Stories of South Africa

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Young Limpopo film director, Letlhogonolo Masipa’s film makes it big

Career, Entertainment, Fused, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / February 15, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

In the past, South African stories were always told by others and not us, but this norm has been slowly dying as South African creatives are writing their own books, singing their own songs, making their own fashion and certainly making their own films.

One of the many young creatives who is paving the way in this journey is Letlhogonolo Masipa, a film director from the Limpopo province.

Letlhogonolo’s recent short film titled “Memories Last for a Lifetime” which was shot in his home province of Limpopo has been chosen as an official selection at Kalakari Film Festival. The short film was also nominated for the Kalakari Film Awards that will be hosted in Indore – India on the 18th of March this year.

In a recent post, the artist celebrated this achievement by thanking everyone invloved in this project, including his grandparents. “Congratulations to the amazing cast and crew this one is for y’all. To my grandmother and my grandfather thank you for allowing me to tell your story,” he wrote.

The Kalakari Film Festival is an exclusive event of INDIA for upcoming artist and thinkers. It is an award function and art festival by Rishi Nikam, and is the most prestigious awards for the film, animation, visual effects, photography segment across the Indian sub-continent and beyond, including South Africa.

Letlhogonolo has a dream of becoming an Oscar-winning filmmaker, and in his words, “the Journey of getting it truly begins here” – we’d say he’s off to an amazing, inspirational start!

Image: Instagram

7 Times Pamela Mtanga slayed in red

Fashion & Beauty, Fused, Lifestyle, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / February 14, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

 Award-winning multimedia entrepreneur and beauty/fashion influencer, Pamela Mtanga from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s style, beauty, broadcasting, philanthropy, you name it, she’s got it!

In June last year (2022), Pamela was named top personality and influencer at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards hosted by Pat on Brands. The bubbly public relations graduate is one of the country’s hottest beauty and fashion influencers.

Red is the color of love, and on this Valentine’s Day, we look back at 7 red looks that Pamela absolutely slayed!

Tweeps react to Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance and pregnancy reveal

Entertainment, Fused, Stories of South Africa / February 13, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman, Rihanna is pregnant with her second child.

The 34-year-old 2023 Super Bowl Halftime performer took the stage in Phoenix, dressed head-to-toe in bright red, revealing a baby bump, and becoming the first pregnant woman to star in the halftime show.

Rihanna pulled a Beyonce by rubbing her stomach and leaving the zipper of her outfit — a jumpsuit layered over a close-fitting bodysuit and sculpted bandeau — down to reveal her belly.

The Grammy winner and her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky, welcomed their first child in May 2022.

It’s been a while since Rihanna has had a performance or released new music, so of course her fans had a lot to say:

Image: Instagram

Five sweet moments between AKA and his daughter, Kairo

A-Listers, Fused, Stories of South Africa / February 13, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, known professionally as AKA, was among South Africa’s best rappers. Besides rapping, he was a songwriter, music producer, and brilliant entrepreneur. There’s no doubt that AKA has been one of the few artists who have been responsible for the greatest, most timeless hits to ever come out of the African continent.

On the night of 10 February 2023, the 35-year-old artist was shot and killed outside a restaurant in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. Many fans, friends, family and loved ones are still in utter shock and disbelief. One mourner whose pain is unimaginable, is his daughter.

AKA was a loving, devoted father to his one and only child, his sweet daughter with DJ Zinhle, Kairo. The pair has been inseparable since little Kairo was born.

Here are 5 of some of the sweetest moments Kairo shared with her superstar Daddy, AKA:

Image: Twitter

The man behind the flowers, Given Kazeni

Business, Fused, Lifestyle, Stories of South Africa, Uncategorized / February 8, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Most women love receiving flowers, let’s face it; they’re gorgeous, smell great most of the time, and they have the ability to light up any room. And what better month than February, the month of love!

If you’re a regular on Twitter, you might be familiar with Given Kazeni and his stunning bouquets of flowers from his business, Burgeon Flora. Given started his business in July 2022, and in just a few months he has garnered a huge clientele that gives him the nod with each delivery.

Burgeon Flora, without a doubt, has a success story that keeps getting better, one bouquet at a time. However, Given is not an entrepreneur who doesn’t know humble beginnings. In September 2022 he took to Twitter to share some of the challenges of owning a business.

“Had to make one of these deliveries by Gautrain today. Uber-Gautrain-meter-meter-Gautrain-Uber. R510 one delivery. This tweet is solely so I can come back to it one day,” he wrote. And sure enough, two months later, his business was able to buy itself a delivery vehicle.

Congratulatory tweets came flooding in from all directions to Given, applauding him for his work ethic, professionalism and inspirational journey. So, whether you’re looking to brighten up your home, show love to someone special, or even congratulate a friend, Burgeon Flora has just the bouquet for every occasion!

Image: Supplied

Mandisa Matenjwa’s healing hands

Career, Fused, Stories of South Africa / February 6, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Mandisa Matenjwa, 23, has hands that can transform any garden, and make it beautiful and serene. Growing up Empangeni in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, Mandisa has always had a keen interest in agriculture, anyone looking for her as a child would find her in her grandmother’s garden, tending to it with absolute precision and care.

After passing her Grade 12 studies with very good grades (she was always an A+ student), Mandisa went on to pursue her Agriculture Degree at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, where she graduated in 2020.

“I was always interested in gardening and saw the importance of planting your own food from a very age. The decision to study agriculture was because I wanted to know more than just the upkeep of a garden,” Mandisa explains.

In 2021, Mandisa was awarded an internship at one of the biggest public trading retail companies in South Africa, Mr. Price headquarters in Durban. “I worked as an intern at Mr. Price the whole of 2021, where I took care of the garden. After they saw my dedication and passion for the garden, I was then offered the position to become the Agri-business manager – which means I’m responsible for buying the seeds, planting, pruning and just taking care of the garden. With the produce, I sell it to other employees, the canteen and restaurants,” she says.

“Mr. Price also helped me register my business, so the profit I make from selling produce helps my business. When I’m not working the Mr. Price garden, I offer consultation services to other people and business. Some people come to me to teach them how to take care of their gardens, so I first go check it out, then show them how to do just that,” Mandisa adds.

So, what’s the secret behind Mandisa’s healing hands? Pure love and water! “I use the same seeds, fertilizer and water that everyone uses. My only secret is that once you love something, it loves you back. I have passion for agriculture, I give it my all – I make sure I take care of those plants because I want them to take care of me, I want them to attract customers,” Mandisa reveals.

The most rewarding thing about Mandisa’s job is the number of opportunities it comes with, in a country where youth unemployment is sky high, she says she is blessed to have multiple streams of income.

The 23-year-old is currently busy with a business learnership, “I want to learn more about becoming a business owner, how to manage your business etc. I want to own farms in the future and be able to grow my own produce and sell to the whole of Africa,” she concludes before rushing off to another garden.

Image: Twitter

Actress Zikhona Bali’s inspiring poultry farming journey

Business, Career, Fused, Stories of South Africa / February 2, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

You might know her as Asanda in Diep City, or Londiwe in Isi’thunzi, or even Lerato in Lakutshon’ILanga, but now Eastern Cape-born Zikhona Bali has added poultry farmer to her long list of accolades.

In this economy, no career promises to always be secure, so as an artist, Zikhona decided to start selling chickens. But because starting a business without capital is almost impossible, she joined a stokvel, and used her share to get started.

Zikhona’s entry into poultry farming has inspired many young people to be proactive in their careers, not be afraid to follow their passion, or even venture into new paths – you never know where gold is until you start digging!

The award-winning actress has been sharing her farming journey with her social media followers and has received so much support.

Next time you’re looking to buy a chicken for your Sunday roast, contact Zikhona!

Image: Instagram

South African Tik Toker, Simo Ziqubu catches Kylie Jenner’s attention

Fused, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / January 30, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

It’s not every day that your favourite celebrity sees your content on social media, let alone respond to it. But South African Tik Toker, Simo Ziqubu garnered not only Kylie Jenner’s attention after posting a funny video, but the attention of international media too.

In the clip, Simo pretends to play the parts of both Kylie and her son’s father Travis Scott, as they attempt to pick a name for their son. The video was dubbed over with the opening moments of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, which famously begins with a narration the four elements: Water, Earth, Fire and Air.

Simo hilariously captioned it: ‘Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott deciding a baby name.’

Kylie certainly saw the funny side as she shared a comment underneath the video of two crying laughing emojis.

@simo_ziqubu

What an accurate sound 😂 IB: @Massimo Mandato #kylie #travis #aire

♬ original sound – Giselle Carrillo
Since then, the Tik Toker has created many funny follow up videos, referencing all the paparazzi he’s been receiving since ‘making it big’. Hilarious!
Image: Instagram

Nzinga Qunta’s passion for journalism and little children

Business, Career, Fused, Stories of South Africa / January 30, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

When it comes to women in journalism, South Africa has produced some of the best in the world! One such example is business reporter, Nzinga Qunta. Nzinga is a world class broadcaster. She works as a business news anchor with experience in radio and television, currently anchoring SABC 3 and SABC News’ daily business news show, On Point. 

She is a sought-after programme director for discussions, conferences, events and seminars involving heads of state, CEOs, entrepreneurs and social partners. 

Her work includes facilitating discussions at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2022, Davos Dialogues in 2021, capital market days for JSE listed companies, banks and organizations.

She facilitated discussions on two panels at the recently concluded World Economic Forum. This panel was titled ‘Realizing Africa’s Century’ and the panelists were the President of Switzerland, Alain Berset,
The Prime Minister of Tunisia Prof Najla Bouden, the Chairman of Multichoice Imtiaz Patel, and the Under Secretary of the United Nations Winnie Byanyima.

Taking to Instagram, the ever so stylish Nzinga wrote: “This is my second time moderating an Africa panel in Davos and each time it gets lit unexpectedly, it reminded me that our continent is diverse, vibrant and has many issues and opportunities. What a privilege to gain insights on how the debt crisis continues to cripple our continent, solutions and opportunities for investment and how innovation and partnerships with other countries can help us realize Africa’s century. It’s exhilarating moderating conversations on a global stage, this time with the support of the biggest public broadcaster in Sub Saharan Africa.”

When Nzinga is not being a media guru, she can be found writing books for little children. Her children’s book titled “Amari’s Adventures” is an interactive picture book about a little girl who goes on an adventure and encounters beautiful South African plants, animals and people. She encourages little ones reading the book to count with her.
Amari’s Adventures is available in all 11 official South African languages as well as Nama.

Image: Instagram

Here’s why Trevor Stuurman cracked the guest list for BeyoncĂ©’s exclusive Dubai concert

Career, Fashion & Beauty, Fused, Inspiration, Stories of South Africa / January 25, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Dubai recently hosted what many are calling the opening of the world’s most luxurious hotel, and a set of South African stars were lucky enough to be in attendance to see Beyoncé’s headline-making performance, including Trevor Stuurman.

Now if you don’t know who Trevor is, you should! He is a globally recognized, award-winning visual artist who specializes in photography, blogging, and styling. He has travelled across the globe because of his outstanding taste in fashion. In the year 2012, he got his breakthrough when he won the ELLE Style Reporter Search award.

Most recently, he received the most coveted invitation to Queen Bey’s performance at the grand reveal of the new Atlantis The Royal in Dubai.

As expected, Trevor looked stylish as ever! He stunned in a full denim on denim Gucci look with Gucci accessories to match.

It’s not the first time Trevor is being recognized by Beyonce; in 2020 he was part of BeyoncĂ© ‘s film, Black is King, and in 2018, Trevor was one of the photographers selected to take pictures for Bey’s Global Citizen performance, which she shared on her website.

Trevor’s journey is proof that talent and hard work can lead to you to heights beyond our wildest dreams!

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