Church, Beaches are open.. Have a Merry one

Hellow everyone, ke summer boss mo South Africa.

This is the time where everyone who is still in the office gets irritated because e-mails communication comes back with an automatical seasonal greetings.

By this time, the receiver or the person whom the message is meant for is either on holiday or if you are a journalist in the newsroom your e-mail will be read next year and by then, the story will be long over. When I worked in the coast. I used to love this time of the season, I never took leave in December No! Not me, I was out there, writing about girls wearing bekinis at Kings Beach, fun things to do at Hobbie Beach or that exciting opening of the Summer season at Summerstrand Beach. I love December and all the fun stuff that comes with the festive season. Hence, when I received an invitation to attend King of Gomara's birthday party I really didn't hesitate.

The old man, the God father of many and government of the oldest township in South Africa was on another level this year. This whole past weekend was his weekend and as always, he had everyone. I mean the smallest child in Alexandra Township to the his age mates feel that ekse, die groot maan is baie groot. This year, his day kicked off at his centre, the Phuthaditjhaba Care of the Aged at 17th Avenue Alexandra. This is where, he has displayed and documented all his work through out the decades. Earning a recognition by the Sowetan, Old Mutual and SABC ONE as the community builder of the decade.

Through working with a local church, God Never Fails(GNF) headed by Bishop Nhlanhla David Nhlapo.

He has flown the grannies from the township to a four day stay in Cape Town where they also visited the famous Robben Island. While the primary school kids had their first experience of riding a helicopter.

An experience that was made possible by the church in partnership with the old man. Not to mention the houses build for the poor in the past 22 years GNF had been in the area working with Bab'Linda. So this past weekend, he pulled all the stops

Toyota SA was amongst the sponsors who came to donate goodies so that Bab'Linda who was now the father Christmas can distribute to the kids of the township.

For the three days, the grannies travelling from all corners of the township also recieved their food packs Together with Mc Donald

donated soccer balls and party packs for the kids. Both the pre- event and the main event were MCed by Alex FM and South African Traditional Music Achievements Awards (SATMA) nomineem Musa Mabika.

But the draw card was the East London cheifs, chief Salakuphatwa and wife Xolelwa, Chief Mtoto and Nobahle as well as Chief Mshweshwe who came in their traditinal regalia to celebrate with the man.

I remember when he invited my son and I to his party three years ago, I was surprised and shocked that at his age, 78 years he was still active and helping out with the grannies food distribution. According to him, her mother inspired him to start this after the burial of a local Gogo, Mashabalala in 1967. There is no way of telling an Alexandra Township story without roping or mentioning this man. Over the decades, the township has produced some of the finest who are served or serving the country on national level. Umbhaqanga king, Mahlathini and the Mahotela Queens had their taste of fame in this township. I remember back when I was a kid, Brenda Fassie and the Soul Brothers were said to be amongst the people who came to perform in Kwa Nobuhle Hostel and made it big then. Bab'Twala himself has rubbed shoulders with the likes of Operah Winfrey,Bill Clinton, King Zwelithini, Queen Elizabeth to mention just a few.

Home coming, a business milestone celebrated home in Port Elizabeth

AS most of our followers know, last week we-the Ndabeni Creative team- honored an invitation to dress this year's contestants of Mr and Miss Freshettee in Nelson Mandela University, Eastern Cape South Africa. How the SLK Group company and Mhimhi Connections came to know about us is another story for another day. But the director Mhimhi Mbondlela Mayolie's invitation was more of an instruction for us to come home. "Do business at home Khanyi. We looking for people like you, who are in Johannesburg but can exchange skills home while eating too. Come see your family and friends, we love you" those were some of her kind words during our first telephonic conversation. Of course, she knew my mother and maternal family of the Ndabeni clan who are all over the Eastern Cape. The trip came at a time when the company celebrated its first year of operating under a registered name, Ndabeni Creatives. Mhimhi Connection has been part of the organizing team of the annual university event, for the past four years. This year the organizers celebrated the life of German fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld. https://twitter.com/MadibazRadio/status/1122230781886308352?s=19 Mhimhi wanted the models to be accessorized with South African and Kenyan(Maasai and) and the modern wooden beads wear, these are the items we specialize with. The trip however, came with a huge challenge, 600 kilomtres away from Port Elizabeth and about seven hours away from Johannesburg. We experienced a breakdown. Yes we managed to get to Port Elizabeth and deliver on our promise but the car however left me with a lot of questions for both Toyota South Africa in terms of service and the road assistance function of my insurance company, Dial Direct. Yes, as per her instructions, we met almost everyone from the family. Our first stop was at my mother's grave to check on the tombstone and say few words to her. The family,the AmamPondo tribe was also thrilled to see us and were proud to see us promoting culture across all South African tribes. This, and the coverage of cultural topics among st some of the university students scored us a radio interview with the MG Connection, a show hosted by Eastern Cape based female pastor Ningi Dlamini from the Christian radio station, King Fisher FM. We were also fortunate to connect with friends from the second largest radio station in the country, uMhlobo Wenene Fm. Where we were once hosted on the award winning show, Khanya Gqiyazana by presenter, Lulu Haarmans (Christmas Day)and former journalist now author, Mafa Bavuma(youtube link of umhlobo wenene). As someone who has lost touch with the developments in the entertainment industry, but it was good to have a chat with(pic of the group) the newcomers and hip hop group based in Nelson Mandela Bay. Also amongst the judges of the event sponsored by Absa and Madibaz radio was Miss Sundowns. Not only did we have an opportunity to dress models, we were thrilled to meet up with some of the Njoli Rastafarians who are also in art and craft and showed them how to use the King's Beach Summerstrand Sunday market to showcase their work. On the business front, proud to announce that Africandrumbeat, a traditional dance group based in Port Elizabeth will be wearing our staff and our items will also be available at Blakes in Traduna Mall. https://youtu.be/OLfG_q3vC68 Please follow us on twitter: @ndabenik facebook: khanyiswa ndabeni Instagram: Khanyiswa2 Whatsapp for orders and bookings: 076 360 7744 You Tube: Khanyi Ndabeni https://youtu.be/OLfG_q3vC68 More pics from the trip