Wasafiri Africa Podcast

Humjambo, this is Ruth Kamau and welcome to Wasafiri Africa where we celebrate Africa and things African. This episode marks the beginning of Season 2. Thank you for joining us.*Also known as “corner of shining waters”, from Khoikhoi and Dutch translations, Keiskhammahoek is a picturesque rural town in present day Amathola District, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. At the foothills of the spectacular Amathola Mountain range, Keiskhammahoek, promises hot summers and snowy winters. This grand arc in weather, results in a dry terrain and which gave birth to its original name Qobo Qobo, meaning “fragile thing” in isiXhosa.*This brilliant young woman has combined her love for architecture with tech, that not only created a unique learning tool for early childhood learning, OURS, but also spurred new ideas and mentorship opportunities. As a Co-Founder at OURS, Sanelisiwe has championed the launch of an innovative and affordable tool for teachers and learners, enabling access to quality educational materials, especially needed in disadvantaged communities. Sanelisiwe is eloquent and her smile stays on her lips. Like the stones she loves to collect, the conversation flowed effortlessly, uncovering gems along the way for us to keep, ponder on and emulate. Listening will reveal a lot more, but we snatched away a few headliners.Key TakeawaysPersonal Traits:Seek out partnerships that augment your strengths and bring something unique to the table. Tap into your creativity frequently Focus - Set and stick to goals. Have grand vision perspective - Build foundations that can scale Be available to pass on knowledge Learn and evolve constantly Field Specific:Architecture is a living science best explored by borrowing from nature.Combine disciplines e.g architecture and technology/education /climate studies. Be unafraid to invent Stay engaged with developments in the field. Teaching is an excellent vehicle.Contact Us:If you have questions or comments regarding this episode for us or Sanelisiwe, please email us at [email protected]. Please use the guest name in the subject title: Sanelisiwe Njobe. General queries or comments on Wasafiri Africa may be emailed to: [email protected], oh, if you like what you hear, there’s more in our library from Season One, and more to come in Season 2. Subscribe today and get the next episode freshly minted where you get your podcasts. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you for listening.Twendeni, Africa is Ready! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An easy 4.5 hour drive from Johannesburg, or only an hour from Durban, are the Midlands of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Covering a vast area between Pietermaritzburg to just before the Drakensberg range, the Midlands can swelter in Summer heat, or blow frosty with occasional snow, in winter. The Midlands Meander consists of five scenic routes, and  is considered South Africa’s oldest and leading destination for arts, culture  and all things touristic.*The conversation with Khulekani Dlamini takes off with a swift manoeuvre, as Ruth finds herself caught off guard by her fast thinking guest. The laughter finally dissipating, what unravels is a conversation that reveals the heart that Khulekani Dlamini has for the continent, and his determination to use wealth to create sustainable impact here at home.The take-outs are many, and include reflection on a personal journey to truly lock on what his purpose is. To quote one of his chronicles on KD Chronicles:“…where might you be succeeding in something that no longer deserves your life force?”Hmm… quite the question right? And so the unravelling of what no longer serves, to focus on what does. The faith and courage to do what truly not only brings you joy and success, but also creates lasting impact on society.Growing wealth is what Khulekani Dlamini enjoys doing, but the how and why are the driving forces. A believer that this is Africa’s Century, Khulekani’s passion is unmistakable, igniting excitement about the empowering and revolutionary opportunities that Crypto currencies offer. Is it possible that the quest for a single currency on the continent, is answered in an African birthed Crypto Reserve Currency? Twendeni, Africa is Ready! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gweru is the main city of Zimbabwe’s Midlands Province. Founded as a military outpost in 1894, it’s situated somewhat midway between Harare and Bulawayo. With modest industrial development, Gweru is the training post for the Zimbabwean Airforce. It is also considered to be the coldest city in Zimbabwe.*Charity Gwakuka is a force of nature. To experience her in real life as she tells her story, is to reckon with her formidable resilience and unshakable faith. From humble beginnings in Gweru, Zimbabwe, like a phoenix, Charity Gwakuka has risen from the smithereens of being a child-bride, relentlessly upward, towards a dream that refused to die.A proud mother of three, Charity has experienced rejection, poverty, loss and betrayal. In all this, her spiritual gyroscope has kept solidly grounded in her faith and conviction, that she was destined to succeed at her passion: Hairstyling.And the Universe has conspired. Now listed on IMDB, Charity Gwakuka is a renowned hairstylist to International Celebrities including in notable films such as The Woman King, G20, Boyz Trip and Blood & Water on Netflix Series. As an innovative hairstylist she was included in the nomination under the Make Up Artists and Hairstylist Guild Awards for Best Period Hairstylist 2023 from The Woman King.So strap on your listening seatbelt; It’s a roller coaster ride, with Charity Gwakuka!Twendeni, Africa is Ready! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, known as Wits University, is a top-tier, multi-campus public research university, founded in 1922.  Covering 400 acres, in Braamfontein and Parktown, Wits University has 11 libraries and 18 halls of residence, the latter holding 15% of its approximately 40000  student population. Through the Africa Engineering and Technology Network, Afretec, Wits has strong partnerships with various Universities in Africa.*The opportunity for Ruth to sit with Phala Ookeditse Phala and Tony Bonani Miyambo presented itself serendipitously. A few days after watching a reprise of Kafka’s Ape at the Baxter Theatre, Ruth was on the very stage where the performance took place in conversation with the vibrant thespians.Phala and Tony are magnificent in collaboration and through their production company, Noma Yini, have produced stellar, internationally acclaimed plays, amongst them Kafka’s Ape, which premiered at the National Arts Festival Fringe in Makhanda, in 2015.Without delay, the conversation ignites the mind with the depth of the discourse so easily generated by the ease and confidence with which Phala and Tony express themselves. The value of language in communication, succinctly expressing the intellectual and lived challenges of humanity in general, makes their work universal. In Africa especially, Phala Ookeditse Phala and Tony Miyambo Bonani, are impossible to overlook.In this conversation, light-hearted in its tempo, Phala and Tony’s genius is on display. One can see why the international accolades. One’s appetite is deliciously awakened to watch all their productions, and understand the layers of truth and awakening, that lie in their lines.Accolades for Kafka’s Ape include:Lustrum Award: Edinburgh Festival Fringe (2024)Graham F. Smith Peace Foundation Award Adelaide Fringe Festival (2020)Outstanding Performance Award: Prague Fringe Festival (2019)Best Satire Award: United Solo Festival in New York (2019)Best Public Performance: Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) Award (2018)Silver Ovation Award: South African National Arts Festival (2015)Twendeni, Africa is Ready!                     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 kms north-east of Cape Town, is Durbanville, where rolling hills and wide plains, offer a sense of expanse in this golden valley of wheat and wine. Dubbed “Sauvignon Blanc Country”, Durbanville is also a popular high income residential area, though demographics still overwhelmingly reflect, the impact of South Africa’s segregated history. With a view towards the future, Durbanville is only 13km from the planned Cape Winelands Airport, Cape Town’s second International Airport, scheduled to open in 2028.*A quiet day in Cape Town sets the scene for a chat between Ruth and Faye Kabali-Kagwa and the sparkling trajectory of her growth as a Theatre Arts Curator.Laced with easy laughter, Faye’s passion for capturing African story is personal, sparked by searching for identity as a child of Ugandan parents growing up in South Africa. This self-reflection has sharpened her instincts, and propelled her into her current role.The conversation underlines the central role that theatre has in re-storying the narrative of the continent; that theatre draws one into a world of expression that has room for very young to season thespians. Twendeni, Africa is Ready! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.