Jan 2017
BUSINESS
4
steps you need to really achieve your goals
FASHION FACE
Be New BE BOLD Be You
Imagine that
DOLLY TUNA
An exclusive interview with the Founder of ZAAF
BE PROUD
LIFESTYLE
WHY I WILL NEVER CATCH FEELINGS
+
BE NEW
Abai Schulze
C
2017 D
ast
your
ie
Frame Fame
INSIDE BANZA
In Search of a God The holidays have been such a thrill for me. Of course, there was a lot of excesses barbecue, wine, candles and travel! And to top it all up, my best friend came to visit me and we had such glorious times over the holiday. Amazingly though, through all the noise, the good cheer and the excess vibe that was so profound, I made such a striking discovery. I came across Neale Donald Walsch in his books. Controversy aside, he mentions... When the student is ready, the teacher will show up Through his works, he brings to the fore many a words of truth and thought-provoking revelations- pieces that lead me to questioning so many things. At this point in time, I find myself pondering about life, and through the thoughts, needless to say, I found God. But, who says He was lost? For 2017, rewrite your story, change the manuscript that you have read all your life about God, about you, about life, about love, about anything and everything. And that is exactly what we will do with Banza- we will rewrite everything you have come to know as we discover what Banza can be. Search deep and ponder far and wide. It’s 2017.
Happy Reading Editor-in-Chief Eric Maingi
EDITOR’S NOTE
B cause
the team is family
THE CREW
#fresh #family #crewlove #slay #2017
CEO Joseph Rutakangwa Editor-in-Chief Eric Maingi
Creative Director Elsa Yeboah-Boateng Copy Editor Michael Muturi
THE CREW
Fashion Face Mariah Mang’eni Linda Admassu Hawi Tiyo Business Mohamed Maalainine
Lifestyle One Pusumane Featured Abai Schulze Ashley Ancordi Peter Chege
Photographers Angelo Pictures Cover Girl Dolly Tuna
CONTENTS
20
Abai Schulze, Founder & Creative Director at ZAAF
INSIDE BANZA 06
All of Banza
08
Editor’s Note
12
Meet the Team
FASHION FACE 30
Cover Girl
44
60 Seconds Meet Ashley Ancordi with her unshaken fashion independence.
Dolly Tuna gives an aura of elegance and a the slay!
68
BUSINESS 48
Success With the new season of setting goals, this time, get it right by applying these 4 steps only!
37
LIFESTYLE 52
Living So you are setting goals, but why are you setting them? And why now?
56
Why I will Never Catch Feelings One Pusumane does it again with her painfully truthful piece.
60
Through my Lenses Meet Peter Chege, a North Carolina based photographer whose works tell more than tales.
70
Reviews Movies to watch this month and African Hits you have to listen to.
Reshape your life
FEATURE STORY
Abai Schulze
A collection story by Meklit Baye
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“ZAAF has now grown into fifteen workers...” says Abai Schulze proudly speaking about the company she has built from the ground up. Abai was born in the remote countryside in Wollo, Ethiopia, but was raised in the capital city, Addis Ababa where she spent most of her life in a Catholic orphanage. Abai moved to the United States when she was about eleven years old, with her adoptive family and despite the move to a new setting and immersion to a new culture, she still held her Ethiopian heritage very close. Abai Schulze had the opportunities to travel back to Ethiopia and visit many other places overseas. She was able to intern and volunteer back in her country in different settings during her teenage and college years, allowing her to keep connected culturally. Through this, she came to the realization of the great potential her birth country had. She completed her BA in Economics with a minor in Fine Arts at George Washington University. Her driving passion and vision were centred around using her education
and experiences to create economic opportunities in developing countries; her first destination being her home country. After a year working in DC, it was time to move on and start to bring this vision to life. Abai started a company named ZAAF that works under the business name Libitur PLC, which produces high end leather bags. ZAAF started with only five workers. ZAAF is a unique name that most people ask about which means tree in Amharic. “I chose this name because it embodies a simple word with a symbolic meaning across all cultures and I was also inspired by the notion of deep roots reaching far into the rich Ethiopian culture and heritage, all the while bringing out beautiful new branches of creativity and functionality,” answers Abai when she explains why she chose the name ZAAF. ZAAF incorporates traditional touches of
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...and I was also inspired by the notion of deep roots reaching far into the rich Ethiopian culture and heritage, all the while bringing out beautiful new branches of creativity and functionality.
Ethiopia in the bag, which makes the bag very unique and desirable. ZAAF was officially launched in February 2014 in the USA. After a year, the show room in Addis was officially opened.
“I want people to know more about the beautiful heritage of Ethiopia and erase the old stereotype attached to it; famine and disparity,” says Abai explaining why she was very keen on starting a luxurious bag company. The bags at ZAAF are made of organic product; pure leather produced in Ethiopia and highlighted with tilet made on a traditional hand-loom. It is important to the company that their consumers feel the sense of where the products are made. So in their collection, they integrate ageless geometric patterns created on the traditional looms with leather. On the traditional weaving looms, you have talented weavers who meticu-
FEATURE STORY
lously count knots and utilizing their ages-old loom to produce patterns of fantastic combinations of colours and styles. Indeed, there are innovative approaches of bringing improvement and change to the traditional handicraft industry that serves the global market without compromising its national culture identity.
Each year, ZAAF produces new collections that connect with the Ethiopian culture. It has unique designs that are astonishing. Most of the bags are named after Ethiopian ingenious trees such as Wanza and Avalo.
ZAAF has now grown to a team of over fifteen workers. It has also expanded it service by producing beautiful scarves accentuated with leather and coupled with leather jackets.
“Building a company in Ethiopia has its challenges and downfalls,” says Abai “one of the main down falls I have faced is finding skilled people who can deliver quality work efficiently.” Currently ZAAF sells bag in the show room located in Addis Ababa but it also exports to USA and to a few big cities in Europe. Abai believes that the success of ZAAF comes with team effort and as such, she takes great care treating and deal-
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Building a company in Ethiopia has its challenges and downfalls... one of the main down falls I have faced is finding skilled people who can deliver quality work efficiently.
FEATURE STORY
ing with her team that comprises of artisans and administrative staff. The culture at ZAAF has made the team as close as a family. The team eats their lunch together that is prepared by the chef, who is also part of the ZAAF team, building their compassion and trust between each other and saving on time and transportation costs. Every five to seven weeks, they go out on team building activities to boost the synergy in the team. “Working at ZAAF has taught me a lot of things
especially how to interact with others.� Says one of the members of the ZAAF team. The prizes at ZAAF are very reasonable when compared to the products they produce. The bags are durable and they beautiful. ZAAF creates Economic opportunities for the local people by using local resources as raw materials, promoting the beautiful culture of Ethiopia and maintaining its heritage.
ZAAF’s unique designs and durable material has been a topic of discussion almost on all communication ends leading to their showcase in New York’s fashion week and on other magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Lucky and more recently, Forbes magazine. Her excellent creative work has led Abai to win the UNESCO Tremplin 2014 price for Entrepreneurship. She was also the finalist for the 2015 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship.
Fashion Face Its a new week, Its a new month, Its a new year. Wake up,dust yourself and draft the goals that will manifest the new you. Be fearless, be brave and be bold for your sense of style should be worth stating!
by Mary Mang’eni Model Dolly Tuna Photographer Angelo Photography Directors Hawi Tiyo Linda Admassu
FASHION FACE
FASHION FACE
FASHION FACE
60
FASHION FACE
seconds with
Meklit Baye
Ashley Ancordi Why do you like your fashion? My fashion sense is tailored to my personality. I always like it when I’m comfortable and at the same time unpredictable. Who do you look up to when it comes to fashion? I don’t have one person I look up to. I generally like to pick ideas from all over and merge them into one outfit.
Where do you see yourself in the future when it comes to fashion? I think my style changes as I mature and the environment I am in. But I definitely think I’ll be going for more monochromes, semi-formal and minimalist pieces since I would be going into the working world soon. I definitely won’t leave the accessories and a pop of colour behind though!
Why do you think your style is unique?
Any last comments or advice for our readers?
I think my style is unique because I like to try the unnatural and be edgy at the same time. I always remain minimal but when it comes to accessorising I use interesting pieces that are sometimes personal.
I think your outfit is a visual representation of who you are and how you feel so express yourself!
Do you consider yourself a trend-setter? Well I’m kinda stuck in between trendsetter and follower. But I definitely don’t try too hard to set a trend
simonlagoarde.fr
How to Achieve your Goals By Mohamed Maalainine
L
Let me tell you a story
In the early 90s, there was a man named Alex. He grew up marginalized from different activities in the society. He didn’t have his left arm. Hence, everyone would look at him either with a look of disdain or sympathy. He hated that. He loved his parents and was grateful to them for all they had to go through because of him. He was resolved to make a breakthrough in the world that would make them proud. He didn’t know how to go about it, though. One day, while going back home, he heard a brouhaha made by Judo martial art practitioners around and he rushed to watch them. He was hooked. He instantly fell for Judo. He decided to become a Judoka (Judo apprentice) and approached the coach of those practitioners for that matter. The coach denied his request! But that didn’t affect his desire to practice. Every day, for a month long, Alex tried to convince the trainer. The latter finally surrendered to his persistence and allowed him to join. But, he gave him one condition. Alex should learn only one movement and that, he needed to practice every day. Out of enthusiasm, he quickly accepted the condition.
Alex kept practicing the same move until one day the coach told him that he is participating in a national competition. He was shocked. “I have been practicing the same move for the past 6 months and you want me to compete? Are you serious?” Alex asked. His coach vividly replied: “Yes, I am.” Alex went to the competition and to his surprise, he won all the first matches. He kept on winning until he found himself in the final match versus the previous champion. He looked at his coach and expressed his doubt. A doubt that the coach didn’t pay attention to. Alex was beaten up. He was losing terribly. Until the last 15 seconds of the match, he did his learned move and won! Crying out of happiness, he was still not believing how he made it. “Please, please tell me how did I win?” He begged. The coach finally revealed the secret: “You know that move you have been practicing for the past 6 months? In order for your opponents to counter it, they need to grab your left arm!” In a nutshell, commit, endure, persist, work hard, and turn your weaknesses to strengths. That’s how you achieve your goals.
BUSINESS
Do You Need a New Year’s Resolution? Think About These 4 Questions
by Joseph Rutakangwa
Q
Q
Why wait until January 1st There are about 365 days in a year, each with 24 hours. A year can start from February 5th, August 4th or any other day. Why wait until January 1st to start your new year’s resolution? And who waits all year to decide on doing something – which they claim to be of utmost importance? A procrastinator. By January 1st, you’re off the holidays and the thought of having to plough through 365 days overwhelms you. Before you have even started your new year’s resolution, you give up. This is how January 17th became the famous “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day.” Making each one of the 365 days your special decision-making day will save you many troubles in this life.
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When a resolution “fails” it only means that you ended up doing what you wanted to do. So, why go through all the trouble of trying to be who you’re not?
Is it what you want or what you think you want Eat healthy, get in shape, make new friends, reduce stress, and sleep at least 8 hours a night. They’re all great plans for a new year. But are they great plans for YOU. Do you really want to stop drinking soda? Do you need new friends? Do you really want to sleep 8 hours or you would much rather watch the English premier league? Often, the end goals of these resolutions are to meet others’ expectations and fit in. You may have been searching for ideas for your resolution over the internet.
These ideas represent what you think you should do but not what you actually want to do. When a resolution “fails” it only means that you ended up doing what you wanted to do. So, why go through all the trouble of trying to be who you’re not? Look at what you really want and do that. You won’t even need motivation or an accountability buddy because you would be doing what your heart, mind, and body want.
Q
Q
LIFESTYLE You will be happier, right Think about this… You feel bad about where you are in life today. You set your new year’s resolution to put your life in a much better place. You fail after a month. You feel bad about yourself. The cycle continues. Where is happiness? You end up in this cycle because you set goals. The problem with goals is that they damage your self-assurance, your pride. They make you feel cheap. You set goals to become a better person and live a better life as though you are not. If there’re always things you lack today and desire to have in the future, have you ever
had anything? Will you ever have anything? Because the things that you need most in your life are always in your future, hence having goals. In the case that you reach your goal, what will follow? A new goal. And the next one, then another one. So, when are you ever happy and satisfied? You want to eat healthily? Go buy veggies, NOW! Don’t plan to start buying veggies from January 1st, 2018. Live in the present.
What does it mean to you January 17th, Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day, is approaching. Perhaps you have not even started to execute your plans for 2017, perhaps you have. The point is, you need to be sure you’re up for the task until it’s complete. You might be highly motivated today but motivation only gives us the initial boost to start executing our plans. After your motivation wears off, only commitment will take you to the end. If you are not committed, you are more likely to quit.
The thing is, you’re pursuing a goal that doesn’t mean anything to you. A new year’s resolution is not relevant to your own personal story. You need a goal coming from your inner self. You need to pursue a goal which is based on what matter’s to you most. An easy way to identify this goal is to look at your story. So, what’s your story?
Why I Will Never Catch Feelings by One Pusumane
You know why we don’t like catching feelings? Everyone is replaceable. My dear, even my own mother’s womb rejected me after nine months because forever is façade that we all have to believe in. That’s the only way we can sleep at night Because we are bolted to this cold dark world. You know why we don’t like catching feelings? We live in a world that has taught to us To love everything but ourselves. We are like hunters and gatherers But not so much like our ancestors We hunt for validation like confused boys Who mistake manhood for sexual body counts We don’t have any care to give because we also need it some of us have met a soul that cared and we ran I mean how would you survive heartbreak and abandonment When it keeps haunting you?
You know why we don’t catch feelings? None of us like a lighthouse that is strong Enough to survive crashing waves that Are determined to bring it down. My love, we have been pulled down so many times That we have forgotten what high feels like No wonder we search for it in between Strange Hips. At the bottom of bottles and Sometimes we try to find our oxygen from cigarettes Because we have forgotten what it feels like to breathe To live. And I guess we do love the things that end Up hurting us the most.
You know why we don’t like catch feelings? My generation is too fast. My generation is lost. I guess we are all trying to find pieces of ourselves. We are trying to find crowns we handed To those unworthy of our love. That is what feelings do. They cripple you Because when you have feelings it means you care.
You know why we don’t like catching feelings? Because rejections stings and it hurts That’s why we don’t back away from alcohol we force it down our throats To make up for the care we could never get. That’s the pure thing we have as humans. Our abilities to not to display emotion even though We are busy dying inside. Day in. Day out. I guess that’s why my happiness did not Leave a suicide note when she left me. She took everything. The house which was My soul. My kid which was my heart. So I will never catch feelings.
LIFESTYLE
Through my Lenses
MEET PETER CHEGE, A North Carolina based photographer whose optical prowess tells more than tales. Through his fine Canon, he takes us through his walk down memory lane, back when he was in his home country, Kenya; he draws parallels about his memories in Kenya whilst in the USA
Magnificent in its hardness and ability to withstand any clouds, the pine-cones are a home away from home
As hardy as it gets, its poise and grace is like the still, silent voice that is ever reckoned with
In focus, all things are golden, shiny and global
The fire of the sun and the amber of the sky ; stand tall like a mast with nature as your canvas
New Movie Releases
MOVIE RECOMMENDATION
M. Night Shyamalan’s strong comeback with his alluring mind-twisting thriller for all personalities. Split Genre: Thriller Release Date: 20/1/2017
A Monster Calls Genre: Adventure Release Date: 06/1/2017
Underworld; Blood Wars Genre: Thriller Release Date: 06/1/2017
The Founder Genre: Biography Release Date: 20/1/2017
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage Genre: Action Release Date: 20/1/2017
Bastards Genre: Comedy Release Date: 27/1/2017
Monster Trucks Genre: Animation Release Date: 13/1/2017
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter Genre: Sci Fi Release Date: 27/1/2017
Gold Genre: Drama Release Date: 27/1/2017
2016 AFRICAN HITS
MUST-LISTEN-TOAFRICAN SONGS
Yemi Alade Johnny
LIFESTYLE
AKA Baddest
Cassper Nyovest Doc Shebeleza
Diamond Platnumz Nasema Nawe
WizKid Ojuelegba
Davido Aye
Sauti Sol Sura Yako
AKA Baddest
Diamond Platnumz ft. Flavour Nana
2017 #ownit