Issue 6 by KADE CULTURE

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

CONTENTS

Khaya Foundation

Tawana

Betty Traore

Foundation

Lawyer | Mental Health

Makeup Artist

Charisse c

Bespoke Events

DBN GOGO

DJ & Presenter

Events Specialist

COVER FEATURE

Our issue 6 Q&A celebrates black women in the creative industry who are continuously making a difference around. This issue is about giving flowers to those who are impacting our lives and others for the better tomorrow. Special thanks to those that contributed towards making this issue a success, providing Kade Culture with top quality content to publish.

@KADECULTURE |

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

Editor’s

LETTER

As I write this, I am filled with great excitement to produce yet another issue for our Kade Culture readers. This issue was planned in January to get released in April on the Kade Culture anniversary - unfortunately, there were unforeseen circumstances - I had to be a bit selfish and take care of myself before pouring my heart into Kade Culture. I am a believer in creating content filled with good energy and positive vibrations. Each word and design in the Kade Culture issues have to carry good vibrations for our readers to be inspired and be motivated. It did not make sense to create magazine issues when I was surrounded by negativity, as I did not want that energy to be anywhere near Kade Culture. Looking back, it is unbelievable how God works mysteriously by making me wait until September to produce this issue 6 with DBN GOGO. I remember just manifesting that one day I would meet this talented queen and given her her flowers and just be blessed to be in her presence. Little did I know that a few months later, the dream was to become a reality through the connection of my dearest friend DJ Khandacool. From organising the photoshoot with Herve Malila, makeup by Christabel, Sicelo, Chantelle, Tapiwa Mugabe, and clothing provided by MAD Kollection, everything 6

was so smoothly done despite this being a last-minute project. This door of opportunity shooting with DBN GOGO was one not to miss, and I am lucky to have breathed the same air with the humble lady herself. With that said, this issue 6 features women that I believe deserve their flowers for the hard work they have been putting into their craft. Most of them, I have watched their growth blossom into beautiful roses. Thandie, our star feature, has been a pleasure to watch over the years. Her work rate is exceptional, and she inspires me to keep pushing no matter the circumstances. I am hoping our Kade Culture readers will tap into the positive energy of this magazine issue and continue manifesting success into everything that you do. Enjoy reading The Southern African Queens Issue 6, and remember there is no Kade Culture without you, our readers.

Kuda x

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

KHAYA

FOUNDATION 10

Our charity for the month of October as we celebrate black history month is Khaya Foundation, based in the United Kingdom. This is a non-profit organisation on a mission to serve young people in Zimbabwe creating opportunities for a better life for them. Khaya Foundation provides solutions to ensure every child in ZImbabwe has access to education. Their main mission is to intervene again in poverty in Zimbabwe by partnering with different organisations and the community to provide educational programmes for all young people across Zimbabwe. The foundation collaborates with Methocare based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, providing educational programmes and school fees programmes to support young people in attaining high education. Khaya Foundation accepts donations directly on their website www.khayafoundation.org

NON PROFIT ORGANISATION @KHAYAFOUNDATION | WWW.KHAYAFOUNDATION.ORG

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

TENDAI FITNESS

Your fitness journey has been a joy to watch and follow. How have you kept yourself motivated and focused throughout the process? The main thing that has kept me motivated and focused is how I wanted to be the better version of myself. The crazy thing about my journey is that it has given me a different dimension to skills and attributes that I thought couldn’t be improved on anymore such as patience, resilience and discipline. In a nutshell, it takes patience to see results. When progress stalls you need to be resilient and when old habits come calling, is when the discipline kicks in. I never knew that working on myself for my future self would be this rewarding. How has the feeling been like for you achieving your gym goals throughout your journey? It’s been amazing and emotional. I remember the days I used to ask myself how I would even achieve it all because the mountain seemed so steep to climb. But with any goal, I broke it up into small tasks and somewhat achievable goals which meant I was able to celebrate the milestones and see that I’m becoming one fire babes. My family would say, “We can see you’re making progress.” but I’d be like, “Listen I haven’t even reached my full form yet!” Given the start-up funding for your own fitness gym. What name would you give it and why? Fit Life - Women’s only. The one thing I have learnt is fitness is for life. When you are young, old or pregnant; all of that fitness still has to be a part of life. There are many women who want to go to gyms but have heard horror stories or are just uncomfortable. I want an environment where women can work out comfortably, vibe and help each other reach their goals.

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KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

A perfect healthy bowl consists of…Moderation. You don’t have to compromise on everything you love to eat to reach your goals. However, you can eat everything you like in moderation and achieve your goals over a longer period of time. Now I digress a perfect bowl consists of: 1. Lean Protein - Chicken or Fish 2. High Fibre Carbohydrates - Brown Rice or Quinoa 3.Vegetables - Spinach or Green Beans 4. Healthy Fat - Avocado or drizzle of garlic-infused olive oil if you haven’t already used it to cook your meat! Then you can add the sauce of your choice, mine is BBQ. As a wife, how do you keep up with your gym and marriage relationship? I spoke to my husband about what I wanted to achieve and my reasons why. With his support behind my vision, I was able to start my journey and create a plan that wouldn’t take too much time away from home. Do not get me wrong I did make sacrifices waking up as early as 5 am for my sessions and at times going as far as double gym sessions. I’m lucky that my husband also likes going to the gym so throughout our relationship it has become an activity we do together. Having him there is and has been the motivation for me to carry on because gyms are better when you go with your best friend. Being a woman and frequently visiting the gym, what advice would you give to other women like myself who fear going to the gym alone? My biggest piece of advice is to find a gym partner - another half, friend or make one in the gym and have each other as accountability partners. It makes the experience so much better and easier because you have someone else with you. If you were a healthy smoothie, which one would you be and why? I would be a Banana and Strawberry smoothie because I like to keep things simple and sweet.

Photo Credits: @tafaraonline | Instagam 14

Top 5 tips for females when it comes to training in the gym Don’t be afraid to fail or find something very difficult, we all start from somewhere but practice makes it better. Don’t be afraid to lift weights, they do not make you BULKY (as the myth goes) weights are the very things that help you tone your figure. Remember to also train your upper body, it helps create a smaller waist. It’s not legs, bums and tums every day. If you are ever unsure of how to do an exercise, either ask a PT to show you or another gym babe who you’ve seen do it. Most people at the gym are more friendly than they look, we’re all just mean-mugging to get to the gains. Remember the reason why you’re doing what you’re doing in every exercise, being intentional is one of the very things that kept me accountable for my progress.

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM @TENDIEEXFIT

@TENDIEEX | TIKTOK

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

Tawana

Mental Health Advocate | Lawyer

“I am an influencer. My definition of an influencer is someone who causes people to take action in their real lives.”

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

It is a pleasure having you Tawana answer our Q&A. Watching TiniwanaTalks excelling in advocating for mental health has helped some of us in many ways you can never imagine. What inspired you to start TiniwanaTalks? TiniwanaTalks started off as a little blog on WordPress. I was actually inspired by Stormzy’s Lay Me Bare. In the song, there’s a verse dedicated to his Dad and at the time my Dad and I weren’t in a good place and hearing that made me realise that I needed an outlet. It wasn’t meant to be anything but people connected with it and I enjoyed it. I moved it to IGTV in 2020 because video content is easier to digest and it gained a larger audience. It was like free therapy for me. People would DM me and we’d share experiences that made me realise I was normal. It eventually even inspired me to get therapy. I think of TiniwanaTalks as a healing journey that I took with strangers on the internet lmao. With your Instagram posts, you shared with us different topics on mental health and the NHS. How has it made you feel having your followers appreciating your mental health and therapy posts? Will you be sharing more topics once again in the future? I was surprised at the level of attention that those posts got you know. Mental Health in our community isn’t acknowledged as an issue and there’s the label of “crazy” / “kuzviitisa” so I wasn’t expecting such a positive reaction. I had people tell me that they booked therapy because of me which made me sharing my experiences super gratifying. I’m still in shock that talking about those things led to actual change in people’s lives. It was not my intention at all! I’m done with therapy now so I won’t be sharing anything regarding that but I’m always on my Instagram Story talking about applying what I learned in therapy in real life.

Would you consider yourself an influencer with your unique style and large following? And why? Yes, I am an influencer. My definition of an influencer is someone who causes people to take action in their real lives. This could be something as simple as getting a stranger to buy a top or in my case inspiring people to get therapy. It’s not even about follower count. If 5 strangers on social media decide to do something because you recommended or talked about it then you can call yourself an influencer. One question you would ask RuPaul on Drag Race USA if given the opportunity and why? I would ask him what he thinks it was that made him the world’s most successful drag queen. I would love to tap into the energy that made him a superstar and figure out how to apply it to my own life.

Aside from social media, you’re a lawyer working full time. How do you manage to balance such a demanding career and also prioritise self-care? Oh, I genuinely don’t know how I do it. If you watch me whilst I work a lot of cursing and expletives escape my mouth. I’m a Conveyancing Lawyer (Specialised Property Law) and the job is very stressful, especially with the two Stamp Duty Deadlines coming to an end this year. I’m also studying for my license so I can manage a practice one day and launch my business in the next few years. It’s a lot but I try to take a day in the week to make sure I’m good mentally, face masks, wine, and spending time with friends. My weekends are my holy grail and being able to work from home has given me time to do little chores and tasks that would normally take time away from my weekend.

You identify as she/her and are expressive about your sexuality. What advice would you give to young or old who might be struggling with accepting their sexuality? For the younger members of the alphabet mafia I would say it’s a journey, don’t worry about trying to fit into a box your sexuality is unique and specific to you and it will change and grow as you change and grow. For older members I would say that don’t feel pressured to come out. Your sexuality isn’t a personality trait and it doesn’t change who you are. If you were to be an anime character, which one would you be and why? Naruto or Ash Ketchum from Pokémon. Naruto because he’s top 2 but he aint number 2 and I resonate with his self belief and determination. Ash because I would love for Pokémon to be a real thing. Imagine me with a Dragon-Type Pokemon.

@TINIWANA

Your sense of fashion and blonde hairstyle suits you exceptionally well. What is the inspiration behind you showcasing your fashion side? Thank you! I’m going to be completely honest, boredom made me showcase all that. I was furloughed briefly in 2020 and a friend mentioned how she makes money from Instagram and I was like oh count me in! Posting and curating content for brands on Instagram takes up a lot of time and energy so it was a good distraction and the money I made wasn’t too bad either. My hair choices are due to a lovely salon that’s trying to change the hair industry in the UK so that 4c hair can be worked on in the majority of salons. Also, I’m a complete ditz at times so I think it’s my destiny to be blonde. KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

Photo Credits: @selfielondon| Instagam

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

BEMUSE

BYBETTY Feature Continued Next Page >>

KADE STAR FEATURE.

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

BEMUSE

BYBETTY.

How has the journey been for you as a freelance makeup artist? The journey has been unexpected, to say the least! When I started as a freelance make-up artist 6 years ago, I was primarily focused on glam and bridal looks. Whilst I enjoyed doing it and loved my clients, I soon realised that I wanted to play around with art more in a more avant-garde way. In particular, wanted to break the boundaries of what was considered ‘normal’ for black people in an editorial. I wanted to challenge the ways in which beauty is represented in the black community, which, in my opinion, can be quite rigid at times. I also enjoy the atmosphere of being on a set - being surrounded by other diverse creatives to learn and be inspired by them. Your looks are always unique, and each brushstroke seems to tell a story of the thought process you put it. Do you preplan the styles you do or just freestyle, and also why? I do a combination of both! Sometimes I plan the styles via face charts if I have a really complicated idea in mind. However, I feel like my best looks are when I simply paint whatever colours, shapes and textures come to mind. Make-up is therapy for me too, so often I use it as a cathartic release of whatever state of mind I am in or what I have experienced that day. How has it made you feel having your followers appreciating your work? I feel so grateful for having a community of people that appreciate my work and the thought that goes into it. When I started this journey, I was afraid that people would think my work was weird or confusing, but to my delight, the way that I express myself through my vibrant make-up seems to resonate with a lot of people. I love that people see the thought that goes into my work as it is truly part of my identity. As a content creator, what makes Betty Traore’s work different and unique from what’s already out there? What makes me stand out from the crowd is the fact that I advocate for unfiltered skin with editorial make-up looks. I hated the unspoken social media pressure of having to photoshop my spots, scars and texture when I first started posting. I felt like I had to in order for my make-up to be more ‘polished’ or be seen as worthy of attention. I didn’t understand why my normal skin had to be hidden for an audience to appreciate the art on my face. This is why I started my #normalisenormalskin hashtag, for anybody to create and share art, sans base and/or retouching with no shame! Since your first post on Instagram in 2017 compared to where you are now. What advice would you give to young you regarding the future of Betty Traore as a makeup artist? Don’t be afraid to be weird. Someone out there will be inspired by your willingness to authentically and unapologetically put yourself out there.

Say hello to Betty on Instagram @BEMUSEBYBETTY | @BEMUSEMAKEUP KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

Thandie EDITOR’S STAR FEATURE

Editor’s Note - I have been amazed at Thandie’s work rate since connecting with her on social media. Watching her expressing her passion for music through her journalism skills, inspired me to keep pushing with my dreams. Thandie is multi-faceted and through her published articles/work, you can feel the energy that she pours into her craft. Choosing Thandie as our editor’s star feature is a reminder to us all about the importance of doing what we love, connecting with likeminded individuals, and being our own bosses in our lives.

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KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

As a creative, cultural writer and the gorgeous lady that you are, your work rate is beyond amazing. How do you keep yourself motivated to deliver exceptional content as you do? The fact that I have an expensive palette and high expectations for what I want from the quality of my life, and that’s talking travel and immersive experiences and not so much material things that’s enough to motivate me. I also hope to be done with 9-5 life by 30 - but I’m so immersed in this life (because it’s essentially my hobby) that I don’t see that happening. I have been a fan of yours ever since I came across your Instagram picture wearing the same yellow bedazzled Virgos lounge dress as myself. Watching you grow & excelling has been a delight. Briefly, how has the best experience been so far with your creative journey? The interviews and my love for music turned into my everyday life. I’ve gone from listening to projects and having so many questions I’d love to ask around production etc to be like “cool, I like this sound. let me see who I can talk to for that interview” - I’m just trying to be the cool aunt. If you were to go back to the past, what advice would you give young Thandeka about the future? Wow, government names. When I was in Journalism school they always told me to shorten my name if I wanted to get far in journalism - no one mentioned to me that if you’re in your own lane, no one cares and your identity is your entire brand. your lips are nice and very normal-sized lol, the Wirral is never the limit, one rejection is a blessing because it’s a lesson and just another tick of things you’ve experienced.

THANDIE FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM @THANDDD

KADE STAR FEATURE.

You recently started your own Gen B Mag. What inspired you to create a platform for Gen Z music and interviews? When I started writing it was one of those things where I didn’t know what I was doing. I was previously a drink and alcohol journalist and my contract had ended in December. I had a hefty payout so I went to Cape Town for holiday, when I came back we were in a pandemic - I was jobless in the middle of a pandemic. So I started calling myself a freelancer, with no experience of what the hell it entailed or how it came in with the music. I’m from a tiny village named Bebington up north, and the music industry is London-dominated. all these people went to school together or lived on the same ends. I didn’t have that. Not many people were willing to give me a go - so I’m willing to give others a go. Gen B is a sister company to chapter Z magazine, I used to be the music editor for Chapter Z, the editor in chief called me and asked me to start something on my own on behalf of the company (Brand Advance) and here I am. As a writer, you have collaborated with a lot of publications and artists. If you were to choose your favourite published feature & artist, which one would it be and why? My recent podcast feature on Breaking Atoms, with my name alongside cool names like Young Guru and Just Blaze. My interview with Eric Arch from Flatbush Zombies, because to this day it was one of the best conversations I’ve had in a while. My interview with DJ Semtex because what a sick guy. My interview with Beenie Man was because my dad used to play BUY OUT RIDDIM on the way to school runs. Given the lifetime opportunity to interview Jay Z, what’s one question you would ask and why? Too many. It can’t even be boxed in - but that would be cool. I respect so many other journalists in the game - that I honestly don’t think I’d accept the interview before they were given the chance. Any advice for young upcoming music journalists or women in the entertainment industry? Stop begging to be on a table and create your own. When writing a piece on an artist DO YOUR RESEARCH. find the story in everything you are writing. Otter app is your friend. If you were to be a fruit, which one would you be and why? A red grape because I’m a big fan of red wine, merlot nights, where I listen to old school RnB.

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

GET TO KNOW

D J S K AY Y @S_KAYYX| FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM

DJ Skayy forever with a gorgeous smile on your face. What keeps you beaming and glowing with joy? Thank you! I’m literally living my dream right now, how can I not smile and enjoy it? I’m doing what I love and it brings me and others so much joy. I can imagine your journey to becoming a DJ has been one of a kind experience. However, what inspired you to start deejaying and why the Amapiano genre? I’ve always loved music, particularly house music and when Amapiano came around in 2017 I fell in love with the genre. My friends and family know I have a good taste in music so I’m always nominated to control the AUX cable in the car and at parties. I started fake deejaying on YouTube when I was around 14 so it’s always been in me. Eventually, in 2020 my friend gave me my first lesson and during the lockdown, I purchased my own controller and taught myself after that and the rest is history. Room 28 LDN has become one of the top scenes in London and on social media. How has the experience been for you to be part of such a great project? I have such an amazing team that I work with. They uplift me and we work well together. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we didn’t expect things to blow so quickly considering we started on clubhouse but it’s been amazing. What has been your pleasantest career moment so far as a DJ? Opening for all the SA artists! People like Mr JazziQ, Major League, Dbn Gogo, Cassper Nyovest, Focalistic, Kamo Mphela. To achieve this in a year, I’m so proud of myself and I’ve met so many lovely people on this journey. As a female DJ in the entertainment industry. What are some of the obstacles you have faced, and how have you overcome these? Men! I feel like men see a woman and think we need help but I’ve shown everyone what I can do on the decks and it doesn’t happen anymore. What is the end goal for DJ Skayy, and where does she see herself in the next three years? I want to start producing music so that’s in the works right now, I have something special launching in 2022 also but deejaying wise I want to do international bookings and festivals hopefully. If you were to be any musical genre which one would you be and why? Amapiano or house music. The genres are so broad there’s something for everyone. FOLLOW ON TWITTER & SNAPACHAT

@SKN.X

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

JOYLEEN Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger

Your content is always classy and authentically pleasing. What is the process like when you are picking your outfits & backgrounds for pictures? I draw my inspiration and my outfits from everywhere, sometimes it’s from my mother, individuals from the public or some of the influencers that I follow. I also put weather seasons into consideration, especially now that we are in autumn, I tend to wear a lot of bright colours. Most of my style choices are picked randomly depending on the season. As we are now currently in autumn I like wearing brown and blacks, plus neutral colours. The colour brown is always a vibe and that’s the colour I mostly like to add to my style during autumn. When it comes to my background choices, I like to stand out so I pick backgrounds that don’t draw away the attention on me. I like plain backgrounds for my outfits to stand out as I am not a fan of colourful backgrounds. You consider yourself a retired unicorn. Why? This is actually a funny story! I was going to Tkmaxx to find a little box for my precious memories and I came across a box that said ‘How to become a unicorn.’ I questioned myself about this phrase because I was already a unicorn. I am unique and my brain functions differently with weirdly jumbled up ideas and thought processes. I am full of unique ideas and at that moment when I came across the box, I realised I was already a unicorn which later on became an idea for my Instagram bio. I used to post a lot of content just randomly to express myself, but now as an influencer, I had to change the way I post and making my content authentically pleasing; which is why I am now a retired unicorn. As a black female creative influencer. What are some challenges you have faced and overcome in the past year? I think as black female creatives, we have to work twice as hard to get the recognition we deserve. On occasions I used to feel this way a lot during the beginning of the year, working twice as hard but not seeing any growth or movement in my work. It was a challenging time and it felt as though I was not getting the same love as others or having my content be appreciated. I felt as though my content was not good enough and I was not getting the brand collabs I deserved. I had to go back to the drawing board and put my head down to refocus on the things I wanted to achieve and remind myself that I had to believe in my content and my brand. As a fashion and lifestyle blogger, how do you keep going when things get tough? Fashion and lifestyle blogging is part of what I want to do! However, this is not my end goal as I want to achieve more than just being a blogger and I like money so where the money resides is where I am going.

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM @JOYLEEN_M

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR

If you were a piece of fabric which one would you be? I would say silk but flick it around to being a bit hard on the outside and soft on the inside.

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

CHARISSE C. Multifaceted DJ and founder of Abantu on No Signal Radio.

Growing up, did you always want to be a DJ did you envision yourself being as successful as you are now? I have always loved music. I was the one everyone came to, to Bluetooth them new music in school, I have always curated playlists, I was always the one who kept my ear to the ground and would spend hours on end listening to music and researching the cultures/stories behind that music. During the Limewire days, I would write weekly playlists on paper and give them to my uncle, he would burn them onto CDS for me and name them “Charisse Vol. 1” etc. So I built up my collection that way, as well as the mp3 downloaders you would get when smartphones started to become a thing, Soundcloud and YouTube. When I look back, I realise that I have always been a DJ, I just hadn’t ever imagined myself behind decks because I’d never seen that for someone like myself - representation. So instead I pursued a career as a music journalist; five years and a journalism degree later, I had been going out a lot more, I started to make DJ friends and soon learnt that I belonged behind the decks. Yes, I always envisioned myself as being successful, but the story of how that success would manifest has had many evolutions. As a female in the entertainment industry. How have you managed to overcome obstacles on your journey, if any? I was fortunate enough to enter the industry at a time when there were many successful women who had been doing what I was trying to do, and they have advised, supported and mentored me. There have also been men in the industry who saw something in me and nurtured it, from when I was a music writer, to when I started as a DJ. I was also fortunate to work with my friends a lot of the time, and so my journey has always been anchored by a strong sense of community. I didn’t enter the industry blindly or as a lone wolf. I have always had older and more experienced people to lean on and speak to in times of difficulty. So in that sense, I have been quite well equipped for the obstacles that have surely come. As for how I overcome these obstacles; honestly, it’s through my community. I have incredible people around me; and it’s alongside them that I continue to overcome the obstacles that come with being a woman in the entertainment industry, but also the struggles that come with being a human being in this industry. How has your journey with music been like, starting as a DJ to transitioning into radio? So as I mentioned earlier, I started as a music journalist when I was 16, I took up photography around the same time. My first job was writing for a UK music

blog called Certified UK. I then worked as an editorial assistant from the inception of a cultural publication that was called vs notebook. I grew up in Reading and was always coming to London for gigs and shows etc. I wanted to move to London, and eventually, I did, to study Journalism at the University of The Arts London. DJing (officially) started in 2017, I was part of a collective called KNKTU, we ran nights at Corsica Studios, Boiler Room’s London studio and student nights at UAL. My first gigs were at our own events, and then Loren Platt (who was our mentor) booked me to play at her party, which was a legendary night called Work It. I didn’t have access to decks at home at the time; so I would pop into local pubs and ask if I could DJ for them. One of my local pubs said yes, and let me run my own night there. I’d email promoters and bookers with links to my mixes, and ask if I could play. Many didn’t answer, some said no, but some said yes. The rest is history really; I loved it and kept at it, kept practising, I made so many mistakes and learnt from those mistakes, but I kept practising. Mastering the technical skill of DJing has always been important to me. I started getting booked more, but at that time I was still pretty much an open-format DJ. I listen to a very wide range of music and so I played everything depending on the mood and venue. However, I am a storyteller at heart, and it was important to me to develop my story as a DJ and tastemaker. Radio has been a great space for me to do that. Since then I’ve played Boiler Room, and did a guest mix for NTS which will soon become its own monthly radio show, you’re the first to know this. No Signal - continues to trend on social media since the previous lockdown. How have you managed to keep the momentum going with #AbantuNoSignal? #AbantuNoSignal came about during the lockdown, just as No Signal itself did. It kept me going at a time when nightlife had basically come to a standstill and I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep the momentum going as DJ. I had so many amazing bookings lined up before the lockdown was announced, and they were all cancelled. I was gutted! Jojo (co-founder of No Signal), had reached out to me for a guest mix, and then again for a radio show. I thought about what I would want to do with a radio platform, the idea for Abantu came to mind and I ran with it.

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

@CHARISSEEC

Aside from the music, who is Charisse C when in her very own natural habitat? Oh wow, that’s a great but also a complex question. Charisse C is multi-faceted and ever-evolving. Loving and nurturing. Always looking at the bigger picture. A student of life. I’m always building community wherever I go. In my natural habit, I’m just Charisse, without the C haha. Whenever I get asked how I would describe myself or who I am; I always say that some things in life are best experienced or at least described by those who experience me. What was the experience like for you hosting Boiler Room TV with DBN Gogo, Virgo Deep, Jazzi Q, TxC, Kamo Mphela and Cassper Nyovest? It was great! I had just played my own Boiler Room set a few weeks before, and was honoured to be asked to host right after, especially on the premise of being someone who has been repping and pushing Amapiano here in the UK. Having all the mentioned artists here in the flesh is a moment to be marked in history and I’m glad to have been a part of this moment. It was my first time hosting and I was a quarter to losing my voice, but it went well! Obviously, none of the artists were new to me, so I went into it with the mind of just being myself, and being present in the moment. It’s the same when I’m DJing; if I am present in the moment and enjoying myself, everyone else will enjoy themselves too. If you were to go back to meet young Charisse C, what words of encouragement would you give younger you? I would say… Charisse, know that all of your dreams are valid, even the ones that seem far fetched. You don’t know it yet, but all that you envision is going to come to fruition in ways even greater than what you thought possible. Trust that you will grow into yourself and blossom into the woman of your dreams, into the woman you will look back and be inspired by. Deep down you know this, and this inner knowing is the very thing that keeps you going; the thing that keeps you getting back up on your feet. Trust your intuition, because that is your internal GPS. It has never failed you and it’s not about to start doing so. Don’t let anything or anyone make you change who you are, you are exactly who you are meant to be and soon it’ll all make sense. I know you carry a lot on your shoulders, but try to not be so hard on yourself and enjoy your youth, because everything is going to work out just fine. You are more than enough. I wish you knew of your own power, but as I said, you will grow into yourself and this younger you, it’s going to be so incredibly proud of the older you. Just you wait!

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

BESPOKE EVENTS Award winning events specialists for events & wedding planning.

Your work speaks volumes for itself, from balloon garlands to unique colour pallets for decorations. So far, in brief, how has the journey been for Bespoke Events by Jules? Thank you, the journey has been nothing short of amazing. Only started just over 5 years ago and have walked through doors I never imagined. From parties, weddings, corporate events to celebrity events; it’s been amazing. Being a mother, wife, and business woman must be a challenge and having balance is a must. How do you keep yourself connected with the relationships around you? Yes, it’s a big challenge. I have an amazing husband who has supported me from the beginning and works with me on all the setups. My children also support me in so many ways, my teen daughters always updating me on trends and also managing some of my social media platforms. Monday to Thursday I am a full-time mum and wife, then on weekends, I do events. Friends and family have always been very supportive and I always make time to spend with my family and everyone else. Three things you always take with you for events decoration and why? A portable speaker for music, water and scissors for cutting whatever we need cutting. When you reflect on the journey for Bespoke Events by Jules, how has the experience been like, and would you change anything? The journey has not been easy because the industry I was venturing into has a lot of critics, but having said that, I would not change anything at all. It has made me grow personally and professionally Given the opportunity to decorate for the Queen of England. Which five colours would you include in your colour pallet and why? That’s a good question. I would go for burgundy, Cadbury purple, champagne, ivory and gold because the colours just speak and represent royalty. Words of affirmation for future events specialists? Passion and zeal should drive you, not just the availability of props and resources. I have found out that most event stylists come into the industry because they have the props and that’s when a job becomes a burden and stressful. Do it from the heart. If you were to be a prop decoration at an event which one would you be and why? A Chandelier, because every time you walk in a room you can’t help but notice and admire its beauty.

jules@bespokepetalsandevents.com

@BESPOKEEVENTSBYJULES KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

FRONT COVER FEATURE

DBN GO “I keep the human element alive in my work and the way I carry myself.” Photographer: Herve Malila | Christabel Makeupbar | Outfit: MAD Kollection Cover Story By Chantelle Dube and Tapiwa Mugabe

OGO KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

ade Magazine sat with DBN Gogo, real name Mandisa Radebe after a photoshoot in Manchester, UK and this is what the humble, hard working and talented DJ had to say for herself regarding her rise to prominence as an international DJ not just on the Amapiano scene but as a House DJ. Coming up from the underground music scene in South Africa to being a household name has almost happened in one breathe for the gorgeous and soulful DBN Gogo who reminds us she’s everyone’s Gogo, a word meaning grandmother. She embodies a loving and welcoming spirit in her beautiful warm laugh which fills the room with the warmth of a loving and caring older mother, who’s a mother and a friend to everybody. For DBN Gogo, she has made it on her own terms, carving out her own lane in an industry that is fiercely competitive. South Africa’s music and Dj’ing scene is a cosmos of upcoming and household names that are constantly pushing creativity to its limits by producing some of the most talented artists whose craft is recognized globally for its quality and richness. “I’m a woman in entertainment making waves in my own lane.” For DBN Gogo, her rise to prominence has been as significant as the impact of Amapiano worldwide. She’s become a sensation in her own right even during the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic. She has featured on lists and toured and sits with Kade Magazine on the back of a successful run of shows in the UK. She giggles, a playful laugh that hides her considered manner. She means business even as she playfully reminds us that as everybody’s Gogo, she wants to see everybody from a human spirit. She wants to see everyone as she carries herself, meaning to see others as human beings and to meet everybody from that place of beautiful humility.

“I’m a woman in entertainment making waves in my own lane.”

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

Photographer: Herve Malila | Makeup Artist: Christabel Makeupbar

THE HUMBLE GOGO: For DBN Gogo, her rise to prominence has been as significant as the impact of Amapiano worldwide. She’s become a sensation in her own right even during the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic. She has featured on lists and toured and sits with Kade Magazine on the back of a successful run of shows in the UK. She giggles, a playful laugh that hides her considered manner. She means business even as she playfully reminds us that as everybody’s Gogo, she wants to see everybody from a human spirit. She wants to see everyone as she carries herself, meaning to see others as human beings and to meet everybody from that place of beautiful humility.

“I keep the human element alive in my work and the way I carry myself.” Her realness speaks loudly and boldly, testifying to the character of a woman who is not only on the cusp of embodying her ideas and fearlessly demanding space to bloom and become a leader in the Amapiano scene. She already boasts a catalogue with Unlimited Soul, her recent Breakthrough EP adding to the list of gems that people across the diaspora vibe to. Her work ethic is something she strongly testifies to telling us how any anxieties she had pre-lockdown and post-lock down have been alleviated by a strong work ethic backed up by her talent. She believes in herself and her star and it shows in the way her talent shines not only for herself but also by how she makes room for others.

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

Despite the constraints imposed by Covid-19, DBN Gogo has become a sensation both at home and abroad and while it is a level of engagement, she says she was not prepared for, the success of her projects does not faze her. She testifies to a beautiful balance in how she uses social media for engagement purposes and how she uses it to elevate her music by using it for the right purposes. She strongly advises young artists to stay in school even as they carve out their own lane and stresses the importance of believing in yourself and sticking to your gifts and talents while nurturing them to grow.

“If I was a lion, I’d be King of the Jungle.” DBN Gogo is a queen who knows the weight o f h e r c r o w n a n d s h e w e a r s i t b e a u t i f u l l y.

DBN GO Photographer: Herve Malila | Christabel Makeupbar | Outfit: MAD Kollection Cover Story By Chantelle Dube and Tapiwa Mugabe

OGO KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

Outfit: MAD Kollection | Creative Director: Cecilia Kupera

Photographer: Herve Malila | Makeup Artist: Christabel Makeupbar

STYLED BY NEVS

TANYA “Trust and believe in your own work and invest your time and effort into perfecting your craft.”

Styled by Nevs has come a long way since your IGTV post in June 2020 with over 993 views. Since your first post, what inspired you to keep motivated with your brand? Since my first post, the journey hasn’t always been steady but the passion I have for doing makeup and watching not only myself transform but my clients too makes me happy. I love seeing a person’s reaction to their makeup looks or hair installations, it gives me joy. What kept me motivated is my drive and ambition but most importantly my passion for the work I do. I still have a lot of work to do as I haven’t reached where I want to be yet but I’m definitely on the right direction towards reaching my goal of being mainly a bridal makeup artist. Your hair and makeup style on yourself plus your clients are the definitions of flawless. Which products do you use to create the perfect look? A lot of products go into the way that I create looks. Even though many people believe that only using high-end makeup products allows them to achieve the best results, I’m an advocate for the ‘boujee on a budget’ babes out there and I’m always proving that you can still achieve flawless results using drugstore products. The products that are staples in my kit include the Elf cosmetics hydrating Kamo concealers and most of the Kiko cosmetics lipglosses; my go-to being the lip liner in shade 321. That shade is a brown girl’s must-have! I do also enjoy using high-end products such as the Nars natural radiant foundation and the Laura Mercier translucent setting powder. Who would be your dream influencer or celebrity to work with, and why? My dream influencer to work with would 100 percent be none other than the boss herself Jackie Aina. She is one of the reasons I fell in love with makeup and wanting to try new things. She seems like she has a great personality and she inspires me to be great at what I do. She’s a hardworking woman and I believe I’d have so much fun working with her. If you were to be a makeup brush, which one would it be and why? This is quite tricky as I actually wouldn’t be a brush at all but I would be a beauty blender. The reasoning behind this is because the beauty blender is very versatile and can be used for different things such as putting on foundation, eyeshadow, blending concealers and applying powders. My favourite beauty blender is the one by Remsco creations which is a blackowned company.

What hacks tips would you give our Kade Culture readers about makeup and hairstyling? For makeup I’d say to the readers that patience is very important, you might not achieve your desired looks if you are not patient with yourself. Also always apply your SPF! I can’t stress this enough, it is really important to protect your skin under the makeup. For hairstyling, I’d say practise makes perfect and don’t be afraid to do trial and error. Time is what is needed to perfect your craft. Your growth has been amazing to watch. Did you ever envision yourself being a talented makeup artist and taking bookings from clients nationwide? To be honest I never in a million years thought being a makeup artist was something I was going to do. It has been an absolute rollercoaster to get to where I am now and I have had many times I’ve thought about dropping it but I persevered and I am just honoured by the amount of support I receive from my clients. Being a nationwide mua has allowed me to see places and meet people that I would never have come across if I was not a freelance makeup artist so for that I am truly blessed and humbled. Any advice to young and upcoming makeup artists and hairstylists? My advice to aspiring makeup artists and hairstylists is to never compare yourself to others in the field. Trust and believe in your work and invest your time and effort into perfecting your craft and buying for your kit. Comparison is the thief of joy! Once you start comparing yourself to others you will resent the work that you do. Instead, use other people in the field as inspirations and network with them by asking how they achieved everything they have achieved. Work hard and stay motivated your time is coming and remember there is room for all of us to shine in the industry.

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

MAKEUP ARTIST | @STYLEDBYNEVS TANYANEVS@HOTMAIL.COM

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV

REMBERING OUR BELOVED SISTER KADIANN ADDMAN - Founder of Our Sister’s Network. This year we sadly lost one of our most supportive friend & mentor. Thank you for every encouraging words that you shared with us and building up balck women. May your soul continue to rest in peace Kadiann.

KADE CULTURE | OCT - NOV