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I especially love this month's issue mainly because of the theme. Love yourself. That simple, getting a reminder to love yourself on the month of love. I think that was genius! I love how your target demographic is everyone, from safe economic articles to edge of the seat lifestyle columns(read porn column which spoke nothing but the truth) I cannot emphasize how much I appreciate this magazine. Thank you
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BANZA CREW LIFESTYLE BUSINESS
FASHION FACE
Hawi Tiyo Torey Foss
Maatla Kgasa
Meklit Baye
Kabo Madigele
Mary Mang'eni
Houcem Khlifi Gcinekile Zwane Charles Msilanga Kaone Tlagae Fanidh Senanta Joseph Rutakangwa
FEATURED Hana Shashaa Morema Mafantiri
Stephanie Gogo Safiya Salau Flora Nyoro Marie Umunonoka Linda Onyango
CONTRIBUTORS Eric Maingi Editor-in-chief Ermias Mehari Graphic Designer Elsa Yeboah-Boateng Director of Photography Baraka PIlipili Communications Andrew Wani Marketing
Michael Muturi Photography
Linda Admassu Photography Sookara Akshee Photography Ebelee Molua Makeup Artist Hawi Tiyo Hair and Makeup
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BANZA MAGAZINE CEO Joseph Rutakangwa Support African Leadership Unversity
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Behind the scences
Shoes check? Eyes check? Models are ready to roll. Action!
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BANZA
| Editor's Note
My niece just turned 3. I can recall the day she learnt how to walk. She stood up and found her balance, and, with a determination like no other, stretched her foot and made her first stride. Score! The wobbly led on to another wobbly one. And another one. She made four strides and then fell on her bums. With one swoop, the mother gave her a heavy hug and a big dose of milk to celebrate her accomplishment. She was one-year-old then. Don't you just love how girls appreciate themselves? They are vouching for themselves. Through selfies, through makeup, heels, entrepreneurship, marriage, motherhood, education, modelling… it goes on and on. They serve as a reminder to an age of fast foods and slow digestions, that being proud of you, every single piece of you is the number one tactic to thriving. According to Jennifer Bourne of Bourne Creative, the colour purple represents meanings of wealth, extravagance, creativity, wisdom, dignity, grandeur, devotion, peace, pride, mystery, independence, and magic. And this is what Shemotions is all about.
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Our feature is a lady who has been on the move ever since she left Jordan, thrives on positive energy and being around people. Our models are on the move to redefine Ankara. Our lifestyle is packed with insight that will get you tweeting and screenshotting. And, we’ve got some extra sweet, extra special something for you ladies. Shemotions is for the ladies who are not afraid to express their passions, articulate their interests and live their lives just doing 'them.' They embrace their emotions because they are a special kind of feelings; they are shemotions that get them ready to face the day. This is for the ladies in action The Ladies in motion who are making the move to better themselves. As you feast on that cake, I hope that one day, when you will be old enough to read a magazine, that you will be a bold, poised, courageous and well-meaning lady who moves, shakes and shoots beyond the stars. Happy reading, Eric Maingi,
Editor-in-chief
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CONTENTS
BANZA CREW
EDITOR’S NOTE
This month, the team has diligently worked to give you Shemotions.
Our Editor-in-chief is thrilled to drop his two cents on what Shemotions means and his aspirations for the three –yearold.
Specially tailed for the fairer sex, Banza team wishes you a wonderful women's day.
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How can we improve your We get to hear from some
09 experience, dearest reader? of our readers in North Carolina
FEATURE SOTRIES
FEATURE SOTRIES
From Amman to Montreal and now Pamplemousses , Hana Shashaa opens up about her love for social entrepreneurship.
Will it be Stark industries or a muscical production empire? Or an invention that will change how we breathe?
The ball of energy has worked among the great men as a woman to prove that women can grab opportunities by the horn
Meet Morema Mafantiri, the wise and young Mosotho bursting with brilliance, insight and a future brighter than the sun.
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Cover Girl Stephanie Gogo rocks Anakara in Fashion Face
what makes us girls? On why women love being women.
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60 Seconds features Saris & Accessories.
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Lifestyle that gets you moving fast. from what destroys you to what improves you.
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BUSINESS
FASHION FACE
Young entrepreneurs on the move to move and shake the world.
Redefining the African Print from Rwanda with Marie and Kenya with Flora.
Let us change our perception of Insuarance, Inheritance and Investments.
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LADIES SPECIAL LIFESTYLE What makes you proud to 9 habits you need to be a woman? destoy What makes you love your Is Nolwazi having issues womanhood? with her mom? What makes you wake up Ladies, let's talk muscles. everyday? Sport that fits you Plus much much more! Get it from the ladies mouth.
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Stephanie Gogo
Shemotion 17
A Very Revealing Interview with Morema Mafantiri
By Joseph Rutakangwa
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BANZA
AS I'M
writing this, there are fans of Raymoos and Dr. D checking their watches inside Elysée in Trou-auxBiches. They’re waiting for Raymoos, whose real name is Morema Mafantiri, to appear and perform at the 2016 Valentine’s Day Gala. That's in an hour. They've been waiting since 7 p.m. Plenty of time to wonder what he’ll wear. What swag he’ll bring. I get it. I've waited for Raymoos too. In fact, I'm waiting for his performance right now. The whole deal with this cover story was that he would give the nod to as much facetime as we need, but requested to do it next week. I did suit up very carefully for this event, the way I would for a date, thinking hard about how I look to others. I’m sitting with my two friends, one of them says it will be about an hour before the performance, a long time to resist telling him who’s my next feature. “I’m going to meet Morema,” I finally yell over the music. He stops the conversation he was having. “Morema. I’m going to interview him, next week.” “You’re kidding? That’s my buddy,” he says. “I love him, he’s so down-to-earth. He always keeps it cool with his friends and he was our admission representative last year.” “Youth Admission Representative?” I ask, to show that I know what he means.
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“Yes, in Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland,” he replies. I’ve spent an hour getting to know who Raymoos is from my friend’s perspective. Dr. D and Raymoos are on the stage covering “My Love” by Justin Timberlake and T.I. The room is full of merriment as everyone cheers for the upcoming stars. It’s not Morema’s first time performing. Back in Lesotho, his home country, he’s been making music with Sthola, a solo artist, and Yemba who is part of D2amajoe under Tsepe Records. Two weeks later, we’re talking about his interest in hip hop. “I worked with Sthola and Yemba, for some time. These guys are now big icons and are still growing in music,” says Morema Mafantiri. But why did he choose not to go on with hip hop? “I got immersed in my other initiatives, especially VISION, to the point that I couldn’t find time to write lyrics or practice. Also, I was not confident enough to take big stages.” VISION is an organization aiming at providing learning spaces for individuals with interests in mathematics and sciences. Morema found VISION in 2014 with his two other friends. “After graduating from the African Leadership Academy, I got the chance to attend the International Mathematical Olympiad in Cape Town as an invigilator. It was great but I realised that my country was not represented. The competition was hosted in Africa, and there were 12 African countries, but none of them made it in the top 50. That got me thinking a lot. During my gap year after high school, I shared my idea with
Thapelo and Lineo. Both of them were too excited to get VISION started and we did,” he explains. VISION enforces problem-solving skills rather than mathematics as a subject. They offer tutoring programs and train math clubs for regional and national competitions. Growing up, Morema had fantasies, like any other kid. He shares with me some of his mental pictures. “At one point I wished I could change my identity,” he recalls, “There are two identities I really wished I could obtain; one of them being Chinese. I love math, so when I used to see a 13-year-old Chinese mastering calculus and realise I wasn’t covering calculus in my high school curriculum, I felt bad. Their advancement in technology and related stuff inspired me, I wished I was born there. Also, I wanted to be from a really wealthy family because I wanted to have everything at any time. As you grow up, you accept and appreciate the uniqueness of your own identity.” Morema walks me through his journey to where he is today – it’s an interesting one. “It started from 2009 when I was invited to join the science club at my former high school, Lesotho high school,” he says, “I was invited to help them compete in the regional science fair. So here I was, not a club member, but participating in the fair without even paying subscriptions - which was exciting for me. We qualified for the nationals. I joined the club since then and spent a lot of time with people who understood science and math in depth. I met incredible students some of them 12 year olds who were debating about Einstein’s theory
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“At one point I wished I could change my identity,”
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of relativity.” He gained interest to join the African Leadership Academy after his friend got admitted. At first, his parents were against the idea. However, the efforts to convince them paid off and years later he was admitted to his dream school. Since then, Morema has been at the front line of many initiatives, VISION being one of them, and now he’s part of African Leadership University.
about developing Artificial Intelligence (AI). What do you think of it? “Artificial intelligence is like nuclear; it’s brilliant but potentially dangerous. I see a lot of more positive uses than negative ones. When you look at the current use of AI, they have the limited capacity like IBM’s Watson – and I like it that way. What about building an AI similar to Tony Stark’s J.A.R.V.I.S? “I think
For a man who has accomplished so much at such a young age, I wonder how he plans to spend the next 25 years. “I get really excited and scared when I think about it,” he laughs. “One of the images that keep getting in my mind is the collective dream I have with my co-founders, Lineo and Thapelo. We want to build an underground lab. Lesotho has so many mountains, so we want to put our lab under one of them.” You mean like Area 51? “Exactly”, he laughs again. “I see it as being one of the fore front areas of research in the world. I don’t even know what kind of research we’ll be doing, but it just makes me excited when I think about it. Brilliant people working on brilliant ideas in a very odd but beautiful place.” “If not that, I will be running a huge technology company pursuing a different field that we haven’t seen in this age, something that is life changing.” It is now spelled out to me that I’m talking to a future scientist who could be behind inventions – some mysterious. So I want to get things straight
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it’s very exciting. But like in everything else, I feel there’s a need to practice good ethics as scientist and leaders which are why I enjoy the entrepreneurial leadership course at the African Leadership University. We should make great things, but we should also know how to preserve human existence and harmony.” “We can’t stop inventing because of fearing the negative impact of those inventions. I’m sure people thought cars could be used by criminals to escape easily. While that’s true, we should learn to focus on the benefits we get from new technologies,” he adds. Thus far, I think I’m at sixes and sevens. Is Morema a rapper or an entrepreneur or a scientist? “I’m an African boy from Lesotho who wants a great life - not an average life. Not only for myself but also for my family and community.” B
“I’m an African boy from Lesotho who wants a great life - not an average life. Not only for myself but also for my family and community.”
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Hana Shashaa:“I Always Fight to Make Sure I End up Where I Want to Be”
By Joseph Rutakangwa
HANA SHASHAA
SHE IS FIRMLY
in control of her career and life – but not of her speed, which has skewed from novelty-seeking diplomacy and change maker to polymath of consulting. Her varied associates are A-list dream companies, from Deloitte & Touché and Microfund for Women (MFW) to A.T. Kearney. Hana Shashaa is, therefore, a person who can afford to run to her own schedule.
It's 3 pm in Port Louis, Mauritius and I just had my 40-minute siesta. The cover shoot has not started; the interview is yet to come. This wasn’t the schedule, but, as ever, we’re on Hana Time. I’m sitting impatiently in an Ashok Leyland which is weaving through narrow roads when an email drops in my inbox: 'Once you arrive, walk into the open space in the west block. You’ll find me on the left side of the room.' Such are the hugger-mugger measures when you’re scheduled to meet Hana Shashaa. As you’d imagine, she has a star quality personal charm– glorious smile and full of energy. She’s wearing a sleeveless papaya, whip blouse, carnelian tapered pants, and her signature wedge heels.
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To begin with, I ask her to describe herself. And why not? “I'm a super passionate human being. Whatever I do I’ll do it with all my effort and mind to it. I love seeing things go from non-existent to existent; the African Leadership University (ALU) is one of them. I'm an extrovert. I thrive on people's energy and that's why I love being surrounded by people. Positive energy is what gets me excited.” Born and raised in Jordan, Hana moved to Canada in 2008 to pursue a degree in Finance at McGill University in Montreal. During her years in college,
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she served as vice-chair, undersecretary-general finance, and twice as chief of operations for the Secondary School's United Nations Symposium. She took part in an unparalleled total of 18 Model UN conferences in Egypt, Holland, Jordan, and Canada. Hana’s post-university career is packed with A-list companies including A.T. Kearney where she worked as a senior business analyst in Dubai. She’s currently a curriculum designer and faculty member at the African Leadership University. It’s a mind-blowing trajectory on every level.
I'm fascinated by the way her experiences came about, I tell her, as she expresses her interest in taking the entrepreneurial path. Do you plan to start your own business?
completing my Bachelors and they offered me a full-time job in Dubai afterward. I wanted to be closer to home and Dubai was the closest city."
“I have always had a long list of companies that I want to open, but I've never committed to any of them,” she says. "I feel like the list will keep growing. Once I find something that is worth it, I will definitely love to venture into it as soon as I garner the skills, capability, and time.
Being a charismatic and an inquisitive person, it was apparent that Hana wasn't going to stay at A.T. Kearney for decades. “After over three years of consulting I wanted to do something different,” she recalls, “I had three criteria for next job. First, I wanted to join a start-up. Secondly, I wanted to join an organization that is involved in making a social impact - a social enterprise. And thirdly, I wanted something that would challenge me at a different level. When I was approached about ALU, it was exactly the match of what I wanted.”
"I'm willing to take that risk,” she adds. Speaking of the type of business she wants to venture in, Hana says, “It will definitely be something that involves social and human development. ALU is a great example of something that I feel is incredible. Hopefully, maybe develop something similar in the Arab world. A social enterprise.” Hana said goodbye to Amman, Jordan for Montreal, Canada after completing high school. “I've been out of Jordan for nine years now, but I still call it home. My family is there and it’s where all our family reunions take place. It's an exciting place where start-ups are highly encouraged to grow. Jordan is a country that's full of culture with genuine and hospitable people.” She’s on cloud nine when Banza points out that two dishes – shakshuka and falafel – are fit for a king. Nearly everyone comments on consulting being their dream job. The glamorous job where you travel, get an instant network and quickly become an expert. Hana mentions, “these perks are part of the reason I went into consulting. So, I interned with A.T. Kearney one year before
She was attracted by ALU’s mission and vision. “I thought 'wow!' these people are crazy. 25 campuses across Africa?’ At the same time, I got inspired by the fact that it was an organization that wasn’t scared to dream big. They were willing to go through challenges and build something that would transform Africa. The impact is so big that it will trickle down to all generations – it’s a very long-term vision.” Having accomplished so much in her life, I had to ask which one she considers her greatest achievement. “My greatest achievement is my transition from the corporate world to the opposite of that. It was to me, the epitome of the best moment in my career. I feel like it was a start to learning about myself and doing things that I never thought I would do. Taking that risk was the biggest jump in my career,” she responds.
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BANZA
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"It's an exciting place where startups are highly encouraged to grow".
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The talk gets real as Hana makes plain how she took the challenge by the horns in an attempt to make the transition. She tells a story of when she nearly let go halfway through the application process. “The process was so tough and I was still managing a full-time consulting job. Midway through I had to pause and ask myself if I really wanted the job. I had no doubt in my mind that if I got this job I would be on the next flight to Mauritius. My dad said to me when I was hesitant, “you’re so young if you don’t take a risk now when are you going to take it? And at least, in the end, the worst case scenario is if you don’t enjoy it - you’ll have a story.” Today, Hana is living her dream – being a part of something big – and enveloped in positive energy. “I’ve been humbled by the quality of students and faculty here. I had not seen this level of excitement, commitment, passion and drive in human beings anywhere before,” she says smiling.
Do you consider yourself a feminist? I ask, not knowing what’s in the cards. “I do believe in equal opportunities for men and women. I see the challenges that exist for women to break the glass ceiling in different organizations. I am a feminist in many ways, but also, I am a woman and a proud one. I would love to be a mother one day and be able to care for my mother while still having equal opportunities in the workforce – which is quite difficult. I feel very sad for women who don’t have opportunities to show who they are because of being in societies that don’t allow them to flourish.”
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BANZA
I see the challenges that exist for women to break the glass ceiling in different organizations. I am a feminist in many ways, but also, I am a woman and a proud one.
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While working with Microfund for Women – an organization assisting low-income microentrepreneurs – Hana saw many passionate women in Jordan being suppressed because of their gender. “Seeing global trends on how often girls in school are performing better than boys and how women in the workforce sometimes tend to perform even better than men, I find it very unfortunate that some women cannot be who they are,” she says.
“As long as I'm learning, I'm still happy. When I'm no longer learning, the happiness fades away.”
She opens up about her past experiences as a woman in the professional world. “I felt the difference in meetings in the past, but I was persistent and did not let that shut me down. It’s been tough but I always fight to ensure I end up where I want to be.” We’ve been talking for almost an hour. She’s still full of energy and maintains her smile. I’m so consumed and inspired that I don’t plan to close the conversation. But wait, it’s Hana Shashaa – she runs to her own schedule. To avoid being kicked out, I decide to pick her brain about where she sees herself in 25 years. She laughs and says, “I see myself still being someone who is growing, exploring, learning and taking risks in 25, 30, 35 years. It is part of who I am and I cannot let it fade. I aspire to be lead a social enterprise somewhere in the world, delivering real scalable impact to people. I hope to also be a mother and to have a family.” The youngest of four sisters, Hana puts family first. Now that they live in four different countries, it’s been a bittersweet experience for her. On the bright side, she is happy. “As long as I’m learning, I’m still happy. When I’m no longer learning, the happiness fades away.” B
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Stephanie Gogo She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she moves without fear of the future. Be sure to be wowed with her style and charm. To her elegance is the only beauty that never fades. She has a vision and mission; as she is the She in Motion.
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FASHION FACE Safiya Salau
MARY MANG’ENI ELSA YEBOAH-BOATENG MICHAEL MUTURI LINDA ADMASSU HAWI TIYO
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Crop tops, just like high low skirts, are glamorous trends so, rest assured that combining the two will give you the perfect look that you can take to the streets. A crop top also lends your outfit a cool and edgy vibe so that if you don’t feel like looking too girly but still want to rock a high-low skirt, pairing it with a crop top is the best way to go. Accentuate with a silver metal arm cuff bangle, silver necklace and Silver rounded Earrings. Match the outfit with red strappy stiletto heels to complete the smooth look. High low skirts, also known as mullet skirts are one of the hottest trends you can look forward to. If you are looking to create an outfit that leans more on the casual side, you can pair your black high low skirt with this Ankara made red crop top.
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If you do choose to be simple, wear a t-shirt with your high-low skirt and choose pretty accessories to go with your outfit to avoid a boring look. Bold and Classy in Ankara (African Print) Simple but elegant same print Ankara attire; astrapless crop top and loose fitting high-waist pants. Paired with a much sharper and brighter wet look nude coloured heel and a crystal and black necklace. This attire is an all weather as it can be worn anywhere, anytime.
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Golden Bra lets are a pe to this sassy
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ass Arm Braceerfect balance y outfit.
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High  waisted baggy Ankara pants spell out 'bossy.' Rock these trousers anytime in closed shoes, preferably boots and steal the glam. The better fitting the waist is, the more pronounced the outfit will define you. But do not overdo it, you don't want to look like a cheap stake!
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A lace or crochet top is a timeless piece that any fierce fashionista needs in her collection. Keep it classic and fancy in plain or printed denim shorts to match the perfect pair. Complete the lock with fancy Mid-high block heels that spell out glamour.
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Dungarees are trouser garments with a bib held up by straps over the shoulders usually made of calico, denim, or a similar material and worn as casual or working clothes. Black denim dungarees are the ultimate denim chic - try a double style with this ripped knee design paired with a polka dot striped crop top. Finish with matching dull pink wedges with blue details to complete the fashionable, elegant look. Ensure that the style of dungaree you go for can be rolled up for a cropped look in case they're not quite long enough for your legs, and always choose dungarees with adjustable straps if you're long in the body.Â
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Kimono jackets or cardigans are amazing and classy. They’re perfect for warmer weather because they’re light and airy, but still cover you up if you’re chilly or you just want something on your shoulders. These trendy outfits come in all sorts of beautiful patterns: long, short, mini, prints, fringes, silky or oversize and they can be worn with everything. The best ones are the shorter ones in floral printed styles.You can dress them up over a plain crop top and shorts. Keep it cool in leather boots and fancy sunglasses. Accessorize with colourful Shamballa bracelets to complete the look.
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Don't just stand there Make a move!
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6 0 seconds MEKLIT BAYE Marie Salem Rebecca Umunonda Munonoka with
I like cultural my clothing because it is a mixture of simplicity and elegance. I looked up to my mother as a child. She would always wear cultural clothing especially when she went to grand events. She made some of her clothes. My cultural clothing is different from others because they are Saris and are worn in a different manner. No African regalia has Saris. In future, I would want to own shops that sell different cultural clothing but especially dresses because I admire looking at various cultural dresses. Lastly, I would like to say that Rwandan girls and women should dress in their cultural clothing with pride because it represents the beauty of our culture.
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6 0 seconds MEKLIT BAYE
with
Flora Waithera Nyoro
I like cultural accessories because they are original and they are made from natural materials like wood and paper. I also admire the fact that they are handmade. I looked up to my mother and my aunt who are always adorned in cultural accessories. When I started buying gifts for my mother, I got her cultural accessories and fell in love with them. Cultural accessories are different because they represent a story behind every culture. It also reminds me of the love I have for Africa. In future, I want to make my own accessories; not only jewellery but also hair accessories. Lastly, I would like to say young African girls should represent and be proud of their cultural accessories as it embraces their African history.
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BUSI 56
BANZA
INES S 57
YOUTH
ENTREPRENEURSHIP A CRUCIAL TOOL FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW AFRICA
Maatla Kgasa
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BANZA
WHEN
a young African young man, aged 23, finds a job after University, he has to take care of his family, both immediate and extended, for as long as he can. He becomes the sole source of livelihood and sustenance. He works for 37 years and at the age of 60, now an old man, he retires with nothing to his name. The reason; his lifelong dedication to sustaining his family. He receives $100,000 as his retirement package and realizes the life he has; one that is unaware of asset acquisition nor home building. So, he takes all that money, builds a better house, buys better furniture and fittings, purchases a car and tries to live well for five years. His money is now consumed. He is back to where he started.
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Now picture this, you are a 21-year-old African wo/man who has just completed school and is burdened with caring for a long-stretching family. You inherit nothing from your parents while another young wo/man from the upper echelon of the same age has the green light of life with $ 50,000 from his/her parents’ annuity plans. We need to introduce fundamental Business Education and Financial Management at a tender age of 8, 9 and 10 years so that wealth creation and entrepreneurship finesse are embedded in our young people. Consequently, we may have to sacrifice other redundant early education courses in a bid to fight hereditary poverty and financial cancers. It is senseless to me to be rich in societal and cultural aspects and be impoverished financially. Look at India and China.
The man has a few youngsters who have come of age; one young man and one young woman. The son of the now-old man gets a job after university and has to take care of the family for the rest of his life until he gets his retirement package, squanders it and turns into another old man whose kid(s) has to go through the same process.
Having moved from education-centered mindsets to knowledge centered economies, their school graduates emerge equipped with knowledge of fundamental business education, basic computer programming, basic engineering, and innovation principles which one can use to create, invent and propel the country’s economy to greatness.
As Africans, we have made poverty and poor financial knowledge hereditary. If you observe the upper-class communities, they reserve retirement benefits and insurance policy packages for their children. When a child from that community completes his/ her university education, s/he gets a salary and invests.
Retirement and Insurance plans are handy tools we should give to our kids for a headstart in life. After you retire, you give your kids the businesses you have built and the capital profits you have acquired. They pass it on to their kids, their kids' kids, and, eventually, the entire chain of hereditary poverty is reversed.
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This is a concept of creating inter-generational wealth which is handy for combating neo-colonialism and shortage of capital for Africans to invest. We have to develop our entrepreneurs, in the same way, we are developing future soccer stars, athletes or tennis players. We have created Under 12, Under 14 and other development programs that nurture and cultivate sports stars at a green age. They grow up to be seasoned athletes unmatchable acumen. Sadly, if you can go to most Africans universities and pick all the highest performing students majoring in any business course and challenge them to structure a solid business plan, they will fail dismally. Not only are they clueless but they have also not been baked and afforded an opportunity to master the art of entrepreneurship at a young age.
From lower education to universities, you would hear of students asking the lecturer, “Is that question or topic covered or going to appear on the exam?" Why? Because we teach out students to pass, not to be educated nor resourceful. t The new Africa that I envision is one where we develop the next greats at a young age, where we institutionalize wealth creation and stop prioritizing pass-rate-centered education systems at the expense of tangible knowledge. Thanks to institutions like the African Leadership University, there is hope for AFRICA! A new Africa.
Be good. Do good. B
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EMERGING YOUNG AFRICAN W
ECONOMIC SCHOLARS
are divided according to their opposing standpoints on the state of Africa’s economy. While some of them advance the narration of a rising Africa, others strongly contend that it is merely a lacklustre analysis, especially with an evident dent of poor participation of women in large enterprises. Nonetheless, it is fitting to recognize emerging young female entrepreneurs, who are making profound impact in the business space. Africa is rising. This meme was coined by the London based newspaper, The Economist in 2011. It initiated a shock wave and sparked divisions across the world’s economic divide.
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WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Kabo Madigele It was an unexpected U-turn because eleven years prior, the same publication caused quite a stir with their extremist view on Africa's future in the economic front when they released two issues, the first one being the Hopeless Africa which followed by The Shackled Continent. This turnaround sired an intense debate, with some quarters dismissing the new narrations as just a storm in a tea cup. For instance, Alex Perry wrote in TIMES that these narrations about Africa are banal and outdated. OUARTZ corroborated this sentiment, opining that Africa is neither ‘rising’ nor ‘falling’ but it is growing—fast. Adhering to either one of these opposing poles does not make any difference. It is in plain sight and undeniable that Africa is booming. Many countries around the world are facing high levels of political and economic quandary but Africa is forecasted to continually traverse a growth trajectory in years to come.
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This has been made possible by: Improvement of macroeconomic indicators and business environment initiated by government reforms in the business, legal and regulatory landscape, growing private sector participation in the economy other than dependence on foreign aid, rapidly increasing young population, rising middle class, urbanization, natural resources and intensifying bonds with emerging economies such as India and China. Despite its unprecedented growth in past, many questions are being raised about the African economy. Economic pundits are highly sceptical about its inclusivity. It is evident that there are sects of the population that are still lagging behind when it comes to fully participating in business activities. Women in particular have a very meagre participation in large scale businesses, which are predominately run by their male counterparts while the former dominates the small, micro and medium enterprises sector. This development is worrying because it depresses efforts to attain one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to promote gender equality and empower women. Gender inequality is undoubtedly an impediment to social development and economic prosperity. Therefore, women entrepreneurs are crucial stakeholders in Africa’s leap into a prosperous future. The success of women in their entrepreneurial endeavours depends heavily on the availability to opportunities, access to capital and all forms of support to grow their enterprises. The 2014 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report rubber stamped this by showing the correlation between per capita GDP, competitiveness and human development. In a nutshell, the socio-economic advancement cannot be easily achieved as until African women are engaged in large scale economic activities. Despite this upsetting development, there is a significant number of women who are defying odds and venturing into large scale businesses. Here are four of Africa’s emerging and most inspirational young women entrepreneurs: today’s start-ups, tycoons tomorrow.
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http://www.lionessesofafrica.com
Thato Kgatlhanye
Thato Kgatlhanye, South Africa Founder, Repurpose School Bags
22 year old Thato was pained by seeing school kids in her community carrying books in plastic bags. She was compelled to step up and help. That is how Repurpose School Bags came into life. The main aim was to and provide accessible sources of study light to students and reduce waste mismanagement .The bags are designed from up-cycled plastic bags, incorporating solar technology that charges throughout the day and gets converted into light, enabling learners to study at home at night. Their unique and strong elements are that they are durable, cheap to make and environmentally
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friendly. They are made in an 8 full time employee factory with several plastic bag collectors. As of now, they have collected over 5000 plastic bags. In future, she plans to partner with corporate companies to facilitate large scale production and distribution.
http://www.femmehub.com
h
Agnes Mulewa Ng'anga Agnes Mulewa Ng'anga, Kenya
Founder, International Brand Solutions (IBS) Ng'anga 23 was born and raised in the Kawangware slums and had no idea what the future had for her. She began to display her entrepreneurial zeal at a tender age; selling pencils and eggs to her classmates. Now she the CEO IBS, a rapidly growing marketing and research entity which is primarily involved in rebranding to easily meet the market demand and the right audience. IBS’s initial clients were start-ups, but now it targets top Kenyan companies like Airtel and Safaricom.
Mulewa has started a mentorship and empowerment programme to support aspiring entrepreneurs. She targets mainly women and girls who are still discovering themselves. She believes that girls should give education and their careers an equal amount of attention they give popularity and beauty.
Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Ghana Co-Founder, She Leads Africa
She Leads Africa in 2014 was founded with the aim of focusing on providing start-up capital and mentorship to
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economically empower female entrepreneurs in numerous countries who are continually confronted with the problem of accessing start-up capital, as well as appropriate business advice. Its first highly competitive event was hosted in 2014 and it was evident that it was highly inspirational to young female entrepreneurs. Together with her co-founder, Afua Osei (Ghana) they were listed by Forbes Magazine among the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa 2014. Eseoghene Odiete, Nigeria Founder/Creative Director, Hesey Designs Odiete resolved to follow her passion to create a fashion brand despite her studying Mass Communication and graduating with first class. The most obvious next step would have been to venture into journalism but she decided to go into fashion to contribute towards the growth of the Nigerian economy. Hesey Designs was established in 2011, focusing on designing and sewing Nigerian themed clothes, bags and shoes. In 2014, she was a Tony Elumelu Prize in Business category nominee, under the Future Awards. On top of that, she won the Google Africa connected Success Stories in 2014, walking away with $25,000 and an opportunity to enrol at Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, where she made a shoe that Sir Branson loved and wore. B http://newafricadailynews.com
Yasmin Belo-Osagie
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is a pillar of strength. Carrying the world on one shoulder and on the other raising a child. Making meals out of nothing for her family. Encouraging and building her children through her words. She is brave and full of life. She is not limited to the pleasures of life. She is a woman.
Can give life, being able to bring a life
Can maintain good personal hygiene
Can adjust her height by wearing heels Can makes herself feel good
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I have the ability to be sensitive and strong and powerful at the same time.
The best part about being a woman is the versatility it brings. I can show emotion, I can cry as much as I want to and I can laugh as loud as I want to. I can also be tough and be admired for it, and admit that I can't do something and still be admired for it. I can stay home to take care of my family or I can decide to go to work. I can have children and I can decide not to.
I love our clothing & our accessories. I love how we think things through. I love our strength.
I love being independent and to stand for myself. I have also learnt to appreciate that I am emotional, because that is just what reminds me am human, and what keeps me grounded
I love how women express feelings of warmth compassion and fearlessness. I love that i can own being a woman and own the power of my gender.
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By
Mukami
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By Mpumalanga
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I love being a woman because it makes me feel special. I like the fact that I can stand in front of a door and ask a man to open it for me, and they will,; just because I'm a wom-
an!
It's truly amazing. The ability I can stay home to take care of that some women have to sub-
my family or I can decide to
mit, I stress in the word sub-
go to work. I can have
mit, not to be confused with
children and I can decide not
'taken advantage of.' For me,
to. It just makes the world feel
a woman's ability to submit to
more colourful and full of
her man is the ultimate sym-
never ending opportunities.
bol of power. This is because, I love the fact that I can bring forth life into this world. That I was specially chosen by my creator to give life to another and another and another. I
without the woman in the household, everything would go wrong, yet some women are able to make their men feel like they are the boss of things.
admire the way women are so
actually pushing another human being from your body, or being 'open' to bring a life into this world and STILL thriving in a world where women are viewed as the lesser being.
sometimes means that I may be discriminated against or receive special treatment (which I may enjoy but don't find fair to men and other
resilient. From simple cramps
and period pains to labour,
Although being a woman
The best part about being a
women) or even be in danger,
woman is the versatility it
I would never willingly ask for
brings. I can show emotion, I
my womanhood to be taken
can cry as much as I want to
away from me.
and I can laugh as loud as I want to. I can also be tough and be admired for it, and admit that I can't do something and still be admired for it.
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LIFES 76
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STYLE 77
Gcinekile Zwane “HE-HELLO SIR”
Nolwazi stammered, her mouth going dry due to panic. Oh my God, why is he here? Haven't I embarrassed myself enough in front of him? Has he come to rub it in? Nolwazi's mind raced wildly as her palms sweated. "Hi Nolwazi, how are you? I have not seen you around. I thought I'd come so we can talk.” Dr Msibi expressed his concern with a grin as he reached for her hands. In her mind, it still was not clear why he was there. Was he going to try and convince her to open up to him? She tried deciphering why he was there but she failed. As usual. Failed! She could not see the whole point. He continued, "I'm worried about you. I know that there is something bothering you, and it's something, deep." Suddenly, Nolwazi withdrew from the conversation. She recalled two years ago when she had written a test and was eager to show her results to her mother. However, her mother talked about how she should have scored 100% instead of the 86%. She spent that night crying her heart out. Not a day that went by in her life that she didn't pray for a higher IQ. She wished that she were her older sister Buhle- the apple of her parents' eye; smart Buhle, fancy Buhle, valedictorian Buhle, Med school Buhle! “Nolwazi, are you okay?” Dr Msibi asked after the realizing that he had lost the girl.
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BANZA “I'm okay, sir," she said taking a deep breath. Dr Msibi wasn't sure if she was trying to convince him or herself of that. “At least, promise me that you'll come to my office and we'll talk about whatever that is bothering you.” He made it hard for her to say no. This man. He seemed to know what to say, when to say and how to say it. Her lecturer. He was obliged to making that promise. He walked up to her and stared into her eyes. Those eyes seemed to smile at her and, blinded by the moment, she smiled back. Dr Msibi made his way out, triumphantly.
************
Later that day, Nolwazi was in her room with her roomie, Zama when her phone rang. “Hello mother,” she started. “How is school?” her mother asked. She wondered why her mother never asked how she was. It was always school. So much for being a mother! She spoke about how they were drawing closer to the end of the semester and that her examinations were coming up very soon. Mrs Gule made it clear to her daughter that she wanted her study hard and not sleep at all if that is what it took because she was tired of Nolwazi's mediocre results.
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"Was that your mom or your boss?" Zama asked sarcastically when Nolwazi dropped the phone. "Your mom is worse that our dean. Is she always that authoritative?" Zama continued. She denied everything about her mother being bossy, and instead she said that she just wants the best for her. They started debating on that, going on and on about how Nolwazi was being mistreated by her mother. It was until she decided that she was going to the library that Zama put the case to rest. On her way to the library, she met up with Professor Lukhele. "Hi Nolwazi, I have a little something for you. Hopefully, it is going to put a smile on your face," he said handing out a letter to her.
Dearest Nolwazi, I hope you are well. I have been told that your studies are going well. I am so proud of you and your never-ending efforts. It takes hard work to get to where you are today. My studies are going well too. Today I was writing my last exam. Our semester ends in the next two weeks. Tomorrow I'll start working on the project I told you about. I will be coming home soon before you know it. I miss you. PS: I love you Yours truly, Basil B
9 Ways to Destroy What Stands Between You & Your Dream Life
By Joseph Rutakangwa
FEAR IS JUST AN ILLUSION.
Years back, I stayed away from pain through fear and I could always control it from within. I decided to change my perceptions by studying about the subconscious mind, instead of blaming external factors affecting my life. I came to realise that the subconscious mind
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| Better Me
1. Be Aware of Fear and how it pops in your life Your mind creates fear, which is an illusion, to protect you from misery. Your thoughts originate from two places: a place of love and a place of fear. It’s either one or the other. Begin to list all the things you tell yourself on a daily basis that come from the other place – fear.
2. Exercise Positive Self-Proclamation After you list your recurring thoughts of fear (negative), flip them to the positive. For example, if you always say, “I’m not that creative," make the self-proclamation, “I’m a genius and I add value to the world.” Stand in front of a mirror, look straight in your eye, and repeat the affirmations aloud. With time, you will start approaching the world with a more positive and abundant mindset.
3. Keep an Open Mind transmits most of our thoughts on a daily basis. It’s like a hard drive loaded with beliefs and behaviours that we picked up throughout our lifetime. Just like an electronic device, the mind can only be changed if you restore factory settings and tap it with new, positive material. Here are 9 ways to shift into a miracle mindset by erasing your fears:
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If you have always believed that you will never find true love, open your mind to the outside chance of true love finding you. “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change,” says philosopher and selfhelp author, Dr. Wayne Dyer. Repeating this mantra from Gabrielle Bernstein may cause miracles and help you shift the way you perceive the world, “I am willing to see this differently; I am willing to see love instead of this.”
4. Feel it
If you bury your fears away, they will hold you back. Allowing yourself to feel that fear is the only way it can leave your body. When you feel uncomfortable of fearful, sit in silence for five minutes, taking deep breaths, letting each of your worries sink in your mind. Feel it and imagine it leaving you as you breathe out. Conclude this powerful meditative session by listening to some good music and celebrate.
5. Do a fear analysis Sometimes fear protects you from physical harm – which is great. Yet most of the time we fear emotions, not actions. Although the emotions are intense, they cannot cause harm. Analyse whether your fear is emotional or rational. Say thank you to irrational fears for trying to protect you from feelings of loneliness or being lost, then kindly ask them to leave.
6. Who is first? You You are the most important thing in your life – put yourself first. Taking care of yourself by eating right, practising self-love, having ‘me time’ and exercising brings you more confidence to defeat fear. Make sure you schedule a non-negotiable time for yourself EVERYDAY. You can brainstorm a list of self- care activities that would lighten you up and leave you fearless. Music, meditation, and creative visualization work best for me.
7. Face your fears Do the things that terrify you the most and is part of your dreams. It all starts with one
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step. Don’t jump off the cliff in the name of facing your fears. The fear you face has to be standing between you and your dream. If your dream is to perform a song in front of a large crowd but the thought overwhelms you, start by singing alone in a room or to your friends. Once you make initial moves, the rest becomes easy.
8. Talk about your fear “The fear of the name is the fear of the thing itself.” – Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Talking about a fear reduces most of its power. How? Speaking about something means that you are making it a “subject”, which puts you in control. Real strength is in your ability to be vulnerable. When you talk about your fears to others, you grow stronger and capable of protecting yourself with love.
9. Imagine it, you will see it Start rewriting your life story. You control your thoughts and you control your destiny. The other day I was on the road with friends and as we drove past a certain estate, I noticed some defects. I told one of my friends that we should no longer consider purchasing a home in that estate – everyone had a good laugh. It always sounds crazy until it comes to reality, which is always the case. Begin creating vision boards and believe, sincerely, that you deserve to be happy in all areas of your life. I promise you will be. B
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Increase Your Productivity and Take Control of Your Life by Following these 6 Techniques
by Joseph Rutakangwa
Sometimes life is exhausting.
You find yourself with so many unfinished tasks, with only 24 hours in a day. To make it worse, you, constantly battle with your mind to make the right choices and do your tasks. On that account, you’re always off the pace, and countless tasks run through your mind. Here’s the good news. You can double or triple your productivity by following some easy techniques. Follow these simple 6 techniques and you will soon take control of your life: 1. First things first You must concentrate on your most critical task when your day begins. Your energy levels are high in the morning which makes it a good time to focus on critical tasks. It’s also a perfect way to clear out stress. If you start with another task, it will be on your mind. On the other hand, completing your critical task will give you the motivation to finish the rest.
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2. Sleep smart Advisably, sleep 7 to 8 hours per day. Exceeding 8 hours can be counterproductive. Not only will you feel tired during the day, but you may also lose prized productive time. Cutting 7 hours is a bad idea, as it affects your heart, causes depression, makes you forgetful and ages your skin – no one wants that! To avoid procrastinating, plan your days. Plan to work in the morning, and end the most critical task as soon as possible.
3. Avoid Multi-tasking Productivity’s old foe is multi-tasking. Gloria Mark of the University of California, Irvine, found that it takes on average 25 minutes to become fully focused on a task. Whenever you lose focus, you have to regain the momentum. Focusing on a single task helps your brain process data in a linear way. In this way, you will not disturb your task position. In like manner, close that Facebook tab, you can chat with your loved ones later. It’s the reason most people think they have ADHD nowadays. It’s not that you can’t focus, it’s your habits causing you to lose focus. Learn to concentrate. One task at a time.
4. Convert your primary tasks into habits Do you want to know a secret? You never think about carrying out habits, you just proceed. Take performing your primary task in the morning as an example. In the beginning, you will think about it because you won’t be accustomed to it. With consistency, you will carry on without thinking. List down the primary tasks that would change your life, and turn them into
habits.
5. Set your time limit College life is a good example. When you study half way through a semester, you’re not as productive as when you study the night before an exam. There’s only one word to explain this, and it’s not stress, it’s much deeper: Urgency. Indeed, stress cause urgency but the time limit you define for the task at hand plays a greater role. Defining a time limit gets you to focus because you know that a minor delay can pull you back. It is vital to follow your time limits just as though you were in an exam. Respect your word, and maintain self-integrity.
6. Organize your day “Plans are nothing: planning is everything.”– David Dwight Eisenhower. You might spend most of your days struggling to finish tasks if you don’t have a smart organizing plan. Should I wear this dress or this one? Should I schedule a meeting this morning or tonight? You can go on for hours. There are many tools you can use to help you organize. Evernote, OneNote, Laverna, and Zim are some of the tools you can use. If you prefer the old ways, list down your daily tasks and check as you accomplish each. You can also use your calendar. In the end, planning is indistinguishable. See your week as a book, your day as a chapter, and your daily routines as the index! B
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a case for PIERCINGS Fanidh Sanogo
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A FEW YEARS AGO,
I got a piercing. It was one of the most painful things I had ever done to myself. My tongue was swollen, my head was aching, and I had diarrhoea. While that may not be directly related to the piercing, it just was really bad timing. What's worse, I was not allowed to eat anything solid for at least two days. That, my friend, was the definition of REAL depression. As I sat on my favourite place in the world, I remembered a quote from my role model, Lady Gaga “Don't call my name, don't call my name, Alejandro." I still don’t know why, but that quote motivated and encouraged me to endure the pain till the end. It also made me think about society’s general perception of piercings. When my male friends saw my tongue piercing, the first question they asked me, with a corny smile, was: “Which boy did you do that for? As a partial feminist, I felt insulted because they were assuming that when a girl had an oral piercing, the only reason would be to please a man. It was shocking because I never saw my piercing that way. I rather saw it as a way to express myself. Having jewellery on my tongue symbolizes my inner beauty as a person. Indeed, one’s inner beauty can only be seen when they are spoken to. That is the only reason why I have a piercing on my tongue. Often, people with many piercings are perceived as drug dealers or prostitutes. I understand that having many piercings may look scary because it is relatively unusual.
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| Case
Also, when not taken care of studiously, they cause serious infections because they are like any other open wound. All that aside, piercings are a form of art and self-expression. A person with piercings is like a living painting. I believe the world would be a better place if people freely able to explore their artistic side to the brim. I am convinced that I would have made a revolutionary scientific discovery by now if I was allowed to study in class in my PJs. OK, maybe that is a little extreme, but you understand my point, Inasmuch as I would not pierce all my body parts, I don’t think people should be labelled according to what they look like. Life is short, just like Kevin Hart. We need to stop worrying about what people think and live our lives according to what we believe. It is vital that we learn to be independent in our thoughts. As long as you are not doing crystal meth, everything is great! I am not trying to get everyone to get a tattoo or a piercing. The world would look like a zoo if that were the case. I just think it would be a pity if nobody dared to be different, to embrace and to live their own art. One can live their art in different ways: some of us choose to do it through piercings, through dressing, or by dyeing your hair red or yellow; it doesn’t matter. The most important thing is to always do what feels right. Even if society says it is wrong. I believe wrong and right are relative words. They are what we want them to be. Do whatever resonates deep down in your heart and dare to live your art because that is what makes the world awesome! B
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THERE SEEMS
to be a culture around women not wanting to build muscles out of fear of their bodies changing in ways they won’t like. Many women have told me, “I don't want to exercise too much because I will look like a man.” I have spent years trying to rectify this mind frame and stress the importance of building muscle for a healthy, active lifestyle- and not just to become a bodybuilder or weightlifter.
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Ladies, let’ s talk MUSCLES Torey Foss I will thus try and help settle the bill on what muscle is, how it works, and a plan to grow your muscle in a sustainable way.
would.
There are 3 types of muscle tissue found in the body- Cardiac muscle (the involuntary heart muscle), Smooth muscle (the involuntary muscle around your organs), and the Skeletal muscle (voluntary muscle attached to the skeleton) that we are most focused on for now.
Apart from the fact that being strong and having more muscle will allow you to perform daily activities with more ease, there are also many internal, physiological benefits to an increased muscle mass. One of these is the increasing effect it has on one’s basal metabolic rate (BMR). This is the number of calories that your body burns per day at rest.
C. David Geier Jr., M.D., director of sports medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina stated that from the time of puberty, the number of fibres in Skeletal muscle remains constant, yet, it is possible to change the size of these fibres through correct nutrition and exercise. The aim of the exercising is to, thus, enhance what you already have, and not to add extra muscle to your body.
Muscle mass burns a significantly greater amounts of calories than fat mass does- speeding up your metabolism, and catalyzing the growth of more muscle fibres. A high muscle mass percentage will also support your bones and joints, reducing the risk of injury both now, and in the future when bones tend to weaken.
The reality of turning into a bulky bodybuilder, as a woman, is extremely slim- almost non-existent. According to Suzanne Meth, M.S., C.S.C.S., from Equinox Fitness, men have 20-30% more of a hormone called testosterone which causes them to gain bulk when they exercise. The lack of testosterone in women, although levels range between individuals, means that a woman will gain strength from exercise, without getting large and bulky as a man
A common misconception amongst women is that as one loses ‘weight’, it means that you are becoming slimmer, more toned, and ultimately healthier. Although in some cases this is true, statistics from the World Health Organisation show that in 2014, 39% of adults were overweight, and 13% were obese. A decrease in weight in this regard would likely correlate with the above outcomes but there are many cases where it doesn't.
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I have had clients who have lost up to 3 clothes sizes without losing a single kilogram on a bathroom scale. This idea of ‘ideal weight’, or BMI ratings, whilst useful for general usage, can often be misleading on an individual level. This is because muscle mass weighs more than fat mass, but is much more compact in size. So, as you start to exercise, you may gain kilograms, but be losing size and increasing in terms of general health. It is better to track your progress using a body composition analysis tool such as a Bioelectrical Impedance Scale (for BIA) or skin fold callipers. If these are not available to you, then I would recommend monitoring your progress with a measuring tape- recording centimetres as opposed to focusing only on kilograms lost or gained.
How much exercise should you be doing? Samantha Clayton, the director of World Wide Fitness Education for Herbalife says that for every individual, the amount of exercise that should be done each day differs. However, a guideline to follow for general health and well-being would be 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every week. This divides down into 30 minutes, 5 times a week preferably of different exercise types. B
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BLAST WORKOUT Torey Foss
H
ow do you increase your muscle power? One way is through the use of Plyometric exercises- using power (weight moved at a high velocity), which causes your body to perform explosive actions. These explosive actions cause tiny tears to occur in the muscle fibers, and through the repair process, the cells trigger the development of proteins, which cause the skeletal muscle fibers to grow. The importance of rest and adequate protein intake cannot be stressed enough to allow for this repair process to take place. Every movement that you perform comes about through a series of chemical reactions in the brain, telling the fibers when to contract and when to relax. So, the more you perform a certain exercise, the more accustomed to the movement your body becomes, and the easier it will be to do in future! Perform all 3 exercises in a continuous circuit for 5 minutes, repeating 3 times.
Squat Jumps (10reps) Begin in a wall squat with feet facing forward and knees turned out. Jump upwards explosively as high as you can and lower immediately into the squat.
E
Do not perform the jump, but simply stand up.
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Snap Jumps (15reps) Begin with your body in a straight arm plank, pushing upwards through your shoulders. From this position, hop your feet inwards at the same time- as close to your hands as you can. Jump your feet back out into a straight arm plank and repeat.
E
Step one foot in at a time instead of hopping with both feet together.
Burpees (5 reps) Begin with feet shoulder width apart and arms raised above head. Place hands on the floor, whilst jumping feet backwards into a straight arm plank. Jump feet back to position 2, and jump up raising arms above head.
E
Step back with feet instead of hopping back.
H
Add a push-up from the straight arm plank.
B
Be-you-tiful 10 1
By Hawi Tiyo Your Eyebrows DIY Discovering the best shape for your eyebrows without sacrificing their natural appearance is the goal when shaping your brows. Pencil thin or overly bushy eyebrows are dated looks that can be distracting rather than enhancing Tweezing the Brows •To shape your own brow, tweezing is probably the best option for accuracy and to prevent mistakes. •Which hairs you tweeze and which ones you don't makes the difference between attractively shaped brows and misshapen ones. •Try using an eyebrow pencil to draw on different shapes over your brow area to see which shape looks the best. •Go slowly (one hair at a time) so you don't over-tweeze. •The beginning of the brow should align with the centre of the nostril. •The arch of the brow should fall at the back third of the eye. •The eyebrow should follow the length of the eye but it shouldn't extend into the temple area. The basic rule is that the front part of the brow should never drop below the back part of the brow. Allowing this to happen, either with the way you tweeze your eyebrows or the way you draw them on, makes you look like you’re frowning and overemphasizes the downward movement of the back part of the eye. •Avoid over-tweezing above the brow. A few stray hairs are fine to remove, but too much and it can create an unnatural look. •Do not overstate the shape of the brow; minimal brow alteration is best.
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Easy steps for beginners. 1. Before you start tweezing, use a lip or brow pencil to heavily draw on the shape you want; you can adjust it with makeup remover as you decide on the shape you want to create.
2. Once the shape is drawn on, tweeze any hairs that fall outside the line of the brow.
3. Next, brush the brows straight up with an old toothbrush
4. Any hairs that are too long and floppy should be trimmed with small scissors. Tweezing long brow hairs rather than trimming them can result in gaps in the eyebrow or create a patchy appearance.
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B
This woman’ s worth ... BY KAONE TLAGAE From women's suffrage to sexual freedom, the feminist movement embraces the entire gamut of women’s liberation. And while women continue to praise and honor their worth, it is equally vital to acknowledge that this is not a means of asserting the superiority of one gender over the other. And, it’s certainly not about petty quarrels about who gets to do dishes after dinner. True womanhood is dignified in its sense and observes its intrinsic nature and position in society. Historically, femininity was a subject of oppression and atrocity. Remember Sarah ‘Saartje’ Baartman who became the blueprint of degrading and humiliating the black women? Allow me to refresh your memory.
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| Pink Print
Fascinating derogatory exhibit Sara who was also known as the ‘Hottentot Venus’ was a famous Khoikhoi woman who willingly traveled to Europe thinking she would find riches and fame. To her surprise, she was humiliated and forced to be a spectacle as a freak show attraction in Europe. People were mainly fascinated by her remarkable physical features that pronounced her feminity. More specifically, her humongous hips and enlarged labial lips paved the way for the human exhibit. People stared at her, touched and laughed at her. And when she was no longer wanted, she resorted to prostitution for survival then later passed on in loneliness, shame, and disease. Her story does not end here. She continues to be humiliated even in death. She was denied her dignity. Her organs were put up on display in a French museum for over a century- a truly inhumane treatment for women.
Tables have turned Today, Baartman’s story lives on. While it is a buried hatchet to some, the women folk chose not to be silent in the memory of Sara but have acquired motivation to reclaim their respect and dignity. Evident is the establishment of Women’s History month in 1987 that aims to celebrate the many historic and contemporary contributions of women to society. Since then, society has witnessed figures who gracefully uplift the victories, struggles, and stories of women who, to a great extent, have shaped the world to what it is today.
The fairer sex A woman is the embodiment of love, tenderness, care, and wisdom. She adds meaning to life. The world is on her platter. She is the vessel of life. Given a house, she makes homes and incubates the family and ultimately the entire society. She cultivates confidence, self-belief, and empathy in young people; values that eventually make part of our social ethos that defines culture and beliefs. She creates an environment for holistic growth. Women are extraordinary creatures. We are what we are because of the impact they have had on us. This is for all mothers, sisters and friends out there; for all the aunts and grandmothers and great grandmothers. For the teachers and the house managers who toil and hustle hard, every day, to put food on the table.
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You are BEAUTIFUL and no one should say otherwise. B
Choose The Sports Style That Can Fit the Most With Your Body Houcem Khlifi MANY
people wonder which type of sports is the best for their bodies and for their physical conditions. In retrospect, many kids encounter stumbling blocks when identifying their passion and finding the sport they are good at. The good part is, however, that these concerns can be resolved in a way that most, if not all, people become proficient at not only orienting their wants but also at picking their best fit. And as I have always mused, in our contemporary epoch, it resides of critical importance that a person is equipped with a sport he or she loves.
First, we must have self-awareness.
Third, realise that life is unexpected.
We must check ourselves, assess our abilities and even scale our potential. We should perceive how high we can climb and how determined, persistent and perseverant we are in facing mishaps and disappointments. In doing so, we will be well prepared to tackle the game of life.
Beneath the bandwagon lies a clandestine layer full of surprises waiting to unravel. As you find the right sport for you, enjoy the success that comes your way. When frustration kicks in, NEVER give up, never feel dissatisfied and just bear in mind that defeat is, as I alluded to before, an opportunity for you to learn from your mistakes and can undoubtedly be a motivating factor for you to work harder and smarter in the future.
Second, we must recognise that things don't instantly happen. When one begins practice today, it doesn't mean that he or she will be great tomorrow. An embryo does not grow to a giant after being planted nor after its first irrigation, right? So is the human body. It depends on both the allocated time of practice and on the level of commitment adapted. Be patient.
It is worth to note that we can discern an agglomeration of different sets of activities and an assortment of different preferences which can leave multi-passionate people boggled in trying to choose one specific sport. If you, dear readers, ever find yourselves in a similar situation, here is what you should do:
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Ask what's best for my health? Adopt an unbiased vision for the sport while acknowledging the downsides to it.
Swimming Having been a swimmer for more than 15 years, I have seen how extensive the swimming benefits are. From the rapid boost of our metabolism to the extensive muscle exercise it has, I recommend this activity for many reasons.
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One, the buoyancy of the water supports your body, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injury is small. Two, swimming strokes exercise the entire body but particularly the Skeletal muscles of the back, chest and arms, maintaining your physique. Swimming is an ideal form of exercise for most people, particularly the frail, elderly or obese. On the downside, swimming is skill, so you may encounter difficulties in trying to master it. This means that as a beginner, you have to put out hours upon hours of swimming lessons.
Cycling You burn lots of kilojoules and improve your cardiovascular health whenever you cycle. It is a famous activity fraught with available and propitious opportunities. One, you improve your coordination because it involves the whole body. Your heart health is boosted and you do not need to be too skilled to ride a bicycle. On the downside, the materials needed for a safe ride include the bicycle and protective equipment, which may be heavy on the wallet.
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| Sports
Running It is a free cost activity and is the simplest to carry out. It is a weight-bearing activity that helps you to build strong bones and improve your cardiovascular fitness. The more you walk the more kilojoules you burn. You can do it at any time of the day, or night. One the downside, to be comfortable while running, it is recommended to buy a good pair of running shoes. It has been proven scientifically that running is associated with a high risk of injuries such as heavy loading of joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles throughout the body.
Team Field Sports Soccer, basketball, volleyball and handball guarantee friendship and fun. It is easier to exercise when you are enjoying yourself. Most team sports build cardiovascular health because of the required running and quick bursts of activity. When you feel depressed, your teammates push you up and help you improve your skills. The end results do not depend on any individual performance. If you are doing, it doesn't mean that your team will win. On the downside, the high level of physical interaction can lead to higher risk of injuries and a lack of engagement.
Identifying your health goals will steer you towards the right kind of physical activity best suited for you. The key to maintaining an exercise program is to enjoy what you are doing and to block negative feelings and thoughts from stopping you from pushing yourself beyond your limits. Jackie Joyner quotes, “the glory of the sport comes from dedication, determination and desire. Achieving success and personal glory in athletics has less to do with wins and losses than it does with learning how to prepare yourself so that at the end of the day, whether on the track or in the office, you know that there was nothing more you could have done to reach your ultimate goal." B
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CRITICS’HIGHEST RATED ALBUMS OF 2016
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MARCH MOVIE RELEASES
London Has Fallen Genre: Sequel Release Date: 4/03/2016
10 Cloverfield Lane Genre: Drama, Mystry Release Date: 11/03/2016
Midnight Special Genre: Sci-Fi Release Date: 18/03/2016
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The Other Side of the Door Genre: Supernatural Release Date: 4/03/2016
Miracles from Heaven Genre: Faith Release Date: 16/03/2016
The Little Prince Genre: Animation, Family Release Date: 18/03/2016
BANZA
| Reviews
The Brothers Grimsby Genre: Spy Release Date: 11/03/2016
The Divergent Series: Allegiant Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Release Date: 18/03/2016
Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice Genre: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi Release Date: 11/03/2016
A letter from uncle Charles Dearest, "Most people who meet my wife quickly conclude that she is remarkable. They are right about this. She is smart, funny and thoroughly charming. Often, after hearing her speak at some function or working with her on a project, people will approach me and say something to the effect of, 'you know, I think the world of you, Barrack, but your wife, Wow!" said Barrack Obama. These words made me think of how important, supportive and transformative women are in our lives. They play a big role in ensuring success in someone's life but more so, transforming the society and generations at large because, women think with their whole bodies and they view things better. We all need that care, affection and support from women. They set us on the correct paths and lead us to our destinies. The creator did not see it wise for a man to be alone that's why he brought Eve into Adam's life.
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Everyone came from a woman through a mother who carried, cared for us for nine months and gave birth to us. If it were not for women, humanity would be extinct. When it comes to love, women are professionals while men are amateurs. The strength of a woman can never be underestimated at all. I now understand that if you empower a man, you empower an individual but if you empower a woman, you empower the entire society. For the month of March, let's appreciate and encourage the women in our lives and society. Let's encourage the women in our lives and society and celebrate them. Let us be there for them and help them grow. But above all; let us appreciate them through this 3 beautiful ways: Here are 3 beautiful ways you can appreciate these special people in your lives:
| Letters
Let's provide them support Let's be there for them, to see them grow. Let us commit to nurturing their ideas that will lead on to their great destinies. Choose to become a ladder in a woman's life today and help her improve on her abilities and realise how great her capabilities are.
Let's provide protection Be it emotionally, intellectually or even financially, it's important that the women in our lives experience protection from us. Elizabeth Stanton said that the best protection any woman can have is courage. So get investing in courage in a woman.
Let's acknowledge Tell them how special they are and appreciate them. Surprise them with something special and show them that they are important people in your life. It may be your grandmother, mother, sister, wife, girlfriend or any other special woman in your life. Whoever it is, show them love, this month and beyond. Always and thank the Heavens for blessing you with them. It is important to acknowledge the strength of a woman. 3 things: Support, Protect and Acknowledge. Best, Uncle Charles
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Being a woman is not an insult but an honour. I am NOT apologetic for being a woman
And I love every part of it
Worlds Women’s Day
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