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JULY2016 2016 OCT
Imagine that
Fashion Face
Dress up and show up with great panache
Business
This is how Startups Kick off
Lifestyle
20
habits you need to adopt to achieve fulfillment
Celebrate Banza f o s e c a F 2 1
Selamawit Teklay
OLD S K U
Wanna Be Famous
? send us your videos on fashion
and get featured on our YouTube page
Find Your
BALANCE
JULY 2016
Imagine that
CEO Joseph Rutakangwa
Copy Editor Michael Muturi
Editor-in-Chief Eric Maingi
Communications Baraka Pilipili
Lead Desginer Ermias Mehari
Marketing Andrew Wani
Asst Graphic Designer Ebenezer Graham
Photography Angelo Pictures Sookara Akshee
Creative Director Elsa Yeboah-Boateng
Featured Mauritius Conscious Selamawait Teklay Lethabo Setata Samrawit Daniel
Columnists Business Kabo Madigele
Fashion Hawi Tiyo Linda Admassu Mary Mang’eni Meklit Baye Lifestyle Hawi Tiyo Kaone Tlagae Charles Msilanga Joseph Rutakangwa
This place I call home My thoughts have docked at a place I’d like to call home. This place has amazing people who believe in the same thing, work towards the same goal and celebrate ever so often for their success and failures over wine and lots of chocolate. This place I call home is where we choose to place our hearts. And we all wish to get to this place; where our souls are intertwined with the universe and our Maker and our innermost need to be fulfilled. Physically, it doesn’t exist. At least not yet. Emotionally, it is a very vulnerable place to be in. Mentally, it’s a thrill. There is no other feeling like it. It is like a plain canvas where anything goes. Fortunately for us all, this place is familiar and accessible to everyone at any time. The place I call home is the place where one realizes that all of their wildest dreams are valid. Upon the realization, one then chooses to be deliberate about actualizing the dreams. And beautiful as it sounds, to get there, one has to be intentional about one’s leadership, growth and change. The hour has come for you to build your home.
Do it!
For the month of October, we are set to do one thing‌ Reflect. We reflect in Fashion Face as we travel back in time. We reflect in Business as we pick up the lessons on startup successes We reflect in Lifestyle as we give you 20 steps to opening up your future. These past 12 months have been to me a delight and a chance to live, love, learn and grow. And you have been a part of it. Thank you. The new age is set to blow your mind, with page after page of exceptional finesse; we invite you to join us as we celebrate our new year. But not just yet. For now, as you scroll through and indulge in the Banza experience, take a stroll down memory lane on how the past 12 months have been for you and me.
Happy Reading.
Eric Maingi Editor-in-Chief
OLD S K U L
Con 10
64
Editor’s Note
20 Fashion Face
48
60 seconds
49
20
52
Mauritius Conscious
64 Forget About Investing on Things
ntents
100
76 Stretch Marks
78 Kaone’s Article
82
52
12 Faces of Banza
98
Banza Reviews
102 The Facebook Post
84
Banza
is worth celebrating
Join us in our celebration next month by sending your photo or article with the hashtag #LoveBanza, and stand a chance to win a Gift Hamper from Banza
Dear Maty, I need someone to talk to... I need your help in...
Have you ever had a problem that you can’t really discuss with your closest friends or members of your family?
I am here to listen
FASHION FACE Trends have a habit of being cyclical, and old fashion trends often find their way back into modern closets. Be inspired by this month’s vintage collection for all the time classy lady by Mary Mang’eni
Fashion Directors
Model
Photographer
Hawi Tiyo Linda Admassu
Selamawit Teklay
Angelo Pictures
p Dress, Moss green Wra sandals. Silver Gladiator
Short A-line Blue print skirt, Pecan Brown light sweater, Black Heels.
Blue-gray ripped jeans pants, Gray top, Gray Ranger Coat, Gray Hat, Blue Gray leather boots
Long Brown Trench Coat with a cream detail, Cream chiffon scarf, Yellow Belt, Cream Hat, Floral Heels
Two-piece floral print dress, Floral Heels
hail the
VEIL
www.artfire.com
60
seconds with
Meklit Baye
Samrawit Daniel
Why do you like your fashion? Because it is an easy way to express myself, to let people get a little taste of me, what my moods are, my personality and most of all what I represent. And that powerful. Who do you look up to when it comes to fashion? I look up to my big sister, as always. She’s not really what people call a fashionista, but she dresses in a way that makes her feel good and boost her self- esteem. And that gives me the freedom of expression. Why do you think your style is unique?
Where do you see yourself in the future when it comes to fashion? I aspire to have a fashion style that related to my career; Architecture. So, I would want to mix things up and have a classy look while still looking professional. Any last comments or advice for our readers Let the Mirror, and only the Mirror speak for you!
Everyone is different in their way. As much as two individuals appear to be similar, they will always have something that will single them out. I like presenting myself in a way that gives me satisfaction and confidence. And that proves I got a unique style. Do you consider yourself a trend-setter? Up until my friend told me that people follow my fashion, I disregarded the thought. And getting that good response has made me confident.
Lethabo Setata Why do you like your fashion? behaviour, it represents what comes out of my mouth. My fashion and my tongue are two inseparable factors that complement each other. Who do you look up to when it comes to fashion? I do not have a fashion mentor, but I look up to the fellows in business and politics, and I make it my mission to make fashion more exciting. I am young and I re-imagine fashion. Why do you think your style is unique? Because I do not look up to anyone when it comes to fashion, I innovate and re-imagine fashion to suit my lifestyle. Do you consider yourself a trend-setter? Not yet. I am not famous. Trendsetting is centered upon fame. Being featured in Banza magazine is probably the first step towards being a trendsetter.
Where do you see yourself in the future when it comes to fashion? Young as I am and knowing very well that young people love fashion more than anything else in this world. I see myself having a great influence in the space of fashion and being a trendsetter. I want to use fashion to shape mindsets and change lives.
S U B
S S E N SI
Mauritius Conscious: Innovation in Tourism through a sustainable approach
by Kabo Madigele
Romina Tello Soberanes talks passionately about being conscious of our choices and actions. A deep-seated passion that has led her to change the face of tourism in Mauritius. Mauritius Conscious is a budding start-up that’s promoting authentic experiences as well as sustainability-disruption in play! Romina has always had a passion for travel, particularly sustainable travel. “I knew that it’s the future; we have to be
conscious in all our choices and actions if we want the world to last for the coming generations and even for ourselves.’’ After completing her studies in Hospitality Management back home in Mexico, and specializing in Development of Suitable Tourism in Switzerland, her love for travel took her to Abu Dhabi where she landed a managerial position in a hotel after six months of training. That’s where she met her husband,
Gerald Ami and shared her idea with him. “He wanted to do something that could help develop his home country Mauritius and I wanted to implement my idea of a Sustainable Travel Guide, so we decided to come here exactly a year ago and spent about four months exploring the island and finding all the potential it has.” She’s quick to admit that leaving her job was a difficult decision but also an easy
one at the same time. “After many internships, I had before when I was still a student; now I had an opportunity to lead my team to improve things in line with my vision, a nice salary, and a big title. That empowered me to make things happen, and I must admit, it was a complete breakthrough.”
How easy was it to leave? After a year it got frustrating; even if I had the vision to change things, it had to be approved by many others for it to become a reality (that’s Hospitality) [I felt like] my work was meaningless; working to produce more money for an organization that was not paying it back. [At this point] I knew it would be different if it were my own project; that if I were to invest all my time and energy, at least it should be something I love, that has a purpose and that’ll pay me and the community. I was apprehensive about giving away my career and all the perks, but hey, it’s exciting to leave your comfort zone.
How did you start? Mauritius Conscious is fairly a young business, having been launched in August this year. The website was pre-launched in April in partnership with CodeVigor, a Software Developing company and Modigibiz, a Digital Marketing Agency. I had zero money so, I couldn’t pay for the development of the website. That’s why I partnered with the two companies and gave them equity in exchange for their work and knowledge. We’re still running lean, our primary investment being knowledge and time. I work full-time without a salary and live mostly on savings.
Now I had an opportunity to lead my team to improve things in line with my vision
The project has grown and given that we didn’t have a big start-up capital, we are always seeking opportunities, partnerships and sponsorships, growing everything organically.
What is Mauritius Conscious all about? It’s an online guide that promotes sustainable travel in Mauritius. The central aspect is sustainability, meaning social development that benefits the local economy as wells as the natural environment. The initiatives we promote are local, mostly small and medium enterprises and family businesses, as we believe that that’s a way of contributing directly to the local economy. We are also keen promoters of authentic experiences. Travelers nowadays are looking for adventures that bring closer to the real feel of a place. When you go to a new country, you want to eat and drink like people do there. So we help travellers discover the island like locals, such as our favourite hikes, the public transport hacks and the hidden cultural treasures in our Capital.
How is your business model?
‘Conscious Partners’ are those who could be supporting a community by hiring, training and developing locals, using renewable energy, implementing a waste management program or promote eco-tourism activities that don’t use fossil fuels and are respectful of the wildlife and marine environment.
Those who join us become part of a program called the #IslandLife Pass. It’s a traveller’s card that grants travellers with a map of suggested routes and 20% discount with all our partners, meaning accommodation, eco-tourism activities, well-being sessions, authentic souvenirs and so on. In this way, travellers are driven to more authentic experiences that will benefit our island in more than one way.
When you know that what you’re working for has a real cause and it makes you happy, it is worth dedicating
The Island Life Pass can be bought online, inviting residents and visitors to discover Mauritius in a totally authentic, energetic and enjoyable way.
How is this product doing in the market? The online guide (www.MauritiusConscious.com) had a very positive response during our pre-launch. We’ve received inquiries from travellers asking for help
to plan their trip, which is a good sign given that we didn’t invest money on adverts during that phase. Now that we’ve started selling the #IslandLife Pass, we’ll start a more aggressive campaign to reach potential travellers of Mauritius. About 55% of our website visits are from Mauritius, which is great! But we now will invest in targeting travellers from abroad to onboard them from the planning phase.
How is the competition landscape? There are many tour guides in Mauritius, but we built this out of the need of an attractive, user-friendly guide that doesn’t sell packages and commercial trips. We’re purely an informative platform to help visitors take more respectful, healthy decisions. The #IslandLife Pass is a way of letting travellers arrange their trip freely, road tripping and enjoying the hidden gems found off the beaten track. I also believe we are the only travel guide working on a sustainable approach. I’m sure that more will follow, but if their
goals are aligned to support Mauritius’ development and preservation then that makes us partners in crime, doesn’t it?
You just started; are you encountering any challenges? Every single week, but when you know that what you’re working for has a real cause and it makes you happy, it is worth dedicating to it the whole day, seven days a week. When things are done with passion you start seeing positive things coming back, like people recognizing the quality of our job, travellers sending
us a note and other Conscious Partners willing to join our movement. These things let me know that we’re on the right track and keep me motivated to turn around challenges.
How do you reach people who’re not connected? Mauritius Conscious is intended to stay online, not to generate more waste. But, the ultimate goal of this project is to support the local community and environment, so we approach those who are doing a great job on the field. We are working to collaborate with social enterprises and NGOs to support their projects, like Lagon Bleu (lagoon protection), Belle Verte (waste management) and SYAH (youth-led sustainable development in small island developing states.)
What are your plans? We intend to expand into other Indian Ocean Islands first, then mainland Africa; the sky is the limit! But we certainly feel more attached to Africa for its potential of development, which should be driven sustainably.
What motivates you? The cause of this project, the imminent need to take action on the island, and all the people working to make a positive impact (Conscious Partners & NGOs). It’s not only about making money. Businesses focused only on that are significantly damaging our environment.
What have you learned from this journey? Team work and network are truly essential; you need other people’s knowledge and expertise. Discipline is also critical when you don’t have a boss to dictate things for you. If you have a dream you wanted to pursue, go for it now!
If you have a dream you wanted to pursue, go for it now
LIF
FESTYLE
Forget About Investing in Things by Joseph Rutakangwa
E
veryone wants to buy an iPhone nowadays, and that’s great. But how long will it last? We live in a society that is addicted to consumption. We feel satisfied when we consume products. But this satisfaction is always temporary unless you’re still using and enjoying a Nokia 3210 today. Experiences per contra, last forever. Investing in experiences is a smart way of investing in yourself. Experiences challenge your thinking, help define your purpose, and bring joyful memories.
Are you wondering which experiences you should invest? Worry not.
1. Saving Whether you’re saving for retirement or buying a home – the earlier you begin, the more you accumulate. Get acquainted with different saving plans and start saving today.
2. Move out of your parent’s house You love your parents and what better way to show them than to get out of their house. Your parents have been serving you for the last two decades – without payment! They changed your diapers and still remind you to turn your lights off – you need to set them free.
3. Visit a far-off country, alone – and get lost Travelling alone to another country where you can barely communicate with locals is terrifying. Then, get lost. I know it doesn’t sound right, but it will force you out of your shell and help you recognize who you truly are. You’ll become more enlightened and able to look at the world from many perspectives. Your confidence in yourself will fly up. I recently travelled to Rome without learning a word in Italian. And I didn’t want to use Google navigation. I got lost a hundred times, but I ended up making friends with strangers and learning Italian. It was one of my most valuable experiences.
4. Eat strange food How do you know you’re allergic to it? Just take a bite. If it tastes bad, at least you’ll have something to tell your grandkids.
5. Treat yourself to something exclusive What better way to motivate yourself than sleeping at an exclusive hotel or buying that luxury item? You will want more of it. You’ll be driven to save, budget more carefully and find ways to earn more so you can relive exclusive experiences.
6. Master a skill Master whatever skill you’re inclined to. Any skill can be monetized. Be the best at it and have your signature way of doing it.
7. Adopt successful habits We adopt habits, so don’t say your current habits define who you are. Practice successful habits in your 20s and enjoy their fruits.
8. Take a job that you don’t necessarily want You will appreciate people you come across in life who have such jobs. You’ll also develop a deep understanding of why people say or do things in a certain way.
9. Network LinkedIn doesn’t replace cocktail parties. Meet people in real life, actively listen and share your thoughts. Build a clan, and you won’t starve.
10. Face your fears squarely
As you age and you have more to look after – the fear escalates. Memories of triumph over your fears will take you through so much later in life.
11. Fail – fast and often It’s the best way to learn, and it’s easier when you’re young. Learn to recover quickly.
12. Polish your brand It’s time to clean up your public image. I’m talking about your online presence. Yes, anyone surfing the web can view your social media activity – that includes your current and future employers. Your LinkedIn account should represent your glowing professional side, and you can use Twitter to demonstrate knowledge in your key interests and causes. Facebook is for hobbies and showing how “nice” of a person you are. “Nice” can mean so many things; I’ll leave it to you to decide.
13. Find your cause You don’t have to be a billionaire to change the world, just start with one person. You can mentor someone or volunteer somewhere. Giving back to others makes us stronger.
14. Apologize and forgive I know it’s hard, but you build mutual respect with people in your life by doing it. And oh, apologise to your parents for driving them nuts as a teenager. Most people remember to apologize when their parents are dying – don’t be one of them. You will laugh with your parents about it and you’ll feel so good afterwards.
15. Don’t buy into plain wisdom You’re often advised not to do X or told you can’t do Y. Society tells you life’s timeline is birth - school – career – marriage – kids – retirement – death. Don’t buy it. You only have one attempt to make the most out of your life – make it count.
16. Find yourself This is probably the broadest and most fascinating research you will ever do. Know your values, personality, nature, inclination, drive, fears, habits, etc. You’ll position yourself strategically to get the most out of your life.
17. Be your number one Spoil yourself; spend time and money on things you love to do.
18. Understand that life is long Who said life is short? That’s their life, not yours. If you were to live to 80, you can go to college at 30, start your career at 35, work for 30 years, retire and start an NGO at 65. There’s plenty of time to do whatever you want.
19. Fall in Love A relationship is a mirror for us to reflect and grow. The bitter-sweet aspect of love is what makes it worthwhile.
20. Add yours here
Be-you-tiful 101
by Hawi Tiyo
Stretch Marks What are they and why? Stretch marks, aka, striae distensae, SD are dermal scars caused when the skin cannot bounce back after a period of intense growth. When the skin stretches rapidly, tension builds on the collagen matrix inside the dermis, and it eventually starts to tear. As the damaged tissues heal, new collagen grows, but there will be a chaotic structure on the dermis, which we refer as the stretch mark. They initially appear as wavy or bumpy areas of reddish/purplish discoloration and fed to silvery appearance over time. Over time, they may change to a white or silvery appearance, but they never go away completely.
Natural treats to heal stretch marks Stretch marks usually don’t go away completely. But some ways will help to fade them away in shorter time. Cocoa butter, Almond oil, and Olive oil are one of the most recommended. Massage stretch marks with cocoa butter every day. Castor oil can also be used to get rid of stretch marks. Apply some castor oil to the stretch marks and gently massage the area in circular motions for 5 to 10 minutes daily and continue this routine for a couple of months. Mix a tablespoon of raw sugar with some almond oil and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply it on the stretch marks and other skin areas. Gently rub the mixture on the skin for a few minutes every day before taking a shower. Do this for a month or so and watch your stretch marks become lighter.
What does Science say? Scientists have done intensive research to figure out if the natural treats of stretch marks help. From their studies, most of the application of a lotion containing cocoa butter did not appear to reduce the likelihood of developing stretch marks. The recommended oils seem to moisturise the skin, i.e. it becomes more elastic and less prone to stretch marks. This also helps to fade the marks in less duration that it normally fades.
And how do I prevent them? Aim for a gradual loss or gain of weight, drink plenty of water, moisturizing your skin and eat vitamin-rich foods. You'll be good to go!
Lone Star State of Mind by Kaone Tlagae
C
arlton music always provoked a rupture of thoughts as I reconnected with my past as though watching a live play unfold at this very moment. Memories became vivid; the fresh scent of Jasmine perfume revived and the soft, velvet voice of John Leather would sing along to the outro- all the time making me burst into an outrage for which he would take as an opportunity to laugh his lungs out.
I went home that day feeling like colour had been drained from my skin because I finally came to the realization that I had not been able to perform to my standards and with a thousand answers to why John would pull something like that, I could not help but fight festering churns on my throat. It felt like the carpet had been dragged underneath my feet and John surely had to provide an explanation to what he did.
John and I were childhood best friends. We met in kindergarten on a particular red-lettered day and clicked instantly. He was a very quiet, small, shy boy with rosy cheeks and blonde hair that made a perfect fit for one of the dolls I owned-only that he was human size. I, on the other hand, was the popular diva in Texas day care.
Days after that, John and I were inseparable again and although we were troublesome together, every minute of it was a treasure that left footprints in my heart. I also recall the time we almost turned my parents’ house into ashes by a cooking experiential we did in their absence then we would break into my father’s beer cabinet and drink one of his favourite California wine then black-out until whoever would come to our rescue, or make our own little private pool in the bath tub and skinny-dip ourselves in it. We did all of that and more until one day; death came to stalk little Johnny in Forchwood street while he freely rode his new bicycle.
When we finally graduated into grade 1, our school hosted a huge play by the Tomican Brothers, and I was the lead character, playing alongside Edwin Woods, whose role was to rescue me from Dragon Blue. The school hall was full that day with parents and guests eagerly waiting for the rescue scene that was the highlight of the play, and to everyone’s shock, John erupted from the backstage and pushed Edwin away as he tried to rescue me. I remember being utterly embarrassed from the confusion that skimmed through my face and I also remember the crowd bursting into laughter and giving a loud whoop of delight to what seemed like part of the play. Ms Flora, the director of the play, quickly rose to give an announcement to say that the play would be continued yet we all knew that this was our final play for the season.
Little did he know he was about to take his last breath. I remember how I felt a gruesome grip on my heart when I was told of the life-changing news. I couldn’t believe my ears. I spent years mourning for John Leather; his sick and awesomely annoying jokes and laughter. His beautiful character that he hid under a mask he only took off when we were together and his last words to his mother, telling her that I should never forget him. Today as I drove in Forchwood street playing Carlton music, for the first time, I felt the presence of his soul and only then, realized how much I deeply missed him.
You have experienced 12 faces of Banza and the journey keeps on getting better and better Celebrate with us 12 months of glory
#Imagine that
#Year Zero
#Sugar Spice Summer
#Sweet 16
#Love Yourself
#She Motion
#Healthy Earth
#Dare 2 Be
#Art @ Heart
#Simple
#U & I
#Black n White
RECOMMENDED
MUSIC RECOMMENDATION
Joanne
“
Lady Gaga doesn’t disappoint as she continues in her quest to move us with her vocal talent.
”
NEW ALBUM RELEASES OCTOBER 2016
MC4
Oh My My
Be Here Now
French Montana
One Republic
Oasis
Age of Everything
New Skin
Eye of the Soundscape
Wildlife
Jones
Riverside
This House is not for Sale
Rage & the Machine
Tkay
Bon Jovi
Joe Budden
Tkay Maiza
RECOMMENDED
MOVIE RECOMMENDATION
The Accountant
“
If not a conversation piece, I don’t know what else this mind-boggling movie should be.
”
OCTOBER MOVIE RELEASES
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life Genre: Teen Release Date:07/10/2016
Friend Request Genre: Horror Release Date:07/10/2016
The Birth of a Nation Genre: Period Release Date:07/10/2016
Desierto Genre: Thriller Release Date:14/10/2016
31 Genre: Horror Release Date:21/10/2016
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back Genre: Adaption Release Date:21/10/2016
Ouija: Origin of Evil Genre: Horror Release Date:21/10/2016
Inferno Genre: Adaptation Release Date:28/10/2016
American Pastoral Genre: Adaptation Release Date:28/10/2016
The Facebook Post by Charles Msilanga
S
ome days ago, I logged into Facebook, and as usual, I went through the different posts on my friend’s timeline searching for information, trends and inspiration. I stumbled upon pictures posted by my mentor of little kids in school uniform and got curious about what these kids and Mr Silvester Kututa had to do with each other. His comment on the photo read:
“As a primary school student, during the 70’s and 80’s, in [the] deep rural Kwale district, a place called Kichaka Simba [what a name!], I wore these uniforms. Monday to Friday. Dirty and torn ones. Every morning, I would run about 10kms on footpaths to school; no shoes, often meeting snakes, antelopes and occasionally some stray elephants and leopards from the nearby Shimba Hills Game Reserve. My primary school life was very tough; hard as can ever be. After school, around 6:00 PM, I would fetch water at a distance of 8 KM, collect firewood, till the land and cook the evening meal. By the time I settled down to do my homework, the clock had already struck 8:00 PM. Tired, fatigued, sleepy. But my disciplinarian mother, illiterate as she was, would give me no peace. She always insisted that we must do well. She would remind us that the examiners of national examinations, did not care where you came from. That we will have to sit for the same exams like the town kids. She was the source of the discomfort that I needed at that age. So I would gather my books, as I headed to the farm, spending the night on the farm to make sure that warthogs and wild pigs don’t invade the green maize in the farm at night. They could clear the whole farm by morning if they came in without being heard. So, we were to sleep down on a mat next to the fire, but with our ears alert-half asleep. At 5:30 AM, we were to start another day. There are some lessons, experiences, and virtues I can never tradeoff. Most of these were learned in my formative years; God,
respect, consistency, resilience, contentment, doing more with less, accepting situations where change is impossible, and wanting to change everything around me that can change. Anything you see good in me today, the seeds were planted back then. There are many things I would have wanted to do, but I never did. I never went on a single school trip. None was organised because nobody would afford. So as I clock 50 years this is my jubilee! I am very happy today, to sponsor, to host and to see the current school pupils in my primary school, touring Mombasa. Their travel and tours revolved around the port, the airport, a bottling company, Haller Park and Fort Jesus. They have a better hope than I had, and I would like them to do better than I will ever do. Thank you, Kichaka Simba community, I am eternally grateful!” These words and what Mr Silvester did inspired and moved me. Very few people remember to appreciate their past and remember where they came from. God created us for a purpose and if you go through any challenges, embrace them as they will be a solution to a particular person or a group of people. Indeed, the students at Kichaka Simba have more hope now than then. You too can create brighter hope now, than then! I wish you a beautiful month of October. God Bless you so much! Charles Msilanga.
Wedding, Family, Kids, FashionPhotography, BlackandWhitePhotography and for any events
Bole medhanyalem the rode to 22 the first main left turn Anat building 1st floor E-mail anjeloluha@gmail.com Anjelo pictures