Imagine that
SEPT 2016
K C A L B n WHITE BUSINESS
Creativity is the new Economy
WINNIE MANG’ENI FASHION FACE Style Essentials for the everyday voluptuous woman
LIFESTYLE
9
ways to hack life
follow your heart it’s all you’ve got
Banza YouTube
CEO Joseph Rutakangwa Editor-in-Chief Eric Maingi Lead Desginer Ermias Mehari Asst Graphic Designer Ebenezer Graham Creative Director Elsa Yeboah-Boateng Copy Editor Michael Muturi Communications Baraka Pilipili Marketing Andrew Wani Photography Joe Che Sookara Akshee Fanidh Sanogo Featured Michael Du Kago Monageng Winnie Mang’eni Annette Odusi Annick La Reine Martina Michael Columnists Kabo Madigele Mary Mang’eni Meklit Baye Hawi Tiyo Fanidh Sanogo Charles Msilanga Joseph Rutakangwa
The other side looks greener because we are colour blind.
We hope to see things in black and white. We hope to experience things in black and white. We choose to either be black or white. And any mismatch from that is seen as a mistake. A taboo, an omen. When we limit ourselves to only what we know or what we are used to, we end up being the ones who are hurt. Ideally, nothing is ever as it seems. While on the face value that statement doesn’t seem to make sense, if you think about it, our understanding of people or things is really our understanding, therefore, we make assumptions based on what we now, what we have experienced etc., and whatever then that doesn’t fit in is kicked away. We are on an inevitable journey to perfection. Unfortunately, this journey is hardy internal. It is based on extrinsic motivations. And on this journey, you may feel inferior, or intimidated by the happenings that may occur that don’t make sense to us. Regardless, we are still in control of our thoughts our responses and our actions. Therefore, it is in our best interest to ensure that we, with a cheerful heart and a valiant spirit, we don’t fret too much trying to categorize and label things, but that we look at our scope, our areas of influence and our grass, and ensure we make the most of tehm. Look at yourself and see your goodness, wealth ad beauty. And the other side won’t look as green after all. It’s up to you. Will you worry yourself for not being black or white in life, or will you leave it to the grey unexplained area in life and focus on you?
Happy reading. Eric Maingi Editor-in-Chief
The world is not black and white There’s lot’s of gray grey area
Re-imagine Banza ???
Banza like you’ve never imagined
! 0 1 a e r We aare a 10! We are a 10! We are a 10! We are a 10! We are a 10! We
table of CONTENTS
Letter from our editor on grey areas in life
12
get a photo simulation of the previous editions
14
Meet the Madman from China
38 FASHION FACE Hail the curves and hail the BBWs.
30
join our YouTube journey and get the best of Banza
04
The biggest family yet that strives to serve you
10
20 BBW The diary of a BBW
56
Never miss a moment with Behind the Lenses
Stonger, better and whiter teeth all done at home!
60 Seconds with Meklit Baye
Queen of Katwe and many more for your Netflix and Chill
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96 98
Creativity is the new economy! Yes! Find out how and why
The music album that will make you fall to your knees
Your 9 steps to hacking life.
Uncle Charles is back with goodies!
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CASE FILES WITH FANIDH SANOGO
90
20
His A
s Africa
A tête-à-tête with the renowned Chinese-Canadian antique collector
Michael Du By Julie O’yang
Madman of Hongshan is what Michael calls himself.
Being the Adviser of China Hongshan Culture Research Association, his private collection has grown to be more than 10.000 pieces of cultural wealth from the Chinese remote past. Hongshan Culture is our Madman’s obsession. So what has Africa got to do with it? Hongshan is a Neolithic culture in North-Eastern China. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Hongshan sites have been found in an area stretching from Inner Mongolia to Liaoning, and dated from about 4700 to 2900 BC. On the phone, Michael told me that he had been travelling around the world for the past decades in search of the root of ancient Chinese civilization, and to his great wonder, his voluntary work of repatriation and resettlement of ancient cultural objects has brought him as far as the African continent, the cradle of mankind. Obviously, his somewhat sentimental but fascinating remark both affected and bewildered me. Based on my references as an art critic, if one looks at the contemporary artists and their work
from China and Africa, one would say that on the visual surface, they actually are quite antagonistic. African art is more linked with the senses, with nature and the earth, while Chinese art is more artificial, elaborate and technique-driven. I became curious and decided to dig up his African story and find out more about his vision. He arrived in Africa in 2006, the year that Joseph Kabila was elected president of DRC. The mood to intensify economic reforms and attract more foreign investors in various Congolese industries was in the air. On the invitation of his business partner, Michael conducted a 2-months long inspection. They ended up starting a wood harvesting company. It was in this context that Michael met a mixed assortment of people, from government officials to celebrities and folk artists and even poor villagers. He felt fortunate to explore the heart of Africa, and immediately he was attracted to its ancient roots and was intrigued by the
unusual, seemingly familiar, artefacts. He lived in Boma. It’s a very poor, untouched region. His company brought an economic life to the locals – he believed it was a much- looked-for new energy and excitement. He became a local “celebrity.” Since he has had a knack for everything ancient, things that mainstream school did not keep track of, the local villagers who grew to know him better and better would visit him and show him some extraordinary objects they owned. And no matter how tired he was after work, he would receive them enthusiastically. He remembers that one day when he came back from the forest; an old man was waiting for him outside his office carrying a basket filled with carved pieces. It was already late, his translator had left. Michael invited the old man in and indicated him to display the items he brought with him
on a coffee table. The articles and the carvings looked quite similar, however. Michael decided to buy them; he didn’t want to disappoint the old man. But then, something strange happened. His guest singled out a woodcarving, which caught his attention. It reminded him of Hongshan jade! The artist representation of pregnant women and the delivering scenes are frequent in Hongshan. Thousands of miles away and separated by historical timelines, mankind’s worship of powerful reproductive magic connected Africa and China! This little African object has in fact led Michael to believe that direct cultural exchanges between peoples are a kind-hearted, meaningful act. One does not need complicated words. It’s all there presented to us by human ancestors, touching us all in an expressive, vivid, significant way! Direct cultural contact is inevitable!
After the meal, Michael contacted his translator and asked him to talk to the old man directly. Now he finally understood that the wood-
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because he was keen to learn. It was a breathtaking experience. The object was “transferred” to Michael in a way which was suitable for both.
It feels great to be kind; it’s all in the game
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carving object was a family heirloom, and it’s very old and precious. Michael hesitated if he should buy it not only because it was costly, but also, he felt “not right” to own such a holy item. Through the translator he found out that the old man wanted him to take part in a mysterious African ceremony. He happily accepted the invitation
Michael has helped the old man and his family solve their financial worries, even though it may feel questionable somehow, he admits. It feels great to be kind; it’s all in the game. During the years living in Africa, Michael supported over twenty families from his own resources. This peculiar event has taught him
that mankind has more in common than they know. It has urged him to explore deeper. His searching has brought him to Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and ruins in South Africa. It has been truly incredible! The question that puzzled and still puzzles him, though, is that whether the ancient African civilization inspired the ancient Chinese civilization or vice versa, or did the ancient civilization rise on their own globally at the same time? In his quest for ancient heritages, it was neither the pyramids nor Nigeria Nok terracotta that impressed him the most but advanced bronze culture from Benin. Subsequently, he travelled to Kandi to see a bronze warrior. But the owner seemed to have changed his mind, he didn’t even want to show me his item, he was disappointed. He liked the Africans he met; they are warm and kind, but sometimes it’s tough for him to stay on their unpredictable decisions. He was determined to see the bronze warrior, so he brought sugar and rice as presents. In the end, the owner agreed to let him see his treasure. So he learned that Benin bronze culture is older than the Chinese bronze culture by 2000 years and that the real reason why the owner didn’t want to show his bronze warrior was because such objects are so rare and extremely valuable. This was an eye-opening experience and transformed his view on bronze culture! Then, in Cape Town, he met a collector of French descent who owned 20 pieces of Hongshan jade. Being a devoted fan of Hongshan, a self-proclaimed promoter and guardian angel, Michael was eager to find out to the stories behind these objects. The collector told him that they were shipped across the ocean 100 years ago by his ancestors. They were all
beautifully styled, mysteriously carved, thought-provoking ancient artefacts. Apart from business instinct, mission sense is perhaps his most inspirational personal drive. Michael truly believes in open forums among culturally interested individuals; interaction and communication on multi-levels and through multi-channels. “You know, as a global citizen, we have the duty to educate ourselves on Chinese cultures and African cultures. I’m glad to contribute something that makes it possible for Chinese culture to enter Africa and for Africa heritage to enter China. Ignorance is not bliss. I mean, expand knowledge, engage people in dialogue, these things are most important in today’s world. I’m planning to publish a few photo collections soon. I’m also thinking to open a private museum in Shanghai.” He is a man that takes risks. His journey is one of intellectual curiosity.
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I’m glad to contribute something that makes it possible for Chinese culture to enter Africa and for Africa heritage to enter China
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Ignorance is not bliss. I mean, expand knowledge, engage people in dialogue, these things are most important in today’s world.
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FASHION FACE It is written; fashion is art and you are the canvas. Embrace Black & White Uniquely to represent your curves. Appreciate your voluptious body and be the artwork to be desired. by MARY MANG’ENI
PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Che DIRECTOR Mary Mang’eni MODEL Winnie Mang’eni DESIGNER MotherCity Collections
Black Jumpsuit $ 30 Black & White Leather Jacket $ 25 Black Peeptoe Heels $ 26
Black Alladin Pants $ 10 Black Striped Crop Top $ 15 Converse All Star Shoes $ 25
White Striped Sleeves Top $ 15 Black Cotton Shorts $ 15 Black Leather Boots $ 30
Zebra-Laced BodyCon Dress $ 25 Blue Sharp-Shooter Heels $ 40
Polka Dot Brallete Bikini Top $ 10 Black Hotpants $8
diary of a BBW WHY
day #1 ADE??! M M O T S U C m Ia try fit in when
i s u d O e Annett
day #2 I’m the diamond in the rough! Best Believ e
t
my sh*
! day #3 n right e v e ’t it ain so good
day #4 ld on to me... o h , y b a b n o c’m
day #5 and night y a d , d in r g I
BEHIND THE LENSES
6
60
seconds with
Meklit Baye
Annick La Reine Shimwa Why do you like your fashion? I like my fashion because it’s an exemplification of my persona
Who do you look up to when it comes to fashion? Honestly speaking, I look up to no one
Why do you think your style is unique? I know for a fact that everyone has a different personality, and since mine represents my personality, it’s not just unique - it’s me Do you consider yourself a trend-setter? I don’t look back to determine whether I set a trend or not, but I know, most times, I try new things regardless of who will follow or not Where do you see yourself in the future when it comes to fashion? In future, I would like to open up an art business that for fashion, and my target market would be children
Martina Michael Why do you like your fashion? I like my fashion because it’s a language that expresses that part of me that cannot be expressed in any other way Who do you look up to when it comes to fashion? Truthfully, I don’t look up to anyone except myself because my style flows from within me Why do you think your style is unique? My style is unique because I was never inspired by anyone in particular. Anything and everything is inspired by me; my mood and my memory! Do you consider yourself a trend-setter? Yes, I do. I strongly believe that my simple yet unique style is worth your wardrobe collection Where do you see yourself in the future when it comes to fashion? I see myself becoming a world-class model and having my own clothing line and collections
BUSI
INESS
Creativity is The New Economy by Kabo Madigele
Kago Monageng is a young man who hails from the diamond country, Botswana. He speaks passionately about his creative craft and the immense impact that the creative industry is making in the world economy. He is making a dent in the universe through his art.
Who is Kago? I was born and raised in the mid-eighties in a rural village in Southern Botswana. I attended school there from primary school up until high school. From 2006 to 2009, I studied graphic design at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town. What did you like doing growing up and what influenced that? Growing up, we did not have access to technology like today so we always played outside. I have always been an artistic should I vividly remember playing with cars made out of scrap wires.
I was so good at that! So I became fascinated with design. My dream was to become an architect or an industrial designer. This passion drove me to study graphic design at University.
Now you are an entrepreneur, how did it all start? I have always wanted to own and control my creativity. When I was in my final year of university, I met Monkgogi Samson, who is now my friend and business partner. I did not want to work for anyone after graduation, so I proposed that we join hands and open a creative agency-he agreed. The new company was called Demographix Communications, a creative Visual Design and Brand Communications agency based in Gaborone. We operated for some time from home and opened an office in 2010.
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It is good to spend a lot of time in improving your products than to raise a lot of money and waste it on wrong products
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What pieces of advice would you offer entrepreneurs, especially the youth starting out today? Entrepreneurship is not about making money, it is about making a difference or presenting a solution, and then money shall follow. What’s the worst business advice you have ever received? “In business you need to be corrupt to make it, a bribe always makes things work.”
What does Demographix do? What is your market? Our primary focus is to work closely with clients and help them succeed in setting and meeting their marketing goals. We offer a consolidated support and a commitment to communicate their ideas in a strategic, creative, and cost-effective manner. Our services are divided into six core segments: Branding & Design Communications (e.g. company annual reports, print ads, corporate wear and promotional gifts), Strategy & Consultancy (e.g. content creation, brand activation and positioning), Web Design & Digital Media, Photography, Domain Registration & Hosting and Product Design. Is this your first venture? It is my first formal business. I used to sell t-shirts and do freelance work to make a few bucks. I really enjoyed my work because I was in control of every aspect in it. Moreover, my creativity was a not limited by rigid rules or models that are synonymous with traditional companies.
We target a wide array of clients, mainly public institutions and corporate sector companies. Being a small agency, we have proven to be more agile, easier to work with and less costly, plus you get the benefits of working with a streamlined creative and management team in contrast to a large network agency. We work with startups, SME’s and other businesses that see and understand the value in investing in branding and marketing services that will substantially improve their brand equity and bottom line revenue. We continuously challenge ourselves with developing innovative branding concepts and smart creative solutions that optimises the function, value and appearance of products, services and business systems. Through our extensive industry knowledge and experience, we are enabled to provide creative solutions to our clients across board, big and small.
How large is the company?
How were things during Demo- It is still growing, we still have one office graphix’s early stages? and just three full time employees: that is
Starting was not that easy, we started with our finances and resources. Later we applied for funding from the Government through a Youth Development Program in order to expand the business. Actually, I have learnt that it is very important to validate your idea, iterate and build a solid business model before looking for a lot of money. It is good to spend a lot of time in improving your products than to raise a lot of money and waste it in wrong products.
me, my partner and an office manager. The two of us are in charge of design while she is managing the administration side.
What are your future plans?
We hope to expand into a group of companies that still are under the umbrella of the creative industry. What are the most crucial things you have done to grow your business? We have come up with green lifestyle project that is different from the rest. In addition to that, we have done pro bono work for charity organisations to help grow our brand away from social media. We are also consistent participants in annual national exhibitions.
How is the competition landscape? Competition is tough. This gives us the impetus to be creative and diversify our products and not be comfortable with just graphic design. Therefore we have expanded into other things like product design and tapped also into fashion. Our most prominent product is a seat made from recycled car tyres. Our main marketing technique is to offer superior services, thereby making it easy to retain customers. Word of mouth also works magic in our industry. With the advent of technology, things have become easier and cheaper, we no longer have to spend money on Radio, TV and newspaper ads. Social media is available anywhere, any time as many times as you can since it is free. What challenges do you encounter in your business? Creativity is still a new word in our country. When you present something creative, it is either rejected or only a handful accept it. Therefore, timing is very important.
What is your mission as an individual, how do you want to impact the world? Give the world hope that there is still time to right the wrongs. We just need to look at our individual strengths and capabilities and use them for the better things for the coming generations.
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F I
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Navigate Through the Shades of Life Using These 9 Questions By Joseph Rutakangwa
Four years ago, I began a quest to find answers to some of the most difficult questions in life. In the middle of this hunt, I yearned to get more facts to help me understand why so many people never achieve their dreams in life. I visited a number of schools and asked students where they saw themselves in 20 years. Their responses were:
“I’ll be a doctor,” “a pilot,” “an engineer,” “a professor,” and so forth – for primary school kids. “I’ll have a Nobel prize in medicine,” “build the largest conglomerate in Africa,” “author fundamental principles of dark matter,” and so on – for secondary school kids. “Maybe I’ll be working somewhere,” “try and get a decent job,” “I don’t know” – for university graduates.
This is sad. The older we grow, the more challenges we face, and they force us to believe that what we aspired were but fantasies. I agree that life is not black and white. And life doesn’t have just 256 colours – there are so many shades in between. But how do you navigate through all these shades without getting lost?
Use these 9 questions as a compass to direct you towards the life of your dreams:
1.
Are you living or existing?
Let’s get this out of the way first. There’s a fine line between these two words. Living is the pursuit of a lifestyle of a specified nature. On the other hand, existing is simply having objective reality. Which one do you fit into? 2. What’s one thing you plan to achieve before you die? We often talk about our dreams and achieving certain goals in life. But when asked about one thing in particular that would make us feel accomplished in life, we freeze or end up mentioning ten things. Not knowing exactly what you’re looking for in life is like sailing in deep seas without a compass. You could end up on Treasure Island, but is it what you were looking for? You don’t want to be on your deathbed regretting that you didn’t try out for the Olympics. So, what’s yours? 3. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose? When I was in high school, I set a goal to attend one of the best universities in the world on a full scholarship. That was close to unachievable. But I didn’t see attending the 1187th university in the world on a loan as an option. I would graduate, remain unemployed for about three years, and feel like a loser for not reaching my goal. Long story short, I got what I wanted. If not achieving that goal is losing, what else is there to lose if you haven’t achieved it yet? 4. Is it out of reach or have you not stretched yourself far enough? This is where we decide to either let go or never give up on something. The answer to this question also helps us to re-position ourselves in order to increase the likelihood of reaching our goals. Therefore, it’s important that you’re certain about your answer here.
5. If today was your last day, what would you do? Whatever your answer is, that’s what you should start doing from now on. If you procrastinate, then how short should your life be for you to start doing that? 6.
How are you your own enemy?
You are. Now that we’ve taken that off your chest, think of how? To live the life of your dreams, you have to make some changes to your thoughts, beliefs, habits, mindset, attitude, perceptions, et cetera. Together, these things form who you are today. If you’re not yet who you want to become, you need to make some changes. 7.
What mistakes do you keep repeating?
We all repeat some mistakes. They could be how you spend your money and time, how you choose your friends, or how you prioritize things. Sometimes, these mistakes are embedded so deep in our personalities that we can’t notice them. Write down what you do on a daily basis or how you spend your money and note some common mistakes. Don’t repeat those mistakes. 8.
What’s worse than death?
I’d say; living the life that you know you were not meant to live is far worse than death itself. To worsen this condition is living up to 90 and knowing that you haven’t accomplished a fraction of your life goals. Thinking that you died at 20 when you gave up on your dreams. Knowing that you have passed like a shadow. Honestly, I can’t think of anything worse. What do you think is worse than death? 9.
Why do you matter?
Yes, why do you matter?
a case for black & white
by Fanidh Sanogo
B
efore I start, I would like to apologize for those of you who might feel attacked, especially my dear white and Christian friends. The goal of this article is not to offend or convince anyone, but to build a pathway towards critical and constructive conversations for the betterment of the planet earth. What is black and what is white? Without black, white would not exist, and vice versa. The truth is, we always need the opposite of something to acknowledge the other. Black people did not know they were black until they saw white people. When I started this article, I thought to myself “Do not be cliché, don’t write about race.” In my quest for ‘out-of-the box-ideas,’ I tried to write about zebras, Oreos, and achromatopsia, but my mind would always shift back to race. I guess one reason why I tried as much as possible not to write about race is because I, just like everybody else, try to make myself believe that we are post-racial. But the truth is, we are not.
The effects of Slazation are still very present (Slazation is a term I like to use to describe slavery and colonization.) We see it every single day on TV, at church, on billboards, and even in our thoughts, without noticing. This is why I would like to discuss a few things that prick my mind when it comes to the way society interacts with these two colors: black and white. I truly believe that labeling almost everything that is black as evil, bad and immoral has a negative impact on how the world views people with more melanin. Similarly, labeling the color white as the symbol of purity, and everything positive greatly impacts the world’s view on people with less melanin.
Wedding dresses are white, but guns are black
Call me crazy for thinking this, but it’s worth a thought. A wedding is definitely a joyful event, at least, for most humans, and a gun is a weapon that has caused more harm than good in the world. I am aware that guns are black because of the metallic alloy used to make them. But maybe, just maybe, this slightly contributes to racism and colourism. No? God is often portrayed as a white man Whereas, the image of demons and Satan is often portrayed as black, the man upstairs is by a striking contrast, white, portrayed especially in Christianity.
Now, once you tell a black child that God is white, be it through the images of white Jesus at church, or through the pictures of the white angels in the Sunday school’s colouring pages, they subconsciously put anybody that exhibits similar traits with the god they worship, above them. Probably because well, they look like God! So what happens then when they see a white male or female? They will subconsciously put him or her on a pedestal. Back in high school, I had a white male teacher that had long hair. Unfortunately, one day, he decided to cut his hair. My friend was irked because, “he really looked like Jesus!” And honestly, he did! Because that is how the world portrays Jesus: white male with long blonde hair. Automatically, white people are then viewed as superior to black people in the church because they look like the God they worship every Sunday. I’m sure my friend would never have thought that about our teacher had he been black with dread locks. I remember my kindergarten teacher joking that God forgot black people in the oven whilst creating us. (This was meant to explain why we, blacks, are ‘burnt’ and the toubabous-white or light skinned people in my local language-are so handsome and beautiful.) I appreciate the Hindu religion because most of their Deities are blue, and there are no blue human beings. I really wish I could say the skin colour of the pictorial representation of God does not matter, but it unfortunately does.
Furthermore, I have always wondered why most toilet seats are white. They could have been light green. Why is it that when we with to threaten others, we say blackmail? Is there something wrong with black males? And why was King Kong a black male gorilla who kidnapped a white lady? Sadly, I do not have the answers to all these questions. Call me crazy or disturbed, but I definitely believe that these questions are worth discussing.
I think the world would be a better place if black and white did not exist. Remember, I do not wish to convince you. I just ask that you give some thought to it. #dropsmic!
Whitening Teeth
a bit more on what we know
Hawi Tiyo Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide are among the oldest and most popular at-home teeth whitening remedies. Mixing baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste and using it in lieu of traditional toothpaste is recommended by many people. Simply add a few drops of three percent hydrogen peroxide to plain baking soda and mix it until it forms a paste—then apply it to your toothbrush as normal.
Many others also have found results from rinsing their mouth with diluted hydrogen peroxide for a few seconds. However, this shouldn’t become your go-to paste, or it shouldn’t be used more than twice a year. Both ingredients are abrasive, meaning that it will help to remove stains, but they can be really harmful. After continued use, it can begin to wear away enamel, which will cause your teeth to darken. What you eat doesn’t always stain your teeth Some fruits and veggies actually serve as very effective teeth whiteners. Best examples can be Cauliflower, Strawberries, Apples, Banana, Celery and Dairy Products as well. Even though strawberries are dark in colour, they contain malic acid, an enzyme which, naturally makes teeth whiter. Dairy products also contain lactic acid and calcium, to cleanse and strengthen your teeth. You can use banana in a bit different way. After you brush and floss, use the inside of a banana peel to rub the inside of your teeth for two minutes. Then rinse and repeat this before bed as well. Doing this will result in the absorption of Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese, and other minerals to your enamel, for strong healthy and white teeth The activated charcoal teeth whitening trend If you are the person who spends time on the internet, you should have noticed a charcoal-derived black mixture teeth whitening trend on different beauty pages. Well, charcoal is one of the most absorbent materials on earth. It is even used in some hospitals for the case of poisoning emergencies because it can absorb that stuff and safely remove it from the body. It whitens teeth in the same way. It absorbs all bacteria, toxins, stains and makes them whiter as a result. This extent of its abrasiveness is not defined yet, but it is worth to note that the tooth enamel is susceptible to deterioration and erosion, which can lead to sensitivity and cavities.
NEW MOVIE RELEASES
Queen of Katwe “Nothing makes a better summer gift than a motivating true story of a young girl’s dream to become Uganda’s first female Grandmaster.”
Morgan Thriller September 2nd 2016
The Light between Oceans Adaptation September 2nd 2016
When the Bough Breaks Suspense September 9th 2016
The Wild Life 3D Animation September 9th 2016
Snowden True Story September 16th 2016
Bridget Jones’s Baby Romance September 16th 2016
Storks 3D Animation September 23rd 2016
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children Adaptation September 30th 2016
Hillsong - Let Hope Rise Faith September 16th 2016
NEW RELEASE
September 23rd Illuminate by Shawn Mendes
“Illuminate will catch you off guard.”
MUST LISTEN TO POPULAR ALBUMS 2016
Mistky Puberty 2
Michael Kiwanuka Love & Hate
Maxwell black SUMMERS’ night
Blood Orange Freetown Sound
YG Still Brazy
James Blake The Colour in Anything
Death Grips Bottomless Pit
Nao For All We Know
Schoolboy Q Blank Face LP
a letter from Uncle Charles Recently, we have been experiencing the Olympic Games at Rio and, truth is during these games, dreams came true to some, others could not believe the reality and some got disappointed. Gold, Silver and Bronze were the awards given to the best 3 in every competition, however, I realized something deeper than the face value of shiny metals through something I read. "Bronze medalists are normally happier than Silver medalists. The silver Medalists focus on how close they came to winning gold and failed whereas bronze medalist focus on how close they came to not winning any medal but yet they made it. Looking at your life; are you complaining about the silver medal or excited about the bronze? I got thinking about how that statement makes so much sense and I reflected the more on how our daily lives and the experiences we have are tied to this.
Participants are goal oriented In the Olympics, every participant has their goal to attain for each a particular race or game and they work, hard enough, to ensure that their goals are attained. Whether their target is the coveted Gold, Silver or Bronze, the athletes have a specific target they aim at and they work towards achieving such.
Obsession The Olympics happen once in every 4 years. This shows that the athletes have enough time to prepare for the competitions. The sense of urgency for them to attain their different goals arises in the preparation. They also have a mission to achieve their dreams of winning a medal. They work with time and are aware that their access to a medal is determined by how they beat time. The sense of obsession makes them work hard and the most obsessed athletes tend to win medals eventually.
Mastery Every Olympic athlete has got to have mastery of his or her category of competition to a certain level. In the 4 years before the games, they ensure that they train, practice and prepare for the final competitions where the outstanding athletes tend to show off their mastery and end up winning.
It’s that simple. Set a goal, get obsessed about achieving it and master the ways of getting there.
I wish you wonderful moments as you reflect on such. God Bless you so much
MOTHER CITY COLLECTIONS