Author and Poet, N.B.O.Sengasu, is in the leading line of being the voice for social and economic justicein Tanzania,his homeland,and for Africa,his continent.
The word warrior is a patriot and strong believer of mental emancipation for Africans from the womb of poverty.He stands up strong in his stance of mental liberation with, no war,no corruption, no tribalism, no political differences or hypocrisy.He missions towards eradicating waves of betrayal amongst fellow leaders will wipe away famine on the treasured continent of Africa and crowning us with prospects of to be a Wealthier, Healthier and Happier and Sound Africa.
NURUDINI BAKARI OMARI AKA N.b.o.Sengasu was born in a small village (Goha, ward Mazinde, district Korogwe on 28 February 1998.
%CODE1%
He schooled in Arusha from 2016-2018 and was then selected to tertiary education at Sokoine University Of Agriculture (SUA) in Bachelor of Tourism Management (BTM).
Meet Tanzania’s Warrior of Words #CreatePreneurAfrica N.b.o.Sengasu
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
This is the ‘safari’ of my life, made by challenges and difficulties that determined my future.
From younger days to being a teenager different feelings confused my life….like dreams of being a pilot, when I saw an airplane for the first time……being a driver, because it was the profession of my uncle ….being big farmer and pastoralists like my parents ……..and then more to have more wives, like my grandfather.
But these passed like a shadow in my eyes like dreams of Collins African Youth (Birds) melted by either economic, social, environmental or a political system of where they live.
Families raise kids according to what they envision will be the future of their sons and daughters. With an uncountable number of challenges in my life of education, I never gave up. I believed in working hard to reach my dreams. I thought education only could make my life but only imagination and stories remain in my mind.
I had a passion to bring honor at home for eliminating poverty I will reach my passion of being the hero in my family , nation,and Africa as whole…… hence there is where my real choice in life came to join fellow Patriots Africans (African Birds Singing) for the same song in action (African Songs) to reach development,
%CODE2%
African Birds is many with different colors, birds with black color, white, black, and red are all found, for these unique homogeneous and heterogeneous characters.
African Birds naturally come up with different songs as they seem in the book “Africa Birds Sing, African Songs” songs were sung with different melodies and messages to the whole generation. There might be singer birds who mean by singing with other birds with a common goal or only singing as hypocrites …..or whatever but , because they sing I should join them with new idea from the heart…. prepared to show them the right way of singing nicely, good songs with message and melody to use and resemble our content of singing.
Hence like me like all other African Birds Singing looking for development through different songs. I used to support singers but Stick-on “Mental Liberation” to the other birds in Africa, especially those singing wrongly by whatever force drives them but to the contrary, with our theme to liberate Africa from the womb of poverty to reach DEVELOPMENT. That is all about my beliefs, dreams, passion, and spirit of my life, just as a system made by many things as I become matured enough not because I have been born with it …..no…….one day I could give up by challenges and get fed up and comfort myself with defensive mechanism like a rabbit …….. those were the same childish dreams of being pilot, to buy ship, to be rich, to have many wives, to own the world, to have my own country Africa and starts Gorilla fighting again against colonialists host with elements and foreigners for Africa Independence, not a single Nation.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
My passion is my life, the journey of my life since birth to the maturity is how I recognized the right passion of my life, hence experience made me have a choice from my dark period to the age I started to be aware and conscious.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
I hope my passion appeal to me the most because of being in great seek and thirst for changes in myself, my country, and my family Africa to reach the goal of African DEVELOPMENT.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
Making money is among of the agenda in my movement of Africa liberation, the development we need is to improve life welfare, poverty is my enemy with a long history with me, my country and my family Africa.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
Most of the time I used to give free services to people in need through consciousness and message of my poems in believing that with my strength, a spirit of hardworking and helpful heart, that one day benefits me as an impact not because I was making a business of writing.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
Though is very challenging but many things encourage me in this movement,the movements of former Philosophers,Patriots and Men of action , not only Africans but those who did things for majority and tried to change their society and the world positively in their level best like The Late Mwalimu J.K.Nyerere,Mu AmarGadafe,Nelson Mandela,Fidel Castro,Che Gu Guevara,and Karl Marx , Through these people I learned to believe in success, not failure, with whatever reasons but to leave legacy to the generation.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
The success of other people belongs to the same life as me, people who had a very hard life but fight to success and today they have Big names, why not me? Yes, I can do it too …..I can be, either an Artist, Businessmen or whoever achieved their life with struggle l should learn from them. It tells me is possible to move from zero to hero, from sand dune to mountain.
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
I advise people to have the mind and tradition of believes that everything is possible in this world if you have a passion for it, and you really want it. And the wise way to doubt and fundamental criticism should be for the sake of making the best things not discouragement. Criticize and show the right way to do the best, this is helpful to get better people who make the best things in society.
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
For those who look at me, they should learn to be their best , even more than me because I know still weakness in me and my work, all should know that everything is possible. Whatever the issue is that you have on your own mission, strategize on your plans and missions…….never give up, just cooperate with others, ask for help from others. Let them advise you, but not decide for you, because people’s feelings will never be the same.
Screenwriter,content developer and producer,Nena Tenacity has embraced a career in the creative sectors spanning over a decade and a half from humble early day beginnings to becoming 'The Çreator' _ a key content producer.
Her key interest is content and quality with information that expands knowledge and growth.
Initially, her inception into the film and television industry was on admin and crew tasks including the local ‘most watched’ South African soapie “Generations” , where she served as the director’s assistant
Thereafter several roles followed on various productions as a production continuity supervisor.
Eventually, she became involved in research and proposal writing for television producers submitting educational programmes for broadcast content including ‘People of The South’, a series that was hosted by Dali Tambo, a talk show celebrating key icons in South Africa.
%CODE1%
Involved in multiple productions in key roles, eventually, her ongoing work reached fruition in 2008 when she produced a documentary “Dreaming the new” as well as a pilot on Madagascar on a completed 13-part docudrama series on tourism in the SADC region titled “Freeway Tours”.
Mam Dorothy Masuku, forever and always ,advisor, guide and role model
SEDIBA 2005 NFVF
Her first feature film “Stix and Stones”, a feature social commentary film exploring the cycles of violence and poverty delving into her personal life realms was developed through National film and video foundation SEDIBA initiative, headed by the acclaimed screenwriting executive and mentor, Alby James. The rights were optioned by a South African production company Ochre Media.
The rights to the film eventually reverted back to her when the production company that held rights changed management and operational structure.
Her independent short film streams like ‘Struggles Continue’; ‘Breaking the chains’ and ‘Strike a Dice’ received development funds during the initiation of the National Film and Video Foundation that was established in South Africa with a mission towards growth and development in the film and television industry.
This was her tool to launch her career forward in the development of several concepts including a series title ‘Let our voices be heard’films from women’s perspective.
She was on board of a development team for a series called ‘A true state of affairs that was a series reflecting migration issues in South Africa and raised xenophobia and other related issues.
Currently, she is on a mission to promote a new feature film Úshujaa” : Mtoto wa kiroho kurudisha ulimwengu wetu #WARRIOR *spirit child taking back our earth, a language revolution film portraying
KISWAHILI is a liberating and uniting language across tribes and ethnicity. A Pan-African cause for our SOLIDARITY to wipe away colonial supremacy of language Sipho Mushwana
When a new spirit child is born with the ultimate Pan-African cause into an era of awakening, there is a calling to crumble the case and essence of the dominant based engraved world system...the English Language!
Her various role included a head researcher on ‘Wordart’ a series by Griffin Films celebrating South African writers and as a writer for Interrogation room a television series by Fremantle media.
Her other writing work included 15-minute films for Karlan Communications titled “Very Fast and not so furious “, a series reflecting film from the perspective of women
1.Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
My passion…My passion is an outlet of expression, primarily through the tool of language and words
2. How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I can’t remember the exact age, but I always remember my key interest in writing and journaling continuously
3.What about your passion appeals to you the most?
I always thought of it as a regular everyday activity, like eating, drinking and sleeping. It is only in very recent years that I realised the power of words. A life skill of proportional weight
4.What drove you to make money from your passions?
When I learnt it was possible to get an income for spending your precious time in mind spaces that you prefer to.
5.When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
Tough one to answer! I guess payment was always there generally when people around you needed help with wording something or the other or preparing presentations, you would get rewarded in some way or the other. Actual money, my first memory is getting funded by the National Film and Video Foundation for developing my first short film ‘Let our voices be heard’, a short film speaking out against the exploitation and abuse of women.
6.What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
My self-will to battle against the odds and face trials and tribulations in the best manner I could. Other than those initiatives in the industry life the film foundation and many people including Alby James, Clarence Hamilton, Thandi Brewer, Julie Hall and a range of other key players in my personal and professional outlets
Akin Omotoso and Hakeem Kae Kazim, also played key role models in my stance to keep at it.
7.What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
I live by the motto of all and anything you want and desire is possible
8.What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
Keep doubting. My precious time is not there to cater for counselling your ‘doubt’ condition
9.What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
All I can say is there will be falls, sometimes harder than others, but persist, keep the vision and endure being what you want to be. Nobody has to conform to fit within social expectations. Rise above and rise high.
All the way from Mang'ula village, Kilombero in the heart of Morogoro, Tanzania, Kenny Sultan Mleke's ("The Barefoot Boy") purpose driven life was initiated when he authored 'The Plight of my life'. Being diagnosed with the chronic and incurable condition of juvenile diabetes (diabetes, type one) at tender life stages when he turned ten years old,he shares his life pathways towards the calling of upliftment and healing in the midst of poverty, confusion, pain and suffering
“Kenny’s life journey in a tumultuous pathway of ongoing trials and tribulations was soul directed in a driven journey ahead overcome challenges in pursuit of full research to overcome the bountiful complications of life”
%CODE1%
Kenny’s next life calling was the return to his mother’s homeland, in the historical gem of Bagamoyo, a town on the outskirts in a collective montage of economic, political with visual historical relics.
He founded BACCA-Bagamoyo Children Carers Association and authored his next treasure ‘The Great Image of Bagamoyo town and Tanzania
20% of the sales of his books go to Bagamoyo Children Carers Association and Mang’ula charities
‘Bagamoyo ‘WHERE_I_LAY_DOWN_MY-HEART’ series ‘The Plight of my Life by Kenny Sultan Mleke#BAGAMOYO _ ‘WHERE_I_LAY-DOWN_MY_HEART’ SERIES BY Kenny Sultan Mleke
#CreatePreNeurAfrica – Writer Kenny Sultans life purpose calling in a town Bagamoyo ‘Where I lay down my heart’
1. Tell us what drives you? What is your passion?
Writing and giving to the need is my passion.
2. How old were you when you realised your passion?
Since I was a little boy of 10 years old, I had a dream to become a story writer, unfortunately, I wouldn’t have even understood how it could be possible. Then my passion for writing convinced me to give it try.
I started writing my first book. “The Barefoot Boy and gift of shoes and second book. ” The plight of my life and now, ” The great Image of Bagamoyo town and Tanzania”
3. What about your passion appeals to you the most?
Writing a story
4.What drove you to make money from your passion?
To be honest with you I wanted to be happy and satisfied with what I do and natural I thought to sell my passion but I don’t expect much. Only thing I do enjoy doing what I am doing.
5. When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
I started to sell my books from last year.
6. What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
I knew the road of my dreams isn’t always easy to navigate, sometimes clotted with mountains to climb, obstacles to overcome, and hard, mind-numbing times that will make me feel like quitting. None has ever been said anything worth having does come easily and So I didn’t turn back around and I like what George Herbert said; don’t wait the time will never be just right start where you stand , and work with whatever tools you have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along.
7 What motivates you every day to even more successful?
Not to give up for everything.
8. What do you have to all of the people who doubted you?
To prove they are wrong by doing what I think I can do.
9. What advice do you give to aspiring creative is who look up to you?
Never believe anyone who is trying to tell you that things couldn’t be done “You can’t be done”, “You can’t do this”
It is all because they don’t know any better.
Nokuthula Mbongo, 'Thuli Da Poetess'is inspired by boundless beauty, living nature, and everyday people realities,rooted in spirituality and sparkled by a soul passion for creating aspiring worlds that ignite imagination into the beyond.....
Memories flash back to early days when her performance poetry ventures were seeded in the Vaal, an area straddling the Vaal river and fondly recognised as Gauteng’s urban heart .
When the teacher left the classroom, Thuli performed her poetry for classmates and soon , the local library became flooded with worded sounds flowing through the voice channels of ‘Thuli Da Poetess’.
“Writing exposed me to different languages as writing was a language on its own”
I mainly use English, but other African languages like Tswana and Swati as well and wish to use more. Sipho Mushwana, from the story development team on a groundbreaking feature film in development on the African Continent, #LANGUAGE REVOLUTION #SHUJAA _ KIROHO MTOTO ( spirit child taking back our Earth) following a language revolution, introduced me to a pertinent language on our continent, Kiswahili.
With my storytelling I wish to always influence the good.
“African languages as they tap into spirit or soul on earth .
We awaken the fallen creators.
We connect to them .
We give life to the lifeless.” Thuli Da Poetess
Vaal Triangle, Gauteng, South Africa
Based in Sebokeng, Zone 7, she encountered word rhythms with another poet called Touric. They created a group of four to explore events in the regional districts of Zone7 and Zone 12. The group eventually did split as time went by and life progressed in separated destined paths.
My pen was my sword healer and helper Thuli Da Poetess
Following regular performances at the Evaton church, by 2017, a special invitation called Thuli DaPoetes to perform at Lekoa FM, a local radio station. Performances were ongoing and she planted a thirst for her words.
Later that year she performed Braam Fischer after moving to Soweto. She met Soul Gondwana, and featured in two tracks and completed a recording of two memorable songs that were feathered with poetic sounds from ‘Thuli da Poetess’
Meet #CreatePreneurAfrica , South Africa’s Rhythmic flow bringing out the words -Thuli Da Poetess
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
What drives me are life challenges which I learn from …my family and love for creativity. Writing and using my hand is my passion.
Writing and language are eternal friends that cannot be seperated. My writing was my healing in the voiceless of time where I was seemingly a passenger at the back seat of my life and was transitioning from a child to a teenager …very curious ,very vulnerable
I don’t only write but style locks and can do more when given an opportunity and resources
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I was 17 when I found my passion then started performing in 2014 .
I started writing a diary. From there it developed into poetry …I was very shy and quiet so my pen gave me that voice and was my friend.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
What appeals to me the most about my passion is the creative part of it …relating to people and influencing their mindsets. Putting myself in people’s shoes. Living many lives I never lived creating a world of imagination
What drove you to make money from your passions?
What drove me to make money from my passion….well truly I have not made money out of my passion yet, like any real income
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
It is something I look forward to, at some stage
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
My love for art and my gift
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
The love and the passion I have for creativity and my family because they believe in my craft more and my potential
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
I am not what you see or what you thought I am. Never judge the book by its cover.
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
The sky is the limit everything and anything is possible …never stop believing in beautiful realities of your arts or passion. Love what you do and rest will follow
After qualifying as a journalist, Nic Buchanan set path to the UK and Zimbabwe. The calling to return to South Africa defined a soul purpose ahead in redefining the world of African stories. Nic initially set up Super Strikas , a Pan-African football-themed comic series,and went on to produce numerous other educational comics.
The Mandela Biographical comic book team of creators at Umlando Wezithombebecame an international bestseller, translated into numerous world languages.
The journey of Nelson Mandela’s Authorised Comic Book continues… it will soon be made into an animated feature as well as a series in collaboration with 2D studio PIXCOMM, that was initiated by Nic in 2007.
Pixcomm studio produces Africa’s biggest children’s show, Jabu’s Jungle.
Jabus jungle currently has 52 episodes being broadcast across 40 African countries.
Working together with township animation students at False Bay college in Cape Town, Pixcoom establishment have received various international awards Development in the world of Africa’s animation is set to leave global trademarks
Meet CreatePreneurAfrica’s – Nic Buchanan – Dynamically exploring the world of Africa’s storyland with a magical gloss
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
Telling African stories. This is driven by a desire to change the world’s view of the continent by putting out positive media about our history and heroes.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I was 30 years old and joined a team to create Supa Strikas, an African soccer story, that was ultimately distributed internationally.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
I think we all go through an identity crisis at some stage, and need positive role models to identify with. Living in Africa, most of the role models that have been supplied are from colonial sources as they determined our history and how it is interpreted. To add variety to this story and slowly add indigenous elements that can change children’s lives is incredibly exciting.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
Supa Strikas was commercially successful and showed that local media for children has a place on the continent. That was a stimulus to take more content to the youth while creating a sustainable business.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
We approached the Nelson Mandela Foundation to do his story in a comic book. They loved the idea and together we approached corporate sponsors to cover production costs and printing. Our team got paid to do this story over the two years that it took.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
Having worked in various other industries before getting into media, I was aware that there are always problems you are going to hit. You can move onto the next job, but those problems will find you. It’s better in the long run to overcome those problems if it is for something that is your passion.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
We are operating in such a niche environment, ie creating media for African youth. It’s a place that is going to explode and we are sitting as first-comers which gives us certain advantages. One of our products, Jabu’s Jungle, is being broadcast across 40 countries and we are aiming at an audience pool of 100 million children. From there, we have a leverage which has huge value.
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
I’ve never listened to them.
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
Start. Do it. Stop talking about it, and do it. Until you have something to sell you are nowhere, so create or be still. Technology has dropped the barriers to entry, anyone can create content.
We begin the Learn Kiswahili journey as a standard course, this includes exchanging the appropriate greetings and talking about daily activities and progress to an intermediate level with exercises and practical application.
Welcome, take this journey with me as we delve into the new KISWAHILI millenium .....#THE LANGUAGEREVOLUTION.....COMING SOON!We begin with GreetingsNo Kiswahili speaker will participate in any conversation without greetings......Lets Get Started
This is types of greetings which you can use at any time of the day, be it morning, afternoon, evening or night.
a) Scene One : Let’s launch into greetings between two people ( Joni and Maria), that meet each other
Joni: Habari za leo? How are you today?
An alternative is Habari Gani? How are things?
Maria: Nzuri sana , hujambo? Very Good , how are you?
Joni: Sijambo , Asante I am fine, thanks
Maria : Haya, Kwa heri Ok, Goodbye
Joni : Asante, Kwa heri Thanks , Goodbye!
Vocabulary
Habari news- zuri good
Hujambo How are you?
Sijambo I am fine
Asante Thank you
Jambo Matter /problem
Scene Two : Baraka meets Maria
Baraka: Habari gani ndugu? How are you friend.
Maria: Nzuri, hujambo? Am good, how are you?
Baraka: Sijambo I am fine
Vocabulary:
Ndugu : relative, friend, comrade
More Greetings………….
Habari za saa hizi? How are you this time?
Nzuri , hujambo? Good , how are you?
Sijambo I am fine.
Salama? Are you fine?
Salama Fine
Mzima? Mzima
U hali gani? How are you? Whats your condition
Umelalaje? How have you slept
Umeamkaje? How did you wake up?
Mzima /Salama/Safi
Youth Greetings
Mambo vipi? How are you?
Poa cool/ fine
Greetings from young to elders
This greeting is used from young person to adult as respect.
Shikamoo I respect you
Marahaba I accept your respect.
You can mention the title of a person. For example, Shikamoo mama, Shikamoo baba, Shikamoo kaka etc
Part One of Greeting! Taking it step by step..Part Two of Kiswahili greetingS
SPECIFIC GREETINGS
This is types of Greetings which are used at a specific time. Example: Asubuhi, Mchana, Jioni or Usiku
Morning Greetings - Joni: Habari za asubuhi? How are you this morning?Maria: Nzuri, hujambo? Am good , how are you?Joni: sijambo sana Am very fine.Asubuhi - Morning
Afternoon greetings:Joni: Habari za mchana? How are you this afternoon? Maria: Nzuri sana. Hujambo? I am very fine. How are you?Joni: Sijambo dada Am fine sister.
Evening GreetingsMaria: habari za jioni? How are you this evening? Joni: nzuri dada, hujambo? Am fine sister, hows you?Maria: Sijambo kabisa I am absolutely fine
Night Greetings
Maria:Habari za usiku ndugu? How are you this night friend? Joni: nzuri, hujambo? Am good , How are you?Maria : sijambo rafiki I am good friend.
Other Greetings
Umeshindaje? How are you conquer your day
Salama Well/good
Uko poa? Are you fine?
Nipo poa I am fine
KUJITAMBULISHA/ SELF INTRODUCTION
Before we go to self introduction lets see personal pronouns in Swahili:we have six personal pronouns in Swahili.MIMI I, MEWEWE YOUYEYE HE/SHESISI WE/USNINYI YOU (Plr)WAO THEY/THEM
Subject prefix
MIMI NI
WEWE U
YEYE A
SISI TU
NINYI M(U)
WAO WA
Amani: Jina langu ni Amani My name is Amani.
Na wewe je? And what about you?
Joseph: Jina langu ni Joseph My name is Joseph.
Amani: Umetoka nchi gani? Which country are you from?
Joseph: Nimetoka marekani I am from USA.
Amani: Nimefurahi kukutana na wewe I am happy to meet you.
Joseph: asante ndugu Thank you friend
Vocabulary:
Jina Name
-angu my
Kutoka To come out of
Nchi Country
Gani? What kind/ which
Kufurahi to glad / to be happy
Kukutana to meet
Kuitwa to be called
Nani who
-ako your
Joseph: Naitwa Joseph I am called Joseph.
Wewe waitwa nani? Who are you called? (Whats your name?)
Amani: Naitwa Amani I am called Amani.
Joseph: Umetoka nchi gani? Which country are you from?
Amani: Nimetoka Uingereza I am from England.
Na wewe je? What about you?
Joseph:Nimetoka Tanzania I am from Tanzania.
%CODE1%
Jina lako nani? Whats your name?
Jina langu ni Amani My name is Amani.
Na wewe je? What about you?
Jina langu ni Joseph My name is Joseph
Join Us as we continue to continue in #THELANGUAGE REVOLUTION
The journey of her soul sparked off at early stages at the tender age of two as she joined her mother and a group of South Sudanese women in Cairo, Egypt in 1994, protesting for the rights of education for South Sudanese children.He life purpose with a focus on Africa centered education as a powerful decolonization tool for healing Africa ignited as she graduated with a Masters in Education (MA in Education: Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies), triumphing over life adversities in the process.
I believe that through African-Centred education for Black and African children, our communities will truly learn and believe in their value on this planet and lead toward successes. _ Dobijoki Ema @Dobijoki
I discovered that many of the children carried the weight of self hate; they didn’t like their skin color, their culture was not white enough, and they did not believe they could be successful _ Dobijoki Ema @Dobijoki
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
My true passion is to serve people……my people. Ever since I was a young girl I aspired to be a servant of the world and to make sure all of my African brothers and sisters, in particular, are able to live the most powerful and fruitful life, or as close as possible.
I believe that through African-Centred education for Black and African children, our communities will truly learn and believe in their value on this planet and lead toward successes.
What drives me is the Most High, I personally believe I was awarded a gift, which is to learn, fight, strive and carry my community. Seeing my people suffer drives me to carry out my duty in this mystical universe.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I was two years old when I attended my first protest for peace and education. My family is from South Sudan but fled to Egypt due to the civil war.
In 1994 at the age of two, my mother and a number of other South Sudanese women went to protest outside of the UNHCR headquarters in Cairo, Egypt for the right to education, as South Sudanese children did not have access to education.
This was my first protest, it is what introduced me to the world of service and social justice. I did not find my passion, it found me.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
What appeals to me most about serving others is that it brings a sense of hope and togetherness to the lives of those that need it most. I ran sex-disaggregated alternative African-Centred programming in South Africa with students from grades 5-7.
The reason I began these programmes at the school I was working out of is because I discovered that many of the children carried the weight of self-hate; they didn’t like their skin color, their culture was not white enough, and they did not believe they could be successful.
The curriculum wasn’t successfully teaching the children about themselves and their culture in a way that empowers them, so I took it upon myself to show them how powerful their indigeneity was. Knowing that the students left the programme with at least one reason to love their Africanness was all I could ask for.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
My drive is not the money, it is the work for the people – I try and make money from other sources while using my drive to love to serve people and my passion for people.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
My first job at the age of 13 was a Youth Service Worker – I worked in my priority neighborhood supporting immigrant and refugee youth in being agents of change. Although I was also one of these youth, having a leadership platform helped me gain more confidence in my abilities to lead and serve.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
Knowing that every person I work with will be reminded of their genuine capabilities and worthiness has pushed me and kept me going, but I also believe that my spiritual connectedness to the Most High has empowered me to never give up on serving my people.
As long as there is racism and societal disadvantages faced by people of color, there will be my service.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
Success for me is between my actions and my heart. My heart speaks and my actions attempt to follow through with its desires. As long as I am able to align the two I will continue to be successful.
My motivation is the community and the power of people. I have a family that is very close, we serve for one another naturally and have learned the beauty of compassion through our connectedness. My family life lessons along with my personal expectations of love, freedom, and peace motivate me to be more successful in my work.
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
I love you and I wish you success.
What advice do you give to aspiring creative is who look up to you?
When I can’t find the right opportunity in the workforce, I create my own. Whenever I find someone who can be of guidance and mentorship, I learn about them and contact them for support. Anything you want to create or be a part of is possible with timing, work, and dedication.
KARIBU.....He sees his calling as a mission for all to fall in place one day! SIPHO Mushwana has a soul passion. A soul passion of UBUNTU. A writer, a musician, and a teacher and a soul Pan African visionist...he is ready to set stage for the unity of Africa across tribal or geographic locations!"I am fully in the field of Afrikan Culture and education for the development of the Afrikan nation" ...........Sipho Mushwana
UBUNTU is the essence of life, the Afrikan way. Sipho Mushwana, #ExploremotherladAfrica author and editor, and also on a screenplay team of ‘ SHUJAA, KIROHO MTOTO set up to be the feature film launch of the millennium..…..
His life chapters are engraved in his collection of expressive writings:
ONCE WAS IMPORTANT
GOVERNMENT TERRORISTS
THEY KNELT AND PRAYED MAMA
BETRAYAL
His soul introduction is circumvented in his essays
ÚBUNTU,
NURTURED BY NATURE
CHURCHES IN AFRICA
He grows in his creativity and content and rhythms of emancipation He has engaged in multiple projects in various studios and keeps shining the light.
He has a soul passion for KISWAHILI. The liberating and uniting language across tribes and ethnicity for A Pan-African cause – The world is awakening into a realization and uprise of a continent bearing centuries of downgrade and shame.
Meet #CreateprenuerAfrica SIPHO MUSHWANA steering the realms of PAN AFRIKA
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
What drives me is my soul calling. A purpose driven life. I see myself as one of the single rays of the sun that illuminates the entire universe as a single droplet combined to make the biggest ocean.
What drives my movement is the journey of self-experience. That is the biggest aspiration. To fully explore, experience and manifest the god, Goddess power and essence in me.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I became conscious of myself in1999 when nature and the universe ushered me into the area of PAN-AFRICANISM AND AFRIKAN SPIRITUALITY. Since then I have been growing
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
By the UNIVERSAL LAW OF RHYTHM, nothing is permanent. All things come and pass. So I keep real and true to my PURPOSE OF THIS REINCARNATIONas I also acknowledge that soul transition may happen at any moment in life
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
Depends on what payment is defined as. I have been paid with the realisation of my purpose in this universe. Rewarded I can say. A gift beyond borders
Let’s develop the script fully and make it more competent for the market THEN THE UNIVERSE WILL AWARD THE PROJECT WITH SUPPORT FINANCIALLY
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
Even if it is 100% overcast in the day, The sun never fails to give light. This natural phenomenon inspires me to tackle challenges with all courage and self-realness
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
OK, another person’s eyes are my mirror to see some parts of me and the feedback fuels my energy field to think extra creatively and work extra harder in all that I do. To them, I say I always take their doubts for motivation BECAUSE IN MY INNER WORLD PESSIMISM HAS NO PLACE. I advise all to always see the light in the next person and also have faith in that EVEN THE LITTLE SPARK OF A FLAME CAN GROW INTO THE BIGGEST FIRE OF LIFE.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
I advise all to get intact with their inner selves and discover the nature of creation in them. Nurture that into self-manifestation. All is possible when we align our psyche body soul into the laws of the universe
He is a poet, a songwriter, essayist and a fine artist too! Marial Awendit, all the way from Yerul, Eastern Lakes State, Republic of South Sudan is leaving no stone unturned....bringing back the WORD.....
He is also a humanitarian aid worker with Caritas-DOR, a humanitarian aid organization and the Secretary-General for Eastern Lakes State Youth Association.
Meet # CreatePreneurAfrica, poet from South Sudan -Marial Awendit
Tell us what drives you? What's your true passion in life?
I have the passion to create. To bring things to existence. I could do that best with poetry and other art forms available to my being.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
The passion to create art has always been there but I was caught up in many academic pursuits. I was in medical school.
I started writing when I was financially unable to pursue Bachelors in Medicine and Surgery in 2015 and when I was depressed. The death of my father in 2014 and my brother the same year brought to me grief that I could only express through poetry.
What about your passion appeals to you most?
I am easily misunderstood so poetry says what I mean. I feel relieved. I make people argue with the more permanent voice, a poem.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
I first got paid for designing book covers, writing titles, designing logos and writing short stories in 2016.
What drove you to make money from your passion?
I was asked to serve for fees and that’s all that happened. I also had to raise money to help me purchase books and writing materials.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
I was about to give up writing in 2016 when my art attracted both positive and negative appreciation. I had lost 150 poems to a close conspirator. I was forced to reconstruct and actually thought of quitting but you know persistence will always have better results.
What motivates you every day?
I feel motivated by the impact my poetry makes on others. This has been fed back to me by many artists and literati who take their time to follow my work.
What do you have to say to all the people who doubted you?
Doubt would have been detrimental if I let it sap my confidence, belief and faith. Somehow those who doubted me gave me a push.
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
Focus on your work. Believe in yourself. Be original.
Kojo Baffoe....Where do we begin?
Simply speaking, a'Jack of All Trades'.... REDEFINING SUCCESS!
Former magazine editor and speaker, Kojo brings forth a versatile flow of curiosity, empathy and understanding in his daily free flowing engagements as an ENTREPENEUR, WRITER, FACIILTATOR and CONTENT ARCHITECT.
Raised in the mountainous, landlocked Lesotho in Southern Africa, the former speaker and magazine editor of Ghanaian descent, Kojo Baffoe, has directly engaged in various sectors from Retail, Management Consulting, Publishing, Events to IT and Media.
He has also actively contributed to creative teams on various broadcast productions :
Afro Cafe (a music show)
Emcee Africa (a pan- African reality music show)
Making Moves (an entrepreneurial show)
Zooming In On Men (a men’s lifestyle show)
Zwahashu (a lifestyle show)
Exploring life and lifecycles on Kaya FM, Life With Kojo Baffoe, his conversations range from African History, freelancing, renewable energy, retail, fatherhood, theatre, technology, and cybersecurity
Chairperson of the judging committee. Business Arts South Africa (BASA) Awards
MTN Business App of the Year Awards,
Apple In Education Awards
Miss South Africa 2014, 2015 and 2016
Reality television show, She’s The One, (Seasons One (SABC3) Season Two (ETV)
Founder of Project Fable, a content design and insights consulting company focusing on strategy, branding, and marketing using content and media to amplify and build communities.
https://www.wakaagency.biz/
Meet #CreatePrenuerAfrica, KOJO BAFFOE… on passion, talent, life and insight
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
How I view passion may be slightly different from how most people do. I would say my true passion is the life I am building for myself and for my family. It is about the lifestyle that I would like my family to experience and being able to provide my children with the tools to build their lives as they grow older.
There was a time in my life when I used to view writing as my passion. That view has changed. Writing is one of the ways I make a living and, therefore, it is a means to an end. It is one dimension of my life. One element out of many. Life itself is what is important.
Overall, what drives me? My family. Myself. This continent.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
As I mentioned, because what I am most passionate about is broad, it isn’t something that I found but more grew into, especially in having children. I was brought up with the ideal of living a life of legacy.
When my first child was born, I finally understood what legacy meant, which is to contribute to a world where my children and their generation can thrive. My son was born when I was 35 and my daughter when I was 39. Life is a work-in-progress.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
It is not a thing but a state of mind, a way of living, a commitment to something larger than life’s material trivialities.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
I don’t make money from my passions but rather work to ensure that I can realise them.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
Not really applicable. I will say that it has always been interesting for me how, because I am a writer and storyteller, people assume that, when I have worked in places where that is at the core of what I do – for example, when I have edited magazines – I am living my passion. I view writing as my job and I have been paid to do it, at various levels, for over 20 years.
When I write for myself, with no intention of delivering to a magazine, a website or another other space, then it is about passion but that rarely happens anymore.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
I live by the “one foot in front of the other” approach to life. Giving up is not really an option. Even giving up is an active choice. You have to consciously do it. When I look at what some of those before us went through – like my father – and kept going for our sakes, I keep pushing. I guess I am also fortunate in that there are always options and opportunities.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
My family. I have a very clear picture of what success means to me and, while I like nice things, it isn’t about the things I acquire or the wealth I accumulate but about the life I live.
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
I don’t know how to answer this. I am focused on being the best I can be according to me. The doubts of others have no bearing on me or my life. I am not living trying to prove anything to anyone.
We are each on our own journey, making decisions about our own lives. We are not going to connect with everyone and that is alright. I think we spend too much time focused on the external when it doesn’t really matter.
I know not everyone is going to like me or agree with me; that’s just how we are as human beings. We are different. Different things and people and spaces resonate with us at varying degrees.
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
There is a talk I do in which I do share thoughts from the lessons I have learned in life. Some of these include being naturally curious, finding and focusing on your lane, being teachable and deciding what success looks like for you.
We are living in a world that is evolving exponentially. You can’t get by on surface knowledge and being unengaged. While there is a lot of noise and, therefore, you need to learn how to be discerning, there is also a richness.
For Africans, I also believe we need to put in a great deal of work into getting our stories heard. We often talk of telling our stories but I do believe that we are doing that every day, across the digital universe; the challenge is that they are not being heard about the digital clatter.
A traveller, a socialite and book lover, Chimezie Ihekuna is fondly known as "Mr.Ben" in literary circles. The essayist, published poet, speaker and voice-over artist from Lagos Nigeria, visualizes his work as tools of emancipation in an inspirational light of "facelifting" humanity.
The calling has arrived, he envisions his storytelling mastery to be adapted into the latest film releases......All film and television producers,Keep an ear out for "Mr Ben!"
“Mr Ben : the acrostic ”G.A.N.G.S.T.A.R” writer (Generally Appreciating Notable Genres by Stating Their Applicable Relevance)”
He is currently working on his Christian play, ”What Are We Leaving Behind?”. His other works
The Poured Out Thoughts—The Revised (poetry collection)
Winds of Change
Meet #CreatePrenuerAfrica – Mr.Ben in the castle of Nigeria’s Literary Circles
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
My personal experiences and what happens around me.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I was twenty-two years of age when I found my drive…writing. I picked up this passion because all I thought I would be (an aerospace engineer) was dashed and there was no single person to support my dream. Writing filled up the void created.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
Fiction and non-fiction writings
What drove you to make money from your passions?
To pay my bills, have to give to those in need and build a fortune for myself and family
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
Interestingly, 2017!
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
The ”Never-give-up” spirit
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
The need to give back to the society what it has invested in me
Meet #CreatepreneurAfrica – Nigeria’s Mr Ben
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
Discouragement, in the form of doubt, is all a part of a success
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
Expect rejections. Keep improving on your craft. Write more…Realize there is what is called the writer’s block. Never give up!
Air Force Flight Lieutenant Strategist Poet and Writer Expert in Peace, Security and Conflict Studies
His debut “Diary of a Boy Soldier”, a historical fiction, is a first-hand literary revelation that chronicles everyday realms in the dynamic life and times of being a student at the Nigerian Military school
The unique storytelling journeys through adventures, thrills, and suffering encapsulated in the diaspora of life experiences at a military school in West Africa.
Hi, I am Alexander, a Flight Lieutenant with the Nigerian Air Force, writer and poet. My new book, Omo, a novel on the Girl Child will be due for release in June.#NigerianWriters#bibliophile RT❤ pic.twitter.com/Awvf3eKb3o
I like music, musing, surfing, traveling, solitude and locked up in God’s Presence.I am focused, with an eye for excellence. I believe in me.I can CHANGE the WORLD : Alexander Emmanual Ochogwu
Meet #CreatepreneurAfrica,Alexander Emmanual Ochogwu Air Force Flight Lieutenant
Tell us what drives you?
The realisation that life is ephemeral and the value we add along our journey through this path is what matters.
What is your true passion in life?
To invest my personality by way of mentorship and artistic expressions, on others as much as I can so as to make the world around me better than I met it.
How did you find you passion and how old were you?
Finding my passion was accidental. I was barely twelve when I realised I had elements of creative writing skill. My classmates back at Nigerian Military School Zaria (A military secondary school in Nigeria) had rewarded me with gifts whenever I wrote love letters or constructed persuasive letters on their behalf, to their parents.
Knowing I was sought after gave me the validation that I had this skill inside me. Subsequently, I became intentional about it – did more studies about the art and began building my vocabulary library, as we used to call it back then.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
The understanding that through writing and mentorship I can impart lives.
What drove you to make money from your passion?
Money is good, yeah. However, for me, money comes second place after my passion, which is to add value to my world. With my understanding that when one meets a need, reward follows, meeting a need is my drive. Money naturally comes as the reward.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
As an amateur writer in secondary school, I had received gifts and cash tokens as appreciation for the work I did.
But since I took up writing professionally, I started getting paid for my work in 2005 when I wrote my debut novella, The Diary of a Boy Soldier.
What kept you going when you were about giving up?
The biggest challenge I had was that of external validation until I discovered that I had my own unique voice and had to stick with it. So I resolved within myself that I have a special skill that requires no further validation for me to operate within the space of my belief. This decision got me over the waves of discouragement and discontentment.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
The realization that knowledge is inexhaustible and as such, the need to continually improve myself through learning from others so that I can give back to my downlines.
What do you have to say to all those who doubted you?
For all those who doubted me, I am grateful to them for making me excel above their doubts. They made me work harder and redefined myself to what I have become today, the very thing they had wanted to prevent me from becoming. They were a catalyst to this success story.
What advice do you give to aspiring creatives who look up to you?
As a creative, you must be ruthless with your passion. You must be open to learning and abreast of trends in your area of interest. The world is not friendly enough to accept you with ease. So you must be up-to-date, proficient and competitive in the marketplace.
Strive to break through, create your own unique voice, and shout until you are heard. Additionally, you must identify what your true motivation is, and when you find it, nothing can deter you from achieving it.
Your true motivation should not be money. Otherwise, you may give up when money fails to show up as planned.
Patrice Juah is on a mission, a soul mission. A universal calling to support young women leaders. A Mandela Washington fellow of (YALI), President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative ,Patrice Juah is dedicated to shine the light on marvels of Liberia.
A poetic narrative documentary ‘LONESTAR Gem of Unimaginable Proportions is currently in development based on the publication “#UnderDucorSkies”
Meet #CreatepreneurAfrica, Patrice Juah: The shining light of Liberia
#CreatePreneurAfrica – Patrice Juah
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
I’m driven by creativity, purposeful living, my love for my country and continent, and the desire to make a difference.
My true passion in life is to use the many gifts I’ve been blessed with, to impact lives, and leave behind an inspiring legacy for generations after me.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I found my passion at a very young age. As a child, I always enjoyed writing, public speaking and engaging with my community, hence my choosing to study Broadcast Journalism, and continuing to write today.
I spoke before an audience for the first time when I was about three years old and made my broadcasting debut at age 13 or 14. I also started writing at a very young age and won a national poetry competition when I was 16 years old.
Those two passions helped set the tone for the work I currently do.
And although there were times, when I somewhat deviated from them, I always found my way back.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
What appeals to me the most about my passion is how writing, speaking, and all my other talents enable me to connect, inspire and share my experiences with people.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
I’m currently investing in my passion and making some money along the way. Earning money from my passions enables me to sustain them, and encourages me to keep pursuing my purpose. I’m consumed by my passion, and doing other things always felt draining.
As the saying goes “If you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life.” Hence, I seek to disrupt the “struggling artist” narrative and inspire creatives to know that we too can lead financially successful and fulfilling lives.
The journey is long and arduous, but with building and investing in my projects consistently, the fruits will be remarkable someday.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
During my freshman year in college. It was an exhilarating experience. When I was younger, people would always tell me that the path I’d chosen would lead to a broke life; that writers, journalists and creatives, don’t make money. Doing my first commercial for a major GSM company and getting paid for it was reassuring.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
Giving up has never been an option for me. I stop, rest, or even cry, but the thought of giving up never crosses my mind. When I experience challenges, my faith in God, passion for what I do, support from my family and loved ones always keep me going.
Having a solid support system and people who believe in me, is empowering. Also, seeing the impact we’ve had on the girls we work with, through our educational initiatives (Martha Juah Educational Foundation and Sexy Like A Book), drives me to keep pushing.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
I believe many people’s destinies are tied to mine, so if I succeed, they too will. If I fail, they will as well. In order to amplify my work and help my people and country, being successful is paramount.
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
I’m so focused on my own journey to care about doubters; they’re all distractions. If I’d say anything at all, it’d be to focus their energies on their own lives and work on elevating themselves.
What advice do you give to an aspiring creatives who looks up to you?
Be authentic, bold, and convicted in pursuit of your passions. Follow them wholeheartedly and tune out distractions along the stairway to your dreams
“I aim to stand by organizations in their quest to enlighten women on pertinent everyday issues like teenage pregnancies HIV/AIDs, education and development in the workforce”
Founder and Creative Director of Moie, a social enterprise media platform specializing in public relations, content development, events planning and retail management.’
%CODE3%
A columnist for UK’s Vital Woman Magazine’s, Girl Empowerment section, her writings have featured on PBS news hour, African feminist forum, Liberian observer “Conversations on Liberia” as well as the “Sea Breeze Journal of Contemporary Liberian Writings.”
The Pan African conquest of solidarity reached a solid impact for Patrice when she met Rosie Motene, South African founder of the Waka agency, at an audition of 'Tinsel' in Ghana. She signed up for the audition.
Although she did not make the cut, the impression left was an empowering journey that led to her immediately taken onto the Waka Agency database of exceptional talent in Africa.
” I feel truly blessed to have crossed paths with Rosie Motene. She’s an exceptional woman and a true gift to Africa and the world”
UNFPA invited her to present her poem” Fitsula, “I Have Conquered You” in 2013. It was written to honor the survivors of Fistula at the 1st International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.
Patrice is the founder and chairperson of the Miss Education Africa Pageant, Africa’s first Pan-African education pageant, which promotes and advocates for girls’ education on the continent.
She’s the founder and editor of “Sexy Like A Book”, an academic initiative designed to inspire young women and girls to improve their perspective on reading, literacy, and education.
She’s a regular contributor to the United Nations’ Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) radio, now ECOWAS Radio show, Girl Power, that promotes self-esteem, confidence, and the importance of leadership in local communities.
She’s a member of UN Women’s Civil Society Advisory Group on Liberia and sits on the board of the Liberia Literary Society.
She recently served as a keynote speaker at the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Week in Geneva, Switzerland as a guest of the U.S government.
She founded the Martha Juah Educational Foundation, named in honor of her mother, a retired primary school teacher of 50 years, to advocate for scholarships for young girls in rural Liberia.
Patrice holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Political Science, an advanced certificate in Fashion Design, and a Certificate in Business & Entrepreneurship.
She was invited by former U.S FirstLady, Michelle Obama, in July 2014, for a roundtable discussion on Girls’ Education in Africa, and served as an advisory committee member for the 2015 African Creative Economy Conference, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
During the West African Ebola outbreak, she launched the “Ebola Is Not My Identity” campaign along with other artists to combat the problem of stigmatization.
“The goal of the campaign was to showcase creative works of art that reflected hope for Liberia on her path to recovery, other than the images of despair shown on the news wires at the time.”
In 2015, she was featured in Amina Magazine, as one of the new female faces of the African Creative Economy, and was also spotlighted by Brand Woman Africa in the same year as one of the women whose efforts are positively changing Africa one community at a time.
“This young, driven and vivacious woman believes that for Africa to succeed, Africans must make education a powerful driver and the strongest instrument in the reduction of poverty, improving health, gender equality, peace and stability.”
Born in South Africa on the Kwa Zulu Natal 'battlefields' of Vryheid, Sandile Ngidi grew up on the south coast of Durban, Amaholongwa.After matriculating at Marianhill High school he entered the literary kingdom.
His soul journey in the world of words led him on a freelance journalism pathway. He ventured into brand communication specialization and became a dramatist and Africa’s literary critic of note.
Sandile wrote the concept paper towards the inception of South Africa’s Poet Laureate prize on behalf of the wRite Associates and the Department of Arts and Culture.
An avid advocate of literary translations, in 2006 he translated the classic Zulu novel by Sibusiso Nyembezi, Inkinsela yaseMgungundlovu (The Rich Man of Pietermaritzburg) from Zulu to English. He writes in Zulu and English.
Aflame Books.
He was the editor of the Baobab Literary journal and Realtime youth magazine. His debut poetry collection is friends of the time.
Meet CreatepreneurAfrica – Sandile Ngidi: Africa’s literary King
Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
I am driven by curiosity, a desire to partake in a bigger re-imagination of the human condition.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
Words and the world of words entered my reality at home in my childhood, where my teacher parents always told stories about their world and also had books they used for school but were accessible to me as well.
Early on at high school in 1983, I began trying my hand in poetry. Mimicking really I guess, but still expressing the conditions of black boyhood in apartheid South Africa.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
The world of words, writing, theatre, books etc, all stir the mind and the soul.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
Nothing really. Money has been incidental until I discovered that one has to support oneself at some stage.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
For my first newspaper article in the Natal Witness Echo in 1987, if I am not mistaken. This newspaper is influential in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in South Africa, and to know that I could be paid for my passion was a pleasant surprise.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
To give up is to die.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
I believe there is something worth contributing, worth the pain and the joy of creating and waiting to be heard. The written word is powerful, it can empower or marginalize, excite or ridicule – writers, especially in the digital age have become the “big eyes” through which the world is seen or hidden.
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
Nothing really at first. Money was incidental until I discovered that one has to support put bread on the table. I guess that is why I have for the better of my writing career, worked as a brand communication and public affairs specialist.
This has enabled me to consult with senior corporate and public sector executives. Clients often ask me to write speeches and opinion editorials. This job helps me convey messages to key target audiences anonymously.
What advice do you give to aspiring creative is who look up to you?
Look deeper inside your self and try to bring the best of you. Systematically “murder” your hero as you learn the craft and bring more of you into the imagination pot.
You are valid. Polish your craft by reading, listening and writing every day. Not just for a pay or an applause. Read widely and listen to others more across many spheres of the human condition, the planet and the environment.
Feature Image by Hugh Mdlalose photography. Coming soon in the #Createpreneur Africa series, A decade of Hugh Mdlalose Creations (photographer /videographer /musician)
Welcome to the world of Oluwabukola Michael Nelson, serial entrepreneur, public speaker, business analyst and founder of the Africa democratic dreams project.
Oluwabukola Michael Nelson, a gospel instrumentalist and gospel praise leader sought to steer a pathway for Nigerians and Africans to realize their inner dreams through education, diplomacy, and peace.
From the age of ten, Oluwabukola Michael Nelson was a keen writer. He has featured in local and international media and lectured at churches and communities all over the world.
Meet #CreatePreneurAfrica Oluwabukola Michael Nelson – Reaching out for the rise of Nigeria
Tell us what drives you?
Change. I am very much in tune with the natural order of renewal, and so I see the opportunity to contribute to my general environment in partnership with others to bring growth, progress, and development.
What is your true passion in life?
My true passion in life is building businesses that produce both profits and socio-developmental progress. In essence, making money and improving lives of peoples and communities across the globe.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I realized that I had a call to serve when I was a young skinny kid. I was raised by parents whose lives are committed to service to others.
My father served in the Nigerian armed forces and my mother raised me and my six siblings as a single mother through tough times and she never gave up on us. These experiences have shaped my perspective on life and have come to form my vision, mission, and goals in life.
I am pleased at the fact that there are others like me – MLK, Obama, Mandela, Maya Angelou, Winnifred (Mandela), etc. I am comforted and inspired by the tracks these people leave behind. So even though my path is not the easiest, I can relate to the struggles and triumphs and final victories of these heroes.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
Being passionate about change without having the means to bring about that change is as useless as trying to clap with one hand. I realized this truth early in life and looking at the strategies adopted by philanthropists such as Bill Gates, James LeBron, Rihanna, and Warren Buffet validates that fact.
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
Payment in monetary terms has always come through hard work. I have successfully launched businesses since the age of 18 and have staff members working for me and earning a salary.
I sponsored myself through college creating profit-making ventures. In terms of abstract rewards, when I look at how the things I have done have impacted the lives of individuals and communities, I get so much fulfillment than money can buy.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
I could say that the challenges of life can be daunting and living a life of purpose is not for the faint of heart. Once you understand the principles of sacrifice and the principle of delayed gratification, you can surmount any obstacles. So for me having these principles imbibed and reading about the inevitable hurdles just like those before me gives me the confidence I need to keep going.
7. What motivates you every day to be even more successful
The belief that I CAN. The belief that nothing is impossible. The belief that I can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives me daily strength. The belief that I am living according to purpose. The belief that the world benefits from what I do daily. These are my daily motivators.
Never at a loss for words, renowned South African poet Mak Manaka tunes into soul rhyme in his rooted "arts for transformation" soul calling. Mak Manaka brings out the word,to the people....to the nation!
His full name , Maakomele, means to represent in Pedi, and so he does! The motivating “warrior of inspiration” voices out his poetically engaging word.
%CODE1%
His late father was a poet, playwright as well as a painter. His mother an actress dancer and choreographer. He was born into a realm of ‘Art for social transformation.’
He has proudly represented South Africa in Jamaica, Spain, and Cuba, and performed for the prolific Nelson Mandela as well!
Moving around on crutches due to a historic misfortune does not dampen his spirit as he ”words on”……..
Meet CreatePreneurAfrica- Mak Manaka
Tell us what drives you?
It’s the knowledge that I’m alive and doing what makes me alive.
What is your true passion in life?
My true passion is the battle in articulating the conditions of truth. So the search for my true self is, in essence, my true passion.
How did you find your passion and how old were you?
Well, passion found me in my mother’s womb and ever since I’ve been trying to understand why this passion. Coming from a family of artists, my late father is a playwright, painter and poet, and my mother a dancer-choreographer and an actress. So from an early age passion has been life to me.
What about your passion appeals to you the most?
I’m yet to receive an answer from passion itself. One thing I know about passion is that it pays no bills but it does make rainy days seem like summer skies. I guess it’s the self-fulfillment of self-worth that appeals to me the most.
What drove you to make money from your passions?
Like I said, passion pays no bills. Self-determination pays the bills, not my passion. I think it’s important for us to unpack the meaning and function of the word passion to ourselves. How do you understand your passion and is it passion or self-determination that makes earns you a living within the construct of capitalism?
When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
To be honest with you, I’m still waiting for the day I get paid for my passion and I doubt that day will come coz my passion is nor for sale. On the other hand, I was about 21 when I got my first paycheck for a performance, poetry articulates condition, then it is my honor and privilege to have such a gift and be paid to share it.
What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
It is the thought itself that keeps me going. We don’t give up or give in at any point coz we are suns, who wear heat in our hearts. Giving up is not an option but to give and share the heat with others is our main purpose as Africans.
What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
The love for loving life…
What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
Don’t doubt your self, rather support your self and buy my books.
What advice do you give to aspiring creative is who look up to you?
“Look not to the stars but to your self” coz “to thine self, be true”-Shakespeare said both those quotes a long time ago and before I can tell anyone anything I have to tell my self. So before you leave the house, look at yourself and smile and be in love with the mirror. In the mirror is the sun inside looking back at you, so look to self to be selfless.
Egyptian filmmaker Jihan El Tahri,rich in roots of diversity and a wealth of world experience,takes us on her soul rhythm journey, a mission to ignite the spirit of the Motherland Africa.
Tuning into insight and wisdom, she captures the heart of African roots beyond maintream media definitions and prescriptions related to what Africa was and wasn't, or what it is and should be.
Starting her career as a journalist, Africa’s legendary filmmaker, Jihan El Tahri. initially worked as a television researcher and news correspondent, covering the politics in the Middle East. This is when she realized the new dawn was on the power of the visual medium.
She then launched into independent filmmaking, producing and directing documentaries for French Tv, PBS, BBC and a range of other broadcasters internationally.
She has directed over a dozen films including award-winning:
The award-winning,”Behind the Rainbow” explores transition in South Africa.
It chronicles the liberation project of the African National Congress and compromises that eventually led to the historic 1994 elections, the eventual erosion of promises and dreams, raising questions about the present era.
She is also an avid visual artist with several exhibitions scheduled throughout the year.
Africa cinema is her passion, telling stories from Africa, for the people by the people.
Filmmaking comes with pain, heartaches and minimal returns…. but when a film is complete it allows a person to voice, to exist, and to be heard, and that makes it worth it when your film continues to make sense, even years later.
Meet # CreatepreneurAfrica: Let’s hear it from the legendary filmmaker Jihan El Thari
1. Tell us what drives you? What is your true passion in life?
To your first question, what drives you and what your true passion is in life?…..
It’s hard to say what my true passion is….because I guess they all intertwined but talking about film and documentary…
I think what really drives me is a real desire to understand and know and chronicle what happened in the whole post-independence periods. Why is it the promises and the vision of that moment of independence that was going to give the people of the continent and the colonized people everywhere….the quality freedom and dignity?Why did not happen, why is that we still there today, I guess that’s the driving question,
but passion if it’s just about what I really am passionate about
I’m passionate about music
I’m passionate about film
I’m passionate about art
So yeah…..I dabble in all three.
2. How did you find your passion and how old were you?
I guess my passion meaning documentary, well like in 1990, so I must have been…..I guess I was ..26 at that time… 1990.
It was during the Gulf war, as a journalist I was covering the Gulf war, and I immediately realized that the game had been overtaken by TVs and no matter how much we wrote, no matter how much we researched, one image was more powerful than anything one did.
But that was just about the image, the way of making films, I think it was a big revelation for me when I saw this film called “Death of Yugoslavia”, it was educational, it was interesting, it was funny and most of all it finally made sense of what was happening in Yugoslavia.
The war had been on for a few years and the more it went on the more one realized well I don’t understand anything, so you just left it behind, zapped it …
Suddenly then there was this documentary, that put it together in a way where I could actually understand, and then you started making sense, and I could take a position. I could think for myself that was the key, thinking for myself.
I guess that’s when I really started making the kind of films that I make because I never give conclusions. Its really about trying to chronicle how things happen and how we got there, and once you understand that, from there a person can decide for themselves, where they stand in that particular event.
3. What about your passion appeals to you the most?
What is it that appeals to me most… RESEARCH. I think I’m really passionate about research mainly because what I really want to do is try and look at stories from a different perspective, because we’ve been told our stories the whole time through Western eyes, through Western stories.
And when I approach a topic what I really try to do most is see it from our own perspective from a southern perspective from the perspective of the people who actually lived it, rather than the colonial masters or the cold war protagonists.
So I try and get to that prism of the story, and so the research cannot just rely on the books and newspapers and the documents because they all written from a Western perspective , so one really has to get down to declassifying document,s get down to finding first-hand eyewitnesses finding stuff that was written in different languages.
I mean, I’m lucky because I can speak four or five languages, I can actually read in these languages what was written by the people themselves, whereas it’s not the case if you only speak English or French you only get that one perspective.
Yes, so that’s what appeals to me the most. And I also love putting together the film at the end…at the end of the day the film is made in the editing, you have a narrative you know where you going, but because of time constraints and how it’s going to broadcast.
The film itself is made in the editing and it’s not my favorite part when I have to cut things down, but that first moment of the editing when I lay down the whole story as it was told to me is quite a big moment for me.
4. What drove you to make money from your passions?
I’ll actually answer 4 and 5 together, what drove you to make money from your passion well I don’t actually make money from my passion unfortunately for me.
I guess I could make money if I did it more superficially, but it does take me four to five years to make a film, and because of that most of the time I don’t get paid anything reasonable even.
Just for an anecdote: When I finished “Behind the rainbow”, my accountant as we finalized the account, and as I was walking out, he stopped he said, you do realize that the cleaning lady earned more than you did on this film?”
And it’s because she obviously got paievery timeme she worked. I had a lumpsum, which is fine in one year but when stretching over four years, you barely make ends meet …which accounts for me doing other things on the side like teaching and so forth,, so that’s question 4…
5.When was the first time you were paid for your passion?
When was the first time I was paid for my passion? I’m going to stick to the documentary but I could also say photography, my very first job.
When I was 19 was as a photographer and I remember clearly, I was working for Reuters, and my first salary paid for taking pictures that I thought was the most amusing thing as I would have paid to go take these pictures, but now I was being paid to do that.That was when I first started working as a photographer at Reuters, that must have been in 1984 or something.
In documentary when I started documentary, I was already a professional in the sector, so obviously I got paid, meaning I had budgets in which I got paid if there was any leftover!
6. What kept you going when you thought about giving up?
I thought about giving up many times, especially in the middle of the film when things go completely out of sync.
“Behind the rainbow” was a good example, when for six months, absolutely everyone I had interviewed for research and was a 1oo percent onboard of the film suddenly when I came back with a camera, nobody wanted to talk.
It took about six months for me to get the first interview and my cameraman whose German had come to South Africa for the shoot and instead of 26 or 27 days he was paid for the shoot he stayed for six months. That was a very depressing moment.
And my co-producer, Steven Markovitch from Big world cinema, you know, as a producer, he realised that we couldn’t go on like this and everyone wanted to shut down the project but I’d went too far, I spent already three years, and there was no way I wasn’t going to make that film, especially because I thought it was an important film.
So the short answer to what motivates me to keep going when I think should give up, is because I don’t just make films , I really grapple with topics that I think are important for me and people like me, people who believe in Africa, people who want a better future, so I guess that’s what keeps me going.
7. What motivates you every day to be even more successful?
What motivates me every day to be even more successful?
I don’t actually think of myself as successful. I just feel I’m lucky to do what I do. and I put my whole heart in it. I’m not sure what successful means because depending on the criteria I m actually not successful at all.
I don’t earn enough money to keep me going’, so I’m lucky that I have multiple things that I do because it keeps me floating but I engage with what I believe in and what I love and do it to the fullest.
For the past year, for example I’ve been doing visual arts. I started about five years ago, but over the past year I’ve basically only been doing exhibitions and visual art projects, and I’ve done at least four exhibitions that year and I have four or five to come this year, and I love each and everyone, they’re different topics.
And I guess it’s being able to use different formats in order to deal with all the questions you have personally and try to find a way to express them.
So as much as my documentaries are extremely talkative, my visual arts work or my contemporary arts work there isn’t a single words its just visual, I think having an alternative format to grapple with more or less same issues is wonderful, so I put my whole heart into it and try to do it as best as I can
8.What do you have to say to all of the people who doubted you?
The people who doubted me…… well I guess there’s people who still doubt me. People will always doubt others, but what will I tell them?……. I’ll tell them good luck, go find your own passion and go do something beautiful and that you believe in.
I don’t really pay attention to people who doubt me or don’t doubt me because I don’t particular…I guess…care..
I don’t care. what I’m seen as, as long as I’m doing what I think is the right thing and as long as I don’t overstep boundaries, not politically speaking of course, but overstep boundaries like don’t forecast in terms of cultural and other things.
I most of the time work with stories that I believe in and care about but I’m not part of the community I’m talking about, like for example my film about Zambia or my film about South Africa.
I lived there I cared about it but I’m a not Zambian and I’m not South African, so I do care about not overstepping cultural borders, that in order for my work to remain relevant, in order for the people from that place identify with it too. but obviously you never win everybody and if you do win everybody over….then you’ve done something wrong, as there is always one side of the story that wants negate the other,
9.What advice do you give to aspiring creative is who look up to you?
I must say I get very touched and almost embarrassed now that my age is advancing, young people come up to me and tell me that you know that look up to me or that I inspire them, it’s very touching because I guess one never thinks that work one does will resound on a much larger scale
What do I have as advice….. I basically will repeat what I have said over and over hold on to the stories you care about and go out and find out about them,
Don’t let people tell you what they about, go find your own angle go expose find discover engage with what matters to you, and I think even when people tell you oh you not the right person to do so,,oh you this oh you not allowed that, forget about all this something that you feel matters to you.
Go out and get it, and give it time and give it love, AND I UNDERLINE, GIVE IT TIME…because in our day and age its much more time than money makes a difference.
Money is obviously important but money is the way lots of people sell there soul, so if you care about something go find money in a different sector, but with your passion, give it TIME, give it LOVE.
And if it doesn’t give you enough money, don’t sell your soul for money, get the money somewhere else we all have multiple skills, so find that skill, I’ve translated, I worked as a driver …..I’ve done everything under the sun when I needed money, there’s no shame in working, so follow your passion.
Meet our top #CreatePeneurAfrica features thus far
A special welcome to #CreatePreneurAfrica, 'Publication of the Millenium', launching soon on all media platforms...
Greetings from Patrice Juah, 'Africa's guide to the future', seed host of CreatepreneurAfrica, the soul journey, showcasing the neverending treasure of skills and talent from the motherland of Africa .
"If you listen carefully you will hear all about the awe inspiring future of Africa calling out....."
From Tanzania, meet master sculptor and artist Saidi Mbungu, and his passion to share his skill and uplift coming generations with his Africa Modern Art project.
Africa, the heartbeat of rhythmic narrative voices, the home of authentic root information, is on a mission to reshape its distorted, desecrated image. Words spark off like distant echoes healing scars inflicted by the wraths of colonialism.
From rhythmic poetry to reciting kings, the pulsating echo from the motherland of Africa in streams of African literature is rooted in oral tradition, moral values, cultural systems and laws that were passed on from wood fires in the villages spreading voices to be heard, passing through the rivers and mountains.
Wole Soyinka from Nigeria spread the wings of Africa literature awareness and development after claiming the Nobel prize in 1986. Magical extraordinaire from Africa followed with Ben Okri and ‘The Famished Road’. The enchanting tale from Africa in a magical tone of realism and claimed the poetic prose Booker prize in 1991.
Somalian novelist, Nuruddin Farah received the 1998 Neustadt Prize prize. Nigerian author emerged with ‘Measuring time’ and Mozambican Mia Couto’s lyrically delicious read “The Last Flight of the Flamingo” took off in a magic realism masterpiece of note.
Sembene, Achebe, Hampâté Bâ, Kourouma, Marechera and Armah dominated the literary scene, then came the flowing voices of women in Africa with Mariama Ba and Bessie Head who pioneered African feminism.
The last two and a half decades women writers came to the fore. From the classic ‘Nervous conditions” by Zimbabwean Tsitsi Dangaremba to Cameroon’s Calixthe Beyal, showcased women from Africa that excel in literature.
Female writers came to the forefront like Fatou Diome, the acclaimed ‘The Belly of the Atlantic’ author.
The autobiographic ‘The Devil that Danced on the Water’ announced Aminatta Forna another great writer from the land of Sierra Leone, home of Syl Cheney-Coker, an acclaimed poet.
A young girl from Nigeria, ‘Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’ made her debut on the literary scene taking the world by storm with ‘Purple Hibiscus’. ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ followed, an epic of the Nigerian civil war.
Amma Darko, a tax collector expanded her creativity in Africa’s expression in the linguistic field. She published (Der VerkaufteTraum) Beyond The Horizon
Amma Darko – Beyond the horizon
Monica Arac de Nyeako from Uganda claimed the 2007 Caine Prize.
%CODE1%
The past ten years have seen the emergence of publishing houses and broadened our understanding of the savannah. The diverse narrative from Africa continues globe trotting.
The internet has widened pathways for authors to circumnavigate the traditional publishing house methods, earn revenue and create online fans. EC Osunde proved this after winning the 2009 Caine Prize for initially published on Guernicamag.com.
The Caine Prize has provided a recognition for African writing in an annual platform to ensure the development of writing on the continent.
Binyavanga Wainaina, after winning the Caine Prize in 2002 initialises, Kwani, a literary review in Africa. The infrastructure of African writing continues to develop with new publishing houses and the information exchange online of databases and African studies as well as social networks like twitter transcend all publishing barriers giving a Voice to Africa.
The Colonial Linguistic barriers dividing Africa – reinforced
The question of language was always debated regarding the logic of English in literature writing in indigenous languages grew
Ngugi Wa Thiong’ wrote his novels ‘Devil on the Cross’ and ‘Matigari’ in Kikuyu and abandoned English, the language of colonizers. ‘Devil on the Cross’ was successful in sales and emerged with 50,000 sold copies.The landmark of indigenous language in African literature.
Linguistic barriers perpetuate the divisions rooted in colonialism preventing literature from Africa to become cohesive in a movement of Pan Africanism.The Uk celebrates English writers from Africa, France endorsed authors in Francophone brackets from Mali Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.
Translations do exist, but it is common for intellectuals to get sponsored by ex-colonies. Further investment in translation in the core for Pan Africa readership and appreciation. Established pan African faculties may be the key to resolving the challengeThe challenge of building local markets and readership remains. The selection of a book in the country’s national curriculum can guarantee sales. Sales need buying power and literature is not prioritized as many live in poverty.
The selection of a book in the country’s national curriculum can guarantee sales. Sales need buying power and literature is not prioritized as many live in poverty. Writings contrast the picture of Africa as a continent of darkness and delusion with narrative posing the eclectic and fruitful real Africa.
The call for Africa to rephrase history had arrived in 1986 when Wole Soyinka took center stage as the dramatist in poetic overtones. Exposing corruption and political injustice was no smooth flowing route, -yet the mission to fade away the myth of Africa being incapable contributes to the need for Africa writing.
%CODE2%
Meet our top #CreatePeneurAfrica features thus far
