KHULUMA January 2020

THE SOOTHSAYERS DISCOVER

says the conical strips of solutions out of necessity CHANGE AHEAD
illustration – ‘a 90-metre rather than having been
high three-dimensional trained for it, and that’s Last year, the South African
work of art, really’ – are also a beautiful thing; Mint released a series of six new
also a reflection of ‘the when people find amazing commemorative circulation coins
“making by hand” aspect of solutions purely out of need, not as part of their SA25 – Celebrating
design that I love about our country’. for a competition or a client. That’s
Moletsane’s design reconfigures our African spirit – an ability to make South Africa coin series at
African vernacular illustration styles things happen, whether that means Constitution Hill. ese coins mark
– barber shop signs and hand-painted working with small budgets for a cash- the rst time that members of the
typography and gives it her own spin, strapped client or a guy who didn’t have public participated in developing the
says Botes. electricity at his house and so connected themes for the coins. ‘Born Frees’
a windmill to his bicycle to create his (people born in a democratic South
Crucially, Botes says South African own electricity.’ Africa) were invited to provide their
design tends to reflect not only local But if you are really looking for views on democracy, freedom and
culture but an awareness of what’s those unsafe, theatrical and utterly
happening internationally: ‘We tend to unexpected elements that Lynch says culture. eir perspectives, many
look at the world holistically.’ He says are pronounced in South African design, of which are aligned to the rights
our outlier status, our sense of being far look no further than illustrator-turned-
away from the global mainstream, fuels designer Atang Tshikare. Tshikare, enshrined in the Constitution,
an interest in knowing what’s happening who started out as a graffiti artist in uenced the design concepts.
elsewhere – we tend to stay abreast of the in Bloemfontein, and more recently
international scene. ‘Ultimately, though, transitioned from surface design e outcome of this work was the
our South Africanness drives us – and to illustrating skateboards and introduction of ve new
that’s a beautiful thing. A lot of it is design
R2 circulation coins, depicting ve
di erent rights in the Bill of Rights,
as well as a new R5 circulation coin

featuring the design of a ballot
box and a long queue reminiscent
of South Africa’s rst democratic
election in 1994.  ese coins were
designed by Neo Mahlangu, Maaike

Bekker, Rusty Knayles, Peter
Mammes and Lady Skollie.

kulula.com JANUARY 2020 149

DISCOVER THE SOOTHSAYERS

ONE LONG THREAD collaborating on everything from we are as South Africans – who I am Words: Mart-Marié du Toit, Keith Bain, Pictures: Brett Rubin, Adam Stark, Sarah de Pina, Lutendo Malatji, Jimmy Reynolds,
furniture and wallpaper to wooden as a Tswana man.’ Michelle Reynolds, Njabulo Magubane and Simanga Zondo, Siyanda Mbele, Sir Abner, Sifiso Shange, Supplied
We’re all for reading about fashion sunglasses and sneakers – calls South
design, but what about those designing African design ‘an acquired taste’. Lynch tends to agree that it’s this
‘Foreigners come here and see things gut instinct, this spirit of designing
the fabric? Sir Abner, the artistic they’ve heard people talking about, but from a truly authentic place, that
director, textile print and graphic they can’t fathom how it’s going to fit makes South African design stand out.
designer for David Tlale Couture, can into their homes.’ ‘I think the more pride that people can
tell you all about that. He views himself find in their cultures and the more they
as the creative synthesiser who weaves Tshikare (below) makes pieces that use that to speak globally from South
ideas, design, fashion, aesthetics and don’t fit the traditional mould at all. Africa, the better,’ she says. ‘It builds
street culture into a single vision. ‘My Take his light fitting called Maotwana a positive confidence and that’s what we
grandmother is my creative muse. Finyela (‘Small infinite footprints’) so desperately need. There’s so many
She is rooted in her tradition and her that looks like a bizarre creepy- things that are not great. But this creative
accessories all have meaning relating crawly creature – some biomorphic, outpouring is one of the great things.
to her Nguni culture. From the bangles insectoid thing with six legs and This is one aspect of our incredible
she wears to her uniform fashion sense, lights for eyes. It’s executed in bronze country and incredible people that we
it tells a story.’ Sir Abner approached and is admittedly gorgeous, but is can be super-proud of. That there’s this
completely out of the box, utterly non- dynamic culture that’s always changing
David Tlale with a proposal to conformist, playful, weird and – while and morphing and it’s because our
revolutionise South African fashion functional – could just as well be used designers are connecting and there
and in that bold move, found his rst as a sculpture. ‘Function is secondary,’ are all these layers upon layers.’
real break. His most recent project he says when asked to explain what it
together with Pongrácz designing the is. ‘People ask me, “why did you make
Bold Print of the Year to be unveiled that thing?” But it’s such a colonial
early 2020, is set to showcase the future way of thinking. I do what I want – so
of design in South Africa. ‘My entire that I can actually create my own
career to date is paved by collaboration. world, you know?’
Whether it’s joining forces with other
creatives or my many diverse positions Tshikare says he doesn’t make
in the industry, I keep on pushing things ‘so that someone can beautify
their house’.
the boundaries at each turn. e
Bold Print of the Year campaign is ‘I create for myself first. And then
incredibly exciting.’ For it, he designed for other humans. If it comes from
three prints to represent our South the gut, it’s so much stronger.’
African creative, fashion and consumer
spirit as well as Pongrácz’s Be Bold While its execution may come
philosophy. His three prints, called from his deeply personal, instinct-
Nostalgia, Populist and Djembe all have driven ‘gut’, there’s always
an unmistakeable African feel, but with an initial story, a deeper
encoding of heritage
a modern, vibey undertone. and culture, places
and people. ‘It’s
foremost about
taking my voice
out there, so
people can
understand who

150 JANUARY 2020 kulula.com





THINGS WORTH HAVING DISCOVER

MINGLE / BROWSE / BUY

CONNECT & COLLECT

AFLALV-OSUERAISTOEN

Your African
Summer

Inspired by the sights and
colours and warmth of Africa,
the new Wild Cat design range
from sustainability-focused
Love Milo pays playful tribute
to the continent. The range,
which includes large bags
and totes, scatter cushions,
deckchairs, storage baskets,
table runners, napkins and
picnic blankets, incorporates
a playful animal-print design,
a quirky wild feline character 
and three shades that are
drawn from African landscapes:
Natural, Veld Green and
Terracotta. Definitely a few
items in there that you could
use for your next trip to the
beach. Or for the next picnic in
the park. lovemilo.com

kulula.com JANUARY 2020 153

Body wrap Cape Town, 1 February
Place your Sun Met bets
Two new designs have been added to Horses, fashion, air-kissing
the small line of limited-run oversized and bubbly all come together
dupatta scarves at Skinny laMinx, in one furious gathering
a boutique store in Cape Town. Made when Africa’s richest race
from the softest Indian cotton and day returns to Kenilworth
printed with vegetable dyes using Racecourse on 1 February.
traditional wooden printing blocks, the Not only an opportunity to
new designs are called Sun & Moon dress up and flaunt your best
and Matchsticks and are simply exquisite – lightweight, beautifully soft to the touch, and at the social event of the
wonderful for draping, wrapping, folding or twirling around the body. skinnylaminx.com summer, it’s also a chance to
watch exhilarating races and
Ring of Africa fuel your adrenaline by placing
a few bets on favourites and
Shimansky’s My Africa Pavé Ring is set outsiders. You don’t even need
with 57 round brilliant-cut diamonds studded to be at the track to be part
around the contours of the continent from of the action. You can stake
which the precious stones are extracted. your wager online using your
shimansky.co.za favourite device. wsb.co.za

Sounds too good to be true

The worst thing about some of our nearest and dearest
electronics devices these days is short battery life.
But some electronics manufacturers are rising
to the challenge. These Taotronics TT-BH046
SoundSurge Plus Hybrid ANC BT4.2 Over-Ear
Headphones not only deliver high-quality audio and
outstanding active noise cancellation, but can function
hassle-free for up to two hours after a mere five-minute charging session.
Plug them into a source for 45 minutes and they’re good to go for up to 30 hours
of listening. syntech.co.za

Tanzanite queen

A thousand times rarer than diamonds, tanzanite is
the main feature of these cushion-cut halo earrings
from the Shimansky Ayanda Queen of Tanzanite
collection. The tanzanite cushion main feature is
surrounded by micro diamonds and set in the purest
18K white gold. shimansky.co.za

154 JANUARY 2020 kulula.com

THINGS WORTH HAVING DISCOVER

xExxdxibxlxesxx

Hout Bay, Friday–Sunday Wait for it…
Bay Harbour Market
Africa Made Only is a small clothing Changing the way you get food into your kitchen, Buyfresh.co.za is an online grocery
enterprise started by Ryan Amory in store with aims to disrupt the traditional supermarket experience. Or, in some ways, return
2018. His belief is that everything that us to that time when milk arrived – super-fresh and properly creamy (remember?) – on
can be made locally should be. The the doorstep. The upside of shopping online with Buyfresh is that you get to help reduce
result is a range of hoodies, peak caps, the footprint of your food – and by cutting down all
t-shirts and shorts produced from locally the in-between steps and cold-chain components
sourced fabrics such as shweshwe and of big business supermarkets, you get food fresher
wax prints – much of what’s produced and with greater return to the farmers who grow
is made from leftover fabric as part of a what you eat. Buyfresh works directly with small,
zero-waste programme. Find their stall artisanal producers and farmers and delivers to
at Cape Town’s Bay Harbour Market on your door using eco-friendly reusable cooler bags.
Friday nights and all-day Saturday and Amazingly, if you live in the immediate Cape Town
Sunday. bayharbour.co.za area, you can order online before 10am and expect
same-day delivery – free for orders over R350.
buyfresh.co.za

Best in show

Considering how much quality olive oil is
being produced in South Africa, it’s almost
unimaginable that anyone would buy an
imported brand these days – especially since
doing so dramatically increases the chances of
buying something dodgy and possibly tainted
by anything from vegetable oil to seed oil. For
true home-grown goodness, look no further
than Tokara, a premium producer of extra
virgin olive oil (EVOO). Tokara’s oil has been
ranked among the world’s finest according to
Flos Olei 2020, the ultimate guide to EVOOs.
Tokara’s was the only South African olive oil
to make the list – its light and fruity Premium
blended oil was recognised as ‘the best’ in the
world in its category. The blend combines oil
from Coratina, Leccino, Frantoio and Mission
olives for a lovely herbaceous character. Don’t
take our word for it, though – the Tokara wine
and olive farm (located on the Helshoogte
Pass between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek)
has a wonderful deli where you can stock up,
and enjoy lunch with a breathtaking view, too.
facebook.com/TokaraDelicatessen

kulula.com JANUARY 2020 155



THINGS WORTH HAVING DISCOVER

xxxxxxxx

McDougall and From Cuba   One small change
the mule with love
South of the border If you are looking for a compass
Born to Run, Christopher From Penguin Random House, that’s relevant to where we are
McDougall’s first book, had a Borderline (also available When Paul Theroux travels, he right now, then Jonathan Safran
profound impact on running culture in the original Afrikaans as doesn’t just float through a place Foer’s second non-fiction book, We
around the world and to a large Grensgeval) is the new book Are the Weather: Saving the
extent switched countless people from Marita van der Vyver. snapping a couple of selfies at Planet Begins at Breakfast, is
onto the benefits of running on A letter discovered after the major tourist sights. He observes, right on the mark. His gorgeously
mountain trails rather than tarmac. death of her husband takes he interacts, he gets to know the constructed words offer heartfelt
Plus, he did a lot to make folks Theresa on a journey of analysis of our relationship to
rethink what they wear on their discovery. When she travels underbelly, the heart, the soul
feet when they run. His new book to Cuba to try and unpick the of a place. Often in breathtaking the earth and the part each
Running with Sherman brings detail – and sometimes in ways and every one of us plays in the
an unexpected twist to the fitness secrets revealed to her by the greater picture. At its core, the
memoir genre. McDougall’s new letter, she is also compelled that seem a bit frightening, book suggests that we should all
purpose is to use running as a to confront the reality of her because he truly observes and reduce our consumption of animal
way of restoring a donkey’s faith own past – growing up in South products: ‘We cannot keep the kind
in humans. He sets out to run Africa during the so-called he asks questions. Then he of meals we have known and also
with an ill-tempered, obstinate, Border War in Angola, when weaves together his journeys in keep the planet we have known. We
uncooperative donkey named so many of us carried on with spellbinding prose packed with must either let some eating habits
Sherman – who has been ill- humour and insight. He makes you go or let the planet go,’ he says. It’s
treated by humans – and restore life ignorant of what was want to pack your bags and hit the that simple. It’s a very real attempt
his dignity and self-worth. What an happening to those forced road. In On the Plain of Snakes, to persuade us to act now in order
imaginative and wonderful story to to help mitigate against the steadily
into conscription. he journeys into and across worsening climate change crisis.
kick off the new decade. Mexico, traversing areas that are

said to be off-limits and often
filled with harrowing histories and

the stories of frightened people
heading for the US. It’s an eye-
opening journey that also dares to
care about the people that Trump

has worked so hard to vilify.

kulula.com JANUARY 2020 157

ADVERTORIAL

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ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY

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discov A NEW QUEEN IN TOWN DISCOVER

er something n
Words: Keith Bain, Picture: Supplied

ew
STREAM THE QUEEN

Dropping on Netflix next month, Queen Sono features Pearl Thusi as you’ve never seen her before. Not
only is she starring in the streaming service’s first-ever African original script-to-screen series, but it
promises to be a story unlike anything Mzansi has yet put out. The series – developed and co-directed

by Kagiso Lediga who was on our cover last month and based on Thusi’s suggestion of creating an
African Tomb Raider – takes us all over the continent, delivering a deliberately Pan-African flavour.
The six-part series features Thusi as a secret spy faced not only with dangerous missions but some

convoluted personal dramas. The cast includes hunky Vuyo Dabula and Sechaba Morojele, with
comedians Loyiso Madinga and Rob Van Vuuren playing two of Queen’s fellow agents.

kulula.com JANUARY 2020 159

aknhdualunmswGaoeonrtlotihnies.criod.dzale: Photographs: Sven Kristian, 3000ad/istockphoto.com
wWithhaotugt ebtesinbgrohkeelnd?

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