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‘From Zero to Hero’: The Queen Of The 800 meters Caster Semenya

It was an offbeat love affair at dizzying heights, when a young woman from the northern parts of South Africa stumbled on an opportunity that led to her becoming the first black woman to pilot a helicopter in the South African Police Service (SAPS). 



Refilwe Ledwaba, born and bred in Lenyenye, a semi-rural
township in the Limpopo province of South Africa, found herself at her wits’
end when she could not pursue a career in science due to outstanding university
fees. 



Today, as she soars the African skies as a contract flyer
for various charter companies on the continent, her distant past keeps her
grounded.&nbsp; 



By turning challenges to opportunities, this University of
Cape Town and Bachelor of Science candidate, ended up at an interview for a
position in an industry she knew nothing about.



“I think that it was one of my down moments because I am
thinking that I worked so hard. I did well at university. I am supposed to go
to medical school but I can’t go now and now I have to become an air hostess.
You think life dealt you another blow, but that is when everything changed,”
she says. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="927" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe201.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38426" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe201.png 927w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe201-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe201-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe201-768x510.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 927px) 100vw, 927px" /><figcaption> Pilot Refilwe Ledwaba. Picture: Gypseenia Lion </figcaption></figure>



Honesty, determination and the $7,260 outstanding fees
secured her a position as a cabin attendant at the lowest point of her life. 



Her unique passion for aviation grew over time; she gave in
to the persuasion from instructors at the Comair training center and eventually
trained as a pilot. 



Today, the 39-year-old is ready to open this world for
generations to come. 



Ledwaba credits the&nbsp;
journey, which started in the early 2000s, a time when the country was
still going through political transition, to the strong women in her
community.&nbsp; 



“The environment shaped who I am today. I was surrounded by
strong women. I was exposed to academic women. My mother was a school principal
and my sisters went to university. The women in the community were mostly
teachers and doctors,” she says.



Despite the absence of a single mother who worked seven days
a week, Ledwaba always had a strong support system from her community which
filled the void; there was always someone around to take care of her. 



Using her life-story as a backdrop, the founder of the
Southern African Women in Aviation and Aerospace Industry created the
non-profit organization in 2009 with the core purpose of addressing the challenges
she faced when entering the industry. 



By breaking cultural and social barriers in aviation at the
grassroot level, Ledwaba aspires to make aviation a norm for women through the
Girls Fly Programme in Africa foundation.



This, she believes, can be achieved by exposing young girls
to the industry at a young age, with hands-on training courses and life skills
in aviation. 



“Limitations are not imposed by the community, they are
created structurally. There are limitations imposed as to what you can be, you
become what you see. If you are surrounded by teachers and doctors, that will
be the limit in terms of what you will be,” she says.



Ledwaba is currently working on a documentary project that
traces the history of South African women in aviation. 



By documenting the untold stories of African women in
aviation, she hopes to highlight the fact that women have proven themselves
capable in male-dominated industries for years. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe71.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38427" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe71.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe71-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe71-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe71-768x510.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> Pilot Refilwe Ledwaba at work. Picture: Gypseenia Lion </figcaption></figure>



“It is almost as if have we regressed. We no longer&nbsp; have women’s flying clubs. You hardly hear
that women are competing now. But they did it back in the 1940s, that is why I
feel it is important to touch that history. It needs to be in the museums, we
need to go to museums and read these stories about the women so that it is no
longer an event that women are flying,” she says. 



The former Comair trainee is qualified to fly both
helicopters and aeroplanes.



Jacky Fisha, CEO of FlyFofa, a South African-based aviation
company, says women and men need to work together to ensure that transformation
in the industry provides opportunities, from management to the cockpit. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="920" height="616" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe21.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38425" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe21.png 920w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe21-300x201.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe21-600x402.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe21-768x514.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px" /><figcaption> Jacky Fisha, CEO of FlyFofa, a South African-based aviation company. Picture: Gypseenia Lion </figcaption></figure>



“I see women taking over; if we work together, it will
happen. We are trying to bring ideas that will not only benefit us as small
private companies but things that will benefit the country. We are trying to
reduce the unemployment rate, we are training girls as well,” she says. 



A process that will take time but with adequate education
and training, “there will be more women than men in the cockpit”. 



Ledwaba discovered the industry in her late teens and was
forced to learn on the go.



“Every pilot has a story and it is usually from a very young
age. They will tell you that as far back as four-years-old they used to watch
aircraft or build model aircraft … In Tzaneen [in Limpopo], we didn’t have any
airport and there was no aircraft flying over us. I had never seen one, or been
in on one until university. It was my first time being up close and flying in
one,” she says. 



The people who believed in her played a crucial role. 



Pilot training pamphlets left in her locker and hints that
she should be in a pilot class instead of training to be cabin crew gave her
the impetus to step out of her comfort zone. 



The hardest part of her training was flying a helicopter
solo during her time with SAPS.&nbsp; 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="585" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe41.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38428" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe41.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe41-300x190.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe41-600x379.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe41-768x485.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> FlyFofa, a South African-based aviation company. Picture:Gypseenia Lion</figcaption></figure>



She was ready to quit. 



“I used to weigh 49kgs and for you to fly a helicopter solo,
at minimum, you need to weight 70 kgs because of the center of gravity,
otherwise the helicopter will just hang. You need to balance it,” says Ledwaba.
Ready to leave SAPS, her paperwork was signed but her heart was not closed to
the idea completely. 



Dressed in shorts and t-shirt, instead of her uniform, she
made her way to what was going to be her last flight. However, it turned out to
be the first of the 2,500 hours she would clock during the course of her career
as a pilot. 



“After hovering the helicopter a few meters above ground a
couple of times, the instructor realized that it was not in the gravitational
center. He got off and calculated everything. He knew I needed extra weight so
he took a brick and put it in. He got off and on the radio he told me to take
off, and here I am today,” she says. 



Working in the SAPS not only exposed her to the most
dangerous parts of the country, but it also developed her skills as a pilot and
a woman. 



“My instructor always told me ‘Refilwe, open your legs’. Now
imagine a man saying to you ‘open your legs’, what comes into your head? But he
is saying ‘open your legs’ so that you can control. Those are some of the
cultural differences. So imagine a little black girl sitting there and the
instructor keeps saying ‘open your legs’ and the more he said ‘open your legs’,
the more I closed them. The more I did this, the more I controlled the aircraft
with my legs [instead of my hands] and that is why I could not take-off
properly,” she says. 



With a sandbag adding weight and a little more confidence,
she adapted to an environment created with men in mind. She gradually learned
on the job.



The helicopters responded to crime-call outs ranging from
murders to lengthy surveillance operations. “It is not for the faint-hearted. You get shot at while flying,” she recalls the times she recovered dead bodies in remote areas. 



Now in the commercial airline industry, worlds apart from
chasing the bad guys above the ground, her flights are more structured and
regulated. 



Ledwaba had a hard time adapting to the cleaner side of
flying. From take-off to the final landing, procedures are followed thoroughly.




She now uses her experiences from both worlds to provide a
multi-faceted education to her students. The future for women in aviation is
positive, she affirms. 



With adjustable cockpits in airlines that are suited for all
shapes and sizes, Ledwaba says it’s a misconception that men are natural flyers
and that it will change in time.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="927" height="616" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe61.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38429" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe61.png 927w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe61-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe61-600x399.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/refilwe61-768x510.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 927px) 100vw, 927px" /><figcaption> Pilot Refilwe Ledwaba. Picture: Gypseenia Lion </figcaption></figure>



“I never got to be a captain but in the airlines, I used to
listen to the captain welcoming the passengers when we land and you could hear
the pride in his voice. ‘We carried you safely and we landed.’ I’ve always
wanted to do that,” she says. 



The industry is not what it was 10 years ago and this pilot
is ready to do whatever it takes to come out on top.

Refilwe

IN PICTURES | South Africa’s first black female helicopter pilot for SAPS uplifts young women

Clandestine clinics offering illegal abortions are one of the prime causes of unnecessary maternal deaths across Africa. The lack of facilities for safe procedures makes the statistics worse.



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When the pain started, I called him. I begged him for help.I was bleeding so much. The pain became more and more severe. I could not sit,or stand or lie down. I could not move. He told me not to contact him again,that it was not his problem. He told me to go to hospital if I have problems. After that, I never got hold of him again.”



This is the story of Megan Naidoo (not real name), the survivor of an illegal backyard abortion procedure. Naidoo was seven weeks pregnant when her boyfriend forced her to have an abortion. 



She lived with him and her father in a small two-bedroom flat on the outskirts of Kimberley in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. There are not many institutions providing safe abortions in Kimberley and Naidoo was afraid of shaming her Muslim father. 



So, she took a bus to Johannesburg in search of a way out of her desperate situation. She had only about $144 for the trip. Her boyfriend gave it to her when he put her on the bus to Johannesburg and told her to return with a clean body. 



As she walked through the city searching for someone to direct her to a designated facility, she came across a flyer, stuck to a lamppost. The flyer was advertising safe and painless abortions. At first, she did not realize what the flyer suggested. Then, she saw more flyers decorating electricity boxes, lamp posts, traffic lights and sidewalk walls; they were everywhere around her. “Safe 30-minute abortions, no pain guaranteed” the flyers beckoned her; “Phone ‘Dr Nick’ to make appointment”.



Although she was afraid of judgment, she managed to make the call. Back home in Kimberley, her family would have, in God’s name, stopped her from killing an innocent baby for selfish reasons. This is also what the nurse said to her when she first approached the local hospital in Kimberley for help.



But, this was not the reaction she got from the quack, ‘DrNick’, whose number was on the flyer. He told her there was nothing to be scared of and that he would make sure “everything is out” and she would have no pain at all. 



She met Dr Nick in front of a dilapidated building entrance on Rissik Street, in Johannesburg’s gritty central business district. He told her to hand over the cash in an unnoticeable way.



Fortunately, she had set aside about $50 prior to their meeting. He handed her four tablets; two to put under her tongue, the third one was a suppository to be inserted immediately. He told her she would start to bleed after four hours and instructed her to then take the last tablet. She might experience a little pain, he advised, but nothing more than normal period pains. He told her to phone him if she needed him and then he left. 



With nowhere else to go, she returned to the bus station. She took the tablets, and locked herself in the cubicle of a public toilet, near the station. 



Four hours later, intense pain began. Six hours later, she started bleeding. The pain grew more intense with time. Naidoo phoned Dr Nick but he told her to go to hospital. 



He also instructed her to tell the hospital staff that she had been to Marie Stopes, an international non-governmental organization (NGO) that provides safe abortion services. The third time she phoned, Dr Nick’s phone was switched off and he never answered again. 



Naidoo had eventually bled out pieces of her uterus when she was found by the bathroom cleaners who assisted her, in the seventh hour of the severe pain. 



They took her to a nearby clinic where health workers were unwilling to assist and reprimanded her that she deserved the pain because of what she had done. The cleaners then took her by taxi to the Charlotte Maxeke hospital nearby. A gynecologist&nbsp; on duty said that Dr Nick’s tablets forced Naidoo into induced labor that eventually lasted 10 hours.



She is one of thousands of women across Africa who nearly died at the hands of illegal abortion providers. 



In South Africa, reportedly, only 7% of the country’s health facilities provide abortions. This is due to the lack of trained staff and the conscience objection right given to all South Africans by the Constitution,which enshrines the freedom of conscience, belief and opinion. 



Often times,women are chased away from hospitals due to hospital managers being against abortions. Access to safe abortions is hampered as often, there are fewer facilities that provide abortion services to women in their second trimester. 



In Africa, only Cape Verde, South Africa and Tunisia permit abortions without restrictions as to reason. 



As a result, the influx of pregnant women from across the continent seeking safe abortions, adds to the increased need for designated abortion facilities. 



To top that, various African NGOs that have been providing the service were recently choked by American president Donald Trump’s implementation of the Global Gag rule. 



This ruling caused all funding for safe abortion facilities, across the developing world, to dry up completely.Hundreds of NGOs and outreach programs providing services and information, in especially poor countries across Africa, had to close their doors and halt awareness campaigns. Also, any NGO receiving United States-aid and funding is not allowed to co-operate with an NGO if the latter is pro-abortion. 



This means that pro-choice women in countries such as Malawi and Zimbabwe have nowhere to go to have safe abortions. In Zimbabwe, family planning clinics that provided various services including safe abortions, had to close down. Not only did this result in a lack of medical services in rural parts of Zimbabwe, women can no longer get their contraceptive medication from these clinics. 



In Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Mauritius and Namibia,abortion is only available in certain circumstances. In Seychelles, Tanzania, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), Malawi and DRC, abortion is only available in extremely limited circumstances. Abortion is totally outlawed in Lesotho, Angola and Madagascar.



By all estimates, the more African states fail female citizens, the more money is pocketed by fake doctors and other backyard abortion providers. The more money is spent in this underground market, the more backyard providers are attracted to the trade. 



According to Whitney Chinogweny, Head of Communications and Public Relations at Marie Stopes Sandton in South Africa, 52% to 58% of abortions in Africa are performed by illegal abortion providers, contributing to 12% to 15% maternal deaths across the continent. Without sufficient funding, NGOs cannot create awareness around the dangers of illegal abortions. 



Sometimes illegal providers overdose women, giving them mixtures of laxatives, aspirin and medication used for stomach ulcers. At times,backyard doctors remove the foetus using household equipment like wire hangers and fire tongs. 



Once these con artists have taken their victim’s money, they usually disappear, never to be found again. They cannot be tracked or traced. They change phone numbers and change locations. 



If African governments do not amend abortion policies and facilitate the establishment of designated institutions, NGOs will continue to be forced to deal with the challenges weighed down by limited resources.  



&#8211;Anina Peens

abortion

Is lack of access to safe abortion clinics creating a market for dangerous alternatives?

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WATCH | What Precious Moloi Motsepe had to say about the next 100 years for women

Mental health issues affect us all, but are seldom discussed. Thankfully, technology can now act as a medium to bypass the stigma associated with seeking help.



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Ireti Bakare-Yusuf was invited by a student organization in Lagos, Nigeria, to deliver a keynote speech as part of their conference on 21st century leadership. She knew immediately what she was going to speak about: “reforming the mindset of the female gender in leadership.” As a feminist and advocate for gender equality, this was a topic close to Bakare-Yusuf’s heart. 



“As I was preparing, I received a voice recording of a professor offering to upgrade the results of one of his students to grade B, in exchange for five rounds of sex,” she recalls.



In an attempt to reinforce his power, the professor explained to his student how “kind” he was being by selecting her, he added that many other young girls would be privileged to be in her shoes. 



This, according to Bakare-Yusuf, is part of the endemic practice of sexual abuse within Nigeria’s educational institutions. 



According to Bakare-Yusuf, the principal partner of NottingHill Management and Media, the results of these depraved practices lead to long-term mental illness for many youths who continue to suffer in silence due to their fear of stigmatization. She is also the founder of the #Nomore web app, a technology-driven solution that will put power back in the hands of survivors of sexual violation in Nigeria.



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), good mental health is a state of well being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential; can cope with the normal stresses of life; can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to his or her community. A new study by the World Bank’s Mind, Behavior and Development Unit shows 22% of Nigerians suffer from chronic depression, furthermore, the proportion of youth within this group is also increasing daily. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“The youth are faced with a unique dilemma today and this is mainly caused by social media.”  </blockquote>



“There are so many pressures that these young minds are exposed to, like the need to fit in and belong. They spend more time on social media sites in contrast to the time spent with actual friends. When you add to this the stress of performance in education, work and relationships, it takes a toll on the mental health of the youth,” says Raimah Amevor, creator of a new mental health and well being platform for African women, called Therapeutic – Mindfully African.



Therapeutic is on a mission to help African women think seriously about their mental health, embrace their truth and live purposefully.  The platform brings together qualified mental health professionals from across the globe to provide weekly advice and recommendations.In addition, Therapeutic also has a weekly confessional blog series called Therapy Thursdays that follows a young black woman into her experience of therapy.



“There has to be a digital detox. Addiction to electronic devices such as mobiles, tablets, iPads has resulted in the creation of a virtual reality world for the youth. There has to be a balance of time spent off these devices to help them reconnect with the real world and remove the dependency on these gadgets,” says Amevor.



The blog also focuses on sparking the conversation about well being issues that affect us all, but are seldom discussed. In Ghana, besides the lack of understanding, there is stigma attached to mental illness,coupled with limited supply of trained professionals to treat people suffering from it. 



The WHO estimates that about 650,000 people living in Ghana suffer from severe mental disorders, with a further 2.1 million people suffering from moderate to mild mental disorders.



“People are more comfortable reaching out if there are emotional distress-related issues; if it’s about mental illness, the stigma stops people from opening up and seeking help,” says Maame Adjei, a producer working on a documentary exploring the stigma of mental health in Ghana.



Her goal is to shed light on the seriousness of mental illnesses and help people acknowledge the need for help.



“The breakout point for the documentary is my own family. Three of my mother’s five siblings battled mental health disease. One died at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital (in Ghana). 



“I want to use that along with my own need to understand my family history and my own foray into seeing a therapist to examine how we deal with mental health disease,” she says.



Usually, those suffering from mental illness prefer to remain anonymous while seeking help. Technology provides a medium to do just that.



“Young women who have suffered sexual abuse live with the mental scars of the ordeal. Sometimes without the right help they become damaged by the experience and are unable to live fulfilled lives. We created the app to empower them to take action against their abusers so they can begin their fight to reclaim what was stolen from them,” says Bakare-Yusuf.



Survivors of sexual abuse will be able to report, document and store evidence of their experience in a time-stamped, secure and encrypted file so that it is available for them to use when they are ready to take legal action. The app will also contain information about support groups, NGOs,specialist hospitals, legal advisors, therapists or psychologists for survivors. 



“The app is especially unique because users are encouraged to name their perpetrator. Thus, the built-in capability is able to identify repeat offenders, which will not only empower users with the power for class action, but also help prosecutors to find witnesses and build a stronger case to ensure conviction,” says Bakare-Yusuf.



Mental health, unlike physical discomfort, is tougher to tackle, but experts feel technology and communication can bring about a positive change.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“It is our goal to increase awareness for those struggling with mental issues, which would help us fight the stigma and then offer people products and services that empower them,” says Bakare-Yusuf. </blockquote>



The effects of poor mental health are far-reaching, and if not taken care of, have the potential to seep into other aspects of our lives and manifest in destructive ways. The roots of unresolved psychological issues could affect your physical health, result in social isolation, and lead to a decline in productivity.



Hopefully, technology will continue to provide more ways and means to understand the human mind better, with help coming from the most unusual quarters – from the mobile phone in your back-pocket to the app in the palm of your hand.

anxiety

Apps To Cure The Mind

While Saudi Arabia allowed women to drive this year and Ethiopia appointed its first female president, in other countries in 2018 women were punished for being raped or wanting control of their reproductive rights.



Here are some gains and losses for women around the world in the past year:



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">GAINS</h5>



1. Ireland in May voted to repeal its strict abortion laws in a landslide victory. Nearly half of an estimated 56 million abortions conducted each year are unsafe, leading to the deaths of at least 22,800 women, according to a global March report by the Guttmacher Institute.



2. Saudi Arabia allowed women to drive for the first time in June. But dozens of activists who campaigned for the right to drive and the end of male guardianship were detained soon after the ban was lifted.



3. Ethiopia elected its first female president Sahle-Work Zewde in October, and appointed Meaza Ashenafi to be its first female supreme court president a month later. Ethiopia became the third country in Africa &#8211; after Rwanda and Seychelles &#8211; to have its cabinet split equally between men and women.



4. Iceland in January become the first country to make it illegal to pay men more than women, introducing fines on any company or government agency with over 25 staff without a government certificate demonstrating pay equality.



5. The #MeToo movement, sparked by revelations of sexual misconduct in Hollywood, swept through workplaces worldwide in 2018, spawning investigations and toppling hundreds of high-profile men from positions of power. In parts of Africa, Latin America and Asia, however, the campaign has struggled to gain momentum.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">LOSSES</h5>



1. Argentina in August rejected a move to legalize abortion. Uruguay and Cuba are the only Latin American countries that now have broadly legalized abortion.



2. U.S. President Donald Trump in May issued a proposal that would effectively stop giving government funds to subsidize birth control and abortions. The so-called global gag rule has put more than $8 billion of annual funding at risk, from clinics for HIV-affected sex workers in Ethiopia to programs aimed at curbing teen pregnancy in remote Uganda, campaigners have warned.



3. Kenyan lawmakers in November blocked a push to give one in three parliamentary seats to women.



4. In December, on the sixth anniversary of a fatal gang rape in New Delhi that prompted global outrage, a security guard was arrested after the rape a three-year-old girl, accused of luring her with sweets.



5. A 19-year-old Sudanese woman, Noura Hussein, who was a child bride, was sentenced to death in May when she killed her husband after he tried to rape her. Hussein’s sentence was overturned after global outrage, but she was still sentenced to five years in jail. -Reuters



&#8211; Lin Taylor

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The Fight for Rights: Five Gains and Five Losses for Women in 2018

Africa has 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, and has the potential to become an agricultural hub by applying agri-tech and futurist thinking. Lessons from a Canadian food economy.



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“Our food system is broken.” And Africa is no exception.“Just consider that 30 percent of all food produced doesn’t make it to the plate. Much of it ends up in landfills where it creates methane, a greenhouse gas.”



These were the words by Barbara Swartzentruber, the Executive Director of Strategy, Innovation and Intergovernmental Relations at the City of Guelph, west of downtown Toronto in Canada, to a range of journalists in a bid to encourage foreign direct investment for the city’s visionary smart city plan.



According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, “every year, consumers in rich countries waste almost as much food (222 million tonnes) as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa (230 million tonnes)”. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">To address these challenges, the entire design and food production system needs to be rethought and reimagined. </blockquote>



Thought needs to be given to what we put on our plates, to how we produce it and to how we dispose of it etc., reckons Swartzentruber.



Failure to do so will have dire consequences for the nine billion people expected to live on this planet by 2050, she adds. In response, Guelph-Wellington, the city in Canada I am visiting, which has a long history of agricultural excellence, is re-imagining its food system. 



Many of the discoveries and solutions it is applying could be adopted and repurposed in Africa, which has 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land, and the potential to become a burgeoning agricultural hub of the future.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Circular food economies</h5>



Guelph-Wellington has started work to be among the world’s first circular food economies by 2025. Its ambitious plan will see a system where everyone has access to nutritious food, nothing is wasted and the impact on its own environment is minimal, reveals Swartzentruber.



 It is proposing a 50x50x50 model, in which access to affordable, nutritious food is increased by 50%, 50 new circular businesses and collaboration opportunities are created and economic revenues are increased by 50% by reducing and recognizing food waste,she adds. 



To achieve this, food experts, academics, social innovators, farmers, community partners and entrepreneurs will collaborate to tackle Guelph-Wellington’s most complex food challenges using big data and the latest technologies. 



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Biomaterials</h5>



One of these academics is Professor Amar Mohanty, Director of the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre (BDDC) and Premier’s Research Chair in Biomaterials &amp; Transportation at the University of Guelph. Mohanty, who comes from India, is working with plant biologists,chemists and engineers to reuse waste, investigate and commercialize biomaterial. His passion stems from a desire to save the environment, the ebullient scientist tells FORBES AFRICA. 



His zeal to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases,
which he calls ‘slow poison’, is already bearing fruit. 



Together with Toronto-based coffee roaster Club Coffee, the BDDC created the world’s first fully-compostable coffee pods, which became available in Canada in 2016. 



To address the scourge plastic straws are having on rivers and oceans, Mohanty says his department is currently testing a 100% compostable straw made with biodegradable plastics. 



The BDDC is also working with the likes of Volkswagen, Ford and Tesla to turn plant materials such as wheat, soy and corn into alternatives to petroleum-based sources for car parts. In December, together with one of the car manufacturers, it is launching these products. 



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">Controlled environment systems</h5>



A few blocks away on the same campus, Professor Mike Dixon of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility (CESRF) and his team are hard at work creating controlled environment plant production. 



The technology will be used to feed people living in harsh environments, astronauts traveling to Mars, to growing plants on the moon, to improving the medicinal components of plants such as cannabis, to developing new cancer therapies, says Dixon.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="826" height="618" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Mike.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38297" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Mike.png 826w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Mike-300x224.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Mike-600x449.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Mike-768x575.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 826px) 100vw, 826px" /><figcaption> Mike Dixon of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility. Picture: Supplied</figcaption></figure>



With confidence, Dixon reckons, provided he gets funding,that he will send the first plants to the moon in 2019. True to his Scottish blood and love for single malt whiskey, the plants will be barley.



The laboratory where Dixon and his team of researchers work uses new attributes of light-emitting diode (LED) lights to promote production of various plant commodities. For example, says Dixon, “researchers have learned that exposing lettuce to different LED light changes metabolic compounds that influence the color and taste of lettuce and even the medicinal properties of other plants”.



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">DNA barcoding</h5>



Professor Paul Hebert from the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph was the first scientist to propose that a short DNA sequence be used to identify species. According to the university, he called the system ‘DNA barcoding’, analogous to how retail products are tagged to allow for quick identification.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“With DNA barcoding, scientists may identify species within hours – and, ultimately, minutes – using all life stages and even fragments of organisms.”</blockquote>



The technology can also be used to eliminate food fraud and ensure that you get what you order and pay for at shops and restaurants. 



On its journey to becoming the food basket of the world, Africa has a treasure trove of new ideas to use. The future is in her hands.&nbsp;&nbsp;

barley

Is This Technology the Answer to World Hunger?

Small, resilient agricultural solutions that will save the environment and feed generations to come.&nbsp;



The effective use of land remains one of the foremost solutions to poverty, and the methods used to fully benefit from farming are easily accessible and implementable.&nbsp; 



Thankfully,&nbsp; there are proven ecologically-sound farming methods that contribute to household food security even in harsh landscapes, and even through droughts, as this group of women in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province have shown 



Strong El Niño events worldwide perpetually cause severe crop failures across the agricultural spectrum. Yet, in Igwavuma inKwaZulu-Natal, while her neighbor’s fields lay barren, Rhoda Mvubu was still harvesting cowpeas, sorghum, sesame, peanuts and a variety of beans at the end of the 2016 summer; and sweet potatoes and pumpkins in the winter. 



In the dry, rocky hills of Tshaneni, Doris Myeni was still harvesting vegetables and greens from her home garden late into a drought,&nbsp;enabling her to provide adequately for her extended family of 15 throughout the summer holidays. And Corinne Mngomezulu still had a good stock of seed saved from her own crops, stored well to protect them from insects and decay, ensuring that she would be able to plant again when the rains came. 



All three women are part of a network of smallholder farmers in the north-eastern province of South Africa who are supported by a non-profit organization, Biowatch South Africa, to develop and implement agroecology practices on their plots. Along with about 250 other farmers, mainly women,they have improved the nutrition levels in their homes and produced enough for sale to neighbors and at markets, while increasing and maintaining the productivity and ecological sustainability of their farms. 



“Biowatch is looking at an agriculture that is resilient,and which doesn’t require expensive inputs or a lot of irrigation,” explains Biowatch director, Rose Williams. 



“The methods we use of working with the soil and retaining water has meant that there can be produce during the drought – whereas if you were in a situation where you were planting a monocrop which needed irrigation, you would have nothing.”



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="619" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38262" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land3.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land3-300x201.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land3-600x401.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land3-768x513.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption>Mavis Nhleko, a smallholder&nbsp; agroecology farmer, at Emagengeni in Pongola. Picture: Biowatch South Africa</figcaption></figure>



With a large proportion of Africa’s food produced by smallholder farmers who operate with marginal resources, crop failure can be devastating. As climate stresses increase, it becomes especially astute to invest in knowledge and methods that ensure smallholder farms continue to be viable. 



The 2018 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reveals that undernourishment and severe food insecurity are on the rise in nearly all regions of the world. About one in nine people in the world is considered to be undernourished, with a fifth (21%) of Africa’s population affected. 



Although a number of complex factors influence food security, the report shows a correlation between the rise in the prevalence of undernourishment in the last three years and the rise in climate shocks such as droughts, floods, cyclones, and heat waves. It points to the 2015-2016 El Niño event as a key factor. 



Countries with high exposure to climate shocks have more than double the number of undernourished people than those without high exposure. Drought is an especially significant factor in increased undernourishment, with stunting shown to have higher prevalence in areas where declining food availability is linked to warmer and drier conditions. 



Other factors than climate are also at play. For example,middle-income countries experience less food insecurity than low-income countries that experience the same climate shocks. 



Countries that experience both climate shocks and conflict fare considerably worse than those without conflict. However, it’s worth pointing out that most countries experiencing climate-related food insecurity are not experiencing conflict. Predictably, the part of the world where climate shocks and stressors have the biggest impact on food security and malnutrition is Africa. 



“With climate change in this sub-region, droughts are more intense and they are longer, flash floods are more common, and one is seeing impacts that are really devastating,” says Williams, “And we are in a province which has very high rates of malnutrition – with elevated levels of stunting and high rates of diabetes.”



Stats SA reports that in 2016, about 22% of South African households had “inadequate or severely inadequate” access to food, and about 12% of households experienced hunger. 



Williams says, “In many ways, synthetic fertilisers and irrigation and hybrid crops can seem like a silver bullet – and you may get returns that are high for a few years – but it’s not resilient and it’s not sustainable. Fertilizers impact on soil fertility, and hybrid crops need a lot of water –and water is scarce in this region which means it has to be diverted from somewhere else. So if you’re looking at an earth that needs to be sustainable, this is not an option for the long-term.” 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="461" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38263" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land5.png 461w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land5-300x400.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/land5-225x300.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px" /><figcaption> Biowatch director, Rose Williams. Picture: Biowatch South Africa</figcaption></figure></div>



“Within agroecology, there is a strong support for natural systems, and the ecology, water system, and soils are maintained,” she explains, “It’s something that is supportive of biodiversity, and it also has a low carbon footprint if you tie it with local markets.” 



As described in Biowatch’s recent report, Agroecology is best practice, agroecology is about applying a set of principles rather than specific farming methods. Biowatch partner farmers are required to compost,mulch, dig fertility beds, use grey water, and save traditional seed. There can be no use of commercial hybrids or synthetic fertilizers, pesticides,insecticides or herbicides. 



Farming methods vary based on terrain and depending on the individual objectives of different farmers. For example, what made Myeni’s farm successful in a moisture-deprived area was a combination of hip-deep trench gardens filled with material such as tin, bones, grass and compost that improved the fertility and water-retention of the soils, along with water-harvesting practices and solicitous use of grey water. 



For Mvubu in a higher-rainfall area, it was planting in shallow basins and intense inter-cropping that gave her good yields.In a single field, she interplants maize, beans, cowpeas, peanuts, mung beans, jugo beans, sesame, and sorghum – and in fact, she has three different varieties of traditional sorghum. 



Williams emphasizes crop diversity as an important aspect of agroecology&nbsp; – both for protecting the soil and for proper nutrition. “There’s a difference between having sufficient food and having sufficient nutritious food. You can have enough food to fill your stomach but it’s not going to be enough for the human body. One needs a diversity in diet. Part of our work in agroecology is in providing proper food.”



Partner farmers strengthen agroecology practices with their own tried and tested traditional practices. “There is a strong innovation element to agroecology,” explains Williams, “and that’s where we can really support farmers because we are part of initiatives where we are learning from other countries in southern Africa and what we learn from our partner farmer scan also be shared with others.” 



Saving traditional seed varieties for replanting is one of the most important aspects of maintaining agricultural diversity, resilience in crops, and good levels of household nutrition. 



Says Williams, “In agroecology, the farmers have control over their seeds. They grow sufficient crops for food and also for planting the next season.” With hybrid seed, the next generation often lacks vigour, and some seeds are patented, which means farmers have to buy new seed for each crop. Williams explains, “This is very different to traditional farmer varieties of seed where the vigour is maintained and the diversity is maintained and it’s a self-sustaining system.” 



Some farmers, like Mngomezulu, plant fields that are only for seed saving. As quoted in the recent Biowatch report, Mngomezulu says,“These seeds are very precious to me. I need this field to save them so that they don’t get lost. I inherited these seeds from older generations and I want people to see them and use them – they are for my grandchildren, for coming generations,and for other farmers.” 



As governments the world over strive to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, it might be worth taking a page from these smallholder farmers in remote rural areas who are able to feed their families nutritious food throughout the year.&nbsp;

land1

Putting land To Good Use: Food Security In Our Backyards

&nbsp;Catriona Gray from the Philippines <g class="gr_ gr_3 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="3" data-gr-id="3">was crowned</g> Miss Universe on Monday, the fourth time the Southeast Asian country has won the international beauty pageant.



Gray, a 24-year-old Filipino-Australian model, won the title in the Thai capital Bangkok where the pageant included for the first time a transgender contestant.



“My heart is filled with so much gratitude. There were moments of doubt where I felt overwhelmed and I felt the pressure,” said Gray, who wore a red and orange dress that was inspired by Mount Mayon, a volcano that erupted this year.



Miss South Africa, Tamaryn Green, 24 was the first runner-up, followed by Miss Venezuela, Sthefany Gutiérrez, 19.



Gray was asked during the contest about her views on legalizing marijuana and replied that she supported it for medical uses.



After she was crowned, Gray told reporters the question was “definitely relevant” and “an active topic”, in an apparent reference to the war on drugs in the Philippines that has killed thousands of Filipinos and caused international alarm.



Gray said during the pageant that working in a Manila slum had taught her to find beauty in difficult situations.



“If I could teach people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children would have a smile on their face,” she said.



Miss Spain, Angela Ponce, 27, made history as the first transgender contestant in the 66-year-old pageant.



Gray is the fourth Filipina to win Miss Universe and the second in three years. The pageant was shown live on the country’s biggest television network and dominated social media.



Salvador Panelo, spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte, said her win would put the country on the world map for its “beauty and elegance.”



“In her success, Miss Philippines has shown to the world that women in our country have the ability to turn dreams into reality through passion, diligence, determination and hard work,” he said.



The Philippines previously won Miss Universe titles in 2015, 1973 and 1969. &#8211; Reuters



<ul><li>Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Neil Jerome Morales </li></ul>

RC1AF65A64C0

South Africa’s Tamaryn Green is first runner-up at Miss Universe pageant

Edutech remains uncharted territory for African women and the US-returned Tosin Durotoye has a solution.  



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



The election of Donald Trump in 2016 was a moment of
reckoning&nbsp; for millions around the world,
particularly for those living in the United States (US).&nbsp; 



For Tosin Durotoye, it meant the time had finally come to
relocate to Nigeria. 



It had been a good run in the land of milk and honey where
she had lived most of her formative years. 



This was, however, a far cry from where Durotoye grew up in
Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, where she spent her early childhood, learning
taekwondo on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University where her dad was a
professor. 



After accepting a teaching appointment in North Carolina
during the turbulent Sani Abacha regime, Durotoye, along with her younger
brother and sister, migrated to the US. As she held on to her three-month-old
resignation letter, waiting for an eureka moment, she began the slow journey
down memory lane.



“I have always been into impact work. I have always had this
idea of doing well and doing good at the same time. I had a job that I ended up
keeping for 18 years and that was working for the Red Cross. I absolutely loved
it and that is when I knew what I found joy in was helping people and making an
impact. I started at 16 teaching CPR and first aid, and I got certified to do
life-saving practices,” says Durotoye.



She majored in political science and after stumbling on urban planning through a friend, Durotoye enrolled for the city planning graduate program at New York University where she focused on economic development, community development and housing development. 



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/economy/2019/03/07/what-a-failed-johannesburg-project-tells-us-about-mega-cities-in-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="What A Failed Johannesburg Project Tells Us About Mega Cities In Africa (opens in a new tab)">What A Failed Johannesburg Project Tells Us About Mega Cities In Africa</a>



“The minute I saw what urban planning was, I said this was
what I wanted to do. It was [a means to plan] the city in ways that consider
the people first. We always talk about how people come first, so you consider
things like where the school [is built], and where there is underdevelopment
and where hospitals need to be. So I thought this was perfect because it
allowed me to think about policy and allowed me to use my creative side as well
and I felt like I would be impacting lives by being a city-planner,” says
Durotoye.



Immediately after graduate school, she joined an organization
called Circle Point where she worked on projects in the Washington DC area. The
bulk of the work focused on communication and project management. 



The organization served as an intermediary between
government and the private sector. Then came a stint with NeighborWorks
America, where Durotoye honed her professional skills wearing several hats,
including project management and several leadership responsibilities. The
organization had the goal of creating opportunities for low and moderate-income
communities.



“They are federally funded and they also had their own
business they are running, so it was both an NGO and private entity. So, I went
into affordable housing and home ownership, and I ended up managing millions of
dollars’ worth of brands on behalf of the US Department of Housing and Urban
Development,” says Durotoye.



Before she knew it, eight years had flown by. She needed a
sign. The appointment of Trump was surely a prophecy that her time in the US
had come to an end. This was preceded by a job offer in the edutech space,
which was flexible enough to allow her to work remotely from Lagos in Nigeria. 



“I thought it looked like Trump was going to win and I think
I had been in the US for long enough and I thought I had done a lot here but I
had not looked back home. I thought to myself, ‘you want to impact people, yet
you have not looked back to your home’.” 



It was time to commit. The ability to work in the fast-paced edutech sector presented a new challenge Durotoye was happy to embrace, but what sold her on the new role was the fact that she would also be able to be on the ground in Lagos while earning foreign currency. After working for about a year, Durotoye decided to quit her job, this time without a safety net. The impact she wanted to make still eluded her.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">I created a vision board and it focused on a number of intentions about women, making an impact and providing women with opportunities.</blockquote>



According to a 2017 report by the BBC, 40% of Nigerian women
are entrepreneurs, a number that is higher than anywhere else in the world. 



“One of the things I admired the most about being in Nigeria
is that the women motivated me. Everybody has a side hustle and in America, you
do your nine-to-five and you do it well and go home. But in Nigeria, there were
multiple jobs that women were doing at the same time. And I said this is
exactly what I wanted to do. I want to impact women and that is the space I
want to be in.” 



She began by working with an organization called GreenHouse
Lab, the first female-focused tech accelerator program in Nigeria. The program
is a three-month accelerator focused solely on early stage, women-led
technology startups in sub-Saharan Africa. For Durotoye, the convergence of
women in tech was a perfect marriage. The idea here is simple, women are not
getting funding. Durotoye wants to offer them a seat at the table. 



“Women are trending at the moment but one of the things that is also a danger is that there is a tendency for people to jump on women trends. We wanted to be able to ensure that this serious issue is looked at,” says Durotoye. 



And there is a lot of work to be done. Women are the fastest
growing group of entrepreneurs in Nigeria and all over the world. 



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/agriculture/2019/01/21/how-investment-in-irrigation-is-paying-off-for-ethiopias-economy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="How Investment in Irrigation Is Paying Off for Ethiopia’s Economy (opens in a new tab)">How Investment in Irrigation Is Paying Off for Ethiopia’s Economy</a>



Diversity has become a hot topic in recent years. 



But while issues around diversity in the west usually relate
to anyone who is not a Caucasian male, in Africa, that term is about more women
in the workforce. It is still very much a man’s world. According to the
International Labour Organization, about 74% of women in sub-Saharan Africa are
more likely to be employed in lower-paying, informal jobs.



Durotoye wants to build innovative women-led companies by
equipping entrepreneurs with the right skills, resources and support to rapidly
grow their business. The project was launched in partnership with Google. 



“The GreenHouse Lab project was a confirmation of what I
need to be doing. I am in the space that I want to make an impact in. That was
my intention in coming to Nigeria, but I did not know what that would look like
until now.”



Her next project is Bloom Africa, which launches in December
2018. The idea is to harness the collective power of women through intimate
engagements and high impact series of events throughout the year that are
focused on areas women really need support in. The platform will also bridge
the gap between Nigeria and the diaspora.



“The question is how do we transition women into a
tech-enabled environment? If you have women as economic drivers and you know
that your economy is weakened when they are not invested in, then it is a
no-brainer. How do we not invest in women in tech if we are trying to grow as
an economy and a country? This is where I think the investment needs to be,”
she says.&nbsp;&nbsp;

tosin

‘Women Are Trending At  The Moment’

“When it comes to history and memory … it’s easy to remember Nelson Mandela, because he is Nelson Mandela. Who determines whose story we value above others?” 



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



This was a question asked by Cathy Mohlahlana, the facilitator of a panel discussion at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MdgBjVvy8Y#action=share">Nelson Mandela Tribute</a> to mark the fifth anniversary of his passing.  



Celebrated author and notable feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was the keynote speaker at the event hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation at the UNISA Ormonde campus in Johannesburg, South Africa on December 12, 2018. 



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="929" height="611" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture91.png" alt="" data-id="37857" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37857" class="wp-image-37857" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture91.png 929w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture91-300x197.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture91-600x395.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture91-768x505.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px" /><figcaption> Soweto Gospel Choir  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="932" height="612" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture4.png" alt="" data-id="37858" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37858" class="wp-image-37858" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture4.png 932w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture4-300x197.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture4-600x394.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture4-768x504.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 932px) 100vw, 932px" /><figcaption> Soweto Gospel Choir  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="608" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture71.png" alt="" data-id="37855" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37855" class="wp-image-37855" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture71.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture71-300x197.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture71-600x394.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture71-768x504.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> Soweto Gospel Choir  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="925" height="614" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-3.png" alt="" data-id="37856" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37856" class="wp-image-37856" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-3.png 925w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-3-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-3-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-3-768x510.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px" /><figcaption> Soweto Gospel Choir  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



Before Adichie’s address, the audience was regaled by the sounds of the Soweto Gospel Choir who sang songs such as Thina Sizwe, Lizalise Idinga Lakho, and Brenda Fassie’s Vul’indlela.&nbsp;



In paying homage to other anti-apartheid activists, the choir concluded their performance with the Peter Gabriel song Biko.&nbsp;The song is named after Bantu Stephen Biko who died in police detention in 1977, and was at the forefront of the anti-apartheid campaign the Black Consciousness Movement.



Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive Sello Hatang also acknowledged Pan Africanist liberation hero Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, who he says was a “towering figure in our history and a man who the apartheid regime tried to erase from memory”. 



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="932" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture17.png" alt="" data-id="37859" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37859" class="wp-image-37859" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture17.png 932w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture17-300x197.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture17-600x395.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture17-768x505.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 932px) 100vw, 932px" /><figcaption> Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gave the keynote address  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="925" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture12.png" alt="" data-id="37860" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37860" class="wp-image-37860" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture12.png 925w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture12-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture12-600x399.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture12-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px" /><figcaption>  Sebabatso Moneli  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-10.png" alt="" data-id="37861" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37861" class="wp-image-37861" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-10.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-10-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-10-600x397.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture-10-768x508.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive Sello Hatang  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera</figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="928" height="617" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture18.png" alt="" data-id="37862" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37862" class="wp-image-37862" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture18.png 928w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture18-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture18-600x399.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture18-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px" /><figcaption> UNISA Principal and Vice-Chancellor Mandla Makhanya at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera</figcaption></figure></li></ul>



In recognizing the role played by women in the struggle for South Africa’s liberation Hatang said, “we should also remember that this year is about mme (mother) Albertina Sisulu, and those women whose stories and contributions were distorted an minimized by the structures of patriarchy … We should also remember that this is the year we lost mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela.” 



Activist and wife of late former President Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, was also in attendance and listened attentively as Adichie spoke about the power of memory and public imagination. “When I first came to South African ten years after the fall of apartheid, it felt to me as though the past was not yet passed, but that there was a concerted collective resolve to turn away from this truth. South Africans of all races spoke to me of the rainbow nation, and I did not entirely trust this optimism. Well-choreographed as it was.” &nbsp;&nbsp;



“It felt to me a little too easy … It cannot be so unbearably, terribly tidy this process of peace-making,” Adichie said. 



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="924" height="612" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture23.png" alt="" data-id="37863" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37863" class="wp-image-37863" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture23.png 924w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture23-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture23-600x397.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture23-768x509.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px" /><figcaption> Cathy Mohlahlana,  Neo Muyanga, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and   Sebabatso Moneli  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera﻿ </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="930" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture35.png" alt="" data-id="37864" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37864" class="wp-image-37864" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture35.png 930w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture35-300x198.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture35-600x395.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture35-768x506.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px" /><figcaption> Cathy Mohlahlana facilitates panel discussion at  the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="925" height="600" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture241.png" alt="" data-id="37866" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37866" class="wp-image-37866" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture241.png 925w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture241-300x195.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture241-600x389.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture241-768x498.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px" /><figcaption> Njabulo Ndebele, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and  Graça Machel  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="616" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture27.png" alt="" data-id="37867" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37867" class="wp-image-37867" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture27.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture27-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture27-600x399.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture27-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> Graça Machel  receives a plaque  at the Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



&nbsp;Sebabatso Moneli and Neo Muyanga were part of the panel discussion facilitated by Mohlahlana. 



“We are entitled to rage. We are entitled to anger &#8211; to the grief of a painful history. But, we are also invited by history to a breath of stories that expand beyond the stereotypes of slavery and colonialism. 



“African history is vast and I believe that part of the freedom that we are looking for, that our true liberation will not be found in the absence of tension, but in embracing the tension of history,” Moneli said.



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="928" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture8.png" alt="" data-id="37868" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37868" class="wp-image-37868" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture8.png 928w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture8-300x198.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture8-600x396.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture8-768x507.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px" /><figcaption> Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="927" height="612" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture29.png" alt="" data-id="37869" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37869" class="wp-image-37869" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture29.png 927w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture29-300x198.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture29-600x396.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture29-768x507.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 927px) 100vw, 927px" /><figcaption> Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-8 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="931" height="618" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture30.png" alt="" data-id="37871" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37871" class="wp-image-37871" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture30.png 931w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture30-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture30-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture30-768x510.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 931px) 100vw, 931px" /><figcaption> Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera </figcaption></figure></li><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="930" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture201.png" alt="" data-id="37872" data-link="https://www.forbesafrica.com/?attachment_id=37872" class="wp-image-37872" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture201.png 930w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture201-300x198.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture201-600x397.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Capture201-768x508.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px" /><figcaption> Nelson Mandela Tribute on  December 12, 2018. Picture: Karen Mwendera </figcaption></figure></li></ul>



While interrogating the idea of telling the facts and the truth, Muyanga added, “the responsibility is all of ours … The process of colonization which is premised on the idea of erasing the original memory and replacing it with the colonists’ memory. So history begins with the arrival of the colony as opposed to the stories we tell of ourselves before.”

Chima-1

IN PICTURES | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gives Nelson Mandela public lecture

Shonda Rhimes may have defined Thursday night television, but she&#8217;s now dictating the medium&#8217;s future. When the&nbsp;Grey&#8217;s Anatomy&nbsp;creator signed a nine figure, four-year deal with Netflix last year, she cemented her place&nbsp;at the forefront of entertainment&#8217;s digital future-and pioneered Netflix&#8217;s handsome producer paydays.
Rhimes, who created and executive produced ABC hits including&nbsp;Scandaland&nbsp;How To Get Away with Murder, is now developing eight shows for the streaming service through her production outfit ShondaLand.
&#8220;We are powerful women and when we say we have power, what we are really saying is that we deserve to have power. We deserve whatever good thing it is that we are getting,&#8221; said&nbsp;Rhimes at&nbsp;Elle&nbsp;magazine’s 25th annual Women in Hollywood celebration.
<blockquote>Demanding what you deserve can feel like a radical act.</blockquote>
Worth an estimated $135 million, Rhimes is the wealthiest female showrunner&#8211;the person who oversees writing and production of each TV episode-in&nbsp;Hollywood. She has said that her deal, which&nbsp;reportedly&nbsp;includes a base salary of $150 million with incentives that could bump it much higher, is bigger than the $300 million secured by Ryan Murphy.
Rhimes is just one of the world&#8217;s most powerful women in media and entertainment effecting change and impacting her industry with groundbreaking deals and inclusive storytelling. Take Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who has&nbsp;helped pioneer&nbsp;Star Wars&#8216; most inclusive casting yet.&nbsp;Under Kennedy&#8217;s stewardship, Kelly Marie Tran became the first woman of color to have a lead role in the multi-billion dollar franchise, playing Rose Tico in 2017&#8217;s&nbsp;The Last Jedi.
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Across the lot, Dana Walden has seen her power grow in the studio landscape. Following Disney&#8217;s $71.3 billion acquisition of the majority of&nbsp;21st Century Fox, the former chair and CEO of Fox Television Group will also head up 20th Century Fox TV, ABC Studios, the Freeform network, ABC-owned TV stations, ABC Entertainment and several other divisions.
Walden believes more women need to be in decision-making roles at every level. &#8220;There must be women in the highest ranks of every organization, and meaningful female representation on every corporate board,&#8221; Walden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2017/11/01/15-most-powerful-women-in-entertainment-and-media-2017-effecting-change-tackling-sexual-harassment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga-track="InternalLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2017/11/01/15-most-powerful-women-in-entertainment-and-media-2017-effecting-change-tackling-sexual-harassment/">told Forbes last year</a>.
<blockquote>Our recruiting and our training has to be oriented to ensure that we’re identifying and nurturing future generations of female leaders.</blockquote>
Entertainment&#8217;s most powerful&nbsp;span Hollywood, music and publishing. As each segment continues to deal with the fallout of the #MeToo movement, women have taken action. Anna Wintour, who continues to control&nbsp;Vogue,&nbsp;suspended photographers Bruce Weber and Mario Testino amid sexual misconduct charges and set a code of conduct for models and photographers.
Wintour teamed up with music power woman Beyoncé for the September issue of&nbsp;Vogue; she was given creative control over her cover photo and leveraged that power to hire the first African American photographer to shoot the cover in the magazine&#8217;s&nbsp; 126-year history. Another first for Beyoncé: In 2018, she became the first black woman to headline Coachella.
Here&#8217;s the full list of Media and Entertainment power women:
1. Oprah Winfrey, Media mogul
2. Shari Redstone, Vice Chair, CBS &amp; Viacom
3. Bonnie Hammer, Chair, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment
4. Donna Langley,&nbsp; Chair, Universal Pictures
5. Anna Wintour, Artistic Director, Conde Nast
6. Beyoncé, Singer
7. Dana Walden, Chairman, Disney TV Studios and ABC Entertainment
8. Katharine Viner, Editor-in-Chief, Guardian
9. Taylor Swift, Singer
10. Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
11. Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm
12. Shonda Rhimes, Showrunner
13. Arianna Huffington, Founder &amp; CEO, Thrive Global
14. Serena Williams, Tennis player
15. Shobhana Bhartia, Chair, HT&nbsp;Media
16. Priyanka Chopra,&nbsp;Actress
&#8211;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga-track="contrib block byline">Natalie Robehmed</a><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-ga-track="contrib block byline">:</a>&nbsp;I&#8217;m an associate editor at Forbes covering media and entertainment, with a focus on the movie business. For the magazine, I&#8217;ve written cover stories on&nbsp;
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READ MORE |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/life/2018/01/09/chef-cooked-beyonce-paris/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Chef Who Cooked For Beyoncé In Paris</a>
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READ MORE |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/life/2017/09/27/worlds-highest-paid-tv-actresses-2017-sofia-vergara-leads-41-5-million/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.forbesafrica.com/life/2017/09/27/worlds-highest-paid-tv-actresses-2017-sofia-vergara-leads-41-5-million/</a>
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2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival – Weekend 1 – Day 2

From Beyonce To Shonda Rhimes, The Most Powerful Women In Entertainment 2018

The small-town designer dressing up the rich and famous.

Matome waga Seshoka wants to take African haute couture to the world.
I meet him at his studio in the leafy suburb of Northcliff in Johannesburg. On this Monday afternoon, everything is running behind schedule. First, I am slightly late for the interview, and then, the model is delayed by an hour and the makeup artist has the wrong call-time.
Delays have always played a big part in Seshoka’s entrepreneurial journey.
He came to Johannesburg 14 years ago to study credit management at Technikon Witwatersrand, (TWR), now called the University of Johannesburg.
“It was difficult for my mother to understand this whole fashion thing. She questioned how fashion can be a career. Where we are from, you have to be a teacher, a doctor, or one of those careers. So I went to study credit management,” says the proud Sepedi-speaking designer.
Seshoka says he disliked it. He dropped out three years in. Although delayed, he swapped it for an education in fashion and has never looked back.
<div id="attachment_37600" style="width: 693px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37600" class="wp-image-37600 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-683x1024.jpg" alt="" width="683" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-300x450.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-600x900.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842-768x1151.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Antherline-842.jpg 1366w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" />Matome-waga Seshoka with model, Tholakele Mutjideni, in his studio in Northcliff Johannesburg. Photo by Motlabanna Monakgotla.</div>
<blockquote>“Straight out of school, I started my business. The first few years were a bit hectic, now things are starting to look up,” says Seshoka.</blockquote>
Born and raised in Ga-Matlala, a rural area in Limpopo, 370km from Johannesburg, Seshoka has defied all odds to build a successful fashion brand and dress the who’s who of the entertainment industry.
He named it Antherline Couture, after his mother. She raised three boys as a single parent.
It wasn’t easy. Seshoka had to walk about 45 minutes to school every day.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/entrepreneurs/2018/05/07/from-football-to-fashion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: From Football To Fashion</a>
At the beginning of his journey, he says he didn’t know where to specialize. He started off doing everything, from street wear to menswear, until he fell in love with African print and haute couture. At the time, African-inspired wedding gowns were in demand. He grabbed the fabric with both hands.
“When I was doing my third year, I received an order for a December wedding. The client saw my work at the Sew Africa fashion show. By the time I graduated, I already had an order. It was a quite a big order and ended up having to ask people that I went to school with to help me, so I hired them. By the time it was done, I had a startup.”
The job paid Seshoka $2,805, enough to buy three sewing machines, one overlocking machine, pay the deposit and rent for a shop and staff salaries for two months.
Kamogelo Rankoko was one of his first employees.
“We were still struggling a little, we used a domestic machine and it wasn’t strong enough for the kind of work we were doing, but we got the wedding done, and they were happy,” says Rankoko.
After this exciting job, more delays. The next three years were the hardest. There were no clients and pockets were empty.
“I ended up having to look for a job, lecturing fashion in parts of Gauteng for a year. With my salary, I could cover rent and staff salaries, because [earlier], I would come back and the lights would be off or the doors would be locked because I didn’t pay rent. If there wasn’t a plan, there wouldn’t be a plan because I was the plan,” says Seshoka.
The big break came when he got his first celebrity client, Tokelo Rantie, a South African national and international football player.
“I remember my first celebrity wedding, I did Tokelo Rantie, then I did Sello Maake kaNcube’s wedding. That’s when people started knowing about us. From there forth, I started doing celebrity weddings,” he says.
The brand blossomed and everybody wanted to work with him.

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				Model Tholakele Mutjideni. Photo by Motlabanna Monakgotla. 
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The business grew through word-of-mouth and nine years in, it has over 37,000 followers on Instagram and his clients have been named Durban July’s best dressed celebrities for the last four years.
His client list is rich with local and international stars such as Anthony Hamilton, Kenny Lattimore, Oleta Adams, Julius Malema, Nhlanhla Nciza and Khanyi Mbau.
“I met Matome through a friend a year ago; ever since I met him, I have been very loyal to him and he is the only one that dresses me for the red carpet. Matome is one of the people who believed in me when everybody thought I wasn’t big enough of a star to be dressed by them. But he welcomed me into his arms. So it’s Matome or nothing,” says Motsoaledi Setumo, a South African soapie star.
Seshoka’s career may have encountered delays but there is no stopping this small-town lad with international dreams.
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Antherline-876

Taking African Haute Couture To The World

Nigerian polo player Neku Atawodi is excited about the future of polo in Africa and its ability to bring people together from all walks of life

Polo is fast becoming a popular sport for millennial women in Nigeria, and they are a common sight at the upscale Lagos Polo Club.
What was once an elite sport is now more accessible.olo is fast becoming a popular sport for millennial women in Nigeria, and they are a common sight at the upscale Lagos Polo Club.
It’s a far cry from the sport’s early years that completely banned women such as American polo pioneer Sue Sally Hale from playing in the 1950s.
Hale’s response was to disguise herself as a man by tucking her ash-colored hair under a helmet, flattening her breasts with tape and wearing loose-fitting men’s shirts and a moustache for nearly 20 years. She finally dispensed with the ruse in 1972 when the US Polo Association bowed to pressure and admitted her to its ranks. Her story reverberated all over the world and to Nigeria’s Benue State, where a young lady named Neku Atawodi was duly inspired to take up the sport.
Known popularly as Nigeria’s ‘polo queen’ and one of the few black women in the sport internationally, Atawodi is an equestrian for life.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/focus/2014/02/01/polo-playing-entrepreneur-calls-dangote-brother/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: The Polo Playing Entrepreneur Who Calls Dangote Brother</a>
“I grew up in Kaduna and that is a very polo town. They are very influenced by horse-riding and durbars and so Kaduna had an affinity towards polo but also, my uncle lived next door and he had horses in his backyard. I remember watching polo events and falling in love with them when I was in junior secondary school. I loved everything from the horses to the players. I started riding with everyone,” she says.
With the riders maneuvering the magnificent horses under the mellow Nigerian sun, hooves kicking up dust, she fell in love with the ‘sport of kings’.
After taking a break from polo, during which time she got married, had a child and became the country director of the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) training tech entrepreneurs, Atawodi returned to the sport in August for the United Kingdom’s first-ever Africa-dedicated polo event, the Lux Afrique Polo Day that celebrated the sport and the best of pan-African history and culture.
The event brought together leading polo players from across Africa to champion the rapidly-growing sport and provide a platform for young and emerging African talent to showcase their skills. For Atawodi, it was time to get back to the basics.
“It is really intense. After having a child, it is a lot of things you need to get back to like the gym and working on flexibility and endurance and then a lot of riding. I have to work a lot on my hand-to-eye coordination. I play a lot of tennis as well as do a lot of cardio,” says Atawodi.
Despite several infrastructural challenges playing the sport in Nigeria, including a lack of well-developed training programs encouraging people to enter the sport as well as limited fields to play on, Atawodi is excited about the future of the sport and its ability to bring people from all walks of life together.
“We are at a time where Africa is telling its own stories in so many different industries. So for it to also now come in things like polo, with different parts of Africa coming together to play the sport and showcase skills, is amazing. It fosters great strength and African unity and I am really looking forward to it,” says the African queen of the ‘sport of kings’.

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