No 4
CONTENTS
HILLBREWED
CONTRIBUTIONS
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
IQHAWE PRESENTS
ILLUSTRATORS
ISSUE 4
BRANDÂ : CHEPA
IQHAWE CREATIVES
SIKIS
AD.
TALK TO US
email:iqhawemag@gmail.com
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E N I Z A G A M
E W A H Q I
Editor's Letter Editor-In-Chief
For the last three months we have had this chat,
There is a constant questioning of self, hence
you and I, in the first issue my team and I were
we find ourselves being exploited by
introducing ourselves to you, the second issue we
corporates or different institutes and
spoke about the importance of self and the last issue, I spoke about us as creatives going through the most. So this month, I want to talk about Money! A few weeks ago, I was contacted by an establishment to do some work for them, they asked me to send through my work and an
establishments because we are not placing an actual price tag on our various crafts. Thus, the chat about exposure is raised in creative circles, while our counterparts working in other industries are being paid in monetary value for their work. While we are expected to somehow exist in a capitalist world, and just hope we make it to the next call time or meet the next set out deadline.
invoice, so I did just that. A day later I received a phone call from a lady working for the company,
To end the summon, the point that I am trying
telling me I had extremely undercharged them
to put across is, If you are in any creative
as compared to the other people they had contacted. Long story short, I got the gig and changed the invoice to a fair amount. The reason I am sharing this experience is to highlight the fact that, we as creatives, are not aware of the value that our work carries. We are
industry, understand, know and see the value of your ability, the amount of time and effort you have put into your craft is worth monetary value and therefore you should treat it as such. I will close it off there, for now, this issue of IQhawe explores the beauty of illustration and graphic design while giving an insight into its
constantly trying to better the craft yet we aren’t
historical context. Till next time folks.
stopping to monetize it to its best capacity.
Ejoy the Read.
K Y L E
M A L A N D A
IQHAWE CREATIVE OF THE MONTH
KYLE MALANDA
VISUAL ARTIST
I am a Malawian artist whose work, through photography and textiles, explores the intersections of indigenous spirituality, identity, mental health, and sexuality in an increasingly digital world. I am a queer woman interested in the stories we can tell through applying indigenous symbolism to modern concepts of identity and belonging. My work centers Black women and the intersections of life that dictate our experiences in the world. I seek to (re)write and reclaim histories for myself, and all those who came before me who have been robbed of mouth and silenced with shame.
"I AM A QUEER WOMAN INTERESTED IN THE STORIES WE CAN TELL THROUGH APPLYING INDIGENOUS SYMBOLISM TO MODERN CONCEPTS OF IDENTITY AND BELONGING"
DUMISANI
FOUNDER|OWNER
MAHLANGU
OF
CHEPA
STREETWEAR
DUMISANI MAHLANGU WAS BORN AND BRED IN MAMELODI WEST, PRETORIA
The origin of the brand was inspired by Mahlangu’s love of African print, which translated into innovative ways of imagining and definition streetwear.
“If you want something you have to work for it “these were his father’s words, which little did he know would ignite his entrepreneurial spirit. Mahlangu began selling
He is the founder of Chepha streetwear, which is pronounced t/shepha – a Pretoria township slang word meaning stylish or well dressed.
boerewors rolls, sweets, and Nike Cortez sneakers and went as far as to having a Gazebo tuckshop where he sold Tshirts and more things. This early introduction into entrepreneurship led him into the success that Chepa carries.
Mahlangu draws inspiration from his past failures and struggles. As an iKasi Original Influencer, he encourages South Africans to take more risks and not to give up on their dreams. He says “The key is to pick yourself up, learn from it and keep going.” He further encourages that one should work on their dream every day and believe in it like it’s their religion. Chepha Streetwear Founded by Dumisani Mahlangu with the support of his wife Candice Mahlangu has been operational since June 2017.
Chepha aims to promote a postmodern, Afrocentric culture within people to foster an appreciation for casual, modern, African-print and character-like clothing, thereby making it equally relevant to the times in its practicality and simplicity. This brand appeals to the sassy and cultured street warriors who recognize that African print apparel can not only be a fashionable garment but a statement.
Photography by Tiyani "King" Baloyi Words | Lethabo Phora
Chepha is a streetwear brand and their biggest influence was drawn from Ama Kip-Kip to Loxin Culture as all these products are locally produced. African print is definitive of our African roots, hence deciding to give birth to the African print concept because it presents a unique experience for their audiences also for the audience to appreciate their culture and to have it represented in the streets.
Chepha Streetwear focuses on promoting African print by making it more modern, hip, urban and desirable by merging it with modern streetwear such as sneakers, jeans, and accessories. They are currently producing African print bomber jackets for adults, and are also looking to explore within the kids' range and other African print apparel.
Photography by Tiyani "King" Baloyi Words | Lethabo Phora
HILLBREWED
BY PRETTY MANGENA Interviewee Tebogo Mabye Photography Luciana Malete
Location Hillbrewed,Doornfontein
IQHAWE: PLEASE TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, WHEN AND HOW DID HILLBREWED COME ABOUT? TEBOGO: HILLBREWED IS 5 MONTHS OLD. I WAS INTRODUCED TO 'REAL COFFEE' COFFEE IN 2010 BY A LADY FROM CHINA CALLED GRACE CHUNG WHEN SHE MADE ME A PLUNGER AND TOLD ME TO STOP DRINKING '’POISON" (RICOFFY), MY LOVE FOR COFFEE GREW FROM THERE AND I STARTED TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF OWNING A COFFEE SHOPINCORPORATE MY LOVE FOR PEOPLE AND MY LOVE FOR COFFEE TOGETHER. LAST YEAR WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP A COFFEE SHOP CAME I JUMPED AT IT, AFTER RESIGNING I DECIDED THAT THE NEXT STEP WAS DOING MY OWN THING AND THAT'S WHERE HILLBREWED COFFEE CO STARTED. THE NAME HILLBREWED IS INSPIRED BY MY UPBRINGING IN HILLBROW AND THE ROLE THAT MY HOOD PLAYED IN MAKING ME THE MAN THAT I AM TODAY. IQHAWE: AS THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS, WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED? TEBOGO: THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS WHERE MY COFFEE SHOP IS LOCATED, IT DID NOT HAVE MUCH FOOT TRAFFIC AND GETTING CUSTOMERS WAS A PROBLEM AND THIS BEING MY FIRST SOLID BUSINESS I AM STILL STRUGGLING WITH FIGURING THINGS OUT IN THE INDUSTRY. IQHAWE: STARTING AND RUNNING A BUSINESS CAN BE A DAUNTING TASK, HOW HAS THE ENTIRE PROCESS BEEN SINCE YOU STARTED? TEBOGO: IT HAS HONESTLY BEEN THE GREATEST THING I'VE EVER DONE. I LEARN A LOT FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BUT IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO PLAY AND EXPERIMENT IN A SPACE THAT I OWN.
IQHAWE: YOUR BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN DOORFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG, HAS THE LOCATION OF THE BUSINESS BEEN INFLUENTIAL IN ANY WAY? TEBOGO: I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HILLBROW, JOHANNESBURG NOT SO FAR FROM MY BUSINESS AS I MENTIONED THAT THE NAME WAS INSPIRED BY THAT. I LIVED IN DOORNFONTEIN FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAVE BUILT A NAME FOR MYSELF IN THE AREA. BESIDES IT BEING INFLUENTIAL I THINK I AM A BIT INFLUENTIAL TO THE PLACE TOO. IQHAWE: DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN WHEN OPERATING THE BUSINESS? IF SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY POINTERS YOU WOULD GIVE A YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR? TEBOGO: I AM STILL BUSY WITH MY BUSINESS PLAN. AS SOMEONE NEW TO THE BUSINESS WORLD, I AM STILL LEARNING AS I GO AND MY POINTER WOULD TAKE YOUR TIME TO LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, BE A LIFELONG LEARNER, NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN. FIND A TRUSTED MENTOR AND JUST STAY HUMBLE, THE DREAM IS ALWAYS BIGGER THAN YOU. BUILD SOMETHING THAT WILL LAST LONG AFTER YOU ARE GONE.
IQHAWE: HOW WOULD YOU PERSONALLY DEFINE BUSINESS SUCCESS? IS IT ECONOMIC FREEDOM? INFLUENCE? OR INNOVATION, FURTHERMORE, ARE THESE FACTORS YOU PUT IN MIND WHEN STARTING YOUR BUSINESS? TEBOGO: BUSINESS SUCCESS FOR ME IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE A CHANGE OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF, OUTSIDE OF YOUR BUSINESS. ONCE YOUR BUSINESS STARTS POSITIVELY IMPACTING PEOPLE THEN THE BUSINESS IS SUCCESSFUL.
IQHAWE: THE COFFEE INDUSTRY IS GROWING RAPIDLY PARTICULARLY IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY SETS YOU APART FROM THE REST? TEBOGO: I WOULD SAY THAT THE FACT THAT THERE'S A VERY INTERESTING PERSONAL STORY THAT IS SURROUNDING MY BUSINESS SETS ME APART AND THAT IN THE LONG RUN IT'S NOT JUST DEVELOPING MYSELF AND FAMILY BUT TO IMPACT THE CITY OF JOBURG ESPECIALLY HILLBROW IN A HUGE WAY.
IQHAWE: WHAT SOLID BUSINESS ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG BLACK ENTREPRENEUR WHO IS JUST STARTING? TEBOGO: STAY HUMBLE, SAVE MORE THAN YOU SPEND, THINK ABOUT THE LONG TERM IMPACT YOU WANT TO LEAVE AND BE A LIFE-LONG LEARNER. IQHAWE: WHERE DO YOU SEE THE BUSINESS IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS? TEBOGO: I SEE MY BUSINESS COMPETING WITH THE BIGGEST COFFEE SHOPS IN THE COUNTRY, TURNING INTO A RESTAURANT WITH A BIG COFFEE FOCUS AND HAVING A FEW OTHER SHOPS RUNNING AROUND THE CITY.
SIKIS KOFFEE KAFE
by SIKELELWA VUYELENI Interviewee Sikelela Dibela Photography Bulumko Gana
Location Khayelitsha- Cape Town
It’s a cold Wednesday, early afternoon, in KhayelitshaCape Town and a cup of coffee with cookies is the order of the day. And our location led us to a garage for these refreshments, but not just any garage- a whole coffee café that feels like home. There are foot traffic and a meeting or two taking place. Finally, we can steal SIKELELA DIBELA for a chat about SIKIS KOFFEE KAFE. After he has made sure everyone is okay and occasionally stands up and greets a customer, he joins us and orders his cup- as ‘the usual’- that being a simple Americano. The atmosphere is set, there’s music in the background and we chat and drink away.
IQHAWE: Before we get into the coffee, we’d like to know who is behind this cozy homely KOFFEE KAFE, who is Sikelela Dibela? A: Sikelela Dibela is a Khayelitsha born and bred barista. A high school drop-out (grade 9), due to challenges faced at home. He had to fend for his family and became a dishwasher at one of SA’s coffee chain companies- and this is where the name Siki was established. From dishwasher to store manager to the world! Siki went to the UK for 2 years to open stores for the coffee company he was working for. And this, of course, changed his outlook on reality entirely.
Coffee shops were all over and the realization of this culture dawned on him. He threw a question to a director of the coffee shop- would they ever take it to eKasi? And the answer was a non-surprising “no, they don’t have the intention, there’s no development there”. Right there at that moment, that question birthed this idea of owning something around coffee someday. He came back and worked for other coffee shops, dealing with the daunting scrutiny of home and its surroundings, as he had nothing much left to show from his abroad travels. This was a frustration. After taking the time to work on himself and his coffee company owning idea, finally, on the 16th of May 2016, 10 days after the birth of his daughter, the doors of SIKIS KOFFEE KAFE were opened.
IQHAWE: A whole 3 years in business, how did you get here and what challenges were faced? SIKI: Firstly, most of the time as an entrepreneur you don't know what you're doing and if you're doing it right. It's trial and error-filled with endless failing but a forward kind of failing. Realizing that coffee won't be the only thing to sell; I started with coffee, muffins, and cookies. Even with those 2 additions, there was no breaking even because I had to constantly reinvest in the business. This then expanded the idea and I made connections with the creatives around me. The space now became a platform for events; collaborations with artists and fellow entrepreneurs started happening. The marketing and growth of the company also grew with this. The menu also expanded, even though we are serving coffee, there's quite a variety to choose from and other drinks too like freshly squeezed juice. So basically I had to see beyond the coffee but not swaying from it being the foundation.
IQHAWE: Why Coffee? SIKI: Why not coffee? This is a big culture in our community. I just think the way we are doing it is incorrect. I remember the coffee culture has been a part of our lives since the luxury of sitting around the fire and share gran's coffee with her. We respected her coffee so much, one wouldn't dare even touch where it is stored. So I came back wanting to plug back and bring with it the educational element of coffee and make it an experience for our consumers.
I
IQHAWE: What's the significance of having your Cafe ekasi? A: The whole idea of not only giving people coffee and the knowledge behind it but providing a space for possibilities. Building a culture of growing our economy ekasi and nurturing all the untapped potential of iKhayelitsha. Coffee shops are the things needed for the future ekasi and being one the firsts to do it is great! When people make connections here I'm happy. When people that met here create major moves, it's a blessing. IQHAWE: What's the significance of having your Cafe ekasi?
IQHAWE: Is coffee the only specialty for SIKIS Koffee Kafe? SIKI: Yes, coffee first and all else after. Coffee is like the mother that births all that comes out of this cafe. We brew our own coffee, so it's not just any coffee. It is SIKIS unique blend of brewed specialty coffee. IQHAWE: What's next? How do you plan on growing the business from here? SIKI: I don't want to be talking plans of 10 years right now but I am working towards taking over this whole property. Looking forward to the day I sit my family down to tell them it's time to move, the garage is getting too small. Nothing great was created in one go, it's all about the process. More collaborations and creations still to come out of SIKIS KOFFEE KAFE. And just like that, we have tied ourselves to having something at this homely Koffee Kafe someday in the future and it was received very well by Siki. Khayelitsha is not a jungle. The youth has taken it upon themselves to grow the rand and circulate it in their immediate economy. The time to plug back the skills learnt is now!
HOME OF THE BEAN
by Pretty Mangena
Interviewee Leroy and Itumeleng Kgopa Photography Luciana Malete
Location The Cosmopolitan, Maboneng
IQHAWE: Please tel l us a bi t more about y our b u siness, wh e n an d h o w di d Home of the Bean come ab out? HOB: Our journey started back in 2015 when we would visit differe n t coffee shops i n Johannesburg , we called it cof fee-s hop-h o ppin g. A fri end of ours suggested w e t ry out this cool cof fee sho p in th e Cosmopolitan garden, Fi reBi rd , where we met D an- an amazingly passionate barista we now cal l a great friend . We didn ’t ju st ge t gre at coffee here but we got school ed here and we loved th at. Fro m th e n on Fire Bird, where our cof fee home cu rrently is, bec ame o u r go - to pl ace. We went from bei ng regu lar coffee drinkers alm o st eve ry chance we got, to di shwashers and cu p clearers, to b e h in d th e machine learni ng the i ns an d outs of cof fee. That ’s whe re th e passio n grew before we knew i t we want ed in on t his cof fee bu sine ss, the coffee culture, the communi ty , we want ed all of it. In 2016 we wan te d to start our own busi ness, unf ortu nat ely, we realized that star tin g one is not very cheap l ooki ng at things like rent , staff, and equi pment, especi al l y equi p ment . S o we opted to s tart mo bile an d worked on bei ng uni que abou t i t. We bought a VW 1972 Kombi, which was previousl y used as a ca mp er, cu t it u p, gave it a fre sh co at o f pai nt and converted i t to our b lu e kof i komb i. IQHAWE: As the owner of the b u siness, what hav e b een some o f the chal lenges you have experi enced ? HOB: The biggest chal l enge has been f inances so f ar. We h ave le arn e d to work with what we have and make what we have work for u s. S taff has been a bit of a chal l enge too because it ’s one t hing ju st h irin g anyone and getti ng to work, i t’s another t hing get ting some o n e wh o wil l try to understand your vi si on along with t he cu ltu re we ’re bu ildi ng and have them serve on that l ev el b ecause t hey won’t alway s se e it and they might not al ways move with it .
IQ: Starting and runni ng a bu si ness can b e a d au nt i ng task , ho w h as the entire process been since you start ed ? HOB: When we were offici a l ly start i ng w e f ound that the co ffe e community was very welcoming and w i ll i ng to s hare i nfo rmatio n , experiences, and advice. It made ou r jou rney feel l i ke w e w e re h o me . Even with that i t sure hasn’t been an eas y one, w e we n t i n e xpecti n g to swim but we were never ready for w hat the sw im re qu i r e d o f u s, a deeper level every ti me. We’r e enj oyi ng ev ery moment o f gr o w th though, there i s so much l earning and u nl earni ng to s til l do. It’s beautiful the craft we make and the peopl e we make i t for. W e ge t to serve and connect, what a pleas u re. IQHAWE: Do you have a business pl an when operating th e bu si n e ss? If so, do you have any poi nters y ou w oul d gi ve a young e n tre pre n e u r ? HOB: We don’t have a busi n es s pl an. We tri ed to comp i le o n e i n th e begi nning but found that we’r e p l anni ng bl i nd l y because w e can ’t formulate numbers we don’t hav e or haven’t seen and w e w e re n o t l ooking for someone to inves t i n ou r b u si ness so we d i dn ’t ge t to complete it. It’s not always neces sary to have a b u si ne ss pl an be fore you start because sometimes i t del ays y ou. If y ou’re l o o ki n g for funding then yes, go for it bu t if not and y ou know w hat y o u w ant to bui ld, START! Once you’v e start ed i t becomes eas i er to co mpi l e i t because you’r e now worki ng on the numb ers y ou’ve s ee n , the cu l tu re you’ve built, the products and services that ex i st. IQ: How would you personall y def i ne bu siness su cces s? Is i t eco n o mic freedom? Infl uence? Or inn ov ati on, fu rt hermore, are the se factors you put in mi nd when starting y our b u si ness? HOB: Al l these factors are part of bu si ness su cces s. A ll that’s ne e de d i s a balance. You have the freed om to d o what ev er cr aft/ passi o n y o u want. The i nfluence works wi th your market i ng , i f y ou can ge t pe o pl e to believe they need your servi ces or produ ct or y ou ge t th e m to see that it’s possible to l ive out a dream/passi on and get the m to actio n , you’ve won. Innovati on doesn’t alw ay s hav e t o b e t he co o l e st thi n g bui lt i f you can thi nk outsi d e t he bound ari es of average/n o rmal an d can manifest that thought regard l es s of the chall eng e ; y ou ’r e o n th e ri ght track.
IQ: The coffee industry is growing rapidly particularly in South Africa, what would you say sets you apart from the rest? HOB: It’s a tricky one because we could say we sell the best beans specialty coffee but all coffee shops believe they have the best beans. There are so many coffee shops and there will be one that offers what we could say sets us apart and we’re not in competition with anyone anyway. What we do offer is a home, we serve great energy, delicious brownies, and cakes, we share what we know on coffee and business and as for the coffee, you’ll have to come to try it out yourself IQHAWE: What solid business advice would you give a young black entrepreneur who is just starting? HOB: Find out what it is you are passionate/ curious about, and cultivate that; make it your focus and a priority. In any field seek to learn the basics and everything there is to absorb about that field. Make time to visit people in the field and volunteer your time to learn about the industry as often as you can. Be bold, set boundaries, be aggressive, and prepare for more negatives than positives. IQ: Where do you see the business in the next 5 years?
HOB: Definitely to multiply, more coffee homes and more kofi kombis and hoping to grow it as a family venture. We want to create platforms for those wanting to get into the coffee community/industry by assisting in any way we know-how. We would love to own a roastery, not in a rush for it but very eager to have one. We also have a foundation, an initiative to give back to the community, mainly our less fortunate children in schools and we would love to grow that. We aim to work hand-in-hand with schools in rural areas and addressing matters such as feeding schemes, stationery, and building libraries.
IQHAWE PRESENTS
ITS NOT JUST GRAPHICS Graphic design is the art or skill of combining text and pictures in advertisements, magazines or books. Graphic design is so much a part of our modern world that it is hard to imagine living without it. Visual communication is about as old as our opposable thumbs, though it’s been a long journey from stone tools to digital tablets. In the middle ages, typography started to take off as humanity started expanding its aesthetic horizons into the letters and words themselves. Due to the fact that texts in this period were produced and replicated by hand, a little artistry made books more valuable and set certain scholars apart from others.
With the advent of the printing press in Europe, humanity was able to recreate text, art and design on a massive scale, and for relatively cheap.
The ancestors of modern companies, also on the rise soon took notice of how such visuals could affect shopping behaviours and increase profits, thus modern graphic design was born. From the 1950s onward, the world began its slow approach to the digital era we are currently enjoying. The mass-adoption of home computers is a technological advancement comparable to the invention of the printing press, ushering in a new age for mass communication and granting access to esoteric art styles and digital software for new methods of creating art.
o
In 1990 Nelson Mandela was released after twenty-seven years in prison and the ANC, PAC and the SACP were unbanned. Four years later the country held its first free and fair democratic election and the ‘new’ South Africa was born with President Nelson Mandela as its leader. Sauthoff notes the robust debates following the elections on graphic design’s role in shaping national identity, creating a South African visual language and giving expression to the new political dispensation.
Hence, the years following the first democratic election saw political change clearly reflected in the design of new South African national symbols, including the flag and coat of arms, and the redesign of identities for state and private institutions. These identities were typified by ‘an overt incorporation of the natural environment, wildlife, prominent cultural landmarks, traditional ethnic symbols and craft motifs, as well as naive techniques and marks considered to be characteristic of Africa. The new coat of arms of South Africa, for example, includes elephant tusks, rock art figures, traditional
Sauthoff identifies a process of hybridization in which culturally specific elements of iconography, typography, symbolism, and style are mixed, melded, and transformed by means of quotation, mimicry, and appropriation as central to attempts to articulate a localized visual language
weapons, the national flower and bird and triangles, and the mining houses AngloGold and Goldfields both incorporate an image of a lion into their logos.
Please note images used are not property of Iqhawe magazine; use for the purposes of this aritlce only.
This approach was exemplified by i-jusi, an experimental graphic design magazine which was first published in 1995 in Durban by Orange Juice Design, as is seen in the cover of the second number which features the graphic decoration found on traditional Zulu earplugs, above which the magazine proclaims its mission: ‘towards a new visual language. The progression of visual communication from cave paintings to digital software can serve as a great inspiration.
Research by Lethabo Phara
GRAPHICS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
WORDS PRETTY MANGENA LAYOUT AND PHOTOGRAPGHY LUCIANA MALETE
Aobakwe Mogotsi ILLUSTRATOR, GRAPHIC DESIGNER
IQHAWE: What originally made you want to become a graphic designer? Did you get any formal training for it? Aobakwe: Growing up I was always an artsy person and after passing my matric I enrolled at Rosebank college for Logistics and Supply Chain Management. That year was the year I discovered my love for graphics through the street culture of Johannesburg and just not only fine art but everything visual, I, later on, dropped out at Rosebank and in 2016 I enrolled at City Varsity for Multimedia Design and Production. IQHAWE: How would you describe your approach to design? Aobakwe: I’d describe my approach to design as an “Analogue Approach”. I prefer starting my design through a process of brainstorming a brainstorm; a series of three or more brainstorms based on the results of the previous brainstorm. And only after that is when I start doodling and doing hand sketches before I start working on the ideas digitally. IQHAWE: Are there any aesthetics that you focus on? Aobakwe: I mostly focus on the De Stjil and Bauhaus aesthetics of design but I fuse them with ancient African and Japanese traditional art aesthetics.
IQHAWE: What defines your work in relation to other artists/people? Aobakwe: I’d say my art is a mashup of history, emotions, and a bit of madness. My artworks are nostalgic, emotionevoking, and one could get lost in trying to understand some of my abstract art IQHAWE: What are the norms that you are aware of in graphic design? And what are you doing to distinguish yourself from that? Aobakwe: People usually make the mistake of following trends without applying themselves to create their own style; trends are meant for references as a designer. I usually do my research through talking with people, because the information that’s on the internet accessible to the whole world of designers and by talking to people I get to have new information and also get to hear other people’s opinions and thoughts. I believe in “humans before machines”, because whatever I Design I Design for humans to appreciate.
PHATHU NEMBILWI
IQHAWE: How would you describe your approach to design? PHATHU: Curious, experimental and passionate. IQHAWE: Who or What has been the biggest inspiration on your way of thinking?
PHATHU NEMBILWI (Graphic Designer/ PHATHU: My family, they always support me. Digital Illustrator)
IQHAWE: Are there any aesthetics that you My name is Phathu Nembilwi, I grew up in focus on? a small town in Thohoyandou, South PHATHU: I would have to say African culture, Africa and I have loved designing, creating and drawing ever since I could colors and how it all exists in the modern world.
remember. I moved from my small town to the big city of Johannesburg where I studied Graphic Design from Tshwane University of Technology. After Graduation, I began my career as a Graphic Designer and Freelance Illustrator.
IQHAWE: What defines your work in relation to other artists/people?
PHATHU: Art stimulates an individual’s senses, how they might think, act or behave. I try to create work that people can relate to.
IQHAWE: What are the norms that you are aware of in graphic design? And what IQHAWE: What originally made you want are you doing to distinguish yourself from that?
to become a graphic designer? Did you PHATHU: The norms can be choosing the correct get any formal training for it? color combination, easy to read and PHATHU: I was always interested in how art and design can impact a person’s life and stimulate their emotions both positive and negatively. Graphic Design seemed like a perfect profession to explore these questions I had. I studied Graphic Design from TUT.I
understanding text or having the correct images. Sometimes you need to break away and take a risk to set your work apart from others. IQHAWE: What are your thoughts on the evolution of graphic design?
  PHATHU: Graphic Design is amazing because it contains a lot of elements, layout, typography, contrast, images, vectors and so much more. Print design was the only way to advertise or show work but with the advancement of technology, we can animate our graphics and display them online. So it's an amazing time to be a Graphic Designer.
LETHABO HUMA
Lethabo Huma is a digital painter from Pretoria, South Africa. The principal theme in her work is semi-realism fused with stars and geometrical components. She uses her work as a mirror to portray her emotional and mental response to life experiences. She aims to provoke emotion or thought through her work
SIyaNdA SIbiSI
SA well-versed motion graphic designer and illustrator. He was born and raised in the south of Johannesburg, Soweto and he studied Animation at City Varsity. Siyanda has always had a love for the visual arts, and his work is highly being influenced by his love of music, specifically Hip hop. His pieces are often made digitally using his trusty Wacom tablet and the Photoshop software and the subject matter is usually artists whose content touched him and inspired him creatively.
LOUIS TABANE GRAPHIC DESIGNER
’
se shweshwe
IQHAWE: What made you want to become a graphic designer? Did you get any formal training for it? LOUIS: I grew up in a family of creatives, my mom being someone who has been sewing clothes since forever, and has dressed a lot of women of great stature in our community for every single big event in their lives using mostly se’shweshwe materials to craft her master designs. The materials she would use always fascinated me, how she could cut it in such symmetry, the patterns on the left side of the dress would be sitting perfectly aligned to those you would see on the right. My Dad on the other side was a videographer and photographer who would capture beautiful stories that only the images could tell of the good and the bad times' people in the kasi lived through in the ’80s and the ’90s, a gift he would later pass onto my eldest brother who continued his legacy onto the 2000s.
They all inspired me to become a storyteller, I always wanted to one day be part of the people that tell authentic South African stories as raw as my mom’s dresses and as true as the images and videos my father would take. In high school I would travel from the school I went to in Jozi back to home in the kasi, fascinated by everything I would read on signs put up on buildings and billboards. I knew that that’s where I want to see my stories live because the people who pass through the same roads I would travel, are whom I want my stories to be reflected on and about. I only recently completed my diploma in advertising with an awesome learning space called Umuzi, where I specialized in graphic designing.
IQHAWE: How would you describe your approach to design? LOUIS: I am still a student of my craft, as a self-taught graphic designer there is so much I need to learn. So I try to always be open-minded to me learning new processes in every challenge I get the opportunity to tackle. As a student, I know there are so many fails to come, which excites me because that brings about a new lesson to take home with me. So I would say my approach is in trying new things I have never tried before, for every new project that comes my way. IQHAWE: Who or What has been the biggest inspiration on your way of thinking? LOUIS: My son. I am inspired by my son to one day inspire him as I was once inspired by my own parents. His by far the reason why I decided that I need to follow my dreams for a long time would haunt me for giving up on them. Thanks to my son, I have let go of doubt; limitations only exist in the mind, but once you allow yourself to dream big the possibilities are endless. IQHAWE: Is there any aesthetic you focus on? LOUIS: For four years I have been a graffiti artist and a fanatic of street art. What fascinates me is how graffiti lines and bold loud colors are used together to create what I call art. It’s wild on the inside that has interesting effects that can make you, as a receiver, to lose your mind while the lines keep it structured and solid on the outside. I am still sold to the idea of keeping the graffiti fundamental aspects to build my artistic aesthetic.
IQHAWE: What defines your work concerning other artists/people? LOUIS: My work is informed by my experiences. I create work that evokes emotions and ultimately seeks to change societies and their views. I use my art and design to change how the World Views African creation. I am grateful that my work can tell authentic African Stories in a uniquely African way. IQHAWE: What are the norms that you are aware of in graphic design? And what are you doing to distinguish yourself from that? LOUIS: I don’t really know the answer to this question, I believe design is a way of life and most people kind of begin the journey then park that bus with the idea that ‘that’s it, I’m a designer now’, but things evolve as people live and breathe design on a daily. What distinguishes me from other designers and other people is the strong drive for continuously learning. IQHAWE: What are your thoughts on the evolution of graphic design? LOUIS: The making of things (the craft) has changed from before, as software and processes have changed to be simpler than before. The means of communication have changed; we now have apps and websites that kind of make the reach bigger for designers. The availability of information has changed too. I have been a student who has learned so much from the internet before it was difficult to find such information at your disposal
MOGAU KEKANA
HAWE: What originally made you want to become a graphic designer? Did you get any formal training for it? MOGAU: I'm an illustrator, meaning that I create commercial images/graphics via drawing...these drawn images and graphics are mainly done digitally. After graduating in 2016 from UJ FADA...I worked as a digital arts Teacher/Mentor for about a year. During my time as a teacher, I kept getting illustration and animation related freelance commissions. Teaching is great and I believe we are all a product of it in some way or another but I've always wanted to be a practitioner in this field. And so at the end of 2017, I decided to leave my job to pursue my "passions".
IQHAWE: How would you describe your approach to design? MOGAU: I always want to improve in my craft. There was a time not too long ago when I got stuck and it seemed as if I could not grow or improve. At that same time, I believed that nothing is creative unless you think of it yourself. Seeing as this wasn't working for me anymore... I decided to take a different approach. I decided that I would start using references of artists I looked up to and also got back to the basics of life drawing and not concentrating too much on perfection. It's been a lot of trial and error and I'm embracing imperfections in my work. And so I would describe my approach as trial and error.
IQHAWE: Who or What has been the biggest inspiration on your way of thinking? MOGAU: There are a few inspirational people I've worked with who stay dropping gems of wisdom and I believe that affects how I think about work and how I want to position myself. In terms of what inspires me... I'd have to say Africa and its people, our cities and cultures, our similarities and differences and the overall aesthetic of these things combined.
IQHAWE: What are the norms that you are aware of in graphic design? And what are you doing to distinguish yourself from that?
MOGAU: A lot of times artists are influenced heavily by Eastern and Asian aesthetics of illustrating. I try to stay away from that as much as possible. In the same breath, I'd say there's a lot one can learn from these influencers to the fact that they have been IQHAWE: Are there any aesthetics that due doing this and they've taken the you focus on? industry seriously for way longer that Africa has... However, I'm against MOGAU: I mainly concentrate on my surroundings and where I am from. I was copying and trying to be like them. raised in Hillbrow...not the best What are your thoughts on the neighborhood in town. Living in Hillbrow IQHAWE: has a lot of negativity associated with evolution of graphic design? it and I believe Hillbrow is a part of me MOGAU: Illustration and design have and my story... and so I've been using a long way. especially in the illustration to explore the positives to come Land". I think people are slowly embrace a part of who I am. A part of me "Mother starting to see the importance of it I've always been uncomfortably and I'm excited to see what we get to ashamed of. achieve in the next decade. IQHAWE: What defines your work in relation to other artists/people?
MOGAU: I see my work as both contemporary and afro-centric. I want to create beautiful and authentic narratives of things and people who are not always under the best light of representation.
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IQHAWE: What made you want to become a graphic designer? Did you get any formal training for it? David: My journey into art started with coloring-in animals and cartoons at crèche. But unlike most people, I didn’t stop as I grew older. Having an older brother with a like mindset for the arts was a blessing and a challenge to always emulate and reach his standard. I believe this is what pushed me to become better at my work. So from coloring into sketching during maths period to painting watercolors eventually, I came into contact with digital art (again through my brother). The boundlessness and dexterity of it lured me in and I have been at it since 2018 and it’s been an absolute joyride of a discovery even without any formal training. IQHAWE: How would you describe your approach to design? DAVID: I am still relatively new to the graphics design scene and at the moment I’m trying not to limit myself with one style or aspect of it. There are so many avenues to explore and I try them all as often as I can by doing logos, posters, digital paintings using different techniques each time and recently trying my hand at animation. Design is boundless and I’m trying my best to emulate that. IQHAWE: Who or What has been the biggest inspiration on your way of thinking? DAVID: Growing up I was Supa Strikers' biggest fan which became my biggest influence. This led into a comic book and anime frenzy with the likes of Archie, Xmen, Spawn and Naruto shaping the way I approached my art earlier on. These days though I’ve religiously followed the works of Loyiso Mkize (Supa Strikers cartoonist), Daniel Clarke, Kim Jong Gi, Inhyuk Lee Josan Gonzalez but most of all Irakli Nadar and a lot of other art pros with amazing talent and brilliance to go with their work.
IQHAWE: Is there any aesthetic you focus on? DAVID: My focus of recent has been portraits and the emotions and textures the human facial expresses. IQHAWE: What defines your work in relation, other artists/people? DAVID: I guess what may set me apart from other artists is the variety of styles I use for each artwork. Each piece is independent to the next and this is my path until I feel I have a concrete artistic path to shackle myself to. IQHAWE: What are the norms that you are aware of in graphic design? And what are you doing to distinguish yourself from that? DAVID: I don’t believe there are any norms in design. No matter how heavily influenced a design can be, artists always find a way to speak their own truth despite the imitation. With my work as well I make sure to draw inspiration from trends and pop culture which I then mold into my own creation. IQHAWE: What are your thoughts on the evolution of graphic design? DAVID: Wow graphic design has come a long way and there are so many opportunities in this modern market for our prowess. Technology is making great strides toward easing the process of creating art and allowing all manner of crazy explosive creativity to shine through designers and artists alike in film, photography, branding, marketing, and a whole other avenue. Boundless.
8 SHOUTON OFFICIAL
Working on his new album and film, Shouton has an open mind to anything. New sounds and visuals making his ideas come to life every day. “I’ve created an album called Star Gazer with the thoughts of real-life love problems we hope to get through. It’s called Star Gazer because the listener is in love and it’s like a never-ending pain in every situation you are in. Like traveling through different parts of the galaxy not knowing what you are getting into”. Shouton just released his new single “Momma” and it’s about a cry for needing your lover to stay with you after everything you have given to them. Shouton is almost done with the album and has started writing, directing, and filming a movie based on the album called “A Little Human Too” which he hopes to release by April 2020. His album “Star Gazer” will be out on December 15, 2019.
'_l contributors
IQHAWE TEAM PRETTY RENAE MANGENA LUCIANA MALETE
MOTLALEPULE LETHABO PHORA SIKELELWA VUYELENI
BUSINESS SECTION JULY
TEBOGO MABYEÂ JHB
HOME OF THE BEAN
ITUMELENG & LEROY KGOPA JHB
SIKIS KOFFEE KAFE SIKELELA DIBELA CPT
CREATIVE OF THE MONTH KYLE MALANDA
IQHAWE BRANDS CHEPA STREETWEAR
DUMISANI MAHLANGU
JULY
HILLBREWED
'_l contributors
PHOTOGRAPHERS LUCIANA MALETE BULUMKO GANA
JULY
ILLUSTRATIONS AND GRAPHICS MOGAU KEKANA LOUIS TABANE
DAVID ISIGUZO
LETHABO HUMA SIYANDA SIBISI
SHOUTON OFFICIAL
PHATHUTSHEDZO NEMBILWI AOBAKWE MOGOTSI
JULY
TIYANI "KING" BALOYI
THE END JULY ISSUE
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