BrownSense Magazine

brownsense ISSUE #6 2018

WE ARE THE ONES.

BROWNSENSE INSIGHTS How BrownSense is using data and insights to change the trajectory for entrepreneurs.

TRAVEL: TOFO A Brownie's conscious travel itinerary in one of Mozambique's most pristine beach communities.

THE PEOPLE'S FUND A holistic asset crowdfunding solution for Black SMMEs that works.

BrownSense

Corporate Procurement Your Dependable Transformation Partner Our database spans various sectors: BLACK - OWNED ICT Legal YOUTH - OWNED Accounting & Auditing Transportation & Logistics WOMAN - OWNED Health Construction PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES - OWNED Food & Beverage VETTED & VERIFIED Manufacturing Fashion & Beauty Personal Care CONTACT: Arts & Culture PROCUREMENT@BROWNSENSE.CO.ZA

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Group Founder's Note

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A Fresh Look At InSights

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Time To Break Open The Economy

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Becoming A Holistic Solution For Growing Businesses

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The Engine Of Your Online Presence

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Do You Know Your Customer?

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Sibahle Collection: Diversity At Play

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Brownie Stories: Vitiligo

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Family: Decorating A Nursery

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Recipes: One Pot Chicken

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Grow It Yourself

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Travel Is Life

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Conscious Travel: Tofo, Mozambiique

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Hair: Stretch Your Hair Without Any Heat

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Acknowledgements

A friend shared some wisdom recently. She said something like the beginning of a new year does not in itself do away with anything that was bad or perceived to have been in the past year. While there are things that are beyond our control, there's a lot that is within our control and which if we do play our part, a lot can turn out the way we not only hope but beyond our wildest dreams.

What I have learnt over the last two years is exactly this: many of the key things we need to succeed are usually what we may consider being the most basic to do, and therefore easy to miss as we tend to consider the more complex things. For example, keeping time is something that is easy to achieve, and requires no talent, just selfdiscipline. This does not only apply to keeping time for meetings but for submitting projects and reports on time. The same goes for consistency and honesty.

I am in no way downplaying how hard it is being in business. In fact, maybe one of the reasons it is hard is that one has to be disciplined and focused enough to do the banal things that have to be done, even when one does not feel like it.

As we look forward to 2019, our wish is we press harder on the things that help us succeed and throw away those that keep us ensnared.

Another lesson I am taking beyond is the freedom you get when you recognise the selfdeception in your own life. Ultimately, it comes down to what we want out of life, what we want out of this BrownSense movement, and whether we are honestly each in it for self-gain only, or for the collective gain. Then what follows should be each one of us playing our part to getting it just one more day closer to the dream. After all, why would we be doing this if there was no dream or purpose behind it?

As we build this dream, we must be careful not to be replacements of the incumbent capitalists with Black cold-hearted faces, thus maintaining the same system that has kept us oppressed.

As the BrownSense team, we wish you a safe and festive season, and a prosperous 2019.

MS THINK ABOUT THE EFFECT OF WHAT YOU SAY. YOUR WORDS SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTIVE, BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, NOT PULL THEM APART

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- MIRIAM MAKEBA -

BUSINESS

Everybody talks about data these days. From corporates, to the creative and marketing industries, everybody wants it, but many don’t know what to do with it.

In just three short years, our platform has taken on an unprecedented organic membership growth and unmatched engagement from our members. Based on experiences of many of our members, we know that what many entrepreneurs need to succeed is a reliable pipeline of paying customers. The BrownSense network has proven that we can change the status quo by leveraging our critical mass to each other’s benefit.

When we established BrownSense InSights in 2017, we did so with the view that if insights

and research should benefit anyone, it should first and foremost be entrepreneurs, and that the costs to access it should be minimal where we can help it.

For too long, people and institutions have used information and the access to it as a gatekeeping mechanism that maintains the status quo. We know that if more Brownie businesses had access to insights, they would be empowered to make smarter decisions around their business offering and practice. We also know that the data and insights created through the BrownSense group activity is a valuable asset to use in our mission to effect change when it comes to how Black people are represented, as well as the how overall narrative around our lives is told.

In 2019, we aim to launch the groundbreaking BrownSense Companies & Enterprise Development Index.

The research we will undertake will help us figure out which companies are successfully transforming their value chains and using Black businesses, the actual impact of enterprise development programmes in South Africa. This data will prove invaluable for all sectors of society: government, the private sector, civil society as well as entrepreneurs in general, as it will help us in charting a way forward in creating an optimum environment for the development of Black South African entrepreneurs. Our strategic partnerships with institutions such as the University of Johannesburg’s Centre for Competition Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) will enable BrownSense InSights to take on the time-consuming research that we need to in order to really challenge the status quo in South Africa.

A FRESH LOOK AT INSIGHTS 4

TIME TO BREAK OPEN THE ECONOMY by thando vilakazi & simon Roberts The structure of the South African economy welcomes few entrants. It remains highly concentrated with insiders still firmly entrenched. Widening access to the economy, according to the results of a set of studies released this week, will require a concerted and collaborative effort by government to alter the economic landscape, remove barriers to entry, enhance competition and foster inclusive growth.

The Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED), in research funded by the National Treasury, uncovered the range of often mutually reinforcing factors which stack-up to block greater participation in the economy by people as entrepreneurs or producers.

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Finance is often cited as the determining factor in new business success, but the research suggests that providing development finance, without addressing other barriers to entry, is likely to be a waste of money.

CCRED examined practical firm-level experiences including the entry of Capitec, Fruit & Veg City, Soweto Gold, and low-cost airlines, and undertook sector studies of barriers in telecoms, agro-processing, liquid fuels and mobile money.

These highlight the importance of new entrants for consumers and the economy, as well as what is at stake if they are blocked.

AMONG THE FINDINGS: • Capitec’s existence as an effective rival has saved consumers close to R20bn annually from 2010, as well as stimulating the extension of services to the previously unbanked.

• The reduction in mobile call termination rates which enabled Cell C and Telkom Mobile to be more effective competitors induced the two lead operators to reduce rates, saving consumers some R47bn since 2010. • The entry and growth of low cost airlines reduced prices by around 30% and extended services to smaller cities and towns.

• Rivalry in retail, including the growth of Fruit & Veg City, has brought a wider range of offerings to consumers and has provided an alternative route to market for producers. • Soweto Gold, a black industrialist producing beer in Soweto, struggles to get product to consumers due to measures which have excluded it from outlets for draft beer and raised its costs to supply. • Smaller competitors in various agro-processing sub-sectors such as poultry and maize-meal have brought lower food prices along with investment, however, there are significant challenges in sustaining competitive businesses in the face of vertically-integrated encumbents. incumbents.

Evidence shows that with no threat of competition, incumbent market players are less likely to invest, innovate or make efforts to increase productivity. Instead, insiders tend to abuse market power to marginalise rivals and maximise profits. South Africa has an extensive history of cartel behaviour, which means entrants can be locked-out of markets. Unless policy makers change the direction the market will remain closed to wider participation.

South Africa is at a cross-roads where continuing straightahead is not sustainable. Apart from piecemeal, isolated (and largely ineffective) interventions to open the market, policy decisions have too often supported the interests of large incumbent firms, or ‘national champions’, protecting them in exchange for a BEE ‘quid pro quo’ of more black shareholders. But this serves merely to entrench the dominant firm’s power rather than encouraging rivals to challenge it.

Without material changes to market access, black industrialists cannot be independent competitive businesses, but remain partners and essentially subordinate to incumbents.

And our economy will continue to stagnate.

CCRED proposes a policy agenda aimed at opening access through a broad raft of complementary measures.

The Centre is not advocating more regulation, but different regulation. In some cases regulations blocking entry can be removed, in others, proactive regulation for competition may be required.

It is time to change the rules of the game through four main approaches: First, regulate for competitive rivalry: Regulation should favour entrants and ensure incumbents can be effectively challenged, particularly in network industries such as energy, telecommunications and banking. Of course, there are economies of scale which mean South Africa will continue to need large firms. But, the value of alternatives, even in keeping the incumbents fit and responsive, has been under-rated.

For example, in telecommunications, spectrum access can be allocated to Mobile Virtual Network Operators through a transparent auction process at a national level, and basic facilities such as poles and ducts throughout towns and cities need to be opened for cabling by amending municipal regulations.

Independent fuel traders and suppliers can be given access to pipelines and port facilities.

Financial inclusion can be extended by regulating to support branchless banking and mobile money. The design of cities and towns is critical to opening spaces to independent retailers, and local government can partner with and support these investors.

Second, amend the Competition Act to protect the competition process and to ensure that smaller participants and black industrialists are able to enter, grow and be given weight in decisions. The Act provides for tests based on ‘substantial’ lessening, preventing, or distortion of competition. This approach privileges large complainants able to demonstrate a significant effect, whereas potentially-efficient smaller firms have little chance of doing the same.

While market inquiry provisions in the Act do provide for assessing harm to the competition process more holistically, they do not result in binding actions or sanctions.

Third, government should introduce proactive enabling measures to support new entrants and rivals. For example, penalties paid by firms in contravention of the Competition Act could be pooled to form a lower interest and higher risk development fund to finance entrants at different levels of a value chain, with an emphasis on supporting black industrialists.

Taking on more risk requires the understanding that increasing competitive rivalry has gains to the economy which go far beyond the returns to the entrant. The impact on market prices and dynamism affects customers of all the firms in a sector. Yes some firms may fail, but contestation between rivals is part of the process.

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Increasing dynamism and rivalry should be considered on an economy-wide basis; competition in one value chain cannot be separated from an understanding of concentration and competition dynamics in related sectors or those in neighbouring countries. For instance, supplying food is as much about packaging and logistics as about the actual agricultural product.

In the agro-processing sector, the objective should be to invest in expanded and competitive production capacity while widening participation, to turn southern Africa as a whole into a net food exporter. The current initiatives such as the agro-processing supplier development funds from the Pioneer case settlement and the Walmart acquisition have demonstrated some success and need to be replicated and linked with strategies along value chains.

The current initiatives such as the agroprocessing supplier development funds from the Pioneer case settlement and the Walmart acquisition have demonstrated some success and need to be replicated and linked with strategies along value chains. Partnering with retailers is particularly important in opening up supply chains.

Finally, CCRED encourages cities and government to ‘test and learn’. Introduce local initiatives to support suppliers to find markets and enable entrepreneurs to try and try again.

The depressed state of the economy suggests that we have nothing to lose.

BROWNSENSE INSIGHTS

BROWNSENSE SERIES Practical and educational workshops for Brownies who are ready to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey.

Sign Up For Updates Today: insights@brownsense.co.za www.brownsenseinsights.co.za

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becoming a holistic solution for growing businesses

BY YOLISA JAFTA

we also realised that some of the other big issues that entrepreneurs are plagued with are not only a lack of funds or access to markets. A lack of management and accounting are additional factors that are keeping many businesses from reaching their true potential.

We have taken it upon ourselves to encourage entrepreneurs that interact with us to tap into the opportunities

The People’s Fund is primarily an assetbacked crowdfunding platform for businesses that have found a market and

We let them drive change through you.

Our experience ensures that everyone wins.

are looking to grow their ability to deliver this value to their customers. Our platform allows everyday people to participate in the growth of these talented entrepreneurs, whilst also making it easier for entrepreneurs to get access to funding.

Everyday people, like yourself, contribute various amounts towards a campaign (starting from as little as R100) to help growing entrepreneurs get assets

known for being a company that is positively and powerfully changing how entrepreneurs access funding. We had just come off a successful 5-month validation process where we had raised

the end of 2017. This quickly rose to R1 million in our 7-month; and by time The People’s Fund turned one in July 2018, we had raised just over R2 million for 13 more businesses through our platform.

that can help their businesses grow; Through the use of the asset, the entrepreneur would then pay back the money the people contributed; through quarterly royalties that have an added incentive.

economies, people-driven economies &

concept by having already had 20% pay back to the crowd from the money that was raised from them. All of this was done online (www.thepeople.co.za);

want people to have a meaningful and measurable impact on the economy that they would like to see.

media.

and measurable impact on the economy

works. Furthermore, with the addition of Purchase Order Financing to our portfolio, we are really making great

capacity issues that cripple many small businesses in South Africa.

that they would like to see. The passion and ingenuity of the amazing entrepreneurs we have crossed paths with is why we are here.

affordable for small businesses. After all, what good is it to help a business get funding for one month if it won’t be sustainable (and possibly close) a few months thereafter?

Our journey this year has led us down a road where we don’t only make accessing funds easier, but we offer a holistic financing solution.

We would like to believe that we still closed off 2018 with the same purpose

and we’ve just becoming a better version of ourselves by offering: - Funding solutions that really tackle the issues many entrepreneurs face and; - Opportunities to access free (and/affordable) accounting solutions

The People’s Fund is a collaborative group co-founded by the following entities:

We’ve shown that our platform really

strides towards solving the capital and We want people to have a meaningful

partners that are easily accessible and

all mobilised exclusively via social

people-driven growth. All of this to drive the idea that the people shall rule! We

accounting skills. We also always look for

and impact that we started the year with;

By September 2018, we showed proof of

and the people who contributed were "The People" stands for people-built

their financial management and

ways to find accounting solutions and/or When we started the year, we were

more than R300 000 for 6 businesses by How it works:

available to them to help them develop

In our pursuit to do more towards building a viable entrepreneurial climate for the change makers in our country,

The Hookup Dinner (THUD); Paybook; Tsoga Afrika Investment Holdings; and BrownSense Group Each party brings its unique strength to build a solid group because as the say

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. goes:

the engine of your online presence

By Amukelani Ndlovu-Holme My clients are generally people who are looking for all-round IT solutions. That means, they want us to handle every part of their IT, because they are so used to also leaving it all to their service providers. One of the most common problems we come across, is moving domains from their current service providers to their own hosting accounts that they have full control over. The other is that they are being billed ridiculously large amounts, or even that they are being held at ransom over their domains for no good reason. This is when I realised just how few people understand what a domain is, and why it is very important for your online presence.

Your domain is the address of your website on the internet. Similar to how customers would use your physical address to find your business, a domain name is the address that they will use to find your business online. With over 3.2 billion users on the internet, you not only need to guard that address really well. A domain name is important for various reasons, and it is important for a domain owner to have full responsibility of that domain.

credibility Owning your own domain name makes your business look professional. Many people tend to use free web hosting sites, but that can often negatively affect your credibility, as potential clients wonder just how invested in your business you are.

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deter squatters Domain Squatters buy the domains of businesses in the hope of selling them back to the rightful owners for large profits.

Own your domain, so that when customers search for your business and find a blank domain, they will move on to your competitor.

a brand boost Registering a domain name that matches your company name makes it easier for customers to remember.

When the domain name matches your company name it boosts your SEO, making your name pop up when a potential customer does a search.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER?

By Nhlakanipho Zondi

Ndalo Media, Skinny Sbu socks and your friend’s fashion business: we see Brown-

KNOW & DEFINE YOUR TARGET MARKET

owned businesses suffer, sell or close down

Get to know your target market and the

every other day, for various reasons. When

commercial opportunity they present. In

this happens, some entrepreneurs who do

other words, who you are selling to,

not take the time to analyse the cause of

what/how/why/when to sell to them and

their challenges will blame Brownie

how much money you can make by selling

consumers for not supporting them.

to them. Figure out who you are selling to,

Societal issues notwithstanding, I think that

how much they can afford to spend on your

it is up to us small and micro business

product or service.

owners to ensure the success of our businesses.

It begins with market intelligence; knowledge of the environment your business operates in, your target market, and the commercial opportunity they present. This is a continuous exercise from the ideation phase, and throughout your

DETERMINE YOUR COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITY Determining the commercial opportunity So, how much money can you make from your target market? This is not an exact science, but it definitely will give you an

business journey. I recently posted videos

idea of the possibility. The simplest way I

about this topic on my YouTube channel

would recommend you do it is calculating

and blog www.theworkinggirl.co.za, which

how much revenue you’d make if you sold

were inspired by a conversation I had with

to 1% of the target market. Why 1%? Well,

a fellow entrepreneur and friend about a

it’s because in many existing industries

business idea she had.

there are a few large corporates who already own the majority of the market, and

UNDERSTAND YOUR INDUSTRY

as a micro or small business, the chances of eating into their existing customer base

Understand the industry itself and why, how,

quickly is low unless you have a huge cash

where and when others have succeeded in

injection. Rather set realistic standards

it so you can come up with an informed

which you can grow from. Numbers you’ll

business plan. Do you know who the

need: - Target market population size -

biggest player in your industry is, and what

Your average revenue per customer per

makes them so successful? A lot of small

month (how much, on average, you make

business owners consider other small

from each customer) Population size x 1% x

businesses as their main competitors, so

average revenue x 12 = How much you can

they compete aggressively with each other

make in a year by selling to just 1% of your

for a very small piece of a much bigger pie,

target market.

when your biggest competitors are the businesses that have the biggest market share in the industry – that’s who most people are buying from instead of you.

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Sibahle Collection: Diversity At Play.

BY BROWNSENSE & SIBAHLE

The Sibahle Collection forms part of a larger movement that will see young Brown children growing up knowing how to take care of their hair, and feeling the affirmation in who they are. Since releasing their first doll in 2017, the overwhelmingly positive response from the market led to Khulile and her business partner Caroline Hlala to extend their range to include a doll with

One day, Khulile Vilakazi-Ofosu’s 3 year old

Albinism, and one with the vitiligo skin condition.

daughter came home asking Khulile to make her

Through their collection, Khulile and Caroline

hair “flowy”. This prompted Khulile to look through

want to teach Brown children self love and

the toys her daughter played with, and she realised

acceptance, and also to teach children from all

that her dolls were not reflection of her. And in

walks of life about diversity, love and celebrating

that moment, Sibahle Collection was born. Sibahle

each person’s uniqueness.

Collection is a lifestyle brand that manufactures

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and markets representative dolls and themed

www.sibahlecollection.com Twitter - @sibahledolls

products to encourage children from all walks of

Instagram - @sibahlecollection Facebook -

life to embrace their natural beauty.

@sibahlecollection

FAMILY

V I T I L I G O COLOUR ME BEAUTIFUL. Vitiligo is a rare skin condition that presents as lightened blotches on the body. This happens because the pigment cells (melanocytes), which gives skin its colour are destroyed. There is no cure for vitiligo, but there are treatments that dermatologists may prescribe, such as steroid creams, to help control the spread. It is not a disease, and it isn't contagious.Â

FOODIE MAGAZINE

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Pabi's Sugar Bites

BY FENTSE MOKALE

She rests her back against the wall, right by the corner of the house where the shade draws dark patterns across the side of her face. I watch her from inside the kitchen. Her tubby little fingers take turns twisting and knotting as she tries hard to braid her little doll’s hair.

I chuckle a little at her eagerness. She is clad in a one-piece purple outfit which reveals a tight group of light spots on the upper curve of each of her shoulders. The back of her palms are decorated with an abstract configuration of colour that originates from in-between her fingers and moves up past her wrists where it rests. At this point, she is three years old. She is smart. She is an energetic small human being who enjoys running around and finding fun in trying to get me to chase after her. The luminous colour speckled on either side of her forehead moseys up and forms a bit of a contrast with her dark skin. It illuminates into a brilliant white as it splashes onto the tiny blocks of her braided hair. Two small spots outline the side of her lips, one on the upper and another or her lower lip. They move broadly as she smiles her wide smile, marvelling at the work she has done on her little doll’s hair.

Pabi is my niece. Her vitiligo, or ‘sugar bites’ as the family affectionately call the patches on her skin, has been with her for about two of her three years on earth. She seems to take no notice of it until someone points it out. I always feel a certain discomfort with the manner in which curious strangers approach her and ask questions about why she looks the way she does. Many assume she got burnt; they take pity and sometimes throw accusatory looks at us for probably what they believe to be negligence towards her on the parts of her parents and guardians. They often look at her in ways that make her feel uneasy, and she shies away and hides behind the protection of her parents’ bodies who will not always be there to protect her from the curious adults or the little kids that mock her ‘granny hair.’

It is the responsibility of her parents and the rest of us as the family to help her feel comfortable with the way she looks, despite external factors that might influence her self-esteem. We are teaching her that she is not sick and that all she has is a mere skin condition that needs to be taken care of. It might take time for her to fully grasp the concept- or maybe even not - but the knowledge we give her will help her deal with inevitable stressful situations while her parents decide on the way forward. A few years have elapsed since Pabi was seen playing with her doll’s hair as a chubby little three year old and I’m extremely proud of my little niece now more than ever- she has since begun to embrace her vitiligo which she still affectionately refers to as her sugar bites.

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IMAGE: @REDEFINEDMYBEAUTY

I woke up one morning in 2016, and I realised that I had a spot under my eye. I tried to reason with myself that it's a heat rash or I hurt myself while sleeping. Weeks went by, and the mark grew, and I even got another one on my face. My GP told me that I had vitiligo and it is incurable, and he referred me to a dermatologist, who confirmed the GP’s diagnosis. I didn’t want to go out in public, and even submitting assignments was a nightmare.

By the time I went back home after exams, I no longer looked like myself. I hated vitiligo because I felt like I had to start from scratch in my journey to Yield: One 12-inch Pizza self-discovery. Another doctor told me that I have Prep Time: 2 hr 15 min

NDUMISO MABENA

localised vitiligo, meaning it only appears on my Total Time: 2 hr 30 min face. I found out that my grandfather also had vitiligo. I discovered that in Ndebele culture, there is a stigma attached to vitiligo, which many Vitiligo crept up on me when I was 6 years old. The first describe as umlilo waba phansi – the fire/anger of mark I got has not gone anywhere, changed shape or the ancestors. One of the best things I did was gone darker – it has remained consistent since the day it agree to a photoshoot, which led to me being a first appeared. There was a point in my life when I model, and I now use my social media platforms to believed that this condition was the worst thing that educate people about vitiligo. It’s a part of me, It could've ever happened to me and I spent many years can never take or steal from me. unable to look myself in the mirror or love myself the way I should have. It took a lot for me to accept myself and look past my imperfection, I was ridiculed, and everybody always saw what was wrong with me before they saw what was right. As I grew older, the vitiligo lessened and before I knew it, I just had one distinct identifier on my forehead which is unique to me and few more in other. I am happy because it moulded me and I had to actively learn to accept myself and my imperfections and I have never taken anything about "self" for granted. I am extremely proud of my distinctive marks, because it is through them that I have my greatest uniqueness, through them that I grew into loving myself and appreciating

TEBOHO MANKGA

differences in everyone. I now see myself beyond my physical appearance and more as a human being living in this vast world.

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I was diagnosed with vitiligo when I was 27 years old. It started with a spot at the back of my neck, which I did not take very seriously at first.

When the spot grew bigger, I went to see a dermatologist, who diagnosed me with vitiligo. He prescribed a steriod cream to apply on the spots.

The treatment seemed to work, and I gained some pigmentation back but the spot on the back of my neck was still there. At this point, it still wasn’t much of a concern for me.

In 2013, I was pregnant with my second child, and the vitiligo just spread. I had spots on my legs and neck, and they grew bigger and bigger. I couldn’t use any treatment because I was pregnant. After giving birth, I tried every treatment that all the

dermatologists I went to recommended and spent thousands in the process, yet nothing helped. I felt miserable because I thought this was a curse. Being diagnosed with a skin condition that has no cure is tough. I used to cry myself to sleep just thinking about this condition that I still did not understand.

I asked myself, “why me?” so many times. I slowly slipped into depression and started to isolate myself from the world. I would avoid attending events where I knew I was expected to wear dresses, and even stopped going to church and attending funerals. Used to wear clothes that hide all my spots. Luckily for me, I had no spots on my face. In 2017,

I finally decided that I could no longer live like that. I felt like I had caged myself in and this condition was holding me hostage. I decided to seek help.

My sessions with the Psychologist have helped me a lot. I started to slowly wear things I like, but it still took me several months for me to be totally comfortable with exposing my spots. I have now learnt to embrace them, and I kind of like them. They make me different and unique.

Vitiligo does not bother me anymore. I found joy that comes from within. I love my skin. To all my brothers and sisters battling with accepting this condition, I just want to say to them - Never be embarassed of your skin, thats what makes you unique. It would be wonderful if a cure were to be discovered, but for now, I’m just living my life to the fullest.

Vitiligo does not define me.

VITILIGO DOES NOT DEFINE ME.

BY KGOTHATSO RAKGOLE

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"I STARTED NOTICING MY VITILIGO WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD."

- Fikile Soni

As a young person, living with such a condition was not very easy. You are young, and you have the white patches and your schoolmates tease you and laugh at you. At the time, I had it on my ears, eyelashes, feet, chest, and back. I was very uncomfortable with it.

Once, I sewed some studs in my school tunic so that it would be closed in the front, and no one would see the white marks on my chest. That way, I would not be laughed at. What puzzled me the most was that I used to notice people with this skin condition, and I would wondered whether it was the law of attraction at was it the law of attraction at play.

When I became a mother at the age of 22, I used a popular solution for soaking soiled nappies. This affected the pigmentation on my palms and my arms, as they became very white. The young kids in our neighbourhood would look and stare at me, at my hands, feet or other parts of my body that had white marks, they would compare it to their own hands, then look at their moms’ hands and stare at me again. I have reached a stage of loving myself as I am.

My experience has been that if you stress or are stressed, it grows like wildfire. It does not need one to be worried about it. Now that I am older, I do not mind the staring or any questions posed at me. I have reached a stage of loving it, there are people who wished they have vitiligo. Yes, I would be very happy if a cure could be discovered, because there are disadvantages to having vitiiligo. For example, one should not be exposed to too much sunshine, and there are certain things that one should not eat.

"SOMETHING IN OUR ENVIRONMENT IS CAUSING THE DEPLETION OF MELANIN..."

I have done some research, and I have noticed that it is something that seems to be growing. I have even seen babies, young girls and boys, people of all ages, both men and women living with vitiligo. Something in our environment is causing the depletion of melanin, which is supposed to give our skin its dark hue, and I hope dermatologists and scientists can help us find the answers.

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Decorate A Practical Nursery

BY THABITHA DOLAMO

Planning the perfect nursery for your perfect little bundle of joy can be a daunting task. How do you want to welcome your baby into the world? As a world traveller, a princess, a space explorer, a lover of your favourite animated character — or would you prefer a black-andwhite palette, bold colours or soothing monotones? The possibilities are endless, and can be overwhelming at best! Start with some basic guidelines to hone your vision. There are seven components that can give you a strong framework for creating your ideal space.

Colour Whether choosing a neutral colour palette, like a charming nursery in greys and beige, or something bolder, colour choice provides the foundation for your vision. Peaceful tranquillity, enchanted princess, world traveller — it all evolves from wall colour.

Function

Comfort

When shopping for cribs, dressers, armoires and

If you’re on a budget while nesting, there is one

more, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the

place not to cut cost: the rocker or easy chair.

options. Consider the functions that work best

Whatever your seating choice, you will log many

for your space and life. For instance, if you can

hours of the day and night keeping your little

accommodate a round or oval crib as the

one soothed, fed and rested. Your comfort is

room’s centrepiece, go for it, but consider the

essential. A rocker or glider is also another way

increased difficulty in shopping for that infant

to bring in a pop of colour while prioritizing

bedding in a nonstandard shape. Convertible

your cosiness.

cribs are a wonderful way to provide function through the stages of growth.

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Materials

Play

Steer clear of wall-to-wall carpet, because

Children learn and develop best through play.

babies make thousands of messes that become

Be sure to make room for childish fun and play

harder and harder to clean, plus the glues and

in your design plan, whether that be a dress-up

fibres can be hazardous to infants’ systems —

costume rack or your standard toy bin.

think of how often their mouths and hands

.Whether your design is sophisticated chic or

spend in close proximity to the floor. Area rugs

conservative, don’t forget to focus on

offer the opportunity to spot-clean, replace,

practicality. You and your baby will be spending

easily change themes and add colour or

a lot of time together in your nursery, and the

creativity.

space has to work for both of you.

Decals

Kids Emporium Melrose Arch will help you

Wall decals are all the rage right now. Decals come in myriad of different themes and are a brilliant and inexpensive way to change decor as your child grows. Fear of commitment is removed in as easy a step as peeling it from the wall.When shopping for cribs, dressers, armoires and more, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the options. Consider the functions that work best for your space and life. For instance, if you can accommodate a round or oval crib as the

design your dream nursery/ children’s bedroom from start to finish. Present the voucher below to qualify for a free decor consult at Kids Emporium Melrose Arch! Enquire instore or email melrosearch@kidsemporium.co.za or call 011 684 1055 for more information.

Please follow us on Instagram kid_Emporium Melrose arch, Facebook – kids emporium Melrose arch.

room’s centrepiece, go for it, but consider the increased difficulty in shopping for that infant bedding in a nonstandard shape. Convertible cribs are a wonderful way to provide function through the stages of growth.

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FOOD

HEALTHY EATING MADE EASY

BY REABETJOE MANYAKA

Healthy eating doesn't have to be complicated or difficult. A balanced diet is made of a daily intake that includes the following food groups; fruits and vegetables, wholegrain starches, dairy, lean meats, small portions of the good fats with restricted sugar intake.

RICE AND STRIPS

For beginners or for busy people, one-pot meals can be a great lifesaver. A one pot meal is a meal that includes your carbohydrates, vegetables and protein in one. One pot meals cut out the labour required when cooking the different food groups separately. This is one of the easy go-to midweek meals I rely on. What I have found with his meal is that my kids eat and enjoy without complaining about eating certain vegetables. It’s really ideal for the whole family, do enjoy it!

Prep time: 5min Cooking time: 60 min Difficulty: Easy Serves: 6-8 Ingredients: 500g Chicken Breast, cut into strips 1 Onion, medium, chopped Canola oil Spice Mix 2 cups Frozen Mixed vegetables Lemon and Herb sauce 2 cups Brown Rice (or White rice) 2 Tbsp Turmeric 4 cups Water Salt and Pepper for Seasoning Chilli spice (optional) Spice Mix: 3 Tbsp Lemon and herb seasoning 1 Tbsp Cumin 1 Tbsp Paprika

Method: 1. Add the rice, turmeric, water and rice pot. Bring to a boil and cook for about 45-55min.

2. In a pan heat the oil en add the onion. Fry the onion ill is cooked, about 5 min 3. Once the onions are cooked add the chicken strips and continue to fry. Add the spice mix and continue to fry till the chicken strips have browned.

4. Once the strips have cooked, add the mixed vegetables and cook for 5 minutes then add the sauce and leave to simmer for 10-15min 5. Once the rice has cooked drain any excess water and add to the chicken and vegetables and continue to simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to season 6. Serve and Enjoy

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Grow It Yourself.

With food prices seemingly skyrocketing of late, it has never been the right time to start growing your own food. Besides that, how else will you practice for when you finally get The Land?!Â

Start Slow.

All good things take time: learn what thrives in your region, and take interest in gardening literature and communities. Read up on organic gardening and its benefits.

Get Creative.

Don't feel limited by your lack of space: make use of planters, pot plants, grow bags and other upcycled things such as tyres and buckets. Just make sure your plants get enough sunlight and water.

Save Water.

The water crisis is real. Make sure you save water by applying shredded leaves or straw on your beds. This will help water retention during the summer, when the heat becomes unbearable.Â

TRAVEL

Travel Is Life.

BY KARABO MASEDI

The first time I knew I had to travel to see the

Travel is about learning other people’s

world in my own eyes was the day a friend

cultures, finding the things that make your

told me they would rather stay in one place,

soul dance with joy, about growth and about

and never leave the country because they

showing people how you see the world. A

had a fear of traveling somewhere and have

person who travels is one of the happiest

something happen to them. All that while I

people among others because they see things

was thinking, “I NEED to get out of the

differently. There is so much to see and to

country to experience life my own way”. Little

experience, but travel has been so

did I know, that travel is not just about having

inaccessible for us even in the country we call

a passport and spending so much money to

home.

enjoy getting out of my comfort zone. Travel is life, and it starts right exactly where you are

It is even more sad that we do not know that

at this moment.

we can do group travels to save money or be exchange students as a form of cultural

I have been fortunate enough to have the

exchange for the purpose of doing both-

spirit and drive to travel, learn from other

study and travel. The reason I write is to show

people and grow. For me, travel started when

people the world through my eyes - especially

I was going through the worst time of my life

my family, as they do not have the luxury to

at the time and I needed an “out”. I didn’t

do so. You don’t have to leave your country to

have much money, so I started small, on my

experience the best the world can offer. You

own and sometimes with a couple of friends.

make it the best and leave Pretoria to Soweto

These small trips would entail visiting a

or vice versa, try Gold Reef City, the beach,

location near home where I would spend

hiking, ANYTHING! Travel is life, and it starts

about R300 for transport and food. From

right exactly where you are at this moment.

then, I was hooked.

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UKUHAMBA UKUBONA Curated Travel Experiences Corporate Travel info@brownsense.travel

Senegal: Museum Of Black Civilisations Dakar's newly unveiled repository of memory and knowledge is the fruition of a fifty-year dream Senegal’s first president Leopold Senghor had over fifty years ago.

The Museum of Black Civilisations is the first of its kind in the world, and in addition to hosting historical exhibitions, it will be a space that will work to decolonise African knowledge, and to foster artistic and cultural collaborations with artists from around the continent, and those from the Diaspora. The 14 000 square metre building has capacity for 18 000 exhibits, and was inspired by the circular traditional homes found in Southern Senegal.

The first temporary exhibitions will include work from artists from Mali, Burkina Faso, Cuba and Haiti, exploring themes such as slavery, and the contribution of impactful women of African descent. With recent calls from various African Presidents urging European governments to return looted African art to the continent, the Museum of Black Civilisations promises to be the destination for arts and knowledge in West Africa.

"History" is a comment on progressive blindness.

Ethiopia: Lalibela This UNESCO World Heritage Centre boasts the Church of St George, which was the brainchild of King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela, who reigned from 1181 to 1221 Lalibela town the Amhara Region of Ethiopia is world-famous for its monolithic churches that are cut out of rock. It is one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities, often used as the centre of pilgrimage for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. Ethiopia was one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity in the first half of the fourth century, dating back to the time of the Apostles. Lalibela is a testament to the pre-colonial Christianity on the African continent, and surely a destination for all Africans.

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Tofo is a small beach town, 24 km from Inhambane Airport and thus very easily accessible from SA, or 6 hours by road from Maputo. However you get there, the trip is absolutely worth it!

As in a lot of tourist spots around the continent, the tourism industry in Tofo is dominated by Europeans and white South Africans offering various water sports or accommodation.

These are all businesses with great potential, but are unaffordable for the local communities to compete in. For the locals, these businesses offer much needed employment, and are often the sole source of income.

For the tourist, they do offer some really awesome experiences. However, there is one activity that you can do while in Tofo which is completely run by the locals and thereby entirely benefiting the community: the rustic sailing experience on traditional dhow boats. This restful day trip offers an authentic look into the lives of the community and how they interact with sea life and their environment.

This very modest sailing experience with the local guides on their dhow boats starts off with early pickups at your accommodation at around 7am, and your guide will already have been to the market to collect the seafood that will be prepared for your lunch.

Bring along some chilled music and drinks for the boat ride which starts off with a trip to Pansy Island.

The island is named after the beautiful shells found on the island, which have a gorgeous flower imprint on them. It's a heavenly place with starfish and seahorses galore, and provides the perfect location to hop off your boat for some guided or independent snorkelling.

From Pansy Island, you then sail to Survivor Island for a community prepared lunch, consisting of mouthwatering seafood and rice prepared in the local style. You may even be lucky enough to have the chief of the village come to greet and spend time with you. As we say at Zulu Nomad, “leave yourself behind” and immerse yourself in a unique experience that allows your to contribute directly to the local community.

Images: Zulu Nomad

Inhambane is a gem of a coastal province in the north of Mozambique. It’s fine, sandy white beaches provide the perfect setting to indulge in delicious seafood, explore marine life and genuinely interact with the local community.

TOFO, MOZAMBIQUE

CONSCIOUS TRAVEL

By Phaka Hlazo

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Stretch Your Hair Without Any Heat!

By Phumulo Ngoma

When you’re natural it often feels like 50%

It elongates your curls and can make your

of the time, our hair is in a protective style

hair easier to work with on a daily basis.

and 50% of the time, it’s washday. Often

This trick is so easy you can even do it in

times when our hair is in shrinkage, our

the shower.

strands like to cuddle and sometimes that means tangles and knots, which can lead

Curly hair is the most fragile hair type

to breakage. Whether you like to have

there is. Despite popular belief, your kinks,

your ‘fro out to play or switch it up a bit

curls and coils do not like to be handled

with different looks, here are some quick

too much; they thrive best with minimum

tips to stretch your hair without heat.

handling and manipulation. Too much heat can often dry out your hair, weaken

Curly hair is the most fragile hair type

your hair strands and ultimately damage

there is. Despite popular belief, your kinks,

them.

curls and coils do not like to be handled too much; they thrive best with minimum

Stretching your hair is a great heat-free

handling and manipulation. Too much

alternative to blow drying or straightening.

heat can often dry out your hair, weaken

It elongates your curls and can make your

your hair strands and ultimately damage

hair easier to work with on a daily basis.

them. Stretching your hair is a great heat-

This trick is so easy you can even do it in

free alternative to blowdrying or

the shower.

straightening.

25

STEP 1: Split Your Hair Into Sections If your hair is a little longer, split it into 8 sections. Make sure you have butterfly clips with you or hair ties to keep your hair separated. If you don’t, braiding each section works as well.

STEP 2: Detangle If you haven’t detangled your hair already, now is a good time to do so! Spray your hair generously with your daily spritz or detangler, comb your hair through with your fingers first, separating any knots or tangles and then use a wide tooth comb.

Be gentle with your hair. Start from the tips of your hair and back comb till you get to your scalp.

STEP 3: Apply Leave-In Conditioner layer it with an oil of your choice. If your hair is low porosity (i.e. loses moisture quickly), try using a lighter oil like olive, avocado or jojoba. If your hair is high porosity (does not lose moisture easily), you can use a heavier oil like castor oil.

STEP 4: Braid Your Hair If your hair is no longer damp, spray it with a little water. Take a section of your hair and tie it with an elastic band/ hair tie. The elastic band should be as close to your scalp as possible. Next, braid the ponytail. You can also do two strand twists if you want to. Either way, make sure the braid or twist is tight, otherwise your hair will not stretch.

STEP 5: Leave It To Dry Next, you can either wait for your hair to dry overnight or air dry it for a few hours. Make sure that it’s completely dry before you take it down.

And voila! Your hair is fully stretched and ready to go!

26

CONTRIBUTORS

THANK YOU TO ALL THE EXPERTS AND PASSIONATE BROWNIES WHO HAVE MADE THIS EDITION OF THE BROWNSENSE MAGAZINE POSSIBLE.

Natural hair goddess & cofounder of supermelanin.co.za.

Obsessed with all African hair butters and getting that melanin popping.

TRAVEL: PHAKA HLAZO

FOOD: REABETJOE MANYAKA

VITILIGO: BROWNIES

Founder of Zulu Nomad and seeker of adventure.

IG: @zulunomadsa www.zulunomad.com

Founder of Plates & Scales. A registered dietician with a passion for holistic healthy cooking.

FB: @platesandscales

Ndumiso Mabena Tebogo Mankga Fentse Mokale Kgothatso Rakgole Fikile Soni

TRAVEL IS LIFE: KARABO MASEDI A Brownie world traveler with a mission to bring fellow Brownies with her on life-changing adventures at home, and abroad. @travelwithkarabo

NURSERY DECOR: THABITHA DOLAMO Purveyor of baby and children goods. Owner of Kids Emporium Melrose Arch thabitha@kidsemporium.co.za

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HAIR TUTORIAL: PHUMULO NGOMA

KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER: NHLAKANIPHO ZONDI Product Marketing Manager at a global software company, a coowner of Home Artist, an architecture, interior design and décor business, as well as a blogger/YouTuber.

IMAGES BrownSense Market Images by: Upendo Pictures & Shots Of Inspiration Photography

THE ENGINE OF YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE: AMUKE LANI NDLOVUHOLM Founder of Black Spot Technologies. Passionate about the limitless potential for tech in Africa.

GROW IT YOURSELF: GROW YOUR OWN GP Obsessed with real good natural food. Taste is Queen. Local is everything.

FB: @GYOGP

JHB - CPT

BROWNSENSE MARKET For many people, the BrownSense Market represents a standing appointment with buying Black. Since 2016, the BrownSense Market has played a significant role in giving Black SMMEs access to market, which in turn has grown their businesses.

APPLY TO TRADE VIA WWW.BROWNSENSEMARKETS.CO.ZA

FOR CORPORATE MARKETS MARKET@BROWNSENSE.CO.ZA