AFRICAN BEADS STORIES

What a beautiful festive season of 2018/19.

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I'm sure some of you across the world are now planning your yearly diary. You setting up goals for the next 12 months and you full of positive energy. Year 2018 hadn't been that good to you, you are so glad it is finally behind you and all the misfortune that happened within that twelve months.

Last year, I had the New Year, New me situation. This year, I'm growing in the new me of 2018

I hope you stick and practice every new thing you committed to be since the beginning of the year. Remember becoming you doesn't happen over night, its a process that you need to practice everyday until you are the better person you have hoped and wished for. I set that goal last year January, prayed and fasted for the rest of January. I wanted to be happy in life.

2019 I will stretch myself in doing more to improve on 2018's new me

My job had become a dark cage and was full of negativity energy. I didn't see myself growing and instead I was shrinking lower and lower instead of rising in my career as a journalist. I cried everyday when I had to go to work, the environment was toxic and it affected my health. I endured bullying from a female whom I reported to and no matter how hard I tried to push work at the end I burst out like any other human being would. I'm super excited that I'm not around that energy anymore. It feels so good to be around positive people all the time.

To the new Year 2019

Since I started the beads business and writing here and posting across all media platforms, twitter, facebook and instagram. I've had a huge support and reconnect with amongst other High School friends, childhood friends and new people who should be in my life right now. You know the kind that have a positive energy and not there to drain you, yes those kinds.

Off we go... Holiday Express train from Durban to Scottburg, North Coast

I was fortunate enough to end the year with three of those amazing female characters. One, Ncumisa Joko who has been my friend for over ten years now. Ncumisa and I met in my home province Eastern Cape and Port Elizabeth city and we clicked from word go. We've been through a lot. Our all female group, Friends for Life had lost and grew apart from some of its members. But Ncumi and I had never lost touch, in fact she is the one friend, I would call back home when my mother needed to be rushed to a hospital.We planned trips together as a group and Ncumi and I would be the only one still standing and want to get away. Others came with all sorts of excuses but we understood and we also understood that we need to have fun. I first trip to Durban in 2012 was a disaster but today we still laugh at the misfortunes of that weekend. We pat ourselves for doing it, testing my brand new Toyota Etios to the Zulu Kingdom land. Now before I continue with Durban, I thought lets pause a bit and I give you some background information on Friends for Life. I will include pics too from my facebook album.

A framed picture I received as a gift from the Friends for life group.
It was a collection of all our outings and special moments during the time I was in PE. From attending the Fifa World Cup 2010 tournament at a fan Park in St George's Park to girls night out at the Boardwalk Casino and Clubs around. Back then we didnt have cars and relied on Amaphela to get us home after a Karoake Sports bar. To keep the sisterhood spirit, we bought each other presents when it was our birthday and this is when I also learnt the biggest lesson, Money and friendship can walk some people make it seems it doesn't but it does. My moving to Johannesburg for my career change led to the end or rather the drifting apart of the group. Phumi still calls from time to time especially when I did something and it was on the news or any other progress. I've learnt earlier on that she doesn't like to share so much about herself and I accepted and left it like that. Nosi got married Ncumi, Phumeza and I attended her wedding, I was asked to speak about her at her wedding, it was tough but I did. Every now and then she would call me. Even the time I started my business she was amongst the first to congratulate me. Nono got a promotion as a nurse and moved to Bloemfontein.

my friend Nosie Mtila-Siwandla got married to Luvuyo Siwandla

Speaking as a friend at Nosi's wedding. I was lectured by the girls on what not to say. Of course we wanted people to see us as supportive friends telling them we did karoake till 3am at the Boardwalk was a No No topic for her big day.

When Nono moved to Bloemfontein Ncumi drove from PE and I from JHB at the time visited her spent a weekend in Bloemfontein with her.

Excuse the picture quality it was during the Black Berry days and you know ke iqunube nge pictures, we were probably going to the Boardwalk for a catch up here

One of my birthday present from the group after I bought my first house in Kwazakhele, Port Elizabeth Township.

COME BACK TO NOW, DURBAN, HOLIDAY 2018/2019 DESTINY'S CHILD HOLIDAY

Friends for life, my friend Ncumisa Joko and I on a Destiny's Child themed #Girlstrip

So when she called me up and offered this trip. I grabbed the opportunity , it was a well deserve break after the trauma I went through last year and I was going to milk every drop of happiness it brought.

As the year 2018 came to an end, we were pumpin' I'm survivor

I came up with the theme of celebrating my 90s all girls group, Destiny's Child. From the word go when we met at the City Lodge Hotel in uMhlanga, Durban the rules were, we are here to have fun. All the moods drama and unnecessary girl's fights were really not worth entertaining and I was glad Ncumisa introduced me to two wonderful ladies, Zandile Centane and Bulelwa Tonny-mthonana Skosana.

Independent Women

It seemed the memo was well received even when we had forgotten to press the sent button to all girls. We all had the same goal to have fun and Durban was the city to be. It is not called Banana City for nothing. Through #girlstrip I was able to see how big is Dj Tira's entertainment empire in Durban. We broke our new year at the Fact is Durban Rock Music festival. Dj Tira had booked some of the cream of South African entertainers to break the year. We also attended the famous hangout spot in Durban, eYadini. A lot that we learnt about the city of KwaZulu Natal and the people and culture.

Naughty were we, we asked a straight guy to take us this pic. Poor guy from Limpopo was battling to control himself. We were catering to him... Let me cater 2 U says the song.

Us Eyadini on the 30th December 2018... Imean "Ladies leave your men at home, the club is full of ballers and their pocket full of grown And you fellas leave your girl with her friends cause its 11;30 and the club is jumpin' jumpin'

We were fortunate enough to meet up with people who were eager to show us around and even went to the the most famous pub, eYadini. The Fact Durban Rock festival was proof that Durban is the entertainment capital of South Africa and Durban rumours are, no other artists regardless how big they are would do anything in Durban without pulling in Dj Tira. I'm not sure how true this is but hey, the guy is hugein Durban.Even water bottles were branded, talking about someone who can mark his territory. I mean, the guy performed in the early hours of the morning. He screamed Happy 2018 three times in 2019 yet I forgave him. Who was I anyway I was with the masses trying to watch him perform and he was on stage doing what he knows he can and being himself at the same time. I take off my hat for him cause the event had billed almost everyone who is the best on stage, I'm talking Dj Black Coffee, Aka, Busiswa, Nasty C, Babes Wodumo and Somizi on the main stage. The line up was so lit we couldn't keep up ourselves especially after we didn't sleep the previous day.

At the fact Durban Rocks New Year's Party

So with the theme of Destiny's Child in mind, we had fun. Celebrating being an independent woman, The writing is on the wall,Destiny fulfilled, Charlie's Angels, Destiny's Child, 8Days of Christmas

The Writing is on the wall... emmulating Latavia Roberson, LeToya Luckett, Micheal Williams, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland

With the videos available on the internet and with what we have we celebrated all the themes that the all girls group celebrated.

Bootylicious...We lookin' Sexy, lookin Fly.

From our body's, insecurities and independence and the celebrity status the girl's had we went all out to make sure that we represent the 90s Rn B group, thank God we could even take pictures next to the two Lamborghini's that were on display outside the Gateway Shopping Centre.

We had to live up to the celebrity status....the car I'm driving... All the ladies!!

Of course the GateWay Magazine Boot was what we needed, cover magazine right?. The group appeared in numerous magazines for winning many awards including the the Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards and many more.

Ncumi and I have been friends for ten years now

All the songs of the group were in our mind when we took pictures from bills bills, Nasty Girl, Bug A Boo, my favourite track survivor, Girl, Jumpin' Jumpin', Independent Women, Cater 2 U, Cater 2 U .

Kelly can you handle this? Beyonce can you handle this? Michelle can you handle this? I don't think you can handle this

With that in mind we were all over Durban recording all our moments and like any celebrity, we posted on our instagram, twitter, facebook account with the #Girlstrip and also crediting all the places and everything we used.

Kuthi Huuu!!!!

I think Samsung and Savannah should add me as their ambassador, all that free advertisement I gave them. In fact all the brands including the holiday destination, uMhlanga and Durban tourism . Some of the girl's discussion we had I posted the videos in my facebook page. Please follow me in all social media platforms.

Us eYadini dancing like we are crazy. The video is on my facebook account: Khanyiswa Ndabeni

But all in all we had the fun we wanted to have as girls. I mean the scenery was great we even went canoeing at uShaka Marine World and everything was, as my friend would say, Soooo relaxing. I really enjoyed the dress up that came with the trip.

Durban rocks

Durban had a lot to offer, like any other tourists we wanted to consume it all. All the fun, the scenery the beaches and the spicy food from Durban. Also I was introduced to the other side of Durban. The side that you do not often see on a three minute promo of the place in a TV commercial or a video.

By the time the trip ended, we were so exhausted ourselves from all that fun. We partied, played and spoke of men like always and yes we were kids ourselves for four days. But was it worth it? All hell yheah!! I could do that fun all over again with the same people. Credits to my girls for the fun

Ncumisa Ncusta

Zandi Mazet

Tonny Toni

Khanyi Ndabeni

Food is always delicious when shared with friends

Please if you enjoyed the review and would like me to write any travel review for your company, please e-mail me on khanyindabenik@gmail.com
Twitter: ndabenik
Facebook: khanyiswa Ndabeni
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I do not have a youtube channel yet but all my videos #EverydaywithKhanyi#iiNtsomi I post on facebook and I do live videos too.
https://www.facebook.com/khanyiswa.ndabeni.5/videos/10218068667607201/

The beads business will be operational mid January.
Also in this blog you will see more famous faces that we will talk to. I will be writing about the beads business too. Until next time. Chow

Veteran actress Mama Nandi Nyembe on female scars

Imbokodo

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
.

AFRICAN BEADS STORIES

Spot yourself if you were with us in 2018

Destiny's Child themed girls holiday

Veteran actress Mama Nandi Nyembe on female scars

Thank You Mama... Till we meet again Mam' Nondumiso Maphazi

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