Ode to the 1st Lady

See I never knew love at 1st sight till I met you. . .

See today I don't want to talk about how you clothed or fed me without asking for anything in return

See today I want to talk about YOU

About how your eyes light up the mere sight of my presence,
Eyes that make me want to believe in myself even when I'm at my lowest.
I want to talk about that smile,
That smile that reminds me that even in my darkest hour
YOU ARE my Northen Star, guiding me through to the end of the tunnel
And those hands,those
Beautifully wrinkled hands,
That stitched back every heartbreak, wiped every tear but most of all
Made me call them HOME
You may think that you are celebrated only once every year but today I TELL YOU
When I look at my eyes,my smile,my hands. .
I see nothing more than a reflection of the phenomenal woman I first laid eyes on, the woman I simply call uMama

Behind the Name :Lebogang Mohlala

Let’s face it, being a young person in this day and age is pretty much the coolest thing in the world not only because we are living in a world that is as you could call free from past transgressions but also alive with endless possibilities. In celebrating YOUTH MONTH, I thought it would be great to celebrate the young people that are changing the game and using their various platforms to inspire the youth. I had the privilege of chatting to one inspirational young woman named Lebogang Mohlala. Lebogang is not only the niece of Gospel Legend Benjamin Dube but she is also an ambitious young entrepreneur that is proving that the sky is definitely not the limit if you simply learn to fly.

1. Who is Lebogang Mohlala?

Lebogang Mohlala is a God fearing, happy, driven, and ambitious young woman

2. Being the 3rd of 4 children, how would you describe your upbringing?

My upbringing was very comfortable and filled with so much love; I got a lot out of my parents’ maybe because I was the most fragile haha.

3. Family is important to you, would you say you are a daddy's girl or do you fall more on the mother's side?

That's a tough one I think I fall on both ends but dad definitely has a softer spot for me... I mean a father is a daughters 1st love.

4. You are relatively close to your younger sister, were you two always like this?

Haha we grew up like twins ,we only 2yrs apart.  We wore the same clothing, shared friends’ haha but she was my bodyguard at school. She's my best friend.

5. At school, were you the bookworm or more of the sporty type?

I wouldn't say bookworm, I had to study hard to pass hey haha. I loved the social activities, debate team, public speaking I was that pupil but I was on the swimming team can't separate me from water!!!

6. One thing that is admirable about you is your drive, what would you say keeps you so driven?

My mom and dad afforded me and my 3 siblings a beautiful life and introduced us to God who blessed me with gifts and a purpose. My drive stems from these particular reasons.

7. You started a company called Rare Talent Performance Art in 2012, how did that come about?

Rare talent is my 1st born. It all came about from the love of music and words and seeing raw talent out here not given a chance or making it cause of certain stereotypes.

8. Coming from a musically talented family, would you say that influenced your company?

It did a lot, seeing people I love who are so gifted not making it and struggling in the industry definitely pushed me and how music art just brought my family together was amazing so it's something I definitely wanted to share with the world.

9. Where do you see the company 10-15 years from now?

A conceptual house known by many globally.  Employment of over 150 creatives all over the nation in all spectrum. That's what my company would have created

10. Apart from being a businesswoman, you are a motivational speaker, what projects have you been involved in?

Currently I've been working with SLEF  (Sbusiso Leope Education Foundation) under DJ Sbu & YDF  (Yellow Diamonds Foundation) under Hloni Mohlala.

11. How important is giving back to you?

It's everything I saw my parents do it for years and the bible I read the God I believe in Jehovah Jireh is all about its my duty I may not reach everyone but one soul is all I need to impact the next soul. I live and love giving.

12. What does Youth day mean to you?

It's a day to celebrate the youth that fought for us to be here, and celebrate a new generation every year.

13. Do you think the youth of today is making the youth of '76 proud? What more is there to be done?

Definitely I mean it's diploma's, degree's, masters , honours. "On Fleek " as the youth now would say haha education is the new sophistication  now, and yes there's lots more to be done we still need to learn work ethics learn that time is the new currency and build and structure  in our own communities (the black community)

14. What does future holds for Ms Lebogang Vercia Mohlala?

It's holds nothing but endless opportunities and blessings... more business ventures. I just opened up the 1st shoe laundry in South Africa named (Clean Grip) which has now partnered up with major leading sport brands, so it's nothing but more Grace and ideas.

15. What message do you always leave behind at your talks and want every person particularly the youth to know?

Have Patience with yourself watch what you say to self because only you are listening

"FAIL" only means First Attempt In Learning

There are no 20 steps to Success!!! There are only 4

·         God

·         Love for what you do

·         Patience

·         Hardwork :)

Paint YOUR June 16th with the footprints of '76

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" words by the late Nelson Mandela

June 16th, a day that not only pays homage to the students of '76 but also acts as a platform to compare today's youth with that of 1976. Let's face it, when we look at the youth of today, nothing but disgusted clicks and stereotypes paint a rather vivid picture of the disgrace we have become. It is no wonder we don't even try anymore, I mean "the battle is already won for us so sorry for smoking up today's privileges".

Education is not what it was seen as back in '76, when students took a stand and said "I need to understand what I am being taught in order to make the difference I need to make in my  community" .Today, education is seen as something that someone simply has to have after all it is a basic human right. This creates the mentality of degrading the importance of education simply because there is no hope of making it out of the hood so why bother trying. 

The beautiful thing about the technological era we are living in that with a switch of a button, we gain access to the lives of celebrities who make that particular life of fame and fortune look so desirable yet so unattainable,forgetting that the very celebrities built their life on education and hard work. Social media has not only made it possible to keep up with the latest celebs but also keep up with the lives of our family and friends.It is with great pride that we celebrate their successes on Instagram but what about little Vusi who does not see a future beyond his worn out uniform and poverty stricken community. 

When I put on my high school uniform on June 16, not only am I reminded of the blood shed in '76 all in the name of education but as well as the sweat and tears that had to be poured out in order to show that it CAN BE DONE, CHANGE CAN HAPPEN.

All we need to do is simply take a book and READ.

One thing I admire about people particularly young people is the potential they hold, nothing beats a young person who has the drive to not only make a success of them self despite the hardships but to also make a difference and show that young Vusi that it is possible.

As you put on your uniform in commemoration of June 16, remind yourself that this uniform is not only to pay homage to the youth of 1976 but to remind the youth that the dreams that linger on in their sleep are in actual fact VALID. All they have to do is realize that education is the key to unlock the doors of endless possibilities.
Make the youth of 1976 PROUD by living the dream they died for.

The Silent Prayer

In light of the various xenophobic attacks that have been happening around our country this past month, I was asked to write a piece and recite it at a silent protest we had at the University of Western Cape.
I don't normally share such but I found it fitting as this was a cause dear to my heart. It goes as follows:

Dear African Brothers & Sisters

Firstly lemme apologies for the...how do I put it,
Barbaric and inhuman way our fellow brothers and sisters have been treating you
YES brothers and sisters
Because we are FIRST AFRICANS before we are even South Africans.

See this hatred isn't directed at you,
So sorry for being the casualities in this war between ourselves

We have been taught to hate our skin cause
that very skin,that comes in different shades
will never amount to anything.
So when we see you break those stereotypes
in a country that is deemed "not your own"
We become jealous,
saying "THAT SHOULD BE ME"

So sorry for being causalities in this war between ourselves

As we stand here today
And realize that this is not a war between me and you
Let us remember that
we BLEED the SAME BLOOD,
WALK ON the SAME SOIL
simply cause we are AFRICANS before SOUTH AFRICANS
And we say NO TO XENOPHOBIA

Wish upon the age of 20s

"I'm 20something and I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY LIFE" , these are the words uttered by almost every 20 something year old at some point in their life,myself included. I do not know about you but I've always been in this motion of having to know exactly what I am doing with my life, from knowing which high school I wanted to apply to, to which subjects I was going to take because these subjects determined which course I would be doing and which university I would be going to. Mind you, I had to make these decisions in grade 7 and my older cousins knowing exactly what they wanted to do when they finished school didn't make it any easier. I basically put pressure on myself and BAM! 20 years old,face down, hands on head wondering "Is this really what it's come to?". Don't  get me wrong, I love where my choice have taken me (I think), I just wish I didn't have my foot on accelerator cause maybe then I wouldn't be stuck on the past or the future but simply enjoy the present.

We being society have somehow adopted this mentality that we HAVE to know exactly what we want which is not a bad thing, I mean I don't think we want to be slumming in our parents' back room at the age of 40 but COME ON, I'm ONLY 20! I've only been on this Earth for 2 decades, the very 2 decades that have had me discovering that the world isn't as colourful as the pictures I painted, learning about the changes in my body and then having to fight those very changes that somehow made me different to the norms of society so sue me for not having it all figured 

out. 

I mean aren't your 20s suppose to be the BEST years of your life, the years where the world is LITERALLY your oyster. When I think of 20s, I think of the endless roadtrips I am yet to take, the random binge trips to McDs in PJs when school books have us running for the nearest exit. More than that, I think of the endless discoveries I'm yet to make not only about the people around me but rather about myself. From the random boys that we date cause we trying new things to even the strangers that we going to meet and possibly have them stand next to us as our maid of honor when we say "I do". Our 20s are literally OUR SELFISH era, where take back the years when we thought about others opinions and just simply say " MY LIFE,MY RULES"

So you don't have it all figured out yet, SO WHAT. . . . . . I'm not saying drop out and forget about the future but I'm also not saying be stuck in a routine that you forget that you are young. Like Kyoko Escamilia says "Your 20s are your 'selfish' years. It's a decade to immerse yourself in every single thing possible. Be selfish with your time and all aspects of you. Tinker with sh*t, travel,explore,love alot,love a little and never touch the ground" Now take your 20s and simply CARPE DIEM!

She dreamed and THEY CREATED. .

On the 8^th of March 2015, International Woman’s day was celebrated, a day where women across all nations, races and even ages are celebrated for the achievements that they have made in effort of bettering the lives of people especially young women. As a young woman who also wants to make a difference in the world, this day not only means celebrating the triumphs women have accomplished through the years but as well as looking back at the struggles they had to go through as those very struggles are still residing within our society.

For some like myself that don’t quite know the history behind this day, International Women’s day was first celebrated on the 28^th of February 1909 as it was first observed by the US under the Socialist Party in honour of women who were involved the 1908 garment workers’ strike against working conditions in New York. The day was established in the Socialist International meeting in Copenhagen 1910 to “honour the movement for women’s rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women”. The day also became a mechanism for the protests in WW1 in 1913 as well the “Bread and Peace” strike which was a backdrop against the war.

Upon reading this, not only did I realize the amount of courage we as women possess but the amount of strength we possess in solidarity. If you think about our generation of women today, too many of us are in competition not with men but more so our fellow women. We see the next woman as a competitor so we scrutinize, find fault and belittle her all in the name of sounding and even being perceived as being better than her. SERIOUSLY?!!! I can’t tell you how many times I've heard women call each other out on things as tedious as gossip and men. Who told us that fighting one another would make us the icons that we use to look up?

We now have young girls looking up to people like Kim Kardashian and Amber Rose who pose naked for fame and have twitter wars on who actually has a shadier past. Were we really raised like that? Where are the Jane Austens, Margret Fullers, Rosa Parks and even Eleanor Roosevelts of this generation? Instead we’d rather compare twerking notes and the latest “side chick” tips. We celebrate women and how far they have come in history forgetting that as much as the war against gender inequality as well as issues regarding women is half won, WE as the women of this generation need to fight even harder to carry on the legacy that our mothers and grandmothers have paved.

Forget what the next women is doing, having or even taking and instead BE the woman that makes other women step up their game because “a woman who knows her worth doesn't measure herself against another woman but stands strong, calm and self-confident”.

 Here’s to the STRONG WOMEN: May we KNOW them, May we BE them and May we RAISE THEM.

Because Valentine's Day SUCKS!!!

Valentine's weekend is over with some rejoicing over the end of this stupid holiday and others  are wishing it were just a little longer. Now for a day dedicated to love, for the life of me, I cannot understand why there's so much negativity surrounding this day which is quite sad if you ask me.

This isn't one of those pieces where I'll be unpacking or anything like that but rather a reflection type of piece. For as long as I can remember, I've always been celebrating Valentine's Day from dressing up in red and white all the way to writing cards to my mom and dad only to be thanked with lots of chocolate. I didn't understand this day but all I knew was that it was about celebrating love and who better than to give it to my family. It wasn't until the 5th grade when the lines got blurred, the boys in my class started asking out my friends and I couldn't understand why but I went along with it. So I waited to be asked.  When my best friend, who I secretly had a crush on, asked my friend. I vowed NEVER to celebrate Valentine's day because it was "too cliche".
Now be honest with yourself,especially those who detest this day, you only hate this day because 10 to 1, you probably had a bad experience with this day and buying chocolate for yourself is just so uncool. I don't want to lie, but I was there, still kinda am because I don't remember a Valentine's day when I wasn't alone but hey, I thought I'd try something different. Instead of waiting for someone to spoil me with gifts,roses and chocolates, hows about do it for myself or better yet someone random.

We especially ladies tend to have this idea that we NEED to GET something from someone forgetting that GIVING brings greater rewards. Think about the girls that no nothing about love except for battered faces,bruises on skin and words like "sl#t, B*#@h" resonating in their heads. Take something small as giving chocolates to a stranger or spending time with a young girl teaching her about love instead of crying over movies about how you don't have a valentine's date like Augustus Waters or Christian Grey cause don't we all need love at some point in time.