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It has been a stellar year for African music across the globe. With the recent announcement from The Recording Academy on the nominees for the 2024 Grammy Awards, Africa joined the artists in celebrating their spots in what the Academy called &#8220;history”.



In a statement released in November, one of three newly- added categories for the 2024 Grammys is the Best African Music Performance award. It is being hailed a breakthrough acknowledging the commercial and cultural prowess of African music.



&#8220;Giving African music its own category would highlight and celebrate the diversity and richness of Africa,&#8221; Shawn Thwaites, project manager at The Recording Academy, said in a roundtable about the new category. &#8220;This is a great step forward!&#8221;



Africa’s Grammy nominees for 2024 include Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Davido and Musa Keys, Asake and Olamide, all for Best African Music Performance, and Trevor Noah for Best Comedy Album. As FORBES AFRICA, we decided to compile our own list of the biggest African hits of 2023 that got the world on its feet. With the help of the numbers on social media, trends, Spotify listens and YouTube views, the list has been whittled down to the following artists who have scaled global heights. Although some of the music was released before 2023, it seems they are still trending.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Song</td><td>Artist</td><td>Country</td><td>Spotify Listens</td><td>YouTube Views</td><td>Total</td><td>YT Release Date</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>CALM DOWN</td><td>Rema feat Selena Gomez</td><td>Nigeria</td><td>1,112,827,855</td><td>706,057,845</td><td>1,818,885,700</td><td>Sep-22</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>PEOPLE</td><td>Libianca</td><td>Cameroon</td><td>498,353,247</td><td>218,903,109</td><td>717,256,356</td><td>Jan-23</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>RUSH</td><td>Ayra Starr</td><td>Benin</td><td>281,167,683</td><td>264,455,804</td><td>545,623,487</td><td>Sep-22</td><td>2024 Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance</td></tr><tr><td>PERU</td><td>Fireboy DML &amp; Ed Sheeran</td><td>Nigeria</td><td>283,657,974</td><td>189,399,170</td><td>473057144</td><td>Dec-21</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>WATER</td><td>Tyla</td><td>South Africa</td><td>155,090,107</td><td>39,605,600</td><td>194,695,707</td><td>Oct-23</td><td>2024 Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance</td></tr><tr><td>UNAVAILABLE</td><td>Davido feat Musa Keys</td><td>Nigeria-South Africa</td><td>98,950,916</td><td>72,345,505</td><td>171,296,421</td><td>Apr-23</td><td>2024 Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance</td></tr><tr><td>CITY BOYS</td><td>Burna Boy</td><td>Nigeria</td><td>61,573,500</td><td>23,431,043</td><td>85,004,543</td><td>Sep-23</td><td>2024 Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance</td></tr><tr><td>MNIKE</td><td>Tyler ICU</td><td>South Africa</td><td>31,970,236</td><td>27,545,449</td><td>59,515,685</td><td>Apr-23</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>LONELY AT THE TOP</td><td>Asake</td><td>Nigeria</td><td>35,859,656</td><td>22,932,185</td><td>58,791,841</td><td>Aug-23</td><td>2024 Grammy nominee for Best African Music Performance with Olamide, &#8220;Amapiano”</td></tr><tr><td>HAMBA JUBA</td><td>Lady Amar, Cici, Murumba Pitch and JL SA</td><td>South Africa</td><td>13,336,755</td><td>14,165,502</td><td>27,502,257</td><td>Apr-23</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>ME AND U</td><td>Tems</td><td>Nigeria</td><td>16,206,894</td><td>7,270,381</td><td>23,477,275</td><td>Oct-23</td><td>&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">*The list is but a small representation of the enormous potential and success of Africa&#8217;s musicians ** All data is as of November 12 2023</figcaption></figure>

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The Biggest And Best Music In Africa (As Per The Numbers)

The ultimate year-end gift ideas for luxury lovers and gadget geeks.



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="574" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RayBan-x-Meta-1024x574.png" alt="" class="wp-image-60681 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RayBan-x-Meta-1024x574.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RayBan-x-Meta-300x168.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RayBan-x-Meta-768x431.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RayBan-x-Meta-1536x861.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/RayBan-x-Meta-2048x1148.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ray-ban-x-meta-wayfarer">Ray-Ban x Meta Wayfarer</h4>



Ray-Ban’s next-generation retro smart glasses in partnership with Meta lets you livestream to Instagram or Facebook. While privacy should be paramount, it offers other conveniences you can enjoy while protecting your eyes. These include taking pictures and videos with a unique perspective from its 12MP ultra-wide camera in full HD for up to 60 seconds; the ability to take calls or listen to audio; and voice recording through built-in microphones. The glasses are integrated with Meta AI to act as a personal assistant or get information through voice commands using the trigger “hey Meta”, which also sends photos. Its unique battery case offers up to 36 hours of usage, and it is now IPX4-rated for water resistance. Price: $329
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<div class="wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-montblanc-extreme-2-0-wallet">Montblanc Extreme 2.0 Wallet</h4>



For understated elegance and luxury, check out Montblanc’s new Extreme 2.0 Wallet in black leather with a carbon-fiber print on the outside and plain black on the inside. It features slots for eight cards, two compartments for cash and four additional pockets. It uses Montblanc’s Shield technology with RFID blocking in the lining. This ensures your cards are blocked from hackers who try to wireless skim data using radio frequencies. A must for travelers. Price: $420
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="915" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Montblanc-Wallet-1024x915.png" alt="" class="wp-image-60677 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Montblanc-Wallet-1024x915.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Montblanc-Wallet-300x268.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Montblanc-Wallet-768x686.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Montblanc-Wallet-1536x1373.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Montblanc-Wallet-2048x1830.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="790" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/HP-Spectre-Fold-1024x790.png" alt="" class="wp-image-60676" style="width:550px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/HP-Spectre-Fold-1024x790.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/HP-Spectre-Fold-300x231.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/HP-Spectre-Fold-768x592.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/HP-Spectre-Fold-1536x1184.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/HP-Spectre-Fold-2048x1579.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-hp-spectre-fold">HP Spectre Fold</h4>



Folding smartphones may have been all the rage these last few years, but there’s a new type that’s trending – the foldable PC. HP came out with the Spectre Fold in September 2023, and it’s quite the marvel: it’s a 3-in-1 that transforms between laptop, desktop, and tablet. Dubbed the world’s thinnest foldable at 17-inches, it can be accessed in tablet mode with a stylus; as a 12.3-inch laptop with wireless magnetic keyboard; and as a desktop through its built-in kickstand. The main drawcard here is portability, which you can set-up while on the move or working from anywhere. Using a desktop in a coffee shop? Sold! Price: $4,999


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="884" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nespresso-Creatista-copy-884x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-60678" style="width:328px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nespresso-Creatista-copy-884x1024.png 884w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nespresso-Creatista-copy-259x300.png 259w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nespresso-Creatista-copy-768x890.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nespresso-Creatista-copy-1326x1536.png 1326w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nespresso-Creatista-copy-1768x2048.png 1768w" sizes="(max-width: 884px) 100vw, 884px" /></figure></div>


Nespresso Creatista Plus 



Nothing beats starting the day with a good cup of coffee, and the Nespresso Creatista Plus offers just that with its café- style options thanks to its fully automatic steam wand. As its name suggests, the creativity kicks in through its ability to create latte art using Breville’s milk texturing technology. Its stylish, sleek design with a high- gloss finish would suit most homes, taking up minimal counter space. The Creatista Plus has a three second heat-up time and offers eight coffee selections, four frothing levels, and 11 milk temperature settings using its 19-bar pressure system. It has an assisted cleaning system and automatically switches off after nine minutes. Price: $649


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="938" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FOM-Duffle-1024x938.png" alt="" class="wp-image-60675" style="width:408px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FOM-Duffle-1024x938.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FOM-Duffle-300x275.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FOM-Duffle-768x704.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FOM-Duffle-1536x1407.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FOM-Duffle-2048x1876.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-freedom-of-movement-franklin-dufle">Freedom of Movement Franklin dufle</h4>



Freedom of Movement is a South African lifestyle brand that offers stylish leather accessories, and its Franklin du-ffe bag has caught our eye. The Franklin, crafted from premium pecan leather is the perfect weekend bag, also suited for quick business trips. Apart from its main large interior, it has an outside back pocket, and two lined zipped ones on the inside for valuables. It is finished off with antique brass fittings, an embossed logo that makes it look understated, and a removable adjustable shoulder strap. The duffel fits in an overhead compartment on a flight. Price: $290



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AppleWatch-Ultra2-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60673 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AppleWatch-Ultra2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AppleWatch-Ultra2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AppleWatch-Ultra2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AppleWatch-Ultra2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AppleWatch-Ultra2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AppleWatch-Ultra2-2048x2048.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-apple-watch-ultra-2">Apple Watch Ultra 2</h4>



When it comes to smartwatches, Apple is leading in the space, and for good reason – it’s intuitive with a familiar interface. The latest Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the first carbon- neutral Apple product when paired with the Trail or Alpine Loop interchangeable band. Its new S9 chip enables gestures by pinching your thumb and index finger, offers its brightest display of 3000 nits for the outdoors, and advancements for altitude ranges, on-device Siri, and water adventures, which is essentially a diving computer on your wrist. Paired with the new WatchOS10 update, its redesigned interface offers Smart Stack, new cycling experiences and features for the outdoors, plus unique watch faces. It promises 36 hours of battery in regular use and 72 hours in low power mode. Price: $799
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<div class="wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sennheiser-momentum-4">Sennheiser Momentum 4</h3>



Being productive while working from anywhere or traveling requires a solid pair of noise cancellation headphones. Available in black or white, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 promises a whopping 60 hours of battery life from a single charge. Its lightweight design, complete with touch controls, lends toward comfort for hours on end, without your ears taking the strain. It offers adaptive noise cancellation, transparency mode, and customized sound, which can be accessed on its smartphone app. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, an audio jack or USB-C. A quick five-minute charge yields four hours of playback. It comes with a carry case, 1.2-meter charging cable, auxiliary cable, and airplane seat adaptor. Price: $380
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="989" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sennheiser-Momentum-989x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-60682 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sennheiser-Momentum-989x1024.png 989w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sennheiser-Momentum-290x300.png 290w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sennheiser-Momentum-768x795.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sennheiser-Momentum-1484x1536.png 1484w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sennheiser-Momentum-1978x2048.png 1978w" sizes="(max-width: 989px) 100vw, 989px" /></figure></div>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="940" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OneWorld135-940x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-60680" style="width:324px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OneWorld135-940x1024.png 940w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OneWorld135-275x300.png 275w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OneWorld135-768x836.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OneWorld135-1411x1536.png 1411w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/OneWorld135-1881x2048.png 1881w" sizes="(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" /></figure></div>


<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-oneadaptr-oneworld135">OneAdaptr OneWorld135 </h4>



For the frequent business traveler and power user looking for convenience, check out OneAdaptr’s brand new OneWorld135 universal plug that works in over 200 countries. Between its three USB-C ports, two are powerful 100W ports that can power a Macbook Pro or notebook equivalent, alongside a USB-A port and a 2-pin AC outlet. It has some of the highest safety certifications available that protects the voltage, current, temperature with fuse protection. The OneWorld 135 features Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology that ensures the highest efficiency in a small package that’s the size of a credit card. It ships with a travel bag. Price: $129

The family is happily exchanging gifts at Christmas.

Luxe Is More: African Gift Guide

Subomi Plumptre is one of the few female African CEOs in asset management on the continent focusing on empowering middle class Africans through investment solutions and unlocking prosperity.



The latest Henley &amp; Partners Africa Wealth Report reveals that the continent holds a total of $2.4 trillion in private wealth, with South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Morocco accounting for over 50% of this. Despite this, income inequality remains high, and there’s a significant ‘floating class’ within the middle class facing insecurity.



Subomi Plumptre, the CEO of Volition Cap in Nigeria, aims to address these challenges.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="634" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AF8I0864app1-copy-634x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60669" style="width:309px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AF8I0864app1-copy-634x1024.jpg 634w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AF8I0864app1-copy-186x300.jpg 186w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AF8I0864app1-copy-768x1240.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AF8I0864app1-copy-952x1536.jpg 952w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AF8I0864app1-copy-1269x2048.jpg 1269w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/AF8I0864app1-copy-scaled.jpg 1586w" sizes="(max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px" /></figure></div>


Over a span of three years, her company successfully launched a $30 million fund for agriculture and real estate projects in Africa, resulting in financial independence rates of up to 75% for 3,000 members. Additionally, it’s supporting African filmmakers with $250,000 in funding and have provided financial literacy courses to over 10,000 individuals.



Plumptre also recently toured the United States (US) engaging with the African diaspora through the ‘Celebration of African Prosperity’ roadshow with information on diaspora-focused funds.



Originally, Volition began as a financial education company and investment club. Later, obtaining a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) license, it pioneered a novel fund management approach for Africa utilizing investment clubs (cooperatives).



The acquisition of the SEC license validated and institutionalized their model.



Plumptre co-founded Volition Cap, a licensed asset manager, with Kola Oyeneyin in 2018 after facing personal financial challenges.



A registered fund manager and one of the few African female CEOs of an asset management firm, Plumptre tells FORBES AFRICA: “I had worked in the corporate sector for decades and was committed to my career. But not only was I financially illiterate, my responsibilities did not leave much time for active investing. Like many middle-class employees, I assumed that someday, my stock options would take care of me. But during my career, my country went through two recessions, disrupting the plans of the company I worked for; and making my stock options worthless.



“Around the same time, my parents were dealing with critical medical issues that required expensive healthcare. I could not afford to fly them abroad for treatment that was unavailable in my country. That was a wake-up call for me. I realized there were others like me, hard-working middle-class folk, who were one catastrophe away from poverty. I decided to change that by setting up Volition Cap.”



On social media, where she commands a significant following and is regarded one of Nigeria’s thought leaders in business and strategy, Plumptre channels her thoughts on various topics including life, career and investment.



A few hours before the commencement of her series of engagements in the US, Plumptre, overwhelmed with the support she had already garnered, tweeted to her over 112,000 followers: “There are so many people on social media who quietly support me. You share my content and tell others about my work. I am truly grateful.”



Seemingly aware of the ongoing curiosity regarding her connection with Ashleigh Plumptre, a center-back for Al-Ittihad and the Nigeria national team (popularly known as the Super Falcons), she shared a tweet featuring Ashleigh’s victory dance after her team’s win against Australia in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In response, she remarked: “Lovely to see my niece’s victory dance.”



Apart from her work with Volition Cap, Plumptre engages in various fields such as public speaking, coaching, and mentorship. Her Subomi Plumptre Fellowship aims to mentor and network with young Nigerians who value hard work and excellence.



Moreover, she established The Subomi Plumptre Trust to address education, health, and cultural challenges.



She is also a published author, having written The C’s of Social Media and Unscripted, where she candidly shares her thoughts and struggles about life. Additionally, Plumptre has trained thousands on investment intelligence through her online courses.



The film The Black Book, directed by Editi Effiong and co- executive produced by Plumptre, was released on Netflix on her birthday – September 22 – this year.



“At Volition Cap, we are proud to have been the largest funders in the exclusive syndicate that backed the film [The Black Book] a group of believers who are iconoclasts in their own right. Our homegrown creatives have taken the world by storm, through Nollywood, Afrobeats, literature and fashion. Therefore, the creative industry must be supported,” says Plumptre.



Her dedication has earned her recognition, including acceptance to the Forbes Business Council and being featured in the ChangeMakers’ list of 100 Nigerians Leading Change.



The Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation recently nominated Plumptre as one of the Goalkeepers — a global collective of changemakers advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This recognition is in acknowledgment of her efforts to champion middle-class wealth in Africa and the diaspora. Her specific focus is on Goals 8, 9, and 10, which include Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; and Reduced Inequalities.



“It’s time to shift the African paradigm from poverty and foreign aid to wealth and prosperity. And we can only do so by empowering the socioeconomic group – the middle-class – that powers society through entrepreneurship, job creation, prioritization of education, active citizenship and remittances,” says Plumptre.



She is widely recognized for her integrity, thoroughness, and sincerity, as described by renowned photographer and singer Toyin Sokefun-Bello, better known as TY Bello.



“When I think of Subomi, the word that comes to mind is integrity,” Sokefun-Bello shared via Facebook in March 2021. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone more thorough, straightforward, and sincere in everything&#8230; even with the way she creates&#8230; One of the most innovative minds we have, both left and right-brained in a very special way&#8230; Subomi is a genius, really.”



“There’s still so much we all need to learn from Subomi. It feels good to know people that will change the world for real. I’m excited about the things she’s about to unveil,” she concluded, indicating her awareness of Plumptre’s plans for innovations in creating wealth for others.



“Trust is at the core of our community at Vizient Coop [one of the cooperatives managed by Volition Cap]. For many years, we built our membership from referrals only. This means satisfied customers told their friends, colleagues, and family members.



We also ensure that in times of market uncertainties, we never leave our community stranded. We keep communicating and intervening on their behalf,” Plumptre says as she highlights the importance of trust and community at Volition Cap.



She adds, “A major success story for me personally was a client we worked with for four years, having designed a custom investment plan for her. Through the returns on her investment, she could afford to send her kids to a premium university of their choice. We also have stories of retirees who currently live off their investment earnings.”



To address low investment literacy and combat Ponzi schemes, Volition Cap provides free investment courses to educate potential investors. Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC) disclosed last year that at least N911.45 billion ($1.17 billion) has been lost to various Ponzi schemes and related fraud across the country in 23 years.



Plumptre sees technology as a valuable tool to distribute financial products and educate investors about their risk appetites and investment profiles. Volition Cap collaborated with Opportunik Global Fund to create an AI-powered platform to help investors find their Africa-themed investor profile, utilizing technology innovatively to support homegrown investments.



“At Volition Cap, investing is not just about money. It’s about enabling dreams and life plans for our clients. That’s what keeps us going.



“In Volition Cap’s white paper, we alluded to the importance of the middle-class in creating jobs, educating the next generation and active citizenship. Therefore, our vision is an empowered middle-class that is financially independent, freeing them to create visionary products and to participate more fully in the design of their nations,” Plumptre says.



She reveals that her second research report, Unlocking African Prosperity, co-authored with Oyeneyin and Dean Onyambu, is now recommended reading in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) class at Hult Business School’s United Kingdom (UK) campus.



“I am pleased to illuminate Africa’s potential, showcasing how both Africans and the diaspora can generate wealth through alternative investments. The narrative of Africa must evolve from aid and poverty to entrepreneurship and wealth creation.

The Wealth Creator In Nigeria’s Asset Management World

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Mariah Carey and Brenda Lee’s weekslong battle at the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 took a turn Monday as “All I Want for Christmas Is You” notched its record-breaking 13th total week atop the chart, dethroning Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” after it led the chart for the first time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



Carey and Lee swapped places atop the Hot 100 this week, with “All I Want for Christmas Is You” reaching the summit for the fifth holiday season in a row—making the 1994 holiday anthem the first song to ever reach No. 1 in five consecutive calendar years, Billboard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-hot-100-13th-week-1235560875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.



“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/billboardcharts/status/1736820015448408131" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dipped</a>&nbsp;to No. 2 on the Hot 100, two weeks after Lee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/12/04/mariah-carey-dethroned-brenda-lees-rockin-around-the-christmas-tree-from-1958-tops-hot-100-for-first-time-breaking-records/?sh=1d1afa7e202f">became</a>&nbsp;the oldest person to lead the chart at 78 years old—a record she extended the following week, when she turned 79 and topped the chart for a second straight week.



This week, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-hot-100-13th-week-1235560875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">became</a>&nbsp;the first song with six distinct runs atop the Hot 100—it rose to the top each holiday season since 2019, including two nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 in 2020—breaking a tie Carey held with Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” and Harry Styles’ “As It Was.”



Carey has now spent a total of 92&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-hot-100-13th-week-1235560875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">weeks</a>&nbsp;atop the Hot 100, the most of any artist by a significant margin: Rihanna ranks second with 60 weeks on top of the chart.



Carey <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-hot-100-13th-week-1235560875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">joins</a> Boyz II Men as the second artist to have three separate songs spend at least 13 weeks on top of the Hot 100, one of which is their collaboration “One Sweet Day,” which led for 16 weeks between 1995 and 1996.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Billboard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/brenda-lee-rockin-around-christmas-mariah-no-1-1235515850/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;in November that Carey and Lee would likely be locked in a tight chart battle the entire holiday season, marking the first time a holiday song has challenged “All I Want for Christmas Is You” for the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 since it began its annual trip to the top in 2019. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/12/04/mariah-carey-dethroned-brenda-lees-rockin-around-the-christmas-tree-from-1958-tops-hot-100-for-first-time-breaking-records/?sh=1d1afa7e202f">reached</a>&nbsp;No. 1 on the Hot 100 on Dec. 4 and spent two weeks at the top, making it just the third holiday song to lead the chart and making the song, released in 1958, the oldest to ever rank No. 1. Amid the tight chart battle, both Carey and Lee have stepped up promotional efforts. Lee released the song’s first-ever music&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/TFsZy9t-qDc?si=br_zihXwOltqRaX7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">video</a>&nbsp;in November to celebrate its 65th anniversary, featuring cameo appearances from country stars Trisha Yearwood and Tanya Tucker. She also joined&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@brendaleeofficial" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TikTok</a>, posting videos promoting the song and reflecting on its long history. Carey released a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/mariah-carey-festive-lambs-edition-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-video-1235546135/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">video</a>&nbsp;for her hit on Dec. 8, leading to a 10% rise in streaming for the song this week, Billboard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-hot-100-13th-week-1235560875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>. Carey is also promoting her holiday music on a Christmas tour, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/mariah-carey-oh-santa-ariana-grande-jennifer-hudson-live-nyc-1235549232/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">show</a>&nbsp;at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 9 where she was joined by Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEWS PEG</h2>



Holiday music monopolized the entire Hot 100&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/billboardcharts/status/1736820015448408131" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top five</a>&nbsp;this week. Behind Carey and Lee, Bobby Helms ranks No. 3 with “Jingle Bell Rock,” Wham! took the No. 4 spot with “Last Christmas,” and Burl Ives hit No. 5 with “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” Lee leads Carey on this week’s Streaming Songs chart, Billboard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-hot-100-13th-week-1235560875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>, though the battle was close: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” had 42.4 million streams, above “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which had 42.2 million. Carey made a big jump from No. 7 to No. 3 on the Digital Song Sales chart, with sales up 68% from last week thanks to her song’s discounted 69-cent price on iTunes, Billboard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-hot-100-13th-week-1235560875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



The rise of music streaming has made holiday songs highly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/12/12/heres-how-much-mariah-carey-and-brenda-lee-earn-per-year-from-their-holiday-classics/?sh=3b2fb21073ad">profitable</a>&nbsp;because each play is monetized. Billboard previously estimated that “All I Want for Christmas Is You”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-much-mariah-carey-make-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generated</a>&nbsp;$6.16 million in revenue for Carey and her label in 2021, based on 94,000 downloads and 823 million streams. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-much-brenda-lee-rockin-around-the-christmas-tree-make/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">generated</a>&nbsp;about $4 million in revenue in 2022, and Billboard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-much-brenda-lee-rockin-around-the-christmas-tree-make/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;it is on track to earn more this year thanks to its rising popularity. The increasing popularity of streaming, plus the removal of Billboard chart&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/12/05/holiday-songs-rarely-hit-the-hot-100-before-2012-heres-what-changed/?sh=1e764ab82f7f">rules</a>&nbsp;that previously forbade songs that had fallen off the Hot 100 to return, have paved the way for holiday songs to dominate the Hot 100 every December.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-number-one-hot-100-13th-week-1235560875/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Jingles Back to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100</a>&nbsp;(Billboard)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/12/04/mariah-carey-dethroned-brenda-lees-rockin-around-the-christmas-tree-from-1958-tops-hot-100-for-first-time-breaking-records/?sh=1d1afa7e202f">Mariah Carey Dethroned: Brenda Lee’s ‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ From 1958 Tops Hot 100 For First Time, Breaking Records</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/12/12/heres-how-much-mariah-carey-and-brenda-lee-earn-per-year-from-their-holiday-classics/?sh=3b2fb21073ad">Here&#8217;s How Much Mariah Carey And Brenda Lee Earn Per Year From Their Holiday Classics</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

2023 Billboard Music Awards – Show

Mariah Carey Leads Billboard Chart Again With ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’—Breaking Even More Records

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“We are not merely making policy, but are nurturing a legacy of boundless growth and shared prosperity under BeTA (Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda),” says Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary For Foreign Diaspora Affairs, Dr Musalia Mudavadi.
</blockquote>



Kenya, the largest economy in East Africa, celebrated 60 years of independence on December 12, 2023.



In June, during the country’s Madaraka Day celebrations, which commemorate the day Kenya attained self-rule in 1963 – a day that would prove pivotal in its pursuit of independence, President William Samoei Ruto stated that “every Kenya African understood [the first Madaraka Day] to be the beginning of the hard and noble work of securing and enhancing social and economic freedom as well.”



“For six decades now, the people of Kenya have worked hard, with admirable diligence and unwavering determination, to perfect the political freedom of their nation through sustained socioeconomic progress,” he added.



The country, in which GDP is projected to grow 5.6% in 2023 and 6.0% in 2024, according to an economic outlook published by the African Development Bank (AfDB) earlier this year, is considered “a powerhouse within the East African community”.



This was the sentiment from Dr Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Diaspora Affairs.



“On the global stage, Kenya’s influence has soared, expanding its footprint in international trade, becoming a key member of regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC), the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and forging essential economic partnerships like AGOA with the United States and having an Economic Partnership Arrangement with the European Union (EU),” he tells FORBES AFRICA.



Furthermore, the country is committed to global harmony, underscored by its active participation in the United Nations peacekeeping framework.



“As we celebrate 60 years of independence, these achievements and challenges serve as stepping stones toward a future of even greater promise,” Mudavadi adds.



Solidifying Kenya’s commitment to economic development, in 2022, it exported a total of $7.4 billion, globally.



Approximately, $767 million of this revenue came directly from the country’s 89 Export Processing Zones (EPZs). This year, President Ruto announced new plans to expand this number with an additional five new zones to complement this growth and encourage more foreign investment in the country.



The East African nation’s technology ecosystem also holds immense potential, according to Endeavor Kenya Managing Director, Maryanne Ochola.



“The Kenyan startup ecosystem is nascent and full of promise,” she says, adding, “A number of important events saw Kenya turn the tide. These were the laying of the first undersea internet cable, the launch of M-PESA and the establishment of innovation hubs such as iLab at Strathmore University. These



developments underscore the importance of two key assets – enabling infrastructure and physical spaces for like-minded innovators to convene and exchange ideas.”



Mudavadi also emphasizes “Kenya’s pioneering role in the mobile banking revolution” and concludes: “Our legacy, we hope, will be woven from the threads of unity, determination, the resilient spirit of the African, and a relentless pursuit of a better tomorrow for every African.”



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Aerial view of illuminated city buildings against sky at night,Nairobi,Kenya

Leading With A Legacy Of Economic Transformation: Kenya Celebrates 60 Years Of Independence

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



Researchers began testing a first-of-its-kind non-hormonal male birth control pill this week, a promising step for male contraceptive care as previous hormonal methods faced challenges like too many side effects and issues reducing sperm production.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



Manufacturer YourChoice Therapeutics began its&nbsp;<a href="https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06094283" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phase I trial</a>&nbsp;of its daily male birth control pill known as YCT-529 this week, which involves British participants.



Unlike the female birth control pill, YCT-529 is a hormone-free type of retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RAR-alpha) inhibitor, which means it works by blocking access to vitamin A, preventing sperm production.



Previous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257687/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a>&nbsp;have found vitamin A deficiencies can lead to infertility as it’s needed for male reproduction, sperm production and the maintenance of the male genital tract.



When tested in male mice during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.biorender.com/blog/the-new-male-contraceptive-pill-downloadable-infographic" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preclinical trials</a>, the male contraceptive showed 99% efficacy in preventing pregnancy, was 100% reversible without any side effects and the mice were fertile again four to six weeks after stopping the pill.



The amount of men willing to take male contraceptive rages between 34% to 82.3%, according to a 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33900134/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;published in the Journal of Sex Research.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-could-the-male-birth-control-pill-be-available">WHEN COULD THE MALE BIRTH CONTROL PILL BE AVAILABLE?</h2>



Unclear. This clinical trial is expected to end in June 2024.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



$200 billion. That’s how much the market value of new male contraceptives is worth (between $40 billion to $200 billion), assuming a market size of 10 million men in the U.S. and 50 million men worldwide, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4762912/#:~:text=The%20economic%20aspects%20of%20male,200%20billion%20dollars%20%5B69%5D." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;published in Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



“The world is ready for a male contraceptive agent and delivering one that’s hormone-free is simply the right thing to do given what we know about the side effects women have endured for decades from The Pill,” Gunda Georg, researcher behind the pill and founding director of the Institutes for Therapeutics Discovery and Development, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231212830806/en/YourChoice-Therapeutics-begins-first-in-human-trial-for-male-birth-control-pill" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Though almost half of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended, the only contraceptive options available to men are condoms and vasectomies,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/male-contraceptive-disables-sperm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to the National Institute of Health. The issue with creating new birth control methods is men produce around 1,000 sperm a second—totalling millions a day—whereas women produce one egg per month. A phase II male birth control study commissioned by the World Health Organization was stopped in 2016 after researchers found it had too many side effects, according to the&nbsp;<a href="http://press.endocrine.org/doi/10.1210/jc.2016-2141" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">results</a>&nbsp;published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. Participants taking the hormonal injections reported mood swings, acne, depression and suicidal ideation—all&nbsp;<a href="https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/birth-control-side-effects-risks" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">side effects</a>&nbsp;of female birth control. Initial results for the male injectable were promising: The drug looked to be 96% effective at preventing pregnancy. A hormonal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/news/080222-NEST" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">birth control gel</a>&nbsp;was the first male contraceptive to make it to phase III trials in 2022. It’s applied on each shoulder and lowers sperm production to less than one million sperm per milliliter compared to the typical 15 million to 200 million sperm per milliliter. Trials for a hormonal male birth control pill called dimethandrolone undecanoate are ongoing, though a previous 2019&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6306388/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a>&nbsp;found it was safe and effective with no serious side effects.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



There are several types of female birth control&nbsp;<a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">options</a>, including pills, patches, intrauterine devices (IUD) and rings, which range from 71% efficacy to 99% efficacy. Though they have their benefits, there are also health risks associated with hormonal birth control, according to Healthline.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control-effects-on-body#what-are-the-side-effects-of-birth-control" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Side effects</a>&nbsp;include mood swings, blood clots, weight change, vaginal irritation and migraines. Recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/news/any-type-of-hormonal-contraceptive-may-increase-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=The%20researchers%20estimated%20that%20the,from%20age%2035%20to%2039." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">research</a>&nbsp;has indicated women who take any type of hormonal birth control are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Man medicating himself at home medicine

What We Know About The Male Birth Control Pill YCT-529 Tested By Researchers

Professor Benedict Oramah2

‘Exploring Uncharted Waters’: The Growth Strategist Turning Around African Trade

SOUTH AFRICA’S UNPRECEDENTED RECORD FOURTH RUGBY WORLD CUP WIN GOES FAR BEYOND SPORTING EXCELLENCE – IT WAS A STUDY IN FUTURE PLANNING, ORGANIZATION, LEADERSHIP AND MENTALITY.



South Africa’s record fourth World Cup title was a seminal moment for the game in the country and highlighted the huge strides forward rugby has made in igniting a passion for the game among supporters of all races.



In a country struggling with an electricity crisis, economic downturn, high unemployment, crime and corruption, the Springboks’ 12-11 World Cup final win over New Zealand provided a rare chance to celebrate.



But the win goes far beyond sporting excellence and those who spearheaded it hope it can be a blueprint for success in all walks of South African life.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="681" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1763424326.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60650" style="width:797px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1763424326.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1763424326-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1763424326-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA &#8211; NOVEMBER 04: Fans during the South Africa men&#8217;s national rugby team trophy tour on November 04, 2023 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


The sight of thousands of adoring supporters lining the streets to see the team on their trophy tour in Soweto, South Africa’s largest township, was particularly striking given how rugby was once perceived to be the sport of the white Afrikaner during apartheid.



Those scenes were replicated across the country and showcase not only the love and admiration supporters have for the side, but also the deep respect for an unprecedented achievement.



The Springboks became the first team to lift the World Cup trophy on four occasions and the win was achieved with much more than skill and physical prowess alone, it was a study in future planning, organization, leadership and mentality. No team has had a harder path to victory, with South Africa meeting each of the other top six sides in the world rankings on their road to the trophy.



One point wins over hosts France, a dogged England and old foes New Zealand in the knockout stages was a test of their character as well as skillset.



Former Springbok flyhalf Joel Stransky kicked the winning drop-goal in extra-time when the side lifted their first World Cup title in front of a beaming Nelson Mandela in 1995.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="699" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1761533936.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60649" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1761533936.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1761533936-300x205.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-1761533936-768x524.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA &#8211; NOVEMBER 03: Siya Kolisi during the South Africa men&#8217;s national rugby team trophy tour on November 03, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


He was in France in a broadcast role and got to see the side operate at close quarters. He explains to FORBES AFRICA in an exclusive interview the secret to their success.



“That tough mentality is born from a few things,” Stransky says. “It comes from the huge effort that goes into what they do, a team spirit and genuine love for each other, and a burning desire to succeed. This team has a wonderful culture. “They work their socks off for each other and leave no stone unturned in preparation for every match. They also have that South African never-say-die attitude where they find a way to win games that other teams cannot. They are an exceptional bunch.”



Eloquent captain Siya Kolisi is a hugely-respected figure in the game around the world and in the aftermath of their victory spoke at length about the unity within the side and the fact that their diversity, with players coming from such different backgrounds, is what binds them together.



“We are a diverse and beautiful team from all walks of life. This trophy is for those who come from tough, disadvantaged areas,” Kolisi said.



“For the kid who needs to know that while things are tough for you, and you can’t afford school fees, you have no shoes to walk to school and no food at home, you can make something out of your life. Even when the situation does not look hopeful.



“We come from those backgrounds, this team represents everybody. We want people to say, ‘who can I look to that has made it from this situation’, and that is us. You can look at this team.”



It was a sentiment echoed by scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, whose upbringing could not have been more different than Kolisi’s, but whose mentality is the same.



“It feels very uniting,” he said. “It is not our trophy, it is everyone in South Africa’s trophy. We might be 33 players (in the World Cup squad), but our driving force is the people of South Africa and we couldn’t have done it without them.”



Kolisi is the undisputed captain of the side but as Stransky points out, successful teams are made up of leadership groups, whose own perspectives and experiences are valued and listened to too.



“In every team you have lots of leadership, especially in the national set-up because there are lots of guys who captain other (club) sides and are natural leaders.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1762113459.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60050" style="width:836px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1762113459.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1762113459-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1762113459-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PARIS, FRANCE &#8211; OCTOBER 28: Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, lifts the The Webb Ellis Cup following the Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


“But at the top of the leadership group you are still a proper, genuine captain who is respected and loved by everyone and Siya is that guy.



“As a human being he is just the most amazing guy. He is obviously thorough in his preparation and training, but as a human being he is sensational, and that is why they will follow him to the ends of the earth.”



The world may love Kolisi, but the Springboks are not universally admired despite their success and drew criticism during the tournament for what was viewed as a dour style of rugby and a controversial use of a 7-1 split between forwards and backs on the bench.



The criticism leveled at them is that they are all power and no finesse, and that does not make for an entertaining product for fans.



“Well done to South Africa, the best at not playing rugby,” screamed a headline in New Zealand Herald, while pundits shouted loudly about the bench being against the spirit of the game, and the need to depower scrums, a major weapon of the Springboks.



“When we look back at it in 20 years’ time, no one is going to say, ‘what was the style of play that day’,” Stransky says. “Where our coaching team has been exceptional is that they have looked at the laws of the game and the areas where the referees are focussing on.



“They have said, ‘these are our strengths, so how can we be at our best inside the parameters of the laws’. They have picked horses for courses and played a different game-plan against different opposition when required.”



Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and departing head coach Jacques Nienaber had to think out of the box after losing key hooker Malcolm Marx early in the tournament, making the inspired decision to bring in flyhalf Handré Pollard as his replacement. He had missed out in the original squad due to a calf injury.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="724" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1762435141.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60047" style="width:680px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1762435141.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1762435141-300x212.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1762435141-768x543.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">PARIS, FRANCE &#8211; OCTOBER 28: Kurt-Lee Arendse (L) and Damian Willemse of South Africa celebrate their win in the changing rooms following dthe Rugby World Cup France 2023 Gold Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on October 28, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney &#8211; World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


There were question marks over the kicking accuracy of Manie Libbok and given that Pollard was successful with all 13 of his kicks at goal, including difficult shots in the knockout rounds, it was perhaps the key decision from the coaching team that led to the win.



But it meant flanker Deon Fourie had to cover at hooker, a position he had not played in five years and never at test level.



His is a remarkable story, having been the oldest Springbok debutant in history at the age of 35 in July 2022. He played 77 minutes of the final in the front row of the scrum after an early injury for starter Bongi Mbonambi and ended up as captain of the side with Kolisi off the field at the final whistle.



“If you had told me two years ago that I would be standing here with a World Cup winner’s medal, I would’ve laughed and said you are smoking some weird stuff,” Fourie says.



“That emotion you saw after the whistle was relief. The last three weeks (of the tournament), winning by one point, it was stressful. Grafting it out at the end.



“There was relief, then happiness, and finally disbelief that I was on the field and winning a World Cup.”



Players like Fourie will inevitably step aside, some immediately and others in a year or two as the team builds towards the next tournament in Australia in 2027. It is the inevitable nature of a World Cup cycle and key for the Springboks will be maintaining their edge through this process.



“I see huge change coming,” Stransky says. “It will be a huge rebuilding process. In that starting line-up (in the final against New Zealand), I counted maybe five or six players who will be at the next World Cup.



“There are others in the squad who will slot in but there are also a lot of empty spaces where we will need to bring in youngsters and build a new team around some of the older hands. It will be a period of transition.”



What the Springboks have achieved is difficult to illustrate fully. Only four teams have won the World Cup in history, and no-one else has done it four times.



But aside from their on-field excellence, it is also their relatability that sets them apart. This is a team without egos, who show that hard work and unifying behind a common goal can bring the ultimate rewards.



“As a team, we want to be a reference point for our people, to show them how we can do it, and hopefully they’ll get hope from this team,” Kolisi said.



“This was not about us as players. This victory was for every South African, and we showed what is possible with this diverse team. “I hope that going forward in business, in everyday life, that we understand that the team only won because we decided to put our different cultures and differences aside and focus on the country. I think that’s the most important thing.”

New Zealand v South Africa: Final – Rugby World Cup France 2023

ROAD TO THE TROPHY: ‘This was not about us as players. This victory was for every South African’

The man behind the success of the The Real Housewives of Nairobi has an equally interesting story.



Amidst the ever-changing landscape of entrepreneurship, Eugene Mbugua is a role model in Kenya, embarking on a journey that found its roots in the most unexpected of places — a high school canteen. Nestled within the hallowed halls of Nairobi&#8217;s Upper Hill Boys High School, Mbugua took his first steps into the world of business by joining a student-owned canteen that offered break snacks. This early foray ignited the flames of entrepreneurship within him, leading him to become a shareholder in the venture and explore unique avenues, such as selling creatively-adorned envelopes to fellow students, designed for penning letters to girlfriends in other boarding schools, whose letters were sent via post.



When he moved on to university, he continued his quest to explore the world of business. He dabbled in various enterprises, from a shop selling bootleg DVDs to a haven for video game enthusiasts between classes. “I also tried my hand in different businesses varying from event management to a tour company; they all failed,” says Mbugua.



It was during his last year of university that the tide turned. A chance encounter with the world of film-making after high school, courtesy of a cousin who brought him to a film set, ignited a passion that would change his life&#8217;s course. This newfound love led him to pursue a course in television production at university, while concurrently managing his small businesses and exploring various job opportunities in the field.



Throughout this tumultuous journey, Mbugua held onto a dream – the dream of creating his own TV show.



“This whole time I pitched to quite a number of different TV stations. Eventually about a month prior to my graduation, our first show Young Rich was bought by a local station”. It focused on young entrepreneurs and quickly became a top-ranking, award-winning TV show. “That was our first milestone, the premiere of our first TV show Young Rich in 2013. It’s what set the ground for everything else that came”.



Mbugua and his team at D&amp;R Studios went on to produce more than 20 television shows, establishing a prominent presence in Kenya&#8217;s media landscape. Their latest sensation, The Real Housewives of Nairobi, is capturing audiences&#8217; attention not just in Kenya but on an international scale, thanks to collaborations with platforms like Showmax and NBCUniversal.



After a successful run of their reality show Kyallo Kulture, Mbugua got into the beauty space, forging partnerships with entities and personalities that allow the studio to not only take advantage of their clientele base but also tap into their huge following to provide value for audiences and broadcasters.



He recently launched a cosmetic line called Unapologetic in partnership with media personality and entrepreneur Betty Kyallo.



What makes Mbugua’s journey particularly fascinating is his ability to adapt and innovate. One major pivot came in 2020-2021 when D&amp;R Studios attracted investment and established a governing board.



“We took in investment and set up a board which now governs the company and to which I answer to as CEO. The board’s input has often helped us expand our view of what our business is capable of and has also helped us put together governing structures needed to scale new heights,” says Mbugua.



This strategic move allowed him to expand the company&#8217;s horizons and put in place the structures needed for scaling greater heights. As an avid reader now learning to play the saxophone, he finds inspiration in books.



Challenges abound in the film and television industry, with the rapid growth of digital media and technological advancements like AI rendering some job roles obsolete. However, Mbugua and D&amp;R Studios seem to have met these challenges with a proactive attitude. Mbugua predicts that streaming services will continue to thrive, offering on-demand content to an audience reluctant to return to traditional TV schedules. Self-publishing through platforms like TikTok and YouTube will also gain momentum, providing fame and fortune for emerging talent.



“What I think will provide the most disruption however is artificial intelligence. If one is able to use these tools well, it is possible to generate very good content very quickly and this might build some new fortunes and destroy others.”



For aspiring entrepreneurs entering the industry, Mbugua, an alum of the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list, offers an essential piece of advice: “Start where you are with what you have and embrace new technology quickly. In a rapidly-changing media landscape, early adopters are handsomely rewarded.”

Eugene Mbugua; image supplied

Kenya’s Early Adopter In Showbiz On The Next Big Disruption

Is fashion a form of art? The question stirs debate, but there is no right or wrong answer. Art remains a form of expression and we portray ourselves by what we wear and also create as artists. This is how stories are told, spirits are lifted and people are inspired; the play of color, contrasts and textures. We have curated a fruity palette across various woven and printed fabrics to brighten up your holiday wardrobe, adding texture with the appliqué of roses seen on fashion runways in recent weeks and complementing with bold jewelry to create elegant, vibrant and playful couture. 



STYLIST: Deneal Van Wyk| ART DIRECTION: Lucy Nkosi| PHOTOGRAPHY: Katlego Mokubyane of NeKatz Studio| MAKE-UP: Vanessa Unamaca- Makolemade Beauty| ART CURATOR: Serena Moodley_Anderson| LOCATION: Conrad Culture– BLAIRGOWRIE, JOHANNESBURG



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="FRAMING ELEGANCE: The Medley Of Art And Fashion" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mK_ZXtwPX8c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Video by Chanel Retief </figcaption></figure>



<div class="wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right" style="grid-template-columns:auto 54%"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
On the wall: (Middle) South African artist Serena Moodley-Anderson’s ‘His Story’ R6,500/$354 (Left and right) Serena Moodley- Anderson ‘Comfortable Silence’ R1,500/$82 each



GIFT MUDI- Fashion Model, Make-Up Artist



<ul>
<li>Kate Spade Floral Clip On Ear Cuff-R2,990/$165</li>



<li>Gold Statement Karl Lagerfeld Choker With Pearl Detailing-R3,990/$220</li>



<li>DFLO Multi Coloured Flower, Shimmer Dress – R5,500/$303</li>



<li>Karl Lagerfeld Gold Linked Cuff-R1,990/$110</li>



<li>Europa Art Black Mule With Gold Strap – R3,290/$181</li>
</ul>
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0268-1-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60582 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0268-1-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0268-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0268-1-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0268-1-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0268-1-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0268-1.jpg 1478w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="683" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0275-1-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60585 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0275-1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0275-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0275-1-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0275-1-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0275-1-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0275-1.jpg 1407w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
DAVID BLOCH Multi-Award-Winning International Show Producer, Creative Director, Entertainment Manager



<ul>
<li>Franc Elis Printed Orange Shirt – R2,300/$127</li>



<li>Franc Elis Orange Suit –R15,000/$824</li>



<li>Silver Karl Lagerfeld Linked Bracelet: R2,590/$143</li>



<li>Silver Karl Lagerfeld Diamanté Linked Ring – R1,190/$66</li>



<li>Europa Art Suede Beige Loafers – R4,690/$258</li>
</ul>
</div></div>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“IT’S INCREDIBLE TO SEE THE KIND OF DESIGNS AND THE KIND OF FABRICS AND TEXTURES THAT PEOPLE ARE PLAYING WITH. IT’S JUST INCREDIBLE. I MEAN, FASHION TODAY IS ART!” — David Bloch
</blockquote>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="705" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0149-1-705x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60581" style="width:477px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0149-1-705x1024.jpg 705w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0149-1-207x300.jpg 207w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0149-1-768x1116.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0149-1-1057x1536.jpg 1057w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0149-1-1410x2048.jpg 1410w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0149-1.jpg 1560w" sizes="(max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px" /></figure></div>


On the wall: Molefe Thwala of TACS Portrait ‘Isimemo II’ R22,000/$1,198



<ul>
<li>Balmain Printed Golfer Shirt &#8211; R22,010/$1,215</li>



<li>Karl Lagerfeld Silver Diamanté Linked Bracelet – R2,690/$148</li>



<li>Silver Karl Lagerfeld Ring – R1,690/$93</li>



<li>Balmain Navy Pants –R19,760/$1,085</li>



<li>Europa Art Navy Shoes –R4,890/$269</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-a-neutral-outlook">A Neutral Outlook</h2>



No longer classified as washed-out or boring, neutral tones have come to the fore and are here to stay. Make a statement in these subtle but trendy tones.



<div class="wp-block-media-text" style="grid-template-columns:69% auto"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2480" height="2086" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/79.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60631 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/79.jpg 2480w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/79-300x252.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/79-1024x861.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/79-768x646.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/79-1536x1292.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/79-2048x1723.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2480px) 100vw, 2480px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<ul>
<li>STOCKISTS</li>



<li><a href="http://www.alexandermcqueen.com">Alexander McQueen</a></li>



<li><a href="http://www.paulsmith.com"> Paul Smith</a> </li>



<li><a href="http://www.jimmychoo.com">Jimmy Choo</a></li>



<li><a href="http://www.farfetch.com">Farfetch</a> </li>



<li><a href="http://www.europaart.co.za">Europa Art</a></li>



<li><a href="http://www.shop-beauty.dior.co.za">Dior Beauty</a></li>



<li><a href="http://www.valentino.com">Valentino Garavani</a></li>
</ul>
</div></div>



“THE WAY YOU COMBINE YOUR OUTFITS, THE WAY YOU COLOR-COORDINATE, FOR ME, THAT IS ART. YOU CANNOT HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.”— Gift Mudi



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile" style="grid-template-columns:54% auto"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0452-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60575 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0452-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0452-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0452-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0452-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0452-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0452.jpg 1478w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
On the wall: Serena Moodley-Anderson ‘Sophiatown Diptych’ R5,000/$272



<ul>
<li>Karl Lagerfeld Gold Statement Earrings &#8211;R2,690/$148</li>



<li>Balmain Printed Jacket With Gold Buttons –R48,980/$2,690</li>



<li>Balmain Printed Skirt With Gold Buttons – R29,750/$1,634</li>
</ul>
</div></div>



<div class="wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile" style="grid-template-columns:auto 46%"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<ul>
<li>Europa Art White Bow Detail Pumps R3,990/$218</li>



<li>Europa Art White handbag-R2,990/$165</li>
</ul>
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0510-1-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60591 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0510-1-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0510-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0510-1-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0510-1-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0510-1-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0510-1.jpg 1478w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /></figure></div>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading alignwide has-text-align-center" id="h-tis-the-season-to-sparkle">‘Tis The Season To Sparkle</h1>



If you ever second-guessed wearing a sequinned little number, now is the perfect time. With all the festivities around the corner, you can dazzle the night away.



<div class="wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile" style="grid-template-columns:auto 64%"><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<ul>
<li>STOCKISTS: </li>



<li><a href="http://www.europaart.co.za">Europa Art</a></li>



<li><a href="http://www.arcstore.co.za">Arc Store</a></li>



<li><a href="http://www.valentino.com">Valentino, Garavani</a></li>



<li><a href="http://www.castelo.co.za">Castelo</a></li>



<li><a href="http://int.balmain.com">Balmain</a></li>



<li><a href="http://www.sunglasshut.com">Sunglass Hut</a> </li>



<li><a href="http://row.jimmychoo.com">Jimmy Choo</a></li>
</ul>
</div><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2480" height="2021" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/081.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60630 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/081.jpg 2480w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/081-300x244.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/081-1024x834.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/081-768x626.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/081-1536x1252.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/081-2048x1669.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2480px) 100vw, 2480px" /></figure></div>






<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0399-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60572" style="width:600px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0399-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0399-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0399-768x1153.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0399-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0399-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Forbes-Fashion0399.jpg 1478w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /></figure></div>


On the wall: ‘Left In The Dark’ (limited edition print) R5,000/$272 | ‘Battery Low’ (limited edition print) R5,000/$272



David wears: 



<ul>
<li>Zegna duck Egg Linen Jacket – R12,240/$673 </li>



<li>Zegna Off White Jersey – R17,960/$987 </li>



<li>Zenga Duck Egg Linen Trousers – R28,420/$1,563</li>



<li>Europa Art Black Brogues: R4,890/$26</li>
</ul>



Gift wears



<ul>
<li>Kate Spade Floral Drop Earrings &#8211; R4,990/$274 </li>



<li>Gold Ball Statement Karl Lagerfeld Necklace – R4,790/$262 </li>



<li>Bam Collective Yellow Pod Top – R4,800/$264 </li>



<li>Bam Collective Yellow Pod Skirt – R5,200/$286 </li>



<li>Europa Art Pink Bow Detailing Heels &#8211; R3,990/$215</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-homing-in">Homing In</h2>



Out with the old and in with the new. These items are aesthetic and will add prized pizzazz and festive fervor to your home spaces.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1016" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/83-1-1024x1016.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60635" style="width:530px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/83-1-1024x1016.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/83-1-300x298.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/83-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/83-1-768x762.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/83-1-1536x1524.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/83-1-2048x2032.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


STOCKISTS: <a href="http://morellirugs.co.za">Morelli Rugs</a>• <a href="http://www.luxdeco.com">Luxdeco</a> •<a href="http://www.blockandchisel.co.za">Block and Chisel</a> • <a href="http://carrolboyes.com">Carrol Boyes </a>• <a href="http://www.villeroyandboch.co.za">Villeroy &amp; Boch</a> • <a href="http://www.poetrystores.co.za">Poerty</a> • <a href="http://www.bossplus1shop.com">BossPlus1</a>

Forbes Fashion0532

Framing Elegance: The Medley Of Art And Fashion In South Africa

Susan Tusabe’s NGO in Uganda has grown to include over 600 children and 90 mothers, with activities expanding from static book clubs to a mobile library, menstrual and mental health education, leadership workshops, agricultural instruction, digital competency, and support for a boys’ football academy.



A proverb in Luganda, one of Uganda’s luxuriant abundance of languages, enjoins: okutambula kulaba, okudda kunyumya. Experience life, and return to tell your story.



The liberating power of storytelling is the beating heart of Kampala’s arts education and literacy NGO Art of a Child. Its Founding Director, Susan Tusabe, started the organization in 2016, after recognizing an appetite for reading in the children she met on her daily walk to work.



“I used to take a path through a slum area in a suburb called Kabalagala,” she says. “The children I met showed a hunger for information. If I took books for them, they would show more interest; if I didn&#8217;t show up, they would look for me. At some point, I was told that kids in the slums were not interested in reading; that I should look for another thing to do for them, like providing food. But I realized children are not really interested in other handouts; they&#8217;re actually looking for information.”



Ad hoc visits and book distributions matured into a Book Club, where stories were read aloud to include children whose literacy levels were still low. “They needed guidance on how to read books,” Tusabe says. “They had never experienced hearing a story like Jack and the Beanstalk. So they were very excited.”



Those nascent meetings attracted around 30 children; the NGO’s portfolio of programs has now grown to include over 600 children and 90 mothers, with activities expanding from static book clubs to a mobile library, menstrual and mental health education, leadership workshops, agricultural instruction, digital competency, and support for a boys’ football academy.



Tusabe says this diversification has allowed Art of a Child to meet the changing needs of the different communities it serves.



“Literacy has evolved; it&#8217;s really no longer about just reading or writing,” she says. “Literate individuals should be able to use knowledge to develop their communities. We want young people to be able to make a positive change.”



The program’s alumni have gone on to innovate solutions to problems experienced in their own childhoods. “Some girls have started up a project called School Pads, addressing period poverty,” says Tusabe. “They believe the project will reduce the number of school dropouts. Some are focusing on the environment, planting trees in their communities. And we talk to them about being able to equip themselves economically; a few have started shoemaking, another is making beauty products. So it&#8217;s a mixture of leaders.”



The success of these programs has offset the challenges an NGO of this kind often faces in both urban and rural settings: an initial resistance to outreach which doesn’t always provide an immediate tangible benefit. “Maybe because of what they have seen, or whichever organizations they have dealt with, they expect a scholarship or allowances, a reward for being there. But the ones who stay actually gain more. For example, those who are growing mushrooms have made a lot of money, to the extent that they have created savings, and are able to buy equipment.”



A further beneficiary of the NGO’s diversified offering is the Wolfgang Football Academy in the rural district of Masaka, about 80 miles southwest of Kampala. Its founder, qualified coach Rodin Joseph Bugembe, says that 30 boys now live onsite, with a further 20 traveling from other communities to take part in daily training. The academy has integrated Art of a Child’s literacy and leadership programs to build an environment which nurtures every aspect of the children’s development.



“We try to create three pillars: education, character, and football,” he says, as a thrilling, full-blooded tournament throttles past him on a dusty pitch; one boy hits a volley so fearsome it knocks the entire goal frame off its moorings (Bugembe says the academy is always in need of new footballs, more coaches to accelerate the boys’ training, and robust and reliable healthcare provision).



“Character means what you are, and what you do,” he says. “So here, these boys gain confidence and self-esteem, and are able to express themselves in public. We need everyone to work together with us, and Art of a Child, to find for the boys a good life.”

Susan Tusabe; image supplied

How This Ugandan Social Entrepreneur Is Liberating Communities With Literacy

Slaughterhouses in the landlocked African nation are up for an upgrade but what, if anything, stands in the way of meat production becoming an effective economic and development tool for the nation. FORBES AFRICA finds out



At Chad’s newest and most modern slaughterhouse, precision is paramount as razor-sharp knives deftly transform cattle and mutton carcasses into premium cuts, from sirloin to ribeye, brisket, tenderloin, shanks, and ribs. Nothing goes to waste: bones succumb to the sharp metal claws of machines and are turned into dust, yielding animal feed, fat is refined into tallow for soap production, and even the skins are saved for consumption. The facility processes approximately 200 cattle and 400 sheep every day.



Dozens of Chadian butchers wearing pristine, white robes, rubber boots, protective glasses and caps, have been working at the site since it opened in February. The abattoir is situated in Moundou, Chad’s second-largest city and its industrial hub, about 400km south of the capital, N’Djamena. 



The XAF20 billion ($32 million) investment by the government stands as the latest addition to the country’s growing arsenal of meat processing infrastructure, aimed at advancing its meat export capabilities. As one of the top three African nations by livestock population, boasting over 120 million heads, Chad wants to industrialize and emerge as a beef export powerhouse.



The country’s second source of income after oil, livestock amounts to about 18% of its GDP and supports nearly 40% of the population and provides a livelihood to more than 70% of the rural population, according to the African Development Bank. Currently, Chad exports 700,000 cattle and small ruminants per year, but most of that is done by herders on foot. 



“The breeding is not necessarily done for consumption in Chad,” says Abderahim Awat Atteib, the country’s minister of livestock and animal production. “It&#8217;s more of an economic and development tool — people rear cattle to sell.” 



With a saturated domestic livestock market, an underdeveloped meat processing sector and a lack of capabilities in exporting, the Chadian government has embarked on a partnership with a company in the private sector, Arise. Together, they are establishing seven special economic zones across the nation to develop its meat processing industry. To accomplish this, an estimated XAF220 billion ($361 million) are needed to be invested by 2035, Jacky Riviere, President of Arise Chad, tells FORBES AFRICA. 



In 2022, the public-private alliance between Arise and the Chadian government gave birth to Laham Tchad, a co-owned company that would coordinate the industrialization. Arise holds a 65% stake and the Chadian government claims 35%. Their shared goal is to enhance meat processing infrastructure, much like the Moundou slaughterhouse, and promote international exports of locally grown and processed meat. Over the next decade, Laham Tchad envisions the opening of approximately five additional slaughterhouses in various regions of the country, according to Amarpreet Sidhu, the company&#8217;s director.



Chad plans to export the meat on an industrial scale to multiple destinations in the Middle East and Africa, both by land and air routes. A land transport has already been made to the Gabonese capital Libreville, and countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon are also poised to receive their first transport by land if agreements are reached.



Meanwhile, Arab countries like Libya, Egypt, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates would receive their shipments via air routes. Egypt and Kuwait are anticipated to receive their first exports in the upcoming year.



Arise has committed to both worker training and the overall development of infrastructure within these economic zones. In parallel, the government will provide land and actively contribute to the industry&#8217;s advancement. For the past five years, Arise has also been working to develop Chad’s cotton industry under a similar agreement.



At the Farcha slaughterhouse in the capital N’Djamena, things aren’t quite the same. Some of the meat processing is done similarly to how it was done in 1958, when the site was opened under French colonial rule. 



Herders then bring their product to be slaughtered for a fee, after which they come to pick it up to sell in the capital’s markets. Although there are about five other small abattoirs in the city, according to the head of the Farcha, they largely adopt a similar artisanal approach, performing most tasks on the ground. 



Laham Tchad, the company co-owned by the government and Arise, will eventually take over Farcha’s operations and modernize it while building another, more modern, slaughterhouse to serve the capital of N’Djamena. 



Despite dissatisfaction with the modernity of the site, Sidhu of Laham Tchad thinks it can be modernized and used while they build a new one. The capacity of Farcha could be instrumental in expanding exports, yet presently, it remains dedicated to the local market.



The public-private partnership aims to generate employment opportunities, with an ambitious target of creating 45,000 jobs through industrialization. For the Moundou slaughterhouse, about 12 regional suppliers of livestock work with Laham Tchad. 



One of them is Maria Muhammad, a 37-year-old woman who tells FORBES AFRICA that the new abattoir has convinced her to breed cattle after previously only selling goats, sheep and other small livestock. The proximity of the site, which is about 100km from her native Doba, makes it easy for her to sell her livestock and expand her business. 



“Before, I was selling just in Chad, now my meat is exported,” says Muhammad.



In the city of Dourbali, about 100km south east of the capital, N’Djamena, another special economic zone is poised to develop. There, a local artisanal tannery has been struggling with its development. 



Souleyman Bello, the president of the tannery in Dourbali, said they are craving industrialization. Operating an artisanal tannery doesn’t sustain salaries, and production costs and more modern machines and chemicals would change the game for them.



“Exporting would also be great but we don’t have the means and it’s hard to find clients abroad,” says Bello. “We need more tools to industrialize the production.”



Riviere of Arise says that tanneries in Dourbali are part of the infrastructure elements Laham Tchad wants to develop.



At the cattle market in Dourbali, Chadian herders also say they would welcome industrialization if it can help them sell their cattle domestically. Currently, the herders have to travel to Nigeria via Cameroon by foot to sell their cattle.



“If we had a slaughterhouse here, we could sell the animals directly to them without traveling,” says Abakar Djabir, the president of the cattle market in Dourbali.



The cost of the trip to Nigeria and the dangers along the routes, where insurgent group, Boko Haram is present and has been involved in cattle raids, make it really difficult for sellers who often find their money and cattle stolen.



“There’s always risks during the export by foot,” Djabir says.



Chad’s security issues around the Lake Chad region, with Boko Haram groups and other jihadist factions a constant threat, as well as its rank as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, could pose serious challenges for the government’s plan to industrialize.



“It’s not easy to attract investors but it is the most stable country in the region at the moment,” says Riviere.



Nicole Ndoubayo, the Deputy Director of the Agency for the Administration of Special Economic Zones (AAZES) in Chad, tells FORBES AFRICA: “If we wait for security to stabilize, we’ll never industrialize.” 



She also believes that economic development can present a source of stability, as people will have access to jobs and the region’s infrastructure will be developed alongside its meat industry, which will prevent young people from feeling disenfranchised and lacking in economic opportunities. 



While some welcome industrialization, others are wary of the unintended consequences it could bring. The expansion of industrial zones has presented issues as the aggregation of land can create disputes among local communities. 



In an article published in April with French media  L’Humanité, Job Kidindo, national coordinator of the Alliance of Cooperatives and Mutuals of Chad (ACMT), says that “the problem of monopolization, the orders for the creation of the special economic zones taken in violation of the laws of the republic on land law, the absence of feasibility studies and environmental and social impacts” all present serious threats.



But Ndoubayo says that while “the people don’t own the land” because it’s public, “it’s important to take into account their grievances and what they want to happen around them.”



According to her and Laham Tchad’s Sidhu, a big pushback came from communities where the Moundou slaughterhouse operates, that see the foreign company as a threat. Information initiatives and liaisons between the communities have been established and the government is trying to better inform them about the benefits of industrialization. 



“We saw resistance but once we explained to people that it can benefit them as well, the perception started to shift towards the best,” says Ndoubayo who also stressed that these investments will bring, aside from jobs, access to electricity, water and new infrastructure.



While the country is still hampered by security risks and the impact of climate change, the industrialization of the meat sector is just starting. For cattle suppliers like Muhammad, it is clear that the current situation is “better than before”.



Whether Laham Tchad’s bet will succeed could depend on next year’s presidential elections and the management of some of its domestic challenges. In the end, that may be the deciding factor on whether or not investors take that leap of faith and buy into the Chadian meat market.

Butchers cutting beef in slaughterhouse, wearing hygienic masks

‘Meat’ In The Middle: Can Chad Become A Livestock Exports Powerhouse?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



“The Night Agent” was the most viewed title on Netflix during the first half of 2023, the company announced Tuesday, giving its first sweeping&nbsp;<a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/what-we-watched-a-netflix-engagement-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>&nbsp;on viewership numbers beyond its weekly Top 10 list following demands from viewers and Hollywood writers for more transparency.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



“The Night Agent,” which came out on March 23, came out on top with 812.1 million hours viewed between January and June of this year.



Season two of “Ginny &amp; Georgia,” season one of Korean drama “The Glory,” season one of “Wednesday” and “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story”&nbsp;<a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/what-we-watched-a-netflix-engagement-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rounded out</a>&nbsp;the top five shows in terms of viewing hours during the first half of 2023.



The report, called “What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report,” was presented as a simple spreadsheet with four columns, showing the title, the release date, whether the title was available worldwide and the viewing hours, and is the first time Netflix is sharing viewership details after years of declining to share them with anyone, Bloomberg&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-12/netflix-releases-viewer-data-on-every-show-film-for-first-time" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>.



Over 60% of Netflix original titles released during the first half of this year made the platform’s weekly Top 10 lists, which show the 10 most viewed shows and films of the week, but not viewership numbers, Netflix&nbsp;<a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/what-we-watched-a-netflix-engagement-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>, showing that the platform’s originals are popular among viewers as writers for streaming services demand additional residuals if their shows are successful.



Non-English titles generated 30% of all viewing hours globally, the company&nbsp;<a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/what-we-watched-a-netflix-engagement-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>, and Netflix original titles released before this year appeared to have “staying power,” Netflix said, such as “All Quiet on the Western Front,” which came out in October 2022, but generated 80 million viewing hours in the first half of 2023.



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Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-12/netflix-releases-viewer-data-on-every-show-film-for-first-time" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told reporters</a>&nbsp;the lack of transparency over viewership data caused “mistrust over time” with writers and other creatives, and that people have asked for more details on what audiences are watching “over the last 16 years of streaming.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



Viewership numbers could explain why Netflix decides to cancel shows, as it has been previously&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/netflix-originals-cancelled-oa-altered-carbon-sense8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;the streaming service renews or cancels shows based on viewership and other data points, including how many accounts watch only one episode of a series, how many subscribers finish an entire season and the total amount of subscribers who watch a series.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



Hollywood writers launched a five-month strike that started this summer, demanding more compensation from streaming platforms through higher wage floors, the regulation of mini-rooms (or&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/writers-guild-contract-negotiation-mini-room-1235568173/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">smaller</a>&nbsp;writers rooms that pay less), additional money from streaming residuals and transparency over viewership for their shows, the Wall Street Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/hollywood-writers-reach-agreement-with-studios-streamers-to-end-strike-57fb5dd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>. Writers, studios and streamers reached a tentative agreement in September that included a success-based residual in which writers for TV series and films on streaming services can receive a bonus if 20% or more of a streaming service’s U.S.-based subscribers watch the show within three months of its release,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/how-wga-streaming-residual-will-work-1235602660/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a>&nbsp;to the Hollywood Reporter.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/09/25/wga-and-studios-reach-exceptional-tentative-deal-to-end-writers-strike/?sh=4da6b38f1eb5">Hollywood Writers And Studios Reach ‘Exceptional’ Tentative Deal To End Strike</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/netflix-originals-cancelled-oa-altered-carbon-sense8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Why Netflix keeps cancelling your favourite shows after two seasons</a> (Wired)

Watching Netflix On iPad

This Show Topped Netflix Viewership Earlier This Year—And It Might Not Be What You Think

One of South Africa’s most recognized voices with over 12 years in the music industry, 35-year-old multi-award winning singer and songwriter, Bulelwa Mkutukana, also known as Zahara, passed away on Monday.



Zizi Kodwa, the country’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, confirmed the heartbreaking news about Mkutukana on X (formerly Twitter) following multiple reports of her passing.



“My deepest condolences to the Mkutukana family and the South African music industry,” Kodwa said. “The government has been with the family for some time now. Zahara and her guitar made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music.”



Mkutukana’s family released a statement saying that she was a beacon of hope, a gift, and a blessing to them and countless people around the world.&nbsp;



“She was a pure light, and an even purer heart,” the statement read. “A legendary figure in the world of music, Zahara remarkably touched millions of people&#8217;s lives with her extraordinary gift and passion for music. She leaves behind an indelible mark on the music industry and a legacy that will forever resonate in our hearts and souls.”



At the end of November, her family released a statement that Mkutukana had been admitted into hospital following complaints about “physical pains”.&nbsp;



Just days ago, political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Member of Parliament, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi wrote on X: “South Africa, Africa let&#8217;s pray for Zahara. My sister Zahara, our prayers are with you. Please fight sisi… fight, fight and fight hard. We are all with you.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">My sister Zahara, our prayers are with you 😔🙏🏾🙏🏾😔❤️❤️🖤🖤 <a href="https://t.co/nXRnsbCr5X">pic.twitter.com/nXRnsbCr5X</a>&mdash; Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) <a href="https://twitter.com/MbuyiseniNdlozi/status/1732164988448494068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2023</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Born in Phumlani, an informal settlement in East London in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, Mkutukana rose to fame after her debut album Loliwe went double platinum and saw her win multiple South African Music Awards (SAMAs) such as Best Newcomer of the Year, Best Smooth Urban Music Album of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Best Selling Album of the Year and Album of The Year, all in 2012.



Some in the industry remember her fondly not only for her talent but also for the person she was.



“I’ve known Zahara since 2011,” Jennifer Su, TV host and entertainment reporter, tells FORBES AFRICA. “We met at the South African Music Awards — that year, I was one of the presenters at the SAMAs, and had the opportunity to chat with Zahara on our SAMAs red carpet special on 5FM, when I used to work with Gareth Cliff on The Hollywood Report. Zahara wore the most exquisite red lace long evening dress, and she was feeling a bit shy about having her hair and makeup done, with lashes. She quickly got over her shyness, and poured her heart out on stage. The audience was dead silent listening intently as Zahara sang Loliwe, and then erupted into huge applause.”



“My fondest memory of Zahara was when I was younger,” says South African singer and songwriter Yamikani Janet Banda, professionally known as Lady Zamar. “I heard Loliwe for the first time with my friends. We’d sing her songs and sometimes for fun change the lyrics but we loved it… I found out later that year that she had released an album full of great African pop hits. I think I abused the whole project and knew almost all her songs by heart. After Brenda Fassie, there hadn’t been a voice quite as moving and quite as powerful as hers.”



In a statement, Warner Music Africa said Mkutukana “leaves a lasting legacy marked by the hauntingly soulful and profoundly emotive tones of her voice”.



“Zahara was a true music icon, a force whose soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics resonated deeply with fans across South Africa and beyond,” said Temi Adeniji, Managing Director at Warner Music Africa. “Her impact on the music industry is immeasurable, and her legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of those who found solace and joy in her music. As we mourn the loss of this extraordinary talent, let us remember Zahara for the indelible mark she left on the world through her artistry and the enduring beauty of her music.”



Both Banda and Su concur that Mkutukana was a star, a monumental figure in the music industry who captivated everyone with her “raw, intense emotion and those deep, resonant vocals”.



“Hearing about her struggles has been hard for most artists,” Banda adds. “A lot of us looked up to her, especially as women, at least I did. Her success was so inspiring. We admired her talent and grace in the face of so many challenges. It was sad, shattering to hear last night that she had passed on. So young and full of fire, so vibrant as an entertainer&#8230; She will always be iconic and she will always be a light that shone bright enough to guide many artists into music.”

Tag: South Africa

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA