ISSUE NO. 2 // MARCH 2018
The future belongs to those who prepare for it today - Malcolm X
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EAT.DRINK. PLAY.SLEEP
Pumla Bolani, BrownSense's famous acupuncturist, tells us about her practice, holistic living, and healing.
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CONQUERING THE PEAKS
THE HOOKUP DINNER Selebogo Molefe founded a networking session that has sprung chapters across the continent and the world. He talks to us about the power of collaboration and expanding networks for the good of Brownie business.
Country-wide Brownie entertainment and lifestyle alternatives for every preference.
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SPOTLIGHT
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HEALTHWISE In the first of a series of articles, Dr Idorenyin U. Akpabio explores mental illness.
An interview with Tshepang Mabizela, founder of the WE ARE ONE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
Advertise With Us: info@brownsense.co.za @brownsense
@brownsensemarket @brownsensemarketCPT
Image Source: ZuluNomad
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Eat. Drink. Play. Sleep. Whether your vibe is adventure, spa, restaurant deck-chillin while the sun goes down, Brownies are out there doing the most to cater to your needs. Check out some of the most awesome Brownie-owned spots around the country for all your lifestyle needs.
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THE BROWNSENSE MARKET Location: Midrand (Last Sunday of the Month) CPT (First Sunday of the Month) The BrownSense Market is your monthly appointment with buying Black in a fun family-friendly environment. Live music acts and DJs keep the market pumping all day, while you enjoy craft beer, wine, good food in the company of some of the most awesome Brownies. You can look forward to browsing through an abundance of stalls with quality crafts, health products, cosmetics and the latest fashion designs while indulging in tasty treats and meals. The dedicated and monitored kids’ play area is super popular with both kids and parents, too! Instagram @brownsensemarket @brownsensemarketcpt Facebook @TheBrownSenseMarket LOVE REVO Location: Maboneng, JHB Why we love it: The trendy restaurant’s quirky décor plus bistro gourmet menu with an African tapas twist creates the perfect setting for instagram-worthy sundowners with friends. Instagram @loverevo_sa EUPHORIA GOLF ESTATE Location: Modimolle, Limpopo Why we love it: There’s no place that screams fun and family like Euphoria Golf Estate. State of the art accomodations are accompanied by an impeccable golf course and spa for the parents, and a brand new adventurous water park for everyone to cool down from the Limpopo heat. Additional ctivities include game drives and nature walks. www.euphoriaestate.co.za
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Pahari Location: Cape Town Why we love it: Pahari specialises in unique African cuisines. The gorgeous restaurant is situated in Salt river, and boasts budget friendly traditional dishes, like Sadza (pap), tripe with offal and Mopane worms. They believe that the concept of African Traditional food must be shared among all food lovers and It www.pahari.co.za
GOG LIFESTYLE PARK Location: Lanseria, Johannesburg Why we love it: Calling all thrill seekers! Gog Lifestyle Park is all about adventures fit for all ages. One of Gauteng’s most exciting attractions, Gog Lifestyle is home to Africa’s highest man-made climbing wall, they offer unique rides, a BMX track, a kids pump track, a climbing wall, zip line, giant inflatable products, trampolines and a sprint obstacle course and more! It’s perfect for adrenaline junkies, outdoor enthusiasts, or just a family looking for an active and fun day out.
MOPEDI TWII LOUNGE Location: Tembisa This new African contemporary lifestyle lounge brings you the best entertainment and shisanyama spot in Tembisa. The chic interior décor does not exclude comfort. Their menu offers the best African cuisine in the best portions for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also offer catering and the venue for hire. www.m-twii.co.za
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CONQUERING THE PEAKS The South African music scene is not short of talent, but platforms for up and coming artists have been few and far between, until recently. WE ARE ONE MUSIC FESTIVAL founder Tshepang Mabizela is on a mission to make sure that South African artists get their day on stage. Why did you start the WE ARE ONE MUSIC FESTIVAL? Tshepang Mabizela: We started the festival to create a home for artists, we understood that music was a unifying element in the art space, that we are different in design but the only commonality we have is music, also because the South African music space needed to grow and the people that are going to genuinely help it grow are all the artists that are overlooked because they don't have enough followers, don't have a music video or a big enough marketing budget to promote themselves effectively. We wanted to take some of the risk and bring them to the people and let the people be the judge. Can you explain the inspiration behind the beautiful graphic designs on your fliers? Firstly we'd have to thank Khanya aka KhanyaTheDesigner for transmitting our thoughts into their physical equivalence, it seldom happens that an artist can go into your mind and illustrate your thoughts and Khanya superseded our expectations, he is a genius and a masterpiece that creates others. We thank him for that. And to answer that question, we'd need to have an interview with her to get the full scope but for me? The art reemphasises a space that's brought into life by an artist, a surfacing underground, the artwork is in your face,
brilliantly designed, like the underground scene we bringing to life. What are your ideals for the emerging artists using the music festival platform? For the platform to serve it's purpose, firstly to promote oneness in the art space, so that the movement can begin and secondly to create a platform where undiscovered talent can be put at the same scale as everything else in South Africa. Artists deserve this spotlight, so hopefully they get it at WE ARE ONE MUSIC FESTIVAL. How long has it taken you to get this festival off the ground? It took us four years of planning and failing, creating smaller platforms like 'Complex Thoughts' and an event called 'The Movement', with both platforms serving the same purpose of creating a home for artists and a platform where all artists can shine, 7 | BROWNSENSE MAGAZINE
create and express themselves through whatever art form. It's been difficult but we are here to create a revolution, televised or not. What can people look forward to at the festival? An artistic renaissance, with genuine and unapologetic art in the forefront of it all, art that is raw cause it's polished in it's grassroots and artists who are going to give it their all, because they have been overlooked for so long that they will individually erupt on stage. So it's blood, sweat and tears from when the event starts till the end, for most of them it's the last round at a boxing match, they are all giving their all from the get go. The WE ARE ONE MUSIC FESTIVAL will be hosted on 31 March 2018 at Fox Junction 1 Fox Precinct, JHB, and features a smorgasbord of South African talent to cater for a variety of tastes, including Bongeziwe Mabandla, Nonku Phiri, DJ Doowap, Moon Child, Langa Mavuso and many others. Tickets can be bought via nutickets.co.za
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SPOTLIGHT ENCOUNTERS WITH BROWNIES WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR CRAFT AND THE THREE PILLARS OF BROWNIE SUCCESS: INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY& EXCELLENCE.
Pumla Bolani: Superstar Acupuncturist Pumla Bolani is a holistic healer, and arguably one of the most famous Brownies in our Facebook group. Since advertising her services in the group in 2017, the acupuncturist has steadily grown her reputation, with clients traveling from far and wide to consult with her. Her posts and recommendations rank as some of the most highly rated on the group, which is testament to her bedside manner, and customer service approach. What is acupuncture? Acupuncture is a holistic health technique that stems from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices, in which trained practitioners stimulate specific points on the body by inserting thin needles into the skin. Today, acupuncture is one of the most popular practices of TCM in the West. TCM is a complementary health approach that first originated in ancient China more than 2,500 years ago and has been evolving ever since. Because the goal of acupuncture is to promote and restore the balance of energy which flows throughout the body, the benefits of acupuncture can extend to a wide variety of conditions, from emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression, to digestive complaints such as nausea, vomiting and irritable bowel syndrome. What do you offer at your practice? We take your pulse to check the state of your organs (lungs, liver, spleen, heart and kidneys). We then treat the organs that require attention, before treating the symptoms. Organs are responsible for our feeling unwell, well-being and healing, which is why it’s important to treat your organs first. For instance, people mistake joint pain for arthritis,
but from organ reading (pulse taking), we can confirm or identify actual cause of disease, mostly spleen energy, which impacts on muscles. Our services include Acupuncture, Lymph drainage, Kersai Nei Tsang (clinical genital massage) and Thai massage. How did you get in to acupuncture therapy? I developed a strong interest in natural healing and health in my personal capacity, and that grew into a deep desire to learn and understand more about alternative health solutions that would help other people reach their health goals and/or assist them with managing their health issues and concerns. Acupuncture found me in that process and became my passion. Seeing the positive effects of it in combination with my prayers, Ayurveda, Thai training and surrendering my skills to God so that He heals my clients through me. What healthy living tip do you live by? Listen to your body. It gives you cues all the time relating to your physical, mental & emotional well being. You can’t resolve health issues you aren’t aware of.
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What is the starting price for your service? R720 How do you think you gained so much success on the BrownSense group? People are dealing with so many varying ailments and conventional medicine is not producing effective results. People are desperately looking for solutions that offer lasting relief and don’t compromise their health. I believe this need is what underpins the success of my services via BrownSense. My work is about going back to basics, and training clients’ bodies and organs to heal and work optimally again. What advice can you give to brownies about customer service? Be professional, respect your clients and potential clients, be responsive, be authentic and always respect the work that you do. When clients feel valued, they will always trust you and recommend you to others. Three words to describe your practice? Peace. Healing. Alignment. What is your main goal for your business in 2018? Teaching people to appreciate that their bodies have the capacity to heal themselves naturally. What do you like about the BrownSense platform? The ability to not only advertise my services, but also engage & educate Brownies on natural health & holistic healing. How were you introduced to BrownSense? A friend added me. *Ayurveda is an Indian health practice thought to be more than 5000 years old. It consists of a number of disciplines, including aromatherapy, diet, herbal medicine, acupuncture, yoga, massage, meditation and balancing of energies. Carlton, A. “What Is Ayurvedic Medicine?” Body and Soul, 17 June 2016, 3:46, www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health/healthnews/what-is-ayurvedic-medicine/news-
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THE HOOKUP DINNER: PUSHING INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION ACROSS AFRICA
In 2012, Selebogo Molefe, best known as Dr Lifesgud, founded The Hookup dinner (THUD), a monthly networking evening that consists of networking, pitching sessions, aspirational talks and the opportunity to access networks in various countries through live-streaming and use of all digital tools. At THUD, five applicants stand in front of a room of about one hundred people and pitch their idea or business, and receive real-time feedback to refine or improve. At the end of the evening, a winner is chosen based on a rating from the audience. Although it started out as more of an outlet to vent for Lebo, THUD has now matured to be one of the most impactful, game changing networking communities with an international footprint. We caught up with founder, Lebo to chat about involvement, collaborations and what is next.
I had my first Thud experience a few weeks ago and I must commend you guys on the great work that you are doing! Tell me a bit about The Hookup Dinner & what inspired the idea? THUD is a collaborative network of young emerging entrepreneurs across the African continent who share similar ideals and beliefs. Through collaboration we are able to do a lot more. I founded the movement back in 2012 and it was because I wasn't doing well in business back at the time, which left me feeling frustrated and resulted in me needing a venting space. This ended up being these network sessions.
How can one get involved? It really depends on what level you want to get involved. If you are an entrepreneur and you're looking to access support, you can participate by pitching on our elevator pitch platform. Through those applications, we are able to send you in the right direction. We run our own internal programmes, from boot camps to hackathons, to accelerator programmes and trade missions across the continent and to the UK, etc. We do everything that is related to access, and anything that can move you from point A to B as a start up. If you are an investor, it's even more beautiful, because we now have a crowd funding platform cofounded with Brownsense and Paybook, called The People’s Fund. 11 | BROWNSENSE MAGAZINE
You can get on the platform and invest in the same pipeline of entrepreneurs that we’ve developed through the THUD system. As a corporate, your enterprise development is well spent in our network, because we've got the stories to prove our success, we’ve got traction, and we have developed a couple of entrepreneurs who are self employed and running thriving businesses today. What have the biggest obstacles with getting THUD of the ground been? The biggest obstacle is always resources, access, and belief. We often think that if we have capital everything is going to work out well, but just the belief that this thing (the idea) is going to work; those are some of the biggest demons that one has in one’s head, and fighting that has been a major battle. Getting THUD of the ground has just been about coordinating and getting people to believe in the vision and that's been really hard. As a collective/team ... what have been some of the biggest lessons you have learned on this entrepreneurial journey? We've learned that through teamwork, there is so much more that we have access to. Collaboration, core creation and shared values. The reason we believe so much in the transformation agenda, is because by getting a diverse network of people both black and white, and across the gender roles - the more value we can create for the greater collective. For anyone, especially young start ups ... explain what the elevator pitch is and the importance of mastering it as a business owner/startup When it comes to an elevator pitch, the important thing to remember is that it's a door opener. It's not the final pitch but also a way to get your audience to be curious. 12 | BROWNSENSE MAGAZINE
What we often do is pack all the information in one minute, and it never works. You have to think about value first, the customer, and the problem you are solving and whether you would be buying this (product). If you wouldn't, then you shouldn't be pitching it. What are your greatest achievements to date? Having over 300 000 entrepreneurs on a platform where they can express their ideas and get recognition, making it a meeting place for the media as well as the guys with the ideas, and through that, exposure. Creating a pipeline of work, where I am simply selling something and now I have a platform and because I have been exposed to media, I can now access more people. That speaks greatly to economic emancipation. I think our greatest achievement has been realising that through collaborations, there are so much more we can do. Let's do a quick business 101. What are common mistake young startups or business owners make? And what advice would you give them? The most common mistake that we often we make is that we sell before we listen. We should be asking more questions and selling less. When you ask a lot of questions, it takes you on a journey of discovery. We want to tell a customer how we are going to solve their problem without letting them take the lead in the solution and custom making solutions accordingly. If you listen more, it will save you a lot of pain and failure. Where to from here? We are just in over 18 cities across the African region and we are also in the UK. We're going to strengthen our trade ties in each of these countries and open up trade routes for young emerging entrepreneurs and drive collaboration. We're gong to drive hard on access to capital, financial inclusion and education. Those are our core focuses because an educated society is what is going to drive employment, self-determination and ensure that inequality and poverty becomes things of the past.
MENTAL ILLNESS – AN INTRODUCTION You enjoy a hot cup of coffee while watching the sunset, in quiet contentment. Karabo is full of adrenaline, reliving how she conquered her fears and went bungy jumping for the first time earlier that day. Still elsewhere, Femi is doing the last bit of revision for his exam at 9am the next morning; he is confident he’s done enough to ensure a good result. All the above scenarios are common everyday scenes; we would not even give them a second thought. We appreciate life, we conquer fears, we concentrate, we dig deep and get things done. What we don’t know is that as we carry on, somewhere, Mary is crying her heart out yet again; she’s been feeling this way for months and doesn’t know why. On paper, she has no reason to be sad - she has a good job, loving friends and family, and an active social life. James hasn’t been able to leave home because he’s too worried about all the possibilities. What if the bus crashes? What if someone mugs him? What if, what if? He knows he is only safe at home. Thando has been trying to ignore the many, oh so many voices. They tell her she is ugly, worthless, tell her to kill herself or else. WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH? Mental health in simplest terms, refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It impacts on how we handle stress, make choices, even how we relate to others. It has importance in every stage of life, from childhood to adolescence through adulthood. A mental illness is thus one that impairs this state of well-being. With this in mind, we clearly see how impaired Mary, James & Thando must be. Now, imagine you had these issues, yet you couldn’t talk about it to anyone. When you try, you are bullied, thought to be joking, lazy, looking for attention, lacking in faith and more. You are forced to pretend you are okay.
This is a reality for many suffering from mental illness. The stigma around mental illness is so crippling, that many do not seek adequate help timeously. They are ashamed of being labelled. Should they eventually get help, they risk being prejudiced by others. They are told that if they really wanted to be better, they would fight it harder, they would just pull themselves together.As humans, we often fear what we do not really know, what we cannot see. Mental illnesses make us uncomfortable for just these facts. But please, remember that the person with depression, schizophrenia, anxiety problems, eating disorders, ADHD etc is still a person. They deserve respect, they deserve love, they deserve support. Do not ridicule them, but seek to understand. In my next two articles, I will briefly discuss some common mental health symptoms and what to do if you suspect anyone or even yourself of having any mental health challenges. Dr Idorenyin U. Akpabio, MBChB (Pret), DMH(SA) has been working in mental health for the past 3 years. She is currently in training to specialise in psychiatry. Dr. Akpabio hopes to develop a mental illness initiative that will cater to the Black community. She is based in Cape Town. HPCSA number: MP0785539 Helplines/information www.mentalhealthsa.org.za www.sadag.org (South African depression and anxiety group) 24 hr Helpline 0800 12 13 14 Suicidal emergency 0800 567 567
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