Witches bow down TCR has got love

Muli bwanji everybody and welcome to my blog this week. Ok, I know you wondering what the word Muli bwanji means hehehe.

Yha, nhe! If you don't mingle with the people from the other countries in the dark Continent of Africa...I guess you will never know. But luckily for you my wonderful and beautiful readers, your intellegent girl from South Africa has got your back. Yes, I mean the same girl who spent years in Alexandra Township and gooi a Tsotsi Taal daar n daar. Muli bwanji is saying hallo in Chichewa language.This language is spoken mostly in Malawi and a recognised minority in Zambia and Mozambique.

Now, you must be wondering, what does the South African girl, worse one who lives few killometres from the notorious Alexandra Township pics up Chichewa language. I don't blame you readers for your confusion. I mean, the whole world knows my country, especially the ones of my colour "black" in particular as Xenophobic and hate fellow africans. Well,to feed your curiocity.During the COVID19 shut down, with majority of churches shut down etc.

My boy and I had the previllage of spending time at the Tebarnacle Church for all Remanats. Down in the township of Cosmo City, Randburg.

The South African church that I attended in Sandton Johannesburg, Rivers Church was of course closed due to COVID19. During that time, the witches were not sleeping or closed.

They were also so after me and my boy, desperately wanting my property and almost everything I owe including my life. Two powers were at play, they wanted to prove that they were powerful and the The Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957 was useless.

There I was, saying over my dead body. My Jesus and God the creator of heaven and earth is more powerful than your magic. I mean, he divided the red sea so that Pharoah's men, chariots and army were drawned in the Red Sea. And, every knee does bow down to the name of Jesus, so bring it ON!.

So for the third time in my life, I was on another property and power battle. But, I had God by my son and he guided me to TRC amongst the many churches I visited during the lock down.

The people were so friendly, reminded me of the old South African Christian community that used to visit each other.

The lead pastor, Prophet Jonah is Malawian and my boy and I were invited to eat some of the Malawian dishes after church. We africans have many dishes in common i.e pap, casava leaves. I also learnt about the other different African dishes.

Also through wedding Mcing ( please watch the wedding video above) I learnt the Malawian traditional dance.

Like all women gathering, we were thrilled to hear the topics during the bridal shower. The does and donts in a marriage, Christian marriage to be specific. I met some beautiful sisters from across Africa

Please note some of the pics and videos were supplied by the church. Please follow me on X:@ndabenik Facebook: @Khanyiswa Ndabeni TikTok: @khanyikuhle Instagram:Khanyiswasa

Nappies and baby hampers done.Now its time to raise R8 million

Ndabeni Creatives donated these baby packets that will be sent to Hillbrow and  Spring Clinic

I have been wanting to do charity work for Ndabeni Creatives for a while now but always thought the company was still at its  infant stage  to take such task. Yes, Ndabeni Creatives has a long list of charity work that it want to do through the profits obtained from clients. Some of these are short term charity goals, others are long term goals such as building a school in Port St Johns and adopt K.K. Ncwane Primary School and become its financial sponsor forever. So of these charity projects, the  company will be assisting others  towards a certain goal of either an organisation, church or community.

Currently the  short term charity goal for  the company is  to buy 20 chess sets for a club in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth. The club is founded by a young men who now teach this  chess skill to youngsters from the previously disadvantaged background. Another project is to "adopt
 a child", through Nalusana, an organisation that identifies school going children from the township of Port Elizabeth whose parents cannot afford to buy them school uniforms and other basics for the year and the last  is to help raise R8million for Youth Alive Christian Youth Club in Dube Soweto.

Just the other day when I was looking at the company's finances and the work we want to do, I realized that it didn't make much money to do some of these projects now. Yet there was a great desire of wanting to do charity work now. Thanks to a former colleague, Qaanitah Hunter.  Together with a group of women are trying to  collect 200 baby packs for Hillbrow and Spring Clinic. In both these day care clinics, usually mothers give birth and have to leave after six hours. "They are often very poor and come without basics.The aim is to these bags to the duala/Midwife to hand out to the women as they give birth.We already have sponsored for the mothers with sanitary pads. We trying to make 200 baby packs," Mrs Hunter told me the other day.

As a person with strong Christian background, I understand the importance of charity work. I've read many articles about successful business that continued to give to charity and its leaders. This among  others include William Colgate the founder, the founder of Colgate-Polmalive company. My current church leader, Pst Andre Olivier from Rivers Church also encourages this type of giving. I also understand that if you truly love God the way you say you do, one needs to share his wealth with the less fortunate. In this way, I believe that I am not only recognizing the source of my income but also help God's kingdom outside church. 

I'm glad Mrs Hunter posted the message of need on her social media pages. In this way, I was able to also contribute a few bags for the babies. It was something that I can do now while I raise enough money for the companies charity projects. This was from the profits that Ndabeni Creatives has made from its inception. It is not much, but it is what I can afford now. I would really encourage you as a reader of this blog to also do the same. It does not need to be much, we all start somewhere even with giving. I hope this does not only touch you but encourage you do do something, no matter how small it is, it might be everything for the person whom you doing it for.

The story of an African themed Rosary

The first ever Rosary we made was inspired by a leader of my church group.

Soon after I left my previous job, I told everyone I knew I would be beading full time. While wooden and stone beads were my speciality at the time, but it became interested in exploring the skills to more traditional South African bead work. This was also motivated by our clients at the Johannesburg shop. Many would come wanting the traditional Zulu beads nesiXhosa.

When I told the group about my new career change, they gave me ideas of what I could do. The purses initially for the church, heels and my first ever Rosary. This request came from Saagar, a collector of Rosary. I didn't know he had a genuine interest then. I saw how appreciative he was when I delivered them to him. 

This is what he had to say about the African Rosary

Many cultures around the world have beads ingrained in them, however there is a deeper significance than just jewellery. The Rosary for example comes from the Catholic Church. Each bead in the rosary is meant for one prayer. The prayer is usually the "hail Mary" or the "Lord's prayer". A meditator would hold onto a bead and chant the prayer once then move onto the next bead and repeat the prayer. This goes on until all the beads are complete. A very similar practice is found in India for the Hare Krishna devotees. 

I've always been fascinated by the beauty of a Rosary and the Holiness it represents. I've been collecting them since childhood. I've always had the picture in my head of an African themed Rosary. Thanks to you, Ndabeni Creatives, you have managed to make this picture a reality. This to me is an amazing union and representation of my Indian and African roots combined with my love for God and the Christian faith. 

The love and support from friends keeps me going

Asanda and Mbali Kani at a wedding in Johannesburg. Asanda is wearing the Xhosa beaded scarf and blue and white necklace from us.

If  two of the world's most richest men, Bill Gates and Mark Elliot Zuckerberg were assisted by friends to build their wealth.

Then, I would like to believe that I am on the right path and have chosen friends carefully over the years in order to build my business empire.

The marketing of the beads business is strongly  driven by people whom I have known for years and those around me now.

From its inception back in 2015, this was  when my Zambian friend, Cynthia  and I used to buy time by creating simple patterns of wood necklaces, bracelets, earings to more complicated pieces that makes a dramatic entrance, to the ones that add that African thing to a classy outfit.

Not only did these people spread the word about what I and the team do. The moment I announced I was going to do this business full time and  showed them what I  and the team can do, they gave me ideas of how they would like their items. This breaking our traditional way of designing a piece.  It is these people that suggested the idea of partnering with local bead artists.

Amongst those that trusted us in the early days were former entertainment journalist at the Sunday Times, Gabi Mbele. Our very first dramatic net piece was worn by her at the BET awards earlier this year.

My connect group leader, Saagar Gokul planted the idea of making a Rosary then R branded purse by other members in my connect group. These were meant to be submitted to our resource centre at Rivers Church but stopped pursing the idea when I learnt they were other women already supplying and providing training in beadwork at church.

But I sold the R online and people asked for other alphabets, the shoes, t-shirts, takkies and hats were ideas mostly generated by friends. Through them, I met other strangers, one a Nigerian man who planted the idea of stone bracelets for men. I'm pleased to say we now make these message of piece bracelets for ladies too.

Friends from back home in Port Elizabeth were also very supportive of this new found hustle and constantly got messages of support from them.

Due to the friends I have  kept and the people I came across over the years, I survived the first difficult three months of an entrepreneur's life. With them on board, I would like to believe that I have built a solid foundation for this business to fly.  My  favourite saying  is "if it is not made in South Africa or Africa, then it is not us"

Communications Manager for VIMN Africa, Gabi Mbele at the BETAwards2018

Nelson Mandela University Media Mananger, Zandile Mbabela

The R purse was initially made for a presentation for resource centre  at Rivers Church and it is now a demand 

My connect group leader, Saagar Gokul, a collector of Rosary asked us to make him a beaded unisex Rosary.