Issue 10

ISSUE 10

PERCEPTION VS PERSPECTIVE

Our Staff.

Editor in Chief Onkemetse G. Lekone

Deputy Editor Promise S. Khoza

Staff Writers Luvo Disane & Tshepiso Modupe

Head of Social Media Linda R. Dhlamini

Contributors Galaletsang Tabane, Nonjabulo Malinga & Dumezizweni Mabizela

Photographer Mashudu Tshikota

Head of Marketing Florence Machitje

SPECIAL THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED FOR MAKING THIS ISSUE POSSIBLE.

EMAIL: botakiyouthmagazine@mail.com

www.botakimediaagency.co.za

C O N T E N T S

E D I T O R I N C H I E F

O N K E M E T S E G . L E K O N E

T h e E d i t o r t a l k s a b o u t h e r j o u r n e y a n d g r o w i n g u p b e i n g f i x a t e d b y n e w s p a p e r s a n d m a g a z i n e s .

I N T E R V I E W

D E N N I S C O L L I N S

T h e c o o l , c a l m , a n d c o n s c i o u s f o u n d e r o f S p a c e S p i n a c h , a b r a n d b a s e d i n C a p e

T o w n . t a l k s a b o u t h i s j o u r n e y

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C O V E R F E A T U R E I N T E R V I E W

A M A R A F L E U R

T h e J o h a n n e s b u r g b a s e d s i n g e r & s o n g w r i t e r b o r n i n M t h a t h . S h e i s a m u s i c c u r a t o r b y d a y a n d m a k e s m u s i c t o o

EDITOR'S WORDS

O N K E M E T S E G O M O T S E G A N G L E K O N E

Let me tell you how it all started: I hail from Mahikeng, thecapital city of the North West province. I grew up fixated withnewspapers and magazines, and as a result my creativity wasshaped by these childhood memories and dreams.Botaki Magazine was born in Mahikeng and later raised in thestreets of Johannesburg. I set out to create my own platformwhich would push creative people beyond what is expectedof them, and also give them a platform to express theircreativity.

The magazine has had its greatest highs and currently, it is facing one of its more painful lows. We thought that our previous event, the launch party of Issue 10, would be a step closer to where we want to be as a company but we realized that there is still a long journey ahead. We have lost important relationships during this low, and as a team we take accountability for that.

The biggest learning point from this experience is that initiating change is an essential part of being an entrepreneur. When you are innovating, success is not a straight line, and you will definitely encounter many unexpected turns and twists. You will have to be able to adapt. It is how you deal with uncertainty and the subsequent change that sets you apart.

The lows as well as the highs are part and parcel of being a young entrepreneur - you cannot have one without the other, and when things are tough, I remind myself that I chose this life, and I need to persevere. Support structures are everything; whether it is friends, family or creative circles, having someone to talk when you are in tears is so important. I have found real comfort in my creative circle, they understand what I am going through, and have relevant advice to share. Try to find people on the same journey as you, it will make a huge difference.

See you soon

MDUDUZI & NKOSANA

Bonginkosi Mdu Mthethwa and Nkosana Mathonsi are a collective of Models and Photographers that are driven by learning strategic thinking informed by research and delivering meaningful value. They always strive to create an environment where each elevates the work of one another. Their goal is enhanced through the images they take and the brands they model for.

Written by Onkemetse Lekone. Photos by Justice Mukheli.

Their style was influenced by the Arkins collective brothers and since then they grew into creating what they feel like it best suits them hence the Minimalistic look. "We always believed that less is more, which it infulenced our sense of style and thinking.Freeing ourselves from clutter by only focusing on what really matters," they say.

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How do you balance life, content creation and reading? Lol I don’t think I do. I do everything in spurts and do what I can when I can. If I don’t have time to do something, I simply don’t. But regarding reading time, I read in the train before and after work – that’s about an hour of reading a day. If the book is really good then I will read it during lunch, or in the evening. I also listen to audiobooks when I am doing my chores.

If you were to write a book, what would be the inspiration behind it? Before I answer this, I would like to say that I have no aspirations of writing a book – I never have. However, if my life was on the line, maybe I would do some academic writing, something to do about women writers in African literature. Do you think that Western culture has negatively or positively influenced African literature? I don’t think I can answer this or rather there isn’t a simple answer. The African literary (written, not oral) space is still “young” compared to Western literature and that’s because of colonisation. But I believe that from the very beginning our continent’s writers have been showing off and continue to show off (especially the women writers!). Not everything that comes from the continent is perfect, but I think we’re still at the stage where every book is important. Yes, there are writers that do not necessary write for the African audience and rather for a Western audience but there are just as many, maybe even more who write for us. I understand why we often refer to western influences, but I think we give them too much credit.

Dennis Collins

Photography by shootfilm_cpt

Dennis Collins is the cool, calm, and conscious founder of Space Spinach, a brand based in Cape Town. His pop-up shop is a proprietor for playfulness and imagination inspired by the skateboarding community's artistic influences. Space Spinach's garments are constructed with careful attention to ensure maximum quality. Dennis runs a tight ship, and believes that the brand's personal touches are its biggest asset.

COVER FEATURE: ZOLEKA MONTA

I am a 24-year-old Master of Arts graduate and self-taught documentary photographer from Meadowlands Soweto. Ngiyisitsha esihlala kwi-room divider. I draw a lot of inspiration from the everyday lives of people in my community. I view my work as an ode to them and an archive that speaks for them.

K.SKITS

ISSUE NO. 10

BOTAKI MAGAZINE

Cover Feature

Amara

Fleur

ISSUE 10

Katleho Monaune, better known by his stage name Kaddy is a Johannesburg based, genre fluid DJ from Troyeville. 1/5 of Opposite People, a creative hub and events space that promotes diversity in people and explores what brings people together.

Though still quite young, he has managed to foster a strong listening base within the often divided South African youth market. He credits most of this success to his appreciation and commitment towards the unearthing of underground independent artists and oftentimes showcasing new discoveries in his DJ sets and playlists.