Afropolitan 51

ISSN 1993-9655 • RSA R30.00 incl VAT (Namibia R26.50 excl VAT)

17051

9 771993 965003 www.afropolitan.co.za | 2017 | Edition 51

T H E A N ATO M Y O F C O L L A BO R AT I O N | K H U L I C H A N A S H I F T S A G E A R | T H E A RT O F I N V E S T I N G I N C O L L E C TA B L E S

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

6

THE GOOD LIFE

MEDITATION IN A SWIRL OF SMOKE

Time out with a fine cigar

BEAUTY 9

DESIGNER FACE PAINT

GROOMING

13 BEARDS OF DISTINCTION

FITNESS

15 WHEN FITNESS MEETS ART

HEALTH

17 SEEKING ALTERNATIVES

PROFILE

18 LIVING FOR MORE THAN SELF Khuli Chana shifts a gear

DESIGN

22 AFRICAN DESIGN FINDS A HOME IN IKEA

PROFILE

28 GROUNDED AND REACHING FOR THE STARS Actor Bubu Mazibuko on honing her craft

TRENDS

32 THE ANATOMY OF COLLABORATION The different dimensions of collaboration

BUSINESS

34 CREATE YOUR OWN WINE LABEL

MONEY/INVEST

40 RETURNS FROM THE HEART The art of investing in collectables

66 PROFILE

44 THE GENESIS OF A TRUE MAVEN

STYLE

46 KICK-STARTERS

FASHION

48 WATCHING WHAT TO WEAR

FASHION

52 FASHION FUSION

PROPERTY

58 HOUSES IN THE SKY

TRAVEL

66 AFROPUNK AND THE AFRICAN CULTURAL ODYSSEY

EVENTS

76 50TH ISSUE CELEBRATION

A collaboration of partners

MOTORING

82 MOTORING COLLABORATIONS

LAST WORD

84 GUGU NKABINDE 3

FROM THE EDITOR

IMAGE Judd van Rensburg GROOMING Nthato Mashishi

EDITOR Kojo Baffoe IMAGES Akona Kenqu CONTRIBUTORS Tshepo Matseba Sihle Mthembu Paul Mtirara Damian Murphy Dominique Wolf PUBLISHING HOUSE Contact Media & Communications 388 Main Avenue, Randburg Block A Tel: +27(0) 11 789 6339 Fax: +27(0) 11 789 7097 email: pressman@contactmedia.co.za web: www.contactmedia.co.za CEO & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Sean Press MANAGING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Donna Verrydt FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Lesley Fox HEAD OF SALES Didi Okoro SALES MANAGER Quincy Matonhodze SALES Charlene Heyburgh Michelle Jones Melanie Scheepers Paul Styles DESIGN & LAYOUT Quinten Tolken SUB-EDITOR Haley Abrahams PROOFREADER Angie Snyman PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Gwen Sebogodi IT AND WEB MANAGER Carmen Petre REPRO & PRINTING Kadimah Print

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The Afropolitan is published by Contact Media & Communications. All material is strictly copyright with all rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without the express written permission of the publisher. No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited material. The publisher accepts no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher does not give any warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its contents. The views and opinions expressed in The Afropolitan are not necessarily those of the Publisher, Kaya FM or contributors.

here is something about the quotation “No man is an island, entire of itself”,

by English poet and cleric John Donne, that has always strangely resonated with me. I say strangely, because I was raised by a man who, starting from an early age, spent a great deal of his life fending for himself and, as a result, the circumstance within which I grew up was a far cry from the difficult circumstances in which he grew up in.

This made him fiercely independent and selfsufficient, and he would consistently reinforce the idea that “you must depend on yourself”.

I absorbed this in my own peculiar manner and, for a very long time, I grappled with the idea of asking for help for anything. I equated independence and self-sufficiency with only doing for self and manifested this to the extreme, especially when I moved to Joburg. Yet, life has a wonderful way of leading you down the paths you need to travel down – either gently, or kicking and screaming. In my case, it did so by putting me in situations where seeking help was my only way out.

To be human is to be part of community. There are those exceptions who live and operate in total isolation, but they are more the exception than the rule. For the rest of us, to craft our

life’s work, we need to work with and interact with others. But, this comes with its own challenges and potential pitfalls. Look around you. Many a conflict or a difficult situation is born out of misunderstanding, out of personalities clashing, out of collaboration gone wrong – whether in business, relationships or everything in between.

For the world to work, we need to work together.

Woman. Man. None of us are islands.

Whether you are an actor, rapper, designer or marketer; whether you work in the wine industry, the fashion industry or are seeking medical attention – you cannot work in isolation. There is the need to play nicely with others. This is what we are exploring in this issue of Afropolitan, which is also my first. I, too, am having to learn how to work with new people, and they are having to learn how to work with me.

I do hope that the result resonates with you; that you read and engage. Because, at the end of the day, that’s what we do it for.

5

THE GOOD LIFE

MEDITATION

IN A SWIRL OF SMOKE

IMAGE Shutterstock

TAKING TIME TO APPRECIATE THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE

BY KOJO BAFFOE

6

THE GOOD LIFE

T

he soundtrack to our lives can sound like the buzzing of a mosquito on a hot summer’s night, in the dark, as you attempt to fall asleep. It is non-stop, incessant, as so much of our lives have also become. There is rarely respite from the constant drive to do more and be more, to change our circumstances and to create a decent foundation for ourselves and our families. Throw the amount of information coming our way from media – social, traditional and otherwise – into the equation, and each minute can be overwhelming.

But, there is hope for a different reality. Puerto Rican actor, Raul Julia, once said: “Maybe it’s like becoming one with the cigar.

You lose yourself in it; everything fades away: your worries, your problems, your thoughts. They fade into the smoke, and the cigar and you are at peace.”

Cigar stereotypes can be off-putting. Yet, there is so much more to a good cigar than simply being an expensive hobby for rich old men or a way of showing off one’s new-found wealth. As with wine and whisky, there’s a craft to cigar-making that stems from the land and the climate within which the tobacco is grown, and is reflected in flavour, smoke time, aroma and the like.

It all starts with the seedlings being grown indoors, before being replanted out in the fields. Tobacco leaves are then harvested and air cured in a shed or barn until they dry and turn brown. These are sorted, packed into stacks and left to ferment, all the while taking into consideration the type of tobacco leaf, colour, size, what part of the cigar it is intended for, aroma, flavour, etc.

There are three parts to a cigar: the wrapper, the binder and the filler. The filler is usually drawn from any part of the tobacco plant, with the leaves at the top of the plant having the stronger flavour. Cigar fillers from different parts of the plant help create a certain balance and taste.

YOU LOSE YOURSELF IN IT; EVERYTHING FADES AWAY...

There is something about walking into Pedro Portia, exploring the expansive humidor and making your selection before settling into a chair, sitting back and lighting your cigar without worry.

There is an extensive menu of cigars, including Alec Bradley, Padron, El Septimo, My Fathers, Gurkha, Partagas, Daniel Marshall, Cohiba, Olivia, Trinidad and Montecristo.

Pedro Portia marries this cigar abundance with a great Mediterranean-inspired menu, a bar selection from cocktails and rum to champagne, and a comfortable grown-and-sexy ambience.

A cigar forces you to sit back and chill; to savour the flavour, as you swirl the smoke in your mouth, and start to identify and experience the evolution of taste as you enjoy the cigar.

Even in the company of others, there are those moments of silence as you drift off into the smoke, into your thoughts, into the world beyond what you see, with the cigar as your guide. If you are going to smoke in a public space, it is important that you are allowed those moments because, ultimately, that is what a good cigar is about: an experience, on your terms.

The binder simply binds the filler together and has no real role, particularly from a flavour perspective – and so it is usually from the bottom of the plant. The wrapper is what you see when you are purchasing your cigar. To ensure that the wrapper is smooth and not too thick, with minimal veins, tobacco that is going to be used for this purpose is grown in the shade. A great deal of the flavour you get when you smoke comes from the wrapper.

The process of growing, curing and ageing tobacco, and rolling and packing it, is one that requires skill that the Cubans have made their own for decades. But tobacco farms and brands have spread through various parts of the world, particularly in Latin American countries such as Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. And, while Cuba is still considered the standard, there are great cigars from all around the world.

Cigar lounge in Pedro Portia

At the end of the day, the proof is in the smoking. There is a wonderfully meditative quality to smoking a cigar. Because they come in different lengths and ring gauges (thickness), you cannot really pop out of the office quickly for a couple of drags. It is all about how much time you have, and finding the right space.

While it is not that easy to find a place to smoke a cigar, other than in the comfort of your home, there are some specialist cigar lounges to be found. Pedro Portia, a cigar and champagne lounge in Cedar Square, Johannesburg, is the gold standard for lounges.

It was built with an understanding and sensitivity around cigar smoking that is unmatched. It helps that owner José Ramos, with his son Pedro, also run Amano Cigars, which is a key cigar distributor in South Africa and supplies numerous tobacconists, hotels and restaurants.

The Pedro Portia humidor

Balcony area at Pedro Portia

7

BEAUTY

IMAGE Shutterstock

Mural art by brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra of Jean-Michel Basquiat

DESIGNER FACE PAINT MOST BIG BEAUTY BRANDS HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF A-LIST AMBASSADORS ACROSS THIER MAKE-UP, SKINCARE AND HAIR OFFERINGS, SO ITS INTERESTING TO SEE THESE AMAZING COLLABORATIONS, ONE WITH A FASHION HOUSE AND THE OTHER WITH A WORLD-RENOWNED ARTIST. BY DOMINIQUE WOLF

URBAN DECAY JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT Inspired by one of the most influential artists of the 20th Century, Urban Decay has taken “putting on make-up as a form of art” quite literally.

Everything in make-up brand Urban Decay’s special-edition collaboration – from the colours, to the shade names, to the packaging – evolved from the work of groundbreaking artist JeanMichel Basquiat.

Jean-Michel Basquiat is a pioneer of the neo-expressionist movement and rose to fame on the 80s art scene in New York, where he played alongside the likes of Andy Warhol, David Bowie and Debbie Harry. His iconic work, vibrant combinations of scribbled text and symbols, graffiti and aesthetic commentary on race and society is still exhibited around the world.

“Like Urban Decay, Basquiat was an outsider who challenged the status quo and used colour in non-traditional ways,” the brand said in a statement. “From his informal graffiti work and the way he mixed mediums and colours to the way he spoke out against social injustice, it’s hard to imagine a more perfect fit for our brand.”

The collection features Basquiat-inspired products with colours and names drawn directly from the artist’s work. The packaging is arguably even more spectacular than the products themselves – each palette, as well as the accompanying cosmetic bags – feature some of Badquiat’s artwork. The Urban Decay eye pencils in red, yellow and blue are also meant to look like art pencils.

Urban Decay is available in South Africa at Foschini Online and at their stores in Sandton City and Mall of Africa.

9

FASHION

Olivier Rousteing

L'ORÉAL PARIS

The Balmain show, Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 IMAGES Shutterstock

BALMAIN Back in May, a massive announcement was made: a fashion icon would be collaborating with a beauty giant to make one super collaboration that would rock the make-up world. L'Oréal Paris joined forces with the luxury fashion house Balmain Paris on a limited edition lipstick collection. Despite having an array of A-list ambassadors across its make-up, skincare and hair lines, this is L'Oréal Paris’ first-ever collaboration with a fashion house.

Under the helm of designer Olivier Rousteing, Balmain has built a strong glamazon aesthetic there is no doubt that he will have injected some of that drama and glamour into the 12 Color Riche lipsticks that he’s created for L'Oréal Paris.

The collection features 12 different shades which fit into three different colour themes. As usual, Balmain has added style and functionality to the lipsticks – three of them are ‘jewel’editions, which means that the lipstick itself is a wearable accessory.

Rousteing will be overseeing the shades, the packaging and the ad campaign.

“L’Oréal Paris and Balmain share the same strong vision of femininity and the same goal, to empower women and offer them diverse ways to express themselves,” Rousteing said. “With this collaboration, I’m thrilled to make this idea tangible for every woman around the world.”

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GROOMING

CLASS COLOGNE

BENTLEY INFINITE RUSH Bentley’s Infinite Rush has been designed for men who push the boundaries and enjoy the risks that come with sensational experiences. The fragrance boasts a freshness that denotes a rush of excitement, while the warmer, woody base notes suggest the strong sensuality of a modern man.

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH FIRST INSTINCT First Instinct is a modern, masculine blend that is inspired by that first moment of attraction, when two people’s worlds collide and a spark is ignited. The man who wears First Instinct is naturally sexy, confident and not afraid to express his deepest feelings.

DUNHILL ICON Icon is an audacious, stylish scent that embodies the perfect union of strength and sensitivity. It boasts ingredients gathered from the travels of the Dunhill man – a worldly, sophisticated traveller. Top notes, where Italian Bergamot and Neroli Absolute intertwine with a racy black pepper, while the mid-notes present cardamom and Lavender de Provence. At the base, smokey Oud wood and an Oris-leather accord blend with earthy Vetiver and a hint of oak moss.

MONTBLANC LEGEND NIGHT Designed by the talented duo Antoine Maisondieu and Olivier Pescheux, who set out to reveal “the charisma of the wearer”, Legend Night is a magnetic woody fragrance, ultra-masculine yet free from aggression. This eau de toilette reflects the aura and elegance of the Legend Night man.

For more information please visit www.bacherco.co.za

12

GROOMING

BEARDS OF DISTINCTION A MAN’S BEARD IS A KEY PART OF HIS PERSONAL STYLE. GREAT FACIAL HAIR CAN ENHANCE AND FRAME YOUR FACE, CREATING A UNIQUE LOOK. WHILE A GREAT BEARD IS THE ULTIMATE MALE ACCESSORY, A POORLY GROOMED BEARD CAN LEAVE YOU LOOKING PERPETUALLY UNDERDRESSED.

BY DOMINIQUE WOLF

GROOMING AND ART EXHIBITION

For the launch of one of its newest male grooming products, the 3-in-1 i-Shaper Trimmer, Panasonic created the Tash Modern hair galleries. This unconventional exhibition was a really clever collaboration of art and grooming and celebrated the eclectic mix of hairstyles that men sport. There were bearded, moustached and stubbled potraits of London men that had been captured solely for the exhibition, pieces of living human art and complimentary on-site barber services.

The Tash Modern exhibition popped up for one day only in one of the UK’s hairiest hangouts, Shoreditch and celebrated personal expression and facial hair of all styles.

BEARD TRENDS

There are loads of beard styles to choose from, but there are various factors to consider in order to find the right one for you. Distinct face shapes require certain beard styles.

We have chosen a few that are on trend this summer:

BALBO

This is among the most popular beard styles these days, thanks to Robert Downey Jr, who has been sporting it for years! The Balbo beard is made up of three sections: moustache, chin beard and soul patch under the lower lip. To get the Balbo, you first need to grow a full beard and moustache. It requires careful sculpting, so you need good razors to get this look. You can use a disposable or electric razor to take off the sides and a straight razor to shape the beard into the perfect Balbo.

THE FULL BEARD

The full beard used to be the most popular beard style for African men. The good news is that what was old is new again, and this classic beard style has been making a huge resurgence recently. This beard can be shaped and sculpted to go with just about any shaped face. Black men with high-coiffed hair will be able to pull off this look easily. It is also popular with lovers of vintage style who appreciate this aged look. The full beard really depends on your genetics – if you grow hair all over your face then this style is simple. To get the perfect full beard, let the hair grow until medium stubble and then shape it evenly.

THE VAN DYCK

This clean, crisp, sharp beard was derived from a popular Flemish painter from the 17th century, Anthony van Dyck. More recently it has become Johnny Depp’s signature look. So to get this style, shave off all the hair on your neck, cheeks and sideburns. Leave the moustache untouched and shape your beard on the chin area by forming an inverted T. Let the hair on your chin grow until it reaches about two inches. Trim once in a while to get the V shape.

THE JUST-MORE-THAN-FIVE-O'CLOCK BEARD

Stubble has evolved from a careless “I got up late” look into a serious art form. It requires some rigorous maintenance to pull this look off successfully, so use defined edges for a modern finish, or leave a little more depth for a dark and intensely masculine look. The neck and cheek areas must be shaved on a daily basis in order to master the look, while a quality beard oil will help to give the rest of the facial hair that relaxed, cool appearance. You need to have a good trimmer to keep the length no more than 5mm.

13

FITNESS

IN THAT HOUR OF EXERCISE, WE REMEMBERED WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE FUN AGAIN. BY @BLACKLADYSYRAH

WHEN FITNESS MEETS ART W

e have all been there.

Determined to reach our #fitnessgoals of minimal body fat and find our ever-elusive thigh gap, we embark on a fitness journey with gusto. Three months into the routine, we are bored and no longer satisfied with the mundane grind of klapping gym with our mchana.

Thankfully, there are alternatives that will get you back into your lycras!

One such fitness course that caught our eye is offered at Art of Synergy, a studio launched by performer couple Orlando and Natalie Roberts Rivieros Vargas to develop the aerial arts (silks, trapeze and other circus disciplines) of professional performers and make performance arts accessible to everyone looking for an alternative fitness routine.

Fusing together their love of the aerial arts and fitness, they have developed a rigorous training programme that marries the mystical yet limber art of circus performing with an exercise regime that works on building your strength. It is based on the four elements of aerial, strength, flexibility and handstands.

CLASSES ON OFFER AERIAL

The aerial class training is focused on increasing fitness levels enough for you to be able to lift your own body weight in the air using either silks, lyra, trapeze, rope or duo straps.

STRENGTH

In this class, handstands, cartwheels, dynamic movements and conditioning are

part of the fun as you work towards more advanced acrobatic movements such as handsprings and somersaults.

FLEXIBILITY

If you have always been in awe of Isaac Hou on a Cyr wheel (large ring), then this is the class for you. Here you will learn general wheel manipulation, and how to mount the wheel and find its centre axis… hopefully with balance and grace.

HANDSTANDS

With much toppling over and bruising, we all attempted to perfect the handstand as kids. Now you can pay a professional to teach you to master one that would make your 10-year-old self proud! This class is for people looking to develop body awareness and extreme balance endurance.

WHY WE LOVE IT

Many fitness addicts know the temptation of mastering an exercise routine and repeating it ad nauseum. However, what most don’t know is that without variation

or adding some resistance, those exercises become ineffective and result in your body transformation reaching a plateau.

Incorporating something as foreign as circus performance skills will shock your body as it learns new moves and different twists. This not only prevents the overuse – and potential damage – of certain muscles, but develops new ones. This helps break what is called the “weight-loss plateau”.

We fell in love because we channelled our inner child and learnt to do things we thought would be impossible. In that hour of exercise, we remembered what it’s like to have fun again!

Because the studio focuses on adults, there is no required level of fitness. You can literally switch off Netflix, roll from your couch as you brush the cookie crumbs off your tracksuit and go to a class.

It’s never too late to start! www.artofsynergy.co.za

15

JOHNNY WALKER AD

HEALTH

SEEKING ALTERNATIVES IMAGE AdobeStock

WHEN CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE IS NOT ENOUGH. BY @BLACKLADYSYRAH

A

ccording to a survey conducted by the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, two out of five adults and one in every 10 kids choose to integrate complementary medicine with conventional medicine as part of their wellness management.

WHAT IS COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE?

The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Ernst et al, 2001) describes complementary and integrative medicine as “diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention that complements mainstream medicine by contributing to a common whole, by satisfying a demand not met by orthodoxy or by diversifying the conceptual frameworks of medicine”. So, integrative medicine comprises a select number of varied medical and healthcare systems, practices and products that would not be deemed to be part of what is known as conventional medicine.

The practices and products that form part of the list are diverse, but the most frequently used include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture, special diets, reiki, massage, homeopathy, electromagnetic therapy, Chinese or Oriental medicine, meditation, yoga, vitamins and exercise.

medical realm starts from a point of dissatisfaction with the offering received from conventional hospitals and medical practitioners. This dissatisfaction could be with the medicines prescribed, which may have resulted in debilitating side effects, or simply the astronomical costs involved with either maintaining a medical aid or the cash output required for getting treatment and medication.

On the positive side, research done by the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine indicates that the holistic approach integrative medicine takes when looking at and treating individual ailments is a major drawcard. With the basic principle behind many of the practices and medicines being to bring balance to a person’s life, it is easy to see its appeal in the busy and manic world we live in.

Integrative medicine not only looks at the symptom of the illness or problem but approaches the case with the understanding that a person is the sum of all their parts. To understand illness, one must also engage a patient’s spiritual and emotional health. The practitioners take time to delve into more than just the physical manifestation of the problem, and seek to understand the patient – from what food they enjoy to asking after their home life – before examining the actual ailment.

assimilated. A script can be given for a high dosage of Exforge HCT 10/320/25®, for example, but the benefits increase when the patient also incorporates a healthy lifestyle that includes a special diet and regular exercise to strengthen the heart muscles, plus a consistent massage therapy programme that ultimately lowers stress levels. And often, when stress is reduced, blood pressure levels drop accordingly.

IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?

Complementary and integrative medicines are known to bring about significant benefits for people with high blood pressure, musculoskeletal disorders or needing to manage pain. However, CAM is beneficial for virtually every ailment, as well as wellness management, as many of the practices encourage the body’s own healing processes to kick in. Practitioners also offer “well visits” – regular check-ups to keep your body healthy and prevent illness.

For those who are sceptics, modern medicine may still be the solution, but think about this: how much better would life be if you took the time to eat more healthily, exercise regularly and treat yourself to a massage when you are stressed. What a wonderful world it would be!

The reasons for the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are as wide-ranging as the options.

On the negative side, some patients’ journey to seeking help outside the

An example of conventional medicine working with integrative medicine is best shown in the treatment of high blood pressure – or “the silent killer”, as it is known in medical circles. Treatment for this condition, which plagues the black community, is more effective when both conventional and integrative medicine are

COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE:

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE:

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE:

alternative practices are used together with conventional medicine.

alternative practices are used in place of conventional medicine.

a combination of CAM and conventional medicines are used together.

WHY IS IT POPULAR?

NOTE

Before taking on any of the practices, speak to your general practitioner and do your research. All practices must work together for the greater good in a directed way and under supervision.

17

PROFILE

LIVING FOR MORE THAN SELF

THE MAN FROM MAFIKENG TAKES RAP AND LIFE TO ANOTHER LEVEL. BY SIHLE MTHEMBU

W

Khuli Chana stands at the edge of the tent, sunglasses on, wearing a maroon jacket with multicoloured print details.

Around him are pop heartthrob Kyle Deutsch, pre-Mabala Noise Gigi Lamayne and Durban affiliate Aewon Wolf and his Wolf Pack. They are all here to accompany Chana during this Durban Day performance. As the rest of the celebrities in the backstage area mingle and drown in libation, Chana sits away from the crowd,

18

at times mumbling to himself, making discreet hand gestures as if he’s playing his set in his mind, willing it into existence.

But it won’t – exist, that is. Two minutes before he is scheduled to go on stage and churn out his signature anthems, a handler from the event pulls him aside with his manager and tells them his performance won’t be going ahead. A boy has been fatally stabbed in the crowd and the entire show is being shut down. “How old was he?

Is anybody else hurt?” Those are the first two sentences out of his mouth.

Chana knows a thing or two about death and cheating it. In October 2013, as he was pulling into a petrol station, he was shot at nine times after a police operation went wrong and his car was mistaken as that of a kidnapper on the run. “The whole thing was a big disturbance for me, because I had crazy momentum and then I had to deal with the shooting. It forced me to see

IMAGE Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas

Khuli Chana

PROFILE

things differently and reorganise my life and not just focus on work,” he says.

Unprompted violence is a recurring trope in the South African story, and the cause of traumas real and unspoken. I ask Chana if he saw a therapist after the incident, and he admits that at first he didn’t want to, but after months of sleepless nights and anxiety that refused to subside, he gave in. “As black men, we are often taught to deal with our pain our own way. It took me a while before I even tried to find help, because I thought I could handle the trauma. I had a very delayed reaction to the whole thing, and after a year or two and family members seeing the change in my behaviour, I knew I had to get help.”

Hip-hop in general, and in South Africa specifically, suffers from a chronic attachment to the masculine. And part of that means the harbouring of toxic energy, even at the expense of self-care. The shooting could have so easily seen Chana rebrand himself as a gangster rapper.

Instead, he went the other route. “It was a crossroads for me, and I knew I could not use what happened to me for negativity. I thought I should use it to draw attention to the violence in our country, and be a voice for those who have survived it.”

But therapy didn’t just offer him some respite from the fear of being shot at. Chana tells me it helped him face some long-gestating pain of his father abandoning him and his mother. “It’s taken me a while to make sense of the rift between my parents, and how my relationship with my father went from minimal to non-existent. It’s something that I have had to work through.”

more competitive, as new MCs find their voice and rhyme circles around their predecessors, Chana has found himself thrust into a new space: that of being the elder statesman. “It’s something that I have learned over time. I am not in the same place I was four years ago, and that’s ok.

The worst thing I could try do is hold on to my twenties, through how I carry myself and what my music is about,” he says.

“Right now, I am trying to be a template for what a rapper can be in their thirties, ’cause we haven’t really had that.”

As part of accepting this new mission, Chana has travelled the continent, spreading the gospel of a pan-African hiphop movement. Through his latest body of work, One Source, he has collaborated with musicians across the continent and extended his reach to corners of the world that he didn’t even know existed when he started beatboxing and rhyming on his mother’s kitchen table.

Closer to home, he has also partnered with Red Bull Amaphiko Academy on a new documentary initiative, The Rise of We. Amaphiko aims to lend support to social entrepreneurs with new ideas aimed at making a difference in the communities they occupy. Speaking about the film, Chana highlights that giving back is the cornerstone of the initiative. “Initially, when the idea was pitched to me, I wasn’t sure, but my curiosity got the better of me and I learned a lot from being with people whose work is not just about profit, but about making a difference.”

Chana, who is now a father himself to a four-year-old daughter, Nia Lesika, admits that not having a paternal figure himself has made him slightly more protective of his child. Perhaps it was that paternal instinct that was kicking in on that typically humid Durban night as thousands of revellers made their way out of the People’s Park at Moses Mabhida Stadium, whilst one of them lay in a body bag, no longer able to say the word “home”.

Misha Teasdale, an environmental activist and one of the four social entrepreneurs profiled in the film, says: “It was really cool hanging out with the film crew, as well as Khuli. They were all very cool people that I seemed to really connect with, and I enjoyed showing them the ropes of tree planting – we were gearing up to plant 5 000 trees that weekend,” he says. “We ended up getting into some real heart-toheart conversations that had a profound impact on me. Discussing marriage and large life decisions allowed us to connect on a deeper level in a very short amount of time.”

Chana has seen it all. His star looms large and there is no doubt about his place at the top of South African hip-hop’s food chain.

But as the industry grows and becomes

The other social entrepreneurs that he interacted with are Thabang Mabapa, founder of Selokong sa Dimelana, which looks at fossil fuel alternatives, particularly

using castor oil and castor cakes; Samantha Ngcolomba, who established a mobile legal office to provide services to women who do not have access to legal advice; and Thato Kgatlhanye, who, among other initiatives, turns supermarket plastic bags into waterproof, reflective school bags with a solar power unit to provide light.

Chana’s story is well known: young boy from Mafikeng, a former gymnast, falls in love with rap. Churning out intricate rhyme schemes in his signature syllable flow, inserting Setswana into the South African pop lexicon and releasing songs faster and better than most South African rappers before or after him.

I AM NOT IN THE SAME PLACE I WAS FOUR YEARS AGO, AND THAT’S OK. However, I am one of those who didn’t believe. When I first heard him on 2005’s Maruapula The Anticipation, as one third of Morafe, it was clear that he was a more than competent MC. His cadence was splendid, but he seemed overwhelmed at times, compared to the seamless smoothness with which Towdee Mac rode the beat.

But he has won me over. His flow is pitch perfect, the way he switches between rhyming on and off the beat in the same verses is impressive, but it is his utter vulnerability in an environment where other MCs are either over the top and boastful or conscious and aloof that makes him stand out from the crowd.

You don’t have to know him intimately to see that Chana is a perfectionist. Even during our conversations, he says something and then stops, not taking it back but rephrasing it – at times for clarity, and other times, well, other times I’m not too sure why. He is a wordworker in every area of his life. “Refinement” is Robert De Niro’s favourite word. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Chana’s, too.

19

ADVERTORIAL

C E L E B R AT I N G

20 KAYA FM YEARS OF

FOR KAYA FM IT’S BEEN AN HONOUR TO PROVIDE LISTENERS WITH NEWS AND RELEVANT INSIGHT TO HELP SHAPE A PROSPEROUS SOUTH AFRICA OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS.

20

ADVERTORIAL

“I

t has been a truly remarkable journey for all of us at Kaya FM. For the past 20 years we’ve been able to keep our finger on the pulse of events unfolding in the country in order to spark meaningful dialogue among South Africans,” says Kaya FM Managing Director Greg Maloka.

It’s been important for Kaya FM to stay true to the essence of Afropolitanism. Their listeners are the people who live in Africa, who invest in Africa, and who see Africa as their and their children’s future.

“We must remember that an Afropolitan is neither black nor white, they have a deep connection with Africa, irrespective of the colour of their skin. As with any country, there is strata, our layers are what make us such a beautiful and interesting nation. Unfortunately, we can’t ignore the history of our country and how it still affects our behaviour. It’s human nature, our present and future behaviour is greatly influenced by our experiences. That’s why it’s so important for us to help shape the future behaviour of South Africans,” says Maloka.

As with our young democracy, Kaya FM needed time to mature to truly understand where it fits in and how it can take the country forward. In the past Kaya FM had the privilege of hosting giants of the South African music industry, such as Sibongile Khumalo and Hugh Masekela, who shared their thoughts on this fascinating and beautiful country we call home.

Kaya FM also had the honour of hosting notable South African radio personalities like Georgie and Nicky B, who contributed greatly to the development of the station’s brand and helped shape the mindset of listeners to help nurture a truly united South Africa.

“Kaya FM is moving into a new era where we need to provide our listeners with further meaningful conversation while our country experiences great economic and political uncertainty. For this reason, it was necessary for us to change our line-up to keep up with this fast-paced world,” explains Maloka.

To take listeners into the next part of their journey, Kaya FM is proud to introduce new friends David O’Sullivan, Bridget Masinga, Gugulethu Cele and Jenny Crwys-Williams to the airwaves.

“Our new line-up will guarantee our listeners stay up to date with valuable introspection and analysis of what’s really happening in South Africa. This will also provide us with a canvas for integration.

To be a true Afropolitan you need as much as possible pertinent information in order to make sound positive decisions in your life,” concludes Maloka.

For more information, visit www.kayafm.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

KAYA HOUSE 195 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North, 2193 TEL 011 634 9500 WEB www.kayafm.co.za

21

DESIGN

Issa Diabate

22

DESIGN

T

here is a tangible surge taking place in African design. From fashion, architecture and furniture to décor, graphics and fabrication, there is a quiet groundswell that is building and breaking beyond respective borders, both intracontinental and internationally.

“Design thinking”, or “human-centred design”, have become the catchphrases in business, design, marketing and the like that is inherent in African design, because of the unique challenges that face designers across the continent. In addition, the silos that have often existed between disciplines are starting to break down, albeit it slowly.

AFRICAN DESIGN FINDS A HOME IN IKEA

adjudicating the best submissions made by designers to ameliorate the plight of refugees, particularly in refugee camps.

“It was intense and, at the end of the day, Marcus Engman, the design director of IKEA, said: ‘I love your energy, we should do something together.’ And that was it.”

IKEA had already started thinking about the possibility of curating its first African-designed collection, and with Design Indaba’s track record in the creative industries in South Africa and in Africa, the collaboration made sense.

Design Indaba served as the project manager and identified the designers to be involved: industrial designer Bibi Seck (Senegal); architects Bethan Rayner and Naeem Biviji of Studio Propolis (Kenya); textile and fashion designer Laduma Ngxokolo (South Africa); architect Christian Benimana (Rwanda); architect and artist Renée Rossouw (South Africa); designers Hend Riad and Mariam Hazem of Reform Studio (Egypt); architect Issa Diabaté (Ivory Coast); textile and fashion designer Sindiso Khumalo (South Africa); fashion designer and artist Selly Raby Kane (Senegal); and architect and curator Paula Nascimento (Angola).

TEN AFRICAN DESIGNERS, FROM VARIOUS DISCIPLINES, HAVE COME TOGETHER WITH DESIGN INDABA TO CREATE A COLLECTION FOR IKEA.

BY KOJO BAFFOE

While there continue to be those from outside the continent who feel they have the solutions for us “poor Africans” who cannot help ourselves, there is greater international recognition of what Africa can bring to the table from a design perspective. One such initiative is the collaboration between Design Indaba and IKEA. Design Indaba is very likely the foremost design conference on the African continent. Established by Ravi Naidoo of Interactive Africa in 1995, Design Indaba has grown to include the Design Indaba Expo, the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa (MBOISA) competition and the Emerging Creatives programme, in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture. This annual event is attended by more than 2 000 people, engaging with 40 speakers.

In more recent years, Naidoo has sought to diversify and take the movement outside South Africa, and has been involved with events such as Helsinki’s Design Commons, as well as Antenna, as part of the Dutch Design Week in Holland. He says, “Sometimes, we over-editorialise our own lives. We over-curate our lives, and we don’t give ourselves opportunities for sheer happenstance.

Sometimes, random meetings with the right kind of people bring up wonderful opportunities.”

It was this open approach to business that birthed Design Indaba’s partnership with IKEA. Started in the 1940s in Sweden

by Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA revolutionised the way furniture was designed and sold.

Naidoo explains: “In this instance, I was invited to do ostensibly voluntary work, acting as a judge on a panel in Amsterdam. It was being coordinated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the IKEA Foundation, and it involved

These designers have all participated in Design Indaba over the years, either as speakers or exhibitors. As Naidoo says, it was important to “choose people that could think differently; people who understood what was happening in contemporary, urban Africa. IKEA’s fundamentally trying to improve the quality of life of people living in cities, and we have a good cross-section of people from major metropolises in Africa.”

At the announcement of the project, Engman said, “The creative explosion which is taking place in several cities around Africa right now is something IKEA is curious about. We want to learn from this and spread it to the rest of the world. Working together with these designers and creatives gives us the opportunity to do so.”

The starting point was a deep immersion, where the designers had the opportunity to visit IKEA’s headquarters in Älmhult, as well as visiting actual stores.

Naidoo expands on this: “It was to understand IKEA’s philosophy, ethics and sustainability issues. They are very big on this. You can’t use certain materials and products, and they are also very conscious of health and safety.

23

DESIGN

THE CREATIVE EXPLOSION WHICH IS TAKING PLACE IN SEVERAL CITIES AROUND AFRICA RIGHT NOW IS SOMETHING IKEA IS CURIOUS ABOUT.

Naeem Biviji, Beth Rayner, Mikael Axelsson (Ikea), Issa Diabate

arbitrariness.” Because of scarcity, we have been upcycling for a while. The notion of repairing, fixing, changing and making our own is part of our creative DNA. Diabaté adds: “A lot of values IKEA shares we already tap into in Africa. There is an interesting connection between how we do things in Africa and how IKEA does things.”

Diabaté explains what drew him to the project: “Being a big company, IKEA has a lot of resources when it comes to engineering, marketing, products, etc. It is interesting for me as an architect in design to bridge between how they do things as a big organisation and how I do things. I already had some ideas on how to get good product design and making it feasible for the environment they are in.

Bibi Seck

“And it was to understand IKEA’s customers and the scale factor.

A lot of the designers that we have in Africa have never worked at that kind of scale, where you may produce a product that could sell five million units. It must be incorporated into the design of the product, considering its manufacture, its price point and how it can be delivered globally to every single IKEA store. Designers on our continent have largely been a cottage industry. No matter how successful that designer is, there are few who have sold beyond thousands of units of anything.”

“I am focused on two areas. One part of the project is furniture, and the thinking is what type of furniture can you make from, for example, one piece of plywood. And how can you make it simple to assemble and then disassemble to move. The second is using the same philosophy for dwellings. You could start with one dwelling unit with a bed, etc., add a unit with a lounge, and eventually create a whole house.”

The project is now sitting with 40 pieces in the collection. The designers were recently back at the labs at IKEA headquarters, doing rapid prototyping and 3D printing to start physically making the products. IKEA leads with a constraint; in other words, how to make design as accessible as possible to the most people with a cost attached to it – for example, making a chair for 20 euros – which they call democratic design.

The next step was to start to formulate a consensus as to what insights they had and what strands they wanted to develop. For example, Naidoo speaks of how porous our boundaries are in Africa, and how that “interstitial space between your front door and the street is way more open in Africa than it perhaps is in the rest of the world. Look at the porch. It becomes this wonderful place for social intercourse, in terms of how it interacts with the front yard and the street.”

The team is also looking at how to ensure that much of the production is undertaken in Africa, with materials sourced from the continent, which will have an impact on job creation. They are also exploring interesting distribution channels to ensure that the collection is accessible to people in Africa. As Naidoo puts it, “The design is not only about the design of the artefact but the design of the process of how to make it and, in some instances, we are learning that they actually build an entire factory for a product.”

This influenced the approach to design, particularly from an African perspective. Naidoo often refers to a quote by Chilean architect Alejandro Aravena: “Scarcity is a wonderful antidote to

The collection will be available in 2019 and is a great example of how Africans have a role to play in design globally, beyond “exotic” arts and crafts.

25

PROFILE

28

PROFILE

GROUNDED AND REACHING FOR THE STARS ACTOR BUBU MAZIBUKO ON EVOLVING, STRETCHING HERSELF AND HER EXCITING SECOND ACT. BY MOTHEPA MASINA

A

ctor Bubu Mazibuko’s more than two-decade journey in film and acting epitomises growth, diversity and admirable reinvention.

Starting in theatre groups in Soweto in the mid-80s, Mazibuko’s filmography has grown to include hardhitting film productions such as Catch a Fire, Jerusalema and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Mazibuko will be on our screens soon in the film Zulu Wedding, directed by filmmaker Lineo Sekeleoane.

She married Langa Masina in early 2016 and they divide their time between South Africa and Los Angeles.

How has marriage helped you evolve?

I’ve learnt that some of the clichés around marriage are actually true. I think that as a person and as a woman, it has taught me to compromise. The word “compromise” is no longer some frivolous statement; it actually becomes real. I’ve also learnt that I am more patient than I thought I was. You learn a lot more about yourself once you have to really share a life with someone, and it can be as miserable or as fun as you want to make it. I’m married to my

best friend and I’m enjoying it with this specific person. I’d rather be travelling and fighting-while-we’re-travelling with this specific person. Wherever and whatever it is, I’m good doing it with him.

Your career in film spans the course of two decades plus. What life lessons have you acquired along the way?

Life lessons are always around us.

Sometimes we see them, sometimes we don’t. Essentially, I’ve learnt to just be in control of me because I can’t control anyone else, and the only way I can ensure my own happiness is through me. I strive to be at peace and in control of myself and my emotions. Another cliché that has turned out to be true is the adage not to judge a book by its cover. I have now come to a point in my journey where I’m not going to be influenced by people’s opinions where other people are concerned. I am going to make my own decisions and conclusions about people based on my own experiences with them. I’ve learned that making your mind up about someone on the basis of hearsay, before you actually know who they are, is just foolish.

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PROFILE

Also, there was a time when I was younger when I was attracted to power, and my perception of power at the time was quite superficial. I had a habit of assuming that people were not as powerful as they actually were because they did not give off a certain initial impression. We tend to assume that the most powerful people are aggressive, loud, out there and in your face, and maybe even dressed a certain way. I’ve had to unlearn that perception and keep my mind very open. Snap judgements are just not clever at all.

Now, I see power as about being in control and knowing who you are; sometimes even being mysterious and quietly observing people and things around you. In my industry, people don’t necessarily dress a certain way – they can go to a board meeting sometimes wearing sweatpants or go to a script reading wearing a gown. So, I’ve learned that the person in the room wearing sweatpants may actually be the one in charge.

When you are young, you are very quick to say you’ll never do certain things, but getting older, I am realising that some of the things I said I’d never do I’m doing now, because I understand the importance of doing them for something else to happen. When I got to the US, film and TV series director, Jann Turner, who’s worked on Scandal (The Fixer) and Grey’s Anatomy, among other things, invited me to the set of Jane the Virgin as an extra, because they don’t just let people in on their sets. But, previously, I would never have done just a line or two, because I have done so much significant work already.

I shot a film, titled Caliber, made by film director Tanner Cusumano for Chapman University Film School in Orange County, and absorbed a lot of lessons. Chapman is one of the most respected film schools in the world and a regular recruiting ground for top directors. The film set was extraordinary and incredibly wellresourced, but what stood out for me the most was the level of professionalism, knowledge, what and how they communicated and the respect for their craft. It’s really exciting to be around that, because it reminds you that you have so much to still learn. So, whenever I’m there, it always feels like a new beginning.

It is exciting and scary, because I’m not 16 anymore.

You divide your time between South Africa and Los Angeles – how has that been going?

It’s quite difficult to have a life going here and in the US. You really have to focus and learn how to balance things. With this kind of life, you learn how to plan your year ahead, and it’s not a cheap life because of all the travelling involved, but we remain focused on the bigger picture. I was never much of a planner in terms of the exact, minute details, but that has come into play a lot more with the kind of life I lead.

I’VE ALSO LEARNED THAT SOME DREAMS ARE JUST NOT CHEAP; YOU HAVE TO PAY A PRICE TO HAVE THEM COME TRUE.

I’ve also learned that some dreams are just not cheap; you have to pay a price to have them come true. I’ve gone and picked the hardest routes in life and it comes at a price. And expensive is not just money – it can cost you your sanity and it can cause you tears every night, but those expensive dreams are the ones that you should not quit.

People need to be aware that when you want your big dreams to come true, you’re not going to go through one thing, and it’s tough and you cry for a year and you think, “Okay, I’ve paid my dues.” You might have to pay your dues for 10 years before it happens, or you might have to try 20 more times before it really happens. It’s ultimately about what it means for you to have the thing that you want, because then you’ll understand what it means to just keep going.

In what other ways have you been able to stretch yourself and grow in LA as an actress?

I go to an acting school called the Beverley Hills Playhouse; attending coaching classes once or twice a week, and film school or workshops are par for the course there.

They have an incredible learning culture and everyone is constantly working on their craft. Everyone, including established actors, has a voice and acting coach. There’s no “I’ve arrived”. The school is not cheap, but it is worth the sacrifice because when film directors and casting directors are looking for the best, that is where they go.

We are given plays to perform all the time.

It’s really intense and everyone is really, really good.

For me, to be able to go there and play with other actors and practise and hone my craft is just the best.

I M A G E S S h a k a M a k h a n y a M A K E - U P Za m a S h a b a l a l a FA S H I O N Ts o t e t s i K L Fa s h i o n C l o s e t LO CAT I O N M a i s o n d e V i l l e a t t h e Fa i r l a w n s B o u t i q u e H o t e l

31

TRENDS

THE ANATOMY OF

COLLABORATION NAVIGATING COLLABORATIVE SPACES CAN BE CHALLENGING BUT ALSO VERY REWARDING, IF ONE GETS IT RIGHT.

BY KOJO BAFFOE

P

harrell: Places and Spaces I’ve Been is a hardcover coffee table book filled with an array of beautiful photographs and words from a diverse collection of individuals, including Jay-Z; N.E.R.D member and The Neptunes producer, Chad Hugo; Japanese fashion designer, DJ, entrepreneur and creator of A Bathing Ape, Nigo; film score composer and record producer, Hans Zimmer; legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour; pioneering and much-respected Iraqi-British architect, Zaha Hadid; Kanye West; contemporary artist, Takashi Murakami; and former US astronaut, Buzz Aldrin.

Since he was discovered by legendary producer Teddy Riley in the early 1990s, Pharrell Williams has had a hand in producing iconic music, particularly in R&B, rap and pop, as a rapper, singer-songwriter and producer. The list of artists he has worked with would fill a large auditorium and include Daft Punk, Nelly, NSYNC, Gwen Stefani, Robin Thicke, Jay-Z, Snoop, Charlie Wilson, Mase, Puff Daddy, Kelis, Justin Timberlake, LL Cool J, Usher, Wreckx-n-Effect, Madonna, CeeLo Green, Britney Spears, Ed Sheeran and Gloria Estefan.

Yet, his more interesting collaborations fall outside of the realm of music. From creating denim with recycled ocean plastic (Bionic Yarn) and partnering with G-Star RAW (which led to him becoming co-owner), to creating “Millionaire” sunglasses with Nigo in collaboration with Louis Vuitton, designing sunglasses and puffer jackets with Moncler, designing travel bags with Moynat and designing a chair with Domeau & Pérès, Pharrell explores the edges of his creativity every day. What makes what Pharrell does appealing and what enables him to explore so broadly seems to be a willingness to work with people who complement him.

THE BUSINESS OF COLLABORATION

The starting point to collaborative work is in the value that each party brings to the relationship, regardless of scale or level. The sum is better than the parts. According to Merriam-Webster, division of labour can be defined as “the breakdown of labour into its components and their distribution among different persons, groups, or machines to increase productive efficiency”.

This is what drove the Industrial Revolution, but it has existed in different guises since time immemorial within communities throughout history.

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As individuals, we have different strengths, and when a collaboration is built on complementary strengths, what is born out of that can be so much more impactful.

It is, however, necessary to ensure that expectations are clear and that it is done with an openness. Organisations, regardless of size, can come together to pitch for bigger projects than they could otherwise, because each comes from a particular area of expertise. Having worked on a public franchising project for a large parastatal, the benefit of working with representatives from four companies within the project team ensured that we could fulfil the client’s requirements so much more effectively.

Small businesses can also pool their limited resources – whether human, capital or otherwise – to pursue opportunities that they would be unable to fulfil individually. This can provide comprehensive solutions that satisfy the needs of a client that does not necessarily want to have to deal with multiple service providers – which brings with it increased administrative tasks.

The key for a business is about being in a position to fill a gap or solve a challenge. For example, much has been said about how McDonald’s is in the property business as opposed to being in the fast-food business. In a 2015 article on the blog Wall Street Survivor, it was stated: “McDonald’s leaned heavily on this facet of their business as they capitalized on an anemic property market – buying up more of the land and buildings where it operates. The company owns about 45% of the land and 70% of the buildings at their 36,000+ locations (the rest is leased).”

So, when a company like Burger King – which is said to be the second-largest “quick-serve restaurant” globally – enters the South African market, how does it compete with this? It collaborates with Sasol to set up Burger Kings at its petrol stations, of which there are more than 250 in the country.

BREAKING IT DOWN

The landscape is changing. Businesses need their people to bring more of themselves to the table. Ideas do not simply reside in managers, CEOs and other leaders within the company.

TRENDS

Pharrell Williams

Collaboration begins in the ideation process, where different perspectives come together to build on a single solution. For the business owner, your real job is to create an environment that is enabling and conducive to getting the best out of your team, while remembering that the buck must stop somewhere – which is usually with you.

IMAGE Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Adidas

As in a classroom, there are always dominant extroverts who may take over the process, and more silent types who find it easier to sit back without contributing. And there are the intrapreneurs from whom you can benefit greatly, if they are part of a team that can carry processes forward. According to Andrew Field, in his post on American Express’s Open Forum, the ways to “foster collaboration in your workplace” are: 1. Communicate company expectations. Make it clear that collaboration is the minimum standard.

2. Set team goals.

3. Foster a creative atmosphere.

4. Build cohesion.

5. Know one another.

6. Leverage team member strengths.

Obviously, this is easier said than done. But in an extremely competitive world that has gone collaboration-mad, it is what often makes the difference between your company and the one next door, if you are not collaborating with them.

CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

This brings us to collaboration within the marketing space. Not every company can find a Pharrell to work with. But the advent of social media has created a world of influencers and microinfluencers who have built audiences that trust them. In a bid to tap into those audiences effectively – and recognising that as consumers, we do not take all the features and specifications that are marketed at face value – brands are working more and more with personalities who have an element of influence on their audience.

But, as we have seen with celebrity endorsements over the years, companies are at the mercy of these personalities, which means a lot more due diligence needs to go into whom they collaborate with. Questions around their views and opinions, how they live their lives, the things they say, etc. need to be answered.

Individuals and collectives such as Trevor Stuurman, The Sartists, Hussain van Roos, Lulama Wolf, Siya Beyile, Thithi Nteta and countless others have been able to build a big enough circle of influence to appeal to brands within various sectors and create collaborations that work for both themselves and the brands.

Collaboration is not going anywhere. The key is being able to enter into it with both eyes open and a clear strategy on how to ensure that it is effective and carries you forward, whether it is business, social or otherwise.

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BUSINESS

CREATE YOUR

OWN WINE LABEL

OPPORTUNITIES FOR BLACK ENTREPRENEURS TO ENTER GLOBAL MARKETS. BY TSHEPO MATSEBA

Rosemary Mosia, founder and CEO of The Bridge of Hope Wines.

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BUSINESS

ith its first vineyards established in the 17th century, today South Africa is a significant global player in the wine market. It is the seventh-largest wine producer in the world, and accounts for 3.9% of global wine production (Italy leads the pack at 19.1%). The industry contributes R36.1 billion gross domestic product (GDP) to our economy, employs more than 300 000 people, and exports almost 430 million litres of wine every year. These staggering numbers tell a story of success and opportunity. But transformation remains a challenge for the industry.

W

According to the State of the Wine Industry Report, produced by VinPro: “Notwithstanding various initiatives to support existing enterprises, as well as new opportunities, the total level of transformed ownership remains low at 2%.” This is a shocking statistic, given South Africa’s transformation agenda. But all is not lost. There are endless opportunities for black entrepreneurs to seize the moment and take advantage of this massive transformation challenge by participating in the industry.

capabilities are left to established farms and wineries that already have resources and fulfil all the regulatory requirements.

Rosemary Mosia, founder and CEO of The Bridge of Hope Wines decided to pursue the wine label route because she did not have access to capital. “I started the business without any external funding,” says Mosia. “I took my package and pension to get the business off the ground. I realised that without ‘old money’, I could not afford to invest in a winery or farm, and so I consciously decided to focus my energy and resources on building a wine label as opposed to seeking funding for a capital-intensive wine farm. It’s a complex value chain, from harvesting to bottling – the process is highly specialised and requires relevant expertise, so I had to fast-track my knowledge about how the industry operates,” she says.

This Master of Business Leadership graduate became intrigued by wine when a friend invited her to a winery in Stellenbosch, where she immediately spotted an opportunity not only to learn to appreciate wine, but also to make money out of the experience. She moved to Cape

Town and invested time and energy in learning about the industry, reading and talking to industry experts.

THE VALUE OF PARTNERSHIPS IN CREATING A WINE LABEL

Mosia says that she got to understand the value of partnership from the very first day in business. “I learnt that I needed a credible partner who would support me in producing the type of wine I wanted to put on the market. I approached Linton Park Estates in Wellington, which has a rich heritage, having been in business since 1699. I invested in building a relationship, based on trust and respect,” she says “A lot of wine label owners struggle to earn the respect of wine farms. I knew I had to collaborate with the winery so that I could be involved in the entire value chain. I don’t simply buy their wine, I participate in the entire process. In a sense, I employ their winemakers to make things happen. I also consistently have to form relationships with wine importers, who have a deeper understanding of their markets. You need a local who understands nuances of patterns and culture,” Mosia explains.

START A WINE LABEL OR BECOME A WINE PRODUCER While creating your own label may sound daunting and expensive, research shows that there are baby steps that any entrepreneur can take to become part of South Africa’s wine success story. An aspiring entrepreneur with significant access to capital, could consider joining the industry as a wine producer, which means that they would need to own the land with vineyards, a cellar and the technical facilities to produce wine. There are a number of funding mechanisms that entrepreneurs can explore, but for most people, funding remains a major impediment.

The second, more accessible model is to establish a wine brand by partnering with existing wineries to purchase specific wines from them, thus using a less capitalintensive method to start your journey towards owning a wine business. A typical wine brand enterprise has low operational costs and is managed by one or more people, because the technical winemaking

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BUSINESS

I FIGURED THAT I NEEDED TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT WOULD ENABLE PEOPLE TO HAVE LASTING EXPERIENCES.

Winemaking processes such as harvesting, crushing and pressing, fermentation, clarification, ageing and bottling are left to the well-resourced entities, giving her more space to build her business, create and promote a brand, establish partnerships and distribute the product to her chosen markets. “Given the high demand for South African wines globally, you need to understand how to promote your wine internationally and familiarise yourself with trade shows. I also use digital marketing to position The Bridge of Hope Wines globally,” she adds.

THE BRAND STORY

“The Bridge of Hope Wines’ promise to customers is ‘we will take you there’, which embodies the bridge of delivering a wine full of flavour and character to move customers from one matchless taste sensation to another. When you take a sip of our wine after a long day, you’ll get a sense of hope. It will take you from a tense exhaustion to a tranquil and soothing point, explains Mosia.” “I named the brand The Bridge of Hope Wines, inspired by the need I saw when I worked for Transnet for bridging finance. So, I figured that I needed to build something that would enable people to have lasting experiences.”

to get the product on major retail shelves, and we are relentlessly in negotiations with retailers – it’s a lengthy process, but we will get there.”

EXPORT MARKETS

Breaking into the competitive international market is not easy, but for Mosia, it is encouraging that The Bridge of Hope Wines are in demand internationally.

She has spent several years promoting the brand around the world in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Vietnam, Bangkok, Brazil, Hong Kong and the USA, and has also visited Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Ivory Coast and Ghana.

“We export 65% of our wines,” says Mosia, “and we expect that number to grow. In fact, I’m currently in negotiations with

Walmart in the USA, and they are keen to list our wine but have stringent value chain requirements which increases the price.”

In terms of transformation in South Africa, Mosia says she’d like to see more young black people enrolling for viticulture and wine studies. “We’ve began the process of creating interest in young people through our NGO, through which we help them understand that winemaking is a science and a business in which they could create wealth and change lives,” she says.

While access to funding remains a significant barrier to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to start their own labels, thriving business owners like Mosia provide hope, that with a vision and determination to make sacrifices, establishing a wine label is achievable, especially given the increasing demand for South African wines globally.

DISTRIBUTION

Mosia says that The Bridge of Hope Wines currently distributes its wines through a variety of channels. “There are restaurants in Johannesburg and Cape Town who prefer our wines, so we are on their list,” says Mosia. “We also have online distributors who buy our wine and sell it at their own price. Our biggest challenge is

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MONEY/INVEST

RETURNS FROM THE

HEART

Acclaimed artist Sam Nhlengethwa

40

IMAGES The Artists’ Press

THE ART OF INVESTING IN COLLECTABLES

MONEY/INVEST

Christ Head by Alexis Preller

Hardekoolbome – Bosveld by JH Pierneef

Annie of the Royal Bafokeng, Maggie Laubser

DO YOU OWN A COMIC BOOK, A BOTTLE OF FINE WINE, A COIN, MEDAL, FINE ART, STAMPS, ANTIQUES, A CLASSIC CAR, JEWELLERY? YOU COULD BE ON THE PATH TO BECOMING A COLLECTABLES INVESTOR. BY TSHEPO MATSEBA

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ost people shy away from any discussion that has to do with investments or financial planning, perhaps due to the misconception that you have to be wealthy to derive value from the seemingly complex world of money. When talking about investments, people think about the stock market, retirement annuities, savings plans and related investment vehicles. But there’s more to investments.

Collectables are uniquely poised to provide an alternative way for any investor to generate returns while having fun. By definition, collectables are rare in nature and may include antiques, fine art, wine, top-end watches, comic books, cars, stamps and other unique items that may appreciate in value over time.

IMAGES Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

LOVE FIRST, REWARDS LATER

The common theme among people who invest in collectables is that they do it for fun, passion or sentimental value. Their primary reason for purchasing a piece has very little to do with financial gain. Instead, they are driven by their love for the item, its significance in their lives and in keeping special memories.

Over time, the item appreciates in value, leaving the owner with financial reward – sometimes significantly higher than expected.

It’s similar to the classical investment cliché – “it’s about time in the market, and not timing the market” – which signifies patience, long-term planning and resilience to get great returns in the long run. The essence is that you should invest in the right vehicle, at the right time, for the right reasons. Wrong motivation may only lead to tears.

FACTS ABOUT COLLECTABLES

Collectables, especially art, wine and classic automobiles, are an increasingly popular way for African investors to store their wealth. Collectables accounted for 1.1% or US$8.8 billion of the assets of African high-net-worth individuals in 2016, compared to only 0.6% in 2006. The AfrAsia Bank Africa Wealth Report 2017

estimates that African high-net-worth individuals held US$870 million worth of fine art at the end of 2016. Globally, fine art prices have risen by 3% over the past 10 years, whilst African fine art prices have risen by 22%.

Andrew Amoils, head of research at New World Wealth, says that South Africa is the largest fine art market in Africa. “Investing in collectables is growing in South Africa and globally.” Leading artists in South Africa include Irma Stern, Thomas Baines, JH Pierneef, Alexis Preller, Pieter Wenning, Gerard Sekoto, Maggie Laubser, Hugo Naudé, Portchie, Isabel le Roux and Dimitrov.

“The value of these artists has risen appreciably – an Irma Stern painting that sold for US$20 000 in 1995 fetched over US$2 million in 2011. The majority of major art galleries are located in Johannesburg and Cape Town and in second-home hotspots such as Stellenbosch,” says Amoils.

WHERE TO START FOR FIRST-TIME INVESTORS

There are different views about where to start, but some experts agree that entry-level investors should consider numismatics, which was once considered the “hobby of kings”. This is the study or collecting of currency, coins, paper money and related objects such as medals and medallions.

Bruce McLean, owner of Collectors Investments, a boutique numismatics outlet in Illovo, Johannesburg, says that people should invest in numismatics first as a hobby, as well as to diversify their investment portfolio. “Gold coins should form part of every investor’s portfolio. Collectable coins should be invested in for the love of numismatics, and with astute investments, good returns can be obtained.”

McLean warns novice numismatic collectors not to be influenced by investor fads, unrealistic sales and marketing ploys. Instead, he

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MONEY/INVEST

Silver five-shilling piece from 1952

1958 Mercedes 190SL

COLLECTABLES CAN PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT VEHICLE FOR NOVICE AND SEASONED INVESTORS. says, first-time investors should develop their passion and grow their interest in the field of numismatics by doing research and communicating with long-standing numismatic collectors and reputable numismatic associations. “Knowledge is power! Start your investment with a small conservative amount, until you become more experienced in numismatics,” he adds. Old and historical coins, as well as coins with a true rarity, will be a better investment than following the fad on modern coins.

“The wonderful thing for the novice numismatic collector is that they can start collecting on a very limited budget, be it investing in a silver five-shilling piece from 1952 or a 1923 farthing (the first South African coinage) for R200,” says McLean.

Collecting coins that are already in circulation may also be a good way to start, as the risk of keeping these coins is insignificant – you can always spend your coins.

A decline in the market provides the opportunity for the novice collector to enter the numismatic field with good potential for futuregrowth. Their knowledge and interest for numismatics can grow with their investment portfolio.

NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HOMEWORK

IMAGES Shutterstock

While collectables are attractive and provide alternative investment opportunities, experts caution against impulsive decisions. “Art, classic cars, watches are popular categories.

Cars have shown the greatest return on investment, but as with anything, investors need to do their homework before committing to a purchase,” says Anton Welz of Stephan Welz & Co. According to Welz, many people in South Africa collect, but few people invest in high-value items. “Collections start small, perhaps with works on paper when it comes to art, and grow as the collector becomes more knowledgeable and begins to define their collection.

“Collections do not necessarily need to contain high-value items to have value,” says Welz, adding that the market is still healthy, although trends have changed. “Artists who were collectable 10 years ago are not necessarily fashionable any longer; the same goes for furniture. Nineteenth-century furniture has fallen out of favour, but mid-century modern contemporary design has exploded in value over the last few years.”

He also laments the most devalued collectables and the product that appreciated the most over time. “I think Victorian furniture has devalued over the last few years; it’s probably the category that has shown the least growth. Certain models of collectable cars have increased more than anything else – a 1958 Mercedes 190SL we sold in 2015 for R2m would now be worth in the region of R3m. As with any investment (stocks and shares or fine art and collectables), do your homework, ask people in the industry who are able to give good unbiased advice, and buy what you like rather than what you think may be a good investment. That way, if it turns out to be something that does not increase hugely in value, at least you have something that’s a pleasure to look at,” he adds.

Welz says a good place to start for an entry-level investor would be works on paper by artists such as Deborah Bell, Sam Nhlengethwa, Bambo Sibiya, Norman Catherine, Walter Battiss and Pat Mautloa.

SPEAK TO A PROFESSIONAL

In the same way that you trust a professional dentist to diagnose your toothache, an attorney to help you with a legal matter or a financial advisor for your investments, you should speak to a coin shop dealer, an art gallery or a numismatic dealer to assist you with your next collection. The South African Mint’s website is a good source to find reputable coin dealers, while the South African Association of Numismatics Dealers also has information to start your journey towards collectables.

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REAT MINDS THINK DIFFEREN

PROFILE

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THE GENESIS OF A TRUE MAVEN KGAUGELO MAPHAI MANAGING DIRECTOR, THE MEDIASHOP.

BY TSHEPO MATSEBA

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raditionally, most marketers used technical tools such as Living Standard Measurements (LSMs) or, most recently, Socio Economic Monitors (SEMs), to profile their target market in a quest to understand consumers better. There are hundreds of tools and models that “marketeers” and brands use to segment the ever-changing consumer, particularly in today’s digitally infused consumer marketplace.

“We come from humble beginnings, but my parents had a vision to succeed against all odds,” he observes.

Kgaugelo Maphai, managing director of The MediaShop in Johannesburg, a leading media agency that provides creative and pioneering communications solutions for South Africa’s leading brands, has built an intuitive approach to understanding marketing. An ardent believer in the importance of connecting brands and consumers within a diverse South African consumer landscape, he strongly believes that to be an effective marketer, you must have a deeper understanding of consumers. Over the years, he has spent time learning about different consumer behaviours, what influences them and how to communicate effectively with them in their own environments.

He sees South Africa as a country that has the world in it – a melting pot of indigenous and global cultures. “I would never wish to have been born in any other country. I’m a patriot, through and through. My country and its people are very important to me,” he states.

THE GENESIS OF A MARKETING MARVEL WITH A PURPOSE

From early childhood, Maphai was exposed to South Africa’s cultural diversity, having gone to Sacred Heart College, a Catholic school in Johannesburg, which exposed him to a multiracial and multicultural environment, enabling him to appreciate and value diversity from a young age. Born in Pretoria, this marketing maestro has lived across South Africa – including in the Transkei, Diepkloof in Soweto and Cape Town – and Massachusetts in the US.

Migrating from one area to another as his parents – academics – sought to create a better future for him and his siblings, Maphai made the best of this exposure and took interest in understanding different cultures, something that is still his “passion point” today.

His quest to gain a deeper understanding of South African consumers led him to approach SABC Radio for a job, particularly focusing on African language stations.

Maphai says that these consumers were complex in nature as they originate from different homelands, townships, cities and villages, which each had their own identities and nuances. “I didn’t want to make a mistake of saying because I am black, I understood black people,” says Maphai. That’s how he landed a number of roles at the SABC, starting as an account executive on the African language radio stations before moving to Metro FM. He was later recruited back to head up trade marketing for all the radio stations.

What he did differently was not just to sell advertising. He used this opportunity to share deeper insights with media planners and marketers alike. Following his success at the SABC, he was headhunted to join free-to-air television channel eTV in 2002,

PROFILE

OUR PLAN IS TO DIVERSIFY AND EVOLVE INTO AN INTEGRATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION AGENCY, OFFERING OTHER SERVICES BEYOND MEDIA BUYING “Our model was simple: identify talented personalities, build their brand equity so that over time they could generate various revenue streams. We also felt that to gain credibility, we had to identify an up-andcoming personality. We got introduced to Khuli Chana, who was looking for a management company. A few meetings later, we signed him,” Maphai says.

Kgaugelo Maphai

and contributed towards the success of the station at the time, but felt that radio was where his heart was. He later joined East Coast Radio as national sales manager in 2004.

Maphai ascribes his success in radio sales and sponsorships to his ability to educate media planners about how people lived in townships, having himself lived in different areas around the country. “Our industry didn’t have access to the homes of consumers. They didn’t understand how consumers lived every day due to their lack of exposure to townships. A lot of great stories in those days were not shown on TV,” he explains.

“While heading up trade marketing at the SABC, we launched The Truth Programme, an experiential marketing platform that we used for client immersions. We took our clients to townships and deliberately excluded Soweto, as marketers would typically visit Soweto at some point in their lives. We went to various homes, mansions, supermarkets, and formal and informal businesses. By the time we left, clients had a great sense of economic activity in areas that they had never been to. The insights gathered equipped our clients to make informed media decisions, going beyond just numbers.”

Following a series of accolades in broadcasting and media sales, Maphai joined hospitality group Peermont Global as group marketing services manager, responsible for integrated marketing communication across the group. He was

also accountable for the company’s 13 properties in South Africa and Botswana.

It was an opportunity for him to see things from the client’s perspective.

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY The natural progression from his “employed life” was to go into business, which culminated in the birth of Dream Team SA, a boutique talent management consultancy that managed personalities in music, arts and broadcasting. Having observed the music industry in the US in the late 80s and how musicians and sportspeople were used as brand influencers, he was reminded of his vision to set up a sophisticated talent management agency in South Africa for talented black people. With his eyes firmly focused on enabling artists to thrive as brands, he and his business partner signed big names such as TKZee, KB Motsilanyane and Thembi Seete.

“We wanted to revolutionise the management of black talent. We asked the question: how do we turn warm bodies into brands? By adding tangible value for artists in the form of financial acumen, legal support, reputation management and publicity, we helped create sustainable careers,” says Maphai.

In 2009, they negotiated a synchronisation deal with MTN, where TKZee’s music was used in all the adverts for the “Ayoba” campaign in the lead-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“We had a different value proposition – each personality was treated like a unique brand. We partnered with various specialists including a publicist, a brand strategist and an entertainment lawyer to provide real value for our talent.”

An entrepreneur by nature, he bought into a brand activation agency, Brandswell, at which he was a director for the past six years before taking the reins at The MediaShop. “Our plan is to diversify and evolve into an integrated marketing and communication agency, offering other services beyond media buying. In the process, we hope to cooperate with small and medium enterprises to enable them to grow.

“The MediaShop has embraced the Marketing, Advertising and Communication Sector Charter (MAC Charter), and complies with many of the requirements because it is the right thing to do. In my role at The MediaShop, I want to collaborate with SMMEs within the marketing and communication space to help unlock meaningful growth opportunities,” he says.

Maphai plans to continue his journey by driving a culture of valuing diversity within the workplace and translate this into tangible value for consumers.

“I’m encouraged that my team at The MediaShop understands that we can no longer predominantly rely on quantitative methods to understand and profile consumers. There’s more to our people and cultural diversity. This is a lifelong journey and we’ve only just begun,” he concludes.

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STYLE

KICK STARTERS AMIDST THE PLETHORA OF SNEAKER COLLABS OUT THERE, A FEW ARE MAKING SERIOUS WAVES IN THE KICKS DEPARTMENT. WE’VE SELECTED OUR FAVOURITES – FOR NOW AT LEAST.

NEW BALANCE X LIVERPOOL FC (MEN)

This year New Balance and Liverpool Football Club revealed their first collaborative trainer in celebration of the club’s 125th anniversary. The new Balance LFC 247s are designed with a rich red and feature the commemorative Liverbird crest. An adaptation of the classic NB 247, this variety comes in both adult and junior sizes.

Available from the LFC Online Store or contact 021 657 9700.

MARIA MCCLOY X WOOLWORTHS (WOMEN)

Chosen as one of the eight South African designers for the Woolworths StyleBySA campaign, Maria McCloy has been launched into recognition with her African print designs and beautifully crafted accessories. Her trademark looks are inspired by her upbringing in Sudan, Nigeria, Mozambique and Lesotho. The striking mix of metallics and African print are beyond statement pieces. Gold and African Print Sneakers exclusive to Woolworths.

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STYLE

ADIDAS X PHARRELL WILLIAMS

Pharrell and Adidas originals struck sneaker gold when they took the original adidas Stan Smith tennis shoes and transformed it into the Tennis Hu. In May this year it previewed in white and gold and white and green, but has since been seen in multi-coloured knits and pastels. Buy online at www.adidas.com

CONVERSE X MISSONI

Let’s face it, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars are ubiquitous classics in the sneaker world. The Italian fashion house Missoni is also renowned for its colourful and vibrant knits. The collaboration of these two brands sees a sneaker which is definitely going to stand in a sea of white canvas kicks. Available at www.superbalist.com

PUMA X NATUREL

Puma has once again gone beyond the limits of sportstyle and has linked up with renowned US-based graphic artist NATUREL. His charismatic approach to street cool and his symbol-heavy illustrations are injected into this collaboration. This collection is inspired by space travel and a vision of an urban landscape on the moon, accented by military detail, creating completely wearable art. Available from Puma Select, Shelflife, Anatomy and other selected retailers.

ADIDAS X ALEXANDER WANG

IMAGES Suppliers, Prices correct at time of print

New York-based designer Alexander Wang launched his second collection for Adidas at the end of July. His unisex apparel and footwear collection, Adidas Originals by Alexander Wang is inspired by the idea of overturning commonly accepted rules and even the Adidas logos are rotated upside down, illustrating his defiance of the norm. Featured here is the Adidas Originals by Alexander Wang AW RUN. Shop online.

DANIEL TING CHONG X PUMA (UNISEX)

Although not new, this exciting collaboration between Puma and Cape Town-based illustrator and designer Daniel Ting Chong, saw the creation of two distinctly African sneakers – the OG Duplex and EVO Duplex. By drawing on traditional Zulu and Xhosa mythologies, Daniel Ting Chong has encapsulated the Unkulukulu Mythology and the Mythology of Mamlambo with the brilliant use of colour palettes and unique detail.

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FASHION

WATCHING WHAT TO WEAR IF YOU'RE A MAN WHO LIKES A BIT OF SAUVE DESIGN, ORIGINAL THINKING AND GREAT TALENT, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY BE WATCHING THESE DESIGNERS. WITH AN INHERENT PASSION FOR THEIR AFRICAN ROOTS, THESE MEN ARE MAKING IMPRESSIONS AROUND THE WORLD. BY DOMINIQUE WOLF

Floyd’s sought-after brand, Floyd Avenue, reflects the multilayered world we currently live in. This exciting young label has become a prominent feature on the menswear landscape, using cultural references to inspire clothing that is innovative and speaks the language of the evolution of our culture. Floyd has worked with many leading local and international magazines from Rolling Stone, Japanese Vogue and Dazed and Confused. Floyd’s first collection at SA Fashion Week was in 2016, when he was awarded Best Designer in the SA Fashion Week Scouting Menswear Competition.

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LEAF LETLHARE

Lesego Molokoane creatively leads the Leaf Letlhare brand. He studied at the University of South Africa, which gave him insight and understanding of African dynamics and relations, after which he teamed up with two accountants, Tshiamo Molokoane and Nkululeko Vuyo Hlophe. Together they developed, Leaf Letlhare, a brand that embodies a lifestyle of design. This label is a hybrid of craftsmanship and tailoring. Their design style can be described as a silent evolution to the fashion status quo; whilst it is born within the confines of the western gentleman classic look, it also makes it a point to express African aesthetics and identities in a world of rapid cultural conversions.

IMAGES SA fashion Week

FLOYD AVENUE

FASHION

AFRIKANSWISS

HOUSE OF SAINT LUKE

Mxolisi Luke Mkhize, the founder of House of St Luke, was born and raised in the Kwazulu-Natal township of Umlazi.

He taught himself the craft of tailoring and fashion design and in 2012 was selected with a few young designers to go to Milan for an internship in Massimo Crivelli’s Studio. For him, inspiration comes from the rich South African culture and history, and he describes his style as bold, tailored, eclectic and formal with his House of Saint Luke (HSL) signature. In an interview with Africa Fashion Exchange, he said, “I love working with people and interacting with them.

I also love their facial expressions when they see a finished garment. Designers are ‘ego transplant surgeons’, as we give people makeovers and confidence. We boost self-image and accentuate beauty.”

IMAGES SA fashion Week

A truly African story, Afrikanswiss was established by Thato Mafubelu Matabane and celebrates and embraces Africa’s pride. The Afrikanswiss brand produces big and small, customised runs of both recycled (Afrikanswiss Rehab) and brand new (Afrikanswiss Blue) hip, styled denim pieces. “We want to conquer Africa before we conquer Europe. We want to make sure that every African walks in Afrikanswiss denim,” he says.

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ADVERTORIAL

TABOO SETS THE BAR

NESTLED IN THE RICHEST SQUARE MILE IN AFRICA IS A GROUP OF NIGHTLIFE ENTERTAINMENT VENUES THAT HAS SET THE PRECEDENT FOR TOP-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENT OVER THE PAST DECADE.

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ADVERTORIAL

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The first is glamorous flagship Taboo Night Club which has been in the industry for 14 years and offers its elite clientele an extravagant departure from the norm. It caters to discerning patrons by providing local and international DJs and artists of the highest calibre, and a glittering stage upon which they can shine. There’s no place better to appreciate top talent than Taboo’s luxuriously decorated interior, which is complemented by the breathtaking Sandton skyline.

experiencing some of the finest whiskeys known to man or simply enjoying the mix of company from all corners of the earth, this venue always promises an unforgettable evening out!

A question posed often to owner Chris Coutroulis is, “What keeps Taboo going all these years?” His answer seems somewhat simple, yet is backed by wisdom: “Anyone can sell alcohol, the key for me and what I pride myself in is how I sell it.” With two levels and distinctive pockets of more private spaces, Taboo offers its esteemed clients the perfect venue for entertainment and corporate functions alike.

The Taboo Group SA family extends into other regions of the country too, with Vanity in Pretoria being the newest addition – it’s mirrored entrance never fails to impress Pretoria A-listers – and, in KZN, those with similar refined tastes can enjoy the high life while frequenting 47th Avenue. Both venues are run by a professional team of hosts, security, bartenders and cleaning staff, who uphold the same unsurpassed standards and attention to important little details.

Next to Taboo and an extension of the entertainment and lifestyle hotspot is Cocoon Champagne & Cigar Lounge, which offers a more intimate backdrop. Separated from Taboo by soundproof interleading doors, this glittering champagne, cocktail and cigar bar exudes class and city style. Cocoon Lounge is sleek, sophisticated and sexy, and also features excellent service. This is where Joburg’s young and influential Who’s Who meet for sundowners, private celebrations and nights of unrivalled fun out.

Note: In its continued quest to cater to an audience with heightened sensibilities and refined tastes, patrons will be interested to hear that The VIP Room will be undergoing a makeover – and possibly even a name change – later this year!

“I started the business when I was 19 and was determined to leave a legacy to nightlife entertainment. I knew that this was achievable from the outset and made sure we were ahead of trends as I watched the industry evolve over 14 years. However, this vision would never have been realised without equal support from staff, family and patrons. Building the Taboo Group SA ‘empire’ has been a journey of hard work and eye-opening lessons – a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything else!” – Chris Coutroulis, owner of Taboo Group SA

The last of the Sandton trio is located in the heart of one of South Africa’s leading shopping destinations and a bustling business district. The VIP Room is found in The Michelangelo Towers which form part of the Sandton City complex. It’s the ideal option for a night out without having to leave the vicinity, as it’s easily accessible from the Sandton Convention Centre, Sandton City and Sandton Square; and, if you’re away from home, is just a stone’s throw away from your hotel room.

VISIT ANY OF THE VENUE’S WEBSITES: www.taboo.co.za www.thevip.co.za www.cocoonlounge.co.za www.vanitypta.co.za

For a grand night out filled with glamour and elegance The VIP Room is, without doubt, Johannesburg’s premier nightlife destination. Soak up the exclusive ambience, music and superlative service in this exquisitely designed, intimate space. Whether it’s

ALTERNATIVELY, PLEASE CALL +27 11 783 2200 (outside RSA) or 011 782 2200 (inside RSA), and the team will redirect your request accordingly.

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FASHION

IMAGES press@kisua.com

FASHIONFUSION

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FASHION

THE CROSSCONTINENTAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIQUE AFRICAN FASHION BRAND KISUA AND YOOX, AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ONLINE LIFESTYLE STORE, BRINGS TOGETHER THE VIBRANT HERITAGE OF BOTH BRANDS IN A SPECTACULAR CAPSULE COLLECTION CALLED KISUA SS17 FUSIONE.

BY DOMINIQUE WOLF hat KISUA does beautifully, is blend traditional techniques and materials with a contemporary design aesthetic and ethical production methods. YOOXYGEN, which is YOOX’s social and environmental destination, aims at raising awareness for responsible fashion consumers around the globe. The Fusione Collection is a beautiful meeting of the like-mindedness of both brands.

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The 14-piece collection is inspired by the hustle and bustle of downtown Johannesburg, where a kaleidoscope of colours, cultures and street life collide.

The flattering tailoring, clean shapes and classic Italian silhouettes – which speak to YOOX’s roots – are bought to life with bold prints referencing the pulsing heartbeat of inner-city Africa.

The entire collection was designed and manufactured in Africa. The garments were made in South Africa with cotton and fabrics sourced from Ghana and the Ivory Coast. “We are promoting trade both between African countries and between Africa and the world. In the process, we are helping to create jobs and advance the development of the fashion industry on the African continent,” says KISUA CEO and founder, Sam Mensah Jr.

IMAGES press@kisua.com

The KISUA SS17 FUSIONE collection is now exclusively available on YOOX and KISUA.

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FASHION

EARTHY COUTURE arlier this year, Woolworths chose eight local designers to create capsule collections for their #StyleBySA campaign. These homegrown talents have showcased innovative and cutting edge designs and continue to take SA’s fashion industry by storm. From eclectic streetwear to footwear and accessories inspired by Africa, this collaboration between designer and retailer has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response. We spoke to one of the designers, Thebe Magugu about his upcoming collections.

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Thebe’s vision for his next collection gives thought to feminism, especially in a South African context. “We still live in a conservative country, which by extension can be quite misogynistic. Between the causalities behind the #menaretrash hashtag and the spike of slaughtered women across the country, it seems like there is a literal war against women” he says. As a reaction to what currently feels like an overwhelming fear and consequent aversion of the feminine/femme in the socio-political arena, Thebe wants his new collection to celebrate femininity in all its forms.

His latest look book was exclusively launched to the world by Italian Vogue.

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IMAGES Aart Verrips STYLIST Bee Diamondhead MAKE-UP Annice Roux MODELS Niler Bernard, Refiloe Seretlo, Mitchelle Daka, Retha Lethoko, Emy Ozori, Geraldine Mojaki.

THEBE MAGUGU

IMAGES Aart Verrips STYLIST Bee Diamondhead MAKE-UP Annice Roux MODELS Niler Bernard, Refiloe Seretlo, Mitchelle Daka, Retha Lethoko, Emy Ozori, Geraldine Mojaki.

FASHION

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FASHION

TWO CHINESE WOMEN, WHO COULDN’T BE FROM MORE DIVERSE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS, COLLABORATED THIS YEAR IN A FASCINATING MARRIAGE OF INTRICATE JEWELLERY AND CLASSIC FASHION.

DRESSING UP TRADITION

ngela Yeung, the award-winning South African jewellery designer behind the Impilo Collection and Chinese fashion designer Chu Yan, presented their unique collaboration at SA Fashion Week in May.

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A contemporary jewellery collection was created by Impilo to complement Chu Yan’s “A Date with a Thousand Years” clothing collection, which is influenced by traditional Chinese dress of the Tang Dynasty period.

The jewellery collection displays precision laser cutting techniques and strong lines to emulate the artificial, divided world Angela Yeung experienced growing up in apartheid South Africa.

IMAGES Angela Yeung @ Impilo Collection

This collaboration was facilitated by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa and the Ministry of Culture in China as a cultural exchange project.

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LIVING

HOUSES IN THE SKY IF YOUR IDEA OF APARTMENT LIVING IS BEING COOPED UP IN A BOX, THINK AGAIN. THESE DAYS LUXURY APARTMENTS CAN OFFER EVERYTHING A DREAM HOME PROMISES – AND A WHOLE LOT MORE... BY ANGIE SNYMAN

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n increasingly noticeable phenomenon if you live and work in and around Sandton, is the exploding city skyline. Onceloved, dilapidated homes are quickly being replaced with shiny new residential apartment buildings and offices. It’s boom time for developers, and whether the town planning departments can keep up with it or not, urbanisation is in full swing.

The same can be said about Durban’s thriving North Coast; and in Cape Town, where land is at a premium and there’s only room to go skyward, apartment living makes sense to be close to the city and escape the horrendous traffic, not to mention for the investment value of those magnificent views…

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MOVING ON UP

Trendy urbanites making their mark in the corporate world want modern-day luxuries and the convenience of living and playing close to work. This doesn’t happen while saddled with a house in the leafy burbs. A freestanding home can be extremely time, energy and cash-sapping. With wear and tear on the exterior, security measures, a garden, pool and boundary wall to maintain, over and above the home’s interior, mounting costs can feel like continually flushing money down the toilet with little-to-nothing to show for it.

But you can have your cake and eat it too when living in an apartment. Newly built with generous proportions, a high-end

BUT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO WHEN LIVING IN AN APARTMENT. apartment can offer sleek modern fixtures, fittings and finishes, from floor to ceiling.

Apartment developments are designed with a focus on comfort, durability, utility, economy and energy-efficiency.

IMAGE Solinti/Osho Property Holdings and Amazonas

Personal lap pool at Solinti

LIVING

Much like in a sizeable family home, in an apartment it’s also possible to enjoy: • A luxe open-plan kitchen (with separate scullery-cum-laundry); • Spacious open-plan living and dining areas; • An entertainers’ veranda that makes the apartment bright and mostly day-lit; • An open-plan master bedroom with his and hers wardrobes, and bathroom with double-vanity, frameless shower and bath; • Additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms; • Open-to-sky balconies off the bedroom(s); • Private rooftop terrace and garden with jacuzzi or sparkling splash pool with a view; • A guest toilet; • En-suite staff accommodation; and • Automated basement or personal double-garage parking, plus additional storage facilities.

AMENITIES

Apartment living can also prove to be highly convenient when you look at the collective buying power of facilities that enhance living. Access to amenities is possibly one of the strongest attractions to investing in an apartment.

These days, many apartment buildings offer high-speed fibre Internet connectivity in many, if not all, areas of the building/estate.

The sophisticated, up-to-the-minute security systems incorporating multitiered, biometric technology will reduce the chances of intruders helping themselves to your prized possessions.

World-class spacious interior at Solinti

and upgrades from a collective financial resource for the outside of the building, common property and many amenities you’d never accommodate or afford in a house, is a weight off your shoulders.

Body corporates also take care of things like building insurance, wages of communal area cleaners and gardeners, security services and administrative dealings, all included in the monthly levy paid by each owner. This can be a pleasure, provided residents are considerate of their neighbours and comply with the building rules.

WHERE TO INVEST

As is always the case, apartment properties are also more expensive in the more desirable areas of the CBDs. Over time though, your investment value will grow at an exponentially higher rate relative to that of buying out of town. It’s unlikely that you’ll lose money if you buy in the cities’ biggest growth points. In Sandton, for example, high-end luxury apartments start in the mid R3-million zone, for a 2-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom, 160 square-

metre apartment, with all the bells and whistles in terms of top-end fittings, in the prestigious Amazonas complex in Morningside; and range upwards of R13 million for ultimate opulence and exclusivity in sought-after Hyde Park.

Some apartments even include your very own elevator between multiple floors, says Jarod Kolman from Limestone Properties.

Look further afield towards up-and-coming Midrand, and you can enter the market with less and still get many of the perks.

Solinti, a new Midrand development 10km from Sandton and 30km from Pretoria, has residences ranging from roughly R2.5 million for an approximately 225-square metre, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment with garage, staff accommodation, plunge pool, guest toilet, study and roof terrace garden, to about R6.6 million for a 524-square meter triplex villa that includes a garage, office, staff accommodation, surrounding gardens, study, kitchen with scullery, laundry deck and party area.

Having more space in residential complexes like this also means the additional and more varied recreational and sporting facilities, mentioned before, too.

One can argue there’s safety alone in just living in numbers.

IMAGE Solinti/Osho Property Holdings and Amazonas

Add to this the recreational facilities some developments offer – the likes of braai areas, a private gym, jungle gyms and sports facilities such as lap pools, tennis courts, mini cricket and soccer fields, trampolines and, depending where you find yourself, a golf course, lakes, parks, jogging or cycling tracks, wildlife and more – living in an apartment can easily exceed your expectations.

LESS RESPONSIBILITY

On a day-to-day basis, owning an apartment can equate to easier living and getting a lot of bang for your buck. Its numerous benefits carry the peace of mind of heightened security and the affordability of sectional title ownership. Having a body corporate manage ongoing maintenance

Modern, well appointed Amazonas kitchen

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LIVING canopy construction for growing vines and fragrant climbing plants on can be a means of increasing shade. Otherwise, apartment dwellers growing kitchen gardens mean they needn’t have to leave home to buy herbs, salads and vegetables, but can simply venture onto their rooftop terrace and pick from their own organic, homegrown crop themselves.

POOLS IN HIGH PLACES

Amazonas complex in Morningside

THE URBAN GARDEN

Living in the concrete jungle needn’t mean your environment is devoid of anything living and green. The presence of trees and plants has a soothing effect on city dwellers which affects their psychological balance, mood and well-being. Indeed, plants provide us with the very oxygen we all need to live. But plants do a whole lot more than just make an apartment building look pretty, it turns out they serve several essential functions.

GREEN ROOFS AND WALLS

Vertical Plantscapes is a local company specialising in “living walls” which include rooftop and vertical gardens and green roofing modular and non-modular systems available to architects, landscape architects and home hobbyists. Their website sheds light on studies done overseas that reflect the proven benefits of having green roofs and walls.

Amongst other positive effects, studies on roof gardens shows: • Vegetation and the growing medium they’re planted in aids the thermal performance of a green roof which greatly influences insulation through providing shade and evaporative cooling.

ROOFTOP POOLS ARE NO LONGER ONLY THE DOMAIN OF GLAMOROUS HOTELS AND COCKTAIL BARS. • The green wall (vertical wall) effectively reduces a wall surface temperature and acts as a window shade. www.verticalplantscapes.co.za Landscapers increasingly draw on new technology and innovative ways of incorporating gardens into upmarket apartments. But, in the absence of plants and trees being integral to the building’s design and construction, practical and innovative applications for bringing plants into apartment living spaces are still possible.

You’d be hard-pressed to find environmental reasons to have one, but what could be more fun than sundowners with your family and friends on your terrace in the summer, overlooking the city from your heated rooftop pool? When the sun sets, with clever lighting, your pool can become the ideal setting to take in the magical twinkling stars and mesmerising lights of the city. Pop the cork on your Dom Perignon and there’ll be no better way to celebrate successful living, and your view from the top.

When it comes to investing in an apartment, it would be well worth jumping on in… You’ll find the water will be fine.

Amazonas rooftop pool

In conjunction with trellises, plants can be introduced, perhaps as a means to increase privacy on a terrace. A curved

• The green roof reduces heat flow through the roof significantly.

• In the hotter months of the year, the green roof vastly reduces the demand on air conditioning.

• Depending on the depth of soil, green roof gardens reduce the run-off rate and volume of rainstorm water.

• It is thought that plants may even absorb pollutants from the rain water.

• Since high temperatures on rooftops reduce the lifespan of asphalt-based roofing membranes, the cooling effects of rooftop gardens are expected to as much as double the lifespan of the membranes.

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Solinti playpark

IMAGE Solinti/Osho Property Holdings and Amazonas

Rooftop pools are no longer only the domain of glamorous hotels and cocktail bars. Engineering wizardry can see to it that apartment buildings have several units each with their own pools, some built in the most unlikely places to take maximum advantage of the views.

ADVERTORIAL

IN SEARCH OF SOLITUDE WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO GET THROUGH, OR YOU JUST NEED SOME RESPITE FROM THE RAT RACE, A CALM ENVIRONMENT IS A MUST. PAUL MTIRARA, BUSINESSMAN AND 702 DJ, REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE CHAOS AT HOME BY CHECKING INTO JOBURG’S MELROSE ARCH FOR A QUIET BUT PRODUCTIVE WEEKEND.

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lbert Einstein once said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.” While a quiet life is not necessary or even realistic for most people today, there’s no doubt that taking time out occasionally is essential. A calm environment is also conducive to productivity, so I decided to combine the two, and a weekend at Melrose Arch was the perfect solution. It would offer tranquillity when I needed it and opportunities to relax, business facilities to catch up on my never-ending work and host meetings, and plenty of restaurants to choose from if friends wanted to join me for dinner. Being so conveniently located, it would also be easy to make it to the 702 studio in time to host my Soulful Sundays show at 1pm.

I believe you should go big or go home, so I decided to go big by checking into African Pride Melrose Arch’s Presidential Suite.

After telling a well-connected friend of my plan, he surprised me and organised a car to drive me to Melrose Arch. In keeping with a hedonistic work-play weekend, he called a friend and before I knew it, a Rolls-Royce from Daytona pulled up outside. Friday afternoon traffic’s a lot less stressful when you’re sitting in the back seat of an über-luxurious car!

WHERE TO STAY

The five-star African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel is the last word in luxury. Nothing was too much trouble for the attentive staff, the

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check-in was swift and efficient and I particularly liked the fact I was offered a pillow menu before I was taken to my room. The hotel is chic, with decor that is trendy, bold and proudly African.

The Presidential Suite is stylish and spacious, with a large bedroom and open bathroom (although the rain shower and toilet are separate), a lounge with gas fireplace, dining area and kitchenette.

The rubber ducks on the side of the oversized tub were a quirky touch and I appreciated the complimentary M&Ms. There’s also free, unlimited Wi-Fi, perfect for all the work I planned to do that weekend.

Breakfast at the hotel’s March restaurant is everything breakfast should be at a five-star hotel. The buffet is vast but be sure you leave some room for a cooked breakfast too. There’s a reason so many guests rave about the breakfast in the guests’ book and on TripAdvisor.

I thought briefly about going to gym on Sunday morning to work off some of the sumptuous meals but friends phoned and invited themselves to breakfast, a plan that appealed to me more than an hour on the treadmill. Guests can purchase a day pass for the Virgin Active Melrose Arch gym, a two-minute walk from the hotel, for R275. Part of the Virgin Active Classic Collection, the gym has a host of luxury facilities not offered at other gyms in the group, such as a concierge, business facilities, a lounge, shoeshine bar and more.

ADVERTORIAL

GETTING AROUND…

Melrose Arch is centrally situated, next to the M1 highway and easily accessed via the Corlett Drive and Atholl Oaklands off-ramps.

It’s just 6km from Sandton, while Rosebank and Hyde Park are a stone’s throw away. But with all the amenities on site – offices, restaurants, shops, hotels, banks, medical services, a health club, postal services and entertainment – there’s no reason to leave the precinct. You can park your car for the duration of your stay and not leave Melrose Arch if you wish, and that’s exactly what I did.

WHAT TO DO

In an attempt to relax and rid my body of some tension, I booked a massage at the Camelot Spa in Melrose Arch’s Medical Centre.

Despite being a fairly metrosexual kind of guy, I don’t visit spas regularly so I didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised when the masseur assessed my skin before my massage and suggested a back exfoliation to slough off dead skin cells before she began my massage. An hour later, I left there feeling like a new man.

There are a number of other beauty and grooming salons at Melrose Arch, including Sorbet and Sorbet Man, Carlton Hair, Mane Hair Salon and L’Ongle, and while I’d have enjoyed more treatments, I didn’t have time if I wanted to get some serious work done. I think another weekend at Melrose Arch, one dedicated to health and grooming, might be in order.

WHERE TO EAT

There are 26 world-class restaurants at Melrose Arch so guests at the African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel are spoilt for choice if they don’t want to eat at the hotel. With restaurants like Jamie’s Italian, Orient, Ghazal, Moyo, Mezepoli, JB’s Corner, Piza e Vino, RocoMamas and more to choose from, it was difficult to decide where to eat on Friday night, but I finally settled on The Grillhouse which is newly opened.

One of Joburg’s premium steakhouses, The Grillhouse has a reputation for its excellent food, superior service and spectacular wine and malt choices. As you would expect, it is renowned for its meat dishes and to say that I was impressed with my meal would be an understatement. My steak was so tender, it practically melted in my mouth.

I was intrigued by the idea of a Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant so I visited Sushi Burrito & Co for lunch on Saturday. Their specialities are sushi burritos, of course, and poke salads. Curious, I ordered a beef sushi burrito and discovered it to be a handheld sushi roll the size of a burrito. It’s made with sushi rice and seaweed and filled with your choice of fish, chicken, beef or veggies. It was delicious!

Dinner at Pigalle was a treat and once again lived up to my expectations. The restaurant overlooks Melrose Arch’s Piazza, which adds to the ambience, and the food and service were top notch. The menu has a wide variety to choose from, including dishes like beef fillet, Portuguese steak, venison shank, chicken supreme and organic Peking duck, but their seafood dishes are undoubtedly the star of the show. Knowing that, I ordered the Mediterranean kingklip from the extensive seafood selection.

Topped with Feta cheese and olives and served with sautéed Mediterranean vegetables, queen prawns and mashed potato, it was sublime.

When I returned to the hotel, I enjoyed a whiskey next to the fire in the Library Bar before heading to bed.

Heading in to work on Sunday, I reflected on how good my weekend had been. I felt refreshed, ready to take on the world again. I had relaxed but had also done a lot of work, and my workload no longer seemed as daunting. I realised how important a weekend like this is, and I’m going to ensure I schedule one in at least once a year.

ADDRESS 60 Atholl Oaklands Rd & Melrose Blvd, Melrose North, Johannesburg, 2076 HOURS 9AM–11PM PHONE +27 11 684 0000 SOCIAL MEDIA @MelroseArch

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AFROPUNK AND THE AFRICAN CULTURAL ODYSSEY

BY KOJO BAFFOE

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frica. The democratisation of storytelling platforms has made it easier for us to start to change the narrative and, as a result, the world is finally starting to get a sense of who we are, our cultures and the evolution of those cultures. The creative industries have an important part to play, not only in driving our economies forward but in also driving tourism.

And what better way to start experiencing the diverse beauty of our continent than through the many festivals that take place throughout the year. You could literally build a travel itinerary by jumping from city to city and country to country, following the music, the literature, the art and the culture.

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IMAGE Max Nepstad

TRAVEL

IMAGE Mel D. Cole

TRAVEL

AFROPUNK

It has been 20 years since T-Musicman launched the first ever Joy of Jazz and, in these two decades, it has become a perennial and the leading jazz festival on the African continent. Offering a wonderfully curated mix of international, African and South African jazz musicians, it also serves as a great way to discover South Africa’s economic and cultural hub, Johannesburg. Taking place over three days on four stages at the Sandton Convention Centre from 28 to 30 September, this year’s milestone incarnation features a veritable musical who’s who.

He stands at the centre of the stage, gripping the microphone in both hands, as if to force it to project his words into the minds of the melee before him. They, in turn, reach to the sky, drowning in the word, heads bobbing in synch to his words and the wonderful musical cacophony behind him, delivered by Dragons of Zynth. He is Saul Williams. The band is an indie rock band from Cleveland, USA, made up of Aku, Akwetey, J. Bernard and Matthew Davidson.

This is AFROPUNK 2013 in Brooklyn, New York.

AFROPUNK is a cultural movement with music at its core. Its website says: “AFROPUNK is defining culture by the collective creative actions of the individual and the group. It is a safe place, a blank space to freak out in, to construct a new reality, to live your life as you see fit, while making sense of the world around you.”

IMAGE Ojoz

STANDARD BANK JOY OF JAZZ, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

In an interview before hitting the stage, Williams said: “At the end of the day, it’s really just music. Music done by musicians… who really don’t buy into conformity, or having to fit themselves into boxes that are readily defined… it’s about just exploring originality…”

AFROPUNK Festival was born out of a documentary, Afro-punk, shot by James Spooner, in which he delved into punk rock and the alternative indie rock scene, particularly from a black perspective.

The idea that certain music is only for certain people is one that had been driven by the music industry for decades, but the reality has often been very different – and this is what Spooner was tapping into. With a positive response to the film, the AFROPUNK

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TRAVEL

IMAGE Leeroy Jason

Matthew Morgan and Jocelyn Cooper

website was created primarily as a message board. Out of this, in 2005, Matthew Morgan founded AFROPUNK Festival, with the first being held in Brooklyn, and which Spooner was part of for the first couple of years.

Since that first festival, Morgan says, “It, and the movement around it, has changed significantly in some ways, and not at all in others. In essence, we are still fighting for the right to be whoever we want to be; there are 360 degrees of blackness.”

The Vic Falls Carnival, which will take place from 29 December 2017 to 1 January 2018, is the evolution of the Falls Fest, which was first held in 2009. Taking advantage of the magical setting that is Mosi-oa-Tunya – from the falls themselves to the national park – it is broken down into the African Carnival Train, which travels through and stops within the park; the Community Party, with live music and DJs; and the Unity Concert, which is the countdown into the new year, during which you are encouraged to represent your home country. In between the music, you can explore the full range of activities available including bungee jumping, whitewater rafting and elephant-back safaris.

In 2015, AFROPUNK expanded to Atlanta, and the following year to London and Paris. On 30 and 31 December 2017, AFROPUNK will be held on the African continent for the first time, in Johannesburg. For Morgan, the expansion was a no-brainer: “AFROPUNK began as an online community, so we knew pretty much right away that there were people all over the world who felt kinship with the energy and viewpoint of the festival, but who

IMAGE Andile Buka

VIC FALLS CARNIVAL, ZIMBABWE

Morgan describes putting together AFROPUNK as being “like making any good meal, something that synthesises the mind and body”. He is responsible for curating the music experience with his partner, Jocelyn Cooper, but the movement is about more than just music, although the music is an important component.

In Morgan’s words, the elements of AFROPUNK are:

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IMAGE Mel D. Cole

TRAVEL

could not necessarily join us in Brooklyn. The idea of coming and establishing an event like this in their community with them was always a goal – whether we would have the resources to do it was another matter.”

He goes on to say that “we knew the audience and the excitement was there [in Johannesburg], because of the engagement on the site. But more importantly, the excitement around the music being made in SA, the conversations happening in the SA community and how it is culturally translating to the rest of the world felt very comfortable as the first place in Africa where AFROPUNK could happen.”

Community and solidarity with “people who look like you and maybe even think like you (at least some of the time), access and interaction to people all over the globe, seeing that your worries and your passions and your expectations are not yours alone, that there are others who feel like you do” is at the heart of AFROPUNK’s mission.

Zanzibar’s Stone Town, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, serves as the home for the Sauti za Busara African music festival, the 15th edition of which is taking place at the Old Fort from 8 to 11 February 2018.

Past festivals have had up to 40 bands and musicians sharing their music on multiple stages to an audience that is increasingly made up of people from around the world.

A significant portion of those musicians are local musicians, ensuring that they get the opportunity not only to perform for their fellow “locals”, but also to do so to an audience that can carry their music beyond the confines of the island.

AFROPUNK works with local partners, engages with local vendors and talks to members of the local community to ensure that the

IMAGE Erin Patrice O'Brien

SAUTI ZA BUSARA, ZANZIBAR

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TRAVEL

MTN BUSHFIRE, SWAZILAND

IMAGE Andile Buka

Talk to anyone who has been to MTN Bushfire in Swaziland and you get the sense that it is more than just a music festival – it is a pilgrimage. The world descends on Swaziland – camping, glamping and dancing to a diverse line-up of musicians. In 2017, everyone from Hugh Masekela, TKZee and Jah Prayzah to Jojo Abot, Trenton and Free Radical and Jeremy Loops performed across four stages. Three local bands also won the opportunity to perform. There is the Handcraft & Design Marketplace and the Global Food Village to feed all your senses, as well as the Bushfire Kidzone, which has creative and play activities for the kids.

In 2018, MTN Bushfire is going down from 25-27 May.

festival resonates wherever it goes, and is in tune with the local perspective. Morgan explains that “they’re the ones that actually make AFROPUNK a global community”.

And, when it comes to determining the line-up, it is about drawing from local insight and international experience. “It is a balance that is hard to put into exact words – our own interests of presenting artists + artists who wanted to come with us to Joburg + artists who the South African members of the community wanted to see. This is the way it always works, it’s organic that way.”

At time of publishing, artists on the bill include Solange, Anderson .Paak, King Tha vs Blk Jks, Laura Mvula, Nakhane, Black Motion, The Brother Moves On, Theo Parrish, Spoek Mathambo, Urban Village, and God Sons and Daughter, among others.

IMAGE Andile Buka

Beyond the festival, AFROPUNK also has a social responsibility arm, the AFROPUNK Global Initiative, which is core to the organisation’s being and mission, and is where the actual give-back to the AFROPUNK community happens. A few of the organisations it has worked with are Color of Change, Aids Health Foundation, Black Lives Matter, Trans Lives Matter and Planned Parenthood.

CHALE WOTE, ACCRA, GHANA In 2011, a collective of multidisciplinary artists came together as ACCRA[DOT]ALT to establish the first-ever Chale Wote Festival, rooted in Jamestown, one of Accra’s oldest neighbourhoods.

Whether consciously or unconsciously, it is firmly centred in Afrocentrism, of which author Ytasha Womack said: “Afrofuturism stretches the imagination far beyond the conventions of our time and the horizons of expectation, and kicks the box of normalcy and preconceived ideas of blackness out of the solar system. Whether it’s scifi story lines or radical eccentricity, Afrofuturism inverts reality.” The festival takes place in August every year, pulling an estimated 10 000 people, who experience an array of arts and culture initiatives including block parties, exhibitions, installations, street art, fashion, film and extreme sports, as well as a marketplace. While the 2017 edition has just passed, it gives you a year to plan your trip to Ghana.

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ADVERTORIAL

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WINDHOEK STORY!

AS ONE OF THE SPONSORS, WINDHOEK WAS PRESENT AT THE AFROPOLITAN'S 50TH ISSUE CELEBRATION. GUESTS WERE INVITED TO ENJOY THE LEGENDARY WINDHOEK FLAVOURS AT THEIR STAND, AND ASKED TO WRITE DOWN THE FIRST WORD THAT CAME TO MIND. WORDS LIKE: REFRESHMENT, GOLD, REFINED, SMOOTH AND FRIENDSHIP ABOUNDED. WE AT THE AFROPOLITAN MADE A PROMISE TO CREATE A STORY WITH THE WORDS ON BEHALF OF WINDHOEK, AND HERE THAT STORY IS… It was a party like no other! I knew it would be amazing because, after all, it was an Afropolitan event! I arrived and scanned the room. Ah yebo!, there it was… the slice of heaven I was looking for, the mind-blowing Windhoek corner – illuminated in all its golden glory. I have always had a keen eye for quality and so no other offering was even a consideration for my refined palate. I knew if I could just get through the crowds, what awaited me on the other side was mnandi. I took a first step towards deliciousness, I could already taste the 100% pure flavour.

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Suddenly a wave of happy partygoers swept me to the left. I went with the flow, but kept my eyes firmly on the prize. After multiple greetings, hugs and handshakes, the wave dissipated and I had an opportunity to escape. Craft-ily, I took the gap and surged forward to the goodness. All I could think about was the smooth gold that was about to pass my lips and embrace my taste buds.

Suddenly… a face in my face! It was a beautiful face, granted, and it gave me a bold kiss in greeting on my cheek. This face was familiar to me and I found the engagement exciting, but I had no time to relax. My mission was clear – I was on my way to greatness; with a few hops, some skips and a jump, I finally achieved success.

The bottle felt ice cold in my, most grateful, hand and the refreshing lager was a thirst quencher, uplifting my mood instantly! Soon I was surrounded by people sharing, enjoying friendship and making unforgettable memories.

The moment was captivating and simply perfect!

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ENTERTAINMENT

50TH ISSUE

CELEBRATION A COLLABORATION OF PARTNERS

Afropolitans enjoing the ambience.

IN THIS, THE 51ST ISSUE OF THE AFROPOLITAN MAGAZINE, WHICH HAS A ‘COLLABORATION’ THEME, WE PAY HOMAGE TO THE AMALGAMATED EFFORTS OF MANY WHO PRODUCE AMAZING BODIES OF WORK IN THE ARTS, CULTURE, BEAUTY, FASHION AND BUSINESS SECTORS. WHILE WE ARE CELEBRATING THESE POWERFUL PARTNERSHIPS, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO PAY HOMAGE TO THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IT TOOK FOR THE AFROPOLITAN MAGAZINE TO REACH A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE – THAT OF 50 ISSUES!

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o celebrate this unbelievable achievement, we hosted the Afropolitan 50th Celebration, which was a glittering event held at The Shed, at Steyn City Parkland Residence. The event was a massive success and a coming together of our valued team members (past and present), our amazing suppliers and contributors, our honoured partners and our supportive and loyal sponsors, including: Bakos Brothers, Cape Town Big 7, DL Furniture, Edgars, Jaguar, Johnnie Walker, Living Legends Legacy Projecy, Lounge Around, Kaya FM, Kiwi, Nescafé, Nicolway Bryanston, Uniq Lights and Home, Van Loveren Family Vineyards and Windhoek.

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Proverb, doing what Proverb does best.

Sheer Bakos Brothers luxury was the setting for the Kaya FM VIP lounge.

Beautiful people abounded.

Impressive venue for the event, The Shed at Steyn City Parkland Residence.

The event was attended by fashionistas and socialites.

Johnnie Walker outdid themselves with their signature serves.

The Jaguar display was out of this world.

Product display by Edgars.

Edcon's amazing Afropolitan cover activation.

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ENTERTAINMENT

The Windhoek team who served with class all night.

The Afropolitan team (past and present) with friends, from left to right: Quincy Matonhodze, Proverb, Greg Maloka, Kojo Baffoe, Brendah Dandala, Lerato Tshabalala, Sean Press, Didi Okoro

Cape Town Big 7 activation.

Enjoying a glass of wine and the DL furniture.

Hollywood wall for Afropolitan stars.

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Our guests capturing memories

ENTERTAINMENT

Welcome Msomi and friends enjoying the night.

Abigail Kubheka mesmerizing the guests.

Nestlé kept the guests warm with Nescafé.

Kiwi had an awesome VIP shoe shine stand.

Our DJ kept the crowd dancing all night.

THE AFROPOLITAN WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

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MOTORING

MOTORING COLLABORATIONS

BY DAMIAN MURPHY

THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THERE HAVE BEEN A SLEW OF SUCCESSFUL AND EQUALLY UNSUCCESSFUL COLLABORATIONS IN THE MOTORING WORLD. SOME OF THESE COLLABORATIONS HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED AND COMPLIMENTARY, AND SOME OF THEM HAVE GARNERED UNANIMOUS CRITICISM. WE THOUGHT WE’D LOOK AT A FEW OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH THE AGES.

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errari and Italian design firm Pininfarina have a partnership that stretches back to the early 1950s and was actually started under tumultuous circumstances. Neither Enzo Ferrari nor Battista “Pinin” Farina really wanted to work with each other, but at the same time, neither of them wanted to miss out on a potential collaboration that could take both the Ferrari brand and the Pininfarina brand to another level. Some of the models Pininfarina have built or designed since its collaboration with Ferrari started in 1951 include the California, the F12 and the incredibly popular 458. The Ferrari 458 was first unveiled in 2009, and has since gone on to become one of the highest-selling models in the stable. The body was designed by Pininfarina under the leadership of Donato Coco, the Ferrari design director, and is lauded by many as one of the best-looking cars to come out of the Modena factory. Because of the superior design and aerodynamics, the 458 performs at the highest level, beating the F430 – the model it replaced – by a considerable margin.

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Besides its partnership with Ferrari, Pininfarina is employed by a wide variety of automobile manufacturers – from Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, FIAT, GM, Lancia and Maserati to emerging companies in the Asian market, with Chinese manufacturers such as AviChina, Chery, Changfeng, Brilliance and JAC, and Korean manufacturers Daewoo and Hyundai – to design vehicles.

Another famous collaboration in the motoring world is the one between Mini and the Cooper Car Company. The Mini Cooper is probably the stand-out model in the Mini stable. The very first Mini was designed for BMC (British Motor Corporation) by Sir Alec Issigonis in the late 50s and is still one of the most popular cars on the market today. John Cooper, a friend of Issigonis, saw the potential in Mini to become a race car. Cooper’s car company built Formula One and rally cars, so he approached BMC. The first Mini Cooper was built in 1961.

The Austin Mini Cooper and Morris Mini Cooper featured a racing-tuned engine, twin SU carburettors, a closer-ratio gearbox and front disc brakes, which were very uncommon in a small car during the early 60s. The Mini–Cooper partnership has lasted the test of time and even after the BMW buy-out of the Mini brand, the Cooper remains the flagship model in the range. Most Minis are performance hatchbacks. We recently previewed the John Cooper Works edition and we had our hair blown back by the power delivered and fun we had behind the wheel.

Red Bull Racing in Formula One was powered to the 2012 title by a Renault engine. To celebrate that momentous victory, Renault launched a limited edition Megane to the market for the powerhungry motoring enthusiast. The Megane RS Red Bull Racing RB8 Special Edition had a very limited launch in South Africa.

MOTORING

Mini John Cooper Works edition

Renault Megane RS Red Bull Racing RB8 Special Edition

Only 50 models were made available in the country and they all had Red Bull F1-inspired blue body colour and grey detailing at the front and on the diffuser and mirror housings. The RB8 is powered by a 2.0 litre engine that delivers 195 kW of power at 5500 rpm and 360 Nm of torque. This Megane can hit 100 km/h in six or so seconds, reaching a max speed of 255 km/h.

Thankfully, because the RB8 is so powerful, Renault also offered advanced driving courses to anyone who purchased the limited edition car.

Not all collaborations work, though. There have been a few eyebrow-raising colabs over the years that have left the marketers

NEITHER ENZO FERRARI NOR BATTISTA “PININ” FARINA REALLY WANTED TO WORK WITH EACH OTHER behind them with egg on their faces. Range Rover’s partnership with Victoria Beckham and Ford’s partnership with Heinz Tomato Ketchup are just two instances where the collaboration didn’t go according to plan. However, collaborations do add value to most parties that get involved, and have opened doors for certain brands to break into markets they never thought possible.

Ferrari and Pininfarina, Renault and Red Bull, or Mini and the Cooper Car Company – they have all added as much value to the respective manufacturers as they have to the drivers.

Ferrari 458 Italia

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LAST WORD

GUGU NKABINDE

NUDE INTIMACY Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and a little bit in Botswana.

What did your parents do?

I’m a general’s daughter. My South African father was in exile in Zimbabwe while my Zimbabwean mother, who passed on, was the daughter of a prominent politician.

She was involved in protecting and aiding Umkhonto we Sizwe soldiers of which my dad was one. After 1994, my father was integrated into the SANDF, from which he retired a few months back.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be in entertainment but, at about 13 years old, my brother, who was in his first year at UWC, came home with a prospectus. There was something about communications that resonated with me. I then decided on that and ended up doing a BA Media Studies.

What was your first job out of school?

It was at Unilever, as assistant brand manager for Knorr.

What other jobs have you had?

I looked for jobs that allowed me to dig for insights and inform product development.

Within Unilever, I also worked on brands like Dove and Shield Teens. I then moved

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to Castle Lite, followed by Bacardi, before going into advertising.

How did you get from that to manufacturing?

How did you get into strategy?

At Unilever, they train you to become a problem-solver and a consumer champion.

The strategist is the person at the segue between what the problem or opportunity is and what people actually want.

I was hitting a wall in South Africa in terms of manufacturing, so I jumped on a plane and went to China. I found a company and we started reverse engineering – from skin tones and dyeing material, to what the basic underwear to test the market is and to land it.

What are the biggest lessons you learnt from marketing?

What are the things that you wish you knew about entrepreneurship?

The gold is in identifying what people actually want. Is it enough of a problem?

And how do I highlight it so that they gravitate towards a solution? I need to see things through the eyes of the consumer all the time because that’s who is meant to pull the product off the shelf, click and buy, or simply engage with it.

It’s continuous learning. It will humble you.

You have to learn how to not know, and the quicker you realise you don’t know, the quicker you’re going to learn it. It demands that you expand and access the infinite capabilities that you didn’t even know you had.

Why did you start Gugu Intimates?

I went to a pitch for a client, and the whole time I was uncomfortable. It was a warm August day and I was wearing a long-sleeve black top under my white shirt. Afterwards, I was chatting to some colleagues about what everyone wears beneath a white shirt. The consensus was layering. My question was: “Why can’t underwear do what it’s supposed to do?” I found some nude brands internationally, but ended up paying R3 000 for a set of underwear. Nothing fancy. That’s what inspired Gugu Intimates.

How do you stay motivated to wake up each day?

I’ve learnt to be kinder to myself. I’ve learnt it’s okay to take a day when I’m disappointed; to let my inner five year old bitch and moan and then tomorrow, we get up and get going.

Also, finding my tribe has been so important; the people who know how to balance me.

What excites you?

Sitting with like-minded people to ask questions and ruminate over possible answers. Creation and doing new things excites me, except for food. I don’t like trying new things with food.

IMAGE Stills By Tom

Gugu Nkabinde

STRATEGIST AND ENTREPRENEUR GUGU NKABINDE SHARES HER JOURNEY AND HOW GUGU INTIMATES, HER “SKIN-COLOUR UNDERWEAR FOR BROWNSKINNED GIRLS“, WAS BORN. BY KOJO BAFFOE