The Afropolitan Edition 20

ALTERNATE MONTHLY Issue 20, Vol.4, 2011 www.afropolitan.co.za

Celebrating

C O L L E C T O R ’ S

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in this issue

C O N T E N T S

editor’s note

& EXPECTATIONS

10 2011 A SEASON OF HOPE

REGULARS

16 18

12 14 16

Letters Poetry Dr. Magaugau’s Corner

Main feature

18

Top 20 Afropolitans

columns

26 Mamelang Memela

26

A Nation Without Artistic Heroes

music profile

28 Vuyo Tyolo & Putuma Tiso

TRIBUTE

31

31

Hotep Idris Galeta

Jazz pianist, composer, band leader & music scholar

PROFILE

34 Tsotsi in the Boardroom

Afropolitan Editor Sam Mathe

PHOTO essay

38

38 Pic of the Pics

FINANCE

44 Top 20 Performing

Shares Companies

reviews

48 Restaurant Review

The Red Chamber

50 Book Reviews

Word on Words

51

DVD Reviews

Couch Potato

52 Movie Reviews Bioscope

53 CD Reviews

48

4

Beat Box

54 Culinary Culture

Fields of Gold

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in this issue

C O N T E N T S

56

Fashion 56 Timeless

64

beauty & Grooming 64 Summer Loving & Close Shave

Gadgets

66

66 Budget Shopping 70

decor

70 Afro Decor

motoring

74

74

The New Volvo S60 Naughty but Nice

property 76

Aranmore Estate

The Perfect Place To Call Home

travel

79 Top 20 Travel Hotspots

79

in South Africa

kaburu

88 The National

6

Democratic Resolution

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C r e d i ts

the team editor Sam Mathe

lifestyle editor Elka Schaimberg

Fax: +27(0) 11 789 7097 email: pressman@contactmedia.co.za web: www.contactmedia.co.za

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Copyright © 2010 Contact Media & Communications. 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.

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e d i to r ' s

note

FROM THE CHIEF A season of Hope 2011 and Great Expectations

“We continue to win new readers who express admiration for what they view as a cutting-edge, groundbreaking publication with informative articles”

I

t’s another new season with new year’s resolutions for most of us. While 2011 started on a tragic note for certain South Africans – including those who lost loved ones and property in the deadly stampede in a North West tavern that claimed 11 young lives and the recent costly floods – we nevertheless have cause to be optimistic about what lies ahead.

After all, it’s human nature to hope for the best even in the face of adversity.

Positive developments such as the improved matric results should serve as a morale booster for young people who

10

are preparing to tackle the challenges of tertiary education.

Elsewhere, African states continue to make international headlines for better or worse. The bickering and stand-off in the Ivory Coast should remind us all that self-seeking and power-hungry despots should have no role in African administration and politics.

In this regard leaders in countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe have set a bad precedent by refusing to respect the outcomes of the democratic ballot process; they’re holding the entire populace at ransom to cling to power at all cost, including the cost to human lives. On the flipside, groundbreaking political developments in Sudan should hopefully serve as a beacon of hope for the continent’s largest country.

The historic referendum in that country is an exercise of the will of the people, and a two-state solution of Northern and Southern Sudan should hopefully put an end to the long and protracted civil war – particularly in the oil-rich Darfur region. One can only hope that the leaders in Sudan have the foresight and fortitude to tackle the challenging task ahead of forging and implementing a reconstruction programme. The people of Darfur in particular and Sudan in general have suffered enough.

We’re starting a new season on a high note. Since our first edition hit the shelves in May 2007, we’ve strived to raise the bar with every issue of Afropolitan published.

The new-look Afropolitan is certainly a breath of fresh air. Bold, sleek and elegant, it’s tailor-made for the

discerning reader who appreciates and enjoys the good things in life.

We continue to win new readers who express admiration for what they view as a cutting-edge, groundbreaking publication with informative articles.

We celebrate our 20th edition milestone with a lead article on the top 20 Afropolitans (page 18). From comedians to entrepreneurs, these are kind of people who fall in the category of super achievers in their respective fields. These are men and women who have proven themselves as exceptionally talented.

They’re an inspiration to many.

While one acknowledges that there are many deserving cases that didn’t make the list due to space constraints and other logistical reasons, it’s important to salute some of the country’s leading lights.

Our other top 20 articles such as travel are also top-notch stuff that’s been well designed. We also showcase the musical talents of young artists from the Eastern Cape. South Africa is blessed with exceptional musical and artistic talent that often goes unappreciated by local music-lovers.

It’s part of the Afropolitan mission to celebrate the achievements of established local artists while at the same time exposing promising talent.

Musicians Vuyo Tyolo and Putuma Tiso are newcomers on the Afro-soul scene, but on page 28 we highlight how they’re already making serious waves as groundbreaking musicians.

Enjoy your new-look Afropolitan.

Sam Mathe Editor

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MAILBOX Do you have strong views about your favourite magazine’s content? Do you think we are a cuttingedge publication with a unique take on magazine journalism or just another middle-of-the-road publication? Do you have burning issues generated by current affairs that you would like to share with us? We cherish your feedback – positive or otherwise – and urge you to send your contributions.

Please email them to: sam@contactmedia.co.za or afroletters@contactmedia.co.za You can also fax your contributions to (011) 789-7097

Laziness is nothing but a habit of resting before you get tired!

Dear Editor My fellow black South Africans, the dance floor of success is open for everyone. I want to speak about the inconvenient truth that deserves to be said about my fellow black South Africans. As Africans we want to be successful whilst our white counterparts are flourishing. When you like something you make sacrifices and work hard to get it if you don’t have it yet. You appreciate it when you already have it.

When you want something it is easy to give up during hard times; that is why some of us black people give up easily.

Instead of putting more effort into succeeding we complain more about ups and downs, as if successful people never struggled before to achieve their goals.

Wanting people to feel sorry for your poverty doesn’t solve any problem; what solves a problem is taking action against your poverty. Stop criticising those who are better off than you and start to learn from them, because when you criticise them you even miss the opportunity of being better by learning from the best.

The time you waste searching for the weaknesses of successful people, so that you criticise them, can be

12

utilised to formulate positive thoughts if you cure your negative thinking.

The fear to move out of your comfort zone will always thwart your success.

Rationalisation about why are you not succeeding will not lead to success but failure. As Africans we must stop shifting our blame to others while there are people succeeding in similar situations.

Slumbering and laziness will rule and ruin your life if you are not prepared to stand up and fight for what belongs to you.

Every person has the responsibility to fight his/her own battles and no one will fight yours. Ask yourself why do you crave for all those beautiful things and success; it is absolutely not necessary to be jealous of those that have the beautiful things and success, but maybe there are certain things that you have to do, to achieve them because every success starts in the mind before the ideas can be transformed into success.

Take note that you will only have answers to your questions once you start searching for the answers.

Vusi April Jiyana Bundu Inn Village - Mpumalanga

healing powers Dear Editor A friend of mine, who worked overseas a while back, used to tell me stories of a

colleague she had there who was always writing letters to editors, offering up his opinion or venting his anger about just about anything. It has always seemed such a strange thing to do. Yet here I am writing a letter to The Afropolitan magazine! And here’s why: I had an operation late last year and spent quite some time recovering at home, unable to move, a prisoner in my own bed. My wife had her hands full trying to ease my irritability by providing a variety of reading material to keep me busy. Time and again I would find myself putting down some magazine because it just seemed to be like the last, the same, the same, the same. Then I picked up your November issue and in boredom began to read. I want to tell you I read it from cover to cover, including the Christmas menu! and what a surprise. The variety of subjects was fresh, the quality of writing and opinion more interesting to me than the others I’d tried and I really enjoyed the photographic awards pictures. So, thank you and well done.

I’m looking forward to the next issue.

Grateful from Kempton Park!

Editor’s Response We were so pleased to receive your letter and we're glad that you found a friend in the Afropolitan during your recovery. We hope that you are back in commission and that you enjoy this, our 20th anniversary edition. Let us know what you think of our new design.

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POETRY

By Zamokuhle Madinana

R E G U L A R S

my god we are toddlers who have tasted the bitterness of this life in the meeting of our private parts First appeared on Carapace 80, 2010

my land the land of i and i needs purification in these cells of self-destruction darfur and kigali are my witnesses as afrika is committing suicide and drowning in the blood of genocide the vagabonds of doom are leading the royal sons of afrika to gloom the daughters of this soil are trading their souls for babylon in the lust supper of our time yeah i and i mankind is brutally slaughtered our native land has become a restaurant of vultures innocent people are crucified for their culture we are witnessing our pride being buried in a grave of western invention it is mental colonization that is being ignored by the masses under this black sunlight of our days when agony rapes harmony in a cold bed of azania worshippers of foreign beasts are now found licking the wounds about premature solutions dancing to an orchestra of plastic truths in a theatre of broken promises

14

fragmented freedom we are sailing in an ocean of lies it’s a journey with no destiny we are slaves of silent voices our choices are always drenched in streams and our dreams are shuttered burnt and scattered we are the victims of indoctrination and commercialised religions only illusions are reflected on the mirrors of life & the truth is distorted coz our ancestral and royal blood has been diluted by western acids evil gods speak in immortal voices and we bow for devil donating our souls

Zamokuhle Madinana is a South African poet and writer. His works had appeared in Botsotso, Carapace, Sunday World and ITCH to mention but a few. His poetry deals with themes of love, politics and social issues. His first anthology of poems, God in Kasie Children, was published in 2005 and followed by Venoms and Demons (2009).

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BY SAM MATHE

d r

m agaugau ’ s

C O r ne r

Lest We Forget

J

anuary 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the brutal assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s first democratically elected prime minister and one of Africa’s revered martyrs, at the hands of Belgian and US imperialist agents orchestrated by the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Lumumba, a staunch pan-Africanist who looked to Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania for political inspiration, was murdered simply because he refused to compromise on his demands for genuine independence. While the post-colonial imperialist forces were only interested in a puppet government that would allow them to continue their exploitation of the DRC’s rich mineral resources, Lumumba insisted on national sovereignty.

A former postal clerk and a travelling beer salesman, Patrice Emery Lumumba was a Roman Catholic-educated leader whose background was nevertheless rooted in the struggles of his ordinary countrymen. On the eve of the country’s independence in 1960, election fever spawned an impressive number of political parties whose ambitious leaders were hoping for some political domination in the new administration.

Most of these parties were formed along ethnic and regional lines. Only Lumumba’s party, the Mouvement National Congolais (the National Movement of the Congo), transcended these divisions. It was a nationalist party that enjoyed popular support among the Congolese populace. Founded in 1958 by Lumumba as a party whose primary aim was the total independence of the country from her Belgian colonial administrators, it was wracked with internal divisions and leadership disharmony that split it into two a year later.

The Lumumba faction, however, retained an upper hand and in 1960 won a landslide victory during the historic elections. Lumumba advocated a more centralised form of government as opposed to some of his

16

rivals, who wanted a federalist type of administration.

His troubles seemed to have started from the first day of independence when, in a hard-hitting speech, he made his feelings clear about what sort of a future he sought for his fellow countrymen vis-a-vis the post-colonial imperialist

“We have known harassing work, exacted in exchange for salaries which did not permit us to eat enough to drive away hunger, to clothe ourselves, or to house ourselves decently, or to raise our children as creatures dear to us.” – Patrice Lumumba programme of the Belgians and their American friends, who were solely interested in the exploitation of the country’s vast mineral resources.

In a ceremony attended by the Belgian king and other notable European and American dignitaries, Lumumba spelled out in graphic and precise terms the harsh reality of the Belgian colonial oppression spanning some 80 years.

He referred to the colonial era as a period of “humiliating slavery that was imposed upon us by force”. During this period, ordinary Congolese people were for instance subjected to unspeakable brutality; farm workers on rubber plantations would often be mutilated as punishment for laziness.

In fact, history shows that the reigning Belgian monarch, King Leopold II,

treated the Congo, a region bigger than Western Europe, as his personal fiefdom.

“We have known harassing work, exacted in exchange for salaries which did not permit us to eat enough to drive away hunger, to clothe ourselves, or to house ourselves decently, or to raise our children as creatures dear to us,” Lumumba said during his inauguration speech. “We have known ironies, insults, blows that we endured morning, noon and night, because we are negroes.

We have seen our lands seized in the name of allegedly legal laws, which in fact recognised only that might is right.

We will never forget the massacres where so many perished, the cells into which those who refused to submit to a regime of oppression and exploitation were thrown.”

A few months after the declaration of independence, Lumumba’s government was plunged in turmoil after the mineralrich province of Katanga seceded from the central government and the prime minister fell out of favour with his president, Joseph Kasavubu.

Lumumba was put under house arrest and eventually faced a gruesome murder at the hands of his enemies. They used all sorts of methods to obliterate traces of his physical being. These included axes, saws, acid and fire to dismember and get rid of his body.

A report on the findings of a commission of inquiry initiated by the Belgian government in 2001 indicates that Brussels acknowledges their involvement in the horrific assassination of Lumumba.

“If we want to engage in frank dialogue with our former colonial partners, then we have to also consider some painful periods from our colonial past,” a foreign ministry spokesperson of the commission was quoted as saying at the time.

Several investigations, welldocumented in books like De Moord Op Lumumba (The Murder Of Lumumba) by Flemish historian Ludo de Witte and the biopic Lumumba, have unveiled ample and incontrovertible proof that the assassination of Lumumba was the direct

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Lumumba’s Last Letter

Patrice Emery Lumumba [ 2 July 1925 – 17 January 1961 ]

result of orders given by the Belgian government and Washington at the behest of the CIA. The movie recreates the last days of Lumumba at the hands of his captors and replays the contents of the letter he

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wrote to his wife, Pauline, just before he met his tragic death at the age of 35. It is a classic missive that reflects the martyred leader’s political views and commitment to the ideals of a free Africa.

I write you these words without knowing if they will reach you, when they will reach you, or if I will still be living when you read them. All during the length of my fight for the independence of my country, I have never doubted for a single instant the final triumph of the sacred cause to which my companions and myself have consecrated our lives.

But what we wish for our country, its right to an honourable life, to a spotless dignity, to an independence without restrictions, Belgian colonialism and its Western allies – who have found direct and indirect support, deliberate and not deliberate among certain high officials of the United Nations, this organization in which we placed all our confidence when we called for their assistance-have not wished it.

They have corrupted certain of our fellow countrymen, they have contributed to distorting the truth and our enemies, that they will rise up like a single person to say no to a degrading and shameful colonialism and to reassume their dignity under a pure sun. We are not alone. Africa, Asia, and free and liberated people from every corner of the world will always be found at the side of the Congolese.

They will not abandon the light until the day comes when there are no more colonisers and their mercenaries in our country. To my children whom I leave and whom perhaps I will see no more, I wish that they be told that the future of the Congo is beautiful and that it expects for each Congolese, to accomplish the sacred task of reconstruction of our independence and our sovereignty; for without dignity there is no liberty, without justice there is no dignity, and without independence there are no free men.

No brutality, mistreatment, or torture has ever forced me to ask for grace, for I prefer to die with my head high, my faith steadfast, and my confidence profound in the destiny of my country, rather than to live in submission and scorn of sacred principles. History will one day have its say, but it will not be the history that Brussels, Paris, Washington or the United Nations will teach, but that which they will teach in the countries emancipated from colonialism and its puppets. Africa will write its own history, and it will be, to the north and to the south of the Sahara, a history of glory and dignity.

Do not weep for me, my dear companion. I know that my country, which suffers so much, will know how to defend its independence and its liberty.

Long live the Congo! Long live Africa!

Patrice

17

image courtesy of getty images

My Dear Companion,

sto r y

TOP 20

AFROPOLITANS

BY SAM MATHE

co v e r

18

They’re trailblazers, superachievers, go-getters. These are South Africa’s pioneering leaders in their chosen fields.

Whether you find them in the corporate or business sectors or in the world of the arts and literature, they’re movers and shakers who’re always determined to break new ground.

But more importantly, their never-say-die spirit means they’re committed to staying on top. To celebrate our milestone, SAM MATHE and DAMIAN MURPHY salute the achievements of some of the country’s top Afropolitans while ELKA SCHAIMBERG doffs her hat to the biggest Afropolitan of them all, the City of Gold.

TOP 10 CREATIVE SPIRITS NKHENSANI NKOSI Designing Entrepreneur Perhaps it was fate that decreed otherwise.

But had circumstances not turned out differently, fashion luminary and trailblazing entrepreneur, Nkhensani Nkosi, would probably be counted in the league of the country’s leading actors and actresses – a super achiever on stage, TV and screen.

Instead, at 21, the talented actress who toured the world acting in the historic Market Theatre production, Sophiatown, and starred in Mfundi Vundla’s movie, Soweto Green, had other ideas and dreams.

Her dream was “to start a business that would contribute to changing how South Africans feel about themselves and how the rest of the world feels about Africa.”

That business became Stoned Cherrie, a black urban fashion brand and one of the first local clothing brands to be retailed as an exclusive designers’ range by one of the country’s largest and upmarket chain stores, Woolworths. And in its 10-year existence, Stoned Cherrie has become a leading fashion label famous for evocative images that express an African identity.

These are 50’s iconic images from old DRUM covers. Her creative designs have won her scores of awards and accolades, notably the Best Ladies’ Wear Award (2002), Young Business Achiever Award and L’Oreal/Fairlady Catherine Lifetime Achievement Award (2005).

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Versatile Vocalist Sibongile Khumalo has been described as the country’s First Lady of Song. Nelson Mandela saluted her dedication and gift of song when he referred to her as ”our national treasure”. She’s a magnificent and visionary artist whose repertoire mirrors the country’s rich and diverse musical heritage. Her debut album, Ancient Evenings (1996), was a recording milestone that paid homage to the cultural and artistic diversity of the great South African songbook – a treasure trove of the country’s rich choral, jazz, classical and folk traditions.

Versatile and flexible, South Africa’s leading soprano continues to perform and record music that reflects not only our diverse cultural heritage but the spirit of a new nation that’s grappling to come to terms with its painful past.

As the daughter of Khabi Mngoma, a classical and choral master, her future as a musician was written in the stars.

And from an early age, the 1993 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner was already performing behind a piano as a pupil of legendary musicians Emily Motsieloa and Princess Magogo Ka Dinuzulu. Her latest album, Sibongile Khumalo Live!, salutes some of the country’s foremost composers including Hugh Masekela, Caiphus Semenya and Allen Kwela.

LEBOGANG MASHILE Spoken Word Phenomenon It’s been poignantly observed that this young dynamo’s poetry “takes flight from the page to the stage and back again” to create visual and verbal magic.

Lebo Mashile’s vibrant and versatile approach to poetry performance is peerless. The effect of the beauty, power and mystique of her live renditions has been likened to a thrilling silk ribbon drawn through the ripples of the listener’s brain.

Her stirring verses are inspiring, thought-provoking and crusading.

As a leading voice on the local and international spoken-word circuit, she’s enthralled poetry lovers in distant lands such as Cuba, Jamaica and the United States. Her highly acclaimed debut anthology, aptly titled In A Ribbon Of Rhythm, won her the coveted Noma Award for Publishing in Africa in 2006; at 27, she was arguably the youngest recipient ever.

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Her 2008 follow-up, Flying Above The Sky, underscores her creative prowess and added another feather to her cap as a self-published poet – alongside multiple roles that include television presenting and acting. She acted in the Academy Award-nominated film about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, Hotel Rwanda. Blessed with a creative intellect and sense of mission, Mashile is totally focused on her craft and continues to explore unimagined frontiers in the magical forest of words.

ZAKES ZANEMVULA MDA Groundbreaking Wordsmith Writer and academic Zakes Mda is on of the most articulate voices that emerged in post-1994 South African literature. At a time when writers were debating the way forward, the Ohio-based professor of literature and African studies was already causing massive waves in the literary world following the publication of his extraordinary novel Ways Of Dying.

Its protagonist, a professional mourner, proved that the writer was pushing literary frontiers in his quest to explore fresh themes and innovative ways of fiction writing. Since then he hasn’t disappointed, publishing no less than five novels of exceptional literary merit.

Indeed his rise as a leading light in this genre has been nothing short of meteoric.

Remarkably, the internationally celebrated novelist has pointed out that he discovered the novel by pure chance.

“I surprised myself because I didn’t know that I could write sustained prose,” he said.

Son of anti-apartheid firebrand AP Mda, he started as a playwright and academic in the 70s, teaching literature at the National University of Lesotho.

His classic play We Shall Sing For The Fatherland was published in 1977. Mda is also a talented painter and beekeeper.

SAM NHLENGETHWA Jazz Painter Exploration and appropriation are two of the primary vehicles of contemporary expression in the visual arts. Sam Nhlengethwa’s work as the country’s pioneering collagist is a classic case in point. The 1994 Standard Bank Young Artist Award recipient’s appropriation of jazz images in the collage medium to celebrate the story and personalities behind this revered genre has made him a household name in the art world.

Like the music of his jazz idols, Nhlengethwa’s appropriation device is primarily improvisatory. Urbane and well-travelled, this full-time artist from Springs has exhibited extensively both at home and abroad. Some of his treasured jazz pieces include Kippies, I Remember Wes Montgomery and Dedicated To Charles Mingus. Initially a self-taught artist, he was inspired by sculptor Lucas Sithole to dedicate his life to art.

Another inspiration, Judas Mahlangu, later introduced him to the famous Rorke’s Drift Art School in Natal, where he studied from 1977 to 1978. He also took lessons with the Johannesburg Art Foundation and later worked at the SABC as a set designer and graphic artist while teaching art at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.

MBONGENI NGEMA Musician And Stage Virtuoso Mbongeni Ngema took the scriptwriting and directing baton from mentor and father of township theatre, Gibson Kente, employed it to scout and nurture new talent and then launched his protégés onto international stages through his most famous play, Sarafina!.

A masterpiece of protest theatre, Sarafina! premiered at the Market Theatre to critical media acclaim before it took Broadway by storm and eventually became an award-winning box-office blockbuster starring Miriam Makeba, Leleti Khumalo and Hollywood legend Whoopi Goldberg.

Ngema’s other celebrated plays, Asinamali and Woza Albert, also earned him top accolades, notably five Vita Awards and an Off-Broadway Obie Award. In post-apartheid South Africa, Ngema has discovered fresh themes to pen masterpieces that explore new perspectives to sustain his theatrical genius, as historical plays such as The Zulu and his recent The Lion Of The East attest.

A talented composer and singer, Ngema has also established himself as one of the country’s most gifted musicians, producing music that, like his plays, mirrors and critiques his society. He co-ordinates his artistic pursuits through Committed Artists, a stage, film, TV and music company that he founded and chairs. His other international accolades include being inducted into the Manhattan Theatre Wall of Fame. He is listed at number 92 in the Great South Africans poll.

19

image courtesy of gallo images/true love magazine

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JOHN BONISILE KANI Crusading Film And Theatre Thespian Long before environmental issues became fashionable, this sage of the stage was already championing green consciousness through the groundbreaking movie, Soweto Green (1995). And more than a decade before Mbongeni Ngema held American theatre lovers spellbound with his enchanting Sarafina! musical, the debonair John Kani and fellow actor Winston Ntshona had already captured the hearts of American audiences with their brand of protest theatre when they starred on Broadway in Sizwe Banzi Is Dead and The Island.

Both plays earned Kani and Ntshona the prestigious Tony Award. In the early 80s, Kani wowed international audiences again when he co-starred alongside the late Zakes Mokae in another Tony Award winner by Athol Fugard, Master Harold And The Boys. Through an autobiographical play like Nothing But The Truth and his executive roles in various cultural and corporate bodies, Kani continues to play a critical role in the development of local theatre.

His big screen credits include The Native Who Caused All The Trouble, Sarafina!, and Saturday Night At The Palace. It’s thanks to his exceptional acting abilities and illustrious career that among his numerous accolades are the Naledi Lifetime Achievement Award, the Avanti Hall of Fame Award and the Order of Ikhamanga. He’s listed at number 51 in the book Great South Africans.

TREVOR NOAH Mzansi’s Funniest Stand-Up Comedian Trevor Noah is the prince of local comedy and a world-class performer with more than just the right qualities that include sharp wit, school-boyish charm and thought-provoking commentary.

The fresh-faced award-winning comedian is also a natural actor who’s blessed with a rare gift to flawlessly impersonate his subjects with hilarious effect for his full-house shows. And when it comes to subjects, the Daywalker star has no holy cows. He milks them all – irrespective of colour, creed, age or social status; from the ordinary Joe Soap to the world’s most revered non-agenarian statesman, Nelson Mandela.

A well-sought-after MC at business,

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social and corporate events, Trevor Noah’s international credentials include being the only local performer to breeze through the auditions of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and being chosen to represent South Africa as the only local act at the Jozi International Comedy Festival.

MFUNDI VUNDLA Filmmaker And Generations Creator Mfundi Vundla’s pioneering contribution to television entertainment has been nothing short of phenomenal.

As a creator of drama series and soap operas on the small screen, Vundla has revolutionised TV entertainment with such groundbreaking works as Backstage, Jozi-H and Generations.

The latter, of course, is one of the country’s longest-running soap operas and a fulfilment of Vundla’s cherished dream, to create a popular soapie whose storyline would reflect the aspirations of African people while exposing new talent.

Vundla was also the author of Soweto Green (1995) and producer of the Hollywood movie based on the eponymous novel by Antjie Krog, Country Of My Skull. He went into exile in 1970 and cut his teeth in television script writing in California where he contributed on well-known TV dramas like the detective series NYPD Blue and Hill Street Blues. He is currently a librettist for a local opera on the life of anti-apartheid martyr, Chris Hani, titled Five:20.

AUBREY SEKHABI The Quentin Tarantino Of The Townships The 1998 Standard Bank Young Artist Award and FNB Vita Award winner and artistic director of the State Theatre emerged in the early 90s as a creative theatrical voice and a prolific playwright of township dramas. As a drama student, Sekhabi’s acting talents were evident in classic township plays such as Matsemela Manaka’s Egoli. But his abilities as a scriptwriter and director meant that his acting would eventually take a back stage.

After graduating with an honours degree in drama from Wits, he was employed as artistic director at Mmabana Arts Centre in the North West, where he served from 1994 to 2001. Sekhabi’s cutting-edge, contemporary theatre explores current concerns such as domestic violence – a theme he handled with frightening realism in his acclaimed play On My Birthday.

Following the success of his 1998 work Silent Voice, Sekhabi was invited to the United States, where he conducted theatre workshops at the Lincoln Centre Theatre in New York. Recently he shifted his focus to historical plays dealing with the lives and times of South African freedom fighters. Kalushi –The Story of Solomon Mahlangu, Mantolo and Rivonia Trial – Retelling The Story immediately spring to mind.

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TOP 10 BUSINESS LEADERS AND CORPORATE EXECUTIVES KUSENI DLAMINI

ERNEST KEKANA

Mining Mogul

The Winged One

Joining one of the world’s largest and most respected mining firms, De Beers, in 1996, Kuseni Dlamini started out as the head of public affairs at the company. After holding a number of senior management positions at De Beers operations in South Africa and the United Kingdom, he then moved to AngloGold Ashanti in 2003. Recently profiled in the journal of the Wits Business School for his outstanding business sense and leadership, Dlamini is now the managing director and CEO at Old Mutual.

He is a well-known figure in the mining industry, and within the last five years he has held two key positions within it. He served as the executive chairman of the Richards Bay coal terminal from 2005 and then stepped into the position of head of Anglo American South Africa.

In 2008 he was named as one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders and appeared in the Mail & Guardian top 200 young people to take to lunch supplement while MiningX selected him as one of the top 100 most influential people in South African mining. He is a well educated and sound leader that will most certainly make many more businessleadership lists.

SIZA MZIMELA Woman Of The Skies Previously the CEO of South African Express Airways, Siza Mzimela is now the first female CEO of South African Airways. Mzimela worked in the banking and petroleum sectors before moving to SAA in 1996. There she was a research analyst but was promoted to executive vice-president of the airline’s global passenger services in 2001. Moving up the ranks at a rapid rate, she was then placed in charge of global sales and the airline’s Voyager programme.

In 2003 Mzimela got the top job at South African Express Airways, and in the last five years she has managed to introduce new routes and start a new airline in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With 14 years of experience in the airline industry, Mzimela’s promotion to SAA CEO was a natural step, according to SAA board chairperson Cheryl Carolus.

All indications are that this business dynamo is busy turning the troubled SAA brand around.

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NTOMBIFUTHI MTOBA Figure Head Named one of South Africa’s 50 most influential women in the private and public sector by the International Women’s Forum in 2006, Ntombifuthi Mtoba is one of four vice-presidents of Business Unity South Africa and chairperson of Deloitte Southern Africa.

Upon her appointment to Deloitte in 1988, she climbed the corporate ladder and subsequently became the first black woman to be appointed as a partner of one of the big four accounting firms in South Africa and also became the first black woman appointed to the Deloitte board.

In the last five years her she has received several awards, including Business Woman of the Year and the international Woman of the Year Award.

This all stems from the fact that she’s also a member of the board of directors of the Public Investment Corporation’s investment committee. She’s a member of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s business group and the United Nations’ global compact board.

Mtoba is leading a global powerhouse, and the next five years should be paved with rewards and success for her.

Ernest Kekana became an entry-level pilot at the tender age of 20. Trained to fly Boeing passenger planes, Kekana founded K5 Aviation in 2004 with leases for nine airplanes and two helicopters.

The company offers charter services for passenger travel and freight requirements with a domestic license for all category aircraft and helicopters.

K5 Aviation stands as an oddity within the South African aviation industry as it’s one of the very few 100% black-owned and managed firms. The company has flourished under Kekana’s vigorous determination to keep it a success. He’s aware that there’s a distinct lack of black pilots within the industry, and this has led him to empower and educate the youth about the opportunities in aviation.

Through sheer perseverance he has succeeded in becoming one of South Africa’s most dynamic young business men. A nominee in the 2009 Johnny Walker Celebrating Strides Award in the entrepreneurship category highlights the recognition he is now receiving from nonindustry players and indicates his drive as a true business leader.

PHILISIWE BUTHELEZI All For Empowerment After returning to South Africa in 1992, Buthelezi joined the supervision arm of the South African Reserve Bank where she was responsible for risk management control, and then, in the following year, she joined the treasury division of Standard Corporate and Merchant Bank. She was then employed by the Department of Trade and Industry to promote European investment in South Africa.

In 2002 she became the department’s chief director of the black economic empowerment. She was subsequently appointed as the CEO of the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), to which she brought a diverse knowledge of banking, capital markets and international investments in South Africa. Her experience includes both private- and public-sector activities and provides the NEF with an unparalleled understanding of the environment in which it operates.

Buthelezi is the chairperson of Group Five and is on the boards of Mvelaphanda and Afripalm. The next five years look bright for the NEF, and with Buthelezi at the helm, the only way is forward.

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image courtesy of the wits business school journal

BY Damian Murphy

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HAPPY NTSHINGILA King Of Communications Ntshingila is currently the chief marketing and communication officer at Absa Bank, the largest retail bank in South Africa. He’s had a colourful career that started in 1991 when his entrepreneurial flair and drive to succeed brought about one of his most-wellknown and distinctive achievements – the co-founding and establishment of the first black-owned advertising agency in the country, HerdBuoys.

By 2005, HerdBuoys McCann Erickson had a turnaround of R400m and was ranked among the Top 10 in the industry. His greatest achievements with HerdBuoys include changing Financial Services For All the corporate colours of SAA and For inspirational business leadership designing the ballot paper for the in an individual, you need look no historic 1994 elections. He has written further than Max Maisela. His impressive a book entitled Black Jerusalem, and leadership experience traverses many despite his hectic career Ntshingila is a industries. He served as the deputy family man, an avid golfer and running managing director of Alexander Forbes, enthusiast who recently qualified for the the chairman and CEO of the South Comrades Marathon.

African Post Office and Post Bank and the chairperson of the UNISA National Board of Trustees. He currently holds It Master several influential positions that include a specialist directorship at VinPro and One of South Africa’s most famous directorships at T-Systems South Africa, success stories, Gumede went from Monash University and World Wide being a caddie and a petrol attendant Investment Holdings. to becoming a billionaire and business He is the chairperson, founder and CEO leader of one the county’s most successful of his own financial services company, IT firms. After studying law, Gumede NBC Holdings. You’d think that with all worked as a clerk and prosecutor before joining LTA (now known as Grinaker LTA) that responsibility he would have very little time left to do anything other than in 1992. In the mid-1990s he registered work, but Maisela’s passion for youth several Gijima companies, but his first development has seen him spending his major deal only came in 1997, when a energies and effort supporting initiatives joint venture he had with Phambili IT aimed at achieving this vision. was awarded a multimillion-rand tender Through his involvement with the by the police, Department of Justice and Student Sponsorship Programme and the Department of Correctional Services to develop electronic case-docket systems. chairpersonship of the SA BookSmart Foundation Project, he aims to ensure Following on that success, in 1999 a that investment in young people will Gijima consortium was awarded the generate productive future leaders in Home Affairs national identificationour country. In 2010, Maisela was the system contract to develop an electronic Johnnie Walker Celebrating Strides identification system, and a couple of Business category winner and a finalist years later the company won a tender to in the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur produce phone cards for Telkom. Gijima skyrocketed, and Gumede became one of Award in the Master category.

MAX MAISELA

image supplied by happy ntshingila

ROBERT GUMEDE

the top leaders within the IT industry in the country.

He has also invested in the tourism industry, energy sector and is the coowner of the Gauteng Lions rugby team.

He’s a leader in his sector and admired by budding entrepreneurs.

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RICHARD MAPONYA Father Of Black Retails Richard Maponya developed and grew his businesses under the harsh restrictions of apartheid rule. In the 50s, he took a job as

a stock taker at a clothing-manufacturing company. He then sold ruined clothing and off-cuts in Soweto and with the money he made he attempted to open a clothing store in Soweto.

When the apartheid government refused to grant him a license, he opened a dairy business instead. But he continued to grow his businesses, and by the early 70s, his retail empire had grown to include several general stores, car dealerships and filling stations.

In September 2007 Nelson Mandela opened the Maponya Mall in Soweto, which is by far one of the largest shopping centres in the country and one of only a few in a black township. It holds more than 200 stores and a cinema complex. Maponya has led the way in the retail sector for the best part of half a century – a business leader and critical player in the South African economy.

TOPPING THE AFROPOLITAN LIST

BY ELKA SCHAIMBERG

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the city of joburg Johannesburg’s status as an “Afropolitan” city is more than just a well-deserved title. It’s something that is deeply embedded in her positively vibrant spirit. This thriving world-class city is globally recognised as the economic powerhouse and cultural hub of the African continent, making her the gateway to all serious business in South Africa, as well as the entry point for some serious fun.

Being the heartbeat of the continent, she attracts many foreign visitors and investors to her concrete shores. But what really makes Johannesburg the richest city in Africa is her people.

From street vendors and car guards to artists, performers, musicians and their muses, they are vibrant, cool, creative, cosmopolitan, friendly and street smart.

This city of modern skyscrapers is further enhanced by her natural beauty, tree-lined streets and great weather, not to mention her brilliant cultural diversity, precious historical treasures, exciting nightlife and unique cuisine.

New, fresh and pioneering ideas continue to keep this ever-expanding metropolis as dynamic as ever, and as the proud birthplace of Afropolitan magazine, Johannesburg holds the banner high, reminding us where we come from, where we’re going, and especially who we are: proud Afropolitans of the world!

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M A M E L A N G

M E M E L A

A NATION WITHOUT ARTISTIC HEROES?

Am I the only guy who is fed up with the crisis of creative leadership and lack of innovation in the artistic sector? Where the hell is our outrage at the lack of significant national talent that begins to help us redefine the soul of this nation?

We should be throwing stones at the glass empires of those who dare call themselves artists.

S

ixteen years into democracy and freedom, we have been cheated!

We have got far too many oldies who are failing to pass on the baton or inspire a new generation of youngsters to take over from what happened in the 1950s and 1960s. We have far too many over-rated celebrities who were born in the aftermath of 1970s upheaval. They think the arts are a getrich-and-famous-quick scheme.

We have too many teenagers who were born in the 1990s who have turned out to be more American mimics than Africans. This is a serious indictment on the cultural struggle for selfdetermination, definition and identity.

But instead of getting mad, everyone is folding their arms while their hands reach for the next complimentary ticket.

The preoccupation is gaining access to free-loading events, especially government-sponsored ones. Well, those who think they know have told me that we are undergoing a transition. Just give us time, they plead. It has been almost two decades since our former cultural icons returned from exile or prison.

What more time do we need?

Our artists are losing the nationbuilding plot and sinking our national identity in the process. The problem is a crisis of creative leadership and lack of innovation. You might think I am too old to know what I am talking about.

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wave the flag instead of well-thoughtout answers.

It’s time for hard questions. That was the promise of Archbishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

I’m travelling around the country and looking for fresh, new and explosive talent. But I’m frustrated. I’ve had enough of the same old tired people, if you like. I’ll take this matter to the highest level. There can be no nation without talented national artists. The artists not only define the soul of the nation but play a prophetic role in terms of whom we are and where we’re going.

I’m ready and willing to say: there are no new national prophets among us.

The few friends and colleagues who understand me say I should not tread these waters. They warn me that I will be trampling on big egos. They say, “You don’t even get invited to the Metro

“Our artists are losing the nationbuilding plot and sinking our national identity in the process.

The problem is a crisis of creative leadership and lack of innovation.”

Awards and have been dropped as a SAMA judge. Your time is up.”

I’d love to shut up, but someone needs to sound a wake-up call. I want to be a straight shooter. So, I’m telling you how I see it. This is a threat to nation-building, social cohesion and national identity.

This isn’t a joke. I hope to strike a nerve in those young folk who think they are it, whatever it is.

This country doesn’t have a creative young artist who’s become a national brand or cultural ambassador, in the American sense of a Michael Jackson or Langston Hughes, if you like.

No-one can deny that Gloria Bosman, Brett Bailey, Vuyani Maqoma, Sello Maake, Yael Farber, Dumisani Phakathi, Mcedisi Shabangu, Tutu Puoane, Peter Sabbagha, Paul Grootboom, Andile

Yenana, Hlengiwe Lushaba, Concord Nkabinde, Churchill Madikida, Akin Omotoso, Shanon Mowday, Dada Masilo, Mark Fransman, Nontsikelelo Veleko, Ntsieng Mokgoro and Kesivan Naidoo, among others, are truly great artists.

But we’re still in a mess in that none of them is a national icon or figure. They all have a small niche crowd that recognises and celebrates them. We need a national icon – someone who epitomises the soul of the nation and mirrors its identity.

Now, don’t tell me that it will be too much power in the hands of one man or woman.

If you want to discover the soul of America, you can look to Langston Hughes or Michael Jackson, for instance.

I agree that we have potential legends like Lebo Mathosa, Zola Maseko, Terry Mattera, Kopano Matlwa, Sello Duiker, James Ngcobo, Mpho Molepo, Zim Ngqawana, Lira, Feya Faku, Andile Mgxitama, Simphiwe Dana, Thandiswa Mazwai, Sipho Sithole, Zanele Muholi and Mary Sibanda. But we’re demanding names and faces that are answers to the pressing problem that faces the nation.

Some of us are getting sick and tired of the usual suspects. There are far too many predictable and monotonous names that crop up when we discuss living national treasures. I want us to agree on one single name of someone who is a national institution. Mama Afrika was such a name.

And don’t tell me that you and I can’t agree on one name at least. The fault lies in too much diversity without someone that ties us together. In fact, the whole diversity thing is just rigmarole based on a hollow intellectual argument. It’s part of the reason why we’re in this stew. No single part or group is bigger than the whole. We’re one nation in one country now. We share a common Constitution, principles and ideals.

We share one soul, history and heritage. And thus we deserve, at least, one artist who captures and reflects this soul, someone who can epitomise the rise and fall of this nation. It’s time to take a long hard look at ourselves. What have we to offer the world, especially in terms of the mind-blowing and soulnourishing explosive talent that should come from our national artists?

Our strength lies in national arts that unite!

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Well, I have spoken to many insightful individuals on this issue and they think I am crazy. Yet I am not. Who are the leading national cultural icons in the country today?

You see, someone has to speak up on the dearth of visionary leadership in the national arts today.

Of course, I’m aware of South African talents that have, in the past, exploded on the global scene to become formidable forces to be reckoned with. Yes, I can tell you about Phillip “Malombo” Tabane, Mazisi Kunene, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya, Busi Mhlongo, Can Themba, Dumile Feni, Selby Mvusi, Ernest Cole, Eskia Mphahlele, Thami Mnyele, Lewis Nkosi, Keorapetse Kgositsile and others from their generation. There’s an endless list of courageous and talented individuals who not only defied but transcended apartheid-created boundaries to assert their role on the global cultural scene.

This list would include artists who were at the cultural forefront in the 1970s and 1980s. People like Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, Khabi Mngoma, Ray Phiri and Stimela, Harare, Sipho Mabuse, Brenda Fassie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Sibongile Khumalo, Gibson Kente, Matsemela Manaka, Fikile Magadlela, Chicco Twala, Mbongeni Ngema, Zakes Mda, Peter Tladi, Johnny Mekoa, Sam Mhangwani, Barney Rachabane, Njabulo Ndebele, Barney Simon and Malcolm Purkey.

Again, the list is endless.

But there aren’t new innovators who’ve really made an impact. Although some of the artists on this list are very much still alive and continuing to be creative, they can’t be considered as the innovators or national voices of the new age. If we insist on counting them in, we’re fiddling while the creative fire is dying out. The soul fire is fading, and nobody seems to know who or what’s the best thing to have happened in the last 10 years.

Even if you ask arts writers, journalists and critics Bongani Madondo, Lerato Tshabalala, Zingi Mkefa, Matthew Krause, Gugu Sibiya, Percy Zvomuya, Barry Ronge, Adrienne Sichel, Victor Dlamini or Karabo Kgoleng, they may

BY SAM MATHE

m us i c

p r o f i l e

VUYO TYOLO & ARISTOCRATS OF AFRO SOUL

I

n recent years the Eastern Cape has consistently taken centre stage in the country’s contemporarymusic arena – particularly in the Afro-soul, folk- and jazzinspired idioms. Names of songbirds such as Suthukazi Arosi, Siphokazi Maraqana, Simphiwe Dana, Phinda Mtya, Camagwini and Zolani Mahola of Freshlyground readily spring to mind.

Putuma Tiso – stage name Pu2ma – is the latest singing sensation. Her earthy and refreshing vocal prowess literally transported her to international stages within a short space of time even before she started recording her self-titled debut album, which was released in October last year.

Pu2ma is simply blessed with that unfathomable but unique quality that separates special musicians from ordinary ones. It’s a quality that captivated the great Shirley Caesar when she heard the young South African singing at a concert recently.

Steeped in the music of her Xhosa and Sotho heritage, her album is a spiritual and sophisticated interpretation of jazzy and soulful sounds with hints of gospel elements.

A world-class offering, it boasts the contributions of established international artists such as guitarist Joep Pelt (the Netherlands), violinist Miro Chakaryan and kora players Moh Dediouf and Edouard Manga – both from Senegal.

Sharing the Dinaledi stage with United States veterans of smooth Fourplay, songstress Lallah Hathaway and American-born trumpet virtuoso Chris Boti, Pu2ma astounded music lovers with her classy and sophisticated stage artistry during last year’s Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival. Last year also saw her

gigging at JZ Club – the internationally renowned jazz club in Shanghai, China – to critical acclaim.

Pu2ma was destined to sing. Born in KwaZakhele, Port Elizabeth, she was raised by her granny, who encouraged her to sing from a young age. She was an active member of the church choir while her uncle played bass for a local band.

Alongside church music she was fond of American soul and R&B – following with keen interest the careers of famous songbirds such as Whitney Houston and Erika Badu.

“But until that time I never imagined myself as a successful, well-known musician,” she recalls. Then, when she was in her early teens, the family took her to rural Transkei, where she was introduced to the music of the Gcaleka people.

“It was during my stay in the Transkei that I heard the music of Busi Mhlongo and Umfazi Omnyama. I was hooked and immediately knew what I wanted to do with my life,” she says.

Back home in Port Elizabeth, she joined a local band, the Fantastics, and walked away with first prize in solo category of the Coca-Cola Music Fullblast talent competition.

Around this time her idols included George Benson and Tania Maria.

Then in 2002 she trekked to Johannesburg where she first worked with pastor Benjamin Dube as the gospel pioneer’s backing vocalist. More session work as a backing singer followed after pastor Dube introduced her to established vocalists such as Rebecca Malope, Gloria Bosman, Zama Jobe and Siphokazi Maraqana.

She’s particularly grateful to producer Sipho “Malambule” Sithole

“Pu2ma is simply blessed with that unfathomable but extra quality that separates special musicians from ordinary ones.”

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& PUTUMA TISO of Native Rhythms, the architect of her debut album and an astute producer/ songwriter who’s put modern Xhosa music on the international map through talented artists such as Siphokazi.

And while Sithole has been particularly successful with female Xhosa artists, in Vuyi Tyolo, another Eastern Cape-born artist, he has found a male gem. Blessed with an incredibly versatile voice that handles a variety of genres with magical ease, the singer and songwriter – born in Mdantsane, East London – is like Pu2ma, also a child of the church. His father, an avid jazz collector, founded his own house of worship, where young Vuyo played piano in a church choir.

Now a born-again member of the Evangelic Ministries, Tyolo’s debut album, Genesis 1, obviously points to his spiritual and religious upbringing although he prefers to see it as a reference to the first chapter of his journey in music. It is a multi-genre album that reflects his wide music vocabulary that developed thanks to his jazz influence and church upbringing as well as his ethnic roots and exposure to contemporary styles. The opening track, Ngizwile, is classic maskandi while Nobody is a combination of soul, jazz and gospel elements with a strong hint of Eddie Harris’ classic I Don’t Want Nobody. It’s also a song that is heavily laden with emotions.

“My father was a great Eddie Harris fan, and when I was recording my version, the experience transported me back to my childhood,” Tyolo explains.

Another striking parallel with Pu2ma is that his musical journey took off after he started as a backing singer for artists such as Siphokazi, Camagwini and Tuks Senganga. And where Pu2ma stepped

out at a talent show, Tyolo auditioned for a role in the internationally acclaimed Lion King musical and came out as a finalist.

“Being from the Eastern Cape, where opportunities are few and far between, I never imagined that music will be a career for me.

But as a child I‘d fancied myself as a TV and stage actor – hence my decision to audition for The Lion King.

But Sipho Sithole looks for versatility and a performing streak in an artist, and I guess that’s how I managed to impress him.”

Tyolo is also a rapper, lyricist and sound engineer. Kayalami, a song he wrote for fellow musician Siphokazi, enjoys high rotation on Kaya FM. 2010 was a busy year for Tyolo. He took part in the local Standard Bank Joy of Jazz and Arts Alive festivals and tested the international waters at the Mundial Festival in the Netherlands.

The sublime beauty and magic of both his albums are enhanced by the unparalleled instrumental input of some of the country’s great session artists – notably Tlale Makhene (percussion), Lucas Senyatso (bass), Mandla Zikalala (bass), Rob Watson (drums), Bheki Khoza (guitar), Thabang Tabane (percussion) and pianist Nduduzo Makhathini.

“I’m glad that this album showcases the wonderful talents of some of the cream of South African instrumentalists,” says Tyolo. “For instance, an artist such as Nduduzo Makhathini, who features in most of the songs, is simply amazing. He has soul in his fingers. On the other hand, the reception from the public has been encouraging as it’s literally flying off the shelves. It really makes me feel good that music-lovers out there appreciate my music because I do it for them.”

www.afropolitan.co.za

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image courtesy of sony bmg

“It really makes me feel good that music lovers out there appreciate my music because I do it for them.”

BY SAM MATHE

T RI B U T E

HOTEP IDRIS GALETA – JAZZ PIANIST, COMPOSER, BAND LEADER & MUSIC SCHOLAR

Born Cecil Barnard 7 June 1941 - 3 November 2010 DISCOGRAPHY

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1992 Saxophone Summit (Kaz)

1998 Heading Home (African Echoes)

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well-respected music educator and jazz historian, Hotep Galeta was an accomplished composer and is credited for having composed the famous jingle for popular SABC2 news and currentaffairs programme Morning Live. His first music tutor was his pianist father who taught him to play the keyboard at the age of seven. His interest in jazz took root when as a youngster in the 50s he met Abdullah Ibrahim, then known as Dollar Brand, at a high-school jazz concert in Athlone.

The two struck an instant friendship that grew into a tutor-pupil relationship.

With a mentor of Abdullah Ibrahim’s calibre, Galeta’s destiny as a musician of international standing was sealed.

In subsequent years, he developed into one of the important voices of Cape jazz and played with some of the great jazz musicians who were based in the Mother City, including Chris Ngcukana, Dudu Pukwana, Sammy Maritz, Johnny Gertze, Monty Weber, Makhaya Ntshoko, Martin Mgijima, Chris McGregor, the Schilder brothers and many more.

By his own admission these musicians had a crucial influence on his musical development and maturity.

In the early 60s he joined a wave of mainly black musicians who went into exile following repressive laws and intolerable conditions imposed by the apartheid system on African artists. For the next 30 years Galeta played, studied and taught music at various American universities. Soon after his arrival in the States he started studying piano under influential pianist and respected educator John Mehegan, a music professor at Julliard School of Music.

Mehegan was the same eminent jazz scholar who visited South Africa in 1959, recorded Jazz In Africa (Gallo, 1959) with the likes of Kippie Moeketsi, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa and later wrote, ‘‘Kippie is one of the great jazz musicians in the world today.’’

(Downbeat 26 November 1959). As a recording artist in exile, Galeta worked and recorded extensively with many influential jazz musicians – including

Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Jackie McLean, Rene McLean, Hadley Caliman, John Handy, Archie Shepp, David Crosby and fellow South African expatriates Hugh Masekela and Letta Mbulu.

As a solo recording artist he has released four albums – Heading Home, Solo Jazz Piano, Live At The Tempest, Saxophone Summit and Malay Tone Poem. Today his string of academic qualifications includes a master’s degree in music (magna cum laude) from Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

On the strength of his extensive musical expertise and reputation as an internationally respected pianist, Galeta was appointed lecturer in jazz studies at the University of Hartford’s Hartt College of Music in 1985; this Connecticut-based college is one of the top music conservatories in the US. He taught jazz history, jazz improvisation, music theory, jazz piano and music technology and conducted various student jazz ensembles. Galeta left his Hartford post in May 1991 and returned to his motherland after a 30year exile. Between 1991 and 1993 he was music director of the Volkswagensponsored ‘‘Music Active’’ performing arts and educational programmes for high-school students in the Western Cape.

From 1996 to 2000 he taught jazz history, jazz piano, music technology and arts management at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape.

Galeta’s passion for jazz has seen him serving in various capacities responsible for jazz development and jazz appreciation; he was a consultant for Old Mutual’s jazz education programme and a co-ordinator for jazz performances such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and community outreach jazz education programmes.

In 2004 he became a project manager tasked with building a multi-purpose arts centre and jazz school at the University of Fort Hare’s East London campus. Named the Miriam Makeba Centre of Performing Arts, it was opened on 24 September, Heritage Day, in 2006. The multi-purpose centre includes a 500-seat auditorium called

1999 Solo Jazz Piano: Live At The Tempest (October Records)

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Bongi Makeba (in honour of Mama Afrika’s daughter), a state-of-the-art music studio, a multimedia audiovisual centre, gym, theatre and gallery with a permanent exhibition of Miriam Makeba images and memorabilia.

His last album, Malay Tone Poem (Sheer Sound, 2002), is dedicated to the late Blue Note trumpeter, Queenstown-born Mongezi Feza. On this groundbreaking album, the piano master has assembled a youthful lineup of some of the country’s sublime talents. Dubbed The Safro Jazz Quintet, the formidable line-up consists of Marcus Wyatt (trumpet and flugelhorn), Victor Masondo (bass), Kevin Gibson (drums) and Zim Ngqawana (flute and saxophones), who is also the album’s producer.

“The vision behind the formation of a band such as The Safro Jazz Quintet is to use the band as a developmental platform for young, up-and-coming talented South African jazz musicians in the same tradition established by the great African-American drummer Art Blakey and his band, the Jazz Messengers,” Galeta explained at the time the band was formed. With 10 splendid compositions that mix styles such as bebop, bossa nova, bolero, Cape Malay and even hip-hop, this is a uniquely beautiful album with timeless melodies inspired by musical traditions from both sides of the Atlantic.

The Safro Jazz Quintet members feel honoured to have had the opportunity to work with the great master. “I first met Hotep in Atlanta, USA,” recalls Ngqawana. “He was with the Dewey Redman Quartet. Something about his playing connected me with him. I met him after the concert, but only reunited two years later in Cape Town when I joined his band. I consider this a very important stage in my apprenticeship.

Like all the masters I studied under, Hotep emphasised discipline, focus and a holistic approach to the music.

Having produced and played on his album, I realise how much I have been influenced by this great master.”

Hotep Idris Galeta died at his Cape Town home after an asthma attack.

2002 Malay Tone Poem (Sheer Sound)

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tsots i

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afropolitan editor The Afropolitan magazine has been sailing for more than five years, and 20 glorious issues. It has weathered storms where other ships have sunk, it has rocked boats where others feared to make ripples and it has enjoyed many, many sunsets of success.

Here the intrepid Sam Mathe, Captain of the Afropolitan, chats about the magazine’s milestones, the flaws in modern journalism and how he’s made his father proud.

Sam Mathe Congratulations on 20 editions of Afropolitan Sam. Thank you. This is definitely a milestone for us because we’ve been resilient in a tough era for magazines, where others have waivered. Afropolitan started five years ago as an optimistic quarterly.

Today it’s a bi-monthly powerhouse.

This growth has come from hard work, being in touch with our readers and continually assessing the quality of the content with a critical eye. We always strive to be better, hence the wonderful new design.

What is Afropolitan all about?

I like to think that it’s a lifestyle magazine with a difference. Most content out there is rehashed, repackaged and presented as something ground breaking. We like to offer a fresh perspective. We’re not big on celebrity gossip, but we are big on inspirational personalities from all fields. We look for new trends and celebrate trend-setters who have contributed significantly, even if they’re not yet known to the public.

Who’s a good example of a trendsetter?

There are so many, but one who stands out for me amongs writers we featured in Afropolitan are Chris Van Wyk and Zakes Mda. The former is the author who adapted Mandela’s Long Walk To Freedom for young readers.

Others we featured in Afropolitan include Ernest Kekana, the young,

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unassuming pilot who owns an aviation company and Sibongile Sambo, another highflyer who has defied gender stereotypes by running a private airline charter company.

What are some of the Afropolitan achievement you are most proud of?

I’m proud of the fact that in a very short space of time, the Afropolitan has attracted the attention of both the local and international community. We’ve had mails from significant writers and cultural workers in the USA and England, who want to contribute to the magazine because they recognise the quality and want to associate themselves with us. We have also succeeded in celebrating the living, rather than just lionising those who have already departed. That said, we never avoid celebrating legacies of those we regard as pioneers in their chosen fields.

Where did it all begin for you Sam? I grew up reading Bona, Drum, Pace magazines and later the Pretoria News, Sunday Times and City Press newspapers that my father used to bring home from work. I loved music profiles and remember getting to know about US musicians like Teddy Pendergrass and Lionel Richie from Bona magazine.

My father didn’t go far with schooling.

But education for his children was very important to him. I wasn’t crazy about school but I was fortunate to have had

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image BY QUINTEN TOLKEN

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SAM’S FAST Facts •

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May 30 1968 in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. I’m proud to say a fair number of well-known South African journalists were born in Hammanskraal.

Education: BA (Wits University).

Achievements, accolades and awards: Contributing author of South Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs (SAGE - MME Publishers, 2010); recipient of the Mondi Paper Magazine Awards - 1996 (features category) for the Pace magazine article on Soweto staffriders (train surfers); the Platinum Award - 2007 - awarded by the Swazilandbased NCA Music Productions for coverage of music articles.

Biggest idols in your career: Percy Qoboza and Aggrey Klaaste – They were the greatest crusading newspaper columnists who fought for a decent and humane South Africa - not to mention freedom of the press. And of course, Eskia Mphahlele.

What are you currently reading?

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.

It is quite daunting because it’s over a thousand pages, but it worth the effort.

Favourite quote: “Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build bridges even when there are no rivers” (late Soviet premier, Nikita Khrushchev)

Musicians: Louis Armstrong, Miriam Makeba, Sibongile Khumalo, Freddie Mercury, Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson and Nina Simone.

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Writers:

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Films:

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Date & Place of Birth:

George Orwell, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Anton Chekov and Drum writers of the fifties.

Casablanca, Ray and Bird.

Hope for the future:

strict parents who insisted that we all attend school without fail. In high school, our principal and a great teacher, Dr Mohapi Malaka, recognised my academic potential and helped me to enrol at Wits University.

What did you study?

I did art courses like history, politics and African literature. There was no journalism course at the time but the Wits library was a wonderful resource of books and magazines. I would spend some time in the library reading old copies of Drum magazine from the 50s and dreaming of being a journalist.

Who was your inspiration?

Eskia Mphahlele. He is one of the greatest South African writers and academics, and one of my inspirations.

He combined journalism with literature. He became an outstanding writer, travelled the world and taught at top universities. Somebody once called him the literary equivalent of Nelson Mandela.

Where did you and Afropolitan meet?

After some years at Pace, Drum and the Sunday Sun, I decided to take it easy for a while and resigned as a full-time journalist. I freelanced a bit. One day I What do you love about was interviewing Oliver Mtukudzi at a Journalism?

Melville restaurant in Johannesburg. At the next table sat the editor of the newly I love the truth. I thrive on collecting facts, giving those facts a perspective that launched Afropolitan magazine, Tisetso Makube. After my interview, Makube hopefully will inspire the reader. I love asked me who the story was for. I said I tackling a subject’s inspiring story and didn’t know yet. He said he wanted it for sharing it with the world.

Afropolitan. I researched the Afropolitan What was your first published magazine and discovered a line-up story? of well-respected, well-established journalists. I was impressed. This was My first story was published in Frontline no scandal rag. Five years later and I’m magazine— a forum for ideas and proud to be associated with Afropolitan. debate —when I was 18. It was about Who is the true Afropolitan? the political unrests in the former Kwandebele (Mpumalanga). My first An Afropolitan is an aspirational, gocheque didn’t matter; my name was in getter who strives for triumph and uses print and it felt good. failure as a stepping-stone to success.

He or she holds firm beliefs and solid What do you dislike about opinions on topical issues and current modern journalism? affairs. He/she is very professional, well informed and understands both There are some quality publications modern and traditional aspects of but there’s also challenges regarding African culture. substance. There is also a tendency to recycle old news without regard to fresh perspectives or new angles. Some stories What makes you proud about being the editor of Afropolitan? lack credibility because they are based more on hearsay than research. What is Being an editor of a magazine comes also disturbing is that our tabloids tend with huge responsibilities, dedication to focus more on cheap gossip, pettiness and a lot of hard work. But with the and the shenanigans of so-called publication of every new issue, there celebrities at the expense of meaningful is a sense of achievement and pride but interesting stories. There’s no - particularly with the accolades that balance. There is a need for serious one receives from readers. It is both encouraging and humbling. mentorship in our newsrooms.

The next generations of South Africans seeing each other as fellow humans instead of races and tribes.

www.afropolitan.co.za

I AM JAMIE OLIVER JR.

Pick of the Pics

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In celebration of this, Afropolitan’s 20th edition, we present our favourite images from our past 20 Photo Essays. Vote for your favourite from this bunch and you could win a brand new Nikon camera. Go to www.afropolitan.co.za to enter.

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PH O T O

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PH O T O

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If that’s not excuse enough, find another

BY STEVEN BACHER

FI N A N C E

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B d e Mix

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“

The Top 20 over five years consists of a mixed bag of companies ranging from the obscure to the well known, from small to large, from consumer to business focused, and from the mainstream to the niche” says Craig Gradidge, director of investments at Gradidge-Mahura.

Leading the pack is little-known Cenmag Holdings, which is an

populations and the emergence of developing economies saw commodity prices increase quite dramatically over the period.” It appears as if size was not a key determining factor in performance, with minnows Awethu Breweries (R4 million market capitalisation) keeping company with retail giant Shoprite (R54 billion market capitalisation).

“Investing in the stock market is about wealth creation over many years and requires patience and clear thought if one is to be successful” investment holding company with subsidiaries primarily involved in the manufacture and servicing of electromagnets and motor rewinding, as well as in the wholesaling of electrical and related equipment.

“It’s a tightly held share, which makes it very illiquid and difficult for investors to get hold of stock,” says Gradidge.

The Top 20 index is dominated by consumer-related companies such as Shoprite, Clicks, Capitec, Truworths, Famous Brands (the owners of Steers, Mugg & Bean and others) and Mr Price. This isn’t surprising given the emergence and growth of the black middle class. As the economy grew and jobs were created and policies such as BBBEE (especially employment equity, ownership and management elements of the codes) took effect, this market saw disposable income increase significantly.

Added to this were positive effects from broader economic factors such as low interest rates and banks that were willing to lend for a large portion of the period under review. Clicks benefitted from a successful turnaround strategy, while Shoprite, Capitec and Famous Brands saw the market recognising their growth strategies and increasing their ratings.

Resource-related stocks such as Sacoil, Exxaro, African Rainbow, Assore and Village benefitted from conducive conditions for resources. Gradidge notes that, “Themes such as growing

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The market capitalisation or market cap is a measure of the size of a company and is calculated by multiplying the share price by the number of shares in issue. You may be familiar with Awethu’s products – they produce mageu and sorghum beer.

their outstanding performance over the past five years. You probably want to know if you should be buying any of these companies now.

History is littered with examples of companies that fade into obscurity after a period of excessive share-price growth.

The price-earnings (PE) ratio – which is the ratio of the price of the share relative to the earnings, or profit, per share – is a commonly used indicator of how expensive a share is. Again we see a mixed bag here with companies such as Capitec, Shoprite and African Rainbow looking quite expensive with PE ratios above 22 (this means that the investors are paying more than R22 a share for every R1 of profit).

However, companies such as Pinnacle Technology, Metrofile, Basil Read and Phoneworx are trading at PE ratios below eight (meaning that investors are paying less than R8 a share for every R1 of profit). It doesn’t mean that you should rush off and buy the low-PE shares because these are historical figures. Rather ask yourself where your see profits going for each company, and buy based on expectations and risktolerance levels.

A company may be cheap because profits are falling, while another maybe expensive – but profits are rising.

“The Top 20 is dominated by consumer-related companies such as Shoprite, Clicks, Capitec, Truworths, Famous Brands (the owners of Steers, Mugg & Bean and others) and Mr Price” “As a drinker of mageu (banana flavour, of course), I can relate to knowing the product, but not the manufacturer,” says Gradidge.

The average market cap was R12 billion, although this is skewed somewhat by larger companies such as Shoprite, African Rainbow, Exxaro and Truworths.

A final observation is the relative valuations of these companies given

Looking at the PE ratio alone may result in buying the wrong share. While we may kick ourselves for not having bought some of these shares five years ago, it’s important to remember that equity investing is not a race or a competition.

Gradidge concludes by saying that, “Investing in the stock market is about wealth creation over many years and requires patience and clear thought if one is to be successful.”

www.afropolitan.co.za

NOW OPEN EASTGATE

BY ANGUS McEWAN

A FR O

F O O D

THE RED CHAMBER Twenty Years of an Oriental Jewel in Johannesburg’s Culinary Crown

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here such novels as War And Peace, Atlas Shrugged, Lord Of The Rings even, hold epic status; so, too, does The Dream Of The Red Chamber within Chinese literary history. Given that this is a restaurant review it stands to reason that you’re already asking what this has to do with fine dining in Johannesburg.

The answer lies in the title of this Chinese classic and here tells a tale of an Oriental jewel in Johannesburg’s crown – the Red Chamber, situated in Hyde Park.

Cursory investigation of said book uncovers the epic nature of its content,

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“The Red Chamber is a wonderful reflection of the unfolding story of Johannesburg over the past 20 years” due not least to its huge number of characters and the scope of psychological nuance. Suffice to say the book has been lauded for its ability to express a range

of complexity and subtlety all at once. As my journey through the Red Chamber menu unfolded, I was to discover something similar in the richness and scope of flavours as they made themselves apparent to my astonished taste buds.

The Red Chamber has been a wonderful reflection of the unfolding story of Johannesburg since its warm, intelligent and charismatic owner, Emma Chen, started it 20-odd years ago.

Arriving in South Africa in the early 80s in order to further her studies, Chen has lived through the epic changes of the past 20 years and has learnt much about change and authenticity in this contemporary version of South Africa.

Twenty-one years ago, she reflects, her potential customer base had little or no experience of authentic Mandarin-style cuisine and was conservative in its approach to new ideas. Her challenge then, as it is now in some ways, was to introduce the authentic cuisine of northern China to Africa. Fast forward to 2011, and not only is the Red Chamber going strong, demonstrated by the loyalty of her ever-growing customer base, but Chen and her staff continue to deliver fresh, innovative yet authentic Mandarin cuisine to a modern, open and inquisitiveminded (you might say Afropolitan) diner.

The Red Chamber sits within the bright, shiny, modern retail precinct that is Hyde Park, and I immediately felt transported into a chamber that might easily have existed within the boundaries of a Chinese city in the 1800s. The lighting is soft, with shades of green, maroon and soft spotlighting well placed around the sides. The use of bamboo within the decor, the calming presence of a fish tank and the floating sounds of bamboo flute and zither all contribute to this ambient blend.

It had been a long day, and soon after being seated, while I waited to be joined by my dining

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“The Red Chamber sits within the bright, shiny, modern retail precinct that is Hyde Park, and I immediately felt transported into a chamber that might easily have existed within the boundaries of a Chinese cit y in the 1800s”

only by the involuntary sounds of sheer delight as we all experienced our first mouthfuls. I suddenly understood the experience of high-quality Chinese cuisine, with all its sights, sounds, colours and textures, and a smile came to my lips.

Naturally, part of the allure of great Chinese food is its use of exotic spices, and the Red Chamber’s menu provides for an enticing variety of ingredients such as chilli, garlic, ginger, sesame, black bean, cashew, ginger and tangerine, black pepper, plum sauce, oyster sauce, satay sauce, sweet-bean paste and more.

We made a general selection of three dishes for the subsequent courses. The task was not easy as we were presented with choices such as stir-fried prawns with litchi; three-flavoured chicken; stirfried lamb with cumin, garlic and chilli; and “monk’s dish” with glass noodles. In the end we opted for spicy prawns with chilli and garlic, sizzling beef with spring onion, and pork chops Mandarin style; these were accompanied by fried rice and noodles, the latter made from scratch in Chen’s kitchen and distinctly pleasing.

Frankly, I think it’s beyond my abilities to express in fine detail the combined flavours that enveloped the prawns I tasted except to say they were as tender as can be and the net effect revealed itself gradually after each mouthful, like the gentle crescendo of a choir reaching its fullest note and then drifting away. I can say the same about the sizzling beef, which arrived at the table in spectacular fashion and was dispatched similarly!

In comparison, the pork chops rather failed us, but no matter, we were in agreement: this was not a good, but rather a great dining experience.

THE RED CHAMBER Shop 68 Hyde Park Shopping Centre Jan Smuts Avenue Hyde Park Johannesburg North (011) 325-6048 emma@redchamber.co.za

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images by venesia fourie

companions, I found myself relaxing nicely, my imagination conjuring exotic images of the dishes as I scoured the menu and considered such choices as tiger salad (“vicious enough to bite”) and gongbao beef; I later discovered gongbao is traditionally a combination of dried chillies and peanuts – tjo!

In fact, upon opening the menu you’re drawn to read a short welcoming message, offering brief guidance and context for your imminent dining experience. At this point it’s explained that spices are synonymous with Mandarin cuisine, with garlic getting a special mention in its capacity to act as an aphrodisiac, provided both parties participate in its consumption (you’ve got to love that piece of subtle humour).

Further, it’s explained, a good Chinese meal must attain the harmony of taste, texture, colour and aroma.

At this point the jasmine tea I ordered arrived and straight away my taste buds were treated to subtle flavour. By now I was getting real comfortable and not a little hungry. As I pondered the whereabouts of my dining buddies, I was approached by my waiter, who suggested in such an artful way that it’s not a suggestion but an order that I order the Peking duck, which takes about 20 minutes to produce and should, therefore, arrive along with my guests, in time to be a starter.

Without hesitation I agreed and sat back to enjoy the moment. I perused the now busy restaurant and appreciated the atmosphere. By the way, I should mention this was a Monday night. With just enough time before our starter reached the table, my friends entered stage right, and soon we were looking down at a mouth-watering plate of sliced Peking duck, a dish of plum sauce, finely sliced cucumber and some small delicate pancakes with which we were to create our duck rolls.

The aroma was distinct, compelling, and in short time our table was an oasis of silence, broken

BY SAM MATHE

B O O K

R E VI E W S

word on words THE BLACK TRAIN RISING The Life And Times of Welcome Duru Author: Vuyisile Msila Publisher: Siyomba Projects

8115 A Prisoner’s Home Author: Alf Kumalo & Zukiswa Wanner Publisher: Penguin Books Internationally renowned photojournalist Alf Kumalo’s fourth and latest book is a pictorial portrait of 1885 Vilakazi Street, Soweto – also known as the Mandela House (now a museum and tourist attraction) – and its famous occupants, Nelson and Winnie Mandela and their children. The book is a wealth of rare, intimate and exclusive images of South Africa’s most famous family – taken over a period of over 50 years by one of the country’s foremost lens men.

The pictures portray an ordinary family living in extraordinary times.

With Nelson Mandela in prison, Winnie Mandela and the children get on with their domestic duties, yet the reader is constantly reminded of the presence of the security police who kept the fourroomed matchbox house – and Winnie in particular – in their sight at all times.

There are also images of famous dignitaries and well-known personalities who have visited number 8115 over the years – including Coretta Scott-King, Muhammad Ali and Whitney Houston.

Writer Zukiswa Wanner’s crisp essay poignantly captures this important slice of South African history while giving meaning and context to one of the country’s most important political and cultural landmark.

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Port Elizabeth-born singer and composer Welcome Duru (1933– 2009) was a versatile and colourful personality who gave South Africa and the world Wenyuk’uMbombela (The Steam Train Rising), a classic song that was popularised by Miriam Makeba and Harry Belafonte in their Grammy Award-winning album An Evening With Makeba And Belafonte (1964).

Duru was married to the late Dolly Rathebe, also known as the queen of the blues.

One of the blues queen’s all-time favourite classics, Sindi, also came from Welcome Duru’s pen. In the 80s and 90s Duru – or Bra Wel, as he was fondly known in the New Brighton township in Port Elizabeth where he lived – went on to become a well-known boxing

promoter in the Eastern Cape.

In racy and compelling prose, author and academic Vuyisile Msila traces Duru’s colourful, multi-faceted and controversial life as an Okapi-wielding gangster, gifted composer, shebeen king, ladies man, political-activist-cumprisoner on Robben Island and the Eastern Cape’s “Mr Boxing”.

ARREST THE MUSIC! FELA & His Rebel Art and Politics Author: Tejumola Olaniyan Publisher: Bookcraft Nigerian-born performer and political activist Ransome Fela Anikulapo Kuti, or simply Fela, was a fearless, irreverent and eccentric musician who sang songs of freedom with revolutionary fervour – the king of Afrobeat. A rebel, Kuti went against the wishes of his parents to become a doctor and chose music with anti-establishment themes that he used as a weapon against Nigeria’s successive corrupt and repressive regimes – his nemeses until AIDS claimed him in 1997.

Kuti’s outspokenness, larger-than-life personality and unorthodox lifestyle – he married 27 women in one day and managed to form an independent republic from Nigeria that was virtually his homestead – made him a counterculture figure of international repute.

His musical style – dubbed Afrobeat, an irresistible mix of traditional Yoruba rhythms, Ghanaian highlife and American funk – contributed to his

indomitable legacy as a cultural icon, political figure and folk hero.

The author, a respected Nigerian scholar, examines in detail the relationship between Kuti’s music and his pan-African politics. In the process, he paints a compelling portrait of Kuti’s extraordinary life and musicianship. The result is an invaluable handbook for students of contemporary African music and anyone who’s interested in the culture and politics of the continent.

www.afropolitan.co.za

BY ELKA SCHAIMBERG

DVD

R E VI E W S

couch potato Karate Kid

Director: Harald Zwart Starring: : Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson

It’s been 26 years since the original Karate Kid debuted. In this reincarnation of the film Jackie Chan plays the teacher (Mr Han) and Jaden Smith plays the new bullied kid in town (Dre Parker).

No need to go into plot detail – simply imagine the original storyline, this time round set in Beijing with a few language barriers thrown in. In short: boy is plucked from his hometown when his mom (Taraji P Henson) leaves for a brighter job prospect. Boy quickly finds himself challenged by a local group of thugs who also happen to be kung fu masters. Finding refuge in the care of

the apartment block handyman, boy learns respect and the disciplined art of karate. Jackie Chan and the charismatic young Smith do a good job in their portrayal of a touching father-son relationship. The rest of the characters are somewhat underdeveloped and disappointing, but this is compensated for by cinematographer Roger Pratt’s beautiful portrayal of the city and surrounding countryside. There’s also some excellent fight-scene choreography.

The new Karate Kid doesn’t come close to the original, but one never really should tamper with an 80s classic.

Inception

Director: Christopher Nolan Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page

Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in this original sci-fi action movie. It’s a mindbending mission that takes you into the intimate and infinite world of dreams. In this world technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion.

Viewers follow Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a skilled thief who enters other people’s dreams to steal their valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious mind when it is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability makes him a valuable player in the world of corporate espionage, but it also makes him an international fugitive at the expense of a

Precious

Director: Lee Daniels Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey

A heart-wrenching story of the hardships life throws at you and the ability to overcome them against all odds. Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, the film is set in Harlem in 1987 and tells the story of a 16-year-old girl who’s born into a life that no-one would choose. Lead actress Gabourey Sidibe makes her screen debut and does an exceptional job playing the role of Precious. Incredibly overweight and illiterate, Precious is forced to wait on her welfare-reliant monster of a mother, who continuously hurls abuse her way. And to top it all she’s pregnant for the second time by her father.

Precious manages to face her challenges

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normal existence. When a businessman hires him for the never-done-before job of inception, he’s given the opportunity to gain redemption and get his life back.

But now he must accomplish the reverse; instead of stealing an idea, Cobb must plant one. If he and his team of specialists succeed, it could be the perfect crime.

Brilliant special effects add to the incredibly original storyline, which, coupled with great acting, has won this movie plenty of praise. Be warned though, it’s one that you might have to watch a couple of times before you get it. And even then you’ll still have some unanswered questions.

with the help of two supporting forces, her teacher Ms Rain (Paula Patton) and the compassionate social worker who is handling her case (a particularly moving performance by Mariah Carey).

The unsettling nature of this film deals with rape, incest, poverty, teen pregnancy and the hardships of life in the slums. It’s a wonderfully honest film with a stellar cast that brings depth to each character through charismatic and heartfelt performances. The incredible human capacity to overcome and prosper ultimately redeems this film. Make sure you have a box of tissues close by.

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BY ELKA SCHAIMBERG

M O VI E

R E VI E W S

BIOSCOPE Spud

Director: Donovan Marsh Starring: John Cleese, Troye Sivan, Jeremy Crutchley, Jason Cope, Tanit Phoenix, Charlbi Dean

Adapted from the best-selling and beloved novel by John van de Ruit, this highly anticipated movie release features some of South Africa’s most talented actors and established international stars. It’s a wonderful South African story about a boy who wins a scholarship to an elite private boarding school in KwaZulu-Natal. John Milton, aka Spud (Troye Sivan), is an only child who is cursed with parents from well beyond the lunatic fringe and a senile granny. At his new school full of rich kids, he has his hands full trying to adapt. Armed with only his wits and his diary, Spud takes

us from illegal night swimming to the red-hot furnace of the cricket pitch, from ghost busting to a catastrophic family vacation. Through all his adventures, Spud is advised by his eccentric, alcoholic English teacher “The Guv” (John Cleese), who introduces him to great literature and, despite his own failing marriage, offers relationship advice.

The movie Spud invites us into the mind of a boy struggling to come to terms with a strange new world, a boy whose eyes are being opened to love, true friendship and the complete insanity of life. You don’t want to miss this one!

Mao’s Last Dancer

Director: Bruce Beresford

A rags-to-riches story exploring Li Cunxin’s extraordinary journey from a poverty-stricken upbringing in rural China to international stardom as a worldclass ballet dancer. The story begins when a young Li is plucked from his classroom at age 11 to attend the Beijing Dance Academy. Separated from his family and enduring rigorous hours of practice, Li struggles to find his place in the new life he has been given. One teacher’s encouraging guidance helps him find the confidence and determination that leads him to discover his true passion for dance.

Li goes on to graduate as one of the best dancers produced in China, and in 1981 is

selected for a cultural exchange program with the Houston Ballet. The film opens with his arrival in Texas, wide-eyed with wonder and culturally shocked. But Li’s passion drives him to the top to become one of the West’s leading classicalballet stars. Graeme Murphy’s brilliant choreography coupled with the exquisite dancing enhances the film’s overall appeal. The film captures the struggles, triumphs and intoxicating effects of first love and celebrity amid the pain of exile.

This inspiring story is about finding the inner strength and discipline to truly pursue your dreams.

The Social Network Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich, The Social Network depicts the remarkable story of the events that led up to the biggest phenomenon of the 21st century: Facebook.

In 2003, Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) came up with an idea to take the entire social experience of Harvard and turn it into a comprehensive website. What begins in his dorm room with his best friend, Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), and two of his programmer pals, Zuckerberg creates “The Facebook”.

Six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg becomes the 52

Starring: Chi Cao, Bruce Greenwood, Kyle Maclachlan, Joan Chen, Amanda Schull

Director: David Fincher Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake

youngest billionaire in history, but for this entrepreneur success comes at the cost of multiple legal complications and shattered personal relationships. He soon finds that being at the forefront of a trend can be a lonely experience.

Zuckerberg tries to defend his “creation” from various attackers. Scenes of Saverin and Zuckerberg in their happy days at Harvard are brilliantly juxtaposed to the later days when they’re sitting across the table from one another forced to talk through their respective lawyers. One of the great stories of our time is both interesting and well told.

And while it’s not entirely factually accurate, it’s totally enjoyable. www.afropolitan.co.za

BY SAM MATHE

C D

R E VI E W S

BEAT BOX VUSI MAHLASELA The grande dame of South African literature, Nadine Gordimer, once compared Vusi Mahlasela’s singing to that of a bird “in total response to being alive”. She also called him “a natural blessed with the gift of song” and observed that the Pretoriaborn troubadour is a “guitarist, poet and composer of ever-growing accomplishment”.

In this US-recorded album, Mahlasela again shows why he deserves the weighty moniker of “The Voice” and why his compositional abilities, guitar wizardry and poetic touch remain peerless accomplishments. Delivered in

Say Africa [ Sony Music ]

The Voice’s trademark Afro-folk idiom, it is a majestic work of wide scope and terrifying beauty.

In this “sonic journey of engaging melodies and heartfelt lyrics” are 14 astonishing songs performed in no fewer than eight African languages – including Swahili, which is featured in the hit duet Nakupenda Africa (I Love You Africa) with Angelique Kidjo – and every single one of them is bound to give the listener goosebumps .

It’s also a tribute album that pays homage to his ancestral roots (Mokalanyane), the sterling leadership of Mandela (Ntate Mandela) and the

LURA

There is only one queen of Cape Verdean music – the great Cesaria Evora. But

ERIK PALIANI

[ Sony Music ]

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immortal music of Philip Tabane, Julian Bahula and Abbey Cindi (Ba Kae?). He proclaims pride in his African identity in the stirring and poetic Say Africa. Overall, Say Africa is a work of unparalleled artistry.

Eclipse

[ Sheer Sound/Lusafrica ]

thanks to her immense musical talents, the alluring Lura is the crown princess of this music genre of the West African archipelago – the jewel of a new generation. And indeed, following in the footsteps of the legendary Barefoot Foot, the Portugal-born Lura has taken the rich musical heritage of Cape Verde to new and greater heights.

Her fourth album, Eclipse, is her most comprehensive and accomplished yet in terms of the range of styles and genres it covers, from the melancholic mornas, the music of sweet sorrow made popular

by Cesaria Evora to other popular genres scattered across the archipelago such

Chitukutuku

In a low-profile but trailblazing career that spans more than a decade, Malawian-born Erik Paliani has established himself on the world music scene as one of the continent’s most sought-after producers. His sleek production skills are evident in the works of revered musicians such as Hugh Masekela (Phola), Zamajobe (Ndoni Yamanzi) and internationally celebrated guitarist Lee Ritenour (Smoke ’n Mirrors).

As an acclaimed guitarist himself, Paliani has collaborated as a session musician with respected artists including bassist Musa Manzini and

5/5

5/5

as the coladera, funana and batuco, the latter a women’s style from Santiago, the island of her father’s birth.

Her sensual, soulful voice sings the sodades – traditional bluesy songs that evoke sadness and nostalgia for family and homeland, historically sung by sailors and poets longing for home – with the sensitivity and gentleness of a true artist. Eclipse is a perfect illustration of a classic sodade. Lura also explores other styles outside the archipelagos, including the Brazilian samba. All in all, this is the artist’s finest work to date and heralds her arrival as the voice of a new generation.

5/5

pianist Themba Mkhize. In his album debut, Paliani finds his voice as a talented songwriter and guitarist who strikes the right notes in every one of these 10 tracks. The songs are steeped in the folk music of his native Malawi, but his deft, sophisticated arrangements and heavenly melodies give this album a global appeal. Those who insist on neat labels will be disappointed by his transcendental and dreamy approach.

Outstanding tracks include the He’s simply an innovative genius with dreamy Chitukutuku, the entrancing a highly individualised style. And while Kwacha and the hypnotic Dr. Nico – a this is primarily guitar music, he’s fabulous on the sparsely arranged vocals. homage to Congolese musician and soukous pioneer Nicolas Masanda.

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BY VINCENT VERRYDT

cu l i na r y

cu l tu r e

Fields of Gold

I

was born in Belgium. A place where beer is so entrenched in the cultural fabric of society that it’s considered a national treasure. The legacy of beer is passed on to Belgian kids like a heritage tale, and unlike the Yankees – who allow their kids to drive at 16, go to war at 18 but to only have a beer at 21 – beer drinking and, even more so, beer appreciation is a big part of growing up in Belgium.

My parents moved to South Africa when I was a mere worm, and 34 years later I’ve emerged from my European cocoon, a real Afropolitan. But Belgian blood still runs through my veins, which is why I’m so discerning about the beer I drink – or at least I should be.

I once arrived in Thabazimbi on a Saturday to discover the bottle store had closed at 3pm.

Faced with the bleak possibility of having to enjoy the bush with no ale meant I was forced into a local village to buy beer from the only open shebeen. I left with 12 quarts.

Now, I’ve always been adventurous, embracing local brews of wherever I find myself, but even then I select the beer based first on recommendation and second on bottle presentation. Now here I was faced with the quart, a rough, uncouth option, or so I so perceived it at the time. But what I discovered was a big bottle, filled with fine beer (Castle, Amstel, Windhoek, Heineken and even Peroni are all available in quarts now) and an added spirit of ubuntu. You see, of the quarts I bought, I opened one at a time and shared the beer with my mates – a common practice among the brothers, I’ve been informed. My northernsuburbs mates still need convincing, but it’s a matter of time.

The bottom line is fine beer is not a matter of size but rather of quality. With this thought in mind, I considered the top contenders in my imaginary beer Olympics. Top contenders include Belgium (naturally), Ireland, the United States and South Africa.

Microbreweries in South Africa

Brewing is a passion for some, and a few passionate brewers have set up microbreweries across our country to share their creations with interested visitors. Some of my favourites include:

Birkenhead - Stanford Beers: Lager, bitter, honey blonde, stout, red re-loaded and pilsner.

Description: The first wine and brewing estate in the southern hemisphere. Offers a restaurant, pub, brewery tour and views of the Klein Rivier Mountains.

Contact: 073 141 7800

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Clarens Brewery - Clarens

Beers: blonde, English ale, stout and red.

Description: Set in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. Brewer Stephan Meyer is dedicated to quality and craftsmanship.

They brew a 5000l batch a month, of which half is bottled and half served on tap in the brewery.

Contact: 082 901 4700; info@clarensbrewery.co.za; www.clarensbrewery.co.za

Gilroy - Johannesburg Beers: lager, pale ale, ruby ale, premium dark ale.

Description: Situated at the Ngwenya Glass Village, which forms part of the Crocodile Ramble in the Cradle of Humankind, Gilroy offers beer tasting, live entertainment, splendid lunches and a kiddies playground.

Contact: 011 796 3020, 073 357 2897, www.gilroybeers.co.za

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Belgium

Amazingly, 50 of the 80 brews submitted to the Rate Beer awards from the United States received gold awards. Good going considering beer isn’t as deep- rooted in their culture as in, say, Belgian culture.

Beer makes up 85% of all the alcohol consumed in the United States, and there are more than 1 400 breweries, ranging from mega-brewers such as Budweiser and Coors to tiny microbreweries producing their beer in buckets.

Interestingly, most of the country’s most-well- known breweries are not on the winning list. Instead it’s the lesserknown Cigar City Brewing, Russian River Brewing and Hair of the Dog Brewing companies that appear.

We all know that Belgium is the top beer producer on the planet, not because of quantity but rather quality and diversity.

Of the Belgian brews submitted to the beer-testing site www.ratebeer.com, Belgium received 50 gold awards out of 50 beers submitted. You can’t argue with that! This reiterates Belgium’s high standards in brewing. Stella Artois has the widest distribution across the United States, Europe and in Belgium, but no less than 15 varieties of beer are produced in regular quantities.

America’s most popular: Budweiser, Coors Light, Michelob.

Vince’s choice: Kriek – cherry-flavoured beer ale.

Vince’s choice: Samuel Adams, an amber-coloured lager with a floral, pine and citrus flavours.

Belgium’s most popular: Stella Artois, Leffe, Jupiler, Maes and Hoegaarden.

Easy Beer Cuisine Beer is not just the thirst quencher, it also adds excellent flavour to food. Try this simple and delicious recipe.

South Africa

Let’s be honest, no beer Olympics would be complete without Guinness! Arthur Guinness set up his brewery in Ireland in 1756. Today, Guinness produces a number of beers, but it’s the thick, black stout that has made its mark on the world. It’s served with a nitrogengas backing instead of the standard carbon-dioxide line, and in the early 20th century it was the world’s largest brewery. Today they’re no longer the biggest, but if you walk into any bar anywhere in the world and order a Guinness on a nitrogen tap, you’ll get it.

This is a true testament to Ireland’s beerproducing position.

We may be way down at the point of Africa, but South Africa is a force to be reckoned with in international brewing.

South African Breweries (SAB) owns international brands such as Miller Genuine Draft in America, Pilsner Urquell in the Czech Republic and Peroni in Italy. According to SAB, South Africans drink almost 60l of beer per person every year. We’re Africa’s top consumer of beer, and one of the globe’s biggest beer markets. Seven huge SAB factories churn out more than 25 million hectolitres of beer (1 hectolitre = 100 litres) annually.

And we’re not just about quantity, with Castle Lager winning gold medals and even being named the World’s Best Bottled Lager at the 2000 International Brewing Industry Awards.

Ireland’s most popular: Guinness, Murphy’s Irish Stout and Beamish.

South Africa’s most popular: Hansa Pilsner, Amstel Lager, Black Label, Castle.

4. Dip prawns in the batter and shake off

Vince’s choice: Guinness, delicious heaviness with a hint of coffee.

Vince’s choice: Castle, somewhat dry, somewhat bitter, never sweet.

5. Remove prawns from oil and put onto

Ireland

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Beer-battered prawns with sweet-chilli sauce 10 prawns or large shrimp, deveined ¾ cup flour 1 tablespoon garlic powder 2 teaspoons sea salt 1 teaspoon ground thyme 1 teaspoon onion powder ¼ teaspoon baking powder 1 egg, beaten ½ cup beer As necessary, oil

Steps 1. Mix the flour, garlic powder, salt, thyme,

images courtesy of thinkstock images

United States

onion powder and baking powder together in a large bowl.

2. Heat the oil to 185°C in a deep-frying pot.

3. Whisk the egg and beer together and blend into the dry ingredients until smooth.

excess. Working in batches, drop the prawns carefully into the hot oil and fry until lightly browned. paper-towel-lined plate. Keep warm while remaining prawns are fried.

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Timeless

F A S HI O N

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Clothes may change, but amazing fashion images are timeless! Selected from our past 20 fashion shoots, these are the top of Afropolitan’s Fashion shoots.

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F A S HI O N

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www.k5aviation.com

...experience africa

BY STACEY VEE

B E A U T Y

SUMMER LOVING! The colours and fragrances of the sunny season are blooming around you! Here are some of the best beauty picks this summer.

Dreams Unlimited Eau de Parfum R195

New from the Body Shop is an exhilarating fragrance created by two of the world’s leading perfumers.

Spray Dreams Unlimited onto your pulse points, and drift away on a summery breeze with notes of citrus, green chilli, white flowers and cedarwood oil. Also available as a body lotion and body wash.

Bobbi Brown Crystal Eye Palette R450

Fun and flirty, the Crystal Eye Palette from Bobbi Brown sparkles with shimmers of bright blues and greens, which show off beautifully on darker complexions. The four colours are Amethyst Metallic, Diamond Shimmer Wash, Star Sparkle and Marine Metallic.

Crabtree & Evelyn Heritage Soaps R100 for three

With scents of vanilla and pomegranate, the Heritage soap range from Crabtree & Evelyn is triple-milled, which gives it its luxurious quality.

MAC Tartan Tale Lipsticks R195 each

MAC’s newest collection is royal and raunchy – a collision of the colours and patterns of the punk movement.

MAC lipsticks are delicious, and these bright new flavours will add a splash of glam to your lips. From left the colours are: The Faerie Glen, Cut A Caper, Full Fuchsia, Courting Lilac and Deepest Wish.

Estee Lauder Double Wear R360 Foundation Estée Lauder recently released new foundation shades in its Double Wear range formulated specially for darker complexions. The SPF 10 formula stays in place all day, evens tone and leaves the skin radiant. There are four liquid foundation shades and five powder foundations shades in the range.

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G R O O MI N G

Close shave Be smooth this summer with the season’s picks of the best shaving products and accessories. Sheer luxury...

For Men Mac Root Energetic Face Protector R145

From the Body Shop, this SPF15 energising daily moisturiser contains maca root, creatine and Brazilnut oil from Peru. It has a fresh fragrance, boosts your skin’s vitality and soothes it after a shave, leaving it soft and supple. For all skin types.

Ebony Best Badger ShavING Brush Price on request

Philips SensoTouch 3D Shaver R1499

The GyroFlex 3D contour-following heads easily follow the curve of your face while the three UltraTracks remove every hair. You have the choice of a dry or wet shave, and the special charger also cleans the electric shaver after each use.

Billy Jealousy Hydroplane Shave Cream R270 for 225ml, R80 for 60ml

Hydroplane is a foamless cream from the luxury Billy Jealousy brand that contains a heady mix of peppermint, grapefruit, orange, lime, bergamot and ginger oils. It contains millions of beads of water-soluble, micro-silicone that slicks on easily for a close shave.

Available from Mantality.co.za.

Old Spice Whitewater Aftershave R169

After your shave, splash on Old Spice Whitewater aftershave – it has a cleaner, sportier fragrance than regular Old Spice. After all, you might not look like the Old Spice guy, but you can smell like him. Gift set comes with deodorant body spray.

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Prices may vary. Images are courtesy of thinkstock images, manufacturers and distributors.

This hand-made Edwin Jagger shaving brush from Crabtree & Evelyn is made from medium-grade grey badger hair with an ebony-polyester handle. It’s the ultimate luxury for applying shaving cream. It’s also perfect for travel.

BY STACEY VEE

G A D G E T S

GADGETS under R200 Blue Lounge Cableyoyo

R55

www.bluelounge.com

Ever noticed how long all the cables supplied with your gadgets are? For instance, how many times do you wrap your earphones around your MP3 player, not only damaging them but also creating a messy tangle? The Cableyoyo from Blue Lounge is a clever spool for your cords.

It can accommodate cables that are up to 5mm in diameter, which includes most phone chargers, USB, firewire, data and telephone cables. The ultra-thin design means that your cords don’t overlap when they’re wrapped around it. Cableyoyos are available at Look and Listen, Digicape and iStore outlets.

Capdase Alumor case for iPhone 4 Built NY One Bottle wine tote

R179

www.capdase.com

This stylish metal case for your iPhone 4 comes in various colours and offers twoin-one protection with its soft inner jacket and hard outer casing. The Alumor metal case will protect your iPhone 4 from drops, dust and scratches as a screen protector is also included. The design emphasises the trademark Apple logo, and more cutaways in the casing are for your camera lens and plugs.

Capdase makes a wide array of different casings for many models of phones, including the BlackBerry.

R199

www.builtny.co.za Built NY products are made from neoprene, which is the same material used for wetsuits. This material is stain-resistant and comes in a variety of fun, bright patterns. You can fit anything from a 750ml to a 1l bottle in one of these wine totes, and it will keep your bottle insulated for up to four hours. The soft-grip handles ensure that you can safely transport your favourite tipple in its protective sheath. The Built NY One Bottle wine tote stores flat when not in use and can be machine-washed cold and left to drip dry.

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G A D G E T S

under R2000 iPod Nano R1 559 (8GB), R1 999 (16GB) www.apple.co.za

Canon Ixus 130 R2000

www.canon.co.za At just 17.8mm at its thickest point, the 130 is the thinnest Canon Ixus on the market, and it’s easy to slip into a handbag or satchel. This 14.1 megapixel camera has a 28mm wide angle 4x zoom lens, and thanks to Canon’s face-detection technology, close-ups are a breeze. The scene-detection function allows you to choose from settings for 18 types of scenes, and a built-in image stabiliser removes blurring. You can file HD-quality movies with the video mode and then view clips on the 6.9cmx6.9 cm PureColor II G LCD screen or on your HD TV. The Canon Ixus 130 is available in four colours.

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Prices may vary. Images are courtesy of manufacturers and distributors.

The new iPod Nano has a fresh design and features a multi-touch interface, allowing you to scroll and tap through your albums on the 1.5-inch, 240x240 resolution display. It’s 46% smaller and 42% lighter than the previous model, and the built-in clip allows you take your tunes with you: clip your Nano onto a sleeve, your running shorts or the strap of your bag. It comes with a 30-pin connector that allows you to plug it into your car stereo or your home audio system. The new iPod Nano is available in six bright colours, with an aluminium finish.

Xbox Kinect R1 999

www.xbox.co.za If you have an Xbox 360 at home, take your gaming to a new level with the new Kinect accessory.

Set it up, then step in front of your Kinect motion sensor, and it’ll track your movements as you play: no controllers needed. You can jump, kick and dance your way through the special series of Kinect games. The Kinect sensor comes bundled with the Kinect Adventures game set that includes Reflex Ridge, River Rush, Rallyball, 20 000 Leaks, Space Pops and Living Statues.

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G A D G E T S

under R20 000 Nokia N8

R4799

www.nokia.co.za

Nokia’s top-of-the-line N8 doesn’t hold back when it comes to specs. A 12 megapixel camera sporting Carl Zeiss optics lets you shoot video at 720p with Dolby digital surround sound and an integrated HDMI port for easy playback on your HD TV at home. Videos can also be edited with built-in software. Navigation is a breeze with the free-for-life Nokia OviMaps that incorporate 70 countries with guides from the Lonely Planet and Via Michelin websites for tips on travel, restaurants, weather and hotels. Social media has been integrated with all updates from your favourite sites available on one screen.

A strong contender in the highly competitive smartphone market.

R11 300

www.apple.co.za

All iPad models come with built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi. If you want to extend your network coverage further, iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G offers superfast data speeds up to 7.2mbps over 3G cellular networks around the world. The iPad is perfect when you’re out and about with no access to a Wi-Fi network, because you can still get a fast connection to surf the web, send and receive email or get directions.

Since iPad seamlessly switches between 3G and even faster Wi-Fi, you always get the best connection available. With iPad-specific apps multiplying by the second on the online app store, look no further than the iPad for portable data and connectivity.

Sony Bravia 40-inch 3D LED TV Sony has opted for the “Active Shutter” technology to reproduce 3D TV. With each eye being given separate images by the accompanying glasses and then synced to the image on the TV, 3D images deliver unprecedented reality and presence. The HX800 has an optional Wi-Fi adapter to connect to the internet and watch Bravia TV (YouTube and more) and download widgets. Other features include live colour to accentuate a specific colour on screen, an ambient sensor to adjust the image to suit all lighting conditions in the room and Bravia Sync to easily connect and control the device from a Bravia Sync remote.

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R19 999

www.sony.co.za

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Prices may vary. Images are courtesy of manufacturers and distributors.

Apple iPad

3 year guarantee SMeg:

Head Office, 24 Thora Crescent, Wynberg, Sandton, Gauteng Tel: (011) 444 6988 (011) 448 1566

www.smeg.co.za ShowrooM:

31 Solistice Road, Umhlanga Ridge, Newtown Centre, Kwa-Zulu Natal Tel: (031) 566 2770

ShowrooM:

Northgate Island Unit D2A, Section Street, Milnerton, Cape Town Tel (021) 510 0390

BY ELKA SCHAIMBERG

D E C O R

AFRO DECOR American Shutters The Romeo & Juliet of Interior Design www.americanshutters.co.za In the world of interior design the matching of design products and finishes takes on Cupid-like proportions, with his arrows sometimes missing by miles and others finding target with magnetic precision. One of the most successful and beautiful interior design love affairs has to be that between AMERICAN Shutters’ blinds and shutters.

The only South African manufacturer offering their wooden blinds in a choice of three louvre widths, including a 63mm wide slat that gives the blinds a shutter-like appearance, AMERICAN Shutters’ blinds are the perfect partner to the timeless style of their quality wooden shutters.

Available in a choice of more than 50 finishes, AMERICAN shutters and blinds work comfortably in any and all interior styles. Used in window or door openings of standard or unusual shapes or to reformat interior spaces, these shutters are available in hinged, bi-fold or bypass configurations. A true modernday Romeo & Juliet, AMERICAN Shutters’ blinds and shutters are as beautiful together as they are apart.

Le Creuset www.lecreuset.co.za

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Add some colour to your kitchen and a sparkle to your cooking with the world’s leading enamel-coated cast-iron cookware. The preferred cookware of leading chefs and restaurateurs around the word, Le Creuset will help you make the most of your ingredients.

The range includes quality retrocoloured toughened non-stick stoneware. The cast-iron range is incredibly versatile, and the smooth enamel finish is durable and hygienic. Everything you cook will taste just as good as you intended.

Fantastic products in the cast-iron range include the popular buffet casserole, tagine, terrine and dishes, skillet grill, frying pan, skillet, sauté pan and a variety of saucepans.

Colour is synonymous with Le Creuset cookware, and the original graded Volcanic orange is recognised the world over! Other colours include Flame, Cherry, Cassis, Truffle, Caribbean Blue, Cobalt blue, Antique Rose, Kiwi, Dune, White, Black and the latest colour addition, Midnight Blue, which has a unique pearlescent finish.

www.afropolitan.co.za

BY ELKA SCHAIMBERG

D E C O R

Cow Hide Stool www.coricraft.co.za

Malmesbury Plasma Stand www.coricraft.co.za Manufactured from solid American White Oak, this simple yet solid plasma-TV stand is completely handcrafted, expressing a totally natural and organic look. The stand is part of Coricraft’s Malmesbury range, which is locally manufactured in Malmesbury in the Western Cape.

With its characteristic cracks, American White Oak is a popular American hardwood across the world.

Each American White Oak piece will have its own appeal due to the unique formation of the cracks in the wood.

The TV stand is a beautiful addition to any home. It is flexible enough to be mixed and matched with more modern elements.

With its clean, simple and straight lines, Coricraft’s Malmesbury range will complement a variety of tastes and styles and provide excellent quality and outstanding value for money.

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HomeTronix www.hometronix.co.za Ever dreamt of controlling your home from anywhere in the world?

HomeTronix will make it possible to control your entire home’s security system, curtains, lights, cameras, alarm systems, home theatres and TVs all with the simple touch of a button.

HomeTronix’s Control4 products are simple and can be installed in

is unique too. An aesthetically pleasing stool will never go out of fashion and can be used as a lamp table, ottoman, additional seat or simply a place to put your feet up. Certainly a standalone piece wherever it’s placed and however it’s used. Also look out for the plain-leather stool with stud detail.

existing houses or homes that are currently being built. The amazing features will give you complete control of your house, so that your house is now able to take care of itself.

When you’re on holiday, your house will perform a set rule of instructions.

It will close the curtains and switch on the lights at sunset. It will even switch on the TV or the radio to give the impression that someone is at home. At sunrise, curtains will slide open, all lights will switch off, and sprinklers will turn on at a desired time if it’s not raining. Your house can also email or SMS you confirmations on all activities. With this home automation system the possibilities are endless.

HomeTronix will provide convenience, comfort and efficient energy savings to your everyday needs from only R15 000 for basic automation. Let HomeTronix transform your house into an intelligent home.

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Prices may vary. Images are courtesy of manufacturers and distributors.

This season’s must-have decor accessory is the much-anticipated cow-hide stools. These handmade versatile seats lend themselves to placement anywhere in the home and can add a new dimension to a room without taking up too much space. Each Nguni hide is unique in colour and design, which means that each of these stools

logo to be used on white background

BY DAMIAN MURPHY

A FR O

W H E E L S

“Her lines accentuate her figure, and although she’s no starved runway model, her robust size is proportionate to what you would expect in this segment. Her perfect lines are carried from front to back, and she has the back end of a Brazilian flamenco dancer – generous and just the right size”

The New

Volvo S60 Naughty But Nice T

he new Volvo S60 is breaking the stereotype that Volvo has carried with it for as long as I’ve been in love with cars.

Traditionally the image that comes to mind when I think of a Volvo is a box with wheels and an old man in a tweed jacket behind the steering wheel. It appears that all that has changed, however, with the introduction of the impressive and naughty new Volvo S60. Yes, you read right. I did use naughty and Volvo in the same sentence.

But that term comes from the people at Volvo themselves, and I couldn’t think of a more fitting way to describe the new Volvo S60 than naughty, but nice. This is a vehicle that can break the mould of your mundane expectations and take things to the next level. Yet it can still deliver on all the same values that have made Volvo famous over the years, values such as safety and comfort. So why is this car so naughty?

If we start on the outside and give her a quick up and down, we notice instantly that although she has retained some of her former S60 heritage, there’s a serious injection of sex appeal. Upfront she has a wicked grin that screams “move” into the rear-view mirror of anyone who dares to get in her way. Her shape is sleek, sexy and defined.

Her lines accentuate her figure, and although she’s no starved runway model, her robust size is proportionate to what you would expect in this segment. Her perfect lines are carried from front to back, and she has the back end of a Brazilian flamenco dancer – generous and just the right size.

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Falling in love with this bombshell just for her looks would, however, be a big mistake. She has everything a guy or gal could want on the inside too! Her interior delivers on all my expectations and has all the creature comforts you’d expect from a luxury vehicle. She has the finest leather seats in a variety of colours, climate control, sun curtains on the rear windows and interior filtration system that seals you off in a cocoon of comfort.

The sound system is highly impressive, and it has RDS (Radio Data System) radio, CD and auxiliary input in the centre armrest. I could go on and on listing the impressive amount of gizmos and gadgets at your fingertips in the new Volvo S60, but that would only take up valuable space on the page. The new S60 has just about everything you can imagine you’d need and then a little bit more just in case. The interior is beautiful, balanced and comfortable.

So how does this machine move? The new S60 comes in three derivatives: the ordinary 2.0l turbo, the D5 turbo diesel and the flagship T6 version (the latter has all-wheel drive). On my trip around Wilderness, George and the Outeniqua Pass in the Western Cape I had the chance to put all three models to the test.

You’d think that there is a big difference in class between the three, but honestly, the 2.0l version put pedal to the metal just as confidently and assertively as the other models did, and it was with this version that I started my journey.

I had the manual six-speed version that delivered 149kW of power and 300nM of torque at 4000rpm. All of that mumbo jumbo equates to an impressive

amount of power, responsive gear shifting, a great top speed and a sense that the new S60 is as comfortable at 60km/h as it is at 150km/h. She can reach the magic 100km/h mark in an impressive 7.9 seconds, and Volvo claims the fuel consumption is around 7.9l per 100km. I can say with a degree of confidence that it could probably be a lot less in the 2.0l version if you drive responsibly.

The D5 S60 diesel version delivers 151kW of power with 420nM of torque at 3250rpm, and, despite being a dieseldriven car, delivered an impressive amount of grunt to the driver. The T6 AWD version will blow your hair back.

It’s a 3.0l turbo engine, delivering 224kW of power with 440nM of torque at 4200rpm. www.afropolitan.co.za

Top Speed: 230 – 250km/h • 0-100km/h: 6.1s - 7.9s • Cost: R335 000 – R464 000 • CO2 emissions: 177 – 239g/km

This baby has a six-speed Geartronic transmission that shifts smoothly and almost unnoticeably as you jet down the tarmac. She can reach the 100km/h mark in a swift 6.5 seconds with a very apparent lack of effort. The T6 is the exact reason Volvo have gone for the “naughty” campaign: this model could be dangerous and wild had Volvo not thought of everything in the safety department.

Now even though the Volvo team were going for the naughty image with the production of the new S60, the most important thing to them is retaining the consumer’s confidence in the product they deliver and the safety element.

“Making a car sexier doesn’t mean we need to make it less safe,” I was told by the Volvo team, and the S60 delivered on that Volvo promise. Just visit the Volvo

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website to see what I mean about safety in this vehicle.

On the page dedicated to safety in the S60, you can get an idea of the value they place on it. Not only do they have preventative and protective measures, they also have security measures to protect your car when you aren’t even in it! To list but a few of the safety features would take up the entire page, but some interesting features of the new S60 include the city-safety feature, which is a world-first standard feature for safer urban driving. This collision-avoidance technology works at speeds of up to 30km/h. Its laser-based technology can sense if a vehicle in front of you (within a specific distance) is at a standstill or is slowing down. If the city-safety feature senses an impending collision, the brakes are pre-charged to act faster

on your response. And if for some reason you don’t hit the brakes, the S60 automatically applies the brakes and switches off the throttle to help mitigate the effects of a collision. Interestingly, if the speed difference between you and the car in front is less than 15km/h the S60 is said to be able to actually avoid the accident completely.

The space I have to write about cars is limited, and I could go on for most of this magazine telling you about all the wonderful things that the new S60 offers, but in summation, the time I spent behind the wheel of these fun and fantastic machines, has taught me that Volvo will be a segment leader in the years to come. Once you get behind the wheel of an S60, there’s very little that would make you want to leave! This car is a real winner in my books.

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image courtesy of volvo

Specifications:

BY ELKA SCHAIMBERG

PR O P E R T Y

Aranmore Estate The Perfect Place to Call Home

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brand-new modern luxury cluster development is attracting great attention, not only for its prestigious address and ideal location but also for its contemporary elegant style, secure living environment and real value for money.

Skilfully adapted to the needs of today, Aranmore Estate in the heart of the Broadacres area north of Johannesburg offers the most rewarding lifestyle experience. The advantage of its relaxed and tranquil country environment is complemented by the fact that it’s conveniently close to all the action of the city.

Adjacent to the Broadacres Lifestyle Shopping centre in Syringa Avenue, 28 exclusive single or double storey homes are currently under construction, appealing to a mixed-bag market of

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young professionals, new families and recent retirees. Because Aranmore Estate is a complete lifestyle choice for those who place quality above all else, future residents are able to determine their ideal home with a choice of flexible floor plans and a range of upmarket finishes.

A wonderful opportunity to custommake your home from scratch means you can select from 15 different floorplan options to suit your needs. The two- or three-bedroom lock-up-and-go homes feature typical specifications that include bathrooms, an open-plan lounge, dining room, family room and kitchen, study, pyjama lounge, double-volume entrance hall, guest toilet and double garage with motor court. Built-in-braai units, atriums and spacious balconies above covered patios complete the practical, easy-liveable plan, and there is

also an option to add a swimming pool.

The stands are an ideal size and easy to maintain and manage with each plan designed to fit the stand footprint.

There has been absolutely no compromise when it comes to security at Aranmore. The high level of peace, tranquillity and quiet at Aranmore Estate goes hand in hand with unobtrusive top-notch security. An impressive gatehouse, 24-hour guarded access control and perimeter walling with electric top wiring ensures you can enjoy the lifestyle you so richly deserve.

The Aranmore concept is a perfectly balanced expression of modern cluster living born from a dynamic team effort that embodies the creative flair of leading architect Anthony Papageorgiou together with reputable developer Accolade Construction. With its sound

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track record, building integrity and proven credentials, Accolade has been building superb, top-quality homes in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg and Midrand for years. The company’s quality is excellent and its selection of fixtures, fittings and finishes is always superior. A comparative evaluation of homes in the area proves that Accolade consistently delivers sound investment value and a lifestyle experience second to none. One can actually see, touch, feel and enjoy the exceptional difference Accolade provides, with a timeless style that is not easily outdated.

While every effort is made to create bio-climatic conditions, the homes at Aranmore Estate are built clean and green, adhering to eco-friendly guidelines and restrictions. With energy efficiency in mind, solar heating is

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offered as an option, while aluminium window frames with appropriate glazing and solar geysers in every home is the standard.

Location is everything. The estate is surrounded by a delightful green country environment, and it’s also centrally located just minutes away from major suburban shopping and service centres, entertainment and business precincts. Surrounding hot spots include Cedar Square with its superb boutique shopping, culinary delights and exciting nightlife as well as The Fern at Dainfern, Fourways Mall and The Montecasino Leisure Complex. Hospitals and clinics in the area include the Fourways Life and the Intercare. Crawford Preparatory School, Fourways High and Dainfern College are also close by, as well as the

Virgin Active and Barnyard Theatre in the Broadacres Centre. The area also overlooks the prestigious Dainfern Estate with its exclusive championship golf course. And, with direct access to the highway and business centres across Johannesburg, you’ll never be too far away from where you want to be.

But when you live at Aranmore Estate, you won’t want to leave. The intimate parkland setting with some of the oldest and tallest trees in the neighbourhood integrates typical Highveld outdoor living with the prestige and privacy of modern luxury.

Priced from R1,4 million, homes at Aranmore Estate offer incomparable investment value. Change to the cluster convenience of Aranmore, and you’ll soon find that there really is no place like home.

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image courtesy of aranmore estate

www.aranmoreestate.co.za Contact Vee for further information: 072 227 2688

BY ELKA SCHAIMBERG

t r a v e l

Top 20

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orget Europe, give Mauritius a miss and get over Thailand! There really is no reason to escape South Africa if you’re on the hunt for a travel destination that offers a 6 star experience. Whether you are a beach bum craving powder white shorelines, a country bumpkin longing for golden sunsets or a golfing enthusiast who deserves to tee off into breathtaking vistas – Afropolitan has selected the TOP travel

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hot spots to suit you.

Find a variety of award winning honeymoon havens; be inspired by secret tree-top hideaways and bathe your soul in the African wild. East across went, we have found the best and you are invited to soak up the magic this country has to offer. Plan your trip, pack your bags and join Afropolitan on a journey of THE TOP 20 TRAVEL HOT SPOTS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

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images courtesy of featured destinations

Travel Hot Spots in South Africa

t r a v e l FOR THE BUSH BABIES Ulusaba Private Game Reserve Sir Richard Branson’s Luxury Retreat

Ulusaba brings the thrill of adventure and African safari traditions to life in a luxurious setting. Sir Richard Branson’s privately owned award-winning luxury retreat offers over 13,500 hectares of unspoilt, game-rich bush. The rooms are built “tree-house” style and stand 20 metres high in the heart of the beating bush. Spectacular panoramic views can be lapped up from your private viewing deck, with the backdrop of the Drakensberg mountain range in the distance. Ulusaba is the perfect opportunity to withdraw in quiet seclusion and be one with nature. www.ulusaba.virgin.com

Tsala Treetop Lodge The Elevated Resting Place

Tucked into the forest canopy, 10 luxury hide-away suites and six doublebedroom villas are the epitome of opulent indulgence and romanticism.

Constructed of stone, wood and glass, these ultimate abodes are fit for royalty.

Experience the restful tranquillity of the forest situated between the coastal towns of Plettenberg Bay and Knysna on the scenic Garden Route of the Western Cape. www.lionsands.com

Lion Sands Private Game Reserve 6-Star Luxury in the Middle of the Bush

Lion Sands will excite your spirit, revive your soul, and leave you with unforgettable experiences.

This little jewel on the banks of the Sabie River is all about overriding exclusivity with complete privacy. Each suite in the lodge is operated as a private villa.

Breathtaking views can be enjoyed through the oversized windows of your villa or from your very own viewing terrace. www.lionsands.com

The Phantom Forest Eco Reserve Africa’s Leading Green Hotel

Drawing inspiration directly from nature, this privately owned five-star lodge was created using from ragged thatch rising into the forest canopy and wood shingle and boasts a “freshwater” nature pool. The Phantom Forest Eco Reserve offers serenely indulgent luxury tree-suites that are in harmonious balance with nature. Intimate and romantic, complete with two doubleended baths, it’s the perfect honeymoon hideaway. Count the stars together in the jetted outdoor bath, and enjoy views over the Knysna Lagoon. Pure bliss! www.phantomforest.com

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t r a v e l FOR THE CITY SLICKERS

The One&Only A Destination unto Itself

An urban-chic luxury waterfront resort that boasts captivating views of Table Mountain, the One&Only offers a mix of contemporary glamour and authentic South African style. Here you’ll discover the award-winning trademarks of One&Only Resorts worldwide and experience genuine hospitality, luxurious accommodation, lively energy and the promise of unique and enriching experiences all in the very beautiful Mother City. www.capetown.oneandonlyresorts.com

15 on Orange Cape Town’s Style Icon

Distinctive architecture and modern design-driven elements are what sets 15 on Orange apart from any city hotels of its kind. This ultra-sophisticated building is strategically located in the cultural hub on the fringe of the city centre.

Dramatic decor defies categorisation, with extraordinary interiors and bright colours. The hotel includes a boutique retail segment and the stylish Judges & Murano Bar. A must-hit hotspot for any business or leisure traveller. www.15onorange.com

The Saxon Feeling reluctant to join the hustle and bustle of everyday life? The Saxon Boutique Hotel provides the perfect escape. This lush haven of tranquillity in the heart of Johannesburg is situated on six acres of rolling landscaped gardens.

Personal, discreet service is the hallmark of the Saxon. With delectable meals that are prepared by international chefs and presented to perfection and the award winning Saxon Spa you’ll soon begin to understand why so many guests come back to experience this home away from home. www.saxon.co.za

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The Westcliff Hotel Johannesburg’s Smartest City Hotel

A charming and romantic retreat in the heart of Johannesburg boasts an exceptional combination of modern luxury and old-school opulence, not to mention the most uplifting views the city has to offer. Relax at the spectacular rim-flow pool that overlooks Joburg’s urban jungle by day and the glittering lights of the city by night. www.westcliff.co.za

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images courtesy of featured destinations

The Best Kept City Secret

fulfil your desire for perfection with cobra

You enjoy a sophisticated lifestyle in stylish surroundings, and expect and demand the best. Cobra gives your home a uniquely distinctive designer look and feel, from taps and mixers to geysers, valves and accessories, with innovative energy and water-saving functionality that flows from the bathrooms to the kitchen and entertainment areas.

Designer range styled by

Tapno

Leading Edge

Callisto

Insist on Cobra. A reflection of your exquisitely good taste.

Visit our showroom and website to view our extensive range. energy saving

Visit our new showrooms in Bryanston, 18 Ealing Crescent (cnr Main Road & Bryanston Drive), Bryanston, Tel: 011 875 7400, or Cape Town, M5 Business Park, 2A Camp Road, Maitland, Tel: 021 510 0970, or Port Elizabeth, 220 Circular Drive, Lorraine, Tel: 041 367 4730 or Durban, 892 Umgeni Road, Morningside, Berea, Tel: 031 303 8400 South Africa. For your nearest Cobra stockist call 0861 21 21 21 e-mail: marketing@cobrawatertech.co.za Member of the Dawn Group

www.cobra.co.za

t r a v e l FOR THE BEACH BUMS Oyster Box Hotel Pure Escapist Luxury

A combination of colonial charm, lush tropical gardens and breathtaking seaside views has given the Oyster Box Hotel its legendary reputation. Sweeping views of the Indian Ocean and direct beach access make the Oyster Box Hotel one of South Africa’s most special offerings. Situated right on the ocean’s edge, it opened its doors in 1947 and fast became one of Africa’s best loved and most distinguished hotels. www.oysterboxhotel.co.za

The Plettenberg A Scenic Gem

12 Apostles More than a 5-Star Experience

Set in one of Cape Town’s most stunning locations, the 12 Apostles is surrounded by nature’s magnificence.

Enjoy glorious Atlantic sunsets and breathtaking mountain views. The Sanctuary Spa (voted the best in Africa) boasts hydrotherapy pools, a sauna and flotation tank. Delight in the hot and cold plunge pools and heated infinity pool overlooking the ocean. Jog through park trails, settle into a garden hammock, and swim or relax on nearby golden beaches. www.12apostleshotel.com

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Thonga Beach Lodge A Magical Wilderness Beach

Discover one of the most unspoilt wilderness beaches left on the African continent. A magical place set above a secluded bay and nestled into a beautiful coastal-dune forest with sweeping views of the stunning beach below. The thatched bush suites provide privacy and offer luxurious accommodation. There are mouth-watering meals on offer and one of the best dive sites in South Africa.

Turtle tracking in the summer evenings is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. These magnificent creatures return to the Maputoland coastline every year to lay their eggs. Spectacular! www.isibindiafrica.co.za/mabibi

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images courtesy of featured destinations

The Plettenberg gives you the opportunity of experiencing thrilling sightings of dolphins and whales in the bay from the hotel terrace. This spectacular resort offers breathtaking vistas of the sea and mountains and miles of golden sand. Enjoy a delicious dining experience of fresh seafood and South African cuisine or relax in the chic cocktail bar and sample some tasty sundown specials. This exclusive hotel has 37 superb rooms and suites, two swimming pools, a wonderful spa and an award-winning wine cellar. www.theplettenberg.com

t r a v e l FOR THE COUNTRY BUMPKINS Lanzerac Hotel & Spa Cape Heritage at Its Best

Overlooking lush vineyards, landscaped gardens and the majestic Helderberg Mountains, Lanzerac is arguably one of Stellenbosch’s most picturesque wine estates and certainly one of its most iconic. Whether you seek a relaxed picnic underneath the old oak trees, an alfresco lunch, a leisurely pub-lunch or a finedining experience, the Lanzerac offers the perfect setting, views and cuisine.

Enjoy golfing, hiking and mountain biking, wine tasting and cellar tours. www.lanzerac.co.za

Walkersons Hotel & Spa A Private Country Estate

Nestled in the tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho and surrounded by deep valleys and towering mountains, this first-class luxury lodge is pure bliss. Large stone and thatch Basotho-style chalets all offer exceptional views. See the magical snowcapped mountains in the winter months, and enjoy a cool retreat in the summer.

This real African mountain experience is enhanced by superb food and wine. All you need to do is relax, unwind and soak up the views. www.maliba-lodge.com

Bushman’s Kloof An Untamed Paradise

Nestled at the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains is a natural playground for those who want to reconnect with themselves and the essence of nature.

Wide open plains, mystical rock formations, crystal-clear waterfalls and an abundance of flora and fauna complete the magical experience. Luxury accommodation comes with a subtle fusion of African and European design.

Enjoy soothing, pampering treatments at the magnificent riverside Spa Gazebo that also offers panoramic views across the never-ending landscape. www.bushmanskloof.co.za

images courtesy of featured destinations

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Mpumalanga Highveld is the most prestigious estate in the Dullstroom area. Walkersons Country Hotel and Spa offer rooms that are both romantic and refined. Enjoy cold winter evenings by your own roaring log fire or take pleasure in warm summer evenings under the stars in your very own private outdoor shower.

Relax and unwind with a picnic basket by the many mountain streams or enjoy a long walk through the 800 hectare estate. www.walkersons.co.za

Maliba Mountain Lodge A Rural Wonderland

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• Aesthetic Medical Consultation • Botox® • Fillers • Mesotherapy • 3D Skin Rejuvenation™ • Titan • Pearl® Laser • Medical Peels • IPL • Microdermabrasion • Restylane Vital • Laser Vein and Hair Removal • Light Sheer • Tripollar™ • Velashape™ • Endermologie® • Ultrashape® • Accent™ • SlenderWonder • Carboxytherapy • PDT • Peels • Skin Needling

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0 8 61 S K I N S A 0 8 61 7 5 4 6 7 2 Please check branches for specialised treatments www.skinrenewal.co.za • www.bodyrenewal.co.za

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t r a v e l FOR THE GOLFERS

Having designed more than 200 top golf courses throughout the world, Gary Player has received numerous awards.

In fact, the top three rated courses in South Africa bear his signature. Having had his home on the Blair Atholl Estate for almost 25 years, Player is particularly passionate about this one.

He’s spent much of this time visualising the layout of the championship course, characterised by rolling hills and ravines. Magnificent views of the Magaliesberg Mountains and the Cradle of Humankind await players, while the picturesque Crocodile River runs through the heart of the estate. www.blairatholl.co.za

Simola Golf and Country Estate Rewarding Golf amidst Spectacular Scenery

Exceptional views across the Knysna Lagoon all the way to the Heads and over the picturesque Knysna River as it flows through the valley below are par for the course here. Leisure travellers, golfers and adventure seekers will love Simola. Set below the high ridges, it’s free from the wind that often plagues coastal courses. Fairways flow with the natural undulating contours of the terrain, while beautifully appointed rooms await guests in the five-star hotel. www.isibindiafrica.co.za/mabibi

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Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort Golf’s New Garden of Eden

Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort is nestled in an unspoilt natural paradise in Mossel Bay. This superb golfing environment boasts dramatic cliffside holes designed by renowned golf architect Peter Matkovich. Drawing inspiration from the landscape and abundant natural beauty, the architects have created masterpieces in both lodges and villas nestled on and around the estate. The combination of dramatic coastal scenery, space and superb service makes Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort the finest in luxury coastal living. www.pinnaclepointgolfresort.co.za

Legends Golf & Safari The World’s Best Golf Course

Legend Golf & Safari Resort’s unique Signature Golf Course was designed by 18 of the world’s greatest male golfers, each hole with a personal vision at its heart. The list of signatories who’ve been honoured to design a hole on the course reads like a who’s who of world golf: from SA’s own Trevor Immelman to Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia. Out-of-thisworld views make this Waterberg estate in Limpopo a wonderful getaway. It also boasts the extreme 19th, played from the top of a majestic mountain. Add in the Big Five and unspoilt African bushveld and you have a completely unique and unforgettable golfing experience. www.legendlodges.co.za

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images courtesy of featured destinations

Blair Atholl Golf Estate A Private Gary Player Course

SPORT FOR ALL - EVERYONE WINS!

Give our youth a sporting chance to help make SA successful.

the opportunity to be a part of Sport For All. The community benefits by having better-rounded youth growing up and becoming active citizens”

Get your company involved in Social Franchising today and create social change that’s good for business too.

For over eight years, 2010 in South Africa referred to an event, not a calendar year.

South Africa proudly hosted the first World Cup held in Africa; the vuvuzelas have silenced and the world has returned home. The question now is – ‘How can we continue the success, positivity and unity of the event and build a rich sport legacy beyond 2010?’

Sport For All, South Africa’s first registered social franchise, has the answer. A Sport For All franchised community business utilises sport as a vehicle for development and social change. It provides an entrepreneur (owner/operator) with a rewarding business; offers youth

employment opportunities and gives children - who are inactive or who have limited access to quality sport coaching - a chance to participate in over 15 different sport codes and life skills training.

This is NOT a charity project, it is a sustainable business model that uses structured curricula to deliver developmental sports training programmes and the latest smartcard technology to track cash flows and monitor the progress and participation of the children. As such, Sport For All is the ‘beautiful solution’ for companies who would like to fulfill Code 600 (Enterprise Development) and Code 700

Social Franchising is a viable business opportunity.

Not only will you create positive social change, you’ll see positive results on your bottom-line too.

How it works: The ideal business opportunity for a sports lover! And the ‘beautiful solution’ for companies to fulfill Code 600 (Enterprise Development) and Code 700 (Socio-Economic Development) BBBEE requirements.

Aligned with its beyond 2010 legacy building initiative, Sport For All has partnered with the South African Soccer Legends Association as a bridge between yesterday’s heroes and tomorrow’s young stars, providing former professional players the opportunity to also give back to communities throughout the country.

(Socio-Economic Development) BBBEE requirements. In other words, it is verifiable and measured, so a supporting enterprise can stimulate business at grassroots level whilst doing social good with meaning and real results and rewards.

Sport For All CEO Kelli Givens gives an insight into the quid pro quo benefits of this social franchise: “Everyone wins! Companies utilise their BEE Codes of Good Practice provision to get up to 20 points on their BEE scorecard, the franchisee gets the seed funding necessary to set up and kids who can’t otherwise afford to participate get

A Sport For All franchise is therefore not a charity but an exciting and rewarding venture.

The programme: Sport For All is a community business, which utilises a world-class multi-sport programme. It creates jobs for youth, who in turn, coach and teach children important life skills through over 15 different sport codes. It’s a sustainable business model; uses structured curricula to deliver developmental training programmes and employs the latest smartcard technology to track cash flows and monitor the progress and participation of the children.

Do you want to be a part of South Africa’s rich sport legacy?

Get in the game TODAY with Sport For All!

Contact Kelli on +27 87 820 4030 or +27 83 208 5850 and email: kellig@sportforall.co.za. www.sportforall.co.za

SOCIAL FRANCHISING - EVERYONE WINS

Be part of South Africa’s sporting legacy.

Social Franchising - The Beautiful Solution • • • • •

Uses the structures and management approaches of commercial franchising to achieve social goals Makes profit to plough back into the business to ‘make a difference’ Focuses on sustainability through entrepreneur development, business incubation and youth employment Turnkey Operation includes smartcard technology, storage container, coaching curriculum and kits sports equipment Hands-on classroom sessions and continuous on-field training for franchisee and coaches

Companies can earn valuable points: 15 (Code 600) Enterprise Development + 5 (Code 700) Socio-Economic Development = 20 POINTS on their BEE scorecard!

Contact: Kelli Givens | 087 820 4030 | kellig@sportforall.co.za | www.sportforall.co.za

The National Democratic Resolution

I

made a new year’s resolution: “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!” In short, I resolved to become a communist.

But I immediately struck a reef; I knew nothing about communism, except that it apparently led to untold riches.

But how? Bravely, I embarked on a journey of discovery that was hopefully to bring fruition to my resolution, moral high ground to my social and political standing and millions to my bank account.

It all went swimmingly at first.

Every single communist I met was loaded beyond belief. And they were amazed, nay ecstatic, to discover a 100% comrade Boer. My socialist education was going well, and I avidly aspired to the day when we would achieve full communism. And then, on the night before I was to receive my party card, my new comrades threw a party for me.

I’d never seen nor drunk so much vodka and Coke in my life. The next morning, while I was in a barely functional haze, it hit me: What comes between socialism and full communism?

Alcoholism. Bugger! The imperialist press was right! One of the first lines of The Internationale howled through my head as I poured coffee with a shaking hand... “Arise, ye wretched of the earth!”

Why was I suddenly confused?

I thought to myself: capitalism is defined as the exploitation of man by man. Communism is defined as the exact opposite. Okay. All good so far. But my hangover was now so catastrophic that I contemplated offing myself, and I recalled the last words shouted by every communist before he commits suicide: “Comrades! Don’t shoot!” My thoughts drifted to my youth. While I was still in school, I was asked what I was going to study at university. I replied: “I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.” But my new comrades told me that when they were asked the same question, they replied: “I don’t know. They haven’t told me yet.”

Curses! This wasn’t helping! I tried to focus on the counter-revolutionary morning paper. Ah, the Youth League expounding on sexual rights for the young. Disaster! How were we

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communists to control the birth rate if the means of production remained in private hands? And here, an article concerning the comrade trade unions: “Why are we building socialism? It’s better than working!” Shit! I was late for work!

In the traffic I thought about why I was still working for the class enemy and hating my job. I could have been a scientist, for Trotsky’s sake! Wait a minute. Isn’t Marxism-Leninism a science? No. They would have tested it on animals first. Blast! All right, an

“Every single communist I met was loaded beyond belief” artist then. Yes. I would heroically depict the struggle in the patriotic and glorious social-realist style. Let’s see: impressionists paint what they see.

Expressionists paint what they feel.

Social realists paint what they’re told.

Bliksem! A musician! Ooh yes, I could hang around with a guitar in coffee bars being swooned at by Youth League girls! Drat! My capitalist-pig brother, a cellist, had once remarked that the definition of a Russian string quartet was a Soviet orchestra returning from a US tour. Pfah! Why should I believe his mischievous utterances? We comrades all know that American capitalism is teetering on the edge of the abyss. Any day now communism will overtake it!

A luta continua! And then the comrade metro police officers pulled me over with the union-agreed method: a wave and a wink.

“Why do the metro police always come in threes?” I asked myself. After a minute the answer dawned on me: one could read, one could write, and the other was there to keep an eye on the two intellectuals. Trapped! As I stood shivering in the morning cold, digging in my wallet for a contribution to the workers, I decided that when we

CHE KABURU comrades achieved full communism there would be no need for police.

By then everyone would have learnt how to arrest themselves. Take that, bourgeoisie pigs!

As I toiled for the oppressor that morning, a Zimbabwean comrade co-worker mentioned that he had just returned from his ZANU PF Youth League committee meeting in Harare.

The comrade secretary told them that comrade Mugabe was still struggling to achieve full communism. Discipline would see the country to a glorious future! One day, people won’t have to queue for pap! The comrades apparently replied “What’s pap?”

Unperturbed, the comrade secretary went further by saying that the shortage of flour was because they’d started adding it to bread. When my Zimbabwean comrade left my cubicle I noticed he was limping, and I asked if he’d lost a shoe. He said no, he’d found one. Stout comrade! That night, like any good alcoholic, the guilt hit me. How could I make jokes about communism?

Wasn’t I being counter-revolutionary?

Nah, I told myself, even comrades in high government positions are telling reactionary jokes in an attempt to stay close to the masses. And then I started wondering what would happen if comrade Julius becomes president?

What would happen to the farms? Would he collectivise them? The sheep would emigrate! At the border they would be stopped, and the guard would ask why they were leaving. The sheep would say that comrade Julius had ordered the arrest of all elephants. The guard would say “But you aren’t elephants!”

And the sheep would bleat “Try telling comrade Julius that!” Lenin’s beard!

Talking sheep! It was time to get help. I phoned Communists Anonymous but got a recording stating that the comrade councillors were in a committee meeting debating the means of filling in the duplicate paperwork for the actual requisition of a telephone apparatus.

Bollocks to that, and so much for resolutions. I went out and bought a Monopoly set.

www.afropolitan.co.za

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BY KABURU

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