We once organised an event in London and only one person (a friend showed up). We have learned many logistics lessons, building the enthusiasm and mak-
ing sure that people come,” Joe narrates this failure jokingly. Coralie thinks no one can achieve anything alone. “It’s impossible. Surround yourself with people, they don’t have to be the right people, it doesn’t have to be calculated, and you’ll find the right people.” Joe offers another valuable lesson, “Share ideas. There’s a concern about people stealing ideas, but ideas are cheap, it’s easy to have one. Even if someone has your idea, what they don’t have is your skills, your experience and most of all your commitment to it, your drive and vision. It’s the execution that’s hard.” “Listen, because feedback is useful.” “It’s impossible to improve if you don’t make mistakes, every mistake you make will help you.”
BANZA
L ST
LIFE E TYL
BANZA
I d n a u Yo
g n i t s a L d e Ne s s e n i p p a H By Joseph Rutakangwa
Take care of your Physical Health Drink lots of water Do you want to think faster? Water facilitates oxygen transfer to your brain which increases your brain efficiency. Energise your muscles, control calories, and keep your skin looking vibrant by drinking more water.
Eat your veggies You have bills to pay, assignments due, a family to support, an audition e.t.c. Imagine adding health problems to your list. It won’t look good at all. So, do yourself a favour and start eating your veggies before it’s too late.
BANZA
Quit smoking Quit alcohol I can’t stress this enough. You have learnt what they do to your body since primary school. Just stop. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Improve your Emotional Health Throw away your TV When I was six, my parents used to tell me “TV is a monster.” But as a dedicated Scooby-Doo fan, I couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen. And yes, I learned so much from Discovery Channel, Nova, and other
BETTER ME similar TV programs. But have you assessed the amount of negativity TV brings into your life? Commercials showing you how you’re not good enough, the dramas, how gender is portrayed in the media, religion e.t.c. All these things affect the way you perceive the world and yourself – whether you’re conscious about it or not. Just throw away your TV.
Get some fresh air When we toil or get emotionally unstable, tension can build up in the room. Go for a walk and take some time away from uncomfortable surroundings. Spending at least 15 minutes a day outdoors can help you recharge completely.
Keep smiling I’m talking about a real smile. We often wait for people to smile at us before we smile back. Why not show them how? According to recent research, scientists found that a smile could be as stimulating as receiving up to 16,000 Pounds Sterling in cash. Also, a study by Penn State University confirmed that:
When you smile, you look good and feel good When others see you smile, they smile too. When others smile, they look good and feel good, too. Smiling is a perfect tool for achieving inner and outer peace. Just keep a big, genuine smile.
Be genuine You don’t want to be a double agent - not in this life. Be brutally frank with yourself and others. It’s far better to get something off your chest than let it corrode your
soul. We often feel guilty about certain things because we keep them to ourselves – and that’s unhealthy. Be open and be direct when speaking. You will live a stress-free and simple life.
Focus Sleep early To get enough sleep and wake up early, you need to go to bed earlier. Avoid a hangover and parties you may regret. You’ll allow your body to offer more restorative sleep and have plenty of time when you wake up.
Wake up early Some people are night owls, but you’ll get most things done when you wake up earlier. In a sense, it is illogical that all successful people are early risers. But guess what? They are. Studies show that early risers are more proactive, optimistic, and plan better. Copy those who got it right.
Uninstall ALL apps Are you using that organiser app or diary on your phone? Stats show you’re not. So, just get rid of them – all of them. Primarily, your phone should be used to make calls and message people. Additional functions are there to distract you from focusing on your daily objectives and spending time with the people around you. A phone is a device, not your bestie.
Set up a new email account You’ve probably subscribed to so many websites and receive junk emails. Don’t
BANZA
go through the trouble of unsubscribing all of them. Set up a new email account and share your new address only with the most important people in your life. You will have two accounts: one for the unimportant stuff and the other for important communication.
Stop procrastinating We often say, “I’ll do it in 5 minutes,” or even worse, “I’ll do it later.” If you can do it in 5 minutes, why not do it now? The longer you wait, the more important and urgent it becomes. Then, it creates stress. Get simple tasks done right away. Do it now!
Confess Just say NO Say no to all the unproductive things you do. Say no to toxic relationships. Say no to anything that doesn’t bring you happiness. Say it aloud, mean it, and live it.
Calm down and say YES Say yes to new adventures and incredible opportunities coming your way. If your heart gives you the green light, don’t hesitate. Say it aloud, mean it, and live it.
A BANZA
f
True Love Tale Between Africa & Flora Nyoro Kaone Tlagae
PINK PRINT
BANZA
Just like in a typical true-love story, it was love at first sight when the Kenyan-born queen met her true love, Africa. She describes her undying love for the continent as something uniquely imprinted in her identity and further attributes it to the marvellous upbringing in which she came to appreciate the culture, the heritage, and the pride of being African. Despite the insurmountable odds that never cease to emerge, particularly with regards to Africa, Flora remains defiant in being a real African woman who isn’t afraid of stereotypes or ashamed of her roots. She loves her culture to the core and wants to carry the legacy of living and being beautifully African.
The Start of the Journey Flora Nyoro —otherwise known as Waithera (meaning ‘Thy clean one’)— is a Kenyan-born beauty, daughter, eldest sister to her siblings, and a young African woman. She describes herself as an advocate for love who wants to change the world and bring people to realise that Love has the power to transform the world for the better. Born in a loving family, Flora attributes who she is to her upbringing and further cites experiences, life lessons, and counsels given to her by her family as the core influences to her identity. “My family, of course, has influenced me a great deal - from my mother’s long lectures about being a respectable woman to my dad suggesting books I should read to my little sisters looking up to me and seeking advice on different things from me. The schools I went to and my friends and teachers with whom I have interacted, shared opinions and ideas with, are the ones I’d say have shaped who I am.”
Bred in a deeply marinated African culture, Flora fell in love with her African uniqueness and sense that emanates in all walks of her life from her sense of style and dress to her respectable and dignified demeanour. “My dad and mum are the type of parents who drag us with them when they are going to the village for any reason, especially a traditional ceremony. My dad especially is always very keen to explain to me the family lineage and what some customs mean and symbolise. My mother, on the other hand, is very subtle with her ‘African lessons’ - she doesn’t say, she does. It is how she ensures that only she cooks for her children and husband, how she visits my dad’s parents every weekend, and how she always brings a gift to a home she’s visiting. It is how she helps take back dishes or clean up even when she’s a guest and how she disciplined us and beat us up really good when we misbehaved. All these things, come to think of it, really make me the African woman I am now.”
AFRICA: My First Love Flora’s context sparked an African chemistry from which she recalls her obsession with African literature, music, and talent. “I remember the books we read for my literature classes – Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s: The River Between and John Rugandas: The Shreds of Tenderness. She adds, “These books are both themed around Africa more specifically, back in the 60s when most African countries were struggling for independence.” And while most Africans are certainly enticed by the ease of life and developed institutions domiciled in Europe and other parts of the world, Flora is eminently content with her African homeland. She has come to appreciate,
not only the beauty of her roots but the unexploited potential that this continent has. Saddened by the reality that a lot of African talent and brains are lost to the already-developed continents, Flora feels more than inclined to drive people towards breeding and nurturing the talent at home instead of running off to breed talent elsewhere. “I do not disagree that African traditional universities are kind of messed up but going away is not the best solution either. We have the power to change and not conform to mediocrity. I thank God for good leaders that have tirelessly taken it upon themselves to shape Africa: the likes of Fred Swaniker. He created Africa’s Ivy League University that stole my heart in the first encounter, and that’s why I applied.”
I want to be part of a movement that shall turn on African lights to the entire world. Africans are the ones that will contribute to the rising of the continent - no one else No Place like Home Home is where the heart is, and this is regardless of how the situation at home may be.
BANZA
Africa, like any continent, has its share of struggles but unlike any other continent, it’s future is believed to be bleak - thus the tag, ‘The Dark Continent.’ However, Flora believes otherwise. She describes Africa as a bubble that awaits to burst. A dream, not farfetched, that is about to come true, and she persistently keeps her faith in Africa alive by breaking stereotypes that shun Africans. “ I want to spread awareness that Africans are normal people. We are not all about hunger and suffering. We are not angry people. We have freedom and contention, and we are anything but labels attached to us.” Flora’s efforts saw her scoop the Mama Africa award which she believes honours her with the responsibility of embodying the ideology of Pan-Africanism - a course for which she is grateful for. “I feel a responsibility to uphold our culture. I’m scared my children and their children won’t be able to speak their traditional languages. I’m scared the folk tales we were told, that made us who we are, won’t make sense to our future generations, and I want to be part of a movement that shall turn on African lights to the entire world. Africans are the ones that will contribute to the rising of the continent - no one else. So, let’s empower ourselves, fix our mindsets, and take it upon us to build Africa.”
Be-you tiful
101
by Hawi Tiyo
Hacks for Your Mascara Routine
Always curl your lashes before applying your mascara. Heating the eyelash curler with your hair dryer for a while, before curling, will make lifting your lash ends easier, and it makes it more curved.
When applying mascara, hold the mascara wand at the base of your lash and then twirl it while simultaneously blinking your eye. This helps in making the eyelash root look darker and in touching the length of every lash strand while applying.
BANZA
Baby powder for fuller lashes. If you want long, full lashes, it may be as easy as adding a little baby powder into the mix rather than buying an expensive new mascara. Here’s what you do: apply one or two coats of your favourite mascara to lashes. Next, bend the tip of your mascara to gain more control over it and avoid putting it on your shadows. Then, repeat the same technique of blinking your eyes while holding the mascara at the same position.
BEAUTY
Your mascara always spoils your shadow? And when you try to clean it, things gets worse? When your mascara gets all over your eyelid once, don’t rush to clean it! The best approach is to wait until it dries, take ear cleaner, and then try to clean every point separately. Hold your Q-tip against the spot and twirl it until it gets clean.
Is your mascara kind of dry? Heat up your eye liner or mascara right before using.
You can warm water and put it inside. If this seems like too much work, just place it between your breasts while doing the rest of the make-up. Then, it will be creamy enough to darken your lashes. One thing we commonly do is pump the mascara in and out of the tube in the belief that we will apply more of the product on the brush. The truth is, pumping the mascara wand in and out of the tube is a sure-fire way to dry out your mascara very quickly. Instead, swirl the brush around in circles inside of the tube to get the most mascara possible on the wand without drying out the formula.
A case for
C
s and
BANZA
D
s
Fanidh Sanogo
CASE FILES
“Don’t be a C!” The first time I heard that word. I was 12 years. I remember asking my father what it meant because I did not know how to speak English at the time. I also remember the shock on his face when I asked him. I ended up finding out it was the slang word for female genitalia, not from my father, but from my 7-year-old cousin. Now, two main things are wrong when carefully analyzing my first interaction with the C word. And no, the fact that my 7-yearold cousin knew what it meant is not one of them. There is nothing wrong with knowing the name of a particular part of the human body. But rather, the context in which this particular word was used.
According to the urban dictionary, it means female genitalia. I have no problem with the C or P word because they are just words. Words are just words. But the importance and the meaning we attach to those words are what become our reality, and it can affect us either positively or negatively. However, the issue lies in the second meaning of the C word, which was “coward”. Why relate cowardice to a word for female genitalia? What is going to happen to the small girl that grows up in an environment where her genitalia are constantly being used as a synonym for cowardice?
BANZA
CASE FILES She is obviously going to be ashamed of that particular part of her body. And worst, she might grow up thinking that women are meant to be cowards! The same goes with expressions such as “you are such a D.” Associating being a jerk with such an important part of the male anatomy is subconsciously programming young boys to be what people call “f**boys.” Like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said: “The problem with gender is it prescribes how we should be, rather than recognizing how we are.” Such expressions define the identity of males and females without even giving them the chance to create their identity. Similarly, the fact that boys are praised when they manage to sleep with several girls when girls are called all sorts of names when doing the exact thing is straight up sexist. I am not in the position to judge or define how one’s sex life should be, and I never will. I just wonder why boys are not called names when they sleep around. The second and last troubling thing with my C-word experience is the fact that my father never answered me when I asked him what it meant.
Indeed, speaking or even mentioning this part of the female anatomy has always been taboo as though it is something shameful. I firmly believe it’s time for the world and women to change these perceptions. Not only will this help the woman to be more comfortable in her skin, but also, be aware of other beauties and complexities of her anatomy.
The problem with gender is it prescribes how we should be, rather than recognizing how we are. There are so many other misconceptions around both genders that need to be corrected for our community to prosper.
You and I make up this society. Our actions will either break or make the world we live. It starts with small but impactful actions like not calling your friend a C or D the next time he or she acts like a coward or jerk.
Finding the Half That Will Make You Better
Torey Foss
A When it comes to exercising and eating healthy, the effect is felt more strongly. Nine out of ten times, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is unlikely to work if burdened with the knowledge that you will be dragging yourself to the gym alone, eating salads by yourself, and skipping out on dessert to have some
BANZA
ccountability partners. In most things in life, simply having someone there with you makes all the difference. Whether it’s going for lunch, getting through a break-up, or writing an essay on a subject you hate, the virtue of simply not being alone somehow makes it all seem manageable.
fruit while everyone around you is pigging out on pizzas. In fact, the only time it feels good to be ‘that’ person is during the 3-week summer window when you get to slip on your bathing suit for the beach. And trust me, when faced with pizzas everywhere, it is very easy to convince yourself
HEALTH
that you could buy an extra cover-up for summer, and who really needs a summer body in winter anyway? When discussing accountability partners in the realm of business, Linda Galindo, author of The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success (Jossey-Bass, 2009), states: “Working with a partner prevents the ready-fire-aim approach that a lot of entrepreneurs use.” Linda’s words can be directly translated into our approach to ‘lifestyle changes’ in which we often go on crash diets or train excessively once or twice only to give up almost immediately because it hasn’t been thought through, and we don’t have a definite plan that someone is holding us to.
In order to avoid this and to make the changes more about ‘lifestyle’ and less about a ‘summer body’, the best approach is to have a partner in crime - someone to go through it and support you. It is important, however, to use your accountability partner in the right way and to make sure you are motivating each other to stick to your goals, all the while being fully accountable to them. Below are the top 4 ways to have a solid accountability partnership - and also why they are so great!
Find the person, state the purpose! For an accountability partnership to work, you need to find someone with common goals as well as a personality that compliments yours. Once you have found the person, you need to state the purpose. With this, be as specific as possible and clearly define the roles that you would like the other person to play in achieving your goals. Some people only need someone there cheering them on, and others need someone who will drag them out of bed at 6 am and take a ‘hard line’ with them. If this isn’t established from the get-go, it can lead to a failed partnership. Be sure to be clear with the roles and stick to them!
BANZA
Agree on the consequences and ‘penalties’ of breaking the agreement. This can be done in a fun way, especially with things like healthy eating and exercise. If one of you has one block of chocolate too many, let it equate to 10 push-ups the next day at the gym or even an extra helping of salad instead of bread at dinner. These can be structured in levels of severity; for instance, missing an entire workout should have a higher penalty than running fewer kilometres than you were meant to.
Plan together and stick together.
Encourage each other and praise the small steps achieved.
If your goals are not aligned, and you are not doing the same thing, it is much harder to support each other throughout. I would recommend meeting at least once a week to strategize meal plans and exercise for the week. Aside from this, ensure that you are sticking together and actually doing the activities together. As often as possible, work out at the same times and use each other for motivation by alternating cooking days or healthy snack preparation.
At the end of the day, you need your accountability partner to be your biggest cheerleader. You want them to stand on the sidelines and tell you how great you are doing - no matter how big or small the success may be. As an accountability partner, it is, therefore, your responsibility to be vigilant of not only your progress but also that of your partner. Any achievement should be fully celebrated! Now that you have some tools to get you started, it is time to go out and find that special someone and embark on a journey of self-improvement together!
BLAST Workout Torey Foss
It’s always fun, especially when starting out with an accountability partner, to perform an exercise routine that you can do together. This training session will force you to motivate and encourage one another, as well as work together as a team to perform the exercises. Remember to listen to your partner; you may not always start out at the same fitness levels, but make sure you are still pushing yourself! Repeat the full routine three times for a good full body workout!
Squats with a Wheelbarrow Push-Up Partner 1 will begin standing with feet shoulder width apart while holding Partner 2’s legs. Partner 2 will start in a straight-arm plank (wheelbarrow position) with legs elevated by Partner 1. Partner 1 will lower into a squat, and at the same time, Partner 2 will perform a push-up. This process should be repeated 20 times by each partner, alternating positions after every 10. To make this slightly easier, Partner 2 should hold a straight-arm plank and not perform the push-up.
BANZA
FITNESS
Jump Squat and Plank Partner 1 will begin in a standard forearm plank and maintain this position throughout. Partner 2 will stand at the level of Partner 1’s knees and while keeping feet together, jump sideways over them, lifting feet as high as possible off the ground. Repeat jumping back to the other side and continue for 20 jumps, then alternate positions. To make this easier, Partner 1 may drop knees to the floor in a plank, and Partner 2 may jump over with one foot at a time.
Sit-Up High 5’s The key to this move is motivating one another. Both partners will lie on their backs with their legs and knees raised. From here they will raise their upper bodies (leading with the chest) performing a sit-up. Once they reach the highest point of the sit-up, they should high five each other - give a word of motivation, and lower their upper bodies back down. Repeat this 30 times, performed in sets of 10 if needed.
Straight Arm Plank Taps This exercise will require that each partner begins in a straight-arm plank position facing each other- elevating a leg to make it harder, or dropping a knee to make it easier. From here, they will take turns to gently try to push the other partner over by tapping their arms/shoulders. This activity should be repeated for 2 minutes, breaking at 30-second intervals if needed.
Once you have performed the exercises and had a good catch up with your accountability partner, be sure to discuss your meal plans for the week ahead. Remember the importance of water, as well as post-workout meals. It’s 80% nutrition, 20% exercise - so make sure you don’t let this workout go to waste!
MUSIC ALBUM REVIEW
Wake Up You!
Album Review
The Rise and Fall of Nigerian Rock
“
The compilation sounds original but remotely familiar – it resonates the recovery and redecoration of distant art forms with a lively urgency that cannot stop.
”
BANZA
AUGUST MUSIC RELEASES
The Shadow Self Tarja Release Date: 05/08/2016
Suicide Squad: Album Various Artists Release Date: 05/08/2016
XX OAR Release Date: 05/08/2016
Unleashed Skillet Release Date: 05/08/2016
SremmLife 2 Rae Sremmurd Release Date: 12/08/2016
Pure & Simple Dolly Patron Release Date: 19/08/2016
Big Life The Rifles Release Date: 19/08/2016
Memento Mori Gemini Syndrome Release Date: 19/08/2016
Total Depravity The Veils Release Date: 26/08/2016
RECOMMENDED
MOVIE RECOMMENDATION
Suicide Squad
“
A mix of insanity, amazement and questionable morals, Suicide Squad is not the kind of movie you will forget after turning your back from the screen.
”
BANZA
AUGUST MOVIE RELEASES
Nine Lives Genre: Comedy Release Date: 05/08/2016
The Founder Genre: Biography Release Date: 05/08/2016
Pete’s Dragon Genre: Family Release Date: 12/08/2016
Florence Foster Jenkins Genre: Drama Release Date: 12/08/2016
Ben-Hur Genre: Historical Release Date: 19/08/2016
War Dogs Genre: Comedy Release Date: 19/08/2016
Kubo and the Two Strings Genre: Animation Release Date: 19/08/2016
Mechanic: Resurrection Genre: Thriller Release Date: 26/08/2016
Don’t Breathe Genre: Horror Release Date: 26/08/2016
BANZA
U
BANZA
&
I