Essays of Africa July 2015

ES AYS A WOMAN’S JOURNEY

ESSAYS OF AFRICA

www.essaysofafrica.com

BIG BOOTIES

Siblings

THE RELATIONSHIP TO WATCH

The madness behind the

I SURVIVED BEING SHOT IN THE FACE

BUTT ENLARGEMENT

A woman’s story of overcoming tragedy

www.essaysofafrica.com

FASHIONABLE

JULY 2015 • VOL2 • NO8

MILITARY MANIA JULY 2015 R30.00 (VAT incl.)

Other countries: R26.27 (excl. TAX)

David Tlale Talks about living

his brand

Take charge with spot-on trends A VISIONARY SET ON HEALING THE CONTINENT

SIPHOKAZI FEKE is making her mark in Ghana June Cover_SM.indd 140

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Inside ESSAYS a woman’s journey

of africa

cover stories

20 MAIN FASHION: Militaryinspired clothing that leaves you feeling in charge.

44 DAVID TLALE: Breaking fashion barriers and being the living embodiment of his brand.

56 RELATIONSHIPS: Your relationship with your siblings could be the answer to greater life satisfaction.

July 2015

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60 MY JOURNEY: Siphokazi Feke, the visionary making medical milestones in Ghana.

66 NEWS REPORT: Big bottoms are trending worldwide; we look at why this is.

people 32 REAL LIFE: Surviving being shot in the face by a lover.

34 PROFILE: Gcobisa Bokleni shares her plans as one of the few women in the railway business.

54 WOMEN’S NETWORK: Girl Talk founders tell EOA how they want to make a difference to underprivileged young women.

76 MAN Q&A: He’s mastered the airwaves since the late 80’s. Bob Mabena talks about his staying power.

columns 16 G UEST BLOG: Akona Ndungane discusses the art of self-expression through her blog.

18 READER’S CORNER: Senzeni Ndebele shares her journey to self worth with us.

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36 UNCOVERED: How technology has changed how we navigate our lives.

78 #GAYBESTFRIEND: A chilling story unearths Ruth’s choice not to have children.

120 FINAL WORD: Baby-making weather is on the cards.

features 50 SELF-EMPOWERMENT: The saboteur and prostitute, the last two of the big four survival archetypes.

52

MONEY: What to do when you 52 have a little bit of extra cash.

58 SEX: What to do when your libido takes an unwelcome dive.

62 PARENTING: Getting to grips with the basics of IVF. 70 H EALTH: With 70 percent of the SA population affected, obesity is more than just other people’s problems.

MAN FEATURE: Depression in 72 men, are they talking about it?

58 EssAY S of Afric a

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ESSAYS SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIPTIONS EOA

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Offer ends 31st July 2015.

12 MONTHS PRINT @ 35% DISCOUNT = R234 ONLY! 12 MONTHS DIGITAL @ 35% DISCOUNT = R210 ONLY! To subscribe, visit www.essaysofafrica.com EOA terms and conditions apply. See www.essaysofafrica.com.

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fashion 17 SEXY 7: The best fashion picks for the month.

20 MAIN FASHION: Military inspired clothing that leaves you feeling in charge.

37 SHOPPING: Ponchos to suit every chilly occasion.

38 REAL WOMAN: Maneo Scott’s trendy winter looks.

41 SHOPPING: Fun with a little bit of faux fur.

42 FASHION NEWS 43 SHOPPING: Winter white must-haves.

65 ITEM OR OUTFIT: Choose between a luxurious wallet or a full stylish ensemble.

74 MAN SHOPPING: Accessories to keep your man looking sleek.

beauty 79 SHOPPING: Boost your skin's radiance.

80 MAIN BEAUTY: Back to the basics of great skin care.

86 BEAUTY NEWS

110 ENTERTAINMENT: Yewande Omotoso discusses her writing with EOA.

88 HAIR: The reasons why your hair is not growing.

112 BOOKS

90 Interview: Make-up artist Lucoh Mhlongo speaks about make-up trends for the modern woman.

116 MOVIES & THEATRE

lifestyle 92 FOOD & ENTERTAINING: Delicious recipes for the perfect winter comfort food.

98 DÉCOR NEWS 100 DÉCOR FEATURE: Keeping it elegantly simple with monochrome.

104 MOTORING: Comfort is of the utmost importance in your car of choice.

106 TRAVEL: Celebrating Mandela’s legacy through some local sightseeing.

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115 TECH NEWS & APPS MAIN COVER: PHOTOGRAPHER: GARETH JACOBS. STYLING: TUMI MDLULI. HAIR & MAKE-UP: PRUDENCE SEGAME. FASHION & ACCESSORIES: LUMINANCE.

85 SEXY 7: The best beauty products of the month.

117 MUSIC

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SUBSCRIPTIONS PAGE

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EDITOR’S LETTER

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ON LOCATION

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CONTRIBUTOR’S LIST

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ONLINE UPDATE

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LETTERS PAGE

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SOCIAL SCENE: BMW Golf Clinic 113 SOCIAL SCENE: Liz Ditshego's book launch.

118 HOROSCOPES 119 STOCKISTS PAGE

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PICTURE: KWENTA MEDIA.

ED’S LETTER EOA

riting this month’s letter makes me ever so slightly uncomfortable, but I know I’d rather stir the pot and ask the uncomfortable questions than sugar-coat them to gain popularity. Even though some of you will probably disagree with my notions, I trust that you will appreciate, if nothing else, the sincerity with which I’m asking them.

Recently I’ve been confronted with the issue of hatred amongst women, and I’ve been asking myself why women dislike each other so much? What is it inside of us that triggers the fangs and the hatred to surface?

In my attempt to get to grips with this issue, I’ve come up with this as a possible explanation. I think we dislike each other because we are so alike in so many ways. Instead of being attracted to what makes us the same, we are intimidated and jealous; repelling from each other like two powerfully charged positive battery poles.

It is ironic that the power that is reflected back to us from other women can make us so uncomfortable. But what if we thought of it differently? What if power in the presence of power breeds mighty thunder that we can all benefit from?

I believe we need to take advantage of our similarities and treasure that which other women reflect to us. We need to stand together for common goals that better ourselves and the unborn generations within us.

As a woman who employs a staff component of mostly women (99% to be exact), I choose to surround myself with women. I do this in my capacity as a woman’s lifestyle publisher and editor, but also as a mother, sister, daughter, friend, lover and ultimately a woman, who genuinely believes in the African proverb: “if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.” And my people, by choice, are women – passionate, goal-oriented, hardworking, intelligent women who aren’t scared to embrace their reflections in their female colleagues, friends and family.

They understand the value in embracing combined efforts, shared goals and ultimately, together, will taste the fruits of success.

Our vision at EOA is not to grow fast, only to disappear in the end. Our vision is to tend to our organic growth in a slow, deliberate and thoughtful manner. We want to bring you a magazine that stems from women working palm in palm and unafraid of the reflections they see in each other.

We know and appreciate that we wouldn’t be where we are without you being a reflection of who we are, and for that we thank you.

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l a a w a N Nawaal@kwentamedia.com

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ESSAYS www.essaysofafrica.com

CEO of Kwenta Media & Founding Editor of Essays of Africa

Managing Editor Deputy Managing Editor Features Writers Fashion & Beauty Editor Admin & Fashion Assistant DĂŠcor Writer Columnists Contributors Online Features Writers Sub-Editors Proofreader

Nawaal Nolwazi Mdluli

Zama Nkosi Tracy Maher Caryn Thandi Petersen, Hayden Horner, Helen Herimbi, Thina Mthembu, Hlulani Masingi Tumi Mdluli Tebatjo Manamela Rhoda Davids Ndoni Khanyile, Tumi Morake, Hayden Horner Akona Ndungane, Bulelwa Mokori, Khosi Jiyane, Kirigo Kamore, Robyn Bloch, Russell Brout, Zanele Mji, Zelia Michaels Shangase, Thina Mthembu, Hlulani Masingi Hayden Horner, Nafia Goetham Nicky De Bene

Designer Junior Designers Online Administrator

Lelethu Tobi Asanda Mazwi, Siphokazi Masele Mpho Mahlo

Production Manager

Tumi Mdluli

Sales Marketing/PR & Events Coordinator Operations & Finance Manager Advisory Board

Office Drivers Publisher Physical Address

Postal Address Websites Advertising Editorial Information & Enquiries Subscription Queries Printers Distribution

New Business Development Team Mbalenhle Fakude Nuraan Motlekar Fazila Bizor, Lindsay Breytenbach, Lindelwa Isabelle, Ndoni Khanyile, Busisiwe Mahlaba, Sen Mdhluli, Moeketsi Mosola, Dr Salifou Siddo, Nthabe Zondo, Sonto Ndlovu Gabriel Mashishi, Yusuf Msinyi

Kwenta Media (Pty) Ltd. Fourways View Office Park, Block C, First Floor, Cnr Sunset Ave and Sunrise Blvd, Fourways Tel: 011 467 5859, Fax: 011 467 2808 Kwenta Media, Essays of Africa: P.O. Box 4437, Dainfern, 2055 www.essaysofsafrica.com / www.kwentamedia.com advertising@essaysofafrica.com editorial@essaysofafrica.com info@essaysofafrica.com / info@kwentamedia.com subs@essaysofafrica.com

CTP Printers Cape Town RNA (Astrid Anderson) Essays Of Africa Magazine, Website and Webzine are 100% owned and published by Kwenta Media (Pty) Ltd. The editor and publisher reserve the right to alter copy and visual material as deemed necessary.

Copyright by Kwenta Media (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.

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on location EOA

He is the King of Fashion and if you didn’t know that, his crown should tell you so.

David doesn’t work from a chair; he sits on a throne.

Here he sits, making a quick phone call. When you’re A successful designer, the phone never stops ringing.

David Tlale The Brand

When David Tlale is the cover star, there is very little for our Fashion Editor, Tumi Mdluli to do. In true David Tlale style, he dressed himself, impeccably of course. The team watched on as he showed off his styling prowess and the fact that he’s no stranger to the camera.

WORDS: Tumi mdluli. PHOTOGRAPHER: GARETH JACOBS.

David Tlale going through his emails in between the shots.

Make-up artist, Lucoh Mhlongo, doing final touches to ensure that David is cover ready.

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EOA CONTRIBUTORS

For the Love of AFRICA We asked Essays of Africa contributors how they are doing with the resolutions they made for themselves when the year started.

We have, after all, passed the halfway mark already!

Kirigo Kamore – Features Writer

“I'm not doing so bad. This year I wanted to spend more time with my family and close friends.

My family has came over twice already to visit me all the way from Port Elizabeth and those days have been the most memorable for me. I've also enjoyed hosting friends over my place; there is no better way to enjoy the weekend than over good food, drinks and conversations.”

Lelethu Tobi – Designer

“I stopped measuring life in times values a little while ago and instead chose to start looking at my life in achievements and endeavours. People usually say “first day of the rest of my life” measured by time and I chose to go for “the first day of this particular endeavour” and when I have completed it, I celebrate myself. I decided to write a book of short stories made up of some daydreams and experiences and I recently had a light bulb moment of the story that would complete the collection – that was the first day of the rest of that endeavour.

Everything seems more achievable looking at life in moments of trying as opposed to trying to chase time.”

Akona Ndungane – Guest Blogger “I’ve had a so many failed resolutions in the past. So I end up not setting resolutions for myself, except to just improve a few things that I take note of along the way. At the moment I would like to improve my inner confidence level, learn how to control my inner critic, and use healthier motivation habits. I would like to be able to handle mistakes and failures in a more positive way, so that it does not stop me from living the kind of life I have always imagined.”

Tebatjo Manamela – Fashion and Beauty Assistant “My aim for this year was to be happy and to love – and that's exactly what I have been doing. While everyone else focuses on their finances, weight issues and that kind of thing, my focus is on happiness. I've built and improved a lot of relationships and that is making me genuinely happy. so I would say I am faring very well.”

Thina Mthembu – Features Writer

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WORDS AND IMAGES: KIRIGO KAMORE, LELETHU TOBI, AKONA NDUNGANE, TEBATJO MANAMELA, THINA MTHEBU.

“I would say I'm faring really well, given that I never set any this year. On the other hand, I have set my life against a new motto of 2015, “Do at least one thing each day that will bring you closer to your ultimate dream.” So far, I have been consistent with that. I do need to improve on not expecting disappointment at every turn though. 2015 is the year to be super positive!”

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2015/06/11 10:39 AM

ONLINE UPDATE EOA

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

Our Twitter handle is @EssaysOfAfrica, are you following us? Great!

Now get your family and friends to the same! There is always so much to talk about and we want to hear from you on all our social networks! We are also on Facebook and Instagram! #EOA #woman #lifestyle #fashion #beauty

EOA is a Click away

SUBSCRIBE TO THE EOA DAILY ONLINE NEWSLETTER NOW!

If you want to be the first to know what’s hot and what’s not in the world of beauty, fashion and your health, subscribe to our daily online newsletter and we will bring the best lifestyle trends to your inbox, every day without fail! Visit www.essayofafrica. com to subscribe.

SUBSCRIBE AND GET YOUR DIGITAL COPY!

EOA is mobi-friendly, which means that you can avoid the long queue at the supermarket and get your hands on the copy before anyone else does! Subscribe online and save 35%! Visit www. essaysofafrica.com and follow the easy steps!

CONTACT US!

Do you have a story to tell? Do you need to get into contact with us? Here are all our details!

CHECK OUT OUR UNCOVERED CHATS!

After subscribing to our daily newsletter, make it a point that you view our uncovered chats. We have articles and videos that will inspire you, make you laugh, and teach a lot about different cultures in Africa and the world. Share your thoughts with us in the comments section, we want to know what’s on your mind.

SOCIAL NETWORK You will find Essays Of Africa on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

E SSAYS OF A F R I C A

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2015/06/11 10:12 AM

EOA LETTERS

Your letters BEING NOSY HELPED!

The first time I saw Essays Of Africa was at my sister’s place, she loves magazines and since she’s one of the people I look up to I try to read anything that she has at her house. After reading the first copy (February with Thuli Sithole), I went to her magazine rack to look for back copies so that I could catch up and get the feel of the magazine, all of this happened three months ago and I’ve been hooked.

This magazine is a true beauty, with really great content and it captures the true spirit of African women! Since I’m a fashion lover, I’ll have to say that the fashion pages are usually the first pages I go through when I get my hands on every issue, I’ve also subscribed to the Daily Newsletter to get your latest fashion and beauty tips and I always have a good laugh when I read some of your online articles. I wish the EOA Team nothing but the best. Please keep up the good work, many will agree with me when I say we’ve all been waiting for a magazine like Essay Of Africa!

Katlego Lebese

SOCIAL MEDIA Boitumelo Smondo @Semondo1 @EssaysOfAfrica I bought the mag yesterday for the 1st time…I love everything about it and its’ very inspiring… can’t wait 4 the next issue ('. ' intombeBhaca @MissySimplicity Just bought my Fav mag good read, I love everything about it.

It’s inspiring, it’s style sense is amazing @EssaysOfAfrica Barclay&Clegg @BarclayClegg Thank you for shopping with us today Nawaal and Tumi of @ EssaysOfAfrica! We had so much fun with you lovely ladies.

This is a gem straight from the heart and heads of thinking soulful women of Africa, I appreciate it so much!

Luyanda Aziza Sibisi Essay Of Africa, The Black woman’s voice of hope, source of pride, beacon of joy and serves as a constant reminder that she is important. Perfect day to read about it in the June issue.

Leboganag Shole So chuffed to see my friends and sister in Essays Of Africa.

Get the latest copy now and get inspired by her story.

Congratulations Vuyi Mpofu and thank you Essay Of Africa for sharing her story with us.

Suzan Motshwene

This is fabulous work! The road less travelled “African Profiling”… tapping into a whole new richness in the game.

Big Ups! Buda Zac Stunning! The Region is rich with gorgeous women! Every issue showcases one of these gems!

Angie Moyo Done reading the June issue now I’m patiently (not really) waiting for your next issue! The magazine is class at its best, women my age should all get a copy, monthly! Props to the team!

Cindy Mkhize I honestly think I love every issue of your magazine but the June issue I guess takes the number one spot. When my friends ask me why I love reading EOA, my answer to them is always, “get yourself a copy, you’ll see what you’re missing.” Love the mag guys!

Matlakala Thladi maitso_thaisi So in love with this issue and @essaysofafrica. Your magazine is so inspiring! #firsttimereader #newfan & @yswara what an exceptional woman!

We would love to hear your views, news and especially your feedback on the magazine. Email us at letters@ essaysofafrica.com or post your comments on Facebook.com/essayofafrica, @EssaysOfAfrica or EssaysOfAfrica.

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ESSAYS A WOMAN’S JOURNEY

OF AFRICA

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2015/06/10 12:40 PM

EOA BLOGGER COLUMN

we all seem to connect better when we express our honest selves. This was when I learned that people are drawn to stories that resonate with them and make them feel like they are not alone.

My blog consists of words, pictures and sometimes exhales of experiences and people – all the time a Copacetic [koh-puh-set-ik, -see-tik] in perfect order; fine; completely satisfactory; OK. collection of the things that make me copacetic.

Blogging wasn’t big in South Africa then; it was difficult to find blogs by Black Africans and I am glad to have been a part of the early adopters. My blog, which I called Mosaic to indicate that it would a collection of anything and everything I found interesting, was bolstered by the once in a lifetime, year long, trip around the globe I won called The Smirnoff Experience. I was one of ten people from around the world who was given the opportunity to travel the world, documenting original nightlife.

Travelling and writing, which were both a dream of a lifetime, often reminded me of a line from the movie American Beauty. “Sometimes there is so much beauty in the world, I feel I can’t take it, like my heart is gonna burst.”

As much as the documenting of travels was a job, I realised that it was a duty to keep telling our stories, no matter how small we may think they are.

I have learned so much about the world, black women, places, cultures and our varying experiences as humans from many other bloggers.

I am grateful that I get to experience moments in someone’s life through their words and I hope that through my sharing, I too create value for someone else My blog has gone through some changes as I keep asking what I want it to be about – and every time I ask that question I am humbled by “I do not know” floating through my head. With each post I allow myself to be as I feel at that very moment.

Writing allows me to explore the self and my process of learning about myself – how I feel today may not be the way I will feel tomorrow; allowing that contradiction and growth to happen is the story of exploring oneself.

We all tell stories in some form or other because ultimately, how could we live without a story to tell? E

SELF EXPRESSION THROUGH BLOGGING “ But how could you live and have no story to tell?”

– Fyodor Dostoevsky. That is a favourite quote that I recite to myself whenever I feel that I have no words to give the world. It becomes my mantra when I struggle to keep to my promise of writing just one page a day – about absolutely anything.

My blogging life began in 2007 when I realised the importance of documenting one’s life, experiences and feelings. I had long since kept a private journal and finally took the leap of sharing my thoughts and experiences onto a blog for the worldwide net to explore. It was a scary transition because I would always wonder what people would think of me, whether or not anyone would care, and worse, would anyone even click on my site?

I focused mainly on sharing what I had been up to, what I intended on doing in coming days and slowly developed the confidence to allow people to share in my thoughts. Writing allowed me to confirm myself to myself and surprisingly, I found that most of the people who visited my blog preferred the posts about myself and how I felt, good or bad, because

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WORDS: AKONA NDUNGANE. PICTURES: SUPPLIED BY AKONA NDUNGANE.

Akona Ndungane started blogging way before it was common in SA. She shares her journey about finding her voice and telling her story.

ESSAYS OF AFRICA

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FASHION EOA

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GOLD BEADED BRACELET, R1 250, KAIKA JEWELLERY.

BLACK PONYSKIN JACKET, R6 899.95, TED BAKER.

SEXY SEVEN They say the best things in life are free but this month’s Sexy 7 selection will cost you some Rands.

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WORDS: TUMI MDLULI. IMAGES: SUPPLIED BY STOCKISTS.

STRAIGHT CUT JEANS, R559, ZARA.

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INGENIOUS SILVER FEATHER EARRINGS, R1 295, KAIKA JEWELLERY.

45 WHITE BUCKET BAG, R699, RIVER ISLAND, EDGARS.

WHITE T SHIRT, R2 400, KAREN MILLEN.

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TAN HANNAH BOOTS, R599, MISS BLACK, ZANDO.

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ately my mind has been consumed with thoughts on self-worth.

I keep asking myself “what is self-worth?

Does everyone believe they are worthy?” So I looked up the meaning and the dictionary defines it as, “the sense of one’s own value or worth as a person”. Wikipedia on the other hand defines it more deeply as “a person’s overall subjective emotional evaluation of his/her own worth. It is a judgement of oneself as well as an attitude toward the self.” The Wikipedia definition resonates more with me because it refers to the attitude and the judgement an individual has towards himself or herself. Self-worth is somehow a judgement of one’s self.

Self-worth comes from deep within a person. It is a belief in yourself that you matter and this leads to you believing in yourself. Depending on how worthy you believe you are, it can lead to a low selfesteem or the perception that you are arrogant. Either way, it is a battle you cannot win with other people, it is completely about yourself.

I remember there was a guy who wanted to date me and when he asked me out I had an attitude of doubt towards myself and asked myself the questions “why does such a good looking and successful guy want to date me? I am not as gorgeous as his previous model girlfriends.” In my quest to get the answers, I asked a friend whose immediate response was “why not you?

You are beautiful, smart, successful and sexy. So why can’t you date him?” That is when I had my Aha! moment and started the most important conversation with myself – a journey that would positively change who I am. I began my journey to destination self-worth.

I began to ask myself “why not me?

Why can’t I have the best job in town?

Why can’t I have the best man in town?

Why can’t all the good things happen to me?” And the answer I always got was “why not you?” I started to value myself more and see that I am worthy of all the good and great things that life has to offer. I also learnt on my journey to affirm myself every day, appreciate who I am and never settle for anything but the best. I learnt that self-worth is not about the designer clothes you wear, the car you drive, the job you have or how big your house is. It's about having faith in yourself and believing in who you are.

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DESTINATION: Self worth EOA reader Senzeni Ndebele has been on an introspective journey to self worth that she wanted to share with those trying to reach the same objective.

Recently when a stranger complimented me on my looks, I was taken aback, thoroughly surprised, because I have never felt worthy of being called beautiful. Later that night whilst I lay in bed, I understood that knowing my self-worth and accepting that I am worthy is a journey I am still travelling and that I have conquered the first part of my journey and still have a distance

to go. Two quotes have stood out for me on my journey. The first one said, “if you find yourself always trying to prove your worth to someone, you have already forgotten your value,” and the second said “sometimes the hardest part of the journey is believing you’re worthy of the trip.” So take that journey and when you finally reach destination selfworth, you will be at peace with yourself. E

Words: Senzeni Ndebele. Pictures: Supplied by Senzeni Ndebele.

EOA READERS CORNER

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Shopping

FASHION EOA

FELT HAT, R139, MR. PRICE.

WORDS: TUMI MDLULI. IMAGES: STOCKIST, WWW.IRFE.COM/EN.

COAT WITH GOLD BUTTONS, R999, ZARA.

UTILITY SHIRT, R129, RED, MR. PRICE. LOVINO OVERSHIRT, R1 999, G STAR.

Taking Charge

Simple pieces can add a touch of macho army energy to your every day looks.

UPTON CROPPED BF OVERSHIRT, R2 599, G STAR.

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AVI LOOSE PANTS, R2 999, G STAR.

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CAMOUFLAGE DENISON SMOCK, R4 000, THE WAR STORE. BLACK BOYFRIEND JEANS, R1 499, LEVI’S, STUTTAFORDS. MULTI CAMOUFLAGE AMERICAN ARMY CURRENT ISSUE, R800, THE WAR STORE. MALIN PANT (MOTTO LEGGING), R899, GUESS.

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FASHION MAIN EOA

MAD ABOUT

Military

Military is currently trending in the closets of the fashion forward but the truth is that it never stopped being a trend to watch out for.

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GREEN SWEATER BRILLI, R599, MANGO. DRAPPED FAUX SHERPA VEST, R1 699, GUESS. FAUX LEATHER TRIM SKIRT, R999, BANANA REPUBLIC, STUTTAFORDS. JAMANJI SUEDE BOOTS, R2 299, NINE WEST.

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FASHION main EOA

WHEAT COT TWILL JACKET, R1 879, JEEP, STUTTAFORDS. COW SUEDE CHUNKY TASSLE BOOTS, R2 999, CASTELO.

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FASHION main EOA SELF SPOT LONG JACKET, R1 899, YARRA TRAIL, STUTTAFORDS. L/S FISHNET CONTRAST DRESS, R1 099, GUESS. GREY FAUX FUR ZIP JACKET, R1 799, GUESS. JERSEY DRESS, R999, GUESS, STUTTAFORDS.

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FUR NECK PARKA, R1 399, TOPSHOP. SHERRI SKINNY PANTS, R999, POLO, STUTTAFORDS. CARVER LEATHER BOOTS, R1 699, NINE WEST.

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FASHION main EOA QUILTED VEST, R1 199, POLO, STUTTAFORDS. OLIVE WORKWEAR BOYFRIEND SHIRT, R999, LEVI’S, STUTTAFORDS. BOTTLE GREEN SKIRT, R1 099, TOPSHOP. VEILON BOOTS, R899, CALL IT SPRING.

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WW2 AMERICAN MAKHINAW COAT, R2 200, THE WAR STORE. 5POCKET LEATHER PANTS, R1 299, BANANA REPUBLIC, STUTTAFORDS. CAMISETA STITCH T-SHIRT, R349, MANGO. WEST GERMAN ARMY HELMET, R1 200, THE WAR STORE.

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FASHION main EOA

CAMOUFLAGE JACKET, R999, TOPSHOP. BLACK LEGGINGS, MODEL'S OWN.

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GREEN PONCHO, R649, TOPSHOP. TAILORED WESTERN HERITAGE DEMIN SHIRT, R699, LEVI’S, STUTTAFORDS. BLUE DENIM LEGGING, R999, LEVI’S, STUTTAFORDS. MILAR GREEN PUMP, R2 250, CASTELO.

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WORDS & STYLIST: TUMI MDLULI. PHOTOGRAPHER: GARETH JACOBS. MAKE-UP ARTIST: PRECIOUS XABA. MODELS: MAT MOKOKO & TESSY BONAVERA. LOCATION: THE JOHANNESBURG MILITARY MUSEUM.

FASHION main EOA CAMEL NIM PARKA, R1 599, FOREVER NEW. KNEE HIGH BOOTS, MODELS OWN.

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he first time I meet my niece Athandwa is at her first birthday party in Bloemfontein this year. She lives with her mother, my cousin Lindelwa Mdletshe, in a townhouse complex.

They’ve somehow managed to fit a jumping castle into their unit’s parking space and there’s a magician. I tease Lindelwa that the usually quiet streets of Bloemfontein must be completely empty with so many guests at Athii’s birthday. Mother and daughter are looking pretty dressed in matching pink.

Like most first birthday parties, the celebration is not only about the birthday girl who has minimal understanding of the occasion. The party is just as much for her parents, a thanksgiving for her health and wellness and the support of people who love their little family. Lindelwe tells the guests it is a commemoration of the grace that God has shown her.

TRAGEDY STRIKES WITH ONE SHOT In 2001 Lindelwa was 23 and about to start her final year of nursing school in Durban. She’d recently ended a long-term relationship upon discovering her boyfriend had impregnated another woman.

On 12 January that year he stalked her to a taxi rank, and shot her in the temple before pulling the gun on himself. When Lindelwa woke up two days later in hospital, she learned that he had died on the spot. The bullet had severed her optical nerves and she had lost all vision in one eye. What little sight she had left faded fast and within days she was totally blind.

“For some time I laid in bed paralysed, and couldn’t think beyond the loss of my eyesight. I was afraid and then angry. Then I started to realise that he couldn’t hurt me anymore, and, in a small way, that was comforting. What grudge could I keep holding against someone who had passed away? He would never answer my questions.”

She decided to forgive him. “I told myself that he didn’t know what he was doing. I had to forgive him in order to move on with the work that lay ahead of me. It freed my mind and it freed my soul.”

PICKING UP THE PIECES After a two-week stay in hospital, Lindelwa recovered at home before moving to Pretoria to live at a school for the blind, where she learnt to read and write on a Braille computer. Armed with her new skills, she was ready to return to tertiary campus. “After attending counselling sessions I realised that I could still help people. I had chosen to study nursing for that reason.

So I thought about assisting people emotionally.

I believe mental health is in some ways even more important than physical health. If you’re not mentally together then it can have physical effects. During my

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recovery, I noticed that my physical wounds would feel better as I let go of negative thoughts,” she explains.

Lindelwa enrolled to study industrial and clinical psychology at University of Kwazulu-Natal’s Howard Campus. There she joined the students with special physical needs for an orientation programme one week before the general orientation. She memorised the routes from her on-campus residence to class, the library and the cafeteria. She also made many new friends. “To be honest I can’t remember ever being mistreated by anyone. When I’d ask for help people wouldn’t hesitate because they knew that I was trying my best.” She perks up when she talks about her university days. “I had so much fun. You know, the good old days when you were young and carefree without too much responsibility!”

A LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN Lindelwa had never considered leaving her hometown after graduation, but when a work position opened up in Bloemfontein she decided to accept the challenge. She enlisted the help of an estate agent to find the perfect home and found a live-in domestic helper. “The most important thing to me was to

MY BOYFRIEND SHOT ME IN THE FACE Lindelwa Mdletshe opens up to ZANELE MJI about how she has built a life for herself despite the tragedy of being shot in her face. be able to be left alone sometimes when my helper had to go home.”

It was there that she met Sphelele through friends and they began dating.

Her pregnancy was a welcome surprise. “God has provided me with a caring partner who loves his daughter very much and is always willing to assist.”

Independence is still of the utmost importance to her. She has a sober view. “People are people and you never know. There’s no reason why we should put them on a pedestal. We’re all capable of anything – good or bad – and it might not be him who does something shocking, but it might be me.

For my daughter’s sake I just have to be independent.”

Her daughter is learning the same trait. “Sometimes when I think that I am going to struggle to feed Athii, she will try and assist me by pulling the spoon towards her mouth. When I’m not sure of her whereabouts and I call her, she will answer or make certain sounds to give me direction.”

ACCEPTANCE AS AN ACT OF FREEDOM Lindelwa says she has learnt her limitations and to accept them. “I’ve learnt

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WORDS: ZANELE MJI. IMAGE: ©iStock.cOM.

REal life EOA

to be communicative. Many times people don’t assist us because they don’t know we need help. You have to say ‘I’m lost.’ That’s how life works.” She credits her support network for her victories, including her helper Desebo, who takes care of the house and Atandwa, the shuttle that transports her to and from work, and her cousins and aunts. Her resolve has not come easy. “Days are not all the same. I sometimes feel sad because

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"What grudge could I keep holding against someone who had passed away? He would never answer my questions."

I want to do things by myself, like go shopping. And I’m really dependent on others’ input for certain choices. I take joy in the things I can do well like cooking and cleaning. I love my counselling work because I’m good at helping people.”

She’s also sure she’s a good mother. “I see myself through my daughters’ eyes.

She’s so smiley and is always happy to see me. That’s all the feedback I need that I’m doing a good job.” E

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CREATING HER OWN LANE As one of the few women who work in the railway sector, Gcobisa Bokleni has made her presence felt in a man’s world and now she is claiming ownership of that space. She talks to EOA about her plans.

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PROFILE EOA Having gained enough insight to notice a significant opportunity in the rail industry, as a marketing coordinator at DCD Rail (a rail manufacturing company), Gcobisa proposed to procure “a part of the manufacturing and supply rail components from DCD Rail” for her own business.

Words: Kirigo Kamore. Image: GARETH JACOBS.

Gcobisa is not naïve about the challenges that come with building a company in an economically unpredictable country and an archaically built industry. “The challenge I expect will be from the existing customers (that she will inherit from DCD Rail), like the name change and ownership change, but the product will be the same. The most important message I will have to get across is that the product is still a tried and tested product [developed] over the years. The only change is the face.” n ambitious and self-driven woman from Libode, in the Eastern Cape, Gcobisa has developed her upward career through a lifelong dictum of “learning by doing.”

Inspired by women who have prevailed over their own trials, Gcobisa soon set out to be as inspiring to others, through her own challenges; some of which are a daily encounter, particularly for a woman with a sense of entitlement equated to her male counterparts.

“I have come across to this day, a man who does not want to deal with women in a business deal. They feel that a woman will waste their time. Unfortunately there is often no other [woman] besides me, so they are stuck with me. Eventually I prove them wrong, by actually knowing more than they expected. You can get into a meeting and find that you are the only black women around the table,” she says, unimpressed by the last bit.

Gcobisa is a woman who is not afraid to act like a man when it comes to her forceful approach to business. She balances it out with her nurturing and compassionate style of leadership that carries with it a “sense of responsibility.” Gcobisa does not shy away from her femininity, as she is quick to point out the advantages of being outnumbered as a woman in the male saturated industry. Her ability to build strong relationships and her intuitive understanding of her clients has allowed her to confidently establish one of a few, if the not the first, rail manufacturing companies owned by a woman. “I realised that there is a gap in the market for females in this industry.

Females that own a manufacturing rail company are limited [or] close to none compared to male-owned companies,” she shares.

Gcobisa’s new company, Metprokleni Rail, is expected to launch by the end of this year, “the company is still in its infant stages.” Metprokleni Rail will focus on manufacturing “brake blocks for trains” as well as offering “general freight services for passenger coaches.”

Even before the paint has dried on walls of the company’s new premises, Gcobisa’s start-up has already secured prominent contracts that will lead to its subsequent growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia and Europe.

Building the firm’s foundations and setting it up for growth is the current focus of Gcobisa and her team but her track record shows that she is a forward thinker. When asked about her vision for the future, for herself, and the industry at large, she says, “In 5 to 10 years, I see myself as the woman who has broken through the barriers of the industry. I would like to be the kind of woman who inspires other women who come from nothing, to aspire to be directors.”

As for the company, “the vision is to be the benchmark and the leader in designing, developing and manufacturing of the on-tread composite railway brake blocks and pads for trains.” Metprokleni hopes to have collaborations with other companies in the future, “but not for now. When that door opens I will not turn it down if it brings synergy and helps the economy,” she says confidently.

Gcobisa is not at all perturbed about having to continue to face the challenge of taking up more space in the male-dominated industry. “As a woman, you have to have the ‘I can do’ spirit. Be willing to learn new things, be flexible enough to agree and disagree when necessary. Do not let anything stop you on your way if you believe in it.”

Gcobisa is no rookie, so there is no doubt that she has what it takes to take on her newest challenge. She optimistically closes by saying, “I will be proud to present Metprokleni Rail to the world as a female-owned manufacturer.” E

STAYING ON TRACK

Gcobisa has built a career with an inter-industrial background that spans across retail, construction, pharmaceuticals, and now rail; industries that have all contributed to moulding her perceptive outlook on business and the opportunities that lie therein. After all she has accumulated in experience, Gcobisa has finally found an industry that can feed off of her unwavering passion and fortitude.

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FULL STEAM AHEAD

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As an eighties baby, NDONI KHANYILE remembers a time when playing didn’t mean social media.

She looks at how the tech age has changed how we navigate our lives. ike so many of you, I spend a substantial portion of my time online. As a selfemployed individual all I need is a laptop and an internet connection, and wherever I am in the world I am connected.

One of the significant differences between those who are termed Generation X and the new Millenials is their relationship with and to technology. The advent of the internet in the latter part of the twentieth century has signalled one of the most significant shifts in how societies are organised and connected, and the Millenial generation (those born in the ‘80s and ‘90s) came of age in this new age of information.

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CONNECT

TECHNICAL (DIS)

As an ‘80s baby, I am grouped within this category, but I definitely see a difference between my relationship to technology and those of some of the younger people in my life. The main difference, I think, is that my childhood and adolescence took place before the seismic shift of the information age going mainstream. I didn’t have a tablet as one of my childhood toys and was spared from having to live out the angst of puberty and teenage awkwardness on social media. I was an adult in my twenties by the time social media became a fixture in my world, while it is not the case for my teenage family members who are experiencing the rollercoaster ride of hormones, growth and change in public with anyone free to comment at a click of a button.

I remember sharing mixtapes on cassette with my friends before CD players or digital music files.

I remember having to coordinate my social life with great detail on the landline because once you left home it was impossible to reach your friends.

My niece knows nothing of this and rolls her eyes in disbelief when I describe tuning into the English radio simulcast of Beverly Hills 90210.

While my childhood memories seem foreign to her in so many ways, I cherish the memories of what I see as my age of innocence. Before play dates, iPods, mobile gaming, video-on-demand and every kind of app you can imagine, we had our imaginations. That is not to say that her age group isn’t imaginative, because they certainly are, but we HAD to rely on our imaginations and curiosity to create, pass the time, entertain ourselves and ultimately learn.

I think those of us who were born at the end of the ‘70s and in the early ‘80s are lucky because we were able to experience the ‘simpler’ preinformation age of childhood, while being young enough to take naturally to the rapid changes in technology. We love the conveniences and power of technology but also have a healthy distance from the hypercritical world of online communities. There is no going back – nor should there be – we live in a brave new world of access and information, but it is good to remind ourselves how much more less can be. That disconnecting from our devices can open up a whole world of connection to ourselves, and those around us, through experience, imagination and play. E

What are your favourite memories from your low-tech childhood?

Share them with us using #EOAtechfreechildhood.

WORDS & IMAGE SUPPLIED BY: NDONI KHANYILE.

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Shopping

FASHION EOA

BLACK WRAP, R379, EDGARS.

GEOMETRIC BLACK/ BROWN WRAP JERSEY, R379, EDGARS.

BLACK/WHITE BLANKET WRAP, R379, EDGARS.

WORDS: TUMI MDLULI. IMAGES: STOCKIST, VIVANORADA.BLOGSPOT.COM.

Caping made trendy

CHARCOAL MELTON WRAP PONCHO, R1 199, WOOLWORTHS.

AZTEC LONGER CARDIGAN, LENGTH CARDIGAN R179, RT, MR. PRICE.

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HIGH LOW SLOUCH BOXY KNIT, R899, WOOLWORTHS.

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CARVER LEATHER BOOTS, R1 699, NINE WEST. BLACK COTTON JUMPER COAT, R1 999, MANGO FRINGE CAMEL TOTE HANDBAG, R1 199, STEVE MADDEN. SKINNY FIT LEGGINGS, R899, GUESS.

CELEBRATING CURVES Maneo Scott shows how winter fashion can create warmth without adding any bulk.

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REAL WOMAN EOA

MUSTARD LEATHER JACKET, R590, TRUWORTHS. BLACK LEATHER LEGGINGS, R899, GUESS. BROWN EMBROIDERED SLING BAG, R499, CALL IT SPRING. BURNED LEATHER ANKLE ZIP BOOTS, R3 350, CASTELO.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: GARETH JACOBS. STYLIST: TUMI MDLULI. MAKE UP & HAIR: PRECIOUS XABA.

EOA REAL WOMAN

OATMEAL VROSE LADIES COAT, R2 899, CARDUCCI, STUTTAFORDS. SKINNY FIT LEGGINGS, R899, GUESS. CATCH ME ANKLE STRAP HEELS, R1 200, NINE WEST. PINK DRAW STRING MULTI WAY BAG, R3 299, RADLEY HOLLAND PARK, STUTTAFORDS.

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Shopping

FASHION EOA

GREY FUR VEST,

BROWN FUR VEST,

FUR COLLAR DENIM JACKET,

BLACK LIESEL BIKER JACKET,

R999, ZARA.

R1 899, SALSA, EDGARS.

R999, ZARA.

R1 299, FOREVER NEW.

BURGUNDY REVA FAUX FUR GILLET, R899, FOREVER NEW.

QUILTED FAUX FUR HOODIE JACKET, POR, SALSA, EDGARS.

FAUX FUR FRENZY BLOCK FAUX FUR SCARF,

WORDS: TUMI MDLULI. IMAGES: STOCKIST.

R899, COUNTRY ROAD, WOOLWORTHS.

PINK SLEEVELESS FAUX FUR, R599, G COUTURE, ZANDO.

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“You cannot fake chic but you can be chic and fake fur” Karl Lagerfield

GREY FARIKA FAUX FUR COAT, R4 399, TED BAKER, STUTTAFORDS.

LONGLINE FAUX FUR SCARF, R899, COUNTRY ROAD, WOOLWORTHS.

PURPLE SLEEVELESS FAUX FUR COAT, R1 449, RIVER ISLAND, EDGARS.

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EOA FASHION NEWS

FASHION 411!

With over 77 percent of women saying they recognise more SA designers today than they did a year ago, there’s no doubt that support for South African design is growing!

PAROOZ YOUR WAY THROUGH FASHION

Winter layers got you looking and feeling glum? Worry not, Parooz Fashions is here to keep you looking fresh with the latest and greatest local and international fashion. The store is inspired by the big city of gold. This is where fun and trendy join forces. Parooz fashions started out as a place where people could always come and get that special item of clothing that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else and have a great shopping experience. So if you are a fashion lover and looking for an item that will make a bold statement, Parooz Fashions is for you! The store is located in Braamfontein. For more information call 011 403 2035 check out their merchandise on Instagram – @ParoozFashions.

Big jackets may look good and keep you warm but knitted Kimonos and capes are even better! This is one of the biggest trends this winter; so don’t be scared to experiment.

The best part about capes is that you can wear them with almost anything and they add elegance to an outfit, whether you’re dressed up or down. Experiment with colours; this season has some brights that will instantly warm up your winter look.

Share some of your kimono and cape looks with us online by using the hashtag #EOAcapes

FASHION MEETS BLOGOSPHERE

Ryan Keys of Keys fashion has teamed up with fashion bloggers to see their interpretation of his popular ‘infinity dress’.

Although fashion designers are known to collaborate with local mainstream celebrities, Keys fashion is challenging the status quo and showcasing the importance of bloggers. The aim is to team up with bloggers who are still building their presence in the fashion industry and to show people the versatility of the brand and that garments produced locally are the same if not better quality. For more information visit keysfashion.co.za or email info@keysfashion.co.za. E

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DIALOGUE, RYAN KEYS. WORDS: THINA MTHEBU. IMAGES: PAROOZ FASHIONS, POSITIVE

MAKE CAPING A STYLISH AFFAIR

2015/06/10 10:25 PM

Shopping

FASHION EOA

L/S CROP SWEATER, R549, FOREVER NEW.

WORDS: TUMI MDLULI. IMAGES: STOCKIST, WWW.DAILYMAIL.CO.UK, PINTEREST.

AMELIE WRIPPED SKINNY, R799, RIVER ISLAND, EDGARS. KNIT SWEATER WITH ZIP, R559, ZARA.

EMBELLISHED PEPLUM JACKET, R3 999, TED BAKER, STUTTAFORDS.

WHITE LEATHER COURT SHOES, R1 099, RIVER ISLAND, EDGARS.

SILVER/GREY CLUTCH BAG, R329, RIVER ISLAND, EDGARS.

ALL WHITE EVERYTHING White on white epitomises class.

Know how to style it!!

SLEEVELES KNITTED DRESS, R779, RIVER ISLAND, EDGARS.

DOUBLE BREAST WHITE TRENCH COAT, R1 899, RIVER ISLAND, EDGARS.

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CREAM ROLL NECK KNIT, R2 600, KAREN MILLEN.

WHITE HEEL SANDAL, R1 099, RIVER ISLAND, EDGARS.

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THE REIGN OF KING DAVID David Tlale has become synonymous with sophistication, refinement and aspiration, and as much as his success is about the journey of a young boy from Vosloorus to conquering international fashion catwalks, it’s also about the art of daring to dream big and building a lasting brand.

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COVER STORY EOA

hen we enter the David Tlale studios in trendy Maboneng in downtown Johannesburg, one of the things that immediately catches your eye, aside from the jaw-dropping creations that are draped on black mannequins, is his staff who are all dressed in what has become his signature colour, black. And not just that, everyone here is dressed well and that leaves the impression that tardiness is not allowed in this space.

David possesses a presence that can easily be described as “larger than life” yet he takes over a room without ever raising his voice. His tone is calm and self-assured, and while there’s something about him that can come across as intimidating, there’s also warmth that belies someone who comes from a background where humanity and humility are prized.

His name is well-known in all corners of the country and in international fashion circles too, but David has no intention of taking things stylishly slow, instead he says he’s just gearing up.

THE INCEPTION OF EXCELLENCE

David Tlale’s childhood was similar to many children growing up in townships across South Africa. He grew up with his domestic worker mother, four siblings, and a network of extended family that helped build his foundation. “I had two uncles from my dad’s side who were a major influence when I was growing up.

The one was a technician whose swag was untouchable,” recalls David fondly.

“He was always well dressed. My other uncle was an artist who would paint landscapes around the house. I fed from their creativity and was motivated to be a very active young man in all that I did.”

And so David’s journey to leadership and being a pioneer began. “I was always a class leader, a boy scout, a cub leader, the Sunday school teacher, a choir conductor or the youth leader. These

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were different leadership roles that I played throughout my youth and I was always active in that sense. I also had a strict mother; being beaten was not abuse, it was grooming me. All those influences shaped my life.”

In high school, David continued to keep busy with different projects. He worked in a hair salon and dabbled in décor while completing his studies. “I was always a dreamer but it wasn’t my dream to be a fashion designer. In primary school I thought I would be a teacher; then I wanted to be a doctor in high school, and then later I wanted to be an accountant, which is why I went to TUT (Tshwane University of Technology) to study Internal Auditing,” he explains.

It was during this time that David found his calling.

A FASHIONABLE UNDERTAKING

In his first year of studying auditing, David started feeling bored. “I started hanging out with the fashion students and I just couldn’t believe the energy surrounding them. There was music playing and so much creativity in that space. So many different things were happening at the same time. The next day I went to the fashion department and told them I wanted to sign up. They said it was too late to change courses. I then went to Vaal University [of Technology] to apply, got accepted and never looked back.”

David followed his heart, despite the fact that his mother was not supportive of his choice. “First year I was an average student; everything was a new language to me. At the end of that year when there was a prize-giving a classmate received the first prize. I told her from next year she must kiss that prize goodbye because it would be mine,” he recalls with a laugh.

Hard work and the desire to be the best meant David kept his word. He won best student in his second, third and final year of studies.

Even though the seed had been sown, it would take a few more years before the David Tlale name would carry weight in the fashion industry. After graduation David worked as a lecturer, a job that came about when his university offered him a post. He lectured for almost five years. “In 2003, I felt I had fulfilled my dream to be a teacher and now wanted to put all my attention to my fashion, which I was doing part time,” he explains.

In 2003, David’s work won him the Elle New Talent award.

This accolade combined with a co-sign from the Sunday Times for Best Designer, made the fashion world stand up and take notice.

CREATING A LEGACY

There have been many awards since then. In 2007, a new benchmark was created for David when he, and other local designer, were invited to showcase their work in Paris. This experience changed how he saw the world. “When we hit Paris my perspective changed. I saw my brand and myself in a new light. I knew I had to dream bigger and do more. I knew my work had to be beyond my capabilities and beyond what my peers were doing. It was either this or nothing.”

David started getting a taste of international fame. Next in 2009, he and other local designers were sent to showcase their work in New York. “When we got to New York, I loved it and saw first-hand how fashion was being done on a big scale. I knew that this would be the next home for my brand. I also knew that I wanted to showcase solo because no one remembers a group and I wanted to be remembered.”

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“When we hit Paris my perspective changed. I saw my brand and myself in a new light. I knew I had to dream bigger and do more.

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COVER STORY EOA

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COVER STORY EOA

WORDS: ZAMA NKOSI. PHOTOGRAPHER: GARETH JACOBS. STYLIST: DAVID TLALE. HAIR & MAKE-UP: LUCOH MHLONGO. LOCATION: DAVID TLALE STUDIOS, MAMBONENG, JOHANNESBURG.

A lot of knocking on doors and working on creating the lasting impression he’s become known for, David Tlale became a name recognisable in international fashion circles. “We’ve now had six seasons consecutively in New York. The brand is growing globally and we are currently working on a Spring/Summer collection for the next New York Fashion Week. In July, we will be presenting our first bridal collection at Cape Town Fashion Week. Things are going good,” he states confidently.

FLYING HIGH BUT FIRMLY GROUNDED

“My journey in the industry has been God opening doors and Him giving me opportunities. None of this is coincidence, or luck; it’s God’s will.”

I ask David how his success has changed him, and how far removed is that boy from Vosloorus to the designer who graces magazines and dresses some of the world’s most stylish women?

“I’ve always taken care of how I dressed since I was a young boy and I have always cared for people, and that hasn’t changed.

There is a thin line between me, the person, and me, the designer. I believe I am working 24/7; even when trying to have a social life, people see the brand.

“On Sundays when I’m not working or travelling, I attend Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto, under the leadership of Bishop Musa Sono. After that my time is dedicated to family, where I don’t have to be a brand. It’s where I’m a son to my mom, an uncle to nieces and nephew, and a brother to my sibling,” explains David.

His spirituality, says David, plays a big role in his life.

“Spirituality is huge for me. It controls my comings and goings.

I easily say the establishment of my brand is based on spiritual values. My journey in the industry has been God opening doors and Him giving me opportunities. None of this is coincidence, or luck; it’s God’s will. My ups and downs have taught me a lot, and God helps me bounce back and stand strong. My faith, tenacity and stubbornness helped me become the person that I am.

Without Him, my family and my spiritual mentors, I wouldn’t be where I am,” he says, his voice sounding even more serious.

Unmoved by the busy nature of a city such as Johannesburg and the social life of being a celebrity, David says that he survives because he is clear on who he is. “As the Bible says, you can’t serve two masters; you give your all to your job or you give your all to the fabulosity of long lunches and being seen around town.

Here we work because you have to, to be on top of your game.

You have to set limits for yourself. If you’re going to a dinner party, then you have to work extra hours so that you can enjoy it without your work slacking. Nothing can be done slowly when you have goals. You have to be a multitasker, and a 360-degree thinker with back-up plans. Be present in your brand, and be prepared to do some things you don’t necessarily want to because you have a certain future in mind. For me, my work is my private life and that makes things a lot more streamlined.”

With name firmly in lights and his brand burgeoning, what is next for David Tlale? “I will continue to make the brand stronger. I want David Tlale to be a brand based in South Africa that is preparing for the global market. We want stores in New York, Tokyo, Dubai and other major cities, among other goals.

If Marc Jacobs can do it, so can I.” E To find out more about what David Tlale has to say about style and grooming and dreaming big, visit www.essaysofafrica.co.za

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he names saboteur and prostitute may have emotive connotations that provoke a defensively suspicious response in some people. Like labels that should not be mistaken or equated with the garment, these names refer to neutral and impersonal intuitions that serve as intimate energy companion guides on our life journey.

Through them, we discover and develop our most fundamental power of self-esteem.

They are impersonal in the sense that they are immutable and operate as an expression of universal principle. In this way they are similar to the principle of gravity, which, in a non-negotiable and impersonal way, brings down a skyscraper just as deterministically as it makes an apple fall from the tree. In keeping with principle, ignorance or disregard doesn’t absolve you from its effect. Therefore, just because you may not know about gravity doesn’t exempt you from falling down.

By the same token, archetypes are intimate in that we have very unmistakable, visceral experience of their presence because they function as the felt sense with which we assess experiences for their potential to enhance or threaten our ability to survive and thrive in life. We all are familiar with the still small voice or some form of sensory acuity through which we determine whether we feel physically, emotionally and psychologically safe as we enter a place, situation or participate in an interaction.

THE SABOTEUR ARCHETYPE As the archetype of our capacity to create or destroy, it alerts us to opportunities where we can choose to empower or disempower.

We do this by either recognising and utilising or undermining and dissipating our own as well as other people’s potential. While it may be easier to see how others behave in ways that sabotage us, it is even more important to spot the saboteur within.

This may be in thought-forms such as when we diminish our selfworth or convince ourselves that we are incapable. These translate into behaviour where we say one thing such as realising that you

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need to change a habit or lose weight because of the negative effect it has on your health. Yet, as you contemplate this change, you choose instead to turn a blind eye and continue to act contrary to your own best interest and thereby betray, belittle and even give up on yourself.

In The Invitation, Oriah Mountain Dreamer alerts us to the essence of this archetype by asking “…if you can disappoint another in order to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul…” This statement forces us to examine the extent to which we allow fear to cause us to deny our own truth and to abort our dreams and aspirations for the sake of social survival through approval and acceptance by others.

This may be an expression of our desire to fit in and belong yet in the process we pay the price of betraying the very core of ourselves – our spirit.

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SELF-EMPOWERMENT EOA

THE SABOTEUR AND PROSTITUTE ARCHETYPES IN SELF-EMPOWERMENT

In KHOSI JIYANE’S third and final instalment, we look at self-empowerment through the saboteur and prostitute, as the last two of ‘the big four’ survival archetypes that are common to all of us.

WORDS: KHOSI JIYANE. IMAGE: GARETH JACOBS.

Looking at the saboteur on a broader social scale, women have generally been socialised to downplay themselves so that they do not become too powerful and intimidating to men. For example, women have been taught, overtly and subtly, that if you get too highly educated, men will not want to marry you and in the process, be made to feel that marriageability is the highest ticket in life on which their selfworth hinges.

THE PROSTITUTE ARCHETYPE This archetype evokes the most kneejerk resistance because of the social stigma associated with being a prostitute, which is objectification by selling one’s body for sex to an indiscriminate number of strangers, generally men, in exchange for money.

Strangely, in this exchange, women are the only ones disparaged for being prostitutes and yet men are equal players. Even though sex work is the most in-your-face expression, the prostitute operates as one of our most universally commanding yet subliminal archetypal forces. However, we often don’t recognise it because consumerist materiality of ‘bigger and better than’ is increasingly the defining feature synonymous with the contemporary social landscape.

While the element of betrayal links the saboteur to the prostitute, its distinguishing feature is the measure of materiality consciousness and the price people are seduced to pay in its pursuit.

Because it represents the value you place on your dignity and self-respect, it places you in situations that test at what price tag you as an individual are willing to be compromised by engaging in relational transactions where you buy others’ or sell your own ethics, morals and integrity in exchange for financial security. This archetype is not a call to poverty; instead, it awakens us to the truth that even though we live in a material world, there is a non-negotiable boundary –

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we are not commodities that can be traded on the stock exchange, because our ultimate self-worth is priceless. It is therefore the embodiment of where we place our ultimate faith in life, by testing in whose hands we entrust our body, soul and spirit.

In our everyday life, it is easy to spot and even cast judgement on the sex worker, yet symbolically they are in the minority. The archetypal prostitute, which constitutes a larger majority of people, are those of us who look put together and dignified on the outside yet on the inside, we are running on empty because we allow our inner being to be eroded daily and sacrificed at the altar of money.

In our personal lives, this manifests when we subject ourselves to the quiet but often glamorous desperation of staying in expired relationships. Relationships where we know that the only thing we have in common and are held hostage by is the roof above our heads and all its accompanying materiality. We hold on to these for dear life because we have bought into the fallacy that to lose them would be to lose our self-worth.

Because money is such an integral part of our professional lives, the prostitute is most alive when we choose to take up jobs we know we do not deserve simply because we are aligned to power. Or where we are miserable because of poor person-job fit but we stay because of the money and we can’t bear the prospect of it being earned by a better-suited person.

In so-called empowerment transactions, it has become a norm for people to prostitute themselves into the pervasive herd mentality that fulfil the popular definition of success and to be able to acquire the requisite trappings, you have to compromise your integrity. At the macro level, news reports are littered with examples of business deals struck in the guise of socio-economic upliftment, yet

LMENT 3RD INSTA

at the heart, are spun by intricate webs of secrecy, deceit, brazen corruption and cover up, for financial benefit. Sadly, it is hardly ever the poor that participate in and benefit from these but a frenzy of bottomless greed feeding on itself.

SELF ESTEEM IS AN INSIDE JOB As an integral part of ‘the big four’ survival archetypes, looked at developmentally, the saboteur and prostitute archetypes speak more to experiences that are geared to later evolution of the human psyche, whereas the child and victim represent earlier stages.

Caroline Myss likens these four archetypes to the legs of a table because together, they constitute the foundation of both our worldly and spiritual power – self-esteem.

While self-esteem is generally understood as a psychological construct, Myss takes it to a deeper level, as a symbol of our regard for the essence of our identity as spiritual beings.

Therefore while it speaks of our ability to assert ourselves in the world, it is ultimately an expression of our spirit engaged in action in our life. This marks the difference between the colloquial understandings of selfempowerment as those activities we engage in externally to enhance our psychological wellbeing. From the perspective of depth psychology, this difference may be subtle but defining. As a psycho-spiritual construct, true self-empowerment is the inside job of navigating and transcending those universal experiences that keep us trapped in the psychic infancy of material consciousness.

Instead, they elevate us to psychic integration, for the revelation and fulfilment of our unique life mission and calling. E

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estselling financial self-help author Robert Kiyosaki once said: “It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you and how many generations you keep it for.”

This idea is something which Clive Ramathibela-Smith is most passionate about, as he believes all South Africans can learn to create financial security and freedom for their futures, no matter the size of their salaries. As the chief investment officer for Clivera Inc, he and his team are transforming the way we think about money, empowering South Africans with the tools to understand financial services in order to make informed decisions.

So, whether you have R1 000 or R10 000 to spare, here’s some practical guidance on what to do with it.

R1 000 GETS YOU...

 Unit Trusts “Women are the most financially astute people I know,” says RamathibelaSmith, jokingly adding that South African women always seem to find the money for their hair each month.

With a bit of extra cash, most people are going to want to find something that gives instantaneous satisfaction, but Ramathibela-Smith advises planning for the long term instead.

“With R1 000, there are some nice unit trusts you can invest in that will give you an average annual return of about 20 to 25 percent, so at the end of the year you could be left with R15 000 – not bad!” says Ramathibela-Smith.

With this approach, you can take the rand to the next level, instead of just spending it immediately.  Insurance Another key option with this amount is investing in insurance. RamathibelaSmith stresses the importance of protection covers to insure against future hindrances. “Most of the local

black middle-class are trapped in what we call ‘black tax’, which continues to eat up our investments as we withdraw money every time there’s a death in the family,” warns Ramathibela-Smith. It’s vital to take out policies and insurance for these eventualities, so that you can mitigate the risk without necessarily having to deplete your account.

It’s also important to look at your medical aid scheme. RamathibelaSmith and his team did research and found that a staggering 63 percent of South Africans are insured with the wrong medical cover, paying far more than they should. Ramathibela-Smith asserts that this is down to brand loyalty, whereby we stick to known brands despite the fact that we could be saving a lot with another company.

This is even true for the basics, such as food products and toiletries. He emphasises the need to investigate different options and see where you can be saving on unnecessary expenditures.  Stokvels Finally, there is one of the country’s biggest industries – entirely run by black women. According to RamathibelaSmith, “The stokvel industry is worth about R25 billion!” It isn’t regulated yet, says Ramathibela-Smith, but could quite easily crack the top 40 on the JSE. There is a lot of money involved, however, it’s not creating wealth, as women put their monthly contributions into a joint savings account rather than investing it.

This equates to actually losing money, as Ramathibela-Smith points out, as savings accounts generally don’t even match inflation rates.

“Be it with unit trusts or a group investment scheme, you could be making a lot more money for the long-term,” Ramathibela-Smith recommends, and the returns for a group of 25 women each investing R1 000 month can be pretty big, as opposed to investing on your own.

Again, he stresses the importance of mitigating risk with insurance policies, so that funds don’t have to be withdrawn whenever someone is in trouble.

R5 000 GETS YOU...

 BBBEE shares “There’s a huge difference between R1 000 and R5 000 – it’s a lot!” exclaims Ramathibela-Smith. One of the first pieces of advice he gives is to look into BBBEE shares, as they do well and bring about good returns. He recommends owning BBBEE shares in companies such as Sasol or MTN, which are readily available. A good financial adviser is important here, as they’ll find the right solutions for you.

“Make sure they have an FSP [Financial Services Provider] number, and it helps to have someone with a CPF [Certified Financial Planner] certificate, as they’re accredited and wellaccomplished in financial planning,” he advises. Group investing can also be a good idea – even if it’s with a few of your girlfriends, as the returns will be greater.  Education The second piece of advice: “Invest in yourself!” Ramathibela-Smith points to the myriad opportunities available to women these days, yet as transformative a constitution as we have, this hasn’t translated to the private sector. Women

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE

Despite what you may think, a little bit of cash can go a long way.

EOA spoke to economist and financial guru CLIVE RAMATHIBELA-SMITH for some practical tips on saving and investing.

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money EOA look into starting their own part-time businesses, as this can reap great rewards.

“Women are excellent at multi-tasking, and investing in one’s own business can bring about multiple benefits for the longterm,” he says.

R50 000 GETS YOU...

Words: Caryn Thandi Petersen. IMAGE: ©istock.COM.

 Private Equity You can start looking into riskier ventures, such as venture capital. RamathibelaSmith advises looking into the private equity space; it’s a growing industry in South Africa with a lot of infrastructure development taking place.

The risks are much higher though, so one needs to do due diligence and have a really good idea of what you’re investing in. The returns can be incredibly lucrative, often in excess of 30 to 40 percent. Whatever you invest in, just make sure you don’t lose your initial capital. Diversification is important, so consult with a unit trust fund manager to mitigate risk.

are still not in enough leadership positions, and Ramathibela-Smith believes the greatest investment we can make is to constantly improve ourselves.

“By enrolling in a part-time or online course, women can enhance their skills and gain a competitive edge in their work environment,” he says. It also has the added benefit of improving confidence in one’s abilities, empowering women to take up more challenges and rise in their careers. And with any money left over, Ramathibela-Smith recommends treating yourself to a manicure/pedicure or massage – after all, we deserve it!

R10 000 GETS YOU...

 Stock Trading With R10 000, there are a lot of options available. Ramathibela-Smith recommends looking into direct stock trading for the long term. The key here is to understand exactly what you’re getting into. Algorithm software can assist with this, allowing you to build

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your own portfolio. Alternatively a good financial planner can provide guidance.  Retirement Saving Another crucial area to look into is saving for retirement, as it’s never too early to start. According to Ramathibela-Smith, few South Africans retire comfortably on a net replacement salary (75 percent of your monthly income). It’s important to calculate what you need to be putting away each month in order to get a replacement salary, taking into account your age, salary, property or other assets, and insurance policies.

Your company pension on its own may not be enough and you can’t rely on the state’s old-age pension; there’s always likely to be a shortfall between the amounts you receive and the amounts you actually need.  Multi-Task For optimal financial freedom, Ramathibela-Smith recommends women

 Property A safe bet with R50 000 is investing in property, giving good returns and keeping you safe for life. According to Ramathibela-Smith, the student accommodation sector is booming and could be a great investment solution. “If you have a property that’s earning money for you, you can even retire earlier than planned,” says he.

He points to women who have started building rooms in their backyard and renting them out. Of course, if you don’t want to deal with the admin of tenants, you can always hire a company to handle it for a small fee. Or there’s the alternative of buying a stake in an established property company; there are many opportunities to partner with property developers, providing excellent returns.

Whatever you choose, though, Ramathibela-Smith warns against upgrading your lifestyle with a sudden influx of cash. “If you’re comfortable in a Toyota Corolla, there’s no need to upgrade just yet,” he says. Moving up the scale too quickly will incur more debt. Bottom line: Long-term sacrifice brings about the greatest rewards. E

Contact Clivera Incorporated at info@clivera-inc.co.za

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t’s sometimes said that youth is wasted on the young but that isn’t the case for GirlTalk I.Z.E (Izintombi Zenxoxo Eyakhayo), which loosely translated means “girls who have conversations that build”.

Founded by Khethiwe Makhubo (24), Nonhlanhla Buthelezi (23) and Sanele Gambu (23), the organisation is working towards helping young women find their way in life by facilitating meaningful conversations with their peers and elders who have already been through some of the issues they are experiencing.

Conversations were the catalyst for the founding of this group and continue to be what drives it.

“Throughout all our conversations, the common thread is how being a girl in the 21st century is one of the most challenging things to face, especially if you come from a disadvantaged background and further lack a strong support structure,” says the founders.

GRASSROOTS LEVEL

Unlike most networks that are developed by mature women who are already in their stride, GirlTalk I.Z.E works on the premise that if their current network is successful, then this generation of young women will grow up to be empowered and create an even bigger, more powerful network that will help other young women.

“We realised that these minute conversations that we were having could be a catalyst for even bigger conversations that will attract and involve even more girls with the discussion. We imagine how much knowledge-sharing and self-growth could be taken out of all those conversations. It was all rooted in the fact that in our lifetime we want and need more empowered young female thought leaders in our country.”

Even though Khethiwe, Nonhlanhla and Sanele are young themselves, they don’t doubt that they have what it takes to help other young women unleash their inner strength. “Being young ourselves, we understand what conversations and topics our peers would like to engage with. So we simply suggest the topic, issue or

THE POWER OF YOUTHFUL AMBITION The days of teens and young adults being irresponsible and unbothered about their futures are not a reality for some. Here is a look at GirlTalk I.Z.E, a network being created for and by young women.

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WOMEN’S NETWORK EOA theme and invite experienced, skilled and knowledgeable women to generate and deliver the messaging to the young women.

“As GirlTalk we are constantly looking for women who have worked to be successful and continue to be successful, and we ask them to teach us, the younger ones, how we can also achieve that level of success. We don’t control the conversations and content; we just provide a platform and a safe space for these peer-to-peer, cross-generational and empowering female dialogues to happen,” they explain.

IMPACTFUL ENGAGEMENT

WORDS: ZAMA NKOSI. IMAGE: gareth jacobs, SUPPLIED BY GIRLTALK I.Z.E.

Through their events, GirlTalk has managed to engage with over 200 girls.

The founders say they have realised that these conversations give the young women who attend the meetings options to think about when it comes to making critical decisions in their lives.

“The main thing that definitely stands out at our events is how girls try to figure out who they should be based on stereotypes

and societal norms. What we are trying to achieve is to instill the idea that young women can be whoever they want to be.

It’s okay to break the glass ceiling if you want to,” they add.

The founders of GirlTalk I.Z.E say that they have had great support from older women who are willing to share their stories and their expertise. “In our short time of existence we have had a talk session on self-love where a young journalist, B.Com accounting graduate and a business analyst shared their stories on the topic of self-love. In the question and answer section we unpacked the meaning of self-love as the young women asked every possible question on this topic. Our other talk was focused on careers where a young pilot spoke to Grade 9 students about choosing their careers wisely since they determine the kind of career you can go into in the future.”

The longstanding consequences of these meetings go far beyond the day, with the young women working towards a future that will benefit themselves and others as well.

LOOKING FORWARD

As GirlTalk I.Z.E continues to grow, the need for funding grows. “The bulk of funding for most of our events comes mostly from our own pockets but we have been fortunate enough to have MTN sponsor one of our events. In order to keep up with the growing demands of our organisation, we are appealing to potential sponsors to help us.”

The founding team is clear about their vision for the organisation. “The short-term goal is to build momentum and grow our reach and the team.

We want to collaborate with similar organisations and start a sisterhood and community of young female thought leaders.

“The ultimate goal is to breed the next generation of confident and empowered young women. We want to change the mindset and the experience of the girl child by reinforcing the belief that as women we are powerful beyond measure, beautiful beyond comparison, intelligent beyond belief and the masterminds of our own destinies.” E

To make contact with the girls from GirlTalk I.ZE, visit their Facebook page: Girl Talk or email them on girltalk500@gmail.com.

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FAMILY TIES In adulthood, siblings can be as close as two coats of paint or they can be peeled apart by their life decisions. EOA looks at the most effective ways of building positive sibling relationships.

Sibling relationships could well be the first and longest of our personal relationships, aside from the ones fostered with parents.

Several studies have shown that people with healthy sibling relationships report higher life satisfaction and lower rates of depression later in life. “They are important,” says clinical psychologist Dr Teboho S. Monyamane, “because a good relationship with a sibling can be a great source of emotional and social support. If one has a good, healthy sibling relationship, it can contribute to greater life satisfaction.”

Some siblings embody this sentiment and would even go so far as calling each other best friends. Renewable energy consultants and business partners, Kirsten, 34, and Leole-Ann Francis, 37, are that close.

Growing up in Cape Town, the pair had very different personalities and hardly hung out as youngsters but, as they grew

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older, the more they enjoyed each other’s company. Aside from their shared DNA, the foundation of their relationship is communication and cooking.

“We never run out of things to talk about, which is the best part,” says Kirsten, “and since starting our business a few years ago, we travel to Johannesburg quite often.

Those trips are our sister time. We get two or three days away from our lives and just laugh. My sister has two young kids, so getting a full night’s sleep is like heaven to her. I give her that space.”

Allowing a sibling their space to flourish or fail is an essential part of building a positive relationship.

Dr Monyamane says: “Sometimes siblings become closer as adults and other times they grow apart. It depends on a number of factors such as proximity, changes in life stages, the quality of the relationship and their communication style.

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RELATIONSHIPS EOA “As such, siblings can differ in their world views and the choices they make. Acknowledging and respecting each other’s individuality and choices is important in any relationship, as is recognising and respecting each other’s boundaries, too.”

WORDS: HELEN HERIMBI. IMAGE: ©iSTOCK.COM.

LOVE LOST? Though they rarely argue, Kirsten believes setting boundaries has helped her relationship with her sister thrive. “I think our relationship works because we respect each other’s judgement and know when to support each other. Just because she’s my sister doesn’t give her the right to interfere in my other relationships, and vice versa.

Siblings are meant to support, not meddle.”

A problem area, in which most siblings see a rift forming, is often when one finds a romantic partner that the other may not approve of. “When your sibling starts interfering in your other relationships, then boundaries have been crossed,” says Kirsten, stressing that one always remembers you are siblings not lovers!

Dr Monyamane agrees. “Sometimes one sibling might think they are being supportive and protective without realising it’s jealousy or envy. After voicing their concern, it’s advisable for siblings to respect each other’s decision to be with the partner they have chosen. Of course, in cases of abuse, it’s more complicated.”

While she feels that some boundaries can be too rigid, to the point where one alienates themselves from their siblings, Dr Monyamane says acceptable boundaries are partly about effective communication.

“It’s about laying down the rules about what one is comfortable with or not comfortable with, where one’s personal space begins and shared space ends, and

where they need input and where they do not need it.”

ADULTS ONLY So, how exactly can siblings begin to nurture their relationship even when they might not agree on certain adult-made choices? “Feeling like you’re being judged by people close to you can be emotionally difficult and can create distance in relationships. Sometimes people share their thoughts, concerns and opinions with good intentions and don’t realise they’re being judgemental.

“Then, it might be helpful to say that while they appreciate the concern, this is something they would like to figure out on their own and would like the other to respect,” says Dr Monyamane.

She stresses that communication is key as it takes thought and effort to maintain relationships. “Simple things such as calling just to talk, sending a message, remembering important life events and generally keeping in touch with your siblings, are important. Rituals can also be helpful in this regard. For example, agreeing to speak every Tuesday or see each other at certain times of the year.”

For Kirsten and Leole-Ann, their business venture gives them the opportunity to speak every day, but they make sure to not become overbearing in their personal lives.

As Kirsten says, “I have a best friend who truly understands my morals and ethics. She understands who I am and, thus, I never have to explain myself or my actions. It’s comforting knowing I have this other person in the world who often thinks like me, and it’s also reassuring to know that if I need to go to war, she’d be there fighting at my side.”

REMAIN SUPER CLOSE

Dr Monyamane offers these useful tips to help keep your relationship with your sibling on the right track:  Respect each other’s autonomy. Your sibling is their own person.  Never speak badly about your sibling in public.  Make time to be alone together and talk.  Vioice the things you are unhappy about.  Don’t compete. Rather try to be supportive of each other.  Never be too proud to apologise first.  Nurture trust for and tolerance of each other.  Avoid differences. Instead, focus on what you have in common. E

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hat time-old ‘headache excuse’ may seem outdated in an era of women’s sexual liberation, where we’re finally eschewing the virgin/whore binary in a more holistic approach to female sexuality, yet the reality for many women is still one of dread when it comes to sex. Whilst this may be somewhat expected for women going through menopause (although many findings have disputed this), it seems out of place in healthy young women.

A recent study in the Journal of Impotence Research found that up to 43 percent of women expressed a loss of sexual desire, beginning as young as the age of 40. Similarly, up to 36 percent of sexually active women reported they weren’t enjoying it. Indeed, low sexual desire is the most common form of female sexual dysfunction, and numerous studies have uncovered that more than a third of pre-menopausal (ages 30 to 50) women have suffered a loss of sexual desire at one stage in their life. Alarmingly high numbers, particularly at a time when women should surely be enjoying their sexual freedom more than ever. And unlike men, we can’t simply pop a blue pill and let the Viagra fairy take over.

WHEN IS IT A PROBLEM?

As pointed out by psychologist and sex therapy specialist Dr. Marelize Swart, there is no exact measurement for a low libido or what an appropriate sex drive should be. “Women experience varied degrees of interest in sex at different times,” says Dr. Swart.

But if you have a persistent or recurrent lack of interest in sex that causes you personal distress, known as hypoactive sexual desire disorder, it may be time to seek help, as this can seep into other areas of your life and potentially damage relationships.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a woman’s desire for sex is based on a complex interaction of many components affecting intimacy, including physical and emotional wellbeing, experiences, beliefs,

lifestyle and current relationship. If you’re experiencing a problem in any of these areas, it can affect your sexual desire. Bottom line: there’s no magic pill or quick-fix solution. But it’s important to note that this is a common experience, and one that can be remedied with time. Digging deeper into the underlying causes is essential.

DOUBLE STANDARDS

Despite the proliferation of television shows such as Sex And The City, many women still have a conflicted relationship with sex and intimacy. “A lot of women suffer as a result of double standards, where men are encouraged to be sexual beings and women are not,” says Dr. Swart. A repressive upbringing can contribute to this, whereby feelings of shame and fear can stunt one’s sexual explorations and desire.

Yet this is just one of a myriad physical and psychological causes of a low libido, and until you know the real culprit, you can’t treat the issue.

PHYSICAL CAUSES

A wide range of illnesses, physical changes and medications can cause a low sex drive, including:  Medical problems – conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, diabetes, arthritis, and thyroid disorders impact a woman’s sexual drive both mentally and physically.  Medications – certain antidepressants, blood pressure-lowering drugs, and oral contraceptives can contribute to a lower sexual drive.  Lifestyle habits – too much alcohol can spoil your sex drive, as can most street drugs. Your diet can also cause dips in your desire – refined carbs can wreak havoc on your insulin levels and cause you to feel lethargic. And smoking decreases blood flow, which may dampen arousal.

WHEN DESIRE DWINDLES

Suffering from a seemingly inexplicable low sex drive? You’re not alone. Here’s what’s behind a loss of libido – and how you can fix it.

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SEX & INTiMaCY INTIMACY EOA

“… adjust the way we see ourselves sexually, meaning that we need to shoot for arousal, and before this can happen there needs to be a willingness for sex.”  Fatigue – exhaustion can seriously eradicate any desire for sex.  Hormone changes – during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, one experiences major hormone changes that can affect sex drive.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES

Your problems don’t have to be physical or biological to be real.

There are many psychological causes of low sex drive, including:  Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression.  Stress, particularly that which is related to financial or work stress.  Poor body image.  Low self-esteem.  History of physical or sexual abuse.  Previous negative sexual experiences.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS

Words: Caryn Thandi Petersen. image: ©iSTOCK.COM.

Relationship problems are among the most common causes of loss of libido. If you’ve been in a relationship for a long time, you may have become overfamiliar with your partner and feel a degree of erotic dissatisfaction. This is quite common and can have a negative effect on your sex drive.

As pointed out by Dr. Swart, “Anything new is extremely exciting; at some point in long-term relationships things switch to auto pilot, the novelty wears off and we get into a rut. Things become mechanical and predictable. It’s the reason affairs are so exciting, as we experience something new and unknown.”

Of course, this doesn’t mean we should all be having affairs to rev a low sex drive! Rather focus on creating new experiences which will keep the sparks flying in any long-term relationship.

For many women, emotional closeness is an essential prelude to sexual intimacy, so a lack of connection can also contribute to a low sex drive. Other relationship factors can include unresolved conflicts or fights, poor communication of sexual needs and preferences, or a breach of trust, such as infidelity.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL…

Before you despair at the seeming insurmountable obstacles obstructing your desire, know that there is a way out of this rut.

According to Dr. Swart, “We need to adjust the way we see ourselves sexually, meaning that we need to shoot for arousal, and before this can happen there needs to be a willingness for sex. Once you have established a willingness, you will most likely start from a neutral state, feeling absolutely nothing, so you need to do things to get yourself to a state of arousal.”

Creating willingness for sex may seem counter-intuitive if you’re suffering from a low libido, but if practised consciously, can pave the way to desire and pleasure.

Dr. Swart likens it to exercise: “I never want to go to the gym, but if I’m willing enough, I will go and once I’m on that treadmill for a mere five minutes, my body starts to react positively; I feel the desire to be there. It’s the same with sex. Women say they never want to have sex but once they do it, then they start to enjoy it.”

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TREATMENT OPTIONS

There are medical treatments and options available, which may assist in dealing with the underlying causes:  Sex therapy and/or relationship counselling. Sexual dysfunction usually affects both parties in a relationship and should be discussed together or individually with a mental health professional.  Changing medications or altering the dose. If the problem is caused by medications, a change of prescription or alternative therapies may be recommended.  Addressing underlying medical conditions. Medical problems contributing to low sexual desire may require surgical treatment, such as the removal of painful fibroids or medication.  Vaginal oestrogens. Vaginal dryness may be treated with vaginal oestrogen creams.  Testosterone therapy. Testosterone also plays an important role in female sexual function. However, replacing testosterone in women is controversial and can have bad side effects.

LIFESTYLE AMENDMENTS

Small but healthy lifestyle changes can make a big difference in your desire for sex, including:  Exercise. Regular aerobic exercise and strength training can increase your stamina, improve your body image, elevate your mood and boost your libido.  Stress less. Finding a better way to cope with work stress, financial stress and daily hassles can enhance your sex drive.  Beauty sleep. Getting those eight hours does more than just make you feel well rested; it boosts your sex drive too. Researchers have found that sleep is crucial for genital arousal.  Communicate with your partner. Couples who learn to communicate in an open, honest way usually maintain a stronger emotional connection, which can lead to better sex.

Communicating about sex also is important. Talking about your likes and dislikes can set the stage for greater sexual intimacy.  Take the focus off intercourse. Spend more time on foreplay and try other kinds of sex play, such as massage and oral sex. Get in touch with your sense of touch.  Pamper yourself with leisurely baths and soothing rituals.  Ditch bad habits. Smoking, a poor diet and excess alcohol can all dampen your sex drive. Ditching these bad habits may help rev up your sex drive as well as improve your overall health.

PRACTISE MINDFULNESS

Other surprising treatments that have worked for many women include meditation and yoga. A study at the University of British Columbia found that practising mindfulness meditation significantly improves desire, arousal and lubrication. The same goes for yoga: the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women reported increased satisfaction, desire and arousal after 12 weeks of yoga.

Clearly, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The key is to have patience and treat yourself gently as you embark on a journey towards pleasure. Remember, rekindling desire starts with your and your relationship with your body. E

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A WOMAN OF THE

Continent

Africa is an untapped treasure trove of enormous business opportunities and support for those willing to embrace the continent.

SIPHOKAZI FEKE is living proof of this.

“Communal life reminds me of the rural areas of South Africa, where there’s a certain ecosystem based on respect. It’s governed by humanity and you don’t even have to know another person to treat them as you would your own.”

Siphokazi Feke may be far from where she grew up, but never too far. The South African medical practitioner and busineswoman from the Eastern Cape now lives in Accra, Ghana, and has found success in bridging the gap between the two countries.

As a founder of BW Medical Group, her journey up to this point has not been short of obstacles, yet she tells her story with the confidence of someone who trusts her own instincts.

It all started in Umtata and Qunu, where she grew up and went to school. “Although sheltered, I was curious and opinionated as a child. I didn’t ever think about the world beyond where I was living.”

However, in high school, that changed. “My maths teacher was Ugandan, my English teacher was Nigerian and my biology teacher was from Ghana. It made me realise there were other people in the world.”

technologists take care of patients. In operating theatres, emergency rooms and clinics, they operate the eqipment used for open-heart surgery, EEG (electroencephalogram) scans and IVF (in vitro fertilisation) among other procedures.

The year was 1994 and democracy had not yet liberated all academic institutions.

“It was a small class of about 50 students and all of them were white. At the time, only M.L. Sultan offered clinical technology in English. Graduates were guaranteed jobs at the teaching hospitals, where they did their three-year practicals. The rest of us [studying medical technology] would have to compete against each other when we were done.”

She was advised against changing courses. “They told me black students usually don’t meet the minimum requirements for admission. Imagine, such a sweeping statement! But I did qualify.

Then they kept emphasising how I would lose the year of medical technology I had already done.”

But Siphokazi chose to lose a year to gain a job. “I was quite vocal within the SRC and they didn’t want that kind of heat on them, so they accepted me.”

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY

GENDER AND RACE BARRIERS

Following in the footsteps of an aunt she admired and who happened to be a doctor, Siphokazi was accepted into Durban’s M.L. Sultan Technikon, now the University of Technology, to study medical technology.

“I was active in the student’s representative council (SRC) and soon realised there were a few classes with no black students, aside from one or two Indians. One of those classes was clinical technology. So I also took an interest in that field.”

While medical technologists work in a laboratory, clinical

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In 2000 Siphokazi became the first black South African woman to earn a qualification in clinical technology, with a focus on nephrology (kidney treatment). She speaks of the challenges she faced at college with the same unaffected tone she speaks about her achievements.

“I only found out when I had to register with Health Professions Council. The lady there mentioned I was the first black female nephrologist on the database. The first black man had qualified three years before me.”

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WORDS: ZANELE MJI. IMAGE: SUPPLIED BY SIPHOKAZI FEKE.

MY JOURNEY EOA

At the Pretoria private hospitals that Siphokazi serviced, she represented a race transformation that patients were at times uneasy about.

“When you’re called to the emergency unit at 2am or 3am, the last thing you want to discuss is your race. Sometimes the family wouldn’t want me to touch the patient. My colleagues were supportive but the environment was just not ready for me and, after a particularly tough first week, I quit.

She says not everyone can endure 27 years of suffering, as she jokingly compares herself to Nelson Mandela, who also came from her rural hometown of Qunu.

As a result, Siphokazi moved on to work in pharmaceuticals and sales, where she built relationships with doctors across the continent. She was doing well, but never lost sight of the next step.

MAKING THINGS HAPPEN

“As a woman in the corporate sector, there’s glass ceilings and this belief that when you get to a certain level in your career, you should be grateful for the opportunity. But this notion made me feel stifled.”

Not one to bang her head against glass

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ceilings, Siphokazi went to work for the South African Medical Association at the same time that the African Medical Association was being established.

Here she got to liaise with doctors from East, West and Southern Africa and came to know the key opinion leaders in different specialties. It helped that she already had a solid network and had visited the region before.

As a tip to individuals in a similar situation as her own, she says: “Always start with the resources and networks you have, and with something that’s not capital intensive.”

The BW Medical Group arranged for patients from countries such as the DRC and Ghana to travel to South Africa for medical care that is not available in their countries.

It was at this point that Siphokazi realised there were no private nephrology clinics to service Ghana’s rising middle class. So, in 2012, the BW Kidney and Urology Clinic opened in Accra.

EMBRACING DIVERSITY

“Each region and individual country has it’s own rhythm and way of doing things. Not everything you learn in business school is going to apply. South Africans are doing

well and have a good reputation in this region for delivering excellence, but a small percentage of us are black.”

Siphokazi believes that South Africans need to engage with the rest of the continent more closely and be open to learning how Africa works. She points out how South African nurses and teachers choose to go to the Middle East, Asia and the US when other countries on the continent need their skills and pay well for them. “You’ll feel at home.

You won’t feel like a misfit. South Africa was my landing spot but my home is the rest of the continent.

“Sure I’ve heard people here saying: ‘they’re killing us in her country’, but Ghanaians are a really peaceful people. It [the xenophobia] is disappointing because of our strong historical background with the rest of the continent.”

Despite it all, Siphokazi believes that Africa is thriving right now.

“My father’s generation could have never done this, they were fighting liberation and civil wars and so on. Somebody who lives in New York easily goes and does business in L.A, heads off to Florida. Why can’t we open up the African continent like that?” E.

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VF is used in infertility patients who have endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), hostile cervical mucous, blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes and all the causes of male infertility, including a low sperm count, poor sperm motility, low concentration of normal sperm and a large percentage of abnormal DNA. IVF is also indicated when Artificial Insemination (AI) has not resulted in a pregnancy after three to four months of trying. The prevalence of IVF has increased due to a number of factors including the older age of women before they start their families, increased lifestyle-related problems including endometriosis, polycystic ovaries and reduced sperm counts and function.

IVF PREPARATION

The number of couples experiencing fertility problems is increasing exponentially. The reason for this increase in fertility problems is directly related to certain lifestyle changes that have taken place in the last 30 years. These lifestyle issues include an increased incidence of time urgency perfectionism (TUP) stress, poor dietary habits and poor nutrition. Smoking and the excessive consumption of alcohol have also been shown to reduce fertility. Getting these lifestyle basics right will not only improve your fertility health, but also your general health.

It is imperative that both the female and male be fully investigated before undergoing an IVF procedure, including a hormonal profile in female and male, a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in the female, and a comprehensive semen analysis in the male. It is critical for the couple to be on the correct nutrients. We recommend StaminoGro (4 capsules each) and Comego Vite (2 at night each).

IVF IS A 5-STAGE PROCESS

1. Medication Stage – This is the stage of injecting ovary-stimulating hormones under the skin, including FSH and LH. This medication recruits and grows egg-containing follicles.

Monitoring Stage – Trans-vaginal pelvic 2. ultrasound is used to monitor the number and

COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE BASICS OF IVF IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) is the process of fertilising of eggs (oocytes) with sperm in a specialised, accredited laboratory attached to an infertility clinic.

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PARENTING EOA 5. Waiting Stage – This phase consists of taking medication to stabilise the uterus and waiting 11 days before doing a blood pregnancy test called BHCG.

INTRA CYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION (ICSI)

This technique involves the microinjection of a single sperm into a single egg. Under certain circumstances such as after a vasectomy or in congenital abnormalities of the male reproductive ducts, sperm may be aspirated from the tubular system of the testes or directly from the testicular tissue. The actual treatment is the same as the stages of IVF.

PREVENTING PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO IVF

1. Multiple pregnancy – Should try and prevent multiple pregnancy as this has an increased complication rate for both the children (prematurity, growth retardation) and the mother (pre-eclampsia, gestation diabetes). These complications can be reduced by restricting the number of embryos that are transferred.

2.

Obstetricians should treat pregnancies that resulted from IVF as high risk.

words: Dr Antonio Rodrigues. image: shutterstock.

WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY OF IVF IN SOUTH AFRICA?

South Africa has two IVF units in public hospitals and the rest are privately owned IVF clinics.

There are approximately 5 000+ IVF cycles carried out in South Africa every year. However, this number of cycles per capita in South African falls way short of the expected number of IVF in relation to a population of 50 million people. In other words, compared to other countries such as USA, there should be 20 000 cycles carried out per year. The reason for this discrepancy is related to two factors: 1. Not enough IVF clinics, both public and private.

2.

The costs of IVF and the fact that it is totally dependent on private funding by the infertility couple.

Effectively, this means that a large number of couples will not be afforded the treatment they require and they will therefore go through life without their right to a child. size of the follicles that are developing in the ovary.

3. Egg Retrieval Stage – This is carried out in a operating theatre. The patient is sedated and the eggs are retrieved (aspirated) through the vagina using ultrasound guidance.

4. Laboratory Stage – The eggs are fertilised with pre-prepared sperm by insemination of the sperm onto the egg or by injection of the sperm into the egg called ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection). The embryos are grown in culture for five days. Two embryos are transferred into the uterus and the extra embryos are frozen.

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INFERTILITY IS A MEDICAL CONDITION!

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognised infertility as a medical condition.

As such, infertility treatment should have some cover by medical funders. It is up to infertility patients, as customers of medical funders, to fight for their rights to have their treatments at least partially funded. E

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Share In The Stories Of the Continent

• Essays Of Africa print and digital magazine is alive with the bold stories of women who are blazing trails throughout the continent, uplifting not only themselves but their communities, and living the message of hope and liberation. • Essays Of Africa is available anytime, anywhere with instant online access to our digital and social media platforms.

Start Your Journey Today!

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ESSAYS OF AFRICA

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Big Butts

Are the toast of the

town

From Sara Baartman to Kim Kardashian, big bottoms have incited massive fascination for centuries.

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NEWS REPORT EOA he well-endowed female buttock is not a new fascination.

In fact, ample-bottomed women predate the Internet and Internetbreaking bootylicious starlets such as Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian, by thousands of years – lest we forget our very own Sara ‘Saartjie’ Baartman.

Baartman was kidnapped in the early 1800s by Dutch colonists and sold into slavery. By 1810, she was taken to London to work as a domestic servant and put on public display as “ The Hottentot Venus.”

She was forced to wear a revealing costume that placed emphasis on her ample behind while having to dance and play African musical instruments.

Sound familiar? Of course it does. That’s because Nicki Minaj is doing the same dance and exhibit, except this time it’s to great applause and fanfare.

Where Sara Baartman was considered to be a freak of nature only worthy to be displayed alongside circus animals, modern-day stars are raking in millions and creating a frothy frenzy among men and women alike.

As a result, the ample bottom, which you either have or you don’t, has now also become a costly accessory, with some women and men going to extreme lengths to acquire it – sometimes with disastrous consequences.

A BIG BUTT AT ANY COST

It's long been speculated that Nicki Minaj gained and maintains her curves by way of surgical procedures, while Kim Kardashian and her sister Khloe have been accused of the same. Other celebrities, such as reality TV starlets K. Michelle and Heidi Montag, have been much more upfront about their decision to augment their bodies surgically, especially their behinds.

There have also been cautionary tales about regular women whose pursuit of the perfect hourglass ended in botched back door procedures.

One of the more shocking reports was in 2013 when Apryl Michelle Brown, 46-year-old motherof-two from LA, lost both her arms and legs after an unlicensed practitioner injected her buttocks with industrial grade silicone. Brown is now a motivational speaker, trying to help women overcome the self-esteem issues that might drive them to dangerous measures.

Gluteoplasty, the term for various elective cosmetic procedures to augment and shape the buttocks, is the fastest growing surgical procedure in the USA. And South Africa is not far behind, with a rising interest in cosmetic surgery being reported among the black middle and upper classes.

According to independent research carried out by the Association of Plastic and Reconstructive

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Surgeons of Southern Africa, there’s been an increase of 780 percent in non-invasive procedures (such as Botox injections) and a 128 percent increase in breast procedures. However, gluteoplasty is also gaining popularity, a fact that some might find surprising, considering that many South African women are naturally curvaceous.

“Today patients are not asking, ‘Does my bum look big?’ but rather ‘Can you make my bum look bigger?’ Firm, well-rounded buttocks are increasingly more in demand. These patients do not want to Westernise their looks, but their goal is to rather enhance their own natural beauty, and the buttock area is definitely a very important area for many of the ladies consulting me,” says Dr Nerina Wilkinson, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in Cape Town.

The most common gluteoplasty procedure is liposculpture, a fat graft that removes unwanted fat deposits from areas such as the stomach and then re-injects into the buttocks to create a rounder, fuller shape. Alternatively, solid implants or buttock prosthesis are inserted under the gluteus muscle.

WHO ARE THESE WOMEN?

Dr Wilkinson says Kim Kardashian is partly responsible for the new buttock curiosity that we are seeing. “Patients often say they want a buttock like Kim’s. Fashion is one of the most common reasons for patients requesting buttock surgery.

“Young patients are seeking fuller, more rounded buttocks to feel more confident, and are certain it would help them find a better husband. Older ladies find that their body shape starts to change and the fat deposits tend to distribute around the abdominal area and love handles, and the buttocks become empty and saggy.”

Dr Wilkinson describes most of her patients as “The Prada girls,” and plastic surgery as a “luxury item.”

First Health Finance, a company that finances cosmetic surgery procedures, places the cost of gluteoplasty at anywhere between R50 000 and R60 000. This is the reason why back door practitioners are drawing a crowd.

Dr Wilkinson advises: “The safest procedure is to inject your own natural fat into the buttocks. I would like to caution patients when having any form of foreign body injected into the area to make sure of the safety of the product.”

BOOTY SAFETY

When seeking a plastic surgeon, patients should also consult the Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of South Africa (APRSSA) website. It lists at least 92 percent of South African plastic surgeons.

Dr Leon van der Westhuizen is a Cape Townbased plastic and reconstructive surgeon and also the

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guidelines liaison for APRSSA. “There are many medical doctors who are not plastic surgeons who perform plastic-surgery-related procedures and call it plastic surgery. It is not the same thing.”

Even when done by a licensed doctor, cosmetic surgery is an invasive procedure that carries risks of surgical complications.

Dr van der Westhuizen adds, “The patient must discuss with the surgeon relevant issues like the number of similar cases that the plastic surgeon has treated, complications he has had with the procedure and how they were treated.

“It is important to check on the surgeon’s background by asking other patients who have had work done by them. Go with recommendations from friends.”

An adequate period of earnest research, consultation and introspection is perhaps the best tool for anyone considering an invasive procedure that carries risk for physical and emotional trauma.

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1.

Scientists from the University of Oxford found that women with wider hips and a larger butt were intellectually superior compared to slimmer mothers.

This was because they tended to have lower cholesterol levels and an excess of omega-3 fatty acids, which is proven to catalyse brain development.

2. Women typically have larger butts because estrogen causes fat to accumulate in the buttocks as opposed to the stomach, which is the reason some believe women live longer than men.

3. Fat in your buttocks and thigh areas carries a lower metabolic and cardiovascular risk than abdominal fat, and may even be protective, suggests a 2010 study out of the United Kingdom.

4. Sir Mix-A-Lot’s Baby Got Back track won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance and, of course, remains an esteemed karaoke choice to this day.

5. Because your butt is made up of the gluteal muscles, which are the most powerful muscle group on the body, exercise will help them to grow bigger. It’s hard work but it beats those invasive and costly surgical procedures.

6. In 2012, some 2600 American women received buttock lifts, and 746 got buttock implants, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ 2012 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report. These numbers are down from 2011, by the way. E

Do you feel under pressure to fit into the big booty beauty stereotype? How far you would be willing to go for that body type. Share your thoughts by using the hashtag #EOAbigbooty

WORDS: ZANELE MJI & RUSSELL BROUT. IMAGES: ©iSTOCK.COM.

6 FACTS ABOUT BUTTS

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SOCIAL SCENE EOA

LEFT TO RIGHT; NOLENE MACINTYRE, LINDIWE NKWANAYANA, GWEN MAKHATHINI

LEFT TO RIGHT; THABI DLAMINI & SIYA WOTSHELA GETTING READY FOR THE COURSE

WOMEN GOLFERS POSING FOR THE CAMERA AFTER A LONG DAY ON THE COURSE

WOMEN GOLFERS READY FOR THEIR BMW RIDE.

WORDS: MBALENHLE FAKUDE. IMAGES: VINOLIA MABELE.

Cedar Isle Auto BMW Ladies Golf Clinics Event n the 7th of May 2015, Cedar Auto BMW hosted a Ladies Golf Clinic Event. The purpose of the event was to give an opportunity for aspirant female golfers to get a chance to experience the thrill of playing golf, as well as affording the occasional golfer an opportunity to perfect their drive.

The event was hosted by Cedar Isle Auto BMW staff including Piet Maluleke (Business Development Manager), Thando Mazibuko (CRM Manager) and Jethroe Sibanda (Sales Executive).

The gathering included a BMW ride and drive, where all the ladies got an opportunity to drive a BMW of their choice. E

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SIYA WOTSHELA

NAWAAL MDLULI ENJOYING A GAME OF GOLF

LEFT TO RIGHT; MANISHA BLACK, THABI DLAMINI, KHENCY NARE, NOLENE MACINTYRE

NOLENE MACINTYRE

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AFRICA’S BULGING HEALTH CRISIS

After HIV/Aids, obesity is the biggest health crisis facing the continent. EOA takes a look at this growing epidemic in South Africa and how we can play our part in beating it.

ar from the clichéd images of starving children that have driven the global media portrayal of Africa for decades, a new reality has emerged; one that has taken many by surprise.

According to a 2014 report by the Overseas Development Institute, more than one-third of the world’s adults are overweight and, most startling of all, almost two-thirds of the world’s overweight people are found in low- and middle-income nations.

Indeed, the number of overweight people in developing countries has more than tripled in less than three decades, with South Africa ranking third in the list of the world’s most obese nations, beaten only by the United States (US) and Mexico, as found in surveys by GlaxoSmithKline and medical journal Lancet.

These studies have revealed that nearly three quarters of South Africans are overweight; a staggering number, which seems more likely to be found in the US, where fast food chains occupy almost every neighbourhood block.

FAT IS BEAUTIFUL

According to Gabriel Eksteen, registered dietician at the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, we are in a “nutrition transition. Within only a few decades we have moved from a traditional African diet towards a ‘Western’ diet which includes eating energy-dense foods, more sugary and fatty foods, bigger portions, and eating away from home more often.”

He points to the move towards urbanisation across the country and many parts of the continent as compounding the matter, where people are “eating more and moving less, which is the cornerstone of increasing weight”.

In a reversal of the norm found in most overweight populations, women seem to be at the forefront of this alarming trend in South Africa, where two-thirds of women are overweight or obese as opposed to one-third of men.

While experts have reached varied conclusions about this trend, the overwhelming consensus seems to lie with our perceptions of beauty and health. Eksteen points to a national survey, which found that the ideal body image for most South Africans is fat.

“In some communities being skinny or losing weight can be associated with poverty or HIV/Aids,” he says, adding that

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we need to change the perception that obesity is a sign of health and prosperity.

This may be true, but one can’t help but think it may be a good thing that South Africans, as a whole, don’t glorify the skinny or anorexic look that has dominated the fashion and beauty industry in the West for decades, much to the detriment of most women’s sense of self, as they struggle to attain impossible standards of thinness and feel inadequate for failing at the task.

RISK FACTORS

Perhaps we need to reframe the issue here. “This is not about vanity,” says Dr. Salome Kruger, Professor of Nutrition at the Centre of Excellence for Nutrition at North West University.

“It’s about keeping your body fit and healthy so you can improve on quality of life; your lifespan will increase and the ripple effects will be felt across all aspects of your life.”

The bottom line? This is about health not beauty. And the burden obesity places on health and our health care system, is pretty frightening. The Heart and Stroke Foundation has seen a drastic increase in the prevalence of high blood pressure and heart disease as a result of the obesity epidemic.

Indeed, non-communicable diseases, such as strokes and heart attacks, account for more than 40 percent of all deaths in South Africa, and experts say these health problems will soon overtake HIV and tuberculosis as the country’s biggest killers.

“South Africa has faced many challenges in the last century and obesity is one of the biggest challenges for the future,” says Eksteen. “If we do not win the fight, it will have devastating consequences for our country.”

FORGET FAD DIETS

So, the question remains: what can we do about this? With crazes such as Banting and other low-carb diet fads sweeping the nation, could this herald an end to the problem? The jury may still be out on this, but what’s clear is that quick fixes and extreme diets don’t generally work in the long term; it’s about a lifestyle change.

“Currently our staple foods in South Africa are maize and bread. Changing this to free-range meat, olive oil and organic eggs may not be sustainable or economically viable.

“However reducing our portions of maize, increasing our vegetables, and decreasing intake of sugar and unhealthy takeaways can be achieved by everybody,” advises Eksteen.

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health EOA

Words: Caryn Thandi Petersen. image: ©istock.COM.

DITCH THE SUGAR

Dr Kruger states one of the biggest changes since 2005 has been an increase in the amount of sugary drinks consumed, certainly a big factor in the rise of obesity, especially in children.

She believes South Africans are “adding too much oil, fried foods and far too much sugar to our diets”.

Eksteen echoes these sentiments, stating that a “500ml of cola provides an additional 14 teaspoons of sugar that most people simply don’t need!” According to him, roughly 1 million fast food meals are sold every day in South Africa (excluding sitdown restaurants and street vendors).

Yet, as high a figure as this is, it still can’t account for the millions facing obesity here.

Energy-dense food such as sugary cereals, biscuits and chips are more available and affordable. And, as documented by many nutritionists, a diet high in starchy carbohydrates has the ironic effect of hidden hunger: a chronic lack of vitamins and minerals

that can cause serious long-term damage.

While access and affordability have been deemed the main reasons for people choosing unhealthy foods over fresh fruit and vegetables, this is not always the case. After all, a bag of apples costs the same as a 2-litre cola. The onus clearly lies on us to make better choices for our loved ones and ourselves.

FOLLOW THE RULES

Although there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, there are a few universal rules to effectively lose weight in a healthy way. As advised by Eksteen, these include:  Cut out unnecessary sugars and fats.  Increase intake of fruits and vegetables.  Eat less ‘treat foods’ and takeaways.  Reduce portion sizes.  Increase activity level.

“Being healthy is about eating healthy food and being active to keep your heart, brain and bones healthy,” says Eksteen. He adds that this doesn’t mean you need to have a six-pack or fit into a size six dress. For a healthy body shape, women should aim for a waist size of less than 80cm and men 94cm.

EXERCISE MYTH?

And what about exercise? Every health professional advises us to move more and keep active. Yet a recent study by the British Journal Of Sports Medicine found that exercise doesn’t combat obesity, stating, “you cannot outrun a bad diet”.

Bestselling author Gary Taubes also busted the myth of exercise and weight loss in his book, Why We Get Fat, and Dr. Kruger, while conceding it’s true that no amount of exercise can combat a bad diet, also believes it has a role in boosting metabolism and preventing chronic diseases. What’s more, exercise has numerous positive effects, including:  Energy boost and lift in mood.  Better sleep and clearer skin.  Improved sexual and brain function.

While there are many factors involved in this epidemic of obesity, one truth remains: feeding your body with sugar and refined carbohydrates is paving the way for disease and a poor quality of life.

Just as we need to nurture our minds, so we need to nurture our bodies with fresh, healthy food.

To speak to a health consultant call the Heart and Stroke Health line on 0860 1 HEART (43278).

For more information, visit www.heartfoundation.co.za, or email heart@heartfoundation.co.za You can also find them on Twitter www.twitter.com/SAHeartStroke or Facebook www.facebook.com/HeartStrokeSA. E

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DEPRESSION

THE MALE PERSPECTIVE

Why is it that men are more comfortable talking about football and farts than their feelings? EOA looks at the very real issue of male depression.

here are few events more entertaining than a group of guys getting together and throwing back a few cold ones.

The conversation is usually dominated by anything from sports to sports cars, temperamental weather to temperamental women, and the age-old conundrum of whether umgqusho (samp and beans) or boiled eggs causes the worse farts.

It’s a laugh-a-minute gathering of members of an elite club where bromance reigns supreme and there’s never a dull moment. Every man here is happy and can talk about whatever is on his mind – as long as it’s not depressing or sad.

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It’s this unspoken masculine rule that experts believe is the cause of soaring rates of depression among men.

FEELINGS ARE FOR GIRLS

In his book, I Don’t Want To Talk About It: Overcoming The Secret Legacy Of Male Depression, psychologist Terrance Real says society seldom views men as depressed because of the ‘boy culture’ they have been socialised into.

He explains: “During childhood and beyond, boys are often shamed for feelings of vulnerability or desires for intimacy, ways of being that are more readily encouraged for girls and women.

“This allows them [men] to interact with the world and to relate to other

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MAN FEATURE EOA people in a manner that preserves their masculine images as powerful, heroic, successful and invulnerable.”

However, Real warns that this forces men to also develop coping styles that lean towards narcissism and grandiosity, which, if left unchecked, can be harmful.

WORDS: Rusell Brout. IMAGE: ©iSTOCK.COM.

BIG BOYS DON’T CRY

Bavashni*, a 43-year-old mother of one, from Durban, can relate to Real’s observations and has experienced first-hand the effects of male depression.

“Mzamo* and I met at Westville University in the late eighties. Both majoring in political science, we shared a passion for politics that soon grew into a deep love for each other,” she recalls.

It was a very exciting time of solidarity and transition in South Africa, and mixed-race couples, such as Bavashni and Mzamo, no longer had to live in fear of ridicule or harm when they walked hand-in-hand in public.

“His family welcomed me with open arms and much love. Mine, on the other hand, were against us being together, going so far as calling him derogatory names. But this didn’t stop us from getting married,” she says.

The pair excelled academically and career-wise. They bought a luxurious home in the affluent Umhlanga Rocks area and soon became pregnant with their baby daughter.

“We had everything a young couple could want, but the thing Mzamo longed for most was the blessing and acknowledgement of my parents. This seemed to fuel his ambition, and we hardly saw each other because of work and studies.

“When I did see him, he was drunk or high from a weekend binge. He became verbally abusive and withdrawn,” says Bavashni, adding how she’d given him an ultimatum of couple’s therapy or divorce.

Three days before their first session with the therapist, Bavashni found Mzamo hanging from the avocado tree in their backyard.

DEPRESSION HAS NO GENDER

Rates of depression among South African men are at an all time high and reports of men not only killing themselves but taking their families with them, are rife in the news, according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG).

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“Instead of acknowledging their feelings, asking for help or seeking treatment, men with depression are more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs, or throw themselves compulsively into their work or hobbies in an attempt to hide their depression from family and friends,” says SADAG. Research shows that men tend to talk differently or, in most cases not at all, about their symptoms of depression. Men may not recognise their irritability, sleep problems, withdrawal or loss of interest in work and hobbies as signs of depression.

“Many people still see depression as a weakness and, as a result, many men are reluctant to come forward for help,” comments SADAG. Sharing these sentiments, mental health and wellbeing support groups also warn that depression, when left untreated, can lead to heart disease and other serious medical conditions.

“Of course, it’s normal for anyone to feel down from time to time. However, if intense feelings of despair and

hopelessness take hold, and interfere with work, family and your ability to enjoy life, you may be suffering from depression,” warns online anti-depression support group HelpGuide.org.

KNOW THE SIGNS

Bavashni says she did not suspect that Mzamo was depressed because he was the epitome of glowing health and masculinity. “Even when I discovered he was using drugs, I just ascribed it to work pressure and the influence of his new male colleagues. Now I realise that he was too proud to confide in me about his feelings because it’s not what men do.

“Many people still have no idea how what they say or do can affect other people. My family always wanted Mzamo out of my life and they got their wish in the end,” says Bavashni.

She encourages everyone to be wary of the signs and symptoms of depression in themselves and their loved ones, and to speak up about it. *Not their real names.

TIPS FOR TACKLING DEPRESSION F or many men, especially when they’re suffering from depression, reaching out to others can be overwhelming. Close relationships don’t happen overnight, but HelpGuide.org offers tips to help you connect and build a solid support network: l Join a support group for depression Being with others who are facing the same problems can help reduce your sense of isolation and remove the stigma you may feel. It can also be inspiring to share experiences. l Volunteer your time This is a great way to help others while also expanding your social network. l Meet new people Do this by taking a class, joining a club, or enrolling in a special interest group that meets on a regular basis.

l Walk a dog

It’s good exercise for you and a great way to meet people. If you can’t adopt your own, ask a friend or neighbour to borrow their dog.

l Invite someone out

This could be to a soccer match, movie or concert. There are plenty of other people who feel just as awkward about reaching out and making new friends as you do. Be the one to break the ice.

l Call or email an old buddy

Even if you’ve retreated from relationships that were once important to you, make the effort to reconnect.

l Confide in someone

This could be a counsellor, neighbour, life coach or clergy member.

l Be a good listener

To develop a solid friendship with someone, be prepared to listen and support them just as you want them to listen and support you. E

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SHADES AND TIMEPIECES… Picking the right pair of sunglasses and timeless watch is a simple way to completely transform your look.

EMPORIO ARMANI GENTS ROSE GOLD PLATED GREY CHRONO WATCH ON BROWN LEATHER, R6 499, ARTHUR KAPLAN.

TOM FORD SUNGLASSES, R4800, SDM EYEWEAR. TOM FORD SUNGLASSES WITH BLACK FRAME, R4 800, SDM EYEWEAR.

Galaxy a5 Smartphone, R6 499, Samsung.

CITIZEN ECO DRIVE STEEL BLUE CHRONOGRAPH ON STAINLESS STEEL, R3 999, ARTHUR KAPLAN. EMPORIO ARMANI GENTS GREY MULTI DIAL WATCH ON GREY LEATHER, R6 499, ARTHUR KAPLAN.

BLUE FRAME HUGO BOSS SUNGLASSES, R3 070, SAFILO.

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MAN SHOPPING EOA TOM FORD SUNGLASSES WITH MULTI COLOUR FRAME, R4 800, SDM EYEWEAR.

WORDS: TUMI MDLULI. IMAGES: SUPPLIED BY STOCKISTS, WWW.ALIVENOTDEAD.COM, ©iSTOCK.COM. ©

CITIZEN ECO DRIVE PERPETUAL CALENDAR ROSE GOLD PLATED WATCH ON BROWN LEATHER, R6 999, ARTHUR KAPLAN.

CALVIN KLEIN CITY CHRONOGRAPH WATCH ON STAINLESS STEEL, R4 600, ARTHUR KAPLAN.

CARRERA BLACK SUNGLASSES, R2 190, SAFILO.

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GREY HUGO BOSS SUNGLASSES, R3 310, SAFILO.

CALVIN KLEIN CITY ROSE GOLD PLATED WATCH ON BROWN LEATHER, R5 050, ARTHUR KAPLAN.

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MAN Q&A EOA

If it’s radio...

BOB’S Your uncle

Words: Hayden Horner. IMAGE: Supplied by KAYA FM.

He’s dominated the sound waves since the late ‘80s and yet BOB MABENA is as captivating to his listeners today as he was almost 30 years ago. We catch up with him for a quick chat.

Was being a radio presenter always a dream of yours, or did you have other career aspirations?

Law was an option but the urge to be on radio was much stronger and a great deal more attractive.

it, read live commercials and that’s pretty much it – anyone can do that.

My career in radio has lasted as long as it has because, early on, I had already grasped how the medium actually works and how to deliver content that gets a reaction from listeners.

Back then, how were the radio stations different to what we have now?

I grew up listening to a whole lot of radio. I think I actually overdosed on this medium. Radio back then was not as frivolous as it is now. I am not saying that presenters did not have fun back then, but one has to take into account what was going on in our country at that time.

You’re a radio icon, and yet a very private person. Why is this, and how do you manage to keep your personal life so private?

Well, I have not been consistently successful with that, but I do my best.

I think the tabloids forget about me for a bit and then, as they forage for stories, they remember me and decide to write something about me. The relationship between so-called celebrities and tabloids is unbalanced, unhealthy and incestuous. I try very hard to keep my life out of the public eye, but when the tabloids want you, they will get you.

You have been in radio since the apartheid era. What was that like and was there strict censorship?

Back then, censorship was mostly on music. The Makebas and the Masekelas, for instance, were not playlisted. However, older guys such as Lawrence Dube and Peter Marube did transgress a lot.

Has it been difficult for you to stay relevant in such a fastchanging and fickle industry?

Not really. I stopped being a ‘typical’ radio DJ a while ago because it is just not sustainable. All one does when one is a DJ is play music and back-announce

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You once moved to Highveld Stereo. Did your listeners move with you and how was it different to Metro FM? That move was particularly painful for me. When I went on air at 94.7, I got the ‘k-word’ thrown at me a few times by racist white listeners but, sadly, my own kind also called me a sellout. Very few of my Metro listeners followed me to Highveld. The two stations were visibly split along racial lines, unlike today.

Recently you were a victim of a smash and grab attack. Why do you think crime is so rife in South Africa and what can we do to prevent it?

I am not sure why crime is at such a high rate in our country. I have tried to make sense of it after my incident but there are so many answers that only seem to bring about many more questions. All I can say is that it is a supply and demand thing. If there was no market for stolen goods perhaps there’d be no reason for thieves to steal.

When you’re not on radio, how do you unwind?

I never unwind. The only other pleasure I really make time for are books. I love reading.

What advice do you have for people wanting to get into radio?

It really isn’t rocket science; anyone can do it.

Do you think your love for radio will eventually fade with the times?

Twenty-six years later and I still love radio. This medium has survived TV, the internet, Facebook, Twitter and all other forms of social media with resilience and grace. It’s one of the main reasons why I have such a lasting love affair with radio. Here’s to the next five or 10 years! E

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EOA #GAYBESTFRIEND

The Psychology of RUTH

ike myself, Ruth is in her 40s and has no children; a decision she made many years ago, but one she never wanted to discuss. I did not push for answers... until our Maya Angelou memorial service.

Sounding like my mouth was stuffed with cotton wool, as it does by the second bottle of gin, I slurred: “So Ma-Brrr, tell me why there are no gaybies in our life?” Ruth always reminded me of Brenda Fassie when I was this sloshed.

She looked at me, frowned and said: “Okay Debra Patta, if you must know. I had just graduated and it was my first day as a volunteer at a community child welfare centre. They called the township a community, but it was far from it, believe me.

“Council houses were crammed so closely together that you could hear your neighbour on the right telling her husband they were down to their last bag of rice and can of beans, or the young woman on the left's muffled screams as her boyfriend choked her because she forgot to iron a pleat in his work jeans. But what you didn’t hear were the cries of little boys being raped.

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“As sister Anne, a handsome Catholic nun with ankles like a tired rhino and the facial expression of a chipped enamel plate, showed me into the interview room, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

“She told me his name was Shane, he was 12 and had slit his mother and her boyfriend’s throats while they slept.

“Sister Anne left us. As I fished my recorder out of my satchel and before I could say anything to this little boy, he said: ‘I learnt to masturbate when I was five years old; it was only when I turned 11 that I discovered I could do it without the help of my mother’s boyfriends. And Mother, if that’s even her real name, told me to shut my mouth because evil boys with overactive imaginations go straight to hell.’

“I felt my temples throb and thought my heart would explode in my chest. I knew at that moment, despite having just graduated with a degree in clinical psychology and with my whole life ahead of me, that I was not prepared for this... or ever failing my own child that way.”

Since Ruth told me her chilling story, I have come to realise that whether you decide to do a thing or not to do a thing, it is still the right decision because you made that decision for yourself.

We will probably never speak of that day again, and I know Ruth has no regrets about her decision not to have children – even when her eyes light up every time she hears a child’s laughter. E

WORDS: HAYDEN HORNER. IMAGE: ©iSTOCK.COM.

A dead author, three bottles of gin and a mouth full of cotton wool forces Ruth to reveal a chilling secret she’s kept for more than a decade.

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BEAUTY EOA SIMPLY ALOE REGENERATING GEL (200ml), R170, SELECTED SALONS & BEAUTY SPAS.This regenerating gel is a refreshing and restorative treatment for skin that has been exposed to some damage.

KIEHL’S PINEAPPLE PAPAYA FACIAL SCRUB (100ml), R365, SELECTED SALONS & BEAUTY SPAS. This unique scrub and natural exfoliator is suitable for all skin.

Grains from the fruit exfoliate the skin, which helps remove dead skin cells.

SKINCEAUTICALS RESVERATRO BE (30ML), R2 300,

WORDS: TUMI MDLULI. IMAGES: SUPPLIED BY STOCKISTS.

SELECTED SALONS & BEAUTY SPAS. RESVERATROL BE is an intensive antioxidant night concentrate that boosts skin’s antioxidant defence system to help repair and prevent accumulated damage.

POND’S GOLD RADIANCE (100ml), R130, RETAIL STORES NATIONWIDE.Specially designed to gently exfoliate older skin and reveal youthful radiance without drying out the skin.

VICHY PURETÉ THERMALE OIL CLEANSOR (125ml), R290, SELECTED SALONS & BEAUTY SPAS. This cleanser is great at removing waterproof make-up and impurities, leaving your skin looking healthy.

NOREVA KERAPIL DERMOREGULATING CARE (75ml), SELECTED SALONS & BEAUTY SPAS.This product formulated to reduce roughness and limit the formation of ingrown hairs on legs, bikini-line and beard area.

BOOST YOUR SKINʼS RADIANCE

Invest in your skin to keep it looking and feeling young, glowing and radiant by trying out these soothing and restorative products.

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Building Your perfect Skincare Routine Face, Neck, Bust

Many women tend to start taking care of our skin when they start enter their 20s even though good skincare should be started at a young age. Starting now is better than never, here is what you need to know.

Know your skin type first (There are 5 different skin types):  Nomal skin – People who fall under this category have no complications with their skin. They can use any products and will not encounter any breakages.  Sensitive skin – People with sensitive skin may react to any product used or applied. It is important to find out

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what works for your skin.  Oily Skin – People with oily skin either have medium to large pores which allows the skin to breathe and releases oil making your skin look greasy and oily.  Dry skin – may be rough and very flaky especialy during the winter season. It is important to use products that can sooth and moisturise your skin and not damage it.

“However, you do find people with all the above skin types at once due to a number of factors including hormonal changes and environmental influences,” says Dr Gobac of Dr Gobac Cosmeceuticals.

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main BEAUTY EOA

1. Cleansing

Cleansing is an essential step in our skincare regime and it is very important that we get it right. C leanse your face gentle with a cleanser soap that works for your skin type.  “ No matter what your skin type, you should avoid cleansers that are acidic and contain fragrance or alcohol as they cause inflammation,” says Dr Gobac. R inse with warm water to allow your pores to open.

Observe your skin reaction towards any cleanser you use, if you are not happy with the outcome try a

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different cleanser.  D r Gobac recommends a weekly self-exfoliation to get rid of all dead skin. “Enzymatic exfoliation is the best option as it is gentle on the skin, yet effective.”

Cleansing keeps your skin radiant by removing impurities and make-up that clogs your pores. It is important to cleans your skin twice a day. The first step removes your make up whilst the second step purifies the skin. The twostep process purifie the face for a healthy looking glow.

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2. TONER

 Applying a small amount of toner to a soft cotton ball or pad and wiping your face with it will remove oil and give the appearance of smaller pores.  Toner removes excess dirt and oil, refines poress and brings back the balance in your skin.  It keeps the skin fresh and clean.  Some toners containing glycolic can help to prevent ingrown hairs.  A toner might cause irritation to some sensitive skin.

Dr Gobac notes that some cleansers contain a built-in-toner. “In such cases, the pH of the skin is already balanced, therefore a seperate toner is not required,” he says.

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MAIN BEAUTY EOA

3. MOISTURISE

 A moisturiser is key for every skin type and and age.  A moisturiser is like food to your skin. Every skin type should apply moisturizer after every wash to keep your skin moisture and glowing.

“Find a moisturiser for your specific skin type and concerns.” says Dr Gobac. “Most moisturisers not only hydrate, but they also offer anti-ageing benefits.”

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EOA MAIN BEAUTY

WORDS: TUMI MDLULI AND DR GOBAC. IMAGES: ©iSTOCK.COM, STOCKISTS.

4. SUN PROTECTION CREAM

 “The sun is very harsh on ethnic skin, as it cause serious damage, e.g pigmentation that could show at a later stage, or it could be triggered by pregnancy and hormone imbalances after the age of 40 or during a stressful journey,” says Dr Gobac. “The sun is also the main cause for skin cancer and wrinkles.”  Wear a high SPF suncreen with both UVA and UVB, every day.  “Some moisturisers include sunscreen, but check the SPF. If it is only 15, you shoul apply a higher SPF over the moisturiser for effectove protection,” he adds.

TIP BOX Use the same treament for the : Face, Neck and Bust  How to dry your face, just pat and DO NOT rub, with a clean soft towel.  Do not sleep with your make up on: use a cleanser with soft wash pads or cotton pads to remove and wash your face. Make-up will clog your pores if you do not remove it.  Sweat can clog pores, it is advisable to wash your face and cleanser it. E

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WORDS: TUMI MDLULI. IMAGES: SUPPLIED BY STOCKISTS.

BEAUTY EOA

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COLOR SHOW VELVET VIOLET EYESHADOW MAYBELLINE, R64, DIS-CHEM.

4

ALL MATT PLUS SHINE CONTROL, R115, CATRICE, DIS-CHEM.

5

BLACK SUPERLINER BLACKBUSTER INTENSE, R149, L'OREAL, DIS-CHEM.

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INFALLIBLE MATTE PRIMING BASE, R189, L’OREAL, DIS-CHEM.

MASTERPIECE GLAMOUR EXTENSIONS MASCARA, R125, MAX FACTOR, SPREE.

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PAINTED PRETTY Seven make–up products that make dayto-day dolling up a simple pleasure.

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INFALLIBLE MATTE FOUNDATION, R189, L’OREAL, DIS-CHEM.

OCEAN OBSESSION COLOR EYESHADOW, R140, BOURJOIS PARIS,

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EOA BEAUTY & HEALTH NEWS

GIVE YOUR LIPS AN ULTIMATE BRIGHT COLOUR

Long lasting lip colour that lasts for hours does not have to be expensive. Catrice has introduced an Ultimate Colour Lipstick range that will solve all your beauty problems, giving you the perfect pout.

It is highly pigmented and contains rich shades, plus a smooth, creamy and long-lasting texture.

This range is available for the first time in two matt nuances, coral-pink and orange-red and also in a beautiful pink-nude shade. The Ultimate Colour Lipstick is R69.95.

Wrap your hair with satin oil

FLU VACCINES MIGHT BE BAD FOR YOU

Did you know that flu vaccines are only recommended for the young and the elderly? This is because they are immune compromised. Dr. Graham Duncombe says he does not endorse flu vaccines to people outside the mentioned parameters because there are other ways you can take to support your immune system against viruses you are exposed to. Each and every season, we are exposed to different flu strains and this is the reason people who have previously been vaccinated still get flu. Duncombe suggests you take an immune booster throughout the high flu period and you must treat the flu accordingly should you get it. In preventing flu, wash your hands all the time because it decreases the amount of viruses you are exposed to. Also, consume supplements like that are excellent at supporting the immune system. E

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WORDS: HLULANI MASINGI. IMAGES: L’OREAL, RED MARKETING, @iSTOCK.COM.

Are you tired of dry scalp and dull hair? Get yourself the Dark & Lovely Moisture Plus Satin Oil, the first oil to seal hair like a satin scarf wrap. It provides a long lasting luxurious moisture and splendid shine on hair and scalp. The Dark & Lovely experts in African hair and skin have blended Shea Butter into silky precious oils in order to create a plush and velvety feel that stays on all day long.

Benefits:  Seals in moisture  Anti-frizz  Shines and conditions hair  Weigh-less formula Dark & Lovely Moisture Plus Satin Oil is R39.99.

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REASONS WHY YOUR HAIR IS NOT GROWING Years keeping going by but you still can’t get your natural hair to grow by more than a centimetre or two. Our hair experts tell you what you might be doing wrong. july 2 0 1 5

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BEAUTY EOA

PRODUCTS TO HELP WITH HAIR GROWTH SCALP TREATMENT (125ML), R41.95.

Unless there is something medically wrong with you, your hair should be growing all the time with the exception of a few strands that might be in a resting phase. If your hair seems like it’s been the same length for a long time, you’ve probably noticed that it keeps breaking as fast as it grows.

Maud Maqana, product advisor for Pure Royal Products and Ruth Mafupa advocate of natural hair and entrepreneur based in Johannesburg give us five reasons why you might be experiencing this problem.

NON DRIP SPRAY (250ML), R45.95.

1. BAD HAIR CARE HABITS

When you don’t groom your hair properly it gets all sorts of build-up. This causes the scalp to get disorders and infections that result in limp weak hair that breaks easily.

Using products that aren’t suitable for this specific type of hair will cause your hair to be weak, malnourished, limp and dull.

2. TOO MUCH HAIR MANIPULATION

OLIVE OIL MOISTURIZER (250ML), R49.95.

PRICES AVAILABLE AT WWW.NATMOISTURE.CO.ZA JOJOBA OIL (100ML), R180

Too much brushing, combing, plaiting and handling your hair all the time may lead to unnecessary stress on your hair leading to splitting and depletion of the protein that makes hair thick, full and strong. This will lead to chronic breakage.

In this case, less is more, leave your hair alone by not tugging at it all the time and let it flourish.

MIRACULOUS OIL, R180

3. DRYNESS WORDS: THINA MTHEMBU. IMAGE: ©iSTOCK.COM & STOCKISTS.

It is very important to understand that African hair is very fragile even though it looks and feels strong. The coily and curly texture makes it very hard for oils to moisturise and condition this unique hair type. Lubricants and oils from the scalp travel along curly hair and rarely makes it to the ends, resulting in dryness.

INTENSE MANGO BUTTER, R180.

4. CHEMICALS

Chemicals are often used to soften black hair and in most cases these chemicals damage it from over-processing which results in breakage. This is again a case of your hair breaking, not necessarily failing to grow.

TWIST & SHINE (100G), R100.

5. GENETICS

Some individuals have a shorter anagen stage, which is when the hair is actively growing from the scalp. This causes the growing to be slow and have a long resting stage that causes the new hair not to emerge as fast as those with a longer anagen stage. This delays the whole cycle of regrowth of hair, which is why some people have longer hair than others.

Remember that hair is not a living tissue; therefore it can’t regenerate itself or repair itself once it’s damaged. There are the hair products that you can use to hold it together for a while but eventually damaged hair will break. This is why it’s important to cut off split ends before they cause more damage. E

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ORS SCALP SCRUB, R105.

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BEAUTY INTERVIEW EOA

Lucoh Mhlongo is one of the top make-up artists in the country. For him, doing make-up is about more than beauty standards, it’s an art form to be respected.

PERFECTING HIS ARTISTRY ucoh Mhlongo has made a name for himself in an industry where standing out takes a special kind of talent.

The self-taught make-up artist is now the man behind numerous magazine covers and campaigns, making sure that the faces you see are perfectly made up. He spoke to EOA about his career, trends and what you should be doing when it comes to your make-up regime.

call it 'A whole lot of nothing'. The idea should be for someone to say 'You look beautiful' not 'I love your makeup'.

HOW DID YOUR CAREER AS A MAKE-UP ARTIST START? I am an artist; having my Honours degree in Performance Art from the University of Witwatersrand the gravitation towards makeup was quite organic. My interest and career as a makeup artist began when I realised what an amazing tool of transformation and an outlet of creativity make-up can be. I am a self-taught artist; I learnt from library books and experimenting on my friends. I got an opportunity to work for a cosmetics company where I honed my skill. Doors started to open and I have been at it for about six years now.

MAKE-UP CAN BE INTIMIDATING FOR SOME WOMEN. WHAT ARE THE BASICS THAT YOU THINK EVERY WOMAN SHOULD CONSIDER HAVING? Makeup is intimidating until you know what you're doing. My basics include getting the perfect foundation because skin is everything in makeup. Invest in a good set of brushes as brushes apply and blend, and that's the key to flawless makeup. Eyeliner and mascara add fantastic drama to the face, you really don't have to have five different eye shadows to look beautiful. Also have a wide range of lip colours; lips are a feature you can easily play with.

WORDS: ZAMA NKOSI. IMAGE: SUPPLIED BY LUCOH MHLONGO.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL WORK DAY LIKE FOR YOU? A typical day for me is waking up, making a cup of green tea and then preparing my kit and brushes for a shoot. I get in my car and blast some gospel music to jumpstart my spirit. I get to a shoot and I make sure that my work is excellent. After the shoot I head to gym and home afterwards. On some days I wake up at 4am to catch a 6am flight to Cape Town for shoots and interviews.

YOU WORK WITH A HUGE INTERNATIONAL BEAUTY BRAND. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT? I’m the National Makeup Artist for Elizabeth Arden; I do a lot of shoots showcasing the amazing products that they have to offer. I also do trend presentations where I really get to interact with our clients and give them the skills to look beautiful every day. I also get to work with and train the Elizabeth Arden Beauty Advisors to make sure they do amazing make-overs at the counters.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON MAKE-UP MISTAKES THAT YOU SEE WOMEN MAKING AND HOW CAN THEY WORK AROUND THOSE? One of the common makeup mistakes that are made in Africa is that we don't get the concept of less is more. We plaster foundation and we do eyebrows that are super dark and waxy – there is just a lot of excess. The current movement in makeup is all about fresh skin, subtle kisses of bronze to bring some light to the face. You can be flawless but still look like you don't have much makeup on. We

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WHAT ARE THE MAKE-UP TRENDS TO FOLLOW THIS WINTER? Autumn/Winter 2015 makeup is very clean. Skin has a natural matte finish that is softly highlighted. Brows are defined but not heavy. Eyes are light washes of natural hues, bronzes and pearl colours. We also love moisturizing matte lipsticks, from flesh tones and nude colours to berries and plums.

IN A WORLD WHERE BEAUTY IS PRIORITISED, SOMETIMES TO A FAULT, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO WOMEN WHO DON’T FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR LOOKS? Firstly I say we are all made in the image of God, which automatically makes us beautiful. Modern notions of beauty are constantly changing but what ultimately matters is how you see yourself. Beauty is beyond looks; beauty is radiance that stems from the inside.

WHAT PERSONAL QUALITIES DO YOU HAVE THAT HELPED YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? I am so blessed that I wake up and get to do what I love. I am always seeking to learn more and not be complacent. I respect my craft and I make sure that my work is always excellent. These qualities I believe have aided me to be where I am today.

ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE WHERE YOU ARE SOME DAY? I would say always pursue excellence. There are many makeup artists out there so you must set yourself apart but being excellent. I always say that beyond making people beautiful, I am in the business of changing lives. Make up is more than covering blemishes and doing the smokey eye; makeup has the power to make us feel good about ourselves and then we are ready to conquer the world. So to aspiring makeup artists I would say always know why you want to be in this industry and never stop learning. E

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EOA FOOD & Entertaining

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FOOD & Entertaining EOA

Hearty dishes

TO WARM YOUR BODY AND SOUL As the days continue to get colder, the meals should be getting hotter.

Zira shares her best winter recipes with Essays of Africa.

HEART-WARMING IRISH STEW This simple but heart-warming stew goes a long way with the family and is a meal in itself so it is best to make a large pot. The lamb melts in your mouth.

Ingredients

1kg lean leg of lamb slice cut into small pieces 2 cups baby carrots 4 large potatoes diced into smaller pieces 1 large onion or two smaller onions sliced 1 teaspoon crushed ginger 1 teaspoon crushed garlic 1 teaspoon of peppercorns Salt to season A pinch of tumeric Chopped coriander Water

Method

1. Use a soup pot and sautĂŠ sliced onions and peppercorns in butter.

2. Add in the lamb pieces with the crushed ginger, crushed garlic, salt, turmeric and sautĂŠ. You may need to add water just so that the lamb can cook on medium heat. This does take a while so persevere until lamb pieces are almost tender.

3. Fill the pot halfway with water.

4. Add the carrots and potatoes and boil until cooked.

5. Continuously taste for salt. Just before serving add chopped coriander.

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EOA FOOD & Entertaining

FRENCH BREAD TOPPED WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHEESE This simple to make and ever so popular starter can be done in less than five minutes as long as you have all the ingredients.

Ingredients

1 crusty French loaf available from your local baker 1 tin of asparagus salad cuts or spears Plain mayonnaise or spicy mayonnaise Grated Gouda cheese Paprika spice

Method

1. Slice the crusty freshly baked French bread. Slices to be approximately 2cm.

2. Mash up drained asparagus but not too fine and mix in three tablespoon of mayonnaise.

3. Place spoonfuls of the asparagus and mayonnaise mixture on each slice of French bread and onto a baking tray.

4. Sprinkle grated cheese and a dash of paprika on each bite-size slice.

5. Just before serving, pop into an oven of 180 degrees for a few minutes. Remove as the cheese is melting and savour immediately.

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FOOD & Entertaining EOA

INDIAN SPICY SOUP - HALEEM Zira rates Haleem as one of the most nourishing soups that she has ever come across. The Muslim people generally prepare Haleem during their time of fasting. Whilst going without food from sunrise to sunset, this soups nourishes the body at the time of breaking fast.

Ingredients The base

1 1⁄2 cups oats 3 teaspoon salt 1 1⁄2 litre water

The protein and spices

1 onion grated 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon crushed ginger 1 teaspoon crushed garlic 1⁄2 skinless chicken cut up into small pieces 3 peppercorns 1 cinnamon stick 1 teaspoon coriander powder 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon tumeric 1 whole fresh green chilli 1 teaspoon chilli flakes

Finishing touches

1 tablespoon butter 1 small onion sliced 1 teaspoon cumin seeds Fresh coriander chopped Fresh spring onion chopped

Method

1. Combine the oats, water and salt and boil. Cooking time should be around 20 minutes. Liquidise this mixture to a pulp form. The consistency should be thick.

2. Sauté the onion in butter until pale in colour.

3. Add the chicken and all those exotic spices and cook.

Whilst simmering on the stove it is best to add in a cup water. Cook the chicken on low heat.

4. Mix the oats, pulp and chicken together. Add water if necessary and boil on medium heat.

The fragrance emerging from your pot should be incredible at this point.

5. Sauté the onion and cumin seeds in butter. Add to the mixture on the boil.

6.

Garnish with fresh chopped coriander and some spring onion.

Serve piping hot with naan bread or rolls.

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MEAT FILLED BUNS These meat-filled buns make for a delicious snack or meal. Even though they don’t do your figure any favours, they do make for a decadent treat.

Ingredients Buns

5 cups of flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup of warm water 1 cup of warm milk 1⁄2 cup cooking oil 3 tablespoons sugar 1 egg 1x 10g sachet yeast 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons warm milk

The filling

1⁄4 kg chicken fillets or steak cubed Smudge of butter 1 teaspoon garlic paste 1 teaspoon chilli flakes 1 teaspoon salt Fresh coriander

Method

1. Sift the flour and salt in a mixing bowl.

2. Mix the water, milk, oil, sugar and egg (beaten).

3. Dissolve sugar and yeast in the warm milk.

4. Combine the yeast, egg mixture and flour to make a soft dough.

Cover and leave to rise.

5. Whilst the dough is rising it is time to make the filling. The filling should resemble the filling of a sandwich.

6. Melt butter and garlic.

7. Add chicken and spice and salt.

8. Cook until done and then shred meat.

9. Add in chopped fresh coriander.

10. Fill the dough with the chicken filling.

11. Brush the tops with a beaten egg. Bake at 180 degrees for 20-25minutes.

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FOOD & ENTERTAINING EOA

VEGETABLE SOUP This soup is a warm and filling option to meat dishes.

Ingredients

WORDS: ZIRA IMAGES: SUPPLIED BY ZIRA

1⁄2 teaspoon crushed garlic 1 onion grated 1 cup of carrots, sliced 3 potatoes, cubed Soup veggies in season, all diced 2 cups of oats 1 tomato, chopped 1 teaspoon chilli flakes 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon coriander powder 1⁄4 teaspoom cumin powder Coriander leaves

Method

COOKING FROM ZIRA, BY NAZIRA MOOSA

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1. Use a soup pot to sauté onions and garlic.

2. Add in your vegetable choices and sauté.

3. Add in the oats, stir, and then add in the spices and cook for a few minutes.

4. Add 1 1/2 litre of water and bring to a boil.

5. Remove from the heat to cool. You may liquidise the soup at this stage or just leave it at its consistency... that’s your choice.

My advice is to blend the soup so that the consistency is lovely and thick.

6. Just before serving, add chopped coriander. E

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GET KITCHEN COLOURFUL

Add a splash of colour to your winter kitchen escapades with every foodie’s favourite. Le Creuset’s new cast iron range has some subtle new changes including the lid and knob, enhanced interior enamel and larger handles – all contributing even more to the aesthetic appeal of the cookware range.

The improved lid and knob are now heat resistant up to 260˚C, while the advanced interior enamel is engineered to resist chipping, staining and becoming dull, and larger handles, which makes secure gripping easier when handling.

For more information please visit lecreuset.co.za.

GREY MATTER The elegant colour option for modern bathrooms is grey… in all shades. Paired with a brighter hue this colour adds restrained charm to small or larger bathrooms. Duravit has added a new range of units, which work well with white ceramic sanware thus complementing the crispness of this chic look. Give your bathroom an update or complete new versatile look with these clean lines.

For more information go to duravit.co.za

What’s new on the design and decor front All the latest news, updates and products you need to know about.

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DÉCOR news EOA WOOD WORKS

Words: Rhoda Davids. images: Supplied unless specified.

‘Woodwork’ is the third exhibition of South African collectible design to open at Cape Town’s Southern Guild Gallery. The dynamic exhibition explores wood in all its forms with pieces being curated specifically with the diversity of the medium in mind.

This exploration of wood is the first of its kind in South Africa with the limited edition works, produced by 22 of the country’s most recognised names in design reflecting the natural sensibility of the material.

Woodwork runs until 28 August.

SENEGALESE DESIGNER CELEBRATED

The Southern Guild paid tribute to Senegalese designer Babacar Niang who passed away recently. His work was still being exhibited at R & Company in New York in May. The exhibition titled Grains of Paradise was done in collaboration with Southern Guild who has also been involved in showing Babacar’s work in galleries and at fairs such as Design Miami and Guild as part of Design Network Africa, which he has been a part of since its inception.

“We can’t express how shocked and saddened we are at this news and how much we pay our respects to this extraordinary man.

Babacar had an absolutely unique voice as a designer, and he was gentle, sweet and kind. We are bereft at the loss of this artist in his prime,” said Southern Guild co-founder Trevyn McGowan

EVERY HOME NEEDS ONE The Rug Company, synonymous with quality, designer contemporary rugs has opened its doors in Cape Town.

The spacious showroom is located in Bree Street, one the mother’s city’s most dynamic areas. “We found a perfect home within the vibrant sensibilities of this dynamic city. Bree Street hums with creativity and our showroom is located in a beautiful building with striking architecture a fitting backdrop for our collection of handmade rugs,” says CEO and co-founder Christopher Sharp. The Rug Company brings together traditional weaving techniques with contemporary design, exquisite quality and excellent customer service. In addition the company is known for collaborating with some of the world's most talented designers including Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Tom Dixon, to create collectable pieces that are beautiful, durable and unique. A unique selling point is that the team encourages ‘in situ’ decisionmaking – and in so doing lets customers explore endless possibilities as any rug can be customised. For more information go to ww.therugcompany.com. E

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MONOCHROME MOOD A pared- down palette is timeless, elegant and practical. Nothing says that more than monochrome. EOA looks at how these two shades can create beautiful spaces on their own and put together.

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DÉCOR feature EOA hose who love to decorate will know that there’s a rule that goes something like… “Every room can use a touch of black.” Think about it and you’ll soon be able to visualise how true this statement is. Add a splash of your favourite colour and you’ll never tire of your surroundings. But, pair it with crisp white as well as patterns and layered textures, and you’ll have a space with a contemporary edge.

Black and white is a dramatic combination and can be used almost anywhere in your home.

BIG AND SMALL

Whether you have space to play with or a small compact room – black and white can work for you. In fact, it’s one of the best combinations to draw the eye away from structural elements and focus your attention on the detail of the two colours you’re decorating with. While white is reflective and peaceful, black is bold, with an absence of light, and commands attention, making sure this combo works in most spaces.

STEP ON IT

Choosing the right flooring is the easiest way to create visual flow in your home. Floors are the foundation of your space and a black and white floor is a good steppingstone into the monochrome style. Ceramic tiles and vinyl flooring are affordable options or even try a painted black floor or white screed cement. Top that with a graphic plush rug in the same two-tone to anchor your space.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK

Create a focal point by turning one of your walls into a dramatic resting point. There are number of ways to do this – luxurious wallpaper in a design of your choice or simply paint some bold black and white stripes. Alternatively create a wall of art with your personal black and white photography on a white blank canvas or make a statement with a black wall adorned with mirrors in various sizes with metallic frames.

DETAILS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Just because your palette is pared down doesn’t mean your space will be boring. In fact playing with texture and print is one of the most stylish things to do in a monochrome room. Add scatter cushions, lampshades and throws in knits, velvet and even leather, and jazz it up with some graphic prints like chevron, ikat, zebra, damask, stripes or polka dots. Don’t be afraid to upholster your sofa, ottomans or occasional chair in one of these prints. Add some light to the space with lots of candles in crystal and silver holders and highlight your favourite spots with lamps. Various textures will add layers of luxury to the space. E

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CONSTANTIA BOTANICAL IN 100% COTTON, R289PM FROM CONSTANTIA FABRICS

BLACK AND WHITE WESTCLOX WALL CLOCK, R1800 FROM C20 GALERIE

ARTISANAL CHEVRON IN 100% COTTON R289PM FROM CONSTANTIA FABRICS

WOMAK DAMASK IN 100% COTTON, R289PM FROM CONSTANTIA FABRICS

GET THIS LOOK Make a statement in bold black and white, after all… it’s always right.

BLACK AND WHITE ASIA TEAPOT, R700 FROM C20 GALERIE

GEOMETRIC DRUM LAMPSHADE, R180 FROM MR PRICE HOME

NEW YORK CANDELABRA IN SILVER, R1195 FROM CORICRAFT

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BLACK AND WHITE TRIBAL STRIPE FLEECE THROW, R200 FROM BOARDMANS

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DÉCOR FEATURE EOA

WORDS: RHODA DAVIDS. IMAGES: ©iSTOCK.COM SUPPLIED BY STOCKISTS.

BLACK AND WHITE BIRDS WALLPAPER (TEXTURED WITH VINYL FINISH SO CAN BE WIPED CLEAN), FROM R299 PER SQUARE METRE FROM SMART ART

REED DIFFUSER, IDEAL FOR ANY ROOM IN THE HOUSE, R199.95 FROM BOARDMANS

VICTORIAN WALL MIRROR WITH SILVER DETAIL 47 X 57CM, R200 FROM MR PRICE HOME

METAL EMBOSSED FLARE VASE, R360 FROM MR PRICE HOME

SCATTER CUSHIONS, FROM R159.95 FROM BOARDMANS

WOODEN STANDING TRIPOD LAMP, R900 FROM MR PRICE HOME

COTTON TOP DECK RUG 120CM X 180CM, R460 FROM MR PRICE HOME

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RIDE IN COMFORT EOA rounds up the comfiest rides for winter

INFINITI QX80

The QX80 is all about comfort – coupled with first-class luxury. This sumptuous SUV is undoubtedly a stunner, both inside and out. Along with the small comforts of winter, such as hot chocolate, fluffy blankets, red wine and a fireplace, there's nothing quite like being able to escape the bitter cold of an early morning into a warm, soothing interior. The spacious 8-seater Infiniti boasts power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support as well as heating functionality, which extends to the second row seats. Every whim is catered for throughout the cabin, including an abundance of cup holders, automatic temperature control and an Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition.

Elegant comfort comes with loads of cool entertainment and technology features, such as an 8-inch colour touchscreen display, Bluetooth for hands-free phone and audio streaming, and a 30GB hard drive navigation system with a 10GB music box. The 15-speaker Bose audio system is seriously impressive, with surround sound delivered throughout the cabin. It comes with a CD/DVD player with MP3 playback and a USB connection port for your iPod. Most impressive, however, are the dual 7-inch colour monitors mounted on the rear of the front headrests with wireless headphones and wireless remote control. Your kids can keep entertained with games or movies in the back, while you listen to music or an audiobook in the front. You’ll be forgiven for never wanting to leave the comfy confines of this SUV!

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MOTORING EOA

BMW X5 M

CREDIT: CARYN THANDI PETERSEN. IMAGES: BMW SA, INFINITI.CO.ZA, QUICKPIC.CO.ZA

The X5 M is where high performance meets dynamic efficiency and exclusive comfort. With its eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, the new X5 completes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 4.2 seconds. Besides its powerful performance, however, the X5 M offers some powerful looks with outstanding equipment and technology features.

It’s all in the details for this BMW’s high-quality interior, with a combination of sporty features, luxury materials and flawless design. Sitting in the driver’s seat is pure heaven, as you’re encompassed by a super-comfy, electrically operated sports seat in fine-grain Merino leather, surrounded by an extensive range of exclusive equipment. Who says winter can’t be all about comfort? E

CITROËN C4 CACTUS

In an acknowledgement of the creativity and courage of Citroën’s designs, the new C4 Cactus won the 2015 World Car Design of the Year at the New York International Motor Show. And indeed, there can be no mistaking the boldness of this car’s design. Love it or hate it, the Cactus sparks an immediate reaction that is quite visceral. It leaves no space for fence sitters or fans of vanilla flavoring, as it embodies a passion for innovation and audacious styling. The gamechanging C4 Cactus presents an exciting alternative to the conventional C-segment hatchback, offering more comfort, efficiency and versatility than you’d expect. Its striking design is characterised by the visually arresting Airbump: an innovative protective panel that absorbs small impacts. The C4 Cactus is also the first to feature a roof-mounted airbag for the front passenger, creating more space without compromising safety.

Its interior is as bold and stylish as the exterior, with an airy, spacious cabin for ultimate comfort. The seven-inch full-colour touchscreen is augmented by a digital instrument display ahead of the driver. With an impressive list of standard equipment and safety features, not to mention its eco-friendliness, the new Citroën is a force with which to be reckoned. If you’re passionate about innovative design coupled with comfort, this is the car for you.

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footsteps

IN THE OF NELSON MANDELA In 2014, South African Tourism launched the ‘Madiba’s Journey’ travel map consisting of tourist attractions inspired by the nation’s international icon. outh African Tourism (SAT) has made it easy to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela with its Madiba’s Journey map, which highlights all major tourist attractions and places of interest in relation to his life. Former South African Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, launched the map at the Drakenstein Correctional Centre (formerly Victor Verster Prison) in Cape Town at the end of March 2014.

He said: “To make it as easy as possible for people to personally experience Mandela’s story, we have developed the Madiba-inspired tourist attractions map, which encapsulates the key points on his life’s journey.” He added that Mandela’s passing in December 2013 had sparked a global outpouring of grief, with most places associated with his life’s journey teeming with visitors who dedicated private notes and flowers as tokens of respect and remembrance.

“Mandela’s integrity and spirit of hope, reconciliation and love have touched the lives of millions of people. This year, we celebrate 20 years of democracy and freedom, and we look forward to welcoming many tourists from around the world to share the South African story and Mandela’s legacy with us.

Since 1994, visitors from all corners of the globe have come to South Africa to seek out the places that shaped his remarkable life,” he said.

Mandela’s death on 5 December 2013 provoked an outpouring of grief around the world and renewed interest in following in his footsteps from travellers near and far. Some of the major tourist attractions that will be found on the map include:

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TRAVEL EOA NELSON MANDELA IN GAUTENG

Mandela House Museum

Visit the house where Mandela lived with his family in Soweto. Situated in Vilakazi Street, it has been carefully restored and gives visitors great insight into the Mandela family. The house is filled with memorabilia about the family, complete with photographs and moving visuals.

The museum is a moving tribute to the incredible struggle for freedom. There is a museum shop with branded commemorative items for sale.

Vilakazi Street, Soweto

Vilakazi Street is the most famous street in Soweto, and for good reason. It is the only street in the world to have had two Nobel Peace Prize winners as residents. Both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu lived here, and today you can visit Mandela House, which is where Mrs Mandela and the children lived until she was banished to Brandfort in 1977. It remained a family house until it became a museum.

Vilakazi Street is within walking distance of the famous Hector Pieterson Museum.

Liliesleaf, Rivonia

It was at Liliesleaf Farm that some prominent leaders of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid sought shelter and attended meetings. Some of these individuals were arrested in a police raid on Liliesleaf Farm on 11 July 1963. Nelson Mandela, who was already serving a five-year prison sentence, joined 10 others

NELSON MANDELA IN THE EASTERN CAPE

Bhunga Building, Mthatha

The Bhunga Building in Mthatha pays tribute to Nelson Mandela through self-guided activities that will give insight into his birth and his life in the Eastern Cape and South Africa.

Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre, Qunu

Qunu is where Nelson Mandela spent many happy days as a child. The Nelson Mandela Youth and Heritage Centre is located a few hundred metres from Nelson Mandela’s home. The Mandela burial site is about five kilometres from the Nelson Mandela Museum, and can be seen from the viewing deck at the museum. Tours to the open-air museum at Mvezo are also an option, but permission must be requested from the chief. It is advisable to contact the Nelson Mandela Museum to request a date to visit Mvezo.

Nelson Mandela Voting Line Sculpture, Port Elizabeth

The Voting Line sculpture at the Donkin Reserve in Port Elizabeth consists of metal figures representing all the communities who share the land – and who voted peacefully on 27 April 1994. It’s a 38m-long metal sculpture of South Africans – of all shapes and sizes – connecting together to make what is simply entitled ‘Voting Line’. At the end of the queue is a metal cutout of Nelson Mandela standing tall and victorious, his fist in the air.

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incarceration. On 5 August 1962, armed police flagged down a car driven by Nelson Mandela in a chauffeur’s uniform on the R103 near Howick in KwaZulu-Natal. He had been on the run for 17 months and was returning from a secret meeting with African National Congress (ANC) president Chief Albert Luthuli. To mark the spot is a sculpture comprising 50 steel rods that make up Mandela’s face, designed by artist Marco Cianfanelli.

Nelson Mandela in the Western Cape, Robben Island

Robben Island, which is now a World Heritage Site and museum, is where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in jail. From the 17th to the 20th centuries, the island was a place of imprisonment – today it is a beacon of hope and a place where visitors can gain some real insight into the life and times of Nelson Mandela and fellow struggle heroes, such as Ahmed Kathrada, Robert Sobukwe, Clarence Makwethu, Govan Mbeki and Walter Sisulu.

Nobel Peace Laureate Sculptures, V&A Waterfront on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial.

Mandela and seven others were sentenced to life imprisonment on 12 June 1964.

Kliptown Open-Air Museum

In 1955, a banned Nelson Mandela secretly witnessed the adoption of the Freedom Charter at the Congress of the People in Kliptown. The Freedom Charter outlined the wishes for a new South Africa as collected from people throughout South Africa. Today, Kliptown has a monument in honour of the adoption of the charter.

Constitution Hill, Braamfontein

Constitution Hill Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, has a complex history going back to 1892, when the Old Fort was built. Through the years, it functioned mainly as a prison, and in the dark days of apartheid it was here that many passive resisters and freedom fighters, including Mahatma Gandhi in 1913 and later Nelson Mandela, were held. Many of those involved in the Defiance Campaign of 1952 and The Treason Trial of 1956 were also kept here. It has two permanent exhibitions that focus on the lives of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.

No walk around the V&A Waterfront is complete without a visit to Nobel Square to see the sculptures of the four South African Nobel Peace Prize laureates standing in a row: Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk, Desmond Tutu and Albert Luthuli.

These four great men all played their part in helping South Africa to democracy.

Drakenstein Correctional Centre

Drakenstein Correctional Centre was formerly known as Victor Verster Prison and is an unofficial attraction linked to the life and times of Nelson Mandela. Situated between Paarl and Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands it was here, in a house on the property, that Nelson Mandela spent the last 14 months of the 27 years he spent in prison. There is a bronze statue by sculptor Jean Doyle of Mandela just outside the prison gates depicting him on the day of his release on 11 February 1990.

Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 and is acknowledged across the globe as the pre-eminent museum in the world dealing with 20th-century South Africa. The museum illustrates the rise and fall of the system of apartheid and houses a permanent exhibition titled ‘Mandela: Leader, Comrade, Negotiator, Prisoner, Statesman’.

The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

The Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Centre of Memory houses permanent and temporary exhibitions of Madiba, including a walk-in experience of his post-presidential office.

NELSON MANDELA IN KWAZULU-NATAL

Nelson Mandela Capture Site

This site has enormous significance in the history of the freedom struggle because it is where Nelson Mandela began his 27-year

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TRAVEL EOA

City Hall and Grand Parade

Built in 1905, Cape Town’s City Hall is one of the last Victorianstyle sandstone structures in the city. It is built in the Italian Renaissance style and is a major attraction. Cape Town’s Grand Parade is directly in front of City Hall. On 11 February 1990, it was from the balcony of City Hall that Nelson Mandela addressed a crowd of 250 000 people, who came to hear him speak after his release from prison. There are regular tours of City Hall available through various operators.

Parliament

Nelson Mandela routinely appeared in Parliament as the South African president from 1994 to 1999. The President’s office, Tuynhuys, in the Parliamentary precinct, is where prisoner Mandela was taken to meet President PW Botha on 5 July, 1989 and President FW de Klerk on 13 December, 1989 and 10 February, 1990. Today, the public is welcome in the National Assembly to see where President Mandela made historic speeches, such as his first and last State-of-the-Nation addresses.

Pollsmoor Prison

Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison in Tokai is about 25 minutes from Cape Town. It is one of South Africa’s most notorious prisons. It was also the place where Nelson Mandela was transferred on 31 March 1982.

WORDS: DENISE SLABBERT. IMAGES: ©istock.COM.

l 8115 A Prisoner’s Home by Alf Kumalo and Zukiswa Wanner (Penguin) l Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (Abacus Publishers) l Nelson Mandela By Himself: The Authorised Book of Quotations (MacMillan) l Nelson Mandela, Conversations with Myself (MacMillan) l Nelson Mandela: The Authorised Portrait (Wild Dog) l Prisoner in a Garden (Penguin) l Robben Island: A Place of Inspiration: Mandela’s Prison Island by Charlene Smith (Struik Travel & Heritage) Note: The Madiba’s Journey map was developed by South African Tourism (SAT) in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Visit www.southafrica.net/mandela. E

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LIVING IN A

Literary World Yewande Omotoso may come from a famous family but her award-winning work makes her a force on her own.

hen Essays Of Africa pinned down Yewande Omotoso, the author, freelance writer and architect had just arrived in Australia for a monthlong residency courtesy of the collaboration between the AIR (Artist in Residence) Program and The Bundanon Trust. Shortly before that, it was announced that the Chatto & Windus publishing house (they have published the likes of Mark Twain and Toni Morrison) had bought the rights to sell her second book, The Woman Next Door.

It’s safe to say the award-winning jetsetter has made her mark on the world but it was many years in the making. Born in Barbados in 1980 to a Barbadian mother and Nigerian father, Yewande says she has “incredibly fond memories of growing up.” By 1981, her family had moved to Ile-Ife in Nigeria.

She attended the Staff School on the Obafemi Awolowo University campus and then Moremi High School. Of her childhood, the lithe author remembers “gatherings over Easter where all the University campus kids would be at someone’s house and we’d be painting Easter eggs. I remember the delicate business of putting holes on either end of the egg and blowing the yolk out, letting it dry; selecting dyes for the eggs, using a technique with candle-wax to make patterns. I’m really grateful to not only my parents but the constellation of parents that created this kind of rich enclave for our childhood to take place in.”

In 1992, the family moved to Cape Town in South Africa.

At just 12 years old, Yewande says: “while my parents sorted out buying a house, we lived in Bellville at the Holiday Inn. I recall trying to make sense of the Ja/Nee posters” that were prevalent in a pre-democratic South Africa.

It was in South Africa that her father and writer/ academic, Kole Omotoso, became the face of the ubiquitous “Yebo Gogo” Vodacom adverts. One of her two brothers, Akin Omotoso, rose to fame as a Generations actor as well as a revered filmmaker.

ART AS A WAY OF LIFE Though not formalised, the arts were always a part of Yewande’s upbringing. “My father is a writer, my mother was an Urban

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WORDS: HELEN HERIMBI. IMAGES: SUPPLIED BY WANDA BALOYI.

ENTERTAINMENT INTERVIEW EOA Planner but also loved sketching. I was lucky to grow up with parents who fostered that, fostered lots of reading and painting and acting.”

Her love for books led her to want to study English Literature but upon encouragement from her parents and educators, Yewande acquiesced that it would “be interesting to find out how to put a building together.” So she obtained a Bachelor of Architectural Studies and Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cape Town. She worked at Jac Snyman Architects and Urban Designers while she was a student and

after graduation for three years.

Following her tenure at a “wonderful firm, not too large which meant I could get a range of experiences,” Yewande worked for a property development company for five years. But the development of her skills as a novelist was yearning for attention. So while working, she began to look for a good school that would help her explore her writing abilities. She enrolled in the University of Cape Town’s Creative Writing Masters programme which has been likened to Africa’s Iowa Writer’s Workshop.

“I did some research,” she starts, “I knew a few people that had completed the Creative Writing Masters. I knew, at the time, that I wanted to write a novel and I needed some support with that. The structure of the course – some theory but not too much – really suited my ambitions.”

It was through this Masters programme that Yewande wrote Bom Boy, the story of a boy, Leke, who searches for belonging everywhere until he discovers a family curse through his father’s letters. “I was inspired to write about loneliness, and what it’s like to live on the margins,” explains Yewande, “I wanted to write about strangeness and, because we live in such an unforgiving world that privileges this thing called ‘normality,’ how debilitating being different can be.”

The book was published by Modjadji Books in 2011 and was shortlisted for the 2012 M-Net Literary Award and Sunday Times Fiction Prize. It won the 2012 South African Literary Award for First Time Author and in 2013, it was the runner-up for the inaugural Etisalat Prize for Literature. The winner was We Need New Names by author, NoViolet Bulawayo who was unable to attend the Fellowship. She then gifted the prize – a monetary reward as well as a four-month-long fellowship at the University of East Anglia in Norwich – to Yewande.

The writer believes awards and prizes are “all immensely important and encouraging” to her professional life because “it’s so risky making anything.

Sadly there aren’t enough prizes for all

the artists in the world because I think just the risk taken should be awarded, not to talk of whether someone out there thinks what you made was good or not.” However, personally, “I tend to be more cautious about awards. I try and be careful about what I use as my measure for quality; awards alone are an insufficient and sometimes unreliable measure.”

What she does rely on is her unwavering desire to tell the truth of her characters. “While writing,” says Yewande, “I find it more important to focus on rendering the characters as authentically as possible.”

The main characters in her newest book, The Woman Next Door, are Hortensia and Marion, “two neighbours, fierce rivals, opposites. When they find themselves interacting closely, the book becomes about shame, regret, brokenness and whether redemption is possible through connections however fraught or delicate.”

CRAFTING A CREATIVE COURSE Yewande left formal employment in 2012 and “gathered my savings and laid out a plan – think Excel spreadsheets! – to give myself a sabbatical for two years and spend that time writing [The Woman Next Door.]” Until this second book is published, the ever-busy Yewande shows no signs of slowing down.

In 2012, she attended Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s now-famous Farafina Trust Workshop. Now, she and her peers from that workshop will publish 13 short stories around the theme of sex and sexuality in a collection called It Wasn’t Exactly Love soon. This year, she also took to Nigeria to (re)learn Yoruba in a six-week-long course at the University of Ibadan’s Yoruba Language Centre.

“I’ve often felt bad that my grasp of Yoruba, my father tongue, is so poor,” Yewande confesses, “so beyond learning the language as a Yoruba person, I also realised as a writer it would be of great value. I’d love to one day write a novel in Yoruba, I’m not there yet though.

However I might write some Yoruba children’s stories. Let’s see.” E

The Woman Next Door will be published in 2016.

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EOA BOOKS

God Help the Child

Robert Sobukwe: How Can Man Die Better Benjamin Pogrund R240, Jonathan Ball Publishers Robert Sobukwe died in 1978 in Kimberley where he was banished after his release from Robben Island. He had been in that prison without trial for three years, almost all in solitary confinement. His crime? Inciting violence. In 1960, he encouraged men and women to go to police stations and demand arrest. Learn more in this fascinating book.

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Chants of Freedom

Mindfulness for Worriers

Mathews Phosa R160, Penguin This collection of poetry was written mostly while Phosa was the commander of an MK unit, living in exile in Maputo. The poems are filled with the rage and bitterness of the struggle, and the violence and alienation of war and of exile. But they also show the desperate hope for freedom – the kind of hope that’s hard to find now.

Padraig O'Morain R280, Hodder If you have negative thoughts that keep spiralling until you’re half mad with anxiety, this book is for you. It covers the theoretical stuff – why we think this way and what it does to us – but more importantly, it gives practical advice on how to quiet your frantic mind and just breathe.

The Lost Child Caryl Phillips R320, One World Publishers The novel is a take on Charlotte Brontë’s famous Wuthering Heights, in which Phillips gives us the backstory to Heathcliff, the hero and “dark-skinned gypsy”– something Bronte left mysterious. It’s a difficult book with many twists and turns, but Phillips is an accomplished writer who handles the material well. E

WORDS: ROBYN BLOCH. IMAGES: JONATHAN BALL PUBLISHERS, PENGUIN, HODDER, ONE WORLD PUBLISHERS.

Toni Morrison R170, Penguin The latest offering from the grand dame of African American storytelling asks: Who will pay for the damage adults do to children? Will this pain be hereditary, sent down the line of mothers and fathers, mapped onto each child, like a silent disease? Once again, Morrison follows the tracks of race as a way to think about power, identity and violence. Bride is a very dark woman who wears white dresses to show off her skin. But when she was a child, her father rejected her as too dark and her mother, Sweetness, tried but failed to love her. Bride, now grown and glamorous, seeks the love of a man, Booker, but she finds her past right with her, always violently severing any connection with people. Morrison is a fearless author.

She dares, when others don’t, to look into the darkness – especially the terror of love. God Help the Child is written in Morrison’s signature style, flirting with the edges of magic realism and madness. Like all her other novels, this book leaves you with a sense of the massiveness of the ground outside the plot of the novel – there is an inkling that the most important things the novels says take place in silence. .

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SOCIAL SCENE EOA

The Launch Of The Much Awaited Book titled This Is How We Do! une 6th marked the launch of Liz Makoma Ditshego’s book titled “This Is How We Do”: How Women Work Through Obstacles to get into Executive and Board positions’.

Liz is an author, speaker and leadership development consultant. She is the CEO of a consulting firm called The Leadership Brewery.

She is a keynote speaker at various conferences on women and leadership. The event was attended by men and women in management roles in both the private and public sector.

Liz took the guests through her journey as an author. She explained that her book is aimed at inspiring and empowering young women who have ambitions of getting into executive and board positions in South Africa. The book sensitises them to the various obstacles that they may face in their career paths and guides them on how to navigate their way through those obstacles. The book is based on lessons from women who have already navigated the corporate space as CEOs, CFOs, MDs, GMs, Marketing Directors, and HR Directors among other roles.

Guests were entertained by Rami Chuene (Muvhango actress, who is also a singer) and were treated to delicious food and wine sponsored

by Distell at House of Delicacies coffee shop in Midrand, Johannesburg. E

LIZ DITSHEGO, THE AUTHOR OF "THIS IS HOW WE DO"

LIZ DITSHEGO DURING HER BOOK SIGNING SESSION WITH GUESTS

LEFT TO RIGHT; RAKGADI PHOSA, LIZ, MANKWANA MASEMOLA , HAPPILY POSING WITH THEIR NEW BOOKS.

LEFT TO RIGHT; AYISHA MOGAJANE, SIVU SHONGWE, LIZ & SOSO THAME EXCITED TO HAVE THEIR BOOKS SIGNED

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LEFT, LIZ DITSHEGO, AND NALISE LO AH KEE

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EOA SOCIAL SCENE

LEFT TO RIGHT; VIRGINIA MAFARALALA, LIZ, THELMA CHASI & YOLANDA MOKGANTSO

LIZ AND MMATHABO PEARL MOKONYANE

THEMBI KHOZA AND LINDELWA XESHA ISABELLE

LIZ WITH HER DAUGHTER: BONOLO, MASEGO, OLEBOGENG AND ATLEGANG DITSHEGO. SOSO THAME

WORDS: MBALENHLE FAKUDE. IMAGES: SHANNON ANNE PHOTOGRAPHY.

THE AUTHOR WITH HER MOTHER, MRS ALICE MASEDIKWE KEKANA

GUESTS CELEBRATING THE LAUCH OF THE BOOK

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TECH EOA

Gadgets & News from the Tech Front

PROJECT THE FUTURE

Acer recently launched the world’s first LED projector with an intelligent ambient light sensor for cinema on the go. Capable of projecting a 100-inch image at a distance of only 1.7m from the projection surface, the Acer K138ST is an ultra-portable projector with all the entertainment features you’ll need for your own home cinema. Smaller than a sheet of A4 paper and lighter than a kilogram, the K138ST has powerful built-in sound audio so you can carry it anywhere. without the need for additional speakers.

GET SMART

Sony's upped the ante with their stunning Xperia Z3 smartphone, coupled with the innovative SmartBand Talk. The super-slim Z3 is simply exquisite; a perfect combination of design and engineering that appears as a work of art.

This premium smartphone offers all the details you won't find in competitor's products, such as the highest level of waterproofing, enhanced camera experiences and applications, a long-lasting two-day battery life, superlative audio quality and PS4 Remote Play. And with NFC compatibility, you can easily connect it to more than 160 Sony One-Touch products, including the new SmartBand Talk SWR30. With its built-in microphone and speaker, SmartBand Talk lets you take calls when you're on the move or your phone's out of reach. It even lets you use your voice to carry out specific smartphone operations. Pretty smart!

Heat things up this winter with the hottest gadgets & apps around…

APPS FOR WINTER WORKOUTS

WORDS: CARYN THANDI PETERSEN. IMAGES: GOOGLE PLAY STORE, SONY.COM, ACER.COM.

HOT5 FITNESS

When it’s cold and dark outside, hibernating beneath a warm duvet is far more tempting than breaking into a sweat. Luckily, you’ll only need five minutes to get a good workout each day with this nifty app. With Hot5 Fitness, you’ll have access to quick, effective mobile workout videos anywhere. If you’re looking for a more extensive routine, the app also features longer yoga flow and full body sessions.

GROKKER

Looking to take a variety of fitness classes without having to go to the gym or leave your warm home this winter? Sign up for Grokker and you’ll learn from the best without getting bored. They have thousands of premium yoga, fitness and workout videos to suit your every need.

You’ll even get access to cooking videos, so you can take that health kick from the living room to the kitchen.

If you’re planning to keep fitness activities strictly indoors till spring, Sworkit has no-equipmentneeded workouts that are simple to follow, with video demonstrations of each move. You can even create custom workouts and challenge friends to join you via Facebook and Twitter. Using a scientifically proven technique of combining interval training with randomised exercises, Sworkit allows you to choose your workout length and target different areas of your body to create the perfect workout anytime.

FITSTAR Want to get flexible, strong, lean, or just get moving this winter? FitStar is the perfect app to keep you motivated for fitness when the temperature drops. It acts as a personal trainer on your phone, leading you through easy-to-follow workouts that continually adapt to your capabilities and goals – making it simple to workout anywhere, anytime. E

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EOA MOVIES & THEATRE Magic Mike XXL Grab your girlfriends and get ready for the ultimate night out, starring the sexy moves of Magic Mike – and his tighter-thanever leather pants. Picking up the story three years after Mike bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, we find the remaining Kings of Tampa likewise ready to throw in the towel.

But they want to do it their way: burning down the house in one last blowout performance, with legendary headliner Magic Mike sharing the spotlight.

Magic Mike XXL opens at cinemas nationwide on 3 July

Jive Cape Town Funny Festival Cape Town’s premier comedy festival returns for another season, with a selection of top funny people from home and abroad.

‘Mr. Cape Town’, Alistair Izobell, takes on the role of Master of Ceremonies throughout the festival, with a line-up featuring Carl Wastie, Shimmy Isaacs, Tracy Klass, Dylan Skews, Carl Weber, Siv Ngesi and the country’s top female comic, Tumi Morake.

International performers include Mike Raffone – ‘the human conductor’; Bruce Airhead from the UK; multi-media music act The Raymond and Mr. Timkins Review; astonishing musician Earl Okin; and I Baccala Clowns, winners of the Cirque du Soleil competition for “the world’s best comedic clowns”.

The Cape Town Funny Festival is on at the Baxter Theatre Centre from 20 July

Sister Act Based on the top-grossing 1992 movie comedy starring Whoopie Goldberg, the stage musical has been nominated for four Olivier Awards in London, including Best New Musical, and five Tony Awards in New York. The story follows disco diva Deloris Van Cartier, put in protective custody after witnessing a murder – in one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent! Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. Using her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community. Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing and a truly moving story, Sister Act will leave you breathless.

Sister Act is on at the Joburg Theatre from 10 July.

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Rudderless Sam is a former highprofile advertising executive whose life is torn apart by the sudden death of his son. Living off the grid on a docked sailboat, he wastes away his days while drowning his pain in alcohol.

When he discovers a box filled with his son’s demo tapes and lyrics, the musical talent is a revelation for him. Communing with his deceased son’s dashed dreams, Sam learns each song and eventually musters the will to perform one at a local bar, sparking a journey that ultimately brings him back to life.

Rudderless opens at cinemas nationwide on 24 July E

WORDS: CARYN THANDI PETERSEN. IMAGES: Ster-Kinekor, joburg theatre.

Beat the winter blues with the hottest shows in town…

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MUSIC EOA Back to the Cross

Joyous Celebration Sony Music South Africa’s best-loved, multi-platinum and multi-award winning gospel project, Joyous Celebration, released their highly anticipated 19th recording to much fanfare and acclaim. The album is a fresh take on old gospel songs, brought to life through remarkable voices and audience interaction, as recorded over three nights at the Grace Bible Church in Soweto. No doubt one of their most emotive and memorable albums to date, Joyous Celebration takes you on an uplifting and spiritually rewarding journey with this 3-CD release.

HOT BEATS TO KEEP THE COLD AT BAY

True Colors

WORDS: Caryn Thandi Petersen. IMAGES: SONY MUSIC, UNIVERSAL MUSIC.

Empire Soundtrack

Empire Cast Sony Music The smash-hit American television series, Empire, has taken the US by storm – and let’s hope it hits our shores soon. In the meantime, you can get into the groove with the soundtrack from season one, including a hot remix of Jamal’s Nothing to Lose featuring the show’s star, Terrence Howard. The album includes an amazing roster of guest stars from the season finale, such as Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Hudson, Rita Oro, Juicy J and Patti LaBelle.

With executive producer Timbaland at the helm, the soundtrack hit No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart upon its release.

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Zedd Universal Music Multi-platinum, Grammy award-winning artist/DJ/ producer Zedd recently released his hotly anticipated second album, True Colors.

Zedd executive-produced the album and co-wrote all the songs, featuring vocals from an impressive lineup of guest artists. This is the follow-up to Zedd's 2012 debut Clarity, which spawned five singles and cemented Zedd as a global star. True Colors' first single, I Want You To Know featuring Selena Gomez, climbed to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

Written and produced by Zedd, with a contribution from OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder, the uplifting pop-influenced dance track has been dubbed the turn-up song for winter.

The Past, The Present, The Future

Jodeci Sony Music After their extended hiatus, the 'Bad Boys of R&B', DeVante, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci and JoJo, have officially returned with their biggest, baddest and boldest blockbuster yet. Their smooth delivery and tangible soul course through all twelve tracks, from the heartfelt single Every Moment, which already has almost 2 million views on VEVO, to the swagged-out opener Too Hot and the massive Sho Out with Liana Banks.

Jodeci first arrived on the scene in 1991 with their triple-platinum debut, Forever My Lady, named Billboard's R&B Album of the Year.

House Afrika Mixtape Vol. 1

Echo Deep Sony Music House Afrika Records has unleashed a new line, honing in on a single producer at a time. The 'Mixtape' series features beat-makers set for big things, with their first bright light Soweto's Echo Deep real name Tsepho Molefe. He may be young, but based on the skills displayed here he'll soon be rubbing shoulders with his inspirations, Rocco, Black Coffee and Nastee Nev. His signature style is sensual and spaced-out, gentle and jazzy – but still able to kick it in the clubs.

Make no mistake; Echo Deep is a name for House lovers to get excited about. E

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EOA HOROSCOPES

ARIES 21 March – 20 April Last month's focus on home and family continues now, with a New Moon bringing a fresh take on how or even where you live. So celebrate your inner domestic goddess and all things health-related as, for this month at least, career and independence are less of a priority.

PISCES 20 February – 20 March It's a good time for a friend edit, a mind declutter and a financial review. All this streamlining gives you room to fine-tune a new or ongoing romance. Get this relationship issue right now, and the months ahead could be your happiest, most lovedup time in years.

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LEO 24 July – 23 August A rare duo of Full Moons in the same month suggests that it's time to upgrade your lifestyle. Think minimalist, and include a relationship review where the same pared down principle applies. A new mindset now helps to draw in a calm, less complicated time ahead.

YOUR MONTH IN THE STARS

LIBRA 24 September – 23 October Your career gets refreshed now, so aim to achieve the same shiny, reborn status with your home and your love life, both of which need your attention and some serious TLC. If cherished ambitions seem stuck, get them moving again with a rethink and a financial review.

Your birthstone is a Ruby!

AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February You might get flashbacks where your career is concerned this month, showing that you need to revisit something you thought was done and dusted last year.

A love connection deepens now and make time for fitness as it's your best month all year for getting into shape.

VIRGO 24 August – 23 September It's an 'out with the old, in with the new' month. It's also your best time of the year for seriously considering how you relate to love, and for overhauling your beauty routine too as health-focused collaborations with those on your ecoaware wavelength are hot news.

CAPRICORN 23 December – 20 January A Full Moon in your sign now shows that you need a break to revive you and to help you consolidate romance. While you're reorganising your health and love life, revamp things at home now too, though a second Full Moon advises you not to bust the budget in the process.

SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 22 December This month is all about one door closing so another can open up for you.

So if one source of finance runs out a new source of work may surface, or if romance gets rocky, an old love or a friend from the past could emerge.

There's a nostalgic, retro feel to home life now too.

SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November Your focus this month is on the media, travel, broadening your outlook and your career. Two Full Moons signal that you've had your fill of what's over-familiar now so branch out but don't burn out, and be open to making new friends and having new experiences.

ASTROLOGER: STELLA NOVA. IMAGE: WWW.MOSTBEAUTIFULTHINGS.

TAURUS 21 April – 21 May Two Full Moons this month urge you to worry less about what's going on at work and about things that might have been, and to let love rule your life for a while.

Only the best will do for you now, so raise your standards romantically as well as creatively.

GEMINI 22 May – 21 June Plough your resources into your home as well as into nurturing yourself this month.

Your mind may be all over the place, especially when it comes to love, but invest in a much needed self-care plan now and from August you'll be on the way to your healthiest phase ever.

CANCER 22 June – 23 July A New Moon in your sign now shows it's time toreinvent yourself and improve your outlook. You haven't felt this determined to get ahead in years. Learn all you can. That way, no-one can stop you on your way to bigger and better things.

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2015/06/11 1:57 PM

WORDS: ZAMA NKOSI. PHOTOGRAPHER: GARETH JACOBS. STYLIST: DAVID TLALE. HAIR & MAKE-UP: LUCOH MHLONGO. LOCATION: DAVID TLALE STUDIOS, MAMBONENG, JOHANNESBURG.

STOCKISTS EOA ALDO BOARDMANS C20 GALERIE CALL IT SPRING CASTELO CLICKS STORES CONSTANTIA FABRICS CORICRAFT DAVID TLALE STUDIOS DIS-CHEM STORES DR GOBAC EDGARS FOREVER NEW G-STAR GUESS L’OREAL SA MANGO MILITARY MUSEUM JOHANNESBURG MR PRICE HOME NINE WEST SAFILO SOUTH AFRICA PTY LTD SDM EYEWEAR SMART ART SPREE STEVE MADDEN STUTTAFORDS THE WAR STORE TOPSHOP TOPMAN TRUWORTHS WOOLWORTHS ZANDO ZARA

011 884 4141 Boardmans.co.za C20galerie.co.za 011 784 1597 011 883 8767 021 460 1911 Constantiafabrics.co.za Coricraft.co.za 011 614 7424 011 589 2200 Drgobac.co.za 0800 203 925 011 883 4585 011 784 0321 011 883 8391 Loreal.co.za 011 783 7907 011 646 5513 Mrphome.com 011 783 2356 011 548 9600 011 334 7020 Smartart.co.za Spree.co.za 011 784 0406 011 879 1000 Warstore.co.za 011 685 7070 011 783 9002 0860 022 002 Zando.co.za 011 302 1500

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2015/06/11 10:33 AM

EOA LAST WORD

Winter is finally here, and TUMI MORAKE writes that this cold season is smirking in the direction of unsuspecting ladies, who are about to be tricked into all manner of naughtiness. he creativity of our male counterparts never ceases to surprise me, and I’m convinced they came up with the phrase “baby-making weather”. Even less surprising is how our loins jump at the sound of a man implying he wants to make babies with us. But you know it’s not about the babies, right? It’s about the making.

Baby-making weather is just the good-old “I’m cold and randy” phrase for getting it on in winter. It

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works because, think about it, what else are you going to do in that dull, windy, freezing weather?

Curl up with a good book and pretend your brain is interested? Please!

Sadly, the phrase baby-making weather is also a torturous one for all the singles out there, and usually replaced with “blanket-hugging weather”. It reminds you that unless you have a life-sized teddy or a worthwhile booty call on standby, you are not part of the weather’s socalled mandate for procreation. Askies.

In these dark days (literally, thanks Eishkom) we should take a moment to remember the plight of the unattached. It can’t be fun to be stuck in the dark, choking on the fumes of your gas heater, while hugging your duvet pretending it’s the warm embrace of a lover.

Frankly, baby-making weather has lost it’s charm with me. Heck, I’ve made three babies, so the idea has become less than endearing to me. In fact, for me, baby-making weather has become baby-wrangling weather. Unless the kids have been relegated to grandma and grandpa’s house, I only realise it’s baby-making weather while I’m sitting on the toilet for a moment of quiet as I answer nature’s call, and notice how cold my own feet are.

For all you lovers, who get to enjoy such things, just make sure you have your babymaking weather (BMW) essentials: 1. Candles: for romance and blackouts.

2. Sherry: a drink that ensures you will be sufficiently warmed up.

3. Condoms: remember, you aren’t really trying to make babies.

4. A warm, but light blanket: things will get hot and heavy, and the blanket doesn’t need to be one of them.

When I asked my BFF what her favourite thing is about baby-making weather she said it scores her more cuddles. Body heat becomes the order of the day and when her man presses his cold feet into her warm legs for some warmth it makes her giggle like a schoolgirl.

I believe baby-making weather can save many an unromantic relationship by reminding guys and girls how nice it is to coax your lover and just snuggle up. This is all about quality time, so get comfy and snuggle up. E

IMAGE: WHACKED ENTERTAINMENT.

BABY-MAKING WEATHER

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2015/06/11 10:34 AM

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