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We Miss You Manelo Where Are You?

“Futures Are Never Given,They Are Created“ Eleven  years ago a group of elders and industry experts sat down to deliberate … Continue reading We Miss You Manelo Where Are You?

Dear Julius Malema
Art - Stories

Dear Julius Malema

I hope my letter finds you well today Please allow me to introduce myself, I am Jedi Ramalapa from South … Continue reading Dear Julius Malema

(Post Script): Every Journey Begins With A Sowetan
Art - Stories

(Post Script): Every Journey Begins With A Sowetan

This phrase, Every Journey Begins with a Sowetan, was once on a billboard inside the Johannesburg Park Station, colloquially known … Continue reading (Post Script): Every Journey Begins With A Sowetan

Palimpsest: Scraped Clean and Ready to Use Again
Art - Stories

Palimpsest: Scraped Clean and Ready to Use Again

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash The first time I came across the word Palimpsest was in the first Episode of the third … Continue reading Palimpsest: Scraped Clean and Ready to Use Again

The End of History and The Stories We Tell
Art - Stories

The End of History and The Stories We Tell

I have been having a bit of trouble processing the amount of information which has been flooding my screen lately.  … Continue reading The End of History and The Stories We Tell

We Are Responsible For Who We Become
Art - Stories

We Are Responsible For Who We Become

Early on into Former US President Barak Obamas’ presidency, a Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates was arrested for trespassing in … Continue reading We Are Responsible For Who We Become

The World Doesn’t Stop For Your Grief
Art - Stories

The World Doesn’t Stop For Your Grief

This week has been a tough one. I felt a lot of grief which I could not place because it … Continue reading The World Doesn’t Stop For Your Grief

When I had To Forgive Myself: Not Easy
Art - Stories

When I had To Forgive Myself: Not Easy

Sometime last year after a rather bruising encounter with a friend where she felt I needed to apologise, not only … Continue reading When I had To Forgive Myself: Not Easy

It’s Been  A While….
Art - Stories

It’s Been A While….

To the woman who loved me without a career, a job, or the ability to dress myself, eat, drink and … Continue reading It’s Been A While….

Even Friends Will Let You Down Sometimes
Art - Stories

Even Friends Will Let You Down Sometimes

A writer friend of mine recently called to share some of her frustration and disappointment upon learning that her friends … Continue reading Even Friends Will Let You Down Sometimes

When Your Family Lets You Down: Chin-up
Art - Stories

When Your Family Lets You Down: Chin-up

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you will know that my family is very important … Continue reading When Your Family Lets You Down: Chin-up

Age: Nothing but a number?
Art - Stories

Age: Nothing but a number?

April is my birthday month. The only time I “celebrated” my birthday on my own was on my first year … Continue reading Age: Nothing but a number?

2020: When Keeping Your Distance is Loving
Art - Stories

2020: When Keeping Your Distance is Loving

I am late.  I have been running behind on my  “I have learnt” blogging  challenge to myself which was inspired … Continue reading 2020: When Keeping Your Distance is Loving

#OnLockDown: Friendship Without Borders
Art - Stories

#OnLockDown: Friendship Without Borders

I was in the midst of rearranging my mind, shifting the priorities of my heart while reflecting and maybe even … Continue reading #OnLockDown: Friendship Without Borders

Acknowledgements
Art - Facts, Art - Stories

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgement;  (noun) Acceptance of the truth or existence of something. I enjoy reading acknowledgement sections in almost every book I pick. … Continue reading Acknowledgements

Caught: Off Guard
Art - Stories

Caught: Off Guard

This week’s truism  from Paolo Coelho’s blog caught me off guard. All week I have tried to reason with it, to … Continue reading Caught: Off Guard

Attitude: You Control It
Art - Stories

Attitude: You Control It

The recent chaos in South Africa over comments by Former South African President and Nobel laureate F W De Klerk … Continue reading Attitude: You Control It

Beyond Charm: What Do You Know?
Art - Stories

Beyond Charm: What Do You Know?

I’ve learned that you can get by on charm, for about fifteen minutes. After that, you’d better know something; This … Continue reading Beyond Charm: What Do You Know?

Trust: This Land Is Not Ours, Yet
Art - Facts, Art - Stories

Trust: This Land Is Not Ours, Yet

  I’ve learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. I’ve decided to … Continue reading Trust: This Land Is Not Ours, Yet

Who Cares: When No One Does?
Art - Stories

Who Cares: When No One Does?

Brazilian Author of the Alchemist Paul Coelho shared a post on his blog about a list of things he’s learnt … Continue reading Who Cares: When No One Does?

Accept Yourself : You cannot Make Someone Love You
Art - Stories

Accept Yourself : You cannot Make Someone Love You

Brazilian Author of the Alchemist Paul Coelho recently shared a blog post about a list of things he’s learnt which … Continue reading Accept Yourself : You cannot Make Someone Love You

Maponya: Feeding The Nation One Generation  At a Time
Art - Stories

Maponya: Feeding The Nation One Generation At a Time

Perhaps it was not a coincidence that the name Maponya came up during our family New Year’s Eve dinner recently. … Continue reading Maponya: Feeding The Nation One Generation At a Time

Chihombori-Quao: ‘Maybe I Lasted Longer Than I Should Have’
Art - Stories

Chihombori-Quao: ‘Maybe I Lasted Longer Than I Should Have’

Former African Union Ambassador to the US Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao says she was was not surprised by her recent dismissal … Continue reading Chihombori-Quao: ‘Maybe I Lasted Longer Than I Should Have’

Zulu Wedding:  Re-writing History?
Art - Stories

Zulu Wedding: Re-writing History?

This week I had a blast watching the Zulu Wedding, a South African feature film about a young Zulu woman … Continue reading Zulu Wedding: Re-writing History?

Sticks & Stones:  Journalism and Hate Speech in South Africa
Art - Stories

Sticks & Stones: Journalism and Hate Speech in South Africa

“I realise that when reporting, I walk with a stoop now, bent from the world as if to protect myself. … Continue reading Sticks & Stones: Journalism and Hate Speech in South Africa

May The Best African Language Presenter Win!
Art - Stories

May The Best African Language Presenter Win!

On the week that researchers released a report revealing that most black South African households (parents) prefer to educate their … Continue reading May The Best African Language Presenter Win!

Africa: Stories in The Mist
Art - Stories

Africa: Stories in The Mist

Storytelling is not an easy skill to master. For the past few weeks I have been writing and re-writing stories … Continue reading Africa: Stories in The Mist

Error: Mind Your Language(s), Nkandla is Beautiful!
Art - Stories

Error: Mind Your Language(s), Nkandla is Beautiful!

The Week That Was For two days last week, I reported from the front-lines of what many in the media … Continue reading Error: Mind Your Language(s), Nkandla is Beautiful!

Juba: The Dream vs Reality
Art - Stories

Juba: The Dream vs Reality

When I accepted an offer to work in Juba, South Sudan for twelve months, I instinctively wanted to write about … Continue reading Juba: The Dream vs Reality

A QUESTION OF POWER: DON’T SAY THAT #freestellanyanzi
Art - Stories

A QUESTION OF POWER: DON’T SAY THAT #freestellanyanzi

There’s a story a former colleague and housemate told me once about “madness”. The story has stuck with me over … Continue reading A QUESTION OF POWER: DON’T SAY THAT #freestellanyanzi

Why are (most) African Leaders Silent on Media Freedom?
Art - Stories

Why are (most) African Leaders Silent on Media Freedom?

The people would be forgiven for thinking that most African leaders are not committed to building liberal democratic institutions as … Continue reading Why are (most) African Leaders Silent on Media Freedom?

Consent: Is a Woman’s Right
Art - Stories

Consent: Is a Woman’s Right

As women leaders and activists from around the world gather for the 63 Commission on the Status of Women in … Continue reading Consent: Is a Woman’s Right

Homegoing: A Non Book Review
Art - Stories

Homegoing: A Non Book Review

This post is inspired by a recent reading of Yaa Gyasi’s book, HomeGoing (2016).  It is a book  chosen by … Continue reading Homegoing: A Non Book Review

There is No War on Women
Art - Stories

There is No War on Women

Perhaps this is the title that many men who commented on a book I’ve been reading this week by the … Continue reading There is No War on Women

Forgiveness: It’s Not Black or White, It’s Personal
Art - Stories

Forgiveness: It’s Not Black or White, It’s Personal

It came out of nowhere, just like Die Stem, South Africa’s national anthem from 1957 to 1994. I thought we … Continue reading Forgiveness: It’s Not Black or White, It’s Personal

ON: THE LOVE DIARY OF A ZULU BOY
Art - Stories

ON: THE LOVE DIARY OF A ZULU BOY

A memoir by Bhikisisa Mncube A few months ago I was part of a social gathering in which the Master … Continue reading ON: THE LOVE DIARY OF A ZULU BOY

AT LAST: YOU’RE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK
Art - Stories

AT LAST: YOU’RE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK

A once dear friend of mine loved to compare me to the American singer, songwriter, composer and pianist Nina Simone.  … Continue reading AT LAST: YOU’RE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK

SOLD: How Ramaphosa Managed
Art - Stories

SOLD: How Ramaphosa Managed

This picture of former South African President  Jacob Zuma with the newly elected  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa  brought to … Continue reading SOLD: How Ramaphosa Managed

Inxeba: Tradition VS Culture
Art - Stories

Inxeba: Tradition VS Culture

Back when I was a journalism student at Natal Technikon now DUT I attempted, rather poorly, to articulate the continuous … Continue reading Inxeba: Tradition VS Culture

Unveiling Democracy: It’s A Mirage
Art - Stories

Unveiling Democracy: It’s A Mirage

I’m here watching as the brilliant pallet of hopeful colours democracy once painted for us in vivid penetrating hues of … Continue reading Unveiling Democracy: It’s A Mirage

Coconut: Soothing oil for growing Afros
Art - Stories

Coconut: Soothing oil for growing Afros

I do not know how to make it pretty. I do not know how to mask it. It is not … Continue reading Coconut: Soothing oil for growing Afros

THE NEW DEAL: OLD NEWS, NEW DATES
Art - Stories

THE NEW DEAL: OLD NEWS, NEW DATES

It has become phenomenally difficult to retain any level of optimism regarding African politics these days. It’s as if the … Continue reading THE NEW DEAL: OLD NEWS, NEW DATES

THE LEADING SEX: DOES GENDER MATTER?
Art - Stories

THE LEADING SEX: DOES GENDER MATTER?

The incoming president of the Business Woman Association of South Africa (BWASA) Happy Ralinala has challenged women to put their … Continue reading THE LEADING SEX: DOES GENDER MATTER?

ABAHLALI: LINDIWE’S UNTOLD STORY
Art - Stories

ABAHLALI: LINDIWE’S UNTOLD STORY

You can listen to a podcast-radio version of this story here. It is arguably one of the largest shack dweller’s … Continue reading ABAHLALI: LINDIWE’S UNTOLD STORY

POWER FAILURE: LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NOBODY’S HOME
Art - Stories

POWER FAILURE: LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NOBODY’S HOME

[LISTEN] Take a trip to Nairobi, Kenya and you will find a country at war with itself where political contest … Continue reading POWER FAILURE: LIGHTS ARE ON BUT NOBODY’S HOME

THE EFF: AND ITS LANGUAGE GAME
Art - Stories

THE EFF: AND ITS LANGUAGE GAME

Click here to listen to the audio version of this article. It is rather unfortunate that the newest political party … Continue reading THE EFF: AND ITS LANGUAGE GAME

APOCALYPSE: LET ME EAT FIRST
Art - Stories

APOCALYPSE: LET ME EAT FIRST

You can also listen to an audio version of this  column here In the 2008 documentary film Behind the Rainbow … Continue reading APOCALYPSE: LET ME EAT FIRST

MONEY: MIND LAUNDERING
Art - Stories

MONEY: MIND LAUNDERING

“In politics, we will have equality and in social and economic life we will have inequality. In politics, we will … Continue reading MONEY: MIND LAUNDERING

TJOVITJO: I’M SORRY, WHAT?
Art - Stories

TJOVITJO: I’M SORRY, WHAT?

The recent exchange between ‘the people’s bae’ South African Member of Parliament and Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi … Continue reading TJOVITJO: I’M SORRY, WHAT?

11 Tips to Wield Power: ‘Die Hoof Meisie’ Monica Geingos
Art - Stories

11 Tips to Wield Power: ‘Die Hoof Meisie’ Monica Geingos

I had to share this. It’s been a while since I came across a public official whose message resonated with … Continue reading 11 Tips to Wield Power: ‘Die Hoof Meisie’ Monica Geingos

Black People Need To Be Loved
Art - Stories

Black People Need To Be Loved

A conversation with my sister had me in tears today. She wanted to know how I was doing, really. I’m … Continue reading Black People Need To Be Loved

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