Thursday 24 November 2011

Out enjoying the sun...not

Random Post no. 1

It's summer, I should be out working and playing hard. But instead today I stayed in the whole day not feeling well. Luckily, I passed by one of my favourite places yesterday after work. The LIBRARY. With Twilight saga making a noise, again! I decided to get a book by the TwiSaga best selling author, Stephenie Meyer. This one is entitled 'The short second life of Bree Tanner. I'm not a big vampire movie fan, but I hate not knowing anything about something(hope that makes sense.lol) So I read the book all day long today. All I can say is I'm not a vampire fan. Maybe I read more of Meyer's books I will get what the whole 'hooha' is about. I'm 23, maybe reality has hit me so hard that I refuse to be consumed in 15-16 year olds falling in love. But like I said, I will give it a try, because the series of books will be part of the history of my lifetime. I want I be able to tell my son stories about this Twilight era having been a part of it. Being an aspiring novelist myself, I'm trying by all means to gather up best seller qualities. So therefore, yes, I do read Twilight. I will write a proper opinion piece when I've read all the books and watched the movies.

-SmallTownGirl mission: join the vamps noise

Monday 21 November 2011

Mdantsane's new Dawn

Mdantsane, the second biggest township in South Africa continues to breed remarkably talented youth. One such product is entrepreneur Nomaci Qabaka, founder and crafter of Ikhwezi. Ikhwezi prides its self in producing African ethnic inspired jewellery from recycled glass. Nomaci showcased Ikhwezi’s work at an Edgars' Johannesburg event,The African Designers and Jewellers Organisation ADJO for Black Up. The event themed African Renaissance gave a platform to jewellery designers from all over the world . The African Designers and Jewellers Organisation (ADJO) of which Ikhwezi is a member, partnered with Black Up, a French make-up brand to merge beauty and jewellery design. Ikhwezi was short listed in a competition running up to the event to design two jewellery pieces that would be modelled on the evening. Ikhwezi embraced the challenge and produced two dazzling hand crafted glass beaded necklaces that exude femininity in rich and dramatic colours. Ikhwezi has been with (Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) for three years, growing in great magnitude. Although Ikhwezi fell short of winning the overall prize which is an all-expenses paid trip to Russia to market and distribute winning collection next month, it stands a chance of supplying jewellery to a number of Edgars stores countrywide. 

Nomaci with a model wearing one of Ikhwezi creations, make-up by Black Up






Photographs by Siya Miti


Thursday 17 November 2011

I got "Swagged"!

Buzwe




SwagEcators: Class in progress
About a week ago I told a guy friend about my baby blog, after checking it out he said "It's nice but, uhm...it needs a bit of swag, lol". I thought that wouldn't be such a bad idea, but how and where do I get the swag...firstly what is swag anyway? I have, countless times used and heard the word. But just to make sure I understand correctly, like any mother would. I wanted to know the "medicine" recommended for my "baby". I Googled swag-Urban dictionary gave me this definition "appearance ,style ,or the way he or she presents themselves"...close enough to what my original understanding was and still is; Swag or swagger is the ability to stand out, be stylish, hustle hard and being unapologetic for refusing to blend in. That refusal to blend in can be identified by the clothes you choose to wear, the way you sing or rap!or just about any way you choose to express yourself, without harming anyone but elevating yourself and those around you. The friend, who recommended my blog's "swaggaCation" as I now put it, introduced me to his two friends and co-business owners. Lu (the friend) promised me swag, suggested the friends on Facebook, I added them. We arranged a meeting, the swaggaCation of my blog officially started. Between the three of them, Buzwe Mancoba, Dumaza Ndata and Lungile Mpharu own three businesses. Red Light Hip Hop, Apii, and MCK ie. Middle Class Kidz. We had the interview at Avanti, a restaurant in Vincent, smalltown style; beer and lots of laughter. All smalltown style except the odd camera rolling, thanks to my love for Toys, which is a topic for another post. Red Light Hip Hop promoter and manager Buzwe said Red Light is all about events coordination and management. “Red Light came by accident, we were approaching the end of the year last year (2010) and we just wanted to throw a big hip hop party. We put together everything, promoted the gig in all social networks, booked local Hip Hop DJs, and the first Red Light even was born. From then on the team has organised jam packed shows, giving much needed variety in East London's night scene. Buzwe was quick to point that organising Hip Hop event in this small town isn't for anyone looking to score a quick buck. "There's no money in events of this nature, we do it for the love of it. Another issue is that some club owners want a huge amount of the proceeds generated from the events, from the entrance fees to the sales of drinks," said Buzwe.
On the other hand though, Apii, the clothing brand is doing great. The team managed to get a deal to dress Rick Ross and his crew on his South African leg of the "Blowing Money Fast Tour". Lungile reckons that's one of the highlights these young hustlers' can point out for now. "Beating off competition from big brands like Head Honcho and Butan Wear was a great validation for us that we're good at this, and we're gonna go far with it,"said Lungile. Apii hasn't released any new merchandise this year, selling off all the stuff designed last year. Buzwe told me Apii's new range coming out next year, February will be "EPIC". "We'll release a range of gear, from rosary accessories, smartphone pouch and loads more,"said the enthusiastic Mr. Mancoba, I quickly stopped him, we don't wanna give competition any ideas.lol..A new addition to this brand family is Middle Class Kidz(MCK), Dumaza's baby.  MCK has produced a wide range of T-Shirts, in different colours, truckers and THAT exclusive sweater Duma has on.In response to my question about the quality of the T-shirts, Duma said MCK Teez are the real McCoy, they don't fade. They have ladies' cut Teez as well. "We cater for the ladies, with curvy and colourful T-Shirt Cut," said Duma. The interesting twist to MCK's release is the "dozens" theme. Duma a.k.a Dome explains it; "We've release 12 exclusive Truckers, we targeting the fellow or the lady who doesn't want to blend in, you own a trucker and you know that only eleven other people have it,"..."One can get the Teez for R120 and the truckers for R170," said Duma. The guys don't have a deal with any chain store for now, if  you're interested, order through their Facebook accounts, they all use the names and surnames listed at begging. Check them out on Twitter. Their handles are: @im_Buzwe ; its_DoMe and @Lun_gile ...We chat about a whole lot of other things, look out for the video, coming up soon on my YouTube Channel. Pity Lu couldn't join us, he's in Grahamstown for his 925.

P.S from the Red Light, MCK, and Apii family; hustle hard on the street, but keep a Nine To Five. 


Small town girls concurs.

Lungile rocking an Apii Tee

Lungile

Duma aka DoMe



Buzwe


underTheTableSwag..lol






Friday 4 November 2011

REBORN AFRO-OPTIMIST

I often get a bit annoyed by Americans going on about how in Africa people keep wild animals as their pets. I now realise that a part of my being annoyed is rooted on the reality that I don't know much about my continent. We may not keep the big 5 on our back yards but they roam freely in our fields. The continent is supposed to be the home of nature, the wild and culture, as a dweller of this "mother" I should know a thing or two about my "co-dweller". I jumped at the opportunity to go for a game drive for the second time in my life last week Friday, 28 October, 2011.I was invited to the launch of the new national Absa Vuka Festival at Mpongo Park Game Reserve. The invite promised an event that will awaken my Afro optimism, and boy did they deliver!The ABSA Festival will be an annual even held in East London every year around October starting next month. The launch was modeled on what will make the festival next year. There were different stalls that "vusa" your Afro-Optimism. Vuka Sound  |  Vuka Taste  |  Vuka Vision. There were different people from different industries which contributed to the colour and feel of the event. The Vuka Sound was equally amazing, pop/classical band Coda played beautiful music, performing their own compositions and doing a few covers.I first saw this band sometime in 2009 on Top Billing but they have since changed their vocalist, introducing the very talented Zami Mdingi from Cape Town. While my tastes buds were tantalised by different dishes, from sea food to wild meat...Vuka Taste...At the bottom of my invite there was a line that said: "no ties/ cocktail dress" but ladies came out in their finest cocktail dresses..maybe I read wrong, but I went there with my jeans and flatties on, but was surrounded by ladies and gents dressed to the T. Felt a bit under dressed but who cares?...I enjoyed myself. We were all taken on a game drive, from the entrance to the actual venue. For the first time I saw beautiful, big white lions, uncaged... I just couldn't believe my eyes. I kept asking Thando( my friend and co-journo) to pinch me.and boy does he pinch hard...The icing on the cake was the Rhino though, the swagger of the creature! my gosh it's unbelievable...
Now for some pictures!
Galina Jurits, Coda
 Beautiful ladies..Afro-Optimistic
 Zami and Galina from Coda
 Coda members, Vocalist Zami Mdigi, Violinist Galina Jurits
 Enjoying a drink to the sounds of the wonderful Coda
 At arrival


Thando Cezula taking it all in
 Thando "patting" a white lion
 A ceramic Piece by Mary Ann Kella
Thando Cezula with Jimmy Ndlovu,an artist, discussing his "Natural Harmony" piece 

The Quest for studded shoes

I spotted Lil Wayne rocking black studded Christian Louboutins loafers at this year's Grammy Awards and fell inlove. I've been on a quest for these for months now, a cheaper kind of cause...lol..I can't Loubs yet...

and guess what? I found a pair of navy ones at Rage...I loooove them.They are so comfortable, and yet so eye catching.