OCTOBERR, 2019, ISSUE 01
GET FIT: Out of the gym philosophy & ways to stay on track! TRAVEL: We Africans need to travel more. FOOD: Tasty, traditional cuisine.
O F F
T H E
B A T
S I K A N D A R
R A Z A
c o n t e n t s
Images courtesy of, Ethiopian Fashion Brand, QEMER, Founnded by @_jehoaddan and @lula_tt Feature story on page 11
0 7 WHO IS RAZA?
1 8 AFRICAN TRAVELLER
"Off the Bat" gives a vivid look into
Explore the great African terrain, see
who the famous athlete is off the
the world from a different angle.
cricket pitch!
Buckle up, let's drive away.
1 1 FASHION & SOCIAL WITH QEMER
Bold prints and a bold agenda! Fashion that inspires more than oohs
2 0 KA MEAL! Mouth-watering African cuisine by African Chefs. Learn, explore and let’s eat up!
and aahs,,,
14
FITNESS & LIFESTYLE WITH MIKEY
2 1 MONTH SOUND OFF Honoring each issue's month with
Mickey takes on the fitness world to
'reflective', 'celebratory', or 'this time
educate women on self love and
in history' profiling.
mental health
16
CULTURAL QUOTE
2 2 WAKOSHA!
Get to know the meanings of cultural
Africans killing it!
phrases or proverbs from our rich
Make sure you don't miss the shout
African languages.
out corner.
editor's note
It’s
always
an
amazing
journey
to
burst
out
of
the
reality realm into the imaginable. The
journey
realm
becomes
transforms
a
into
bit
weird
the
non
when
the
imaginal
imaginable. Weird
is
cool and when the team and I sat down to launch the first
issue
we
realized
that
non
imaginable
is
way
cooler.
Off The Bat we
already
got our minds cracking with ideas which envisioned
but
they
came
into
life
when
the name Sikandar Raza came up! We all know him as the
“Cricket
Guy“
some
Zimbabwean
cricketer.
you
down
ever
question
sat like;
and
"what
know
But
beyond
just
totem
him
is
asked Raza
as
the
the
best
cricket,
have
yourself
a
or
would
what
random be
his ideal Totem if he had the chance to choose?"
Weirdly interesting right? Who knows why he wears and reps Zimbabwe beyond and above? It is all unwrapped in “
OFF THE BAT ” ,
fashion,
as
taKOSHA!
entertainment,
lifestyle,
is hungry for culture, and
art.
We
had
to
get the scoop through an exclusive interview, off the pitch imagery of the Zimbabwean cricketer, gentleman and all that.
We inched in on the man himself off the pitch and got to learn more about him.
Sikandar Raza
aKOSHA!
@_kevels_ Kevin Mwenye EDITOR
IN
CHIEF
SIKANDAR
RAZA
THE ZIMBABWEAN Cover story on page 7
Cover Star: Sikandar Raza Butt Staetment Tshirt (Raza's own) On Location At: Cleveland Dam, Harare, ZWE Styling By: @desiignerjaytee Shot By: @myownphotography_263
WHO IS
Above Cover Star: Sikandar Raza Butt On Location At: Cleveland Dam, Harare, ZWE Wardrobe & Styling By: @desiignerjaytee Shot By: @myownphotography_263
RAZA? COVER STORY BY: TAKUDZWA CHIHAMBAKWE
We often judge a book by covers even though idioms and proverbs tell us not to. But because it is just naturally easier, and at times, simply because it feels good for the eye, if you’re a lazy creative like myself. But in this issue and series of taKOSHA we decided to take things outside the box and dug deeper and got this intriguing feature with Sikandar Raza. When the world hears the name Sakandar Raza Butt, the gentlemen's game, cricket comes to mind. Vivid images of jaw dropping shots with the bat on the crease, stunning bowling and adroit fielding rush to mind.
Yes he is that good – ranked the ninth best One Day International (ODI) allrounder in the world. But, beyond all the interesting cricketing stats that are associated with him, there is another side of Raza that is not known to many. The Zimbabwean international cricket player has a fire in his heart. A burning passion to help the less privileged in society. Today you discover the unknown philanthropic side of Raza. The lad has over the years been involved in a number of projects that have had immense impact on children in the Southern African country. “My philanthropic nature was borne a long time ago and stems from my religion, which is an integral part of my life,” said Raza.
"IT'S THE FIRST
MAGAZINE
COVER AM
PART OF SO I
AM VERY
EXCITED TO BE
PART OF
TAKOSHA AND I
FEEL HUMBLED
AND HONORED!"
"Off
The
Bat!"
“Philanthropy is a big part of my religion and the word used to describe philanthropic works/deeds in Arabic is Sadqa,” shared the Pakistan born Raza.
He says that being able to help the less privileged is his little way of giving back to humanity. “The smiles I receive and the peace I feel in my soul motivates me in my philanthropic work. To be honest, just trying to ask what's needed by those who are less fortunate and in return asking for their prayers motivates me to continue doing what I do,” revealed the lad who lives by the ideology that no religion is bigger than humanity. Some of his milestones in the philanthropic domain has seen being made Brand Ambassador for Swedish Embassy campaign for Gender Violence. He has partnered with Zimbabwe’s biggest telecoms company, Econet on their Bid Buddie app. Through this venture, his custom Puma boots were auctioned on the Bid Buddie app and proceeds were used to purchase groceries for Centre for Total Transformation (CTT). CTT is a Zimbabwean private voluntary organization that caters for out of school orphans and vulnerable children in the Snake park area. “I heard about CTT from KOSHA (A company managing his brand).
It's plight touched me in more ways than I can tell you. I'm encouraging everyone to visit CTT so they can understand better the task that lies ahead of us,” he remarked. The man with a gift to give, together with KOSHA, they have a some exciting ventures on their to-do list. “We have a few other fundraising, and awareness projects in the pipeline, some which I can reveal and others that I need to keep under wraps, for now.” Moving on, Raza explained to us how he ended up in bed with KOSHA and how this union has impacted his brand. “KOSHA approached me with a concept and a vision which was in sync with what I'd already been thinking of. The ideas they pitched matched what I wanted, hence we teamed up. It was a serendipitous moment for both parties,” recalled Raza. “This partnership has brought a detailed strategy to execute a shared vision and I'm extremely happy and excited about that.” Closing off our chat with Raza in a cricketing note, just like we started, he says the game makes his life tick. “The desire to be better everyday and to keep raising the nation's flag high by winning games for Zimbabwe is what keeps me ticking.”
Cover Star: Sikandar Raza Butt On Location At: Cleveland Dam, Harare, ZWE Wardrobe & Styling By: @desiignerjaytee Shot By: @myownphotography_263
FEATURES
Roaring Ethiopian elegance and bringing true African fashion to life!
QEMER FEATURE STORY BY KEVIN MWENYE
"AS AFRICANS, THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MOLD." AN INTERVIEW WITH: QEMER FOUNDER AND DESIGNER, LULADEY TAKELE TESHOME AND YOADAN EPHREM TADESSE, Qemer is an Ethiopian African clothing line and
The Ethiopian tradition is known to evoke pride the
brand motivated by “ Representation” according to
heritage of the people. This in turn played a crucial
the creators “ There is a lack of diverse African
role In the establishment of Qemer. “Qemer
culture representation in the fashion industry and
embraces and takes immense pride in the African
beyond”. A clothing line beyond fashion with an
heritage and seeks others to be likewise. In addition,
inspired social message!
Qemer has adopted inclusivity, a concept that
Great friends since 7th grade in Nazareth School —
Ethiopia stands by.”
both born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Luladey Takele Teshome and Yoadan Ephrem
Intercultural collaborations on the horizon! “We
Tadesse, took a childhood dream seriously and
have a segment within Qemer known as Qemer Plus
founded Qemer in January 2019. "We found
where we represent other African creatives' works."
ourselves having lunch and still talking about our
The brand constantly reaches out to artists with
clothing line—only this time, we were determined to
similar values to share their work through our
make it a reality." So what makes it different?
platform. Qemer is expanding to different African countries through the representation of different
Qemer is not just a business brand but also a social movement, created to recognize and promote the African culture through different products. It aims to combat the lack of African cultural representation in the fashion industry. By serving as a platform, Qemer presents an outlet to products made in Africa by Africans. "We deliver fashionable attires that cater to different age groups, allowing the freedom of selfexpression. We provide home decors that enliven the room and accessories specifically designed to complement a variety of moods." The bright colors and detailed patterns in the initial collection's designs inspire elegance and comfort in their customers. "Our customers stand with us to celebrate our cultural diversity and advance this movement of creating a positive image of Africa.“
creatives, from different countries. “We believe the most important aspect of it all is understanding who you are and what you stand for.Observation is key. Through acknowledging the society, seek to explore your artistic side to harness your creativity and develop something unique and useful.In addition, don’t let finances limit what you would like to accomplish. Instead think about what you are able to do with what you have and create in the best way possible.There are going to be a lot of hurdles once one decides to pursue their dreams. There will be many discouragements before you even begin. Don’t expect a smooth journey. Whenever you face a mountain you can either be a dynamite or a river. The dynamite destroys the mountain, the river goes right by it. “
FEATURES
F
I
T
N
E
S
S
L
I
F
E
S
T
Y
&
L
E
WITH MISS CHINDIYA
One of the most marketable and currently hardest working, most sought out female fitness models; Mikey Chindiya describes her journey in the fitness world as the birth of a new era #MikeyGetsFit, which targets and challenges young women to stay healthy and fit. Ultimately, her goal is to inspire and motivate other young professional women, who struggle to find and make time to take care of their minds and bodies. Mikey's mission is to be the reminder that young women need to feed their own fire and take ownership of their bodies and their lives. "I'm really just a young professional woman, who at 25, doesn’t have her whole life figured out. Everybody says we should, but nobody really knows how to. And that’s okay, and that’s what I want young women like me to know."
As a fitness model and an inspiration to the younger generation, Mikey does not get too caught up in the vanity of what her role involves. She shares what she does, aiming to present results of her commitment to self-love through fitness. Miss Chindiya strongly believes that results need to speak for themselves as explained in her own words; "The vision is wider than just beautiful images. it's important to me that my example serves as the weight of my words". Taking a closer look at Mikey's background in the fitness industry and becoming a brand in Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond; it would be a bit far fetched to describe the journey as smooth and easy. Having positive responses is advantageous in a way that it keeps her focused on what matters most simultaneously helping her to avoid getting caught up in the hype.
"FITNESS AND TRAINING IS MORE OF A LIFESTYLE CHOICE. MY LOVE FOR THE GAME INSPIRES ME TO STAY DETERMINED SINCE IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY PERSONAL SELFLOVE JOURNEY." —MIKEY CHINDIYA Slowly becoming a popular brand online may be tricky as one might feel the urge to keep up with trends and end up losing their identity along the way. Mikey's case is no different although she stays true to herself and does not feel pressured to go out of her way to please her followers. She has a flexible workout routine whereby she finds exercises and workouts from different corners of the fitness world. This leaves room for experiments. Mikey emphasizes that she does not take any supplements and enjoys workouts in any locale. It is important that other young women looking at getting fit, to not think that fitness means "hit the gym and dose up on those supplements" for a sped up transformation process. "Women are enough as they are, it’s important to eat and do what feels best for your body and lifestyle". As an African woman in the corporate world Mikey hopes to open a gym for women, creating an environment that she wishes would be comfortable for women of all shapes and sizes. FEATURE BY: KEVIN MWENYE
Mikey's taKOSHA! Life Code: Doing the things you said you would, living out your truth'
CULTURAL QUOTE FOR THE ISSUE:
"UMUNTU ABOZINUKA AMAKHWAPHA" Bantu Language - Ndebele (from Southern Africa) English translation: Each man must recognize his faults. By recognizing our own faults & keeping ourselves in check, each and every single one of us would be able to reign ourselves in before we get out of hand.
FEATURES
T
R
A
V
E
L
In the small city there are a lot of road signs to go
Getting beautifully
there. I don't think it's reachable by foot from the entrance we drove for a while to get there.It is not
lost in Chimanimani Review by: MACELINE MIMI KADURIRA @peripatetic
A hidden tourist attraction in Chimanimani, Manicaland, Zimbabwe which is on the west side of the country. It has become popular in recent years but when I visited no one really talked about it. It is inside Chimanimani National Park. It's name is derived from how it looks, it looks like a brides veil. It is fed from the river that runs from the city, It has a plunge pool on the bottom called Tessa pool. I went there peak summer but the water was a solid fridge temperature. I like things and swimming but it could make you hypothermic if your system is not that strong. The nature surrounding the falls is surreal, its green, unpolluted, and lucky for us, we got acquainted with some local monkeys - hello nature!. How to get there:
From Harare head to Mutare then take A9 Chimanimani Road, follow road signs.
free you pay an entrance fee at an office separate from the entrance. It was $3 for locals, $11 for international visitors at the time I visited. Activities to do:
Take in the scenes with a walk to the top of the falls, via the available walking trail. Swimming is next on the recommendations list but the tour guide told us the Tessa pool was sacred, (as is much of Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands) we went for a dive anyway. The water in mid-summer was extremely cold at about 0°. One can look forward to relaxing over picnics, and experience the calmness of nature, with its complementary picturesque views. Barbecue's are a vibe, thanks to the numerous stands dotted around the site; you just bring your food and materials and make it happen. There are also some camping spots, for those nature lovers. As it is located in a national park, you can look forward to enjoying seeing and sharing your world with some real natural game. After all of this, I recommend experiencing the hot springs and concluding the visit with some deep meditation by the famous and enchanting Vumba mountains!
FEATURES
F
N
U
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R
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O
T
D
I
&
O
N
WITH THE CATERING BAE
THE CATERING [PTY] LTD NAME: The Catering Bae FOUNDER: Tokologo Shaku [25] NATIONALITY: South African YEAR FOUNDED: 2018
mo go du DIRECTIONS
The Catering Bae is a catering company that caters for all types of events such as parties, weddings, ceremonies, and, corporate events. Their vision is to own reputable restaurants across Africa, host cooking classes, as well as fun food competitions.
Cook mogodu [ox tribe] until soft.
INGREDIENTS 1 kg mogodu[ox-tribe]
Add paprika and onion and continue cooking.
1 teaspoon ground paprika 1/2 medium white onion finely chopped 1knorrox beef stock
It takes about 3 hours for it to be tender and fluffy. Remove any excess water and start frying using very low heat [dont add oil as it has its own fats].
Melt 1 beef stock into two cups of water and add it to your pot. Let it simmer until thick and serve.
pink in october
is for
breast
cancer
awareness
“There can be life after breast cancer. The prerequisite is early detection.� #ProActiveLiving #BreastCancerAwareness
wa
KOSHA!
"YOU CAN'T BREAK THE LIMITS THAT NEVER EXISTED"
NAME: PETER OJINGIRI AGE: 22 LANE: HYPER REALISTIC ARTIST HANDLE: @ojingiripeter_art COUNTRY: NIGERIA,
C O N T R I B U T E j o i n  o u r
c o n n e c t e d
NEXT ISSUE? Fancy being a part of our December 2019 Issue? Let us show the world exactly why Africa is NOW! We look forward to hearing from you and all about your creative expressions.
t e a m
Passionate about writing Passionate about design Passionate about fashion Passionate about photography
conceptualized in Made for
