Today, I write this article beaming with pride.
One of my biggest customer, the EFF has done exceptionally well in the sixth general elections. It garnered 10.79% with a growth of 6% from the last elections.
If you have been following the South African politics, you will know that this six year old kid made a dramatic entry in Parliament.
Often clad in red overalls and maids uniforms. It offers South Africans ideologies that encourage black people to celebrate black culture and embrace their African heritage.
These red ants sting has been felt by the current governing party.
Our former president, Jacob Zuma would have probably took the "pay back the money" as a joke if these former young lions of the African National Congress didn't stay consistent with their demands.
Who can forget the current land debate that saw the Freedom Front Plus move up the leader of the ballot paper to take the fourth spot on the list.
https://media3.picsearch.com/is?c00LmWyUeam_NRVn8h_hLMKtmbj58-nwa5SoS_-wWro&height=341
These elections painted a very gloomy picture about the African National Congress.
The ANC once loved Nelson Mandela party of 1994 was no longer representing the interest of its people, majority being black people.
Corruption, greed and arrogance are amongst other things have seen people loosing faith in it. Leaders such as the secretary general, Ace Magushule have been reported to have ran the Free State Province to the ground, yet he was voted as secretary general. I know it was a unity exercise amongst loyal Zuma supporters but the public cannot look beyond the recent published book about how far his dirty fingers had gone to vote for it, hoping businessman and former trade unionist and Nelson Mandela's umbrella man, Cyril Ramaphosa will turn things around.
How he will do this, we still don't know but the division was still felt just after the elections when ANC election campaign head, Fikile Mbalula with Magashule.
Anyway the generation of voters are now watching service deliveries in all parties.
The EFF headed by the former ANC youth League leader, Julius Malema came with a vibrant energy in parliament. Almost everyday fighters were visible on the streets. In Johannesburg alone, I have seen them help evicted families in court.They have become a political party that ordinary citizen feel it address their needs.
The leader, Malema often commands attention in his speech and everything that comes out of his mouth captures the attention of a black child.
The party leaders has made education something fashionable to a point that no one remembers Julius Malema was once a a drop out matric student and having failed woodwork at school. In one of the youtube videos he jokes about not being fit enough to run the country having failed woodwork alone. Today he is a farmer, a politician and I'm not sure what else.
What is also attractive about the brand is that it speaks to everyone in the black township except for the older generation of men. Maybe it is because the leaders had find it difficult to reason with the elders in the ANC and since others were raised by single mothers, they respect women. Infact, they said it in parliament that the first person to become president from the party will be a woman.
Parliament member, Makoti Khawula is that aunt of yours who always ask question like any other township aunt. Now will have more young people interested in parliament with the addition of the fees must fall protesters.
Its supporters are majority black, underprivileged, rejected and now trying to build on what they have by licking on the wounds left by the bad administration of the country over the past 25 years.
My start up business was also a test if the three South African parties do support small businesses. With them, it was so clear to the point our beads were worn at their 5th anniversary celebration in East London and at the Rand Easter Show recently.
I'm not sure what you as a reader think of this brand but you can share your views on my social media account:
Facebook: Khanyiswa Ndabeni
Twitter: @ndabenik
Instagram: Khanyiswa2
You Tube: Khanyi Ndabeni
Whatsapp: 076 360 7744 for orders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DZxI3SbxMw&t=34s
https://t.co/r2ZyaTbADy
(https://twitter.com/ndabenik/status/1126112035467681793?s=03)
Her smile is so welcoming that one immediately feels at home with her and strike up a conversation.
But do not be mistaken, behind that beautiful smile lies scars of hurt, abuse, disappointment and any other pain that might be experienced by any ordinary female South African today.
If you talk about being raped,bearing and raising a child from that horrible and painful experience, mama Nandi who played Nandi Sibiya on Zone 14 has gone through that. She believes by portraying such characters on either a theatre play or on screen she deliver a message that she hopes will help another women seating at home watching the drama, telenovela.
my groupie moment with mama Nandi
At 68 years, and more than four decade in the South African entertainment industry, Mama Nandi can relate to some of the female characters she has portrayed. She says some have either gone through what she has gone through in her own personal life.
"Through those experiences I am able to suggest and come up with ideas to the director about the elements of what I think we should add in a character. If the director is open to my idea then I add it on to make the character more real. A recent example was that of Dolly in the telenovela Isethembiso airing on weekdays on Mzansi Magic.
Mama Nandi on Sticks and Stones. Screengrab from You tube
Yes Dolly is a mother and takes care of her children and all the house chores. But we forget, mothers also have a life. They go for shopping, outings and some are working and even owning a businesses. I don't feel a women should be box to just a house wife and looking after children. Women do more and should be seen on television to be doing more too.We shouldn't be just box in the house as if she doesn't have a life, said Mama Nandi who is so passionate about her craft that recently on Isithunzi she went bald headed playing a character of Nolwazi an women who had just returned from her home country South Africa from exile in Zimbabwe.
On Isibaya pic Youtube
Oh, yes, she can change her voice too to a skill she mastered doing a children programme but matured it and gave it a bit of hoarseness on season season 6 of the Mzansi drama, Isibaya where she plays Gogo Mkhiti.
She is grateful for all the roles she was able to play both on screen and theatre today as in the past South African Black actors were not allowed leading roles in any production.
"If you get cast at all in any film or drama your role will be that of a maid as a female or a gardener if you are a male. If the role needed a black leading character a white person would take that role and they would paint their face black. We were powerless to act then until 24 years ago but I wont say we are totally free as black people in South Africa."
On Roots
It was through her mother, Violet Nomvuselelo Nyembe's unavailability in a 1970s theatre play that bagged her first role in a theatre production. Since then she has never looked back and did both screen and plays. She has portrayed the character of struggle heroine Lillian Ngoyi in Treason and the grandmother to Kunta Kinte, Yaisa in the American drama series Roots. The film Yesterday, where she plays a role of a sangoma was nominated for the Oscars.
On Isibaya screengrab from youtube
"I don't think the South African government has paid much interest to the arts and craft industry. I thought maybe by now this sector, government would have made effort to invest in the artist and making sure that we have the basic benefits such as medical aid etc. We really need those things. Times are even harder for artists if they don't get jobs or told they are too old to be used as ambassadors,"
If not rapping with his grandchildren or bonding with her daughter who is a sangoma. She is rehearsing for Isithembiso. She is also working on many personal projects that she would rather reveal when they are at an advance stage not now.
Hope you enjoy our chat with Mama Nandi. Please follow us on twitter @ndabenik, facebook Khanyiswa Ndabeni and Khanyiswa2 on Instagram
Soon you will read about Isidingo's new director Motlatsi Mafatshe as well as GP MaOrange aka Israel Matsekezulu both have confirmed to feature in this blog.
Till then hope you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year. Drive safe if you travelling anywhere. Till next time .
One of my biggest customer, the EFF has done exceptionally well in the sixth general elections. It garnered 10.79% with a growth of 6% from the last elections.
If you have been following the South African politics, you will know that this six year old kid made a dramatic entry in Parliament.
Often clad in red overalls and maids uniforms. It offers South Africans ideologies that encourage black people to celebrate black culture and embrace their African heritage.
These red ants sting has been felt by the current governing party.
Our former president, Jacob Zuma would have probably took the "pay back the money" as a joke if these former young lions of the African National Congress didn't stay consistent with their demands.
Who can forget the current land debate that saw the Freedom Front Plus move up the leader of the ballot paper to take the fourth spot on the list.
https://media3.picsearch.com/is?c00LmWyUeam_NRVn8h_hLMKtmbj58-nwa5SoS_-wWro&height=341
These elections painted a very gloomy picture about the African National Congress.
The ANC once loved Nelson Mandela party of 1994 was no longer representing the interest of its people, majority being black people.
Corruption, greed and arrogance are amongst other things have seen people loosing faith in it. Leaders such as the secretary general, Ace Magushule have been reported to have ran the Free State Province to the ground, yet he was voted as secretary general. I know it was a unity exercise amongst loyal Zuma supporters but the public cannot look beyond the recent published book about how far his dirty fingers had gone to vote for it, hoping businessman and former trade unionist and Nelson Mandela's umbrella man, Cyril Ramaphosa will turn things around.
How he will do this, we still don't know but the division was still felt just after the elections when ANC election campaign head, Fikile Mbalula with Magashule.
Anyway the generation of voters are now watching service deliveries in all parties.
The EFF headed by the former ANC youth League leader, Julius Malema came with a vibrant energy in parliament. Almost everyday fighters were visible on the streets. In Johannesburg alone, I have seen them help evicted families in court.They have become a political party that ordinary citizen feel it address their needs.
The leader, Malema often commands attention in his speech and everything that comes out of his mouth captures the attention of a black child.
The party leaders has made education something fashionable to a point that no one remembers Julius Malema was once a a drop out matric student and having failed woodwork at school. In one of the youtube videos he jokes about not being fit enough to run the country having failed woodwork alone. Today he is a farmer, a politician and I'm not sure what else.
What is also attractive about the brand is that it speaks to everyone in the black township except for the older generation of men. Maybe it is because the leaders had find it difficult to reason with the elders in the ANC and since others were raised by single mothers, they respect women. Infact, they said it in parliament that the first person to become president from the party will be a woman.
Parliament member, Makoti Khawula is that aunt of yours who always ask question like any other township aunt. Now will have more young people interested in parliament with the addition of the fees must fall protesters.
Its supporters are majority black, underprivileged, rejected and now trying to build on what they have by licking on the wounds left by the bad administration of the country over the past 25 years.
My start up business was also a test if the three South African parties do support small businesses. With them, it was so clear to the point our beads were worn at their 5th anniversary celebration in East London and at the Rand Easter Show recently.
I'm not sure what you as a reader think of this brand but you can share your views on my social media account:
Facebook: Khanyiswa Ndabeni
Twitter: @ndabenik
Instagram: Khanyiswa2
You Tube: Khanyi Ndabeni
Whatsapp: 076 360 7744 for orders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DZxI3SbxMw&t=34s
https://t.co/r2ZyaTbADy
(https://twitter.com/ndabenik/status/1126112035467681793?s=03)
