With a remarkable 20-year track record in the entertainment industry, South African television presenter, radio personality, and businesswoman, Bonang Matheba, spoke with FORBES AFRICA in September, reflecting on the highlights of her career, such as founding Bonang Matheba Entertainment in 2017, producing award-winning documentaries, and becoming the first face of Revlon outside the United States in 2013.



“When I think back, [the pivotal moments] were meeting certain people or being part of certain moments or events or projects that have really pivoted my career and completely changed how I view things,” she says.



Even as her reality show B’dazzled by Bonang airs the final episode (of the season), Matheba says that building a brand is a never-ending strategy but one she has been fortunate to take in different directions.



“I usually do very well when I’m doing something I absolutely love, or I’ve aligned with things that love me back,” she explains. “It’s not just about me slapping my name on to something. I’m a bubbly girl, so I launched my own bubbly. I’m a shoe girl, so of course, I’ll have my own shoe collection with Steve Madden. I’m a big makeup person, so of course I’ll be working with L’Oreal and flying between Paris and South Africa.”



And through working on “the small big things as opposed to a lot of little things”, Matheba believes there is more opportunity for growth. Five years ago, Matheba launched her own luxury bever age brand, the House of BNG and its Brut and Brut Rosé Méthode Cap Classiques (MCCs).



In July this year, she launched the non-alcoholic version of BNG. Her inspiration?



Simple; listening to trends and “giving people what they want”.



Matheba says she worked for about three years listening to her consumers and researching non-alcoholic beverages. The market for this is big, as Statista reports that in the non-alcoholic drinks market, South Africa alone is expected to generate a revenue (in supermarkets and convenience stores) of over $4 billion in 2024.



“I think BNG for me has expanded [way more than] what I thought I could do as a businesswoman and entrepreneur; and also [to] kind of commercialize using my name, to generate a lot more income, and a different kind of approach to brand Bonang has been amazing.”



However, the buck does not stop there for ‘Queen B’ (as she is affectionately known by her fans). Matheba says she believes that she was put on this earth to serve. Be it by promoting the growth of other aspiring entrepreneurs or creatives or just by giving back, she notes the significance of her endeavors.



“I will always tell anybody that knows me or listens to brand Bonang or watches what I do that you should always be guided by your heart,” Matheba says, commenting on the work she also does as a global ambassador for Zero Malaria and with her foundation, “because you will never, ever fail; your gut and your heart are really your true lighthouse”.

Bonang Matheba

The Art Of Being South African and Brand Bonang

From Tems to Tyla, African music has had a great year thus far, especially for female artists across the continent. The success of artists like Ayra Starr or Fave has been one that Afropop queen, Yemi Alade, has inadvert- tently had a lot to do with.



“Sometimes I feel like there are no expectations of the female artist, that is the problem,” the Nigerian singer and song- writer tells FORBES AFRICA. “I think that all the expecta- tions are on male artists and none for females… For the guys, even when they don’t do their best, they are applauded, it’s a worldwide celebration. There isn’t much we can do about that, because whether we like it or not, it’s a man’s world. But guess what? Women created the world.”



Alade released her highly-anticipated sixth studio al- bum and tenth project overall, Rebel Queen (which also features five-time Grammy award-winning artist Angélique Kidjo) in July. The Grammy and Latin GRAMMY Award-winning artist says that this album signifies Alade’s “boundless, un- apologetic love” for her African heritage and her “commitment to charting her own path in the music industry”.



“It signifies a lot to me and my journey so far,” says Alade. “The one thing that I honestly wanted to do with this album was to go back to the music that I grew up listening to as a kid, when my parents took me to family parties. [I just wanted to make] nostalgic music, go back to the core of Afrobeats as I remember it. I wanted to give my take on that musically and my own rendition, as well as some of my experiences, my opinions, and just share that with the world.”



Known to the world for her feature on global icon Beyonce’s The Power, Alade was the first African female Afropop artist to hit over a hundred million views on YouTube and VEVO with her hit single Johnny, which is also one of the most- viewed music videos from Africa and among Afrobeats’ biggest songs of all time.



“I always tell my people [who are aspiring artists] is you need to be true to yourself if you have chosen to follow a dream. A dream is a big deal. A dream is what you see when you’re asleep. A dream is what no one else can see but you. It’s a physical and spiritual journey. If that is something that you truly want to chase in your real life, you must under- stand that it is not going to be easy, and it will come with its obstacles and hurdles. What’s important is that you maintain [your] vision.”

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‘Going Back To The Music I Grew Up Listening To’: The Afropop Rebel Queen With A Dream

As a multihyphenate, entertainer and entrepreneur, Nick Cannon joined the list of speakers for the Forbes Under 30 Africa Summit in Botswana in May. The American actor, rapper and television host, popularly known for his Wildstyle Battles on the comedic MTV-VH1 hit show Wild ‘n Out, spoke to FORBES AFRICA in the country’s capital Gaborone about how he is looking forward to contributing and being a part of the rapid rise of Africa’s creative economy.



Q. When we contrast the creative economy in the U.S. with that of Africa, there’s significant disparity. Given your extensive expe-rience in the industry and lessons learned, what message would you give the youth to further develop the sector in Africa?



A. To know that there are no limits. The world, [because of] technol-ogy, is truly at your fingertips. Something can go viral from Botswana just as quickly as something can go viral from New York City. And that’s true equality and equity right there. To know that the beauty of everything right now, from business to entertainment, is that it’s an even playing field. Because one, there’s so much more opportunity here in Africa, there are so many more people, there’s so much more energy, and then realizing that the world feeds off that. So, I truly believe this is the place everyone needs to be and should desire to be. 



Q. You’re a businessman and creative at the same time. Are you looking to invest in Africa?



A. Yeah truly, I mean, being here in itself is investing my time. But just to know what to invest in, and to know that there are so many opportunities. There are already some great conversations, there are some intricate business dealings [that] hopefully [get] turned into some true business. 



Q. What are your thoughts on Africa’s music scene?



A. There’s no real movement that’s as electric as the movement go-ing on here in the continent. Some of the biggest songs and biggest artists right now are from Africa. There are so many different styles, obviously, there are various countries that have their own vibes, their own flow, and to know that it’s all coming together, is actually really exciting.



Q. Are we going to see a collaboration of yours with African artists?



A. I hope so. I’ve actually done a few records that we are yet to put out; songs with some pretty high-profile people. But I’ve always struggled with even dedicating myself to being an artist because I like being behind-the-scenes of the music industry a little bit more than actually being in the front and it’s probably just my insecurities being a musical performer, but I’m excited about some of the things that I do have coming up.

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‘Excited About What I Have Coming Up With African Artists’

On a bright summer day in March in South Africa, Oleksandra Romantsova is at Vilakazi Street in Johannesburg’s sprawling Soweto township. She now has a connection with this historic street that has produced two Nobel Peace Prize laureates – Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.



In 2022, the Center for Civil Liberties, where she is Executive Director in Ukraine, also won the Nobel Peace Prize for its advocacy and work documenting war crimes as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.



Romantsova is wearing blue nail polish and a big smile, as she speaks about education, children, women and peace. The Sakhumzi restaurant where we are is vibrant with chatter, color, and South African culinary specialties, and Romantsova has a full view of the street, from one end to another, marveling at the houses where Tutu and Mandela lived.



She harks back to that emotional moment when she received news, on the phone, of the Nobel Peace Prize win in 2022.



“[When] they called, I was startled. After they told me, all my English left my head,” Romantsova laughs. “I think in the end, I cried.”



Romantsova started working at the Center for Civil Liberties in Kyiv, Ukraine, a decade ago. The human rights activist subsequently became Executive Director and is currently documenting the ongoing war. “I’ve been going to each village, to see how many people have been killed. I have seen torture and damaged schools and hospitals. I have seen the streets and nice places absolutely destroyed. That’s why often, when we speak about justice, nobody reacts normally. Nobody reacts enough to stop them. When you don’t have justice, evil always wins.”



Part of her work is traveling with her colleagues to expound on regional security, children’s rights, and nuclear security. The young democracy of South Africa intrigues her, as she sees how young people have become heavily involved with human rights justice.



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“Because we need a lot that needs to be built, and started earlier,” Romantsova explains. “We need children from school to know about their rights… democracy is not only what you can get, but democracy is also what you’re responsible for.”



The Center for Civil Liberties joins a coalition of Ukrainian human rights organizations whose aim is to bring to justice any and all perpetrators responsible for war crimes in Ukraine, and have reportedly registered more than 33,000 potential violations, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and genocide.



Part of Romantsova’s work is to also support women.



She says there are as many as 60,000 women on the frontline in Ukraine. The “Soviet Union tradition” dictated that women could not take up jobs as professional snipers, but could be translators, kitchen staff or medicine workers.



“Now that we have fought to have women [there], we have had to [overhaul] the whole system. For example, now volunteers support women by having [special bulletproof vests] for them because the one for men will not work for women.”



Romantsova sees South Africa’s freedom movement as a template for Ukraine.



“South Africa’s solidarity movement is something that is absolutely impressive,” she says. “It’s not only about the history of the freedom for Africans, but I see a lot of



reflection, and a lot of connection with topics for women’s rights, children’s rights and all our common responsibilities for working and organizing this as a common mechanism to support people. “The solidarity movement of South Africa is a great example for us and we really want to collaborate with this true human spirit, which is exactly what I feel during all my trips to South Africa.”

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The Road To the Nobel Peace Prize: From Kyiv To South Africa’s Vilakazi Street

Afrobeats took center stage in 2023’s global music scene.



Major award ceremonies, including the MTV Video Music Awards, introduced new categories recognizing the success of Afrobeats artists, notably elevating Adedamola ‘Fireboy DML’ Adefolahan. His collaboration with Jon Batiste and Jon Bellion further propelled him to the forefront.



In a festive December surprise, the 27-year-old artist dropped two singles on the same day: Obaa Sima (meaning a perfect woman in Twi, a variety of the Akan language spoken in southern and central Ghana) and Outside featuring Nigerian rapper Emeka ‘Blaqbonez’ Akumefule. Fireboy DML explains in an exclusive interview with FORBES AFRICA that the move was inspired by “the spirit of the season”.



Honored for his chart-topping single Peru, achieving Platinum status in the US. and two times’ Platinum in the UK with over 500 million streams, Fireboy DML also received accolades at the 2023 BRIT Awards and the 2023 BMI London Awards.



From his 2019 debut album Laughter, Tears, and Goosebumps to the recent Playboy, the English graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Southwestern Nigeria highlights the evolution of his music, expressing that “each album represents different phases of my life and experiences”.



Collaborating with diverse artists, including Madonna, Fireboy DML emphasizes the universal nature of music. “Music is freedom — the creative process is the same, and talent is talent,” he opines.



Proud of the global recognition that Afrobeats is receiving, Fireboy DML declares, “This is our time.”



Beyond music, his social media presence with over 5 million Instagram followers, where he displays his style, is influenced by a belief that “an artist should always look the part”. He attended notable shows at New York Fashion Week and envisions a deeper involvement in 2024, emphasizing the synergy between music and fashion.



Recounting a significant moment, he shares performing alongside Ed Sheeran for 90,000 people at the Wembley Stadium in London.



For eager fans, Fireboy DML announces: “I will be releasing my fourth studio album.”

66th GRAMMY AWARDS  Red carpet arrivals

A Year In The Life Of Fireboy DML

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&#8220;Much has been written about me…most of it is outright lies or half-truths. I have waited a long time to tell my story.”
</blockquote>



In her book, The Race to Be Myself, one of the biggest names in athletics not just in Africa but across the world, will tell the full story of the discrimination she has faced in her career. The quote above is from South Africa’s celebrated 32-year-old Olympic runner, Caster Semenya’s book, and she tells FORBES AFRICA the most important part of telling her story was being able to grow.



“Yes I have waited long to tell this story,” Semenya says. “For me, the most important thing was to grow to understand the principle of life, to understand myself and to know the person I am. [It was also about] discovering myself, to the extent that I understand myself better than anybody else.”



A two-time Olympic gold medallist and three-time World Athletics Championship gold medallist, born in Ga-Masehlong, a village near Polokwane in South Africa’s Limpopo province, Semenya not only tells the story of her rise to fame, but also with “conviction” spotlights the scrutiny of “not being woman enough”. Part of this narrative is looking at women in sport and how they are rarely placed under the same lens as their male counterparts. Semenya says she has been the “center of the debate around [the] newly-drawn line between gender and sport”, which continues today. 



In 2009, following her 800-meter win at the World Championships in Berlin, the questions regarding her gender began. In many reports, Semenya tells the story of how she had to undergo gender-verification tests. “What was humiliating was how they treated me,” she admits.



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“Not one of my competitors came to my defense of a fellow woman and runner, a teenager. Instead, they came with their knives. I would experience this again and again throughout my career.”
<cite>(Excerpt from The Race to Be Myself)</cite></blockquote>



In 2018, World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), introduced new regulations, requiring competing athletes with Difference in Sex Development (DSD) to lower testosterone. This could be done through contraceptive use or other medical intervention, but the athletes’ testosterone level had to be below 5 nmol/liter for a continuous period of at least six months in order to compete. Semenya felt as though this directive was personal.



She says: “People or leaders tend to focus on the wrong aspects&#8230; If women’s sport [is] so important, why can’t you allow a woman to decide what is right and what is wrong? It has always been about the unfairness in women’s sport. And that should be corrected. We need to focus on the positivity. We should focus more on celebrating women winning, conquering, but also women being extraordinary. But instead, when [women do] great, they are questioned if they are ‘women enough’. And it will continue if we as women don’t take a stand.”

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Caster Semenya: ‘Unfairness In Women’s Sport Should Be Corrected’

The last time Thuso Mbedu sat down with FORBES AFRICA for an interview, it was when the South African actor had made it on to the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list, class of 2018.



“A lot has happened since,” she says now, as we meet her at the offices of L’Oréal, situated north of Johannesburg in South Africa. “Because right after that, in 2019, I got the opportunity to go to the United States, I got my first show there. And then I’ve been there since 2019; working, learning, growing, wanting to experience everything and adjusting and figuring out life outside of South Africa. But also building towards that, which I’ve always wanted to achieve.”



Since her big move to the global stage, Mbedu has worked with award-winning Hollywood A-lister Viola Davis (The Woman King) and joined the cast of the animated series, Castlevania: Nocturne. Recently, the internationally-acclaimed actor was also appointed the first sub- Saharan Africa ambassador for beauty brand, L’Oréal Paris.



Looking back on her role as Winnie in the Is’thunzi TV series in 2016, which catapulted her to stardom and earned her two International Emmy Award nominations, Mbedu speaks about the beauty standards in the film and television industry.



“Growing up, one never saw oneself as beautiful – I could never have imagined that one day I would have the honor,” Mbedu says. “L’Oréal is a brand that stands for women’s empowerment, with a strong sense of diversity, sisterhood, and feminism… To find a brand that actively has gone out of their way to try forming relationships with people who look like me, and go so far as to pick an ambassador of my particular shade, means things are changing, and they’re changing for the better.”



Across the world, conversations regarding beauty standards and representation have become more prevalent in recent years. For Mbedu, part of being an ambassador for the global brand is unpacking these standards and looking forward to “being more educated” about them and as she concludes, “reminding people that regardless of who you are, regardless of where you come from; you are deserving of what the world has to offer”.

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The South African Game-Changer In Beauty

A week before the 2023 French Open, South African tennis ace and paralympian Kgothatso Montjane said on radio that she wanted to top her achievements with a Grand Slam win “to validate everything”.



“And then I went out to win the Grand Slam, it was just unbelievable!” she says now, back in South Africa at the end of June as a Roland Garros women&#8217;s wheelchair doubles champion with Yui Kamiji from Japan as the two clinched an impressive 6-2, 6-3 victory over Diede de Groot and Maria Moreno.



Speaking to FORBES AFRICA soon after her win, she reminisces that this was not the career she had originally envisioned for herself.



“I picked up a racket at the age of 19 for the first time,” says the 37-year-old. “At school, I was playing quite a lot of sport. So I think that&#8217;s the reason why [with] tennis, they came directly to me. They were like ‘you’ve got to go try this’. So I was somehow forced into it.”



The Limpopo-born tennis player remembers going to university not sure about wanting to continue the sport.



“At school, I felt like I was good at table tennis. So for me, that&#8217;s what I was looking forward to playing when I got to university, but it wasn&#8217;t there. Even wheelchair basketball, I think I would have settled for, but tennis, it was foreign to me. I have never seen it anywhere. And I just never understood this whole thing of them wanting me to play the sport.”



A few years later, she was approached to play professionally, which came with the opportunity to travel the world. At first, it seemed an attractive proposition but it was not without its challenges, especially when she had to start securing her own sponsorships.



“It was glamorous at the beginning, because there was someone taking care of everything,” Montjane explains. “We didn&#8217;t have to worry, we just had to pack our bags and go to the airport. I didn&#8217;t know the financial implications that were involved, the admin and the entering of tournaments.”



This meant that she had to learn to be business-savvy. So the young sportswoman set off to learn to draft proposals and approach sponsors across the board.



All of this is what led to Montjane’s illustrious career including being named ‘South Africa&#8217;s disabled sportswoman of the year’ three times (2005, 2011 and 2015), holding 29 singles titles and winning wheelchair tennis tournaments such as the Belgian Open and Swiss Open.



Montjane also made history as the first South African woman to win at Roland Garros since Tanya Harford’s and Rosalyn Fairbank&#8217;s victory in 1981.



“I still can&#8217;t believe it happened. When someone says ‘Grand Slam champion’, I am like ‘Nah, you are not talking to me’. It&#8217;s still to sink in,” she says. “I just want people to know that disability doesn&#8217;t mean inability. It&#8217;s just a condition that limits you in a certain way… At the end of the day, we people with disabilities – we are human, we are capable, we are talented.”

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‘Disability Does Not Mean Inability’: South Africa’s Wheelchair Tennis Champ

After a long and stressful but successful debut at Paris Fashion Week and becoming one of the few designers from Africa to do so, Aryea Kolubah is holidaying in Jamaica when she sits down for this Zoom interview with FORBES AFRICA.



Her eccentric and bold designs wowed the fashion stage in March, and you can tell that her “vibe” is inspired by her West African roots, which translates to bright ethnic prints and vibrant colors to create sartorial statements for the fearless and confident woman.



This is all done with very some specific messaging.



“I’m such a connoisseur of art but also I am such a connoisseur of the continent, and I take that show with me everywhere,” Kolubah says. “…Being from Africa, [there’s so much art that’s being stolen]… but yet still, we are fighting to find our place in the art and entertainment space. And I’m just so fortunate that I am at a pivotal time in my life where I can contribute to society’s demands.”



Although this was her debut on the Paris stage, this is not her first time taking the fashion industry by storm. Kolubah’s designs have already graced international platforms, including New York Fashion Week, Miami Swim week, San Francisco Fashion Week, Louisville Fashion Nite-Out, and Runway Liberia International.



Born in Liberia, but raised in the United States from 2005, Kolubah was influenced by her father, who instilled in her a thirst for knowledge, creative expression, a strong work ethic, and a determination to pursue her dreams.



“When I told my father that I wanted to be a designer, he was like ‘but you could be a doctor, you could be a lawyer, all of these things’. But when I told him I love art he got me my very first sewing machine.”



Unfortunately, Kolubah’s father was not able to see her first foray in global fashion as not long after she received her sewing machine, her father died in a tragic fire accident she says could have also taken her life. But she survived.



“My father passed away [because of] the fire in my apartment, [where we both were, but] by the grace of God, I’m here today… Fashion has to be in the therapeutic part of my life.



“The craft does come with ups and downs but I’ve always dreamed that this particular gift of mine would take me places,” Kolubah says. “Being African, and just being invited to that type of prestigious event like Paris to showcase my art…And just beyond that, the way in which the audience accepted it and everything else that has followed since… it’s a dream come true.”



She is grateful indeed.



“I represent a million Africans because there’s so much created from the continent and [people] who haven’t had the chance. But now that I do have the chance, if I were to give somebody advice, I would say just ‘go for it’!”

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From Liberia To The World: ‘A Connoisseur Of The Continent’

In 2018, Oluwatosin Ajibade, better known as Mr Eazi, made the FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 list. The journey to that began in 2016, when Ajibade took the world by storm with his Afrobeats hit single Leg Over.



Following his success as an artist, as a serial entrepreneur and founder of emPawa Africa (a talent incubator program that funds and mentors emerging African artists), Ajibade is back in South Africa. For this interview from his sun-sea-sand base in Cape Town, he talks about his business ventures and upcoming albums.



Q. What can fans expect from your forthcoming albums?



A. A lot of things changed since the last time [FORBES AFRICA] spoke to me [which was when I had just made the 30 Under 30 list]; things even changed for me musically. Part of it has been that I founded something known as Chop Life Ministries. I was tired of doing the same thing; I was bored of the routine, and needed a new challenge. So I went to spend more time working on my entrepreneurial activities… It was like Chop Life (which had a massive turnout in Rwanda and Sweden) is an African Tomorrowland (electronic dance music festival), you know, with me as host and MC. So this album, Chop Life Volume One, which for the first time is dropping on March 31, is like that whole spirit [of Tomorrowland]…



Q. A lot of young people who enter the music industry do not realize they need to understand the business side of things. How important is it to be business-savvy in the entertainment industry?



A. I think in fairness to most artists, they know they need to be savvy, or they want to be savvy, but it&#8217;s not an easy job mixing, you know, the creativity and the business because both are actually creative endeavors. And both take a toll on the mind. You must write this record and you must focus on writing these beautiful melodies and focus on representing yourself as a creative, as an artist, and as a superstar. But at the same time, you still have to be thinking about some emails, being on some Zoom calls and all of those things. But I feel my talent really is creating stuff. Whether it&#8217;s in the boardroom, or on the Zoom call, it’s business, it’s music. I was just born to create.



Q. What does the future of music in Africa look like?



A. I think the future for African music is very great. It continues to be a growing market. We see more artists breaking globally, undiluted, which gives more power to the creatives. By power I mean for them to have more freedom to create what they want to create, and then be in a better position to not just take any deal. Because I think it&#8217;s just amazing how 90% of African artists are still independent in some form or the other. So, I think it&#8217;s positive.

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‘I Was Just Born To Create’: Mr Eazi On The Future Of African Music

From soap operas to sipping (and selling) wine, Mbalenhle Mavimbela rose to popularity in South Africa in 2020 with streaming platform Showmax airing the telenovela, The Wife, based on Dudu Busani-Dube’s book series Hlomu the Wife. Mavimbela, who plays the lead as Hlomu, chats to FORBES AFRICA about how she was never prepared for the reception and fandom the show gave her, and also her role as a spirited entrepreneur off-screen:



Q. The Wife has been received well and has everyone hooked every Thursday. How has your own life changed since its inception?



A. This was literally my breakout role, also [in] just realizing that this role [brought] more of a healing process for South Africans, both men and women. It has changed my life but also clearly the lives of others too. And it’s just insane how I impacted so many people, people even older than me… When they see me, they remind me that ‘hey, you’re powerful, we see you, we love your vulnerability’. 



Q. From entertainment to business… You are also the founder and CEO of a South African wine brand, Moments. What made you venture into wine?



A. [When it came to] venturing into business… firstly, I just thought about how I could use the platform I have right now because I’ve always been business-minded; I’ve always loved business. Wine was the first drink I had when I started drinking alcohol. So it’s always been the drink of choice. But I have always had an idea at the back of my head, just waiting for me to start. I wasn’t overly obsessed with wine, but I just knew that I have to have my own wine. I wanted a story or something that everyone could relate to.



Q. If your younger self could see you now, what would she say? 



A. My younger self would say ‘this is only the beginning, Mbalenhle, I am proud that you trusted us to do what you are doing right now and I want you continue to show what greatness is through your life…’ [And If I could ever offer advice to anyone, it would be] that the little voice [in your head] that does not want you to start something, ignore that; what little voice that thinks you’re not good enough to succeed, quieten that voice and go for everything that this world has to offer.

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Something To Wine About: ‘I wasn’t overly obsessed with wine, but I just knew that I have to have my own’

Being the first of anything may always feel like an honor but there is a different sort of pressure that comes with that label. Just ask Nonkululeko Gobodo, who in 1987, became the first black female chartered accountant in South Africa.



“So, when I completed my studies, I was really protesting,” Gobodo tells FORBES AFRICA. “I was saying, no, I did this for myself, I don&#8217;t need all this attention. I&#8217;m a shy girl from the Transkei, please just leave me alone.”



But it was a journalist from the national public broadcaster SABC who allowed her to come to terms with all this attention and allowed her to “awaken” to her full potential.



“He told me that it&#8217;s not about me and that I am a role model to other women, to young children. And, and then I realized from that time that I have to succeed not just for myself, now I have to succeed for all these people who are now looking up to me,” Gobodo says.



From the racism and sexism that came from becoming a chartered accountant in the 1980s, to the myriad complexities that came with building one of the country’s biggest accounting firms, Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo, now known as SNG Grant Thornton, Gobodo now highlights all her trials, tribulations and triumphs in her new autobiography, Awakened … To My True Self.



“Being a black woman gave me purpose,” she explains. “I made it my life’s mission to prove to myself and others that there was nothing I could not do or be. There is a need to strive towards a more just and equitable society and the reality is that we are all different personality types and each one of us comes with our own traits and strengths. When we make an effort to understand each other instead of categorizing people into stereotypes we will see more collaboration and creativity in the world.”



Gobodo believes this story is long overdue as you get to know what the “cost of firsts is, the challenges of being a pioneer, finding one’s purpose and doing whatever it takes to bring it fruition”.



“Because I grew up in Mthatha, and at that time was sort of independent, and we didn&#8217;t have the [same] harsh conditions that the rest of South Africa had at the time,” Gobodo explains “so when I was growing up, I was very naive about this whole issue of racism, or sexism, or believing that I won&#8217;t be able to make it in life because I&#8217;m a black woman, it&#8217;s something that never occurred to me when I was growing up. Because my parents were in business, and my mother was an equal partner with my father in the business,” says Gobodo.



“The whole theme of the book is around my journey of ups and downs, making mistakes, dealing with my mental illness and how I overcame that. And, how I dealt with sexism and racism in my life by refusing to accept those people&#8217;s opinions around me.”



For Gobodo, when it comes to oppression, the main reason people are oppressed is because of lack of knowledge and a belief that they are bound by oppressive systems of the world, be it politics, economic systems, religion, or by other people who may seem to have more power.



“But my theme in the book is that black people and women have to awaken to who they truly are, because they are not defined by the myths that have been said about them in society.”



Gobodo featured on the cover of the August 2019 issue of FORBES AFRICA.

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The Trials And Triumphs Of Being A Pioneer In South Africa

AS AFRICA’S ENTERTAINMENT AND MEDIA industry continues to grow globally because of its projects and people, Mo Abudu is excited to see how far it goes.



“It’s about representation, isn’t it?” Abudu tells FORBES AFRICA. “Really, I want stories about me, for me, by me. It has been missing.”



Known to the world as a Nigerian media mogul, Abudu says: “The biggest challenge in our industry are the gatekeepers who continue to not give us the opportunities we need, and that we justifiably deserve; we deserve those opportunities&#8230;I am pleased about the work happening in media around the world, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.”



Combining her entrepreneurship skills and passion for storytelling, in 2013, Abudu founded the entertainment channel EbonyLifeTV. Currently, the station has about 30 shows under production. And although she jokes that projects can be in production “for forever”, she believes that more production companies should do what she has.



“The trick to getting there is being prepared and being ready. It’s about building those relationships; it’s going out to these industry events around the world. They’re not going to come and find you; you’re going to have to go out and find them.” Abudu says. “The highlight, for me, is always about making great shows. I’m always fascinated by the idea that I can wake up and I know that we’re working on a new production.”



She has been rated one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Global Television by The Hollywood Reporter.



However, the thing Abudu is most excited about is the future of African media.



“For the future of Africa, I’m most excited about the stories that we’re telling, the production values get better and better&#8230; I remember, growing up, the first black show I could relate to, that came out on television in those days was a show called Fame. It was about this dance academy in New York.



“And for a while I wanted to be a dancer because that was all I could relate to on television. Everything else that was on TV that portrayed a black person, they were either prostitutes or drug addicts or criminals. And we’ve been stereotyped into those roles over the years. And that isn’t our own. That’s not our only reality.”



Abudu has produced original Nigerian stories such as Netflix’s Blood Sisters, which in the first week of broadcast, garnered 11 million hours.



“We got into the top 10 in the UK, in the US, Germany, and a significant number of other countries. So we’re very proud of how well it traveled; it was dealing with universal themes, which people could buy into. The production value was great, the storytelling was great. It was a story people could relate to, and that’s where we’re at right now.”

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More and Mo African Storytelling: A Media Mogul’s TV Tales

AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE FIGHT FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS for the people of Cameroon is Cameroonian Maximilienne C. Ngo Mbe, recently honored with the prestigious 2022 Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Human Rights Award.



In an interview with FORBES AFRICA, Ngo Mbe speaks of her early motivation to take to defending human rights: “My father, being a teacher, saw his rights regularly besmirched and violated… He received a miserable salary and on top of that he had to wait months to receive it. What’s more, the working conditions were difficult. It is all this situation that pushed me to fight since my childhood for the respect of teachers’ rights.” Ngo Mbe, Executive Director of the Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (REDHAC), says receiving the award feels like a dream.



Since 2010, she has led REDHAC in its efforts to promote civic spaces and protect fundamental freedoms throughout Central Africa through investigations of human rights abuses, advocacy before regional human rights bodies, monitoring of democratic processes, and demanding state accountability. She was also named an International Woman of Courage in 2021 by the U.S. Department of State.



“The empowerment of women has always been of paramount importance in so far as their contribution to the management of the household is undeniable,” she says, sharing her thoughts on the importance of uplifting women on the continent. “Is it not women in rural and urban areas who make sure that daily meals are cooked and that children receive an education? If, for any number of reasons, the father of the family is unable to play his role fully, it is the woman who does so effectively. We have seen this during the crises that have shaken the world.”



With over 30 years of experience, Ngo Mbe is sure about her mission going forward.



“I know one thing – I am leading a legitimate and laudable fight for the defense, protection and promotion of human rights. Many people benefit from it in Cameroon and in the Central African sub-region. I receive threats, dirty tricks, but also awards. This is how my life goes and I assume it is a long-term struggle, at the same time exhausting, arduous and exhilarating. How far and when? Only God knows.



“In order to move forward in life, you have to look in the rear-view mirror. I realize that beyond the threats and blows that we take at REDHAC, from afar, we are seen, and we are appreciated.”

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‘Leading A Legitimate And Laudable Fight’ -Cameroonian Human Rights Activist

HE’S OUR MAN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. former FORBES AFRICA 30 Under 30 lister and South African photographer and creative director Trevor Stuurman is currently featuring his first solo exhibition outside of South Africa.



The collection of self-portraits, Trevor Stuurman: Life Through The Lens, opened in May at Doyle Wham, a contemporary African photography gallery in the UK.



“What I’m most looking forward to is entering a new market and having a different audience to my work. I’m quite comfortable with my digital audience but having an audience within a gallery space, and the opportunities that will bring – to just have my voice and my work living, having multiple lives outside of the digital space,” Stuurman says of this new personal show.



Hailing from Kimberley in South Africa’s Northern Cape province, Stuurman burst onto the scene after winning the ELLE Style Reporter Search award in 2012.



He has since photographed the likes of Barack Obama, Beyoncé, Teyana Taylor, Shanelle Nyasiase, Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Imaan Hammam.



But his favorite yet? Naomi Campbell.



“I think she’s such an icon and shooting her gave me so much more confidence. She’s someone who does not hold on. And she trusts. She didn’t want to go through the images, she just said ‘pick your favorite and let’s go’. That instilled a lot of trust in me, that someone like a supermodel and an icon like herself would have so much trust in someone like me. It marked a moment in time in my life as well,” says the happy lensman.



Rihanna would be a dream to photograph, he mulls. Yet another would be Trevor Noah, firstly, because they share a first name and are both South African. Stuurman loves how far Noah has come, how he breaks down an issue, whilst still giving his point of view. He’s unbiased and biased, he adds.



But Stuurman has never seen himself as art, despite being a muse to many. He asked unnecessary questions while shooting for the Doyle Wham exhibition.



“It was a good exercise of self-care and self-love. So I think it’s definitely a test of self-love. And a celebration of that as well,” says the distinctive creator and AFDA graduate.



Another solo exhibition, A Place Called Home, in Johannesburg, South Africa, is ongoing in partnership with art curator Botho Project Space, until June 19.



The more Stuurman leaves home, the more he realizes the power and currency home has, his website says.

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Meet The African Artist As The Muse Who Has Taken His Work International

IN MARCH, AFRICAN PHILANTHROPIST AND SOCIAL entrepreneur, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, and other world philanthropists came together to raise $1 billion to advance gender equality and women’s leadership. The organization, Co-Impact, launched The Gender Fund to bring significant resources into a grossly underfunded space and address “gendered systems” – the underlying norms, laws, practices, sanctions, and decision-making processes that lead to systematic barriers and persistent discrimination against women and girls.



According to the organization, “while funding for gender equality has been rising over the last decade, only 1% of that funding has reached women’s organizations”.



Masiyiwa spoke to FORBES AFRICA about the fund stating that what attracted her to the initiative is the big focus on women.



“I believe that the world is made a better place when there’s justice and inclusivity. In the world, everybody has the potential to thrive. So, the attraction was number one, the agenda that we are focusing on women and girls and empowering, encouraging them to go into places of leadership, encouraging them to use their voices, and exercise their power. So that really inspired me,” Masiyiwa says.



According to Co-Impact, this kind of fund aims to transform systems to be “more just and inclusive” so that at least 100 million people have better healthcare, quality education, and the opportunity to thrive – regardless of their gender, class, ethnicity, or race. The fund will support organizations across Africa, Asia and Latin America to advance their vision for change.



“And as an African, I said to myself,” Masiyiwa adds, “I may not have the kind of dollars that some of the partners are bringing in. But what’s important is if we’re going to have a seat at the table and have our voices heard, we have to also have skin in the game.”



Masiyiwa says her philanthropist spirit began at the same time her husband, Strive Masiyiwa, London-based Zimbabwean billionaire businessman and philanthropist, wanted to set up a mobile telephone company.



In the midst of this, Masiyiwa and her family were also going through some personal setbacks.



“During that time, we had the AIDS pandemic. And I saw a lot of my family members, neighbors, employees [impacted]. And combined with that, I think it got me to do some deep soul-searching and go on a spiritual journey, which landed the best way because I found that I could express my compassion and love and deal with the difficulties and the pain through helping others who are more vulnerable,” she says.



Besides Masiyiwa, other collaborators of the fund include Melinda French Gates and the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and Indian billionaire Roshni Nadar Malhotra, just to name a few.



In a press statement, Olivia Leland, Founder and CEO of Co-Impact, says the mission of the fund is to deliver on the ambition of a world where system and societies are just and inclusive.



“To make progress on gender equality, we need systemic change in the structures, laws, and policies and processes of government, in how markets function, and how social norms are shaped and enforced,” Leland says.



“We need change to happen at every level of society. And it starts with opening more doors for women to step into their power and craft policies that lift others up like them. This is our once in a generation chance to rebuild our systems to finally work for women and girls,” Melinda Gates added in the statement.



“Why gender fund?” Masiyiwa tells us.



“Because the need is so great. The need is now. The need is massive and to not do anything is doing a huge disservice to the next generation. So we owe it to the younger generation.”

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‘The Need Is So Great’:Tsitsi Masiyiwa On New Gender Fund

TRUE CRIME AS AN ENTERTAINMENT genre is relatively new to the South African market. And is picking up. Director David Enright left viewers at the edge of their seats



and begging for more when he released Showmax Original docuseries Devilsdorp in July.



The four-part series investigates the 11 Krugersdorp killings in South Africa between 2012 and 2016, separately known as The Appointment Murders and the Satanic Murders, and how they were all traced back to Cecilia Steyn and the Electus per Deus (Chosen by God) cult.



Enright says that his love for story-telling and a deep fascination with psychology is what led to the 18-month production of Devilsdorp.



“Because I have an interest in psychology, it took me down a journey of public participation, reality television, and documentary story-telling genres. To basically tell human stories and it’s something I really enjoy,” says Enright.



The production of this gripping and mind-boggling story of the Krugersdorp murders took extensive research and development which Enright emphasizes was a team effort.



“We wanted to tell this story because it highlighted an important conversation that needs to be had in communities,” Enright says. “&#8230;Because this could happen to anyone.”



The story was mainly told from the perspective of the victims’ families as well as looking at how the media covered those stories between 2012 and 2016.



However, Enright tells FORBES AFRICA that there was a discussion about including the narrative of the accused including Steyn herself.



“She actually did contact me during production,” Enright says. “However, as a production, the evaluation was so that what they were able to say was pretty much said during the court case. What they were going to add to the documentary series, as the accused, was basically said in the court case.”



Devilsdorp broke Showmax records; setting a new record for the most hours watched in its first four days of launch of any film or series ever on Showmax.



The series outperformed even big shows like Game of Thrones, The Real Housewives of Durban and The River.

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A REAL CRIME SERIES BREAKING REEL RECORDS

IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN entertainment scene, the term JIVA is not foreign to you. Netflix has now marked South African dance on the map with this new original five-part series. FORBES AFRICA spoke to the stars of the show, Noxolo Dlamini and Candice Modiselle, a day before its release.



South African actor and dancer Dlamini, who plays Ntombi in JIVA, is ecstatic about her breakthrough lead role, not only from a personal perspective but also from the lens of highlighting how “deeply rooted” the South African dance scene is.



“I am hoping audiences will take away that we are more alike than we seem but more importantly, highlight how big the dance culture is in South Africa,” Dlamini says. “And also how seriously we take it.”



South African BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing professional, Oti Mabuse, took to Instagram to celebrate the release of the new series, also commenting on how the show touches on the importance of South African dance.



“How they use our homegrown dance styles and [how] they’ve managed to capture how we see South Africa,” she posted.



“The riots, taxis, street markets, the difference between living in the township, city, and the countryside and all inspired by dance or through dancers’ eyes!”



Dlamini and Modiselle hope that this will educate people in understanding and respecting traditional artists not only in South Africa but in Africa as a whole.



“The world needs to realize what work we can bring on an international level,” says Dlamini.



“The [world needs to know the] fact that we have seen Africa as a whole being documented from a very Eurocentric and Western lens and perspective in a way that does not do justice to the authenticity of who Africa is,” Modiselle adds.



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Jiva feature

Showcasing South Africa’s Homegrown Dance Culture

FOR ME, CHALLENGES ARE LIKE THE work itself,” says 28-year-old Nigerian recording producer, songwriter, and artist, Ayoola Oladapo Agboola. “So I don’t really see them as challenges, I just ask myself ‘ok what’s next?’So, when I have situations where things are a little bit complicated or complex, I always find my way around it.”



The Lagos-born artist, also known as KDDO or Kiddominant, recently made headlines with his new single Beamer Body, featuring Davido.



The release of this new banger became highly anticipated after the success of his recent and critically acclaimed hit, eWallet, which featured South African artist, Cassper Nyovest.



“I had already started working on the single back in Los Angeles. Davido and I were playing music back at the hotel in Vegas, then the beat came on and we were all just vibing. David really liked it, he got mad hyped about it and added a verse on the spot,” Agboola says.



In a Zoom interview with FORBES AFRICA, Agboola speaks about some of the highlights in his career including when he became the first platinum selling Nigerian record producer to be certified by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA). Further, also celebrating the fact that he produced Afrobeats’ longestcharting billboard single Fall by Davido. Agboola also spoke about his new business venture; he says he has just signed an equity deal with Nigerian beer brand, Star Beer USA. 



The record producer will officially serve as the Creative Director for the US.



“I’m on a mission to let the world experience Africa not only through my music but the whole culture from fashion to food to our art and designs.” 



Along the way, he wants to ensure he inspires young Africans to pursue their passion.



“I do feel like our leaders in Africa are almost not there. The talent we have are really the flag-bearers: from sports to music, to arts, to fashion and to even food.



“This generation, especially, we’re doing amazingly well. And it’s very important that the world focuses on us as talent because we are the ones that are just waving the flag for the continent right now. I think it’s gonna be like that for a long time,” Agboola says.

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Nigerian Hitmaker on Afrobeats, Davido, and Beer

“I’m a fighter. I’m the kind of person that for better or worse runs towards a problem and tries to solve it even if it’s in a burning house.”



These powerful words come from 31-year-old Somalian-Canadian activist, Ilwad Elman, who spoke at the 6th FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit on March 8. The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize nominee spoke about her natural instinct to invoke change.



The daughter of entrepreneur and peace activist Elman Ali Ahmed and social activist Fartuun Adan, Elaman says once the Somalian war broke in the 1990s, her parents had to make the difficult decision to split up. Adan took Elman and her sisters to Canada where they were refugees, and Ahmed stayed in Somalia fighting for peace.



“My father was killed in pursuit of peace,” Elman said. “But his slogan ‘drop the gun, pick up the pen’ can still be seen marked on the streets of Mogadishu 25 years after his death.”



And this has inspired Elman all her life.



At the age of 20, she co-founded Somalia’s first rape crisis center. Since then, she has become a champion for peace and security giving all those impacted by conflict — particularly women and girls — a seat at the table. Through her organization, the Elman Peace Centre in Mogadishu, Elman has created a methodology for community-based peace-building in contexts of ongoing conflict that is now being exported to conflicts across Africa.



“So if you want to change the world, you need to first know and search within yourself with deep humility, zero egos, and profound clarity,” Elman said.



Also proposed this year as a Nobel Peace Prize nominee is Hajer Sharief, a Libyan peace and human rights activist. She co-leads the work of the Together We Build It&nbsp;(TWBI)&nbsp;organization in Libya. In 2011, and at the age of 19, she co-founded TWBI to build peace in Libya and promote human rights. One of UN Women&#8217;s 12 Champions on Women, Peace and Security and Human Rights, she is a member of the Extremely Together young leaders, an initiative by Kofi Annan and the Kofi Annan Foundation, and in 2020, was named by FORBES AFRICA as one Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women along with Elman.



– Watch the full video of Ilwad Elman’s talk at the 2021 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Leading Women Summit here



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Category: Frontrunner