Gladys Gachanja speaks with the Youth and Gender affairs Cabinet Secretary, Sicily Kariuki Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h2WSGCo21M
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The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus – the Institute for Gender and Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit (IGDS: NBU) presents 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign.
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As the title of this article suggests, I have in recent days, following the overwhelming non-ending events that relate to the inhumane treatment of children and female adults alike, resorted to referring to this society in which we exist as a brutal one. Much as many of us would like to conceive and start our …
Continue reading “A BRUTAL SOCIETY”
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25 November-10 December…violence against women and children and all human life is abhorrent anytime of the year. #STOPVIOLENCEAGAINSTWOMEN&CHILDREN Background The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is an international awareness-raising campaign. It takes place every year from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to …
Continue reading “16 days of Activism of NO violence against Women and Children”
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Mbewu MCM – a talented director and professional photographer, Ndumiso Sibanda, take a look at the LUV ”love” short story series that this talented Afrcan artist has pulled off.
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A talented director and professional photographer, Ndumiso Sibanda, pulls of an amazing LUV ”love” short story, take a look at this talented artist’s love story compilation.
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Born in Malawi on 16 August 1990, Lily Banda made an impact under the stage name Alex as a singer and poet. Since the release of her debut album in January 2014 the artist has headlined many events where she has dazzled audiences with her charisma and energy as well as the boldness of her …
Continue reading “Lily Banda on talking about violence against women…”
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Yaa Asantewaa was named Queen Mother of the Ejisuhene (part of the Asante or Ashanti Confederacy) by her exiled brother Nana Akwasi Afrane Okpese. Prior to European colonization, the Ashanti people developed an influential West African empire. Asantewaa was the Gatekeeper of the “Golden Stool” (Sika ‘dwa) during this powerful Ashanti Confederacy (Asanteman), an independent federation of Asanti …
Continue reading “Queen Mother Nana Yaa Asantewaa of West Africa’s Ashanti Empire”
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Does “heritage” as defined simply mean where one or a group of people come from? Is it ones culture? Is it elements of what shapes ones culture?…what does “heritage” mean to you?… Images: Google
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“The kind of Africa we need today is … an Africa where the young people want to stay, not a place they want to move away from” new African Head of the African Development Bank…Akinwumi Adesina This is a call that I echo, as a young person that returned home from my studies in Australia, I hold …
Continue reading “MyAfrika, MyRootz”
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Generations came together, in an intimate setting, to talk about the harsh realities of apartheid and those that face the youth of today. Ayanda Ballensiefen, co-founder of Mbewu Movement is the grand daughter of Percy Qoboza, The World newspaper Editor that published the iconic picture of the lifeless Hector Peterson on June, 16 1976. She recalls about …
Continue reading “An emotional re-union between the Qoboza and Mandela family”
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“Freedom? You’re asking me about freedom? You’re asking me about freedom? I’ll be honest with you. I know a whole more about what freedom isn’t than about what it is, because I’ve never been free.” – Assata Shakur As I pen this article, I am overwhelmed with emotion and trepidation at the thought of change. It’s …
Continue reading “The Right To Blossom”
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In 2016, living in the city in a generally progressive country and having been raised in a loving home, I get to enjoy the privilege (or basic human right) of being free from the insane idea that my worth as a human being lies in my ability to cook, clean, bear children, or by fulfilling …
Continue reading “The double standard of feminism…”
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I have been patiently observing the debate in the last couple of weeks over racist outbursts of European South Africans that had many people, mostly African South Africans, expressing outrage and collectively naming and shaming the racists. I couldn’t help but notice that, while the naming and shaming of individuals yielded results, not enough emphasis …
Continue reading “Restoring our dignity: How can Africans defeat racism?”
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A group of women sit in a bar, lamenting the ills and dangers of manoeuvring within the modern world. Mentions of cat calling, cheating and unknown children abound. Further down the bar a man overhears this conversation and, his man-sense tingling, steps in. ‘Ladies, the thing is that not all men are…’ With that one …
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Music has the power to build community, entertain, help you unwind and introduce new lingo; Kat Kai Kol-Kes examines how one song is playing a potentially dangerous role in defacing queer people in Botswana. It’s usually not a bad thing when a quirky radio hit single talks about something you can relate to; the key …
Continue reading ““Robete”: How one song is erasing queer identity in Botswana.”
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Image: Ndumiso Sibanda One of my favourite things to do at a dinner party is ask two simple questions. Question one, “Name five great men of African history?” At this point the candidate very confidently steam rolls out the names of these men. I then follow the unknowing dinner party mate with the second question, …
Continue reading “The Beautiful Ones are not yet written”
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On Friday 13 November 2015, unknown assailants attacked multiple venues throughout Paris, killing over 100 people in what is now known to be a terrorist attack. As news spread all over the world the hashtag #prayforparis/#prayersforparis started trending on Twitter and Facebook. Shortly after this Facebook released a new profile picture feature which allows users …
Continue reading “#GriefBias, a personal confession”
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The UN Women 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, began last week Wednesday on 25 November 2015. The Campaign will continue until 10 December 2015, Human Rights Day. According to UN Women, “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls …
Continue reading “Mbewu Movement Supports 16 days of Activism!”
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They were not born free! The children that were born into a democratic South Africa were not born free, not by the standards they were promised. Nothing about their realities resembles freedom, the plight of the students of 2015 and that of students in 1975 is one and the same. One placard in seen in …
Continue reading “#FEESMUSTFALL”
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The peak of the #FeesMustFall protests around South Africa might have passed by, but there is still activity in the struggle to change funding models for students with disadvantaged backgrounds to have increased opportunities and access to tertiary education. Lwanda Mahanjana, a 24 year old young man from Black Matter Media, captured the events in …
Continue reading “[VIDEO] Watch this moving short film on #FEESMUSTFALL”
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In 3 consecutive weeks I had the privilege of attending talks, workshops and conferences where amazing African female leaders from different industries were key note speakers. I attended a UNWomen talk where Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was sharing or unpacking rather the plight of the gender goals in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which follow-on from …
Continue reading “What I Learnt in 21 Days…”
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The internet of course is a thing of wonder. The cacophonous din which can be created by the magnification of opinions and ideas bouncing around its various echo-chambers can also be marshalled for both good and bad. On the one extreme the mob’s schadenfreude-driven propensity for public shaming and online bullying is a hallmark of …
Continue reading “Idris Elba as James Bond: A License to Thrill”
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One of my favourite places in our experiment of life has always been black women hair salons. For many a black woman, the journey with her hair is as interesting a story as her journey to get over that bad ex with the smoothest voice and twinkling smile. So, in 2015, after India Arie freed …
Continue reading “Hair Food for Thought”
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I have always believed there was more to me. Deep down inside, I knew that there was a purpose to all the madness, there was a reason for every season and that I was yet to make my mark. In between all the daily challenges, that belief remained within me, however, in the first half …
Continue reading “Woman, YOU are talent!”
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In the second episode of our 5 part Leadership Series, Mbewu Movement asked young professionals and students whether they can name 5 African Presidents currently in office. You’ll be surprised by the responses! Can you name 5 African Presidents? If you can’t, why do you think this is the case? Comment and let us …
Continue reading “Mbewu Leadership Series #2: Can you name 5 African Presidents?”
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Guy 1, 27, Legal field Guy 2, 29, FMCG field Guy 3, 28, ICT field Guy 4, 29, Logistics field Common traits: Young, black, handsome, successful, baby-daddies. Now, allow me the airtime to hammer down this “baby daddy” adjective…I went from knowing no “baby daddies” to going on dates with four relatively successful and handsome …
Continue reading “Young, Black, Baby Daddies//Heartbreak?”
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Mbewu Movement conducted a series of interview-based discussions with young professionals and students in Johannesburg on various topical issues. In the first contribution to Mbewu Web Series we asked a few participants what they think about the current generation of South African youth. What are your thoughts? Make your comment below. A special thanks to WeCreatives for …
Continue reading “Mbewu Leadership Series #1: What do you think about SA Youth?”
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He is acknowledged as being one of the ’10 young power men in Africa’ by Forbes Magazine, recognised by President Barack Obama as one of the ‘Young Global Leaders’ and he is also one of the individuals who is shaping where the next African generation is going; he is Fred Swaniker. Today marks a symbolic, …
Continue reading ““The next African Leader starts with You-th”…Fred Swaniker”
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“The kind of Africa we need today is … an Africa where the young people want to stay, not a place they want to move away from” new African Head of the African Development Bank…Akinwumi Adesina This is a call that I echo, as a young person that returned home from my studies in Australia, I hold …
Continue reading “#MyAfrica #MyRoots #MyHeritage Series # 1”
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In a recent interview I read, Shonda Rhimes was quoted saying: ‘it is important that diversity is not just a word and that we actually all at one or some point get to see ourselves in mass media’. Stereotypes sell. Stereotypes are bad because they perpetuate one grande, mass idea about a certain group of …
Continue reading “Being Mary Jane…”
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Image: Daily Maverick Dear Reader, I would like to take you on a short trip down memory lane… Flashback to February 2005- I just arrived at my university res and as I am unpacking my bags with my mother I am introduced to my roommate for the year, the first person I have ever met …
Continue reading “Mbewu Movement- One Africa For ALL Africans!”
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I am a UCT alum and I recently attended the UCT Association of Black Alumni (UCTABA) event which hosted a discussion with Vice Chancellor, Dr. Max Price. The event was quite well attended and, having never been to an UCTABA event before, I found it refreshing to network with familiar and unfamiliar black alums. In …
Continue reading “Have we let our schooling interfere with our education?”
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The birth of a child is a time that brings joy, happiness and life to the parents and the extended family at large. It is a time where a mother is expected to be elated and taking charge of the responsibility to care for the child by all means. These are your expectations before you …
Continue reading “A chapter in the book of motherhood – Postnatal Depression”
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Watching the Black Girls Rock awards and listening to Michelle Obama’s speech talking about her own experience: “when I was a girl, I had parents who loved me and believed in me. I decided that I wasn’t bossy. I was strong. I wasn’t loud. I was a young woman with something important to say. When …
Continue reading “In the midst of RSA celebrating freedom…we acknowledge that 'Black Girls Rock!'”
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As I say goodbye to my life as a student in the UK, I also bid the magical city of London a teary farewell too….indefinitely. Counting the months down before my visa expires has definitely gotten my nerves working over time. What’ll be the next step, which will be the next country or city, the …
Continue reading “Bidding my past self farewell”
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Where do you see yourself in the next 2… 5… 10… years? In the C-Suite? Then make sure you get your ticket to the next Mbewu Movement event featuring guest speaker Priscillah Mabelane, CFO of BPSA, who will be sharing her journey with us on 14 April 2015. Mark your calendars!
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We are one people, your pain is our pain. To the families of the victims of the Garissa University attack, we mourn with you. God bless Africa, guard her people and guide her leaders.
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Fred Swaniker (born c. 1976) is a Ghanaian serial entrepreneur and leadership development expert. He has launched five organizations that aim at developing leaders, primarily in Africa. He is the chairman and founder of the African Leadership Academy, an institution located outside Johannesburg in South Africa that aims to develop 6,000 transformative leaders for Africa …
Continue reading “The Generation That Can Fix Africa….”
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Almost every year around this time, there is that one person who will ask me: what from last year will you take with you into the new year? How I have viewed this question is, “what lesson(s) did you learn in the past year?” After the year I’ve had, it is no surprise that my …
Continue reading “2014 Lesson: Vulnerability Equals Strength”
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On Saturday, 11 October 2014 the Mbewu Movement community had breakfast with Sandisiwe Vilakazi, who is a Communications Specialist at the Secretariat for the National Planning Commission. The topic of discussion was “The Role of Young Women in Shaping our National Development” and naturally this attracted a group of young women who were both excited …
Continue reading “The time has come for the South African Dream”
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Yes! The global economy is primarily in the state it is in because “it’s a mans world”…well not entirely but we are where we are because of the ways in which the ‘powerful’ men have decided to run the world economy for decades. Watch this highly inspiring talk ‘Davos 2014 – Gender Driven Growth’. The …
Continue reading ““Should women be running the global economy?”…”
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I recently watched a video link, posted below, about dating beyond ethnic and national lines. The essence of the discussion reminded me some 4 years back when I brought a Kenyan boy home, I could see the hesitation in my mothers eyes while she tried to play ‘cool mom’ and suss him out all at …
Continue reading “When it comes to love…there are no boundaries. Really??”
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The Mediterranean climate is very conducive for thirst-quenching exercises involving the consumption of certain distilled beverages. And in so exercising (as I often do), I happened to come across this interestingly articulated packaging of a certain beverage (above). Earlier in the week I had also come across (in a shop) a Lindt ‘Chocolate Negro’ – …
Continue reading “Brothers and Sisters: Guest Blog by Sifiso Skenjana”
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Confidence is something we assume a lot of women have, but is this really the case? Recently I questioned myself, just how deep does our confidence run? And why is it such an essential part of the journey to success? Before I try and answer my questions, I want to relate a short story about …
Continue reading “The one thing you should never be afraid to flaunt – Confidence!”
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This past week in Fermo, I had the rare pleasure of witnessing one of the most anticipated and sought-after events of the year; the Palio dell’Assunta (horse race). This is an ancient festival (considered the oldest Palio in Italy) held annually in the city of Fermo since year 1182. A pageant, showcasing unique traditional regalia …
Continue reading “A Dive Into Italian Culture”
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“Men have the liberty of shaking their hips without their intelligence being questioned, but women don’t.” (Plank, 2014) Multi award winning, Mega super star, Legend of her time, Beyonce Giselle Knowles Carter, 32, has been at the centre of the discussion concerning sexuality and feminism. I cannot help but giggle at the thought of the fact …
Continue reading “Sexuality and Feminism”
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I come from a small town in the Eastern Cape called Ntabankulu, it is one of the most impoverished towns of the Eastern Cape. Ntabankulu has the lowest life expectancy and HDI in the country. HDI is essentially the measure of the quality of life in values ranging from 0 to 1, with 1 being …
Continue reading “iMbewu goes to London”
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It is September 2014 and I am currently 26 years old, female, (South) African. I was raised in a single parent household. I have been involved in two fatal car accidents in my life, I have been involved in an almost freak drowning incident, I have been a victim in a house robbery, I have …
Continue reading “Against the racks on racks on racks….Feminism”
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[ted id=1753] Jackson Katz is an anti-sexism educator, thought leader and feminist. He posits that violence against women should not be seen as a men’s issue and it is up to both men and women to make a change. What struck me most about this talk is when he mentioned that as society, we should …
Continue reading “Jackson Katz: violence against women- its a men's Issue”
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I think we can all agree that there’s nothing better than veggying out on the weekend and watching useless reality television that makes us feel better about our lives and our problems. My penchant is the Real Housewives franchise specifically The Real Housewives of Atlanta. I love it! And I’m not ashamed to admit it. It’s …
Continue reading “The FAKE (house)wives of Reality TV”
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I was on a bus on my way to a party this past Saturday night when a guy, who happens to be Afrikaans, tapped my shoulder to ask if I were South African. It certainly was a lovely surprise. I asked how he had guessed. It was the accent, he said. Accent? I have always …
Continue reading “Xhosa meets Afrikaner in Milan: an opinion on languages in South Africa”
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I have noted a number of status updates on Facebook over the past few weeks that mentioned this concept of “wife material”. Some had lists, others merely asked what exactly does this concept of “wife material” mean. This also got me thinking, and these are some of my thoughts on the matter. Firstly, I must …
Continue reading “Marriage Material (Guest Blog by Lihle)”
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#MondayMindfullness a throwback to an interview by #MbewuMovement co-founder Nswana Mwangu titled: “I am not my hair, I am not my hijab”
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On March 21st, South Africa commemorated one of the most significant days in the nation’s history; Sharpeville Day, which we all formally know as Human Rights’ Day. This day was also declared the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by the United Nations. We celebrate it each year to remind us of the …
Continue reading “Remembering Sharpeville”
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A talented photographer and director, Ndumiso Sibanda compiles a 3-part love short story. Watch the final part that this talented artist pulled off.
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A talented photographer and director, Ndumiso Sibanda compiles a 3-part love short story. Watch the final part that this talented artist pulled off.
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A song pregnant with meaning and highly suited to Heritage Month. Directly translated: “Have you forgotten who gave birth to you/made you?”…A song by one of South Africa’s iconic musicians, Thandiswa (Red) Mazwai. Nizalwa Ngobani The world changes, revolutionaries die And the children forget. The ghetto is our first love And our dreams are drenched …
Continue reading ““Nizilibele uba Nizalwa Ngo’bani”…”
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Source: Taking your Career to the next level.
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Watching the Black Girls Rock awards and listening to Michelle Obama’s speech talking about her own experience: “when I was a girl, I had parents who loved me and believed in me. I decided that I wasn’t bossy. I was strong. I wasn’t loud. I was a young woman with something important to say. When …
Continue reading “In the midst of RSA celebrating freedom…we acknowledge that ‘Black Girls Rock!’”
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“Peace to fashion police, I wear my heart / On my sleeve, let the runway start / You know the miserable do love company / What do you want from me and my scars? / Everybody lack confidence, everybody lack confidence / How many times my potential was anonymous? / How many times the city …
Continue reading ““I” – A Promise To Myself”
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It’s a Wednesday and we would like to throw back a piece Mbewu Contributor Siya Gule shared: thoughts on #CatCalling…”At the heart of it all is the idea of gender roles in society as seen through the lens of a larger power dynamic. Whether it was Michelle Obama, Sheryl Sandberg or Beyoncé…” Thank you for a male perspective Siya
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As we reach a close to Women’s Month in South Africa, we as Mbewu Movement would like to say a speacial ‘Thank You’ to our personal sheroes. In so doing, we also acknowledge all the women that influenced, nurtured and inspired all the women we admire, look up to and seek guidance from. We Salute …
Continue reading “Women’s Month Tribute”
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[ted id=1753] Jackson Katz is an anti-sexism educator, thought leader and feminist. He posits that violence against women should not be seen as a men’s issue and it is up to both men and women to make a change. What struck me most about this talk is when he mentioned that as society, we should …
Continue reading “Jackson Katz: violence against women- its a men’s Issue”
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On August 9 1956, 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the pass laws of the Apartheid government. This law required women of colour to carry passes when traveling, thereby restricting their movements. Today in a democratic South Africa, 9 August is a national holiday commemorating those fierce women …
Continue reading “Women’s Month”
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As a young (South) African female, temporarily in the United Kingdom, in an international educational institution, I thought it would be a great idea to gauge on “out of the classroom” perceptions of my peers from all over the world on what they think/feel/believe when asked “African women are”… and below were some of the …
Continue reading “African Women are…Booty?…Here’s what the ‘World’ had to say…”
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