Imagine That
8 Ways
to Flow with Foes
Roy Lollchand
SUGAR SPICE
SUMMER The Pressure to Love
Meklit Baye
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snack time Our products will enable you to see where you want to go and they will further drive you there.
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CEO Joseph Rutakangwa SUPPORT African Leadership University
COLUMNISTS Joseph RutakangwaFeature Story Kabo Madigele Business Mohammed Bouya Business Interviews Houcem Khlifi Sports Mary Mang’eni Fashion Meklit Baye Events
CONTRIBUTORS Eric Maingi Editor-in-chief Elsa Yeboah Boateng Director of Photography Linda Admassu Photography Hawi TIyo Make up Artist Meklit Baye Cover girl/Model Dennis Kayebeta Model
Banza Magazine
@Banza_Imagine
banzamagazine@gmail.com
banzamagazine.wordpress.com
First Edition 3
My
-oh-my! It’s all sugar;
it’s allspice; it’s all fancy; it's all family! Cakes, ice cream, chocolate and lots of love. Mmmh! Can you believe that it's already that time of the year? ‘f course you can. My excitement should be evident by this time, and if not, let me try harder; gifts, fireworks on the beach, massage de relaxation… (I’m getting there, right? Right.) If there was ever a time to embrace your family and friends, to be a blessing to many a folk, to go on a shopping spree, to surprise your long-lost buddies with a beautiful email, to take a walk on the streets and alleys and find someone to hug and share a meal with (breathe) to be the Santa Claus in someone's life, to… (you know what I mean.)
So kick start your month with some insights on what to wear when you go to that fancy party everyone will be attending in our Fashion Face segment. Flip your way to the gifts to get your loved ones in the DIY section and if you are feeling adventurous, read our ‘what-to-do’ for the holiday fete in Mauritius. And guess who just released an album a while ago, read to find out in our review segments. Oh yes, and because we don’t want any January hangovers, our Business section has got you covered. Let me now have my red velvet and cream, extra sugared. It’s that time of the year. Happy Holidays and a phenomenal 2016. Eric Maingi Editor-in-Chief
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MY PERSPECTIVE Opportunities are real out there, and you don’t need too many skills A Mozambican insight. Having too much ambition is great. Its what we all need. A Rwandan insight.
6-13 LIFESTYLE Sugar, Spice and Summer! These are the perfect ingredients for an indelible month. FASHION FACE Meklit Baye shows us what to wear for fancies this season. Dennis Kayebeta holds id down for the men’s fancies. 60 seconds with Wiem Boubaker and Mukami Ireri
14-23
BETTER ME The season to meet people might lead to heart aches. We take you through a heart shield. When the haters seem to pull you down, you need to step up. But how to step up?
24-27
BUSINESS Culinary Business, its highs, lows and more details with Roy Lollchand.
28-33
With rife cases of business failures, our specialist gives us some insight on why costing might be the root cause of failure REVIEWS -The biggest most awaited album has its Tissue moments -FIFA in 2015 -Movies and Music Albums of the year..
34-38
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SIBINDE Am창ncio When following the norm gets you nowhere, you create new paths for you and others. Then you get somewhere.
INGABIRE Fatuma Despite the mud, I dream of bathing in the rain, because there is not an amount of ambition that is too much.
...And influence a generation that's lacking in patience ... Aubrey Drake Graham
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By Joseph Rutakangwa
Amâncio Sibinde On Life and Leadership
I
t’s the Saturday morning of Diwali Week, and Amancio Sibinde appears, right on time, from the stairs of Elysée Résidence. He has had only three hours of sleep last night, he has put in long hours of work but still has more work to finish. He is wearing a rosewood V-neck T-shirt and a relaxed-fit earth-yellow jeans. “Heeey!” he says, his voice full of energy, as he breaks into a colossal smile. “I am so ready for this.” He is beaming with excitement. This is his first magazine interview.
There are few people as charming as 22-year-old Amancio Sibinde, who worked at the Presidential residence of Mozambique, Pálacio da Ponta Vermelha, whilst being a student at the Martin Luther King American Cultural Centre. In one fell swoop, Amancio joined the African Leadership University and found himself shouldering the dreams of an entire country. We head to Trou Aux Biches beach. Watching out for cars in the road, Amancio tells me, “I didn’t believe that I was admitted to the African Leadership University (ALU) until I arrived here.” Amancio has an old-school attitude of life. 7
He calls it “solid faith.” When I joke about his wavering faith on being admitted to ALU, he responds, “I was on a plane, but I kept asking myself whether I was going to get there. God, are you sure about this? This journey was something else.” Long before Founders* were awed by his charisma and his Portuguese lessons, Amancio was already an entrepreneur. His first memory of business was at age 19, working with 1980 Hotel, which has affiliations with the Presidential residence. “Securing a job is very important in Mozambique, especially when you’re young. I started as a temporary employee and ended up recruiting new employees for the hotel. Engaging in small businesses helped me earn an income which I used to cover my personal expenses which did not sound as necessary to my parents. If you have a goal you will always
*Founders: The first batch of Students at the African Leadership University who are considered to have found the school.
Life was not always a smoothly-paved road for Amancio. High school was tough; students had to bribe teachers to get good grades. It was the best school in the country, but very corrupt. “Teachers don’t want you to succeed. Corruption was a fashion. I still remember what my Chemistry teacher told me during the finals. ‘If you don’t give me $10 forget about passing Chemistry.”
I know what it means to be in a prison of my own making. You reach a point when you don't have a reason to smile.
After a long, bitter struggle, he finally graduated. But things had just gotten worse. He couldn’t make it to university. Despite his high scores, he was rejected by all three of his favourite universities. Explaining the reality of education in his country, Amancio says, “If I had money and bribed them, I would have joined without even doing the entrance exams. Corruption in Mozambique is extremely high to the extent that it is a normal procedure.” He remembers the year after high school as the worst in his life. “I know what it means to be in a prison of my own making. You reach a point when you don’t have a reason to smile. You find yourself lost in the smile of others. And then you ask yourself, why can’t they be lost in my smile?” Amancio recalls. 8
In the midst of these hard times, he applied to multiple jobs until he got his first job at 1980 Hotel in the human resources department. He worked hard, made friends, and built a network. After one year, he was already in charge of recruiting temporary employees for big events. He later got an offer, through a person he met at an event, to work with the Presidential Palace in coordinating events and ceremonies. We walk back to the grand Elysée Résidence for an indulgent dinner. While we tuck into delicious platters of fish, rice, and sorbets, Amancio tells me that most people who helped him throughout his life didn’t even know him. “They did it because of they were leaders in nature. There are people who you can ask what leadership is, they don’t know, but it’s what they are doing. I believe that the greatest leaders are the ones we cannot see, those we don’t know; who are not famous.”
In 25 years, I will... Run a business Value people’s skills Give opportunities to people
Value people as human beings Help people who need help Effect change in Mozambique
I ask him why we sometimes fail in life. “We fail not because we are not informed, but we want to listen to a specific person. For example, if an expert announces on television that the world will collapse tomorrow, no one will take action. But if a president announces the same thing, everyone will act upon it.” Amancio believes to succeed in life, we should listen more; not to people who talk the most, but to those who talk less. As I get startled by his astute insight, I become curious to know who Amancio Sibinde will be 25 years from now. “A 47-year-old Amancio will run a non-traditional business. I want to value skills and pay people because of their skills and not education. I will give opportunities to people who don’t have skills or education to gain expertise and make a living. I value a person because he or she is human, motivated, and passionate.” Explaining his motivation behind that vision, he says, “Grading people according to their education and skills filters out people who actually need opportunities. Today, we help people who want help instead of helping those who need help. It is the reason many people are still living below the poverty line despite all the efforts made. We, the youth, have the responsibility of changing the status quo. It took me a leave from Mozambique to really understand how much change it needs.” Standing up and smiling for a few seconds as if he is already running a company in his home country, “I will bring that change in Mozambique.” 9
There’s only One Second Edition
And there is only One Fatuma
Fatuma Ingabire is calling the shots as a student, writer, director, and sister. This month, she will appear in a play titled: Of the Two Daughters, One Womb, and A Life Abroad, which she wrote and will direct and it’s their first play at the African Leadership University .
By Joseph Rutakangwa
“I have no idea I never get enough. And it scares me to think about it,” says Fatuma Ingabire. Then she laughs. She’s talking about how difficult it is to describe where she will be in 25 years. Two months after her last job as teaching assistant at Kepler Kigali – an institution where she acquired most of her skills – it’s a non-profit university program designed for the developing world. “I think of doing too many things to the extent that I don’t even bother thinking about my future self,” she says, speaking with humour and intensity, bringing to life soulless waters of Troux-aux-Biches beach.
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Fatuma’s in a steel-blue wrap dress and flip-flops – which are perfect for the setting. She wears no sunscreen. Why bother? Her skin has enough melanin to protect her against sun rays. Before coming to the African Leadership University, ALU, she says, she thought she will “meet very intelligent students and find myself with no ideas to contribute when discussing serious topics. It is funny how normal they are. They eat, play, sleep, and get challenged just like me.” She laughs again and covers her face with her hands. “As an ambitious student I wanted something that took me out of my comfort zone,” she explains. “Just restarting college. It’s not the safest idea. But I have responsibilities.” Fatuma, of course, has never played it safe. And at this point in her adventurous life, perhaps the only risk left is to re-adjust to an unconventional university, maximize her potential. And so after receiving admission to ALU the spring of this year, she packed her bags and left Kepler to the island nation of Mauritius, one of the most beautiful islands on earth, and started college.
“It is a new life,” she says, with a wideopen smile that expresses all that’s left unsaid about the highly privileged carnival that is her life Her older sister, Tujiza, studies at Kepler Kigali. Her young sister, Fathia, graduated from high school last month. And her young brother, Karim, is in third grade. “We are so close to our mother and have each other’s backs,” says Fatuma. “We have been through so much together and that has tightened our relationship. There was a time my sisters and I had to figure out how we can finance education on our own. We had only one year to break through. We supported each other, taught one another, and pushed beyond out limits to succeed. Tujiza got sponsored by our close Belgium friend, I received sponsorship from my school, and Fathia was sponsored by Imbuto Foundation. I was only 14.” When we meet, Ingabire has just returned from a Peer Group session, where she was working on her Communication for Impact assignment. .
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“Words are not enough to express how happy I am to be at ALU,” she says, “I grew up in an environment that did not give me room to dream or aspire. I used to look at a big picture and people would say, “you cannot do that.” I now live in a community that tells me “yeah, you can reach there!” The first decade after she was born, Ingabire had moved to four different countries – unlike any other children – she had to look over her shoulders because she was an undocumented immigrant. In such an environment “there’s no way a child can dream. All they can do is hope they can wake up the next day, have three meals, and sleep peacefully. I couldn’t dream to become a pilot, or doctor, or a writer because I was not encouraged to do so. No one told me, you need to study hard become a writer, or an actor. All they told me was to get a job and survive; that I would go back home and have a life,” she recalls.
Fatuma doesn’t see herself teaching forever. “What a crazy job!” she says. “I’m enjoying it more now that I see it as something I’ve been fortunate to do. Maybe in the next few years I’ll focus more on writing and directing. I’ll be happier behind the camera,” she continues. “I am proud to be African and I want to tell a story of an African child, woman, and society.”
No one told me, you need to study hard become a writer, or an actor. All they told me was to get a job and survive; that I would go back home and have a life.
2013: Fatuma, Karim and Fadhia
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As much as Fatuma likes to try out every career path, “a foundation to help children is the only constant in my dream,” she says. “Every child has a right to dream. If it’s a home that helps them dream, that’s what I will give them. If it’s education, I will give them. I want children to live in an environment that provides them room to dream and aspire.”
We all see the world at different angles, but Fatuma’s view is interesting. She sees the world as “a hospital and everyone has their own level of sickness. I feel it’s not right to go around complaining about our problems. Talking to someone else about our problems is like hurting someone who is already hurt. We tend to think we deserve attention because we have bigger problems than everyone else. By doing so, we disregard what others are going through. We should always find ways to cure ourselves and then be the ones reach out to others.”
The world is a hospital and everyone has their own level
TALK TO US We would like to hear what you think about our
of sickness. I feel it is not
feature stories
right to go around
and articles.
complaining about our problems
Drop us an email:
banzamagazine@gmail.com
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It’s Sugary! It’s Spicy! It’s Summer! And there is no better way to dress the part and cut a dash. This is the season to be an icon. From how you do your make up to how you use the environment to your advantage. Be
the talk of 2016 with this edition of Fashion Face. MARY MANG’ENI
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Gold Crusted Cuff earrings Bronze Beaded bracelet Mint Green Peplum Dress Photo Credits Elsa Yeboah-Boateng
Meklit Baye 15
You don’t want to overdress but you need to leave an impression! Make a statement with a 6-inch double sole spiked heel for elegance and comfort. And wait for the lunch.
Dress to impress. Wear a V– Neck, to accentuate your neck, do a classic up-do to your hair
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A light shade of makeup with a pop of lipstick to glow in the sun.
A formal sleek chignon on the hair will do great to boost the makeup on the face.
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A Black and Bronze strappy 2-inch heel, Handmade Habesha dress with Telet detail will make you stand out in the summer fete season.
La Femme Baby blue laced crop top and a pencil skirt that is a shade darker. Cross earrings and brown sunglasses boost the killer pose.
L’Homme Slim tight white t-shirt and khaki shorts. Accessorize with a leather wrist watch.
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Dennis Kayebeta
African printed Dashiki shirts for the gentleman are a must-have. And as you wait for that taxi to get to the party, be the talk on the street.
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Nude coloured khaki trousers will pop the dashiki and the black loafers will make the dance easier.
Behind the Lenses
Eye Pencil, Check!
Align that hair
Final touches Linda! Some help
Take one!
At the actual scene
Hmm, Let me get up close
Oh La! La!
6 0 S E C O N D S
Mukami Ireri AGE 20
By Meklit Baye
Wiem Boubaker AGE 22
I am driven to be unique, elegant and
I am driven to change the perception
smart
of Muslim women being oppressed
I think of current clothes as being
I absolutely love transforming ideas
common. They can be sewn differently.
into reality
I dress in something that makes me
I want to open up my Boutique, Salon
feel comfortable and unique, always.
and fashion line.
I hope that when Kenyan girls want to
I hope that Tunisian girls will break
do something, they just do it. If its de-
out of the regular clothing trends and
signing new clothes or altering the cur-
choose things that fit them better.
rent ones, just do it.
Do you find it hard It’s a Good Sign
to fall in love?
When we are young, we never listen to anyone and fall in love with the wrong people time and again – people who don’t treat us well. But we often don’t care as long as we get the one we want. By Joseph Rutakangwa As we mature, we slowly learn that to be treated well, not only should we demand respect but I also have to become 1. You Love more selective in finding partners – and that’s how it gets tricky. Yourself Here’s why the struggle to fall in love is a good sign. As we mature, many of us learn that to move on in a positive way we must learn to love ourselves. When it comes to love, many people shy away from a partner who is only attentive to themselves – and these are the kind of partners you want to avoid. You want to attract a partner who appreciates your worth and admires your ability to put yourself first.
2. You Have a Full Life If you have been single for a while you have probably filled your life with very interesting things. Fun activities, family visits, holidays and work all take up your time. You can re-prioritize if that is your wish. You can juggle some things around to fit in a prospective partner and see how it goes. It is entirely up to you how much time you wish to devote to a significant other. Make it work for you.
3. You’re Self Protective
Some of us have been seriously hurt by someone we held dear and these wounds take a long time to heal. We can become weary of meeting someone new and put up our guard. Being selfprotective is not innately a bad thing. If anything, this is the intelligent thing to do. Why would anyone rush back into another relationship for the same thing to happen again? The more careful we are the less likely we are to fall in love with a loser or a user.
4. You Enjoy Your Space It is a lovely thing to be able to enjoy your own space. During times of solitude – be it an alone weekend or on a night break on the beach – we allow for self-development and introspection. This is very healthy and helps us to become more well-rounded people. Sometimes, however, while we want a companion in life we don’t necessarily want to share all of that space with them. This is perfectly understandable and anyone worth their salt will respect that and give you your space. If they are happy to give you your space you will know you are on the
5. You Don’t Suffer Fools Over the years, you’ve learned not to entertain people who seem highly likely to waste your time. Through experience, you’ve figured out who these people are likely to be and you don’t take long in releasing them from your life. This is truly wonderful. Wisdom is a great reward. The path to meeting someone who is truly right for you is clear because of this gift.
6. You Have Your Independence You learn to look after yourself in every way when you are single. You work so you have your own money and you have your friends and family for company. There comes a point when you can survive easily if you never met someone. The choice is ours when we reach this point. We can do as we wish – we have no need to meet someone unless we really do want to fall in love.
7. You Want a Meaningful Relationship As we grow older we want a relationship that will be rewarding and meaningful. We want to be on the same page as our new date. We want to have a lot in common, be able to talk together and have that physical attraction at the same time. It’s not good enough anymore to simply hook up with the first person we feel attracted to and hope for the best; as mature people we want more. Real love is what we look for as we mature and while that may be harder to find, it lasts longer and it’s far more rewarding. So take your time for, when you find them, they will be a good fit, for a long time.
Here’s How Smart people Deal with Those they Dislike By Joseph Rutakangwa
We don’t live in a perfect world. Some people drive us crazy, and we drive a few mad as well. Those we dislike are inconsiderate, rushed, malign our character, question our motives, or just don’t get our jokes at all — but expect us to laugh at all theirs. According to Robert Sutton (a professor of management science at Stanford University), it’s neither possible — nor even ideal — to build a team comprised entirely of people you’d invite to a backyard barbecue. That’s why smart people make the
They accept that they are not going to like everyone. Sometimes we get caught in the trap of thinking that we are nice people. It’s inevitable you will encounter difficult people who oppose what you think. Smart people know this. That person you don’t like is not a bad human. You don’t get along because you have different values, and that difference creates judgment. Once you accept that, you will get along better by agreeing to disagree.
They bear with (not ignore or dismiss) those they don’t like. Smart people need people who have different points of view and aren’t afraid to argue. They are the kind of people who stop the organization from failing. It may not be easy but bear with them. It is often those who challenge us that prompt us to new insights and help propel the group to success. Remember, you are not perfect either, yet people still tolerate you.
They treat those they don’t like with civility. Whatever your feelings are for someone, that person will be highly attuned to your attitude, and will likely reflect it back to you. If you are rude to them, they will likely throw away all decorum and be rude to you too. The onus, therefore; is on you to remain fair, impartial and composed.
They pause and take a deep breath. If you can pause and get a grip on your adrenaline pump and go to the intellectual part of your brain, you’ll be able to have a conversation and to skip over the judgment. A deep breath and one big step back can also help to calm you down and protect you from overreaction, thereby allowing you to proceed with a slightly more open mind and heart.
They check their own expectations. If a person causes you to feel exactly the same way every time, adjust your expectations appropriately. This way you’ll be psychologically prepared and their behaviour will not catch you by surprise. Smart people do this all the time. They’re not always surprised by a dislikable person’s behaviour.
They voice their own needs. If certain people constantly tick you off, calmly let them know that their manner of behaviour or communication style is a problem for you. Avoid accusatory language and instead try the “When you . . . I feel . . .” formula.
They turn inwards and focus on themselves. No matter what you try, some people can still really get under our skin. It’s important that you learn how to handle your frustration when dealing with someone who annoys you. Instead of thinking about how irritating that person is, focus on why you are reacting the way you are. Sometimes what we don’t like in others is frequently what we don’t like in ourselves. Besides, they didn’t create the button, they’re only pushing it.
They allow space between them. If all else fails, smart people allow space between themselves and those they don’t like. Excuse yourself and go on your way. If at work, move to another room or sit at the other end of the conference table. With a bit of distance, perspective, and empathy, you may be able to come back and interact both with those people you like and those you don’t like as if unfazed. Hopefully after reading this you will cancel that flight you booked and enjoy life .
EFFECTIVE
COSTING
Photo credits: www.theguardian.com
By Kabo Madigele
At a superficial level, the principal locus of this is insufficient capital to keep the business running. In addition, other factors also come into
It is alarming. If a recent Bloomberg study is anything to go by, eight out of
play. More often than not, poor management
ten enterprises fail within
and lack of critical competencies such as in fi-
their first eighteen months.
nance, purchasing, production, selling and
A whooping eighty percent!
building strong teams. Top leadership may just crumble as a result of self-sabotage inspired by
However, indicators of the sinking of the
poor decision making and dysfunctional struc-
ship begin well before the brutal titanic-
tures. Another root cause is the failure to un-
like financial catastrophe. One of them
derstand and interact with the market, which is tantamount to the inability to craft a profitable business model with proven income streams. Poor location, poor marketing, lack of planning and bad expansion strategies add up to the mix. The list goes on and on.
is ineffective costing. But before we can delve much into it, what is a cost? Loosely defined, it is any amount of money that has to be paid to get something.
In business, it can refer to a monetary val-
That is one section of the business is subsi-
uation of materials, resources, time and
dizing another part. This is detrimental in
utilities consumed and risks incurred. It is
the long run.
important to note that all expenses are costs but not all costs (such as those sus-
As an entrepreneur seeking to turn around
tained in the buying of income generating
his/her costing procedures, the following are
assets) are expenses. There are two main
a bullet piece of information that can be used
types of costs; direct costs are those that
to achieve such. They form an indispensable
can be directly tied to production, such as
part of efficient costing techniques.
raw materials. Indirect costs such as overheads cannot be directly tied to any of the
Uniform Costing. Several undertakings use
production processes.
the same costing principles or practices. Different activities in a business should adopt a
One is compelled to have this burning question; why is efficient costing that much important in business? For startups, it helps in determining or having a good estimate the right amount of finance and how the amount of money needed from other sources. Also, knowing the cost
common method of costing and apply uniformly the same principles and techniques for better cost comparison and common good and helps in mutual cost control and cost reduction. Hence, it is recommended that a uniform method of costing should be adopted by the member units of a business.
of an item or an activity makes it possible to calculate the profit from it. This
Standard Costing. The actual cost is com-
is crucial. Many businesses are usually not
pared to a prearranged standard cost and
aware that a specific item or activity is
the cost of any deviation (called variances) is
making a loss because some of the costs
analysed by causes. This allows the manage-
that should have been incurred have been
ment to investigate the cause of these dispar-
absorbed elsewhere.
ities and put in place remedial action.
Historical Costing. Costs are ascertained
Since the price has to exceed the cost of
after they have been incurred. The main
production, effective costing enables appro-
goal is to determine costs on work actually
priate pricing, which should reflect what
done in the past. It has limited use, though
the market can stand.
periodical comparisons may bear good results.
From this, it is evident that to reach target
Direct Costing. All direct costs, variable
profit margins, it is important to en-
and some fixed costs related to processes,
sure that efficient costing controls are in
operations or products are charged, leaving
place.
the rest of the costs to be deducted from profits in which they arise.
Absorption costing. All costs, both variable
METHODS OF COSTING 1.
and fixed, are charged to operations, processes or products. This is different from
2.
marginal costing where fixed costs are not included.
3.
Cost is also closely knitted to price and value. Price is the amount of money paid for a
4.
product or service while value is defined from the customer’s perception and represents their appraisal of the worth of the product of service offered.
5.
Uniform Costing Best applied by unit members of business Standard Costing Best applied for investigations of discrepancies Historical Costing Best for periodic comparisons Direct Costing Applied to those processes that are attributable on a marginal basis Absorption Costing For all costs-operational, procedural and production.
There is more to a fat heart than meets the eye
Roy Lollchand is a solid mass of intelligence and success. Like a pendulum, he continually oscillated between crests and troughs. But as a good sailor, he lived Christopher Columbus’ words by having the courage to lose the sight of the shore. As he looks back and reminisces, an inspirational account emerges.
“I am not a chef. I am a cook. A chef is a uniformed person and his uniform builds strong repulsive forces around him. There is an unclimbable wall between him and his people. He is inaccessible.”
INTERESTS
By Kabo Madigele and Mohamed Maalainine
Food Travelling The Rodriguez Island for its serenity and naturally produced food. Switzerland for its chocolate and mountainous terrain. Kashmir for its quietness and snowy winters.
Like
any other normal child, he had his own level of naughtiness. However, his version was more than the ordinary; it went on excite and ignite latent energies within him. It ignited a passion that has formed an indispensable part of his life.
He vividly recalls those days when he and his cousin engaged in all forms of boyhood escapades. The most memorable and significant episode was when they would forcibly toss away a layer chicken from its eggs, find any scrap kitchen utensils in the household and make a rudimentary fire complete for a makeshift kitchen. From this setup, a culinary masterpiece would evolve, at least in their own standards. He was also fascinated by his chef uncle’s dexterity with the knife. Watching him meticulously chop vegetables and meat was enough food for thought. Charged up, a young Roy took his hunger to local restaurants. As the saying goes great things are a series of small things brought together, he kick-started his journey as a waiter in a hotel, in 1996. By incessantly showing passion for his vocation, he quickly made his way into the kitchen. As if that what not enough, in 1999 a seventeenyear-old Roy moved to Paris, where he plied his trade in the world’s famous French cuisine. It was a dream come true.
However his stay in France was interrupted after only two years, then twenty years old. He had to come back home as father had passed on and had to assume his position as head of the family. This development was tantamount to more responsibility. He had his mother and a twelve-year-old brother to provide for. His responsibilities were also heightened by his marriage, which produced two children. Through all these tribulations, the food was his sole source of solace. Roy started to work in a family shop as a cook for about four years and later worked for an established hotel, where he stayed for two years. He later moved to a bigger one, where he worked for an uninterrupted fifteen years. His hotel work ran concurrently with his side businesses. He started a catering company to serve an array of clients, from small parties to even esteemed institutions like embassies.
the main requisite is the One thing he likes most about the catering business is its randomness. Everyday emerges with its own unique challenges. One is challenged to make something out of nothing, which makes each and every detail more interesting.
love for people; the customers. Inability to fraternize well with them enormously paralyses the business.
To expand his domain, he and his partner opened a restaurant in Trou Aux Biches in 2012. It, unfortunately, closed shop this year, owing to low sales. He attributes this to a poor location which had low customer volumes. On top of that, they did not invest substantially in marketing, as they only relied on word of mouth advertising. Consequently, they lost colossally as the business went under. As it may obviously be demoralising, his entrepreneurship spirit, however, gained might. Having managed to defy the odds, he is now established and sailing in still waters. However, that does not mean that there are no instances when his ship is unsettled by turbulent waves. His principal challenge is finding and assembling a strong team of passionate people. According to him, culinary skills are just a threshold, the main requisite is the love for people; the customers. Inability to fraternize well with them enormously paralyses the business. Going into the future, Roy does not harbour any farfetched fantasy. He is utterly content with what he has now. His face lights up when he says this. “The summit of my journey is the love that the African Leadership University commune is showering me with. I am honoured. It is something I have never dreamt of. The entire experience is priceless.’’
As a silver bullet piece of advice for existing and upcoming entrepreneurs, he seriously says, “The main ingredient in the success recipe is honesty. In the quest to make profits from your enterprises, do not do that at the expense of your customers. Also, share your success with them. This is crucial.’’ ‘’Furthermore, cooking is wholly about the use of all human senses. I believe that this can be transcribed into all our endeavours. ‘’ ‘’Above all, follow your passion.’’ After uttering this wise narration, he quickly rises and rushes to the kitchen to make another culinary tour de force.
AT A GLANCE By Houcem Khlifi F I F A had so many conflicts during the last period where its previous president Sepp Blatter is facing a criminal investigation in Switzerland.
The world’s football organisation, F I F A , take a step forward by announcing that it has admitted five candidates for its presidential election in February 2016. The candidates are Prince Ali Bin Al Hus of Jordan, President of the West Asian Football Federation, former South African minister Tokyo Sexwale, the current Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain, former F I F A official Jerome Champagne of France and U E F A general secretary Gianni Infantino of Switzerland. However, UEFA president Michel Platini was not allowed to participate because he was suspended for 90 days for investigation. Adding to the last point, the legend of soccer game Maradona had his own view about FIFA’s corruption. He said “I’ve been saying it for a very long time, I am fighting against corruption in F I F A , which Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini are involved in,” explained Maradona.
“I hope to get into F I F A and give it a good clean and get rid of those who are corrupt. If everybody who is in F I F A today really wants the best for the game they’ll stand with us but if not, they need to go. F I F A must be transparent.” Raul, the famous Spanish football legend, has ended his career with another trophy as he won the North American Soccer League title with the New York Cosmos in his final match as a professional footballer against the Ottawa Fury. It was a great opportunity for him to bring the curtain down on his career after the match. The 38-year-old, who won six La Liga crowns and three Champions League titles with Real Madrid, spoke at a press conference on Sunday, Raul said: “Of course I have enjoyed clinching these trophies but winning games and titles isn’t the most important thing. What counts and what I will never forget is the love I got from my team-mates, my former team-mates and even players from opposing teams.” Raul, who also played at Germany’s Schalke and Al Sadd in Qatar, was Real Madrid’s record scorer with 323 goals until last month when Cristiano Ronaldo took over the honour. This legend has given a lot to the soccer world and impressed all his fans with his special football skills, and we all agree that he will be remembered thanks to his records and well-known history.
"Hello from the other side, I must've called a thousand times, to tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done, but when I call you never seem to be home." — Hello
Take Your Tissues 11 Most Soul-Crushing Lyrics from ADELE’s 25
"I
fears, nobody told me that
you'd be here, and I swear
By Joseph Rutakangwa "I
was so scared to face my
"When the pain
love the way your body
cuts you deep, when the
moves, towards me from
night keeps you from sleep-
across the room, brush-
ing , just look and you will
ing past my every groove,
see, that I will be your reme-
no one has me like you
dy." — Remedy
you moved overseas, that's what you said, when you left me. — When We Were Young
"It's so cold in the wilderness , I want you to be my keeper , but not if you're
"If you're not the one for me, why do I hate the idea of being free?" — Water Under the Bridge
"Sometimes I feel lonely in the
so reckless." — Water
arms of your touch, but I
Under the Bridge
know that's just me because nothing ever is enough." — River Lea"
“I wish I could live a little more, look up to the sky not just the floor, I feel like my
"Please don't fall apart, I
“Hold me like I'm more
life is flashing by, and all I
can't face your breaking
than just a friend, give
can do is watch and
heart, I'm trying to be brave
me a memory I can use,
cry." — Million Years Ago
stop asking me to say." —
take me by the
Love in the Dark
hand while we do face that I've ever known, there is somewhat lovers
. "I've been looking for you baby in every
thing about the way you love me that finally feels like home." — Sweetest Devotion
2015 MUSIC ALBUMS
Sufjan Stevens– Carrie & Lowell Critic Score 90
Kendrick Lamar-To Pimp a Butterfly Critic Score 94
Coldplay– A head full of Dreams
Bruce Springsteen The Ties that BindThe River Collection
Release Date: 04/12/2015
Release Date: 04/12/2015
Lil WayneThe Carter V
T-Pain-StoicvilleThe Phoenix
Release Date: 31/12/2015
Release Date: 11/12/2015
Mbongwana Star- From Kinshasa Critic Score 91
Rick RossBlack Market Release date: 04/12/2015
50 Cent– Street King Immortal Release Date: 31/12/2015
2015 MOVIES
The lady in the VAN Genre: Biography Release Date: 04/12/2015
In the Heart of the Sea Genre : Adaption Release Date: 11/12/2015
Star Wars; The Force Awakens Genre : Sci-Fi Release Date: 18/12/2015
Krampus Genre : Horror Release Date: 04/12/2015
Alvin & the Chipmunks Genre : Animation Release Date: 23/12/2015
The Big Shorts Concussion Genre : Drama Genre : Sports Release Date: 23/12/2015 Release Date: 23/12/2015
Sisters Genre : Comedy Release Date: 18/12/2015
Joy Genre : True Story Release Date: 23/12/2015
Summer Events Here are some ways to get you enjoying the festivities at its fullest here in Mauritius. While you have
the option to do as you please, you don’t want to miss out on what’s hot and ignore what’s not.
One Live Muzik Festival Dec 11, 7:00 PM to Dec 12, 3:00 AM at Port Louis Port- Louis Tel: (230) 57244549
Laura et son Univers Musical Dec 5, 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at Phoenix J & J Auditorium, Phoenix Tel: (230) 4669999
Paradise Land Clubbing Tour at 7 Cascades Restaurant Dec 5, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Henrietta 7 Cascades Restaurant, Henrietta Tel: (230) 54758597
Barber shop and Salon
Value your look, boost your confidence
I am what I am because of who we all are
ElysĂŠe RĂŠsidence
Trou Aux Biches
+230 582 86493/ +230 590 1858
#sharethelove
See you in
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