Y-Not culture 10th issue

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Issue No.10

Y-NOT Ultimate Youth Magazine

LOCNVILLE Simple is Better

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Y-NOT May/June 2014 â—Ś #IssueNo10

Unarine Ramaru Founder and Chief Editor Magnific Media House Publisher Beauty Ntlaba Content Advisor and Fashion Editor Pretoria

Nonsindiso Qwabe Sub-Editor Bloemfontein

Kimberly Pearl Moyo Journalist Johannesburg

Thenjiwe Vaughan Hugo Poetry Editor and Chief Editor Assistant Bloemfontein

Hlengiwe Swandhle Online Editor Pretoria

Vuyisile Kubeka Interviewer and Columnist Bloemfontein

Pontsho Ledwaba Religious Editor Pretoria

Daphney Livhalani Columnist Bloemfontein

Contributing Writers Lebogang Mokubela, Refilwe Mphirime, Takudzwa Gezi and Lebogang Moeng

Y-Not Culture is published by Magnific Media House. All rights reserved. Contributions are welcome. All due care will be taken with material submitted, but the magazine and publishers cannot be held responsible for loss or damage. The editor reserves the right to edit, amend or alter material in any way deemed necessary. Y-Not Culture is not responsible for unsolicited material. The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher of Y-Not Culture Head Office 695 Kliplyster Street Nkwe Estate Rosslyn Pretoria 0200 Cell: 0767633021 â—Ś Fax: 0865294769

W

hen a baby enters its second year of life and becomes a toddler, it starts to crawl vigorously, walk, and even talk a little like the rest of us. It explores the prospects of doing things established by its elder’s rules and its own knowledge developed since birth.

Y-Not Culture will be celebrating its second year of existence in a few months’ time. Y-Not Culture was founded in 2012 as an experimental initiative for the youth of Pretoria, to showcase the artistry in the capital city. Over the past two years Y-Not Culture has gone through changes that didn’t limit it only to the youth of Pretoria. Learning from its new stage of life, Y-Not Culture had to adopt to way of how things are done by national publications. Like every toddler we are throwing away our infant clothes (logo and website) and take up new clothes (logo and website), that will reflect where we are right now as a publication.

Growing up does not mean forgetting your previous self. In this issue we chat to Boichoko Qwabe who reminds us what Afro pop music is and how it has been the sound to all our big moments over the years.

When we started out with Y-Not Culture, we used the tagline “Something is never properly expressed until it’s illustrated as art", along the way we’ve encountered questions like but how do you make a living out of the art you creating, we recently found an answer to this through an inspiring young entrepreneur, D-Man, in a very moving interview inside the magazine.

On the cover we have identical twins Locnville who recently won Best African Act award at the MTV EMAs. We also had a quick chat with an amazing 12 year old model who we predict will become the next Candice Swanepoel.

There is more to the Y-Not Culture than fashion, music and dance, we also bring to you the best in food, religion, cars, relationships and questions answered. Happy reading!!!!

Una Ramses Unarine Ramaru Founder and Chief Editor

Y-NOT May/June 2014 ◦ #IssueNo9

6 Editors Letter 22 Y-Not Religion 42 Y-Not Fashion Tips 47 Y-Not Poetry 48 Y-Not Reviews 50 Y-Not Relationships 62 Y-Not Food 64 Y-Not Cars 12 Jay Makopo 18 Lebogang Mokubela 20 D-M 26 Locnville 36 Casey Tayla Deveraux 52 Boichoko Choko 10 Things I wish I knew when I was sixteen 24 Death by Procrastination 32 Congratulations to me 34 What’s in your dustbin?

44 Lights, Camera, Action 51 How to get out of the friend zone Locnville, design by Magnific Media House designs. See page 26

THINGS

Looking back on years gone by, I can’t believe how at 16 I believed that I had the world figured out. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Those years in life where you believed that you were totally invincible, having just met this great person and you’d be building sandcastles in the sky? Yea I’m talking about those years. Thinking back now, I realize how far from reality my little world was, because years later, nothing has worked out the way I believed it would at 16! Had someone told me all these things, I doubt I would have even listened, however I wish I could travel back in time to give my 16 year old self advice on this journey through life.

After deep conversations with friends over coffee, and reflections on all the times I messed up thinking I had it all worked out, here are a few things I wish I knew at 16: 12. 16 is an exciting yet confusing lifestage, but through the blur of it all, remember to give your parents a break and be a good kid.

1 .Love the Lord with all your heart, all your might, and all your understanding.

2. Cherish your dreams and do not lose your focus.

3. You will learn that life is both precious and unfair. When things don’t go your way and you don’t understand why things are the way they are, take a deep breath, accept that there are some things you can’t control, and don’t stop believing in God. 4. Make mistakes. How else will you learn?

14. You’re 16. You’re not always right and you don’t have it all figured out.

15. Do not feel the need to conform to societal expectations. Be your own tree if you have to.

16. Not everyone will like you. Deal with it.

5. Develop a set of values and principles, and hold on to them.

6. The decisions you make count and have consequences that extend far beyond themselves. Your choices will determine your long-term happiness, or your suffering.

7. Learn the art of patience. It is a virtue.

8. Enjoy your youth and don’t grow up too fast. You’ll never be 16 again.

9. You will find what you think is love, and you will lose it again and again. Keep calm, the real deal is coming.

10. be gentle, respectful, and generous, and take comfort in the fact that in the end, everything will work out as it should.

13. Make memories. You do really only live once.

17. When you mess up, forgive yourself.

It won’t be the end of the world. The people who matter will still care.

18. This ride is crazy, but shorter and faster than you can ever imagine. Enjoy it!

19. Dream big, decide what you want to do with your life, and move your world in that direction.

20. Laugh a lot! Never take yourself too seriously. Look in the mirror and enjoy a good laugh.

“

11. Enjoy what you have and where you are. Be thankful for the time you have been given and make the most of every second.

Above everything else, life is exciting!! Let its beauty take your breath away each day!

MAKOPO

J

South African’s King of Remixes Kenneth "Jay" Makopo, is slowly becoming a YouTube sensation. With an average of 2700 music video views on his YouTube channel, does this Pastor’s kid have what it takes to have a hit song? Find out what he said to answer this burning question.

How did a PK (preachers kid) get associated with Hip Hop, What is your story with Hip Hop? The first time I heard hip hop I was in my parent’s room, on a Sunday, before we went to church. The song is called "Who's in the House?" by an artist named Carman. He's a legend in Christian music.

I still think that song goes in. Ever since I heard that song I was hooked. My parents were uneasy about it at first but they supported me after a while because I listened to Christian hip-hop. In grade 9 I bought a beats/recording program called Hip-hop E-Jay 5 and a R90 computer mic and started making my own songs. The rest is history.

Your childhood has been subject to moving from one city to another, how did this play a role in your artistry?

Yeah throughout my life I've lived in Mabopane, Magogwe, Mafikeng, Rustenburg, India, Australia and Cape Town. Being exposed to different people and cultures has definitely given me a wide range of taste for music. It's also just given me a view of the world that not many people currently have.

You later moved to Hillsong International Leadership College to study youth ministry, was ministry always the thing you wanted to go into?

Yes but I see everything I do as ministry, not just the things I do in church. I want to be a positive influence no matter what I do and where I am.

Do you experience any conflict with your work at church and your music choice "Hip Hop" which is often seen away from Christianity?

No, not to my face. People generally enjoy what I do no matter if I'm inside or outside of church.

Let's talk about your YouTube videos and how you came to do those?

I've always loved YouTube. I think it's better than TV. One day I just decided I wanted to participate in the YouTube community and see if people would enjoy my video. So far it's been going well.

Do you have a team you work with?

Yeah. I have a drummer named K-beat, and a vocalist named Lee. We're part of a crew called The Hangout.

Are the videos bringing in a pay check?

Nah, they just bring in exposure and help me showcase my talent.

How do you decide which artist and what song you want to do a remix of?

I remix songs I like. There isn't a specific method I use to decide. It's also a way I show respect to the artist of the original song.

The big question everyone is asking: is Jay Makopo capable enough to release an album or a song without the shine of someone else hype?

There's only one way to find out, right?

The artists you've done remixes of their songs and the masses have been giving you good responses, has any record label, promoters or artists looking for a feature approached you?

Yeah, record labels, promoters and artists have reached out to me. The response from everyone has been a humbling experience.

Lastly any upcoming projects?

This is actually exclusive, it's first time I tell anyone this. I'm dropping an EP on the 16 June 2014. The EP has no name yet.

Who is your SA Hip Hop top 5 artists and 5 biggest Hip Hop songs right now?

Artists (Not in this order) Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat, Ricky Rick, Khuli Chana, Reason Songs (Not in this order) Reason ft. Ricky Rick - No ordinary being Cassper Nyovest - Gusheshe Riky Rick - Amantombazane ft.

OkMalumKoolKat RANDS and NAIRAS - Emmy Gee ft. AB Crazy & Dj Dimplez Cassper Nyovest - Doc Shebeleza

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#ENTERPRENEURSLEKGOTLA

Take Money out of your Market’s Wallets into Your Pocket Lebogang Mokubela is a 23 year old personal finance coach, leadership speaker author and Director of the 2nd biggest Marketing Agency in the country, Perx Agency. As part of our guest entrepreneur column, Mokubela talks about the importance of maximizing profit.

W

hen we set

aside everything else (strategy, models, marketing, operations and business plans), the real aim of business is to make money, correct?

The other day, I was sitting in a meeting with one of my mentors and he said something very interesting and this flipped everything I thought I knew about business, on its head.

The lesson I got from that meeting was simple, a mere principle. He said “Entrepreneurs must concentrate on doing only one thing exceptionally well – that is, to find ways to effectively take money out of their market’s wallets into their pockets”.

An entrepreneur does not settle for ‘market value’, they will find ways to effectively take every penny from their market’s wallets. As harsh as this may sound, this is the crux of business. No business can grow without money. A business’ success is always weighted on their profits. Think of Apple Corporation, Google and Microsoft.

My mentor continued to provide an example. He said, “Have you ever noticed how those people that stand by the parking lots always ask for R2 but when they are given the R2 they will ‘negotiate’ for more? They understand the principle of taking as much of their market’s money out of the wallets into their pocket”.

“

This made me think of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group; this company has hundreds of brands under the Virgin umbrella and they are all designed to take all your money out of your wallet into their pockets. There’s nothing wrong with that by the way, it’s called providing a service for monetary gain. For example, one would have a Virgin Active membership, while using Virgin Mobile, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Money as service providers. All that money goes out of your wallet into their pockets.

Entrepreneurs? Let’s set aside the complexities of business but rather focus on this principle, find ways to take money out of your market’s wallets into your pocket and grow your business.

A business’ success is always weighted on their profits.

“

D-MAN

Lebogang Moeng talk to young entrepreneur Lebohang Mohapi, on how to make it in the industry and avoid being yet another twitter rapper or dependent on data file host to release your new material f you happen to follow @Bling_G on twitter you probably know the wit in his twits.

He is forever sharing much needed wisdom regarding the Music industry. I caught up with the man behind the brand, Lebohang “D-Man” Mohapi, President of Bling G Entertainment “A proudly Mosotho man, who takes much pride in culture for starters.

Underneath that I'm an urban mover and shaker who hates not being on his feet.”

So what does he do? “I've termed my daily job as "Brands Explorer". I explore both human and material brands and leverage relationships between these two.” His job entails managing affairs of artists. That may include, but not limited to; controlling deals with 3rd parties that are related to the growth of artists, keeps an eye on progress of these events and principal strategy for each individuals’ career within their care.” He helped the establishment of one of Pretoria’s most successful rap duo SoopaStars.

He is very observant of the industry. Does he think it’s growing? “Slowly but surely it's getting there. If only the development lane can be opened on an active basis for a healthy flow of new artists, then we might have a future for longevity. At this point I don't think we stand a chance when we keep seeing the same schmucks over and over with nothing different from a colleagues’ offering. Radio and TV needs to be "demonopolised" again.

“

There's more money to make outside a label than within one.

Talent over money! Currently the man with the loudest coin gets preference. This subject makes me mad so let me rather stop before I name drop channels and play-listers” His advice to up-comers is “Read a book young man/lady.

There's more money to make outside a label than within one.

The difference is that you'll lose a few pints of blood, sweat and tears before it materialises. Ask Kwesta and AKA at this point.

Even for them full independence proved to be a challenge, hence you see traces of co-signs here and there, which there's nothing wrong with- As long as you remain in charge that's indie enough.”

His thing is for industry players to arm themselves with knowledge. Be informed and proactive about the hustle. I asked him how labels are thought to work with their artists, In terms of creative control, percentages, costs, etc.

Rights - Careful not to give rights where it’s not applicable to the label such as your (3rd party) song-writing royalties for example, unless they're actively involved in making you money in that area. Even then you can still cap it at 15% at most.

“This one many music pros can make cart-wheels about it and go back and forth. There are rules and regulations but who cares right? Depending on who you're signing with, creative control can affect those percentages in a good or bad way.” Observe:

Lawyer - Get a lawyer, but another problem. Our copyright lawyers often know little about the music industry nitty-gritty’s, which is where they often miss the traps.)

Percentages - these have appeared to be kept low to the detriment of the artist. Some unfortunate artists will get as little as R7 per CD sold as their royalty share (usually 10 to 18% in SA if you're lucky back when CD's mattered).

"Passive interest" deal - That way you work with whoever, wherever, you get to own your masters and so forth, and they get a fair (negotiated) percentage (anything beyond 25% is a ripoff). The area where you need to be extra careful about passive interest deals as to what extend does the 25% stretch to.

“Again, take a page from Kwesta and AKAs’ book. Being expressive is one thing, making sense is another- If you can't marry the two then respect us and shut up. These brothers have paved the way for us and SA hip hop should be eternally grateful.

These are the new greats!”

GODLY THOUGHTS AN P

hilippians 4 verse 8

‘finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think of such things’ Apostle Paul was simply saying anything good or godly deserves to occupy your thoughts, and what could be any other worthy tool than the word of God

. The word is pure, lovely, right, noble, excellent and admirable, proven to be His mind revealed to humankind.

“Good thoughts breeds good choices” Is a Christian life governed by unseen forces? Are the choices we think we make on our own simply a result of what we call the perfect will of God? Are we really free to do as we please?

The will is an intended plan. The will of God is a divine intended plan of God for our lives.

“

Perfection is n have an automatic g the spirit of God is p

ND THE WILL OF GOD not a myth, humans have gene of flaws but the perfect

“

This perfect will reside and lives in the Holy Spirit and the bible clearly states that when you are born again you become a new creature, filled with the spirit of God and power. When you allow the Holy Spirit to be active in your life, fulfilling the purpose of providing the spirit with a body you are simply saying “God let your perfect will be done in my life” the will is only made known to the spirit of God. Thus, they that live by faith are justified. When the spirit is in charge, there’s no room for personal choices but simply what God intends for your life.

This explains what the bible asserts about being perfect as our father in heaven is perfect.

Perfection is not a myth, humans have an automatic gene of flaws but the spirit of God is perfect.

And allowing the spirit of God to show itself manifest in our lives reinforces perfection in the eyes of other people.

“If you ought to fulfil Matthews 5 verse 48 beat the flesh and let the spirit show manifest in your life”

#Deathbyprocrastination

P

rocrastination might be the death of

you. This could come across as an overly melodramatic statement. How dare I say that? When, in fact my writing of this piece is a form of procrastination in itself.

Yes that’s me. I procrastinate doing something by writing a piece on procrastination. Well, I admit I am a serial procrastinator. A couple of weeks ago I took it to another level. I procrastinated writing a test. I kept looking at the watch; telling myself that I’ll leave in five minutes. Five turned into ten, ten turned into fifteen and before I knew it, I had to run to the test venue.

Who in their right mind procrastinates writing a test?

“Ask the guy who was too lazy to go to the toilet, burst his bladder beyond repair which ultimately caused his death.

#Deathbyprocrastination. You could take this figuratively and even literally. Ask the guy who was too lazy to go to the toilet, burst his bladder beyond repair which ultimately caused his death. This may seem as an odd-extreme example.

Bear in mind I am not making light of this situation but this just serves as an illustration. If he had gone to the toilet and not left it until too late, then the possibility of him being alive today would have been greater.

Now, imagine your life at a standstill all because you did not reply to that one email or call that one person back. Well this can be seen as a figurative death. Not planting the proper seed in the right time to properly yield the right fruit. Again, I might be a little dramatic but this could be our reality if you and I don’t get our acts together. We could miss an opportunity that could have some kind of domino effect on the rest of your live or at least a part of lives. This unfortunately this is a shocking truth, a shocking truth that you and I need to wake up to. What is left for me and you to do, is to get up and do that thing that we were meant to do an hour ago.

I

Is it frustrating to spend all the time and share all most everything with each other?

Andrew: Like everything, you have better days than others. So yeah, sometimes it can get a bit much, but for the most part it's absolutely fine.

Brian: There are some moments when it gets a bit much, but for the most part we have a good working relationship and stay out of each other’s space.

Do you ever fight?

Andrew: We don't fight now nearly as much as we used to.

Brian: We used to fight a lot when we were younger, but not so much anymore.

Now on the serious stuff, in 2007 you made history by coming the first group or artists to release music via MXit, how did this influence your career afterwards?

Andrew: I think more than anything that gave us a sense of achievement. We didn't end up getting as much monetarily as thought we would have, which I think also motivated us to be more business savvy and know our options.

Brian: It didn't really put us on the scene in the way we were expecting, but it taught us priceless things about how the industry works. So from that standpoint, it helped us a lot.

You spent most of your childhood moving between SA and the US, did it affect you guys at all?

Andrew: Absolutely, we spent most of our childhood in South Africa, but the short time we did spend in the States made a big impact on us.

Brian: For sure, I think it gave us both a more rounded view as to how the world works. It exposed us to different cultures as well, which is beneficial to anyone.

Are you still in contact with Given Phike, and would we ever hear III together in a song?

Andrew: We recently found each other on Facebook, but we don't talk too much these days. I think we're both just busy doing our own things.

Brian: I haven't seen or heard from Given in years. In terms of doing more music together, we're both on our own paths doing our own thing.

Die Antwoord, Charlize Theron flying the rainbow nation’s Andrew and Brian Chaplin, kn Pocket”, Locnville are no awards to their name. Soon af

and Candice Swanepoel, are not the only South African exports s flag up high. New York born and South African raised twins, known for their smash electro dance pop summer jam "Sun in My ot just performing internationally, they have international fter winning Best African Act award at the MTV EMAs, we caught up with the twin brothers.

Your music career started off at an early age, how did and how do you continue to stay humble regardless of all the fame?

Andrew: Fame wasn't really one of those things we thought about. Our main goal was and still is to make music that we ourselves would pump in our car. So our goal is different to a lot of other people in the game. Fame is really just an outcome of what we do.

Brian: I think the fact that we have good friends and family as well as a really good team who cares about us helps the most. Fame can really engulf you into a very strange world, so if you have people around you who can help you stay out of that, it's definitely worth it.

Your first album Sun in My Pocket received an overwhelming attention from all over the world, what was your reaction to these at the time?

Andrew: At the time, we were just happy that our tracks were getting airplay and that people were coming to our shows. I think we got a bit ahead of ourselves at a stage, but it's all part of the learning process.

Brian: To be honest, at the time, it was all happening so quick that I didn't really have time to react to anything, it was only after everything settled a bit that I realized what a monumental year it was in shaping my career and how I am today.

What is the secret to stay at the top while doing tours and performing in different countries in a short space of time?

Andrew: Learning to streamline. After a few times on the road, you quickly come to know what's unnecessary, and what you can't do without. Then you just need to find the simplest way to do all of that to make traveling easier.

Brian: Learn to pack well! (Laughs) The real trick is cutting out everything that doesn't matter and to focus on the task at hand.

Congratulations on winning Best African Act award at the MTV EMAs: Andrew: Thank you very much, that was a serious moment of reflection. We're holding the same award as many of our idols.

Brian: Thank you! The award is sitting loud and proud on my mantel piece. Winning that award is one of the cornerstone moments in my career.

In one of your earlier interviews Andrew said 'Our family was pretty musically orientated, so I think we got a pretty good sense of melody & rhythm from a young age' on that note can you guys do any other thing artistic?

Andrew: We used to draw a lot, which we were really good at. Both of us also have a big passion for film.

Brian: I have a big passion for film, and I think I'm pretty good at it. I want to branch out more into the film industry side of things.

How would you like to be remembered?

Andrew: As a person that pushed creative boundaries.

Brian: As somebody who never took no for an answer and found a way to do the impossible.

If you were to die today, what one thing would you regret not doing?

Andrew: Right now, nothing.

Brian: Never forget the light, never regret the night.

Describe your brother in 3 words?

Andrew: Motivated, funny, stubborn.

Brian: Focused, loyal, entertaining.

Thank you for having this interview with us, to end it off please tell us more about your latest album The Odyssey and what to expect from you for the rest of the year?

Andrew: The Odyssey is definitely our funniest project to date. We recorded the entire thing in our own studio, and also mixed all the songs for the first time. We've always written and produced our material, but it was great to get in on the engineering side as well.

Brian: The Odyssey is more a showcase of our production and writing more than anything else.

It's a really fun album with more collabs than we've ever done before. If you like party albums or road trip albums, you'll love The Odyssey.

MY WORLD

Congrat ul at i ons ==========================

5 MINUTES WITH

HLENGIWE SWANDHLE

Growing up was quite fair for me, I was a bit more matured than people my age. There was quite an interesting factor that triggered my curiosity to experience what older people did, which I found to be challenging, and on the other hand enhancing to my way of thinking.

I've always liked to put things on the bigger picture and for me the bigger picture was somewhat far. In my journey to discovering myself, I encountered some hardships, which led me straight back into my shell. I was now objective, hard as rock on the outside and too vulnerable inside. Until love found me! I'm now 21 and engaged. How did that happen? I started embracing life and the people that actually cared about me. Now this was, still is genuine! I don't have objections as to my age as I think marriage is the smartest move I've ever made! We're happy with my fiancĂŠ and are anticipating on so much together. I realised that marriage saves one from most bad experiences and that loving someone is an ability that God instilled in everyone. After all God created marriage and he never gives you something you can't handle. If you wait until you're ready, you'll be waiting the rest of your life, so go for it!

dustbin? razy as this might sound, your dustbin partially defines who you are! The things you consume day by day form part of your self-image, what your goals are and how you want to be perceived.

Play along with me for a while, if you will.

We've often heard of companies employing social media agencies to track a potential job candidates’ social media presence, haven't we? How some of them have dug up an unconscious posts from as far back as ten years ago and managed to find a deleted picture- which in the corporate world would be labeled as “a jeopardy to the image of the company”?

An American teacher was fired after getting caught giving extra credits to students that befriended him on Facebook. Our friend here didn't know that he was signing his dismissal letter when he gave out this offer to his students. to class.

If he had been burning the midnight oil by filling his dustbin with empty coffee containers and his preparation papers for his next class, his students would have been encouraged to match the toil that he would be bringing Lance Armstrong, who won a record 7 Tour du France titles, not only became a sports hero, but also a symbol of courage to cancer survives, after surviving cancer himself. Armstrong however spent 14years of his cycling career filling up his dustbin bag with used enhancement drugs packages. Had he filled his dustbin with protein shake bottles instead, his image wouldn't have been this damaged.

Unemployment is undoubtedly the biggest economic problem right now.

Waiting for the government to create job opportunities will not only frustrate you but will also pave the way to the new town soon to be built not so far from Nkandla. As a business owner I wouldn't want to do anything with someone who have been unemployed for the past 6 months. On the other hand if I’m always taking out my dustbin bag as an unemployed individual full of newspaper classifieds and new business plans, these show the hunger I have to find a job.

“

Your dustbin partially defines who you are

So, dear reader, I often ask myself I'm I throwing the right things in my bin; do they show the goals and the image I want to give people on how they should perceive me? Or am I consuming things that will make me add value to the graveyard, where business idea bigger than what Bill Gates is doing with Microsoft lie?

As I wrote this, I literally took a look in my dustbin and the first thing I noticed was an empty packet of 2 minutes noodles, which in my defence I buy to save time on stove cooking and rather focus on studying, since well I'm a student. I also noticed an old magazine from last month, and as a writer I need to familiarize myself with different writing styles in order to be the great writer I aspire to be.

“

Given what we know about how the likes of Armstrong and our teacher friend not throwing the right things in their dustbins, the unemployed person pitching and myself will continuously change our refusal bags to reflect the things we want to achieve. If we were to take a look in those different dustbins, who would we surely perceive to have a good image, focused, determined, or downright lazy?

Next time, think carefully before you chuck your dirt away. You will never know who is watching.

If she is not in the classroom acing her grades, she is on a ramp, working on achieving her dream of becoming the ‘it girl’of the modelling industry.

“

Perfection is not a myth, humans have an automatic gene of flaws

Being a vibrant 12 year old girl, how do you handle being a model on one hand, and trying to be a normal teenager on the other hand?

I actually love modelling so I guess it is a part of me. Even though I am a model, I still stay true to who I am. I still maintain all my friendships; I am still a young girl and I enjoy spending time with my friends.

How do you keep up with the pressures of being well known amongst your peers?

I pretend that I’m not well known (Laughs) I don’t allow it to go to my head. I think that helps me maintain my friendships but a lot of my friends Google me and show interest in what I do. I have come to realise that I have to always set a good example because I’m a role model to many.

What made you pursue modelling?

Where does the interest come from?

My mom says I loved modelling from a young age and I loved taking pics, and dressing up. I remember nagging her to take me to a pageant one day; she did and I guess that was it. I didn’t win but I loved the feeling of everyone watching me, and also the fact that I got to wear heels, which I wasn’t allowed to do*giggles*

What matters most in your life right now, not only as a model but as a young girl?

I am raised in a Christian home, and my family always teaches me to put God first and everything else will fall into place. So what matters most now in my life, is doing well in everything I do, like my school work, my sport, and my modelling, and still enjoy life as a little girl.

Unlike most 12 year old girls who only dream of being on stage, you're experiencing it in your life; how does it make you feel?

It’s totally awesome! The thrill of being on stage is just exciting, and sometimes nerve wrecking but once I’m on the stage time stands still. I love looking good, walking with confidence and achieving my goals.

There is nothing more wonderful than knowing that I have achieved what I set out to do.

Hard Work Pays Off

Do you see yourself being a model for many years to come?

What has modelling taught you? And where do your other interests lie?

Yes, but not just a model. I want to have a Law Degree as well, be an actress / presenter and also be a mogul.

Modelling has taught me to be confident, I can stand up in front of my class and do a speech. I can speak in front of a church with a 100 members and not feel terrified. I can communicate with people on all levels. It has also taught me that hard work pays off, and that if I don’t win a competition it’s all right.

Besides modelling, I love playing sport like netball and tennis. I also love meeting new people. I play the guitar, and I love going out and spending time with friends and family.

What would you like your peers to learn from you?

I would like them to learn that you can become anything you want to if you set your mind to it. I never thought I would one day do all these interviews but here I am. It started with one simple competition. “Don’t despise the days of small beginnings”.

WINTER TRENDS

As the days begin to get shorter, and the nights longer, sandals and shorts are making their way to storeroom closets, while boots and coats are finding their way to store floors and fashion runways. Ladies the cold season is upon us, it’s time to hit the malls and fill your closets with this season’s essentials.

MARCEL OSTERTAG

This winter it’s all about colour, from your bright, nudes and even those dark bold colours. Everything goes this season, there simply just aren’t any restrictions. That too goes for hair, the bigger the better. We all need a few pieces that will take your everyday outfit from drab to fab in no time. Here are a few trends that will keep you trending this winter;

L

eather has made a huge

comeback, from dresses to pants and jackets, all kinds are in.

Knitwear is also big this winter, fuzzy knits are an absolute must have. Scarves are essential, they transform your outfit in no time, especially those bright and chunky ones. A little secretGoogle 25 ways to wear a scarf and you’ll be sorted. Trust me!

Harem pants are another all seasoned, all ladies should own at least one pair. You can pair them up with boots, heels, pumps, your All Stars, any kind of shoe works really.

Boots ladies, we all need them, boots are essential every winter, however how you rock them matters. One should invest in Knee high boots this season; it’s still going to get much colder.

All Stars are an all seasoned, you can rock them no matter the weather, especially white All Stars. They make your outfit seem effortlessly sheek.

Accessories can never be a bad thing, even the winter months have ones that compliment it nicely. Nail polish, from nudes and pastel colours to navy and brown, all shades work well this season. The fur wrap, talk about elegance. The fur wrap gives you an elegant, sophisticated, sheek look. Lastly, shades and oversized head wear look well in all seasons; let no one tell you otherwise! These are only a few necessities this winter, always go for a look which best compliments you!

Happy dressing up!!

The entertainment industry is vast and broad, allowing masses to be a part of it.

One doesn't need a degree to be in the front screen or to be the voice behind the mic, one needs raw talent and a rare passion and outlook on the particular field.

The problem here is that everybody wants the from sit, the limelight, the red carpet, the awards, events, the glory all that comes the package of being famous.

How about the script writers, producers, the directors and all the behind the scenes person-else? Have you ever asked yourselves why they choose to be "behind the scenes"? The problem with our generation is that everybody wants to be famous not taking into consideration the perks of it.

We see musicians breaking through into the industry with a certain sound but a couple of months down the line, they change their genre. This is simply because the competition is tough, one has to prove themselves countlessly. Where is the originality? Old songs are being sampled all the time because everybody is doing the same type of music. There is no variety anymore, people are automatically subjected to follow a specific trend. When you get into something because you want to make a quick buck you'll find yourself working for nothing but rent and food if you don't do proper research before committing yourself to it.

When you get into something because you want to make a quick buck you'll find yourself working for nothing but rent and food Broadcasting (television or radio) also make part of the entertainment industry.

This is the segment that pushes people into losing themselves in the process of trying to be better than the next person. South Africa has massive talent but what kills it is the fact that people end up taking their chosen careers as battle fields.

The moment you tune your mind set into working so hard to be better than the next person, that's where the problem starts. A person has to work harder in order to perfect their craft in order to stay relevant in this rather tormenting industry.

Its east to get in, but staying in is the difficult part. You have to be an allrounder and be able to do everything from editing, producing to being the face/voice. Not everyone in all these conglomerates drives expensive cars or wear the best perfume. It’s because different levels of hard work and dedication are rewarded differently. When you get into the life of the glitz and the glam, take into consideration the amount of work you will have to put in to stay at the top of the log....remember that all that glitters is not gold.

You've fallen into a pattern of open and close

Young Black Woman, STAND YOUR GROUND!!!

Young Black Woman, stand your ground!

Because you're not getting anywhere laying on your back.

Before BEE, Affirmative Action and Gender Equality Before Tata Mandela began his long walk to freedom Even long before Steve Biko thought of installing black pride among ourselves ... Mama Africa had given birth to her nation and breast fed to keep all 47 of her children alive.

From dawn to dusk she carried them on her back And from time to time you'd hear her cry when pain and struggle got too much to bear.

Mama Africa stood tall before her nation - brown.

Colour of the mountains, trees and the colour of me.

Black Sisters, take your place!

You are not tragically coloured and your dark brown skin is not a badge of shame. ... Wear your deep indigo skin like a banner.

Daughters and Granddaughters of slaves; Stand with Pride!

You are more than your curves and breasts.

Don't be defined by your African Trade Marks. ... Young Black Woman seen through the eyes of Hate, War, Rape and Domestic Violence...

Stand firm before they who reject your brown skin, Let them look up to you because you are young, woman and black...

Silence is not the way, Let your profound voice be heard

... There's no remedy for lost memory, But don't be discouraged by your oppressors

47

... For you, are a descendant of her land For you are an educated sister with a conscious mind...

For you are the colour of mountains and hills, the colour of her soil and roots, And the colour of me. . .

YOUNG BLACK WOMAN, STAND YOUR GROUND, Because you're not getting anywhere laying on your back!

Book Review

They Never

They Never Come Back is a short story written by Takudzwa Gezi, a then 19 year old from Zimbabwe. The story, in form of a narrative, tells of experiences of a young boy growing up in Zimbabwe and having to deal with family members leaving the country for greener pastures.

For the short time I spent reading this story, I felt as though I was in Zimbabwe. I was quite impressed with how it was written. Gezi has a way of making you feel as though you are a part of the story; like you were there and that you know and lived amongst the characters.

Come Back After reading the short story however, fictional. I believe I have a better understanding of how Zimbabweans felt and lived during their economic hardships and most importantly how family dynamic change when members of the family leave to find greener pastures.

Very short but enlightening read.

adies, ladies, ladies! Just because you love him so much doesn’t mean you have to compromise.

Why settle for less?!Ladies tend to compromise so much when it comes to love.

“He is not born again so I can’t talk express my relationship with Jesus with or around him because he will get irritated”. No! He just doesn’t fit to be with you in the first place. If he doesn’t support your relationship with Christ, there’s definitely no reason for him to stay. He doesn’t even deserve to be your husband! I mean how on earth is he going be your covering when he’s not covered

by God himself?!The bible says ‘Do not be fooled, bad companions ruin good character’ (1Corinthians 15:33 GNT). All he’s doing is just to steal your time with God to himself. Stop endangering your relationship with your Creator who is the source of your life, all because of someone who doesn’t even deserve you.

He may be all successful, intelligent and good looking but if he doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ, all that don’t matter because they are just the standards of the world.

None of that benefits your relationship with God.

If you are in this kind of situation, you are probably asking yourself, ‘what now’?

END the relationship! And don’t worry about what is going to happen after that.

God gave us His Word to direct us. In Matthew 11:24(GNT), Jesus says ‘for this reason, I tell: when you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for’. It’s as simple as that, you just need to go before God and ask for the right person meant for you and BELIEVE as you wait patiently and you will definitely receive. He is God that never disappoint and He’s always right on time.

KEEP THE FAITH!

O

ne time, this other lady fell in

love. She was so excited to have found somebody to love again after such a long time. Things went well for the first few weeks and the love just kept burning.

Then came a time when school work got in the way, she didn’t have much time for this guy anymore since she had to pay more attention to her school work. This guy being insecure, he assumed she was seeing someone else. She told him there was nothing like that but he didn’t believe her. One time he asked to see her so they met and as they were talking over this issue of cheating, the guy got hyped up and ended up slapping her.

She could not believe it because she did not know that this guy was abusive. She let it go thinking that it was just ‘one of those moments’. Ok fine they continued dating and everything was fine. Within few weeks, it happened again, and at that time it was worse than the first time. She was traumatised for days and this was her first experience being hit by a guy and now she has to live with those memories every day. . But somehow she doesn’t want to let go of this guy because she says she loves him so much and can’t live without him.

Listen, the only person you can’t live without is Jesus and He has to be the centre of everything. You can love a guy so much and feel like you can’t live without him but you can’t afford to live your life imprisoned by a human being.

None of you deserve to be laid hands on by any man! You are that special and if your partner is doing that to you, LEAVE! You don’t deserve to face each day with bad memories stuck in your head. Love is not everything. First of all if your partner is not a born –again Christian, it will be hard to respect you and treat you in a dignified manner, that’s why laying hands on you won’t even be a big deal to him because that’s how the world does it anyway. Stop covering up for him when he doesn’t even deserve you. Pray for a partner who is after God’s heart, therefore he will be taught

by God Himself how he should treat you.

You deserve the best. KEEP THE FIRST!

How to get out of the friend zone 1

Make your intentions known. Make it clear that you want more than just to be a friend.

2

Change the way you act around the person, give them a fairly intimate hug (not church hug, give her/him a ‘risky’ touch) instead of a handshake.

3

Give him/her playful compliments until you can eventually move on to flirting that’s more sexual in nature.

4

Give him/her playful compliments until you can eventually move on to flirting that’s more sexual in nature.

5

Try eye contact during conversations.

6

Show interest and keep joking about how you not ‘just a friend.’

7

Ask her out on a Non-Date. Something like picking up some books, buying some new clothes, etc. She’s more likely to go with you than if you ask her to go to dinner.

Break the "nice guy" or "sweet girl" stereotype.

Sugar-coating all the time will get you out of the friend zone and into the cousin/sibling zone.

8 9

Stop being needy and acting desperate. You always wondering why your data bundles don’t least as much as you want because you doing it wrong by texting your friend all the time.

10 Try eye contact during conversations.

BACK TO THE BASICS Whether you’re out with friends at a concert commemorating our yesteryear’s struggles, a wedding at the most unknown corner of the country, or simply having a lekker braai on a Sunday afternoon, Afro pop music has been a regular feature ever since the days of Sophiatown. Songbird well-known as chats with Y-Not Culture of what is the best Afro pop sound that made us fall in love with it all these years.

g

How was Boichoko Qwabe growing up with a twin sister? And her raise into music? rowing up with my twin sister has been nothing but a blessing! I had support and a friend so close to me every single day, my entire childhood! We shared everything together and had each other’s back! Although my mother was very clear on making us aware we are not the same person- we just happened to be born on the same day and that’s what was special about us. She emphasized that God had perfect plans for each one of us in a different way, hence we never really struggled to find our passions in life as individuals. We are grownups now, and both have families (fortunate enough to live in the same street!); talk about being inseparable. Music has always been a huge part of my life since primary years and having grown up in a Christian home where we participated in church activities (without negotiations), I always found myself singing. It was difficult then I must admit as I grew up very shy. All my teachers always insisted on me taking leads, it just never stopped! Till varsity…

What does Afro Soul as a genre mean to you?

It simply means good music with a soulful fusion and a distinctive African element that one can relate to, the kind of music that is not defined by age, race or time and season.

In SA women in Afro-soul seem to be doing better than male Afro-soul singers. Why do you think this happens?

I guess it’s through the different approaches we use as artists/ individuals.

But the key factor for me personally is understanding the importance of maintaining a healthy-working balance of the business side of things, carrying your brand as an artist, using to your advantage the strengths in your vocal abilities.

Couple that with your writing skills- how you present yourself and tell your story is really what puts you on the map.

Do you believe music has boundaries?

Not at all, I just think that we choose what we want to hear, what builds us and definitely which stories we relate best to.

Your album ‚Simply Choko’ goes out as a very intimate album of your personal life, songs like ‘Lerato’ and ‘Baile’ reflect this. How was it possible for you to achieve such an effect?

I guess the influence came from the kind of music I listen to. I wanted it to have calming spiritual content, and I also wanted to address different issues in a way that would reflect my personality, experiences and my definition and perception of what afro soul is to me.

This is something which is a bit challenging because you also have to think of the person you want to reach out to, and whom you hope will understand what you are addressing, because as artists we have to be conscious of the fact that we are not writing music for ourselves. I’m grateful for the overwhelming response I get from people who have listened to those few songs and are constantly begging for more.

You were a Miss South Africa semifinalist, is modelling part of the Choko package or was it a once-of thing?

I didn’t really go as far as I would have wished to go in the Mrs SA Competition.

But the experience was phenomenal and enriching. Modelling is one of the many interests I have.

You founded The Book Cover Initiative, tell us more about it?

The Book Cover Initiative was a project that we ran in 2012 when I was preparing for my very first show at the Roodeport Theatre. The idea was to basically give back to communities and show that help doesn’t have to be expensive. It can come in the simplest of ways but actually go a long way and put a smile on somebody else’s face.

What inspires you in South Africa?

The diversity we are blessed with!

Different cultures, the languages we speak, the food, and the people with the spirit of Ubuntu. We live in a beautiful country. 20 years of freedom certainly came to every individual at a huge price, which our former freedom fighters and leaders fought hard and stood for, for us to be liberated and be afforded the privileges that we freely have and enjoy in this country. It is something that one cannot take lightly, especially when you look at what other countries are going through, and the manner in which people are oppressed, ill-treated and discriminated, and dehumanized. Yes we are a developing country and there’s are a lot of areas that still needs improvement in our country but we are not in the same place as we were before some 30 years back, and the change that we want to see is and can be created by each and every one of us collectively. It is our responsibility to shape South Africa and see it transform to the country we want to live in.

Is Bloemfontein still your home? Or are you planning to eventually move to Johannesburg full-time?

Bloemfontein is my Hometown and will forever be. I now stay in Johannesburg, but the Free State is home for me and whenever time allows me, I make it a point to go see my family and friends.

How do you balance being a wife and performing every other day?

Fortunately I haven’t gotten to a point where I’m on stage on a daily basis, but being on stage for me is work and off stage I’m back to being a sister, a friend and wife. I thank God for a supportive husband who is just as passionate about music as I am and wants to see me thrive in this role.

What was the recipe for such a great album?

Patience, love for good- timeless music, and a dream to live to share my story.

Five minutes before the show starts …

I pray and trust God for a great time on stage!

How crucial is social media to a flourishing career?

100% crucial. It’s a free tool everyone has access to, to communicate their brand and make their presence visible. It needs consistency, research that will keep you running with interesting and relevant ideas. It is just unfortunate that other artists don’t have time and underestimate the power that it carries.

Final words?

Never stop believing in the beauty of dreams, and always thrive to live out your passions in life. Keep watching, Choko aims to grace South Africa with her presence for a long while!

Let’s dine

Y-Not Kitchen

It is a known fact that food truly is the best way to a man's heart and on the other hand it has been proven, it is a guarantee your woman will fall hard for your sexy meals. YNot Culture’s resident cook Nonsindiso Qwabe is here to give tips on how to impress your significant other with the classic meal, Cottage Pie.

Ingredients 500 g mince

1 chopped onion

¼ cup chopped peppers

1 beef stock cube

2 tbsp sunflower oil

3 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp any seasoning spice

5 medium potatoes peeled

Cheese sauce

1 tsp butter

Grated cheese

1 tsp salt and pepper

Method Chop potatoes into chunky bits and boil until tender Fry onions and peppers in cooking oil until soft, and add seasoning spice Add mince, stock cube and ¼ cup of water to the onion mixture Once the mince has a brown colour to it, add the Worcester sauce and tomato paste and mix well together Allow pot to simmer for 10 minutes Once everything is cooked, pour the mixture into a casserole dish Mash potatoes and add cheese sauce, butter, and pour in a bit of milk to create an even consistency (mash shouldn’t be runny) Spread the mash over mince and sprinkle grated cheese, using a fork to blend the cheese lightly with the mash for nice golden brown colour once grilled Place dish under the grill for a few minutes, until cheese turns to a light golden brown

Courtesy of Carmag.co.za

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