Yes, ladies, when the doeks are on fleek! You better wrap it up like your momma taught you.
Wear your crown with pride, celebrate who you are and connect with other women who might hold your hand in times of trouble.
These are the messages behind Doek on Fleek, the annual women's gathering which seeks to empower women from all walks of life.
The third annual Doek on Fleek will be hosted at Moses Madiba Stadium in Durban this August with hit maker Busiswa billed to set the dance floor alight.
This is on South African based Women Movement, Doek on Fleek is a brain child of accountant and entrepreneur, Thandi Mavata.
Mavata the 36 year old mother of three is also known as Babes we Doek by the thousands of women who have made connections and life long friendships with other women at the events.
Mavata hails from Port Elizabeth and is now based in Johannesburg from where the event was born in 2016.
"We women go through a lot and there's a perspective out there that we pull each other down and dont support each other. In this event we also encourage women to speak to a stranger to release the burden they carry. It's not a church conference but we do begin each section with prayer," said Mavata.
Mavata says her journey has not been easy as she lost it all and suffered from clinical depression.
She hopes her soon to be released book #ThemakingofstrongWOMEN about how she overcome hurdles will help other women.
*Add details about the book*
She says she was inspired by her late entrepreneur grandmother.
*insert grandmothers quote here*
Doek on Fleek a trending hash tag on social media is this accountants childhood dream of making female empowerment a reality.
"It was meant to be a once off event but after seeing the beauty and interest for the event I decided to look into having it monthly. It's then when it became a passion project for me. I had always been a strong advocate for empowerment . It saddens me that in our society there's a notion that women do not want other women to succeed, and I felt compelled to dispel that by proving that women could indeed stand together and support one another."
The initial focus was to provide women from all walks of life with a platform where they could sell products as a means to provide themselves with financial liberation. And, if you have never been privileged to swaai a doek, lessons are on offer at these events.
Mavata has successfully hosted more than 80 events not only in South Africa’s nine provinces but has spread to Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland the event draws a crowd of up to 7000 people.
Doek on Fleek has "now become a powerful movement. In my quest to empower women I have found that there are many women that share my sentiments."
"I have also started to partner up with ladies who wish to host a Doek On Fleek events in their areas, where I come in and assist with capital and human resources and in this way they are guaranteed to have additional income without risking their own funds."
Here when a woman has her hair in a doek it is a way to show respect to those around her.
"So for me, Doek on Fleek was a way to say to women, let us stand together - all races and tribes - and wear our crowns [doeks] proudly while still showing one another respect. We went with doeks as opposed to African attire because we wanted something that could be inclusive of all women, not only African women."
Her goal is to unite the women of SA regardless of age, race or creed. But she doesn't compromise on men who are barred from these gatherings. It’s not an event but a lifestyle women especially those who need time off. We currently have over 100 000 ladies across the country growing the movement everyday.
Story and pictures supplied and adited by Dineo Matomela
"I even jog with him", giggled the community radio veteran as she reveals some of her secret to a healthy relationship.
You can hear from the tone of her voice and the sudden light on her face that love lives in the Goje house.
It was during my visit home, where this bubbly and powerful character invited me to her radio show,The MG connection.
The show on the Christian radio station, King Fisher FM, also profile up and coming entrepreneurs in and around Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa.
I couldn't help but notice her plus one, welcomed me and my tribe at reception and was keen to wait until his wife was done with the show.
"We really live each day as if it was our last. We've been doing this for the past 14 years, said the madly in love Mrs Goje.
Her facebook posts are often flooded with the pics of the couple out and about. A picture of a young couple enjoying a modern day marriage life.
If they are not seen walking hand in hand at Summerstarand Beach, Boardwalk Casino. These two love birds are billed to speak at church conferences in and around the Eastern Cape.
My husband and I are partners in everything we do. He is also my friend, what I post on facebook is the life I live with him everyday. We not perfect, but we know we both unique individuals that understand and love each other. We just want to make the most of our marriage and capture each moment.
But the ambassador of the health supplement brand, procydin admits she didn't really took care of her body not alone exercise before hubby came into the picture.
"Before I met him,I hardly exercise but now I jog with him every morning. I've also come to love movies because that's what he also love doing,' she said.
The senior pastor at the Potters House celebrated her 19th year in community radio this year. One of the things she enjoyed most about working at a community level is instantly reaching out to those who are in need. " I believe I'm running my own race. I'm in my lane here and I can do more" she said.
Mama Ningi as affectionately known by those who know her is also one of our very first customers when we started publicizing the business last year.
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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:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DZxI3SbxMw&t=34s
https://t.co/r2ZyaTbADy
(https://twitter.com/ndabenik/status/1126112035467681793?s=03)
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
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More pics from the trip
Keith Ngesi's honeyed and silvery voice was first heard on the isiXhosa radio station, uMhlobo Wenene FM, a year after South Africa's vibrant democracy was born. Back then, this young lad from Grahamstown Eastern Cape, South Africa, was clueless that one day, he would own and oversee the operations of his online radio station, Keith Ngesi Radio.
Keith Ngesi, a big dreamer from Eastern Cape, South Africa... All pictures and videos supplied by Keith Ngesi Radio
To date, the station based in East London, Eastern Cape, has more than 200 000 end listeners whom in the past invested their hard earned data and tune in. It also turned three years old the past weekend.
The station's humbling beginnings is started in Keith's bachelor flat.
Ngesi who also present the evening show, Matters on Going said in addition to locals, the station also boasted listeners as far as the United States of America, Australia, Ohio, France, Island, China, Middle East, We have a lot of listeners abroad. Some are South African ambassadors in these countries.
Keith and friends of the station celbrating its third year.
On social media, he speaks highly of his daughter
"The radio was born out of a prophecy from a South African prophet, Mangaliso Matshobane of Good News Community Church in the 2014. He5 was visiting our church at the time.
That sermon, was titled, are you the one, or should I look for another? When the prophet unpacked the message he said God wanted me in the communication sector. He said, I will do something different. Qouting him directly he said "Uzokwenza into engafaniyo nezinye. That message went straight to my heart and to my spirit. I came across the same message again in 2015 since I had recorded it and it resonated the same way it did when first heard it years ago," he said.
He started on South Africa's second largest station, uMhlobo Wenene producing a current affairs programme, Apha Naphaya
Keith admits, the loyal listeners put him and his team under a lot of us in a lot of presusure to deliver quality content.
Some were relying on them are originally from home and relying on us to give them content and up dates on what is happening right here at home.
"We had to get the extra help of expertise like doctors, lawyers, social workers, life coaches, businessman and woman to come give different content for our diverse listeners or society which we pride ourselves in.
"It is rare to have a media house that pride itself on the pillars of entertainment, current affairs, motivation, spirituality and technology all under one roof,".
Starting a radio station came with some level of material sacrifice as Keith did not have any funding back then. He had to downgrade to a bachelor flat and change his car to something less expensive.
In the early days of the station, he interviewed guests in his flat until he could afford to move out.
On its third birthday, the station released about 10 graduates from Walter Sisulu University, Damelin, Nelson Mandela University who were doing an internship program. Almost all of them were struggling to get the six months to a year internship in some of these big media houses based here in South Africa.
" As small as we are, we were proud to have been able to give them a chance to advance their skills and we are acknowledged by higher learning institutions. One of our milestone this year is that we have another branch that has just opened in Johannesburg and we are interlink with them.
Present to celebrate the third anniversary of the station were, former Dispatch editor, Sbu Ngalwa and award winning South African journalist, Siphe Macanda.
Listeners who have come to celebrate the station turning three
"Growing up in Fort Beaufort I learnt everything about life. The first 13 years of my life I learnt hardship, I learnt sharing, I learnt sacrifice.
The were days where we literary went to bed on empty stomach. There were days where we would be sent to bed hungry because my grandmother was saving the little left for us to eat the following morning. She would comfort us by saying supper is not important, what matters is breakfast because we were going to school. My cousin and I learnt a lot there. My mother was not working, only my aunt was and she often came to take my cousin for a holiday in Port Elizabeth and I would be left behind. To me those days were painful.
The line up
https://youtu.be/j33RO-Q9S-o
Proudly KNR
Keith's first taste of radio work started in 1995, interning for uMhlobo Wenene FM.
"How I got there was so strange, I can honestly say it was God's intervention. His hand played a role. I remember in my journalism class almost all of us were keen on working for the SABC but not all of us could accommodated. I mean that was the dream of any student based in the Eastern Cape at that time.
His lecture drew names all the names of the student and put them in a bowl. His name was one of the those lucky to work at the traditional isiXhosa radio station.
"When the internship ended, my boss then Fezile Mpunzi called me into his office. He was impressed with my work and was keen that I continue working for the station, however. They did not have money to pay me. But I took the offer anyway, doing field reporting, news reading and field reporting.
But part of the journalism sponsor agreement with the East Cape News Agency was that he had to go back and work for a community media house to exchange the skills he has learnt at the second biggest radio stations in the country.
"It was a way of getting us to plough back into our black townships by trading our skills with young upcoming talented broadcasters. Before I left the station, I recommended my friend, Luzuko Koti to do a current affairs programme, Apha Naphaya,"
Before going back to the same station, he trained students in the Eastern Cape and Free State. It is here that he met and developed a relationship with the likes of Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo, Lulama Matya. The station, called him again to come and work as a senior producer for the same current affairs programme but he was not paid for almost two years.
During the 3rd birthday celebration in East London
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT KEITH NGESI:
1.He was born Grahamstown 1974 and moved to Fort Beaufort, Nobanda village
2. Went to Nombulelo High School
3.Got an encounter with Christ in 1990
4. While a student at a boarding school he repaired shoes for students residing at the Themba dormitories
5. He once attempted to commit suicide after he failed his matric
6.Got a scholarship with East Cape News Agency in partnership with Rhodes University.
7. His married and loves his daughter
8. He loves local government and was once a communication's manager for Baffalo City
9. He was the brains behind formation of Mdantsane FM and some for Izwi Lethemba FM when they were launch.
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Wear your crown with pride, celebrate who you are and connect with other women who might hold your hand in times of trouble.
This is on South African based Women Movement, Doek on Fleek is a brain child of accountant and entrepreneur, Thandi Mavata.
Mavata the 36 year old mother of three is also known as Babes we Doek by the thousands of women who have made connections and life long friendships with other women at the events.
Mavata hails from Port Elizabeth and is now based in Johannesburg from where the event was born in 2016.
"We women go through a lot and there's a perspective out there that we pull each other down and dont support each other. In this event we also encourage women to speak to a stranger to release the burden they carry. It's not a church conference but we do begin each section with prayer," said Mavata.
Mavata says her journey has not been easy as she lost it all and suffered from clinical depression.
She hopes her soon to be released book #ThemakingofstrongWOMEN about how she overcome hurdles will help other women.
*Add details about the book*
She says she was inspired by her late entrepreneur grandmother.
*insert grandmothers quote here*
Doek on Fleek a trending hash tag on social media is this accountants childhood dream of making female empowerment a reality.
"It was meant to be a once off event but after seeing the beauty and interest for the event I decided to look into having it monthly. It's then when it became a passion project for me. I had always been a strong advocate for empowerment . It saddens me that in our society there's a notion that women do not want other women to succeed, and I felt compelled to dispel that by proving that women could indeed stand together and support one another."
The initial focus was to provide women from all walks of life with a platform where they could sell products as a means to provide themselves with financial liberation. And, if you have never been privileged to swaai a doek, lessons are on offer at these events.
Mavata has successfully hosted more than 80 events not only in South Africa’s nine provinces but has spread to Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland the event draws a crowd of up to 7000 people.
Doek on Fleek has "now become a powerful movement. In my quest to empower women I have found that there are many women that share my sentiments."
"I have also started to partner up with ladies who wish to host a Doek On Fleek events in their areas, where I come in and assist with capital and human resources and in this way they are guaranteed to have additional income without risking their own funds."
Here when a woman has her hair in a doek it is a way to show respect to those around her.
"So for me, Doek on Fleek was a way to say to women, let us stand together - all races and tribes - and wear our crowns [doeks] proudly while still showing one another respect. We went with doeks as opposed to African attire because we wanted something that could be inclusive of all women, not only African women."
Her goal is to unite the women of SA regardless of age, race or creed. But she doesn't compromise on men who are barred from these gatherings. It’s not an event but a lifestyle women especially those who need time off. We currently have over 100 000 ladies across the country growing the movement everyday.
Story and pictures supplied and adited by Dineo Matomela
