SoulProviders Workshop Week: Inspiring and Visionary
Lebogang Mgiba At the beginning of every work year we hold our annual #WorkShopWeek at SoulProviders. Featuring workshops presented by guests representing different industries, the second week of January was a chance for our team to be mind-blown, get inspired, plan their year and discuss topics and trends dominating the media landscape. Two of the speakers at this year’s event included Tefo Mohapi, the co-founder of iAfrikan and Bradley Kirshenbaum, owner of distinctly South African brands such as Love, Jozi and Eat Your Heart Out. As a team member, I found that there were many lessons to take from all the sessions, which only motivated us SP Ninjas to work harder and smarter to achieve our dreams. This is testament to the power of storytelling, and how it can influence and change lives. During #WorkShopWeek we were also treated to an exclusive preview of John Barker’s latest mockumentary. Barker’s film delved into the current state of politics in a humorous way, and at the end of the film, we were all given a chance to share our thoughts and discuss the film’s different narratives.. The big take-out for me was that you can achieve whatever you want as long as you work hard towards it and stay focused. In light of racist comments surfacing recently on social media, one of the key workshops found us exploring on the issues of race, identity and culture in South Africa. Thembi, the facilitator, did a superb task of starting the privilege and race conversation through various group-based activities that got the team thinking, questioning and understanding. New skills were imparted and lateral thinking was employed to get everyone to see outside the box. I asked some of my colleagues for their highlights from #WorkShopWeek: David Tshabalala “I loved Bradley’s talk, I think young designers in general aren’t exposed enough to to the entrepreneurial possibilities of their craft. Too often, schools train students to be robots who churn out work for big agencies and not enough credit is given to these individuals who may aspire to grow beyond the four walls of your Ogilvy’s.” Angelique Redmond Workshop week was inspirational and aspirational. The talks gave us a glimpse into some of the most creative and talented minds in S.A. It showed us that the people who make the difference or do something amazing are the people who don’t fit into boxes, who think outside the margins of their craft and push the line beyond what people are used to seeing. My highlight was the new mockumentary by John Barker – as an avid politico the film was exactly what every South...
SP Festive Moments
Festive season is all about family, food, love and laughter, and many people have sentimental things that they do every year during this time. Stay tuned as the SP team share their favourite festive moments with you… #FestiveMoments Nicole G Because we celebrate with a big meal on Christmas Eve, I always eat left over dessert and chocolate for breakfast on Christmas morning. 🙂 #FestiveMoments Lindelwa We normally spend our Christmas in Swaziland, deep in the village. Throughout the year we collect clothes for small children, as well as the clothes we own that don’t fit anymore (always in good condition, never makgasa), to donate to the orphaned and destitute children there. We go to the village because we host purposeful festivities and a feast with the rest of our family and invite the community to join us as they seldom have enough for a big celebration of the Lord’s day. Yachna We always have a production line for making trifle (one sister cuts pecan nuts, the other whips cream, the other lays out the dessert) I always paint personalised decorations for everyone with their names on and the year. I’m always the Santa, giving out the gifts, and yes, I ALWAYS have the hat on. I’m in charge of cocktail making – a new cocktail every year. I plan the decor for the table, and Christmas tree colour schemes. Every year has to be different. I’m in charge of planning and feeding a charity a few days before Christmas. Andy Going home is a big holiday thing for me because my folks live in Namibia. Holidays are always a good wind down, as going to another country out of phone signal always helps me relax. We generally spend time together baking and cooking my mom’s famous Chicken Oriental dish, drinking whisky with my dad and singing to The Eagles (Hotel California), and watching Test Cricket, christmas movies and maybe a baby video here or there :). We’ll often count the new year in over champagne and the Royal Variety Show or have friends over for a big dinner. Family walks and sundowners with my dogs in the nature reserve near home are also common practice. Simone My christmas is spent with my parents and sister, and we have dinner, play cards and boardgames and chat for hours. The last 3 years I spent christmas with my family travelling, barhopping and playing games (We LOVE BOARDGAMES). My mother makes the best peppermint crisp tart, and she always makes one just for me and I finish it by myself every year (it takes 2-3 days, but its all...
SoulProviders 2015 Fleektionary
In 2015 a number of slick slang terms became part of our vocabulary. If you’d like to add some spice to your chats with homegrown urban lingo, take a page out of the SP Fleektionary 2015. On a 100 – expression for perfection. Kaizer Chiefs’ performance in the PSL this year was on a 100. Mama, I made it (also shortened to #mimi) – expression used when you achieve something of great value. Just bought a new house #mimi Cav – imperative used to instruct someone to look at something. Cav my new sunglasses! Fetch – to address someone when he/she has disrespected you and it is expected of you to retaliate. Friend, Thobi said you don’t look nice today. Fetch haaa! Drag – to tarnish someone’s reputation. They dragged Bonang on Twitter today. Miss me – expression used when someone doesn’t want to be involved in something or with someone, or is uninterested. I don’t watch that show. It sooo repetitive. Just miss me with that. Lit – describes something extremely exciting and fun. The party was so lit yesterday! Squad – group of friends I’ll be chilling with my squad tonight. Adeleing – being emotional about something, especially something that you claim is no longer an issue. I was adeleing all day. I can’t dzeal. Inner – describes someone who claims to be something or behaves as someone they are not. This guy has been posting photos all day. He’s such an inner model. The most – describes someone doing something excessively. That girl is doing the most on Twitter. Dololo – the lack of something. I am so hungry but dololo food. Unlock – expression used when you are on the verge of great achievements, i.e. landing a big, new job. I’m so excited about my first day tomorrow. About to unlock new possibilities. Woes – friends (made popular by a song by Drake entitled Know Yourself) Can’t wait to chill with my woes this weekend. Woke – to be highly conscious and alert. You need to be woke in South Africa because so much is happening. Spicy – describes nastiness or used as an expression with a meaning similar to ‘rubbing salt into someone’s wounds’. That girl was being spicy when she said we should not talk to her. Files – evidence that could potentially be harmful, especially in digital form and taken from a social media mishap, e.g. screenshots of message threads. I was not ready when the files on that celebrity were...
Dealing with being in your 20s in Twenty-15…
By Yachna Singh Your 20s is that awkward decade where you’re not sure if you should be listening to Beyonce or Whitney Houston. Are you just a kid trying to make it in an adult world? Should you be feeling that sophisticated, should-be-getting-married-soon kinda vibe? Your friends are either travelling the world, single or having their third kid and sharing Momtastic posts on Facebook. You think to yourself – where am I, and WHAT am I doing with my life? In 2015, just how planned out can your life actually be, though? You can have the world today, and the universe tomorrow – how much is too MUCH too soon? Whether you’re in your early or late 20s, careers don’t have an age limit; experience and work ethic counts the most. There’s also no age limit to getting married and, hey, don’t just have kids for the sake of having them. Have them if YOU want them, not because your parents want to be grandparents, or your best friend’s turned into a soccer mom. The most important thing to do is to stay real and remember your purpose. It’s remarkable to observe people you see as role models; see their craziness, brilliance and their deeper thought processes. Before you know it, with focus and regular reflection, you see yourself becoming those people, slowly but surely. This growing up thing is strange to say the least, but you must remember that your thoughts, experiences and life plans can never be wrong – they’re all just a way of reminding you what you can achieve. And that’s anything. ...
Goodluck, and bon voyage!
By Ludwig Spies South Africa’s coolest electronic band, Goodluck, is now sailing with Armada Music. They sat down with us for a chat about their music, their popularity and their anonymity… Goodluck is possibly South Africa’s most ironic musical act. Although they have produced a record number of chart toppers and been touring Europe since their inception in 2011, the name Goodluck often elicits a blank expression. Play one of their songs, however, and people will sing along without difficulty. Hence, it is quite poignant that the collaboration that got them signed with Armada Music was with Dutch house DJ Jeroen Maas aka De Hofnar. Maas chose the epithet, Court Jester, to signify his entertainment philosophy: “You are the kings, I’m just here to entertain you”. Goodluck have followed a similar approach. Traditionally a no-noise, no-press type of band, their priorities are the music, the audience and having fun. Signing to Armada is big though. The label is the love child of ARmin van Buuren, MAykel Piron and DAvid Lewis and has under its umbrella some of the biggest names in the electronic dance scene. Goodluck has always been comfortable with bringing in another voice or talent to create the perfect sound, and this has seen them work with some major players. Lisa Kekaula, vocalist for Basement Jaxx, is the fierce voice on Harlem (2011) and What Would We Be (2013); and Phoenix Kayode infused their track Electro Thing (2011) with his South-East London grooves. The result has been a truly international sound, further enhanced and refined by their continual exposure to the European music scene whilst on tour. “Touring internationally as a South African band in this music scene is a complicated situation,” says Ben Peters, who does production and percussion. “I think South African artists still have something of an inferiority complex. I think we often look at ourselves and wonder whether we look as good as the rest of the world when we’re singing or playing or dancing. This is a valid question. Our industry is comparatively young, and we don’t have that production history or legacy. So we have always tried to reference ourselves against the international scene in our pursuit of attaining international standards.” Their global sound has, again ironically, contributed to their ‘anonymity’. “Just a few months ago at a gig in Stellenbosch, this guy came up to us after the show, and he’s like, ‘You guys are really awesome, but you should consider doing some original stuff.’ And we thought, ok, we literally don’t have a single cover in our set… He just didn’t know that the songs he had heard on...
We will be back!
