Are you a 9 to 5’er with dreams of showcasing your hidden talent? Or are you just starting out, full of out-of-this-world ambitions, but you just don’t know where to start? Just wait and see what Clover KRUSH has in store for you! KRUSH is launching a never-before-seen reality TV show where you will get a chance to unlock your full potential and live out your dream.
From September to December 2022, the public will be able to enter and submit their auditions. During this time, KRUSH will accompany and aid winners in their journey to success by providing them with the necessary opportunities and resources to get there. The show will feature celebrity mentors who are leading the pack in their respective professions. Whether you’re an aspiring actor, dancer, singer, chef, sportsperson, adventurer, or content creator, you have the opportunity to get onto the show and be coached by the best in the business! It’s time to let KRUSH get you there.
Accomplished actor, television presenter, and lifesaver Ryle De Morny is set to be the host of the reality TV show and viewers are in for a treat. Born and raised in Cape Town, Ryle holds the title of “the fastest man on sand” for beach sprinting and has previously won presenting gigs for top-rated local programmes such as Top Billing and Expresso. His impressive and varied background makes him the perfect fit to walk alongside the applicants as they reach for their dreams in the hopes of unlocking their full potential.
KRUSH is not only a fan favourite when it comes to 100% fruit juice but this new reality TV show 100% advocates creativity, passion, and the drive to showcase some of South Africa’s hidden talent. The time has come for you to unleash your full potential and test your limits with Clover KRUSH.
This brand-new reality TV show on SABC2 will be open to South Africans all over the country, whatever your dream, KRUSH will help you unlock it. Buy any Clover KRUSH and share a video of yourself with them, showing why you should be an entrant on the show. Send it to our WhatsApp line on 082 857 8054 or upload it to social media, tagging @cloverkrush and using the #Krush.
Whether you enter the competition to reach your dreams or watch others achieve their 100% with KRUSH, you’re in for a delightful journey. Of course, there’s more…You could win a share of R500,000 in prizes! Simply buy your favourite KRUSH and follow the entry details on the pack. Be sure to check out the competition details and T&C’s at https://www.clover.co.za/competitions/krush-unlock-your-100/
The tenth season of Tropika Island of Treasure has been full of twists and turns for this coveted All-Star season and Tropika has just announced their smooothest twist yet!
Beloved television presenter and singer Katlego Maboe will be coming back for some more island fever as he is set to host the second leg of the competition at the Seychelles. This will be Maboe’s third run at hosting the show following his gig as the presenter of Tropika Island of Treasure season eight and nine.
The award-winning TV presenter made an emotional return as the host of Expresso in August of this year and viewers have been thrilled to have him back on their screens. Katlego’s reveal as the island host of Tropika Island of Treasure Season 10 All-Stars totally speaks to the theme of this season, which boasts a variety of exciting and unexpected twists and turns that are sure to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.
This season, the contestant duos had to earn their flavours in St Lucia, KZN, before heading out to compete for their share of the grand prize on the shores of the Seychelles. With seven teams moving ahead to the Seychelles representing the seven smoooth flavours of Tropika; Cool Red, Piña Colada, Peach, Mango and Peach, Pineapple, Tropical, and Orange, the stakes are getting higher, and the excitement is brewing to see who will come out on top. With Katlego’s return as the host for the island period, this is just the kind of unexpected curve viewers would never see coming. So, keep your TV sets on SABC 3 this Saturday the 15th of October at 18h30 for the big reveal because there’s nothing smooother!
South Africa, watch your favourite All-Stars and consumer contestants on your screens this month!
With summer approaching, this is the perfect time to showcase the stamina, willpower, and mental and physical strength of everybody’s favourite returning All Stars. And let’s not forget those consumer contestants who are also competing in the captivating challenges for a chance to win the grand prize of their share of R1 million as well as R250 000 worth of Suzuki prizes!
For the brand-new season of Tropika Island of Treasure, Tropika has joined forces with Mr Price Home on an exciting collaboration, which makes the show even more eye-catching. Look out for these stunning accessories, which include beach towels, beach blankets, tote bags, and even beach tents. These are great additions to your collection of beach accessories for Summer 2022!
Here are the highlights from the first episode: All 18 contestants and All-Stars challenge for a ranking and musician and performing artist Brendan Peyper and consumer contestant and content creator Sria Reddy came out on top as the top-ranking All-Star and consumer contestant, respectively.
10 Smoooth Fans got through the challenge: Dain Ogulu, Boitumelo ‘Melo’ Moloto, Ruan Scheepers, Liardus Nel, Alyssa Conley, Sria Reddy, Janice ‘Jae’ Bauer, Lelani Loots, Tayne de Villiers and Lerecia Mcpherson
8 Smoooth fan favourites were eliminated in episode 1: Beuton Nero, Ofentse Boloko, Simphiwe Jack Mabaso, Shonisani Masutha, Taryl Ogle, Bianca Edwards, Zweli Dube, Neena Bezuidenhout.
The celebrity All-Stars took part in the same challenge to place 1 to 8 to determine who picks their partner first. Brendan won this challenge but Roxy Louw and Shashi Naidoo pick-up Long-Life Charm advantages along the challenge, giving them an advantage going into the partner pick. 1 can swap partners with another celeb and the other can steal points from another.
If you missed the episode, don’t stress – the first repeat will be on tonight at 21:00 on SABC 3 and a second repeat will be on Friday 23 September at 22:30. Tropika has much more in store for you, not just this exciting TV show. Be on the lookout for the @MyTropika social media pages and take part in the at-home competitions for your chance to win some smoooth prizes and hampers!
Brittany Smith is a talented opera singer with heart. From debuting in the role of Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute to performing as Juliet in Capuleti e i Montecchi and Amour in Orphée and Eurydice, Brittany has already made an impression on CTO audiences and now we get to see her play the role of Susanna in Mozart’s famous masterpiece, Le Nozze di Fargo.
Brittany has been serious about opera since she was introduced to the discipline by her choir mistress and has recently spent time exploring its power to bring hope and inspiration. She holds her Postgraduate Diploma in Opera Performance at UCT and a BMus (Opera) and is an advocate for tuberculosis sufferers: once diagnosed with the disease just 4 centimeters away from her vocal cords, she makes it her mission to address the stigma still attached to the illness. I recently caught up with Brittany to share her inspirational story.
Congratulations on a fantastic career and on all that you have achieved. Why do you love being an Opera singer and could you share with us a career highlight? Thank you! If I have to narrow down the reason, I love being an opera singer, it would be because of all the freedom I have while performing on stage. There’s nothing better than hearing the orchestra tune while you’re backstage and having the feeling like you have wings to soar high with when you sing your very first phrase. The highlight of my career was when I had to step in to sing the role of Priestess Leïla in Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers. It showed me just how far I could push myself and the determination to prove to myself that I could sing a big role with only one rehearsal to walk through.
Please could you share with us your healing/recovery process from the time you were diagnosed with Tuberculosis to your recovery? It was tough, especially since I was starting to sing the big girl roles. I remember the worst part about my recovery being the five tablets I had to take every morning for five months and then trying to keep them down. I had an amazing support system at home and from the few friends I still had. I also remember praying quite a bit – my strength came from my Maker. I was comforted by that.
How long was your recovery process? My full recovery took six months. After that, it took a while longer to recover from the mental stress I had endured as well.
Is Tuberculosis (TB) contagious? If untreated, TB is EXTREMELY contagious. Something as simple as speaking to someone face to face who is infected puts you at a very high risk of contracting the disease.
I can only imagine the fear that you faced with the disease being just a few centimeters away from your vocal cords. Who or what motivated you to keep fighting to get better so that you could be back on stage doing what you love? It was actually 4 cm away from my vocal cords upon consultation with my pulmonologist and after hearing that, I came to the realisation of just how dangerous the type of TB I had, had been. I’d say my fighting spirit, my family and a lot of prayer as well as wanting to feel the freedom I felt while singing, gave me my motivation back.
As a TB survivor, what are some of the stigmas that you faced not just as an opera singer, but as a human being fighting a disease that could have potentially ended your career? People didn’t want to touch me or come close to me and when I mentioned that I had HAD TB, they would instantly take a step back from me or put their hands over their mouths and noses so as to not catch anything from me, even after I told them that I am not contagious anymore or that I didn’t have TB anymore and that hurt. I also understood that they were not as educated on TB as they should be and that sort of made the shun a bit easier to handle.
You speak strongly about secondary stigma, what is secondary stigma and who does it come from? Secondary stigma is when the family or friends shun you from their social circles after they have heard that you had TB. In my case, it was friends I had made in varsity, that even when I was not contagious anymore and still wore a mask to protect myself, they’d back away or just not associate themselves with me because they saw me as, and I quote, “dirty”. Unfortunately, this is the case with many TB survivors and sufferers alike. Why is that? It is that way because people are not educated enough to know and understand more about TB.
Do you think people find it taboo to talk about having/had TB? In some communities and cultures, yes. Many TB sufferers and survivors do not want a target on their backs when it comes to opening up about the disease, so instead they don’t talk about it at all. In many cases we are judged so badly after people find out – we’re almost shamed upon. It’s actually really sad.
From the challenges and stigmas that you faced, what would you like people to take away from your story? You can make a full recovery. Life does not stop because you’ve contracted TB. I want people to know that there are support groups that they could reach out to and that someone will welcome them with open arms because “you are not your disease.”
What can we do to educate people on Tuberculosis and to break these stigmas? It’s this simple: Talk about Tuberculosis more. Talk until you’re blue in the face. Once people are no longer afraid of something they do not understand, the faster stigma will disappear until it is but a foreign concept.
From 06 to 15 July 2022, we get to see you live on stage performing the role of Susanna in Le Nozze Di Figaro at the Roodepoort Theatre. What can audiences expect from Susanna? Audiences can expect a show of a lifetime. Susanna is naughty, nice, fierce and a delight…like a breath of fresh air. We need that after a 2 and a half year darkness.
Le Nozze di Figaro runs from 06 to 15 July 2022 at the Roodepoort Theatre. Tickets are R220 and are on sale through Webtickets.
When meeting Anna Ngarachu for the first time in an online meeting, it was like meeting someone who you have known for the longest time. I was greeted by her warm smile and beautiful personality. I was meeting Anna to learn about her journey and more importantly learning about her book 10 000 Steps Towards Me.
10 000 Steps Towards Me is a guide to your personal development journey which Anna wrote during lockdown. Being on a self-development journey of my own over more than a year now, I knew that I needed to read this book. This is not another self-help book, but rather one where Anna shares a leaf from her life in each chapter. I love how Anna humbly and gracefully shares her story of her upbringing. Anna shares lessons she has learned along the way in her journey and prompts the reader to reflect where they are and to use the tools mentioned in the book to make changes in their lives.
The title of each chapter has a creative spin encompassing the general theme as well as sections to write your own reflections. This book has come at a time in my life and journey as a form of support. Chapters like ‘Going Against the Tide’ and ‘Hidden Figures’ are some of my favourite to name a few. Anna touches on the impact that your environment has on you, how the choices we make will impact who we are and to wake up and dream. If you are in life coaching sessions then I believe that this book will deepen or support your journey further. While reading this book, I was reflecting on my own journey and couldn’t believe the power of perfect timing.
Without giving too much away, 10 000 Steps Towards Me is light and fun to read with short, impactful chapters. It is aimed at those who are ready to make changes in their lives and are needing direction or the know how on how to make those changes. Why live a mediocre life when you can live the one of your dreams? Why settle when you can live your best life? If you would like to purchase a copy, you can do so on Amazon and for a signed copy, you can fill in this form. For more on Anna and her journey, you can read my interview with her.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it!”
This is the motto of how impact storyteller Anna Ngarachu, chooses to live her life and she has uttered it to everyone around her so that they know that they too can create a life they choose…not a life of default but a truly intentional life and an unconventional one.
Anna is one of eight musketeers (siblings) and hails from Kenya. She has been in South Africa for about 15 years. Not much can be said about those early days, but the photos tell us that she was a photogenic child…always near a microphone or drawing something but not particularly keen to eat her food. Even as a child, she was a true adventurer and artist. Her favourite thing was hanging out with her siblings and her book reflects some of those interesting stories.
Anna and her family moved to Uganda for three years, which was utter bliss, and a chance to discover life in another African country. When she was 16, they moved to South Africa which came with its challenges of navigating a new culture, but it became home and still is. Anna went on to study Economics at the University of Witwatersrand; although looking back, she imagines that she should have studied writing, literature, or something along those lines. Currently, Anna is navigating adult life with the support of her best friend and partner Grant. She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Anna is the creator of Impact Storyteller, which she started in July 2021 off the back of publishing her book 10,000 Steps Towards Me. “I realised that other people were bursting to write a book; either to leave a legacy or to build their brands but were too busy with their endeavours. Having written my book whilst pursuing a consulting career; I realised the demands behind it but having walked that path, I wanted to make it a reality for others too.”
With Impact Storyteller Anna aims to do two things: Ghost-writing and co-writing services. This is for anyone who wants to write a book (that aims to make an impact) but has no time or skill. This is catered to those that are looking to BUILD A PERSONAL BRAND (as a business owner or professional) or share their LIFE STORY. She believes that by telling your story through a book you attain credibility in your networks. This can be in the form of a personal development book or a Life Story (Memoir).
On a personal level, publishing her book has given Anna the courage to offer Personal Development Coaching and Personal Development Retreats where she gives talks to high school and university students and professionals on the aspects that she covers in her book. Here Anna assists to uncover their stories and try to steer them to find answers or question things from their authentic viewpoints.
All of this is in the backdrop of her consulting career. Anna works as an economic consultant for a boutique consulting firm in Johannesburg. She is a seasoned senior economic researcher with five years’ experience in the development sector, having been involved in several regional and continental projects in recent years.
Please tell us about your podcast impact storyteller and what exactly is an impact storyteller. An impact storyteller aims to share stories that make an impact for an individual, a cause, or a situation. The aim is to change mindsets so that we can move towards acting and living more authentically and boldly. I believe stories should inspire and challenge us for the better.
The Impact Storyteller Show is a YouTube Show. It assists me in building content and getting exposure. It’s a show that gets down to real talk with a selective calibre of guests, focusing on personal development and self-discovery. This is for people who want to consume fast, and impactful insights – to raise awareness of how important personal development is and the importance of talking about issues that go unsaid. It aims to allow people to reflect on whether they are growing as an individual or not. Basically, I provide a platform for people to be vulnerable, share their stories and that allows people to ask themselves some real hard questions and reflect on that. It is when we start having conversations with ourselves and making authentic choices do we live boldly. Otherwise, we continue to live on autopilot, and we all know that doesn’t do anyone any good.
How has writing 10 000 Steps Towards Me helped you grow as an individual? Writing my book allowed me to put my creations out in the world…the utmost expression of vulnerability. I have understood that vulnerability isn’t something to fear to behold as it is a reflection of bravery and that is something I want to teach others. It has helped me come to terms with who I am and celebrate that with all flaws and great values together.
I have learned that not everything has to be going well for you to achieve your dream, even in lockdown, I managed to launch my book. I understand now that I need to live my dream daily and it needs to be an active manifestation. I have procrastinated for so long to complete this book and I’m glad it came to fruition! It has allowed me to learn how action conquers fear. It has helped me set up a writing business, which I had never even imagined before and to have the courage to get out there and showcase it. Above all, it has taught me how much I love creative writing and that this is what I am meant to be doing.
Who do you hope is helped in reading this book? Those that dare to change…
I intend to help people know who they are, know what they want, and help guide them towards their true north (and the best version of themselves). Those who dare to change are the people I hope to help. Anyone that wants to see a significant shift in their lives or has a lot of questions as to why they feel/felt stagnant. I aim to help them realise their worth and help them reflect on their own life and look at what needs to change and what needs to be celebrated.
What is next for Anna? Currently, I am doing a memoir writing course as I’m working on my memoir which is an exciting task.
Look out for more books down the line! My aim is to make a career out of writing, so I am currently working with some clients to get that set up nicely. The rest I will leave as a mystery, intertwined with some interesting characters and adventures to come.
If you would like to get in touch with Anna you can visit her website, or by sending an email to anna@impactstoryteller.co.za or by booking a discovery call with her here. Connect with Anna on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Hello May 2022, how quick you have arrived along with autumn and the changing colours of the leaves on the trees. While nature is taking a bit of a break, we continue to push and live our lives to the fullest. A few of the public holidays have now passed and we are heading to the middle of the year, and just the thought of that makes me slightly anxious. Some people have taken a much-needed holiday getaway and others have rested at home, but have you ever been on a retreat? I’m thinking of being around in nature, with my phone off, meeting new people and just embracing life. I recently chatted to Sibylle Sharon about her upcoming retreat and how we can develop a retreat state of mind.
Sibylle is a Consciousness Coach™️ and Trainer, Time to Think™️ Facilitator and Coach, Enneagram Practitioner and Yin Yoga teacher. She grew up in Germany and moved to South Africa in 1989. Today she is married with four young adult children, one of them still in High School.
In 2012, after recovering from burnout, Sibylle remembers watching her family and friends walking the road called life and feeling that she was leaving herself behind. “I had lost my zest for life and lacked a sense of purpose.”
She made the choice to make a change and was blessed with the loving support of family and friends to help her to get back on her feet. Traditional western medicine, body talk, therapy – she did whatever she could to create shift within.
Sibylle became interested in life coaching and two friends pointed her in the same direction and the rest is history. She started her journey of Consciousness Coaching™️ in 2015 and was 100% committed to her life and family. Consciously realigning to her essence and purpose led her to create a new reality for her life. Without changing anything on the surface, Sibylle reinvented herself at almost 50 and started a new career as a Consciousness Coach™️. “I became a 50Plus Start-up.” Today, she supports her clients to “rewire instead of retire” to life and to start again if necessary. “I help people to become very deliberate in creating opportunities for themselves and with that a life they love to live.”
What is a Consciousness Coach™️ and why is it beneficial to have a coach? “As a Consciousness Coach™️ I engage my clients to move forward because they say so. Not necessarily because they think or feel they can do it. Commitment and integrity are key in my coaching methodology. As are the conscious use of language and changing the narrative or interpretation of “what is.” I teach my clients various tools of Consciousness Coaching™️ so that they can create a life they can’t wait to get up for in the morning.
My clients take responsibility for their lives and with that they learn to take their power back. I mirror back to my clients when they are in so called “reactive” or unconscious living. This usually shows up when they are complaining, expecting, blaming, or giving up. I then show them how to choose their behaviour more consciously and how to shift into “creative” living. With my Time to Think™️ background, I am trained to help my clients identify untrue assumptions that inform their behaviour. We unpack these assumptions in a coaching session and replace them with truer and liberating ones. Assumptions inform our behaviour, according to Nancy Kline, founder of Time to Think™️ and more often than not these assumptions are not true. This work is based on the observation that the quality of just about everything we do, depends on the quality of the thinking we do about it first. I help my clients to access conscious thinking versus limited and ego cluttered thinking.
I also use the Enneagram to shine a light on the unconscious motivation of behaviour in my clients. Again, becoming more aware of automated responses and ego patters helps my clients to step out of autopiloted living into conscious and creative living. They become very deliberate in creating opportunities for themselves.”
What do you love about retreats? Being in nature and off the grid with no interruptions and social media. Nurturing and nourishing my physical and mental body. Active resting. I love there to be silence, enlightenment, reflection, and plenty of meditation. Walking, swimming, yoga, movement. Spending time with like-minded, conscious people who love self-development and transformation. I (re)treat with intention seeking inner peace and calm. Having conscious fun and conversations.
Between 25-28 August 2022, Sibylle and Private Chef, Award Winning Cookbook Author and Consciousness Coach™ Practitioner Alix Verrips will be hosting their Conscious Retreat in majestical Knysna, South Africa.
What can you look forward to? • Time to Think™ and conscious conversations • Daily Yin Yoga and meditation practice • Additional restorative therapy sessions • Guided hike across the reserve • Free time for relaxation, contemplation, beach walks and much more!
Bookings are limited, so why not treat yourself to a well deserved and much needed retreat. Click here for more information and to book or send an email to hello@consciousretreats.co.za.
August may be a while away, but you can still Retreat Intentionally in your home. Retreating may also look like a 10-minute meditation, a walk in your neighbourhood, a yoga or gym session.
I don’t know about you, but I am certainly feeling inspired to do some meditation and to go for a jog as part of my intentional retreat this weekend. For more inspiring posts, you can follow and connect with Sibylle on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
A seemingly average man with a lethal set of skills finds himself on the run in INDEMNITY, a subversive, edge-of-your-seat local action film, produced in South Africa, but on a level that South Africa’s never seen before!
The film, which had its overseas premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival in North America last year has already released in the US earlier this year. This intense Action film, from the Producers of Netflix’s Blood & Water, releases in South Africa on 13 May 2022.
The praises from international media poured in after its international release earlier this year:
“A great deal of fun”. – The New York Times “A stylish, high-stakes thriller laced with eroticism and subterfuge”. – Los Angeles Times “Beefed up with punchy action and suitably incendiary special effects”. – Screen International “Travis Taute’s debut feature impresses with its slick, nimble action sequences”. – Variety
South African best-selling author, film critic and award-winning lecturer, Leon van Nierop thoroughly enjoyed the film and said the following: “It is the bravest, best and most balanced South African action film ever to be made.”
South African writer-director Travis Taute’s debut feature INDEMNITY tells the story of Theo Abrahams (Jarrid Geduld), an ex-fireman suffering from severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who, unable to return to work, turns to alcohol.
Becoming increasingly frustrated and volatile, Theo’s world is rocked when his journalist wife Angela (Nicole Fortuin) is murdered – and he is the prime suspect. He soon finds himself on the run from the police for a murder he is positive he didn’t commit. But was he framed? Or did one of his violent nightmares cause him to do something he didn’t mean to do?
As he is hunted by Deputy Chief Alan Shard (Andre Jacobs) and Detective Rene Williamson (Gail Mabalane), connections are revealed between his past, the origin of his PTSD, the murder of his wife, and a government conspiracy with chilling implications.
INDEMNITY is an intense and impressive film which moves from one thrilling action set to the next as Theo literally fights for his life. Geduld gives a terrific performance, making Theo believably flawed and human.
“I wanted to make an action film, and I was very fortunate that my producers bought into that vision and ambition,”explains Taute. “However, I wanted to combine that with a film that had a heart that was driven by a character. A story about a man who has this trauma and then weaves in the action sequences to his emotional journey.”
Whether staging fights in the close confines of an elevator or a spacious abandoned factory, Taute – co-writer of Nosipho Dumisa’s award-winning Number 37 and the Netflix series Blood & Water – knows how to grab viewers’ attention. Favouring real stunts over CGI, he truly put the team through their paces with some serious challenges.
Geduld does all his own stunts; a mission he prepared for by spending three months training with stunt masters Vernon Willemse and Grant Powell (Fury Road, Tomb Raider). The SAFTA-award winner’s confident physical performance contributes to his character.
PTSD is at the heart of the story and on extensively exploring this issue in the film, the writer-director says: “When it comes to issues regarding mental health, there is such a terrible stigma attached to it. It’s considered weak. This inability for men to converse in a constructive way about not being well emotionally and psychologically and being supported in that conversation. This is an important and powerful issue and I wanted to speak about it in his film.”
INDEMNITY is a paranoid conspiracy thriller beefed up with punchy action and confirms Taute’s talent as an action director. “In South Africa there has been a limit to the kinds of films we can produce. We wanted to do something that could stand up with all the rest of the international titles; something to move the needle in terms of the perception of what kinds of films can come out of South Africa. The process was amazing, and I can’t wait for the next one,” concludes Taute.
INDEMNITY was produced by Gambit Films, in association with M-Net Films, Marche Media, National Film and Video Foundation and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
It is locally distributed by Filmfinity Pty (Ltd.) and will be released in South African cinemas on 13 May 2022.
Africa’s first metaverse is set to unlock African creativity and connect Africa to the global digital economy. At an event in Johannesburg yesterday, plans were announced for commercialisation of the 3D virtual reality experience, that is set in Ubuntuland, a virtual world that marries creativity, cryptocurrency, and commerce.
Firstly, virtual land will soon be available to purchase and develop, with MTN, Africa’s largest multinational mobile telecommunications company joining Africarare with an upcoming 12×12 village (144 plots of real estate) secured in Ubuntuland. Additionally, M&C Saatchi Abel have entered the metaverse as the first South African agency to do so. There will only ever be 204 642 plots of land available, made up of different village sizes in various community hubs. The land is positioned and priced according to a tiered value system.
Landholders will be able to customize their 3-D land spaces, such as hosting shops, producing resources, renting virtual services and developing games or other applications. Designated spaces will serve the community for work, play and wellness purposes, including state of the art meeting rooms, online therapy rooms (with optional anonymity), concert stages, film festival spaces, meditation lounges and other dynamic interactive environments. And, there’s more to come, such as staking, DAO (decentralized autonomous organization) and blockchain play-to-earn gaming.
Renowned South African artist Norman Catherine has developed a unique collection of avatars for the metaverse, which will shortly be available to purchase. The Normunda tribe is based on the artist’s signature lexicon, that has fetched record prices in galleries around the world. An avatar is a 3-D graphical representation of a user or the user’s character or persona in this space.
Furthermore, an exciting collaboration between Africarare and South African superstar Boitumelo Thulo has been announced. Popularly known as Boity, the acclaimed television personality, rapper, actress, businesswoman and model, revealed her first virtual reality music video, entering the event in the same Sun Goddess custom creation upon which her outfit in Queen Boity avatar form was based. The Boity tribe of 10 000 avatars will soon be available for fans, with a Boity village currently being developed and plans for virtual concerts under way.
South African Superstar Boitumelo ThuloQueen Boity Avatar
The currency in Ubuntuland will be the $UBUNTU token, which is built on the Ethereum blockchain and available from later this year. Everything in Africarare can be bought, sold or traded using $UBUNTU tokens, including buying, developing, selling or renting plots or villages in Ubuntuland, and the in-world purchases of digital goods and services. The valuation of the token will be calculated according to what users invest / build / play / trade inside the metaverse.
Two art galleries will feature in Africarare, dedicated to showcasing Africa’s prolific creativity. The Mila gallery (Swahili for ‘tradition’), already open, will host curated collections by some of Africa’s foremost artists, while the Inuka gallery (Swahili for ‘rise’) will feature works by emerging African artists from later in 2022. Both galleries will stage various exhibitions on an ongoing basis with art pieces being sold as NFT’s (non-fungible tokens).
In the Africarare marketplace, creators and developers can trade in in-world assets such as land, avatars, avatar additions and other goods and services that are and will be available in Ubuntuland. The marketplace focuses on four main areas: Art, Ubuntuland, Avatars & Skins and Digital Services. Users will also be able to trade on secondary platforms such as Opensea and others.
The Central Hub land area is reserved for Africarare custom made experiences, ranging from art to education and including experiences like galleries, live performances, stand-up comedy, video content channels, film festivals, safaris and more.
“Africarare will connect Africa to this booming arena of the global economy, stimulate growth and create multiple new jobs such as digital designers, creators and architects ” said Mic Mann, Co-founder and CEO of Africarare. “Additionally, it will enable South African artists to showcase their talent to the world and monetize their distinctive creations,” he added. “With Africarare being built on collaborative partnerships, the possibilities for commercialisation are endless” said Shayne Mann, Co-founder of Africarare.
Mic Mann, Co-founder and CEO of AfricarareShayne Mann, Co-founder of Africarare
“This is an exciting moment for us as we lead businesses on the continent to enter the metaverse marketplace. This is exactly what our Ambition 2025 strategy is premised on – leveraging trends that amplify consumer’s digital experiences and engagement. We have always been at the forefront of technological and digital changes and we remain alive to the exciting opportunities the metaverse presents for us and our customers’’ – Bernice Samuels MTN Group Executive.
With Ubuntuland poised to become the biggest talking point in the digital African space, it’s time to own your piece of Virtual Africa!
Information courtesy of Jenny Griesel Communications.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and in my opinion, this year’s Cinderella Pantomime is the most wonderful show of 2021.
The show was a musical array of talent; beautiful music coupled with great dance moves and loads of comedy. When I watched the show, there was not one person in the audience that night who was not laughing behind their masks. With a South African twist and humor of what’s currently going on in the country, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The costumes once again were vibrant, colourful and different to suit each character and I need to know where I can get that car! (You will need to watch the show to know what I am talking about.) 🙂
Christmas is just a few days away, so why not give the gift of laughter this festive season…
And while you may think, well I’ve already watched one or two panto’s in the past, why is this one any different?
Well South African Andrew Timm has joined the team for the first time as Production Designer. The Joburg Theatre stage has been transformed into a high-tech, 21st century riot of innovative and spectacular special effects – combining live performance with projections and 3D graphics on over 500 LED screens and bringing in hologram effects, giant props, magic techniques and pyrotechnics to surprise and delight audiences of all ages. Trust me you will be delighted!
Panto will be drawing to a close on Friday 24 December 2021. Book your tickets on the Joburg Theatre website to catch one of the last shows. It’s a gift you will not regret giving yourself or your loved ones this festive season. .
