BlackPearl Magazine #002/ March 2019 by blackpearlmag

C O N T E N T S

BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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C O N T E N T S

COVER STORY

the woman i want to be

VLADIMIR WINKLER THE ART OF GO-GETTING

32 46

CHARLES WOLF F LOAT I N G NINJA

48 46

TAYLORJAYE LY R I C S BREAKDOWN

BOBBY WVDK WA M B O VA N DIE KASI

It.s not about brands

KIM & KELLY STYLE YOUR D AY

C O N T E N T S

KHADIJAH R I S I N G S TA R

BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

E D I T O R ' S

L E T T E R

FASHION IS A FORM OF UGLINESS SO INTOLERABLE THAT WE HAVE TO ALTER IT ALMOST EVERY THIRD MONTH.

You know, fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it almost every third month. And apparently, fashion is not necessarily about labels. It's not about brands. It's about something else that comes from within you. Also, thank you to everyone who still continues to #BelieveInTheHype and everyone who has had nothing but high remarks for our previous two publications: the revolution will surely be televised. When you think of some of the most influential icons in Namibian style and fashion, you are most probably always going to recall the name Assumpta Gahutu. Or maybe not since we all have different definitions of the two subject matters. But anyway, the 26 year old Oshakati born denim lover, in the opinion of the publisher, turned out to be the best suited candidate for the "Fashion and Style" edition. How she passively continues to attain her dreams, becoming the woman she always wanted to be and the invention of the ever-growing By AG brand are some of the topic discussions you can expect. Designing clothes for a living sounds like every fashionista's dream job, but a lot more goes into the job than selecting swatches or figuring out which colours go well together. I think fashion designers need to stay ahead of the trends in overseeing the process from design concept to production. If you're creative and have an eye for fashion, this career is probably your calling and Taimi Sackeus from Tai' Empire totally affirms. In the past couple decades, personal style has become more popular than ever. Instagram accounts are now significant peaks in the fashion industry landscape, marking the rise of individual fashion consciousness while fixation on name brands declines. Owning name brands is not nearly as powerful as having an individual, curated style. Even better: wearing rare pieces that no one else will have. In 2019, vintage and handmade clothes are much more intriguing than a cluster of recognized brands in the same outfit.

Contributors: Rauna Magongo Hedwig Hashikutuva Addy Martino Natasha Domingo

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Editor : Eliazer Surprise Nailenge Director of Photography: Darius Shiyepo Creative Director: Chequevara Hamunyela

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3) NEGATIVE SELF-TALK THE ONLY WAY you will be a better person for yourself and society is

ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR UGLY TRUTHS When things go wrong in a relationship/ friendship or partnership it's so easy for us to put the blame on everyone else, but the truth is we also have a part to play. After a failed relationship, I had to do the hardest thing; facing my own toxic habits, characters and behaviors that contributed to the dysfunction of the relationship. I realized that I was not as perfect as I thought and had to be brutally honest with myself and take responsibility for the damage I had done. It's never easy accepting that you have made mistakes. Facing your ugly truths is going to be the hardest thing you will have to do on this self-love journey. However the rewards of acknowledging your toxic traits and working to be a better person is worth it. Here are a few toxic traits that we can look at:

1) BITTERNESS

Have you ever found yourself feeling bitter about a certain situation because you feel that you were so much better and deserved something that was given to or taken by someone else and not you? Bitterness is one of those toxic traits that will bring you down and that you have to work hard to get rid of. Bitterness makes you an angry, resentful person and everyone around you will be able to see it. In order to overcome it you need to forgive the person/people who you feel has/have wronged you and took something that belonged to you, keeping in mind that we are not entitled to anything or anyone!! If it is for you, it would have been yours, otherwise just let it go and focus on your inner peace and self-development.

when you learn to love who you are at your current point in life; no amount of negative self-talk is going to motivate you to be the best you can be. You need to pour words of love, strength and power into your life. Love that body you are working on, love that job you are doing in order to fund your dreams, love the hustle that will bring you success one day. Do it all with love and joy for the future you. Others include; Selfishness, anger, self-pity, ignorant, denial, etc. You can deal with these by acknowledging them and then reflect and deliberate as to why you have allowed these traits to dominate your life. Lastly, take action to overthrow these toxic traits by doing the positive opposite of them, for example.

1.ANGER - FORGIVENESS 2.BITTERNESS - LET GO OFF 3.NEGATIVE SELF-TALK - POSITIVE SELF-LOVE AFFIRMATIONS 4.SELFISHNESS - KINDNESS AND GIVING 5.IGNORANCE - KNOWLEDGE AND OPEN MINDEDNESS. Your power is that no one else is you, thus only you are able to change these characters and declare them powerless.

2) JEALOUSY

This green eyed monster is one that comes around when we see people around us making it in life while we are yet to see our dreams come true. It's not the easiest of things to be happy for someone when things go right in their life, while your life seems to be in turmoil. Nevertheless, it is best to focus on your life and see what you are doing in order to have the life you always wanted. It is with no doubt that he/she has worked hard for what they have, so keep your head up and work hard towards your own success. Celebrating with others when they win gives you something to look forward to when you win. BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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C O N T E N T S

T EL L US ANY T H IN G

WRITE TO US

What’s on win

your mind??

BECOMING A PILOT

] AN EXCLUSIVE BP SHIRT ]

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-LOVE By Hedwig Hashikutuva

SELF-LOVE is an ever grow-

ing expression of how you love and value yourself. It’s a journey because you never stop growing and developing. You meet new people and each person you meet has an impact on your self-love or self-destruction. There is no such thing as the ultimate level of self-love, it is a journey that you get better at each day when you choose yourself, not for selfish reasons but to protect your peace, joy and character. WHAT IS SELF-LOVE AND WHY DO WE AS WOMEN IN PARTICULAR SEEM TO NOT HAVE MUCH OF IT? I define self-love as valuing yourself enough to: 1) Do the hard work to be the woman you want to be. 2) Tell yourself the ugly truths about your character and work towards improving them. 3) Know better and do better. 4) Never lower your standards for a job, boyfriend or friendship. 5) Cutting off people who steal your peace and who don’t positively contribute to your life. 6) Love yourself and accept yourself at your present stage of

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self-improvement but to never settle until you have become your best self. These six points are the core for self-love. WHAT STARTED ME ON MY SELFLOVE JOURNEY? After the end of a relationship I realized that: 1) I placed my happiness in the hands of another person. When you are in a relationship it is so easy to conclude that the person who you are dating has to make sure you are happy at all times. Your happiness should be in no other hands but your own, life is never consistent and each day brings with it events that make us happy or sad. How situations affects your life is best controlled when you have your happiness in your own hands. Giving someone the power to do all the things that make you happy, also gives them the power to do things that make you unhappy. 2) I told myself I didn’t know how to be on my own. Because I had been in a relationship for a bit, I convinced myself that I didn’t know how to be single or how to be anything but in a relationship building something with someone and not building

on my own. Biggest lie I could tell myself, personally I think it was a protective act out of my fear of being alone. 3) I invested too much in something that’s not guaranteed to last. I have learned that when in a relationship, anything before marriage is not guaranteed to last. I personally didn’t realize how much I was investing of, myself, time and resources into a relationship that could end at any moment. I know that it’s great to lay everything on the table and work towards something better with your partner, however be smart about it, don’t leave yourself without a safety net. 4) I didn’t love myself and was consistently looking for validation in a relationship. Validation is when you seek for confirmation on your insecurities, for example mine were; am I beautiful enough, do I need to lose weight, am I good enough for him. These where the top three insecurities I tried to find validation for in a relationship, when I was supposed to be dealing with them by myself, and learning to love me for me and know my value. email your letters to blackpearlhello@gmail.com BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

he minute you lift off the ground, you realize you are the only person that can bring the plane back to the ground safely. And when you touch down, you realize you have accomplished something very few people have”. Firstly, before you think of becoming a pilot you need to know how to handle the pressure of being up there, knowing that you are not only facing death yourself but you are also carrying other people’s lives in hand. There are (3) three types of pilots, namely; Commercial Pilots, Airline Pilots and Military Pilots. Commercial pilots work with the delivery of products around the world and can also be referred to as cargo pilots, while airline pilots deal with transportation of people around the world. However military pilots are quite different as they are required to fly in a completely different environment. Harold Shilunga who attended aircraft engineering at Windhoek Flight Training Centre says that the centre offers two licences. Private Pilot License which takes up to 6-10 months (also depending on student academic progress) and Commercial Pilot Licence which takes up to 18-24 months (also depending on student flying ability & academic progress). After completing these licenses, you may apply for a job in any airline. The Private Pilot’s License gives you the privilege to rent the type of Aircraft that you have trained on and fly recreationally. You may also take passengers with you as long as they are friends and/or family and not paying passengers. In order to fly for remuneration, you will have to obtain a Commercial Pilot’s License. Even though it is only the first step in your flying career, it is the foundation of all future flying training that you will receive. Shilunga highlights that 45 hours alone does not qualify you to earn your license to fly. You will need 200 hours total flying time logged in order to test for your CPL anyway, therefore, any extra hours flown during your PPL-phase will still add towards your total hours required for CPL. The basic requirements to get enrolled in this training centre is a grade 10 or grade 12 certificate with at least Mathematics, Physical Science and Geography, should be 16 years of age or older, valid passport or ID and Class II Medical i.e. a certificate stating that you are medically fit to fly. “Flying an airplane is fun, it might not happen overnight, but eventually, you’ll have these moments when you understand the magnitude of flight; how immense of a privilege it really is to be a pilot” he states. He however highlights that aviation school is very costly and students who do not get financial assistance such as loans, scholarships and bursary find it hard to keep up with the costs of the school. There are institutions that offer bursaries for students who are keen to tap into the world of aviation such as Namibia Civil Association Authority (NCAA). The bursary covers both the academic and on the job training programs for Aeronautical information officers, Air traffic control officer and Air traffic electronic personnel.

career advice www.blackpearlworldwide.net

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C O N T E N T S

C O V E R

S T O R Y

ASSUMPTA GAHUTU

OUR COVER

the woman i want to be Fashion /ˈfaʃ(ə)n/ (noun)

DAVID “EXIT” SHIKALEPO

BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

can be defined as “the cultural construction of the embodied identity.” As such, it encompasses all forms of self-fashioning, including street styles, as well as so-called high fashion created by designers and couturiers. Fashion also alludes to the way in which things are made; to fashion something is to make it in a particular form. Most commonly, fashion is defined as the prevailing style of dress or behaviour at any given time, with the strong implication that fashion is characterized by change. As Shakespeare wrote, “The fashion wears out more apparel than the man.” There are fashions in furniture, automobiles and other objects, as well as in clothing, although greater attention is paid to sartorial fashion, probably because clothing has such an intimate relationship with the physical body and, by extension, the personal identity of the individual. The four major current fashion capitals are aknowledged to be Paris, Milan, New York City, and London, which are all headquarters to the greatest fashion companies and are renowned for their major influence on global fashion. A succession of major designers such as Coco Chanel and Yves Saint-Laurent have kept Paris as the center most watched by the rest of the world. In Africa, Windhoek, Namibia - the fashionably stylish Assumpta Saija Mediatrice Gahutu, who is rapidly paving her way to the pinnacle of the fashion fraternity is on a quest to become a major topic when it comes to fashion and style talk. The 26-year old entrepreneur gives us exclusive insight regarding her “By AG” brand, family values and more.

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C O V E R

S T O R Y

THE “BY AG” BRAND

“SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ME IS MY THEATRE, IT PAYS MY BILLS. WITHOUT IT THERE WOULD NOT BE AG,”

THE CHILDHOOD AND EARLY INFLUENCES My childhood was quite amazing. I attended elementary school in Walvisbay and later went to Ondangwa Prof Primary School, and then Lano Private School in Onayena. Thereafter, I completed my high school at Etosha Secondary School. Growing up was so easy, “I wish I had not taken being a kid for granted because adulthood is such a rough ride” she says cheekily. Born and raised in Oshakati, Assumpta’s love for fashion began in her early childhood days as she took part in beauty pageants and dancing concerts. My mom sold clothes in her early years so we would go to South Africa to buy her stock when I was a teenager. When I finished high school, I told her I wanted to continue her business so I went to South Africa alone aged 20, bought a lot of clothes and

started selling. My desire to grow into a successful brand was influenced by my family and friends who always had a positive outlook on all decisions I made. “They have always supported every decision I make even when they thought it was not one of the finest. That’s why I don’t take my family for granted. I have been blessed with a lot of amazing people in my life and I learn from each of them on a daily” she states.

THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND BEING A ‘STAR’ The truth is, social media when used strategically over time is the most powerful form of marketing and market research the world has ever seen but it’s not a magic bean that grows overnight into business success. It’s a platform for real work. The art is knowing the best places to put that work so you get results and not just a lot of annoying

people who think they’re your friends. With over 140 thousand followers on Instagram alone, Assumpta regards social media very highly although venturing into the so called ‘showbiz’ hasn’t always been her ultimate goal; her primary focus was to gain exposure online in order for her to grow her brand. “Social media for me is my theatre, it pays my bills. Without it there would not be AG,”She says. I don’t really think I’m a star but a few people know me. When I went to Ghana to introduce AG, I was shocked at how many people actually knew me. Some people just came to buy jeans so they could see me and I was honestly so happy and stunned at the same time. I do also get a lot of messages from young girls telling me how much they look up to me and I’m always just in shock but at the same time I feel truly blessed to have people looking up to me. BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

“Made to fit perfection” is what Assumpta describes her brand of jeans. The jeans are specially made for AFRICAN WOMEN of every size. “I’ve always loved jeans. Hence I decided to devise my own jean line.

as simple but both elegant, nothing ever completes her look than a cute jean and a body suit. “I just love keeping it simple, anything denim I’m good to go”. Assumpta gets her fashion inspiration from herself. She is currently obsessed with denim shorts which she plans on incorporating in her next denim collection. Apart from selling jeans, Assumpta also sells hair, though her hair business has been at a temporary halt. Recently added to her collection is the Hair Building Fibre which helps with serious volume when it comes to hair. The best part of it all is the fact that she is able to do everything with love as she enjoys creating a great feel for her clients. “I am grateful to actually do what I enjoy doing at the same time making money out of it”.

THE RUMOURS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

I am pretty excited about my brand, I just want to have the best jeans for every size and I just want everyone to love jeans. Jeans are amazing,” she says. “I own about 250 pairs of jeans and now they all look alike, I would buy a new pair of jeans not knowing that I’ve already bought it. So I knew that I had to design my own kind of jeans with my own specifications and that’s how I started,” she says. . In the end, I basically just took the African continent badge and I was like you know what? This will be By AG and soon everyone knew about it. It can be difficult to articulate the power of style and fashion through words but the stylish Assumpta describes her style www.blackpearlworldwide.net

Being popular, under most instances guarantees to generate a number of unpleasant rumours and misconceptions about a person and our fashion icon utterly affirms. “I’ve heard some people say I’m stuck up and these are people that have never even spoken to me. I think that I am quite a cool girl and have no reason to be stuck up at all” she gags. Also, people think I’ve done surgery on my body but I can swear it is all natural over here (LOL). I’ve also heard rumours that my success was funded by a man but allow me to formally introduce myself as one of the most hardworking woman you will ever come to know. But in the end, nobody can really control society’s opinions so I have slowly become accustomed to dealing with all these hearsay.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-LOVE, ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE Assumpta’s brand is not only about one looking good and being able to pull off a great pair of jeans, but it is also about making one feel good. She describes self-love as an important aspect for every individual in their lives. “Self-Love is the most important love you could ever spoil yourself with. Once you have developed self-love and you truly love yourself you will never ever settle for less in your life weather it’s work, or love related,” she says. She believes that we need to build self confidence amongst ourselves and not break each other down as a society at large. With all these social media and body shaming shenanigans, Assumpta says life is not what it used to be anymore and that’s why most girls are resorting to plastic surgery. “For my first brand promotion shoot, I decided to use curvier women so that more women would feel comfortable in their skin,” she says. Everyone must get a pair of AG jeans and no one should feel left out. We are all beautiful in our own ways, we just need to limit these social media pressures, she adds.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY In life, we tend to do things because we believe that’s the way to do things but it’s not always the case and because of social media we are pressured to do things just to impress people who don’t even care about us. I SAY, DO WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY!!!

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B E A U T Y

NATURAL LOOK

B E A U T Y

FANCY LOOK..

tips

PREP skin with a moisturizer to hydrate your skin and prep your base. EYEBROWS - shape your brows by removing unwanted hair and use the brown gel or brown pencil to draw/shade your brows out. EYES - blend in a light brown shade on the outer corner of your eyes. Make sure that as you blend, your eyeshadow doesn't meet your eyebrow. Follow up with a pink shade and create a cut crease with a concealer and apply shimmer gold shadow in the inner corner of the eyes. LINER- highlight your eyes with an eyeliner. You can use a liquid or pencil eyeliner on your eyelids. FALSE LASHES - The Classic Mink lash will definitely pop out the eyes

CONCEALER- Lavender concealer can help even out complexions with yellow tones. Orange or red-tinted concealer is used to cover purple or dark spots. For scars or under eye circles, use a concealer 1-2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone. Determine whether your skin tone is warm or cool before picking a shade. FOUNDATION - After your primer has dried, apply foundation to your skin, blending it in with a foam sponge, your fingers, or a foundation brush. Make sure to compare the shade of your neck and jaw before you move onto the next step. POWDER- Set your makeup with powder. Powder also helps your makeup stay, and keeps your face from looking extra oily. BLUSH- Apply a light pink shade so it gives your face a concentrated pop of colour. Bronzer- Apply bronzer to contour. It's usually used to simply warm a complexion. It will leave you glowing. SETTING SPRAY - Set makeup with makeup setting spray. After you have applied all your makeup, you can spritz a setting spray to your face so that your makeup lasts longer.

Make Up .

BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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FOLLOW :

@ebl_ @ludisha_

F O O D

k a e t S n i o l r i S d e s r e a o e t a S t o P Pan d e h s a M h wit INGREDIENTS

1 SIRLOIN STEAK SPRIG OF THYME 2 GARLIC CLOVES, LEFT WHOLE 1 TABLESPOON OF OLIVE OIL 2 TABLESPOONS OF UNSALTED BUTTER SALT AND BLACK PEPPER TO TASTE

METHOD

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1. Pat dry the steaks and season both sides with salt and pepper. 2. In a frying pan, add the oil and heat over a high flame. When the oil is shimmering, turn the heat down to medium-high and add the butter. 3. Once itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sizzling, carefully lay the steak in the pan and add the garlic and herbs in at the sides. 4. With a pair of tongs, sear and turn the steak every 2 minutes so it gets a nice brown crust. Cook only for 8 minutes in total. 5. Remove the steak to a cooling rack and cover lightly with aluminum foil to keep warm. 6. Rest the steak for 5 minutes before serving.

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B U S I N E S S

VLADIMIR WINKLER

RESPECTIVELY TAKE US THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY FROM THE EARLY DAYS TO WHERE YOUR COMPANY IS TODAY: ............................................................................

opportunities through YEG Marine Resources which is a venture that started as a group of young entrepreneurs to start big businesses. We are also prospecting in various industries especially the manufacturing sector.

Vladimir Winkler better known as Quido is just a hard-headed kid from Soweto, Katutura who is living his dreams in the better part of the city. Raised by a family of different cultural backgrounds, he considers himself a natural debater, a dreamer by birth and a go getter by habit. Vlad is very passionate about entrepreneurship henceforth started very small with the Guidao Mowira Group (GMG) which provided vending machine services to corporates through a company called Umbuso. The group has to date branched out into multiple outlets in the education, media, food, beverages, and ecommerce industries.

Well, I have been a full-time entrepreneur for just under 3 years. However, GMG initiated in 2015 when we started out with the vending machine business. We started as 3 members with 2 capital intensive vending machines, we learned lessons daily; one of them being that the food industry is not easy but it will teach you the most detailed lessons. After costing lessons and a good networking, we started looking at other industries.

YOU HAVE MET INCREDIBLE BUSINESS PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY AS MENTORS, WHO HAVE SPOKEN WORDS OF WISDOM IN YOUR LIFE. HOW DID YOU MAKE THAT HAPPEN? AND HOW CAN ONE GO ON ABOUT GETTING A MENTOR? ..............................................................................

the art of go-getting

YOU ARE THE CO-FOUNDER OF GUIDAO MOWIRA GROUP. COULD YOU EXPAND FURTHER ON WHAT YOUR BRAND OFFERS? .............................................................................

My first mentors have been YouTube videos and Books like Napoleon Hill, Tony Robbins, Eric Thomas, Les Brown, Jim Rohn, and Patrick Bet David but later got Lazarus Jacobs as a mentor. Grace Mohamed, Pearl Mohamed and Grace Chisenga are also my mentors. You get mentors through various means; however, you must find someone that you can sort of relate to in what you want to achieve. They will not always or easily be available and if they are then you probably have the wrong person.

YOU MUST FIND SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN SORT OF RELATE TO IN WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE. Guidao Mowira Group is actually a joint start up that was founded by Paul Gordon Guidao – Oab and myself. We offer corporate convenience services, food and Beverage business – Boxx Café (Former Street Cuisine) and we have since branched out to education, media, e-commerce and other smaller businesses.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR CURRENT PROJECTS? ............................................................................ FOLLOW :

@vladmg

We started an international school 2 months ago called Waka International Preschool and Daycare. On the other hand, we are exploring www.blackpearlworldwide.net

WHAT IN YOUR OPINION SHOULD STARTUPS DO TO ENSURE THEY STAY IN BUSINESS LONGER TO A POINT WHERE A START-UP BECOMES A COMPANY? ............................................................................. Well, a start-up can be huge, so I guess one would need to know that start-ups usually are founded with the intention and ability to scale other than that it’s just a business. In my opinion just do what you have to with the consideration of the business environment, and dream big. Do not go into this game with small business thinking. Add as much value as possible or be the leanest.

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WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH SINCE THE INCEPTION OF GUIDAO MOWIRA GROUP? AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? ....................................................................................... I will focus on the biggest one – People Management, Human resources – finding the right people or being able to train people to become the right people. In Namibia, we lack managers; people that can manage others. I have not overcome it fully. I am busy learning about system creation for the business to be sustainable and where it will not need me for day to day operations.

HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THROUGH ON YOUR GOALS AND PLANS AND WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING? .......................................................................................

I do my best to plan ahead, schedule my days in advance. I have a Journal that helps me with that daily. What got me where I am in terms of growth or progress was visualising, journaling it, planning it and doing daily activities that would take you one step closer to the goal. Possibility and faith keep me going; waking up every day with my perception of purpose - creating vehicles that can help others help themselves.

BEING A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH ENTREPRENEURS GROUP (YEG), WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STEPS DO YOU THINK YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS SHOULD FOLLOW IN THE PROCESS OF ATTAINING FUNDING? .................................................................................... There are various international and local companies that do fund start-ups; projects that seem feasible but the ground work should be done. No one in their right mind will give money to be flushed down the drain. Go out there and do research, actively market the product and service and see if there is a demand or build the demand.

IF YOU WERE TO CULTIVATE ONE DAILY HABIT TO PRACTICE EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE. WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? ............................................................................................................................................................... VW: DAILY LEARNING. ALL THE TIME! Daily journaling allows you to read, visualise, script your daily, dissect goals, and actively move towards the vision. BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE HAVING TONS OF IDEAS BUT DO NOT HAVE START-UP CAPITAL? .................................................................................................................................................................................................. My advice is, get a few friends together with certain expertise. If you want to be a property developer, get an architect friend and sell the dream. Take what you have and go out there. What are you good at? Drawing? Then rake someone’s yard for N$50.00; buy a pencil and a paper and start drawing, sell the drawing and there is your start. www.blackpearlworldwide.net

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C O N T E N T S

BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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C O N T E N T S

S W A G

D E M O

PA N T S

S W A G

D E M O

VISOR

N$ 780

N$ 350

WIND BREAKER

N$ 1600 VANS

N$ 1090

O U T F I T

# 1

[ EXTRAS ]

SHIRT: NIKE, N$500 SOCKS: NIKE, N$280, SPORTSCENE

CHARLES WOLF BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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# 2

SOCKS: Adidas N$250 Sportscene SHOES: Adidas NMD, N$2500, Import from Russia WATCH: Casio, N$1800 SILVER BRACELET: N$500, Time Zone: FOLLOW www.blackpearlworldwide.net

@king_elegant_official

S W A G

D E M O

Who says identical twins can’t be different? Twins often come as a package deal but you don’t consider all the ways in which they are different. Fashion trends have developed various cool ways to show how twins can still be “twining” while showcasing their own personalities through what they wear. Time and again, twins like to play off on different colors and wear the same outfit. We enjoy finding a similar base color while sporting completely different styles and outfits. Causal looks are quite easy. You can never go wrong with a pair of black jeans and comfortable sneaks. A cute way to jazz up the look and make it more fun is to wear a bright colored crop top with big earrings and a popping lip color. A denim jacket is a trendy fashion accessory to add to the look when it gets chilly. This ensemble can be worn out to a ‘soft chill’ night with friends, a casual date or a festival event happening near you. Semi-formal looks are a little less defined and harder to put together when you have a twin to consider. You would assume to tone down the colours and work with one base colour. However, a smart way to add color is to choose a pattern/striped dress and high heel booties. The pattern makes a statement on its own so nothing much else is needed. Semi-formal outfits have a way for making women feel empowered and sexy almost instantaneously, so this outfit would be perfect for date night, a night out with girlfriends or a wedding invitation.

Casual Look .........

D E M O

@KIMIASHLYNN

Semi-Formal Look Short striped Dress - Ackermans – N$180 Luella high hell booties – Foschini – N$840 Navy tassel earrings – Mr Price – N$ 60

built in bffs from the start @KNIGHT_SLAYYER

Black Jeans – Mr. Price – N$180 Yellow striped crop top – Mr. Price – N$70 FOLLOW : Denim Jacket – Mr. Price – N$ 350 Black Adidas sneakers – Sportscene – N$700 @ally_tobias BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

S W A G

www.blackpearlworldwide.net

C O N T E N T S

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This design is meant to define a hardworking woman who knows what she wants in life whilst at the same time keeping it classic and remaining presentable to the world.

“I LOOOVED DRAWING GROWING UP. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL, I WOULD PLAYFULLY MAKE PAPER DOLLS AND MAKE THEM DRESSES OUT OF PAPER TOO."

eing a fashion designer comes with a lot of challenges but my favourite part is that; I like working under pressure and the whole process of seeing a smile of satisfaction on a client’s face after working on their design is priceless. On most occasions, my inspiration comes from the mental ideas I get every once in a while, and that defines just how important a note book is in my daily life. In my opinion; Fashion is a way of life, it's a personal statement which reflects on one’s self-image, it can be imagination or inspiration from nature and hard work of a team or the designer alone. I thank God for the internet for it helps me stay up to date with what is trending and gives me ideas on how to incorporate new trends in my work as a designer. Lastly, I believe that a successful fashion designer needs to keep their priorities straight, enjoy the art while doing it, be grateful to God and play good music.”

This is a courageous woman who is not intimidated by anything and ready to take over the world. Elegance and class written all over!!

- TAIMI SAKEUS IG: @tai_empire We are located at the Theatre School of Namibia, Robert Mugabe Road, Windhoek. Email: ndilimekelyomua@gmail.com BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. HELLO WORLD My name is KHADIJAH AMOR MOUTON, a 24-year-old multi-disciplinary artist and all-round entertainer. Born and raised in Swakopmund, Namibia, I can self-importantly say I am an actress, singer, dancer and disc jockey at the same time. My acting career has seen me play a supporting role in the highly anticipated “Land of The Brave” film, lead role in the “Untitled” web series and another lead role in the National Theatre of Namibia’s (NTN) “Deur Die Trallies Van My Hok”. Apart from the aforesaid, I have also deejayed at some of the freshest spots and festivals around town, released a music video and have had gigs as a dancer at corporate events. I have always been extremely shy and timid but very imaginative nonetheless. As a child, I remember creating scenes in my mind. My favourite was regularly singing and dancing in front of the mirror and I believe that’s when I learnt to perform. I started overcoming my nervousness around people and let go completely. I suddenly felt so accepted and more than anything, I was happy. My first memory of seeing someone perform was Michael Jackson being lifted off the stage by an angel in his “Will You Be There” video which regularly played on our national broadcaster (NBC) and that’s when I distinguished who I wanted to be. I am not sure what exactly captured me but it was probably how comforted he looked in that moment. As a little girl, I too was searching for comfort and acceptance. Coming up, I remember recruiting my little cousins during school holidays to learn dance routines and put up performances in the living room because I heard that’s what

star

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@khadijah_adventuretime

“I use dance and acting as a channel to express myself the same way I do with music ” BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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Beyoncé did so I followed suit. In primary school, I would do the same with my friends in music class and I went on to take part in school plays as much as I could but there unfortunately weren’t many. In high school, I got more into dance. When I was fourteen, I met my dance instructor

R I S I N G

S T A R

Sascha and my confidence and stage presence suddenly had me in awe. I believe if you can act then you can dance and sing too since it’s basically all the same; pretending and getting into character! Writing and adding an instrument to my words felt so right. I use dance and acting as a channel to express myself the same way I do with music and I shall always be indebted to the Deck Geeks for taking me under their wing musically. They taught me how to deejay, to make music and to just be unapologetically myself. I grow artistically through every new venture I take on, I have finally decided to turn my personality into a career and I am very enthusiastic about what could be coming next. My voice will be heard all over the Universe and continue to vibrate long after my time on this earth!!

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ASHWYN MBERI @ashwynmberi

THE ENDLESS CURIOUSITY

hen someone is called a “Renaissance man” or “Renaissance woman” today, it is meant that, rather than simply having broad interests or superficial knowledge in several fields, he or she possesses a more profound knowledge and a proficiency, or even an expertise, in at least some of those fields. Setting out to increase your talents and abilities in multiple disciplines is an audacious endeavor. What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a familiar question we’re all asked as kids. While seemingly harmless, the question has unintended consequences. It can make you feel like you need to choose one job, one passion, one thing to be about. Guess what? You don’t. Namibia’s most noteworthy contender for title of Renaissance Man; Ashwyn Mberi for these reasons took some time out with us to elucidate how having a lot of different interests, projects and curiosities doesn’t make you a “jack-of-all-trades, master of none.”

BLACK PEARL (BP): MANY PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU WOULD POINT OUT THAT YOU ARE A “JACK OF ALL TRADES,” FROM BEING AN ART ENABLER, POET, ACTIVIST, THESPIAN, MUSICIAN AND MC. GIVE US AN INSIGHT ON WHO ASHWYN MBERI IS? ASHWYN MBERI (AM): Well, I’m certainly all of the above but at the core of it all I am a learner that is eager to teach any valuable lessons learned as I interact intimately with everyday life, people, identity, history, spaces and structures in the various systems that dictate how our society functions.

HOW DO YOU GET TO MANAGE ALL THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF YOUR CAREER SUCCESSFULLY? AM: I rise early and I stay present. I'm also fortunate in that my work is what I love doing. So, if there's no time, I'll make time.

BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

WHAT INITIATIVE ARE YOU CURRENTLY PARTAKING IN? AND TELL US, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO SO MANY HATS? AM: I'm still zoned in on creating artistic spaces that can be purely for expression or give birth to the necessary dialogue society needs to have in order for us to understand each other better. With regards to the hats, all I really did was follow through with every strong inclination I had to impact people and I was fortunate to be in positions to learn crafts that would allow me to be a vessel with multiple functions. GROWING UP, WE’VE ALL HAD PEOPLE WE DRAW INSPIRATION FROM. WHO ARE THE BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS IN YOUR CAREER, AND WHY? AM: As a child, I admired Rowan Atkinson's ability to bring joy through acting. Poets such as Albert Nyathi and musicians like Oliver Mtukudzi were inspirational in how they spoke on social justice. Tsitsi Dangarembga was literary inspiration. I admired Kanye West in my teenage rebellious years. Jay-Z taught me how to love wordplay and speak honestly about one's personal experience and the importance of creating instruments that bring other artists to the spotlight.My current inspirations are Nelago naShilongoh, Nashilongweshipwe Mushaandja and other pan-African artists that are actively leading us towards our true selves.

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HOW DID YOUR CAREER UNFOLD TO ALLOW YOU TO ADVANCE TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?

ter equality for all. I am steady in my voice, I know that I seek to speak truth as often as it can be spoken, which naturally means that I'll face plenAM: I decided to study what I ty opposition, but I hold my felt was closest to my talents; ground and I don't think too THEATRE. That allowed me to much about anyone that isn't audition and take up different interested in healing society stages such as SpokenWord through truth and intentional Namibia and NBC Namibia. This socio-political reform. led to my hosting of the NAMAs main stage (2014 & 2015) all WHAT KIND OF THINGS while I was studying and pracSHOULD ASPIRING POETS ticing theatre which landed me BE INVOLVED IN TO PREPARE 3 nominations at the NamibiTHEMSELVES FOR THE FIELD? an Theatre and Film Awards. I kept exploring stage craft and They should give time to their eventually I was doing solo craft and understand that shows and collaborations with there is no need to measure independent artists which led themselves next to anyone, me to creating platforms such their work should only be an as The Gathering, Lyricists' accurate reflection of their own Lounge and Open Mic Night. To stories and outlooks on life. sum it all up, I aligned myself If you write about meaningful with my gifts and worked hard things then you will also care which created opportunities more about how you deliver and therein led me into living them, so put in the work and out my purpose. don't ask for permission. Find Open Mics, create Open Mics, WHEN DID YOU START propose shows, put yourself WRITING AND WHAT DO out there on social media, do YOU THINK ATTRACTED YOU TO whatever is in your power to POETRY? make your voice heard. Also, collaborate, no one grows AM: I started writing at fifteen alone. years old. I was drawn to poetry's ability to investigate WHAT INSPIRED THE THEME OF and articulate complex human YOUR RECENT PIECE “LOVE IN emotions. FLOWETRY? YOU’VE ACHIEVED MULTIPLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A POET, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU’VE EVOLVED AS A POET OVER THE YEARS?

AM: I wanted to write a poem/ song that was both a proposal but a fair reflection of how relationships go. To campaign for a spot in a woman's heart but to be honest about my past, AM: I've moved more towards truth and how that has shaped myself as an African. I've also my intentions. The poem/ embraced equality, I am a song also has 4 different flows feminist and so all my work which are intended to reflect seeks to reflect values that fos- the seasons.

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FICTION STORY

Although Ruth always gave off this ‘I don’t care or whatever’ vibe, deep down she was a softie and she felt bad for what happened at school with Anna, so she texted her. “I’m sorry about last week. Let me make it up to you. Cupcakes from Tasha’s Eats @18h00?? Xxx Ruth At first Anna was hesitant to go but she later replied and said they should meet there. Ruth was already sitting when Anna arrived. Ruth bought a custom frosted cupcake written “I’m sorry” and gave it to Anna. The two spoke for hours, catching up, reminiscing, and enjoying their cappuccinos and bar one cupcakes. It was such a beautiful sight, it started to feel like old times. “Remember in the tenth grade when Julia said I had a big mouth and you slapped her crazy and the whole class burst into laughter” asked Anna. “Hahaha and the time we went on the school trip to Italy and we had our initials engraved on the friendship tree” replied a teary Ruth.

NATASHA DOMINGO

ANNA’S

Secret Ruth almost chocked on her words and said, “I guess we just have different interests now, but I miss us too.” “I really need you Ruth” “I’m here, and for what it’s worth, I think Dylan is an ass for letting you go.” Said Ruth. It’s at this moment that Ruth realized how bad of a friend she was. She hated herself so much for getting involved with Dylan. She stared at Anna for some time and realized it would kill her if she found out about her and Dylan, so she texted him and called things off. She then leaned over and hugged Anna. “Well…well…well, don’t you two look adorable… Said Cleo and it looks like she had a little too much to drink as she spoke… Hey sis, nice seeing you here. With Anna. YOUR BEST FRIEND!”

“Wow, you still defend her. Anna, you have no idea what kind of a heartless person my sister is” she exclaimed. “Please don’t do this Cleo” said Ruth.

| PA R T T H R E E

“I miss this, Us. Whatever happened to us Ruth, we used to be so inseparable” Exclaimed Anna.

the story tomorrow, okay?” Said Anna after she noticed a little bit of tension.

She sat down and started helping herself to the cupcakes “Omg these taste heavenly!” She murmured. Cleo started telling Anna a story about a girl she knew that’s having sex with her best friends’ ex and Ruth was growing nervous by the minute. “Cleo, I think it’s time we go home, you’re drunk.” Said a nervous Ruth. “Don’t worry about what I am, worry about what kind of person sleeps with their best friends’ boyfriend!” Anna then said “Oh Ruth, let her be. Plus, I want to hear the rest of the story, don’t you?” “Yeah, don’t you want to hear the rest, or do you prefer telling the rest of the story. After all, you tell it so good sis. Tell Anna all the good parts” said Cleo. “Stop It!” “Cleo, sweetie I think you should listen to your sister and go home. We can finish

BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

Anna was so confused “Guys, what’s going on?” “Tell her Ruth. Tell her or I will!” “Cleo please” She begged.

“Don’t touch me! Tell Anna how good of a friend you have been to her. Tell her how passionately he kisses you when he drops you off. Tell her how you have been screwing her boyfriend every night and laughing with her every morning. You are wicked!” Shouted Cleo. The Atmosphere in the café went silent. Everyone was staring at them in utter silence. It was so intense all you could hear was the sound of Ruth’s Heartbeat. Anna swallowed hard before she spoke “Is…Is this true?... pl-… please tell me this is a sick joke?” “Annacky… Anna, I never meant for you to find out this way… I never meant to hurt you. I’m Sor-…” Said a teary Cleo.

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T I M E - O U T

“STOP… You know-…After losing my dad. I thought losing Dylan was the most painful thing that ever happened to me, but I was wrong. She fought back tears as she spoke …This… this is the most painful thing...” Said a hysterical Anna as she ran out of the café. “Anna…” Whispered Ruth Cleo felt so bad for what she did, so she tried to console her sister who was sobbing uncontrollably on the floor. “Ruth… I’m sorry” She cried. Ruth stood up and spoke softly “This is what you wanted right? Congratulations big sis! I hope you are happy now.” When Anna arrived home, she ran straight to Ms Parkers room. “Mother… Mother wake up…” She sobbed. “Uh-…I’m awake. Why-… What’s happening? Annacky why are you crying?” “I can’t take this anymore… Mother, I-… It’s too much!” Said an inconsolable Anna. “Come here, Baby what’s wrong… Annacky?” But Anna couldn’t talk, she kept crying and Ms Parker tried to comfort her until they both fell asleep. The following day while Ms Parker was preparing breakfast, someone knocked at the door. “That’s strange, who would come here this early” She thought to herself. “Good morning Ms Parker”

“Hey Ruth, how are you? Please, come on in… What brings you by this early, is everything okay?” “Yeah, I really just have to talk to Anna”. “Oh. Anna is asleep, she came home crying last night, what happened?” “Wha-… Uhm did she say anything to you?” Asked Ruth in a nervous tone. Ms Parker was sad as she spoke “No. She was inconsolable; I couldn’t get her to talk. I have never seen her like that” “I think it’s best she tells you herself… I-… I have to go” “Wait! Ruth, what’s going on?” CHECK OUT OUR NEXT ISSUE FOR PART FOUR OF ANNA’S SECRET!!!!

s ck a b w #thro

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Oldies B

s e i d l o #G

It was never part of the plan to have the car as part of the shoot, but the opportunity pres...... Maaan!! lets just say it was a DRIVE-BY SHOOT. killed it tho! @mawaugelwi #2013

Well..... Please DM her instagram handle. First Young Nams Merch. #LITTY

That caption though!! Peep the date and on it last shoot Second @marianepembe with @saratjiee #2014 We need to shoot again!!!!!!!! #2014

#firsties One of the first shoots with the BP Queen @bertha_nampa LOVE ALWAYS!!! STARTED......

#classics ies #Old BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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C O N T E N T S

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

BREAK

DOWN

Taylor Jaye LYRICS TAYLOR JAYE X BUSISWA | SUGAR BLESSER

Taylor Jaye Jaleesa !Gaoses who has warmly

come to be known as Taylor Jaye amongst her followers grew up between Windhoek and America. She derives her stage name from her surname, !Gaoses which means tailor/creator in English thus Taylor and Jaye is basically short for Jaleesa. FOLLOW :

@taylorjayeworld BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

(Intro) Ai Sugar A-Ai Sugar you my Blesser

Secure my bags Call me Doc Shebelez’, The real Doc Shebeleza!

(Chorus) Ai Sugar! you my Blesser Wewe nie pe pesa Ai Sugar are you my Blesser Wewe nie pe pesa He says I need a Blesser Wewe nie pe pesa But I , I don’t need a Blesser Wewe nie pe pesa Wewe, wewe , wewe nie pe pesa x 2

(Chorus)

Ai Sugar are you my Blesser? Wewe nie pe pesa But I , I don’t need a Blesser We don’t need a Blesser! âm /khab , //are khab ! gab /khab, âm /khab //are khab, ! gab /khab (Verse 1) He wants me to make him spend; make him spend x 2 Rah! He wants to drop dem bandz; drop dem bandz x 2 He says feel on my Gucci, feel on my Fendi Girl you de want, Rub on my belly I go give you my money, Girl you de want Boy are you mad, Me spend dem bad !kho-! kho te #gao tama ha khoeb ge, Ti #gaoba ra khoa khoeb ge Boy are you mad , I’ll break your bank Ooya pass make a pass x 2 When you see my body I’m full of diamonds and pearls Ooya pass make a pass x 2 I buy my own Gucci , buy my own Louis, www.blackpearlworldwide.net

(Verse 2) I’m a certain kind, I buy what I like What is this your ride? Is it a Ferrari my guy? To the city and recline, I have mine, are you blind? Can you see? like ya keen an’ you sign off what I drive When I need a lift; I Uber When I need a cellular; I contract no virus When I run a bill, I decline your offer but my credit is alright So we swipe and we fly, Like wewe , e wewe! No sugar for me bebe, I’m spicy like e Pepe Curving all the way way, Purchasing we ready No sugar for me Bebe, I’m spicy like e Peppe Curving all the way, When we purchasing we ready, yeah yeah!! âm /khab, //are khab We don’t need a Blesser! (Chorus) (Bridge) He tells me I need amaBlesser (ai that sugar) He wants to be my lover (I’m gonna ask why) He says he gone change my life x 2 But I want romance, I ain’t gone lie , lie , lie! (Chorus) Xa ndiyiqala ndizoyigqiba maan x 4 Ai Suga !!

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BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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C O N T E N T S

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

No matter how young you are, it’s never too early to start pursuing your dreams. Absalom Bobby Iita, better known by his stage name Bobby WVDK was born on 16 September 1993, in Windhoek and started doing music as early as 3rd grade. He recalls rapping along to the music of Dr Dre, 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G with his peers at Namutoni Primary School. In 6th grade, “Shotgun aka Lolo asked me to feature him on a song because he wanted ‘the squeaky voice’ I had at the time. A year later; me, my brother (Shoza Magogoz) and my childhood best friend (Chubby Beats) started a group which has today come to be known as Magogoz”. Stancy Makuva then joined the group a few years later.

BOBBY WVDK wambo van die kasi

IF WE DON'T TAKE OUR MUSIC INDUSTRY SERIOUS AND START SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL ARTISTS, WE WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW INSTEAD OF LEADING.

Having grown up in Wambo Location – Katutura, Bobby is best known for rapping in a mixture of Namibian township vernacular and English and rose to fame as a solo artist following the release of his “Wambo Van Die Kasie” banger in 2016 which was also the title of his debut solo album. His influence on the Namibian music scene is beyond major as he has given birth to what we call "Oshiwambo trap”. FOLLOW :

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E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Once signed to Mshasho whilst with Magogoz and now the co-founder of DEEP Entertainment with fellow musicians Karishma and Mabuzza, Bobby is a strong adversary of talent’s liberation and believes musicians need to first have a critical “mass” (in terms of popularity, revenue, self-promotions, music quality, etc.) before a record deal can be even remotely advantageous for them. “I feel like most record labels don't know what it really means or takes to be a record label” he adds. On the contrary, technology has lowered the barriers to finding an enthusiastic audience. Social media helps you connect directly with your fans and bypass the bureaucracy of the music industry and all its gatekeepers.

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

However, the biggest highlight of this young rappers fast growing career is without doubt scooping Best hip-hop and People’s choice artist of the year at last year’s (2018) Project Free Namibian Music Awards (PFNMA). We like to say that rap is all about reality, but really it's the dance between relatable realism and embodying larger, purer gestures. Like comic book heroes, rappers are a kind of superhero, mastering words and narratives to create an effect of unremitting power. Of course, the person behind these gestures is still human, but on stage, he's larger than life. One of the difficulties Bobby faces as a rapper is “a lack of musically educated listeners who perceive rap as being an explicit genre which leads to a fear of being free to express yourself without being judged by society because of the lack of understanding of the genre”. On the bright side nonetheless, expect the drop of Bobby’s second album titled ‘Self Made or Neva Made’ in the coming months.

ou can focus on your music while your fans support your work directly as well as engage with your fans and potential clients and increase their awareness of new work, availability for gigs and future appearances. In some ways, music videos have become just as or sometimes even more important than the artwork due to the way we now consume music. We used to buy a physical album with nice cover designs but now we consume on a plethora of platforms. Can you remember the artwork of the last track you heard? I can’t. But I can remember the video. A video connects an artist and a listener, as well as connecting a listener to an audience. In many ways, they are an important medium for contemporary pop culture and technology and the self-pronounced “Oshiwambo Trap Lord” who doubles as a TV Production student at College Of The Arts (COTA) fully attests to this. As to date, “I have 4 solo videos and 5 more collaborations out on YouTube with views astonishingly going up to 14 000 for WVDK” he affirms. BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

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S P O R T S

ehind the oxing ring

@harry_simon_jr One of boxing's most heavily used descriptors is "he comes from a fighting family." Boxing can indeed be handed down as a family tradition, the way a sweater, a wedding band or any other vocation or hobby might but the reality is that in the grand scheme of things, very few fighters are born directly into the fight game, so to speak. That is, duos of father and son who both chose one of the world's most dangerous sport as their professional livelihood make up a very minute percentage of boxing's overall populous. Often times, the father is significantly better than the son, or vice-versa. Joe Frazier is one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time, and his son Marvis was a better-than-remembered fighter until he ran into Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson. On the flip side, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the best fighter of his generation, but his father was a talented and stylish fighter lost in a very deep welterweight generation. Down in Africa, Namibia, twenty-year-old super lightweight champion Harry Simon Jnr, son of the legendary Harry Simon finds himself unwillingly burdened with the expectation of living up to his father’s accomplishments and adding to the narrowing list of successful father and son boxing duos. BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019

BLACK PEARL (BP): WHEN DID YOUR BOXING JOURNEY START? HARRY SIMON JR (HSJ): My journey started as early as 4 years old when my dad bought my brother and I gloves to play around with and that kind of grew into a hobby. Nevertheless, I started taking pride in boxing at the age of 12 in 2009 when I got introduced to my first coach German Ngikembwa who has moulded me into the person I am today inside and outside the boxing ring. WHAT OR WHO WERE YOUR EARLY PASSIONS AND INFLUENCES? HSJ: My dad plays a significant role in my life. He influenced my drive and pushed me to greater heights. Growing up, I always aspired to be him in every sort so I would continuously mimic what he does when training and put it into practice. YOU HOLD THE TITLE OF “TOP JR-WELTERWEIGHT PROSPECT” IN THE COUNTRY, WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL TO YOU? HSJ: It shows me that I’m slowly getting there because for me, it has always been a dream to be considered the best in my weight division and I've already achieved that in my country so I’m now moving on to conquering the continent. HOW MANY FIGHTS HAVE YOU HAD SO FAR, AND WHICH ONE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU? HSJ: I've had 7 professional fights. My 3rd fight was the most important as my opponents got changed 3 times that month because no one wanted to fight me. I consequently ended up fighting an undefeated prospect who challenged me. I won all the rounds but he admittedly pushed me and unlocked my full potential in that fight. UNDER WHICH ACADEMY ARE YOU TRAINING WITH AND HOW DID THAT ACADEMY HELP YOU GROW AS A BOXER? www.blackpearlworldwide.net

HSJ: I'm training under the MTC Nestor Sunshine Academy. Over the years, they helped me grow as a boxer by sharpening my boxing skills, giving me routines to keep fit and by preparing me for fights. I thank them for the opportunities they are providing me with. WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOU IN 10 YEARS’ TIME? HSJ: I don't want to only be remembered as a world champion, I want to be remembered as one of the best to ever do it and most importantly to be the best to come out of Africa. I want to be a household name when I retire. I see myself being a multi weight division world champion, just like my father was. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUTH IN SPORTS? HSJ: I love encouraging youth to take part in initiatives because we are the future of the country whether it comes to sports or politics. The onus is on us to make a difference and take over, I encourage the youth to start early and learn as much as they can at a young age.

C O N T E N T S

LOCATION FOCUS

FOLLOW :

@joviitakandjumbwa

SWEDEN, EUROPE

Lake Malawi is the 3rd largest lake in Africa. It is a fresh lake because it has an outlet, Shire river. This empties onto Zambezi river, up to the Indian ocean. The lake was formed due to rift valley which starts very far away to the north and ends some where in Mozambique

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BLACKPEARL MAGAZINE | MARCH 2019