Khuluma January 2019

THE SPIRIT OF UBUNTU EXPLORE

FIND YOUR

HAPPY
PLACE

The Atlas of Happiness is a beautifully conceived new book
by Helen Russell. In it she takes a lively look at how various
nations around the world celebrate and express that one human
emotion of which we could all use so much more. As a taster,

here’s her chapter on South Africa’s spirit of ubuntu

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 99

EXPLORE THE SPIRIT OF UBUNTU

Ubuntu (pronounced ‘ooh-boon-to’), noun, in Bantu languages, from -ntú, meaning ‘human being’ and ubu – a pre x to form the abstract
noun ‘humanity’. A term in use since the 19th century that means, ‘I nd my worth in you and you nd your worth in me’; a sense of
interconnection and the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. Bantu is spoken by Bantu peoples spanning Central
Africa, Southern Africa and the African Great Lakes region, but the concept of ubuntu has been claimed by South Africa in the past 30 years
as a humanitarian objective to live by.

It’s 2013 and the memorial service became a term used by South Africans
for Nelson Mandela is being to assert their own identity and values in
broadcast on television screens opposition to previously imposed colonial
worldwide. Barack Obama is giving ones. The concept was popularised in the
a eulogy in Soweto, Johannesburg, and 1950s, via the writings of Jordan Kush
halfway through his stirring tribute, he Ngubane in The African Drum (now Drum
says: ‘There is a word in South Africa – magazine) and by the 1970s, ubuntu
ubuntu – that describes his [Mandela’s] was shorthand for a special kind of
greatest gift: his recognition that we are African humanism.
all bound together in ways that can be
invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness
to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by
sharing ourselves with others, and caring
for those around us.’ This was the first
time I had ever heard the term ubuntu –
having been too young to fully appreciate
its significance during the anti-apartheid
movement. But it struck me. And I became,
for a while, mildly obsessed.

‘So you should have been,’ Vusi,
a friend of a friend from Welkom in the
Free State province tells me. ‘Ubuntu is an
ethical approach to life that’s crucial for
happiness. It’s about feeling interconnected
– living in peace and harmony with others
– and it’s the essence of humanity.’ Big
claim, Vusi, big claim… ‘But it’s true,’ he
tells me, ‘because how can you be happy
if the people around you aren’t?’ He’s got
a point. Ubuntu is a philosophical term
but it’s also strongly linked to traditional
community values. ‘And it’s who we are as
South Africans,’ says Vusi.

The concept was first documented
in 1846 as a way to express the need to
restore dignity to the people of Africa after
the cruelties of colonisation. Ubuntu later

100 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com

THE SPIRIT OF UBUNTU EXPLORE

In the 1990s, 2004 book, God Has A Dream, he told
ubuntu went global Dr Frank Lipman, ‘Ubuntu is the essence
as a guiding light for the of being a person. It means that we are
anti-apartheid movement people through other people. We can’t
and even appears in South be fully human alone. We are made for
Africa’s Interim Constitution, interdependence, we are made for family.
created in 1993. When Nelson Indeed, my humanity is caught up in
Mandela became the country's first your humanity, and when your humanity
black president in 1994, set on tackling is enhanced, mine is enhanced as well.
institutionalised racism and fostering Likewise, when you are dehumanised,
reconciliation, the notion of ‘I am because inexorably, I am dehumanised as well.’
you are’ looked set to define modern
South Africa. Archbishop Desmond Tutu Ubuntu is about placing a high value
promoted ubuntu as a theological concept on the life and wellbeing of another
that drove his work as chairman of the human being. It means ‘compassion’ and
South African Truth and Reconciliation ‘respect’, says Vusi, and today it’s viewed
Commission. In an interview about his as an ethical tenet that promotes mutual
understanding and generosity. All of us
have a collective responsibility with ubuntu
and a community is advanced through
recognition and appreciation of individual
difference – not in spite of it. So whereas
sceptics of socialism fear that compulsory
sharing makes everybody worse off in the
long run, ubuntu proposes that helping
those around us simultaneously improves
our lot – as well as society as a whole. ‘It’s
inclusive and embracing,’ says Vusi, ‘and
it’s probably the most important lesson
I live my life by.’ But aren’t we always being
told not to take all the troubles of the
world on our shoulders? Won’t we suffer
from compassion fatigue if we care too
much, about everyone? ‘No,’ is the answer:
‘Because “everyone” is your family,’ says
Vusi, ‘they make you, you.’ He doesn’t mean
this literally, rather that our connection to
humanity is ‘always wider than our blood
ties.’ Ubuntu means saying to the people
around us: ‘I understand your struggle.
I appreciate your journey.’ And we’re all on
a journey of one kind or another.

Ubuntu means saying to the people around us:
‘I understand your struggle. I appreciate your journey’

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 101

EXPLORE THE SPIRIT OF UBUNTU

Nelson Mandela’s autobiography Long

Walk to Freedom documented his

27 years in prison on Robben Island. He

had more cause than most of us to be

pretty hacked off with the world, and

disinclined to take on any more Helen Russell’s
of its pain or its problems. But The Atlas of Happiness
that was never an option is a wonderful, long-overdue book
for Mandela, because revealing the secrets of what it takes to
of ubuntu. In 2006, the be happy in different parts of the world. Apart
South African journalist from Mzansi’s culture of ubuntu, she explains
Tim Modise interviewed Bhutan’s concept of Gross National Happiness,
Mandela and asked how he Irish craic, pura vida in Costa Rica, Japan’s notion
would define the concept, of wabi-sabi, how the Swiss apply ‘Federerism’ and
to which Mandela replied: what tarab means to Syrians. In fact, there are
‘In the old days when we were chapters on 30 different nations, and each will
young, a traveller through surprise you with the ways in which humanity
a country would stop at a village, strives to be more human. It’s published
by Two Roads and may be the most
important book you read

this year.

and he didn’t have to ask for food or

water; once he stops, the people give him

food, entertain him. That is one aspect

of ubuntu.’ be seen in action in South Africa today. iPhones and the internet and people
focus on “stuff”. But this isn’t ubuntu –
Ubuntu doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t Inequality is rife, corruption is widespread and wanting more “stuff” only makes us
unhappy in the long run.’
look after ourselves, rather that we and, as Vusi says, ‘South Africa is still not
Jay Naidoo, a former minister in
also have an obligation to ‘enable the a happy country.’ Ubuntu can be Mandela’s cabinet turned political and Pictures: Illustration by Naomi Wilkinson © Two Roads, Helen Russell portrait by Simon Meyer
social activist, argues in his book Change:
community’ around us and so ‘enable challenged by modern life and as Vusi Organising Tomorrow, Today that: ‘We
need to retrace our steps and build the
it to improve', as Mandela put it. By this warns, ‘We’re often told by the media spirit of ubuntu. I appeal for a return to the
values that made us a political miracle in
measure, ubuntu is the promise of an that in order to be happy we need more 1994.’ He told South Africa’s News 24 in
2017: ‘We have to co-create a new future
open society and a sustainable future for money, or to look a certain way or dress in which we have humanity, love, and
compassion. We cannot only write about it,
all. That’s not to say ubuntu can always a certain way – we live in a world of we must live it.’

HOW TO LIVE AN UBUNTU LIFE So don’t just read about ubuntu: live it.
Feel for your fellow man or woman, no
• Forgive. Yes, this is hard. O en painfully so. But it’s always the best way to matter where they are from, what they do
make progress. for a living, or how much ‘stuff’ they have.
As Vusi puts it, ‘We have to harness ubuntu
• Appreciate your journey. It may not be as dramatic or noble as some but it’s yours – to go beyond our individual limitations
and owning it can help you move forward. and to be able to challenge whatever
boundaries are thrown our way.’
• Cherish the people who make you, you. And remember: family isn’t just about
blood ties. Open yourself up to humanity at large.

• Care more. Even about people you don’t know. Even when it hurts to look at
the pictures of despair and desperation in the newspapers. Because that’s life. As
Desmond Tutu said: ‘I am sorry to say that su ering is not optional.’

• Ditch Descartes’ ‘I think, therefore I am’ – it’s time for a new philosophical bumper
sticker: ‘I am, because you are.’

102 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com





HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW DISCOVER

DISCOVER
People. Ideas. Things.

Words: Keith Bain, Picture: Robyn Davie YESTERDAY’S SHADOWS

James Delaney’s Rhino Orphanage is an installation comprising
various metal sculptures that interact with sunlight – the resulting
shadows on the walls and floors of Joburg’s Afropolitan Gallery

are poignant reminders that these large herbivores are rapidly
disappearing from the wild. Delaney’s work forms part of Rhino

Record, a group exhibition showing at the gallery in Victoria
Yards, Lorentzville until 5 February. The show brings together all
kinds of art centred on the theme of rhino conservation as part of
the gallery’s support of a campaign by Brandon Challis to raise
awareness. Challis is making a bid for a Guinness World Record by
creating the largest painting in the world, featuring 1 200 life-size
rhinos on 11 000 square metres of fabric. afropolitangallery.com

Internet stars 106 Robots with soul 123 Future intelligence 131 Movie-star cars 140 and Africa on the rise 157

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 105

AND NOW…

They say that video killed the radio star, but
now it’s online digital that’s ending TV as we
know it. While traditional formats flounder, sites
like YouTube have handed broadcasting over to
the public so that virtually anyone can become
a star. We asked digital media entrepreneur
Danilo Acquisto to pick five local YouTube

channels worth following

106 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com

WHAT’S ON THE TUBE? DISCOVER

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 107

DISCOVER WHAT’S ON THE TUBE?

igital media provides a space on the kind of news that broke that of reality shows with scripted production,
where people can express week. Pap Culture features three young and has the benefit of allowing our
themselves, find audiences black women – Nwabisa Mda, Thembe subscribers to relate to us and interact
and build communities. Platforms like Mahlaba and Bongeka Masango – who – so they feel like we’re online friends.
YouTube are great, democratic spaces talk specifically about issues relevant YouTube has created tons of opportunities
for people to be themselves and share to young black South African women. for me. I now host my own hair coaching
their stories. And the more people share They’re quite feminist and quite bold sessions, have been a guest speaker
their stories, the more you can change the and they talk about everything from at major South African hair events and
world. I believe that by just giving people finance to menstrual health. There’s lots I advise hair brands on how to appeal
permission to be themselves, you can happening in the fashion and beauty arena better to the natural hair community.
change the world. – someone like Cynthia Gwebu is really I believe YouTube will be bigger than
I have a vested interest in all this, of bold and is gaining a massive following. TV as we know it. We live in the digital
course. I believe in the power of digital age, and within the next five years
and want to help people harness that These YouTubers are part of a new many more South African brands will
power. I run a company called Special wave of social influence. They each be allocating major portions of their
Effects Media South Africa; it’s a YouTube have enormous reach within their advertising spend to YouTube – in the
multichannel network that manages audience communities, and it’s a reach form of adverts and through sponsorship
online content creators including most big that’s growing. of videos made specifically for YouTube.
South African YouTubers. So, we are an When that happens, I aim to have the
agency for digital video content, currently YOLZ CHANNEL best hair and lifestyle channel in Africa.
the only one like it in the country. We are I intend on being a leader in the youth
the middle man. We sign content creators Star? Yolenda Jawe empowerment space.
onto our books like managers and we What? A beauty vlog running since Danilo’s take? Yolenda wants to be
look for opportunities for our YouTubers October 2012 a household name and she wants to
to expand. We do this by initiating digital Concept? Teaching women to grow and change people’s lives for the better. She’s
campaigns for large companies. We go love healthy natural hair. among the most relatable beauty vloggers
to brands and we help them construct Audience? Over 22k subscribers out there – she’s authentic and genuinely
influencer campaigns using our digital Her view? I love the YouTube platform cares about the people she wants to reach.
video creators. Ultimately, we show these and how it doesn’t require expensive Her laugh is also incredibly infectious – you
companies that YouTube is the future and studio-level video production demanded can tell that she loves creating content.
that any long-term video strategy has to by traditional TV. It mixes the spontaneity
include YouTube. Yolz
Nadia Jaftha is among South Africa’s Channel
most popular influencers on YouTube
at the moment; she’s built an incredible
digital following on Instagram and
YouTube (over 30k subscribers). Her
videos get between 10 and 20 thousand
views each and she releases content
weekly. She has a solid following.
Then there is The A1 which is an
entertainment news channel started by
Moyin Oloruntoba – she can get up to 40,
50, even 60 thousand views, depending

108 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com

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WHAT’S ON THE TUBE? DISCOVER

MicroWave
Boys

LibeRebil

MICROWAVE BOYS hustlers out to change the world, they YouTube has had numerous benefits,
represent a notoriously hard to reach from boosting my self-esteem to
Stars? Larry Nqdha Nhlane, Sipho South African demographic. Their enabling me to do things I never
Muchindus and Sphatamiso Ngonyama chemistry as friends comes across well dreamed possible – like being flown
What? A weekly show on the on camera and their infectious humour around by car manufacturers to
Anarchadium channel since will make your belly hurt from laughter attend launches. It’s also great having
February 2017 and will make you nod quietly as they say subscribers who defend me in the
Concept? Three friends talk current what you have always thought. They’re comments section.
affairs. Topics up for discussion are sharing the thoughts and opinions of the Danilo’s take? Most car review
placed into an imaginary mental youth. They’re pulling in followers on channels are brand channels and you
microwave – heated discussion follows. their social media platforms and have don’t get a real sense of the on-the-
Audience? Anarchadium has over a radio show. Keep an eye on them – they ground appeal of a car before you
16.5k subscribers have big things planned. buy it. Niyaaz humanises car reviews
Their view? We were tired of seeing and he speaks to a community of car
local shows on TV that we didn’t LIBEREBIL enthusiasts who are on the ground. He
resonate with so we set out to fix that. doesn’t only focus on the latest and
Being on YouTube has opened doors for Star? Niyaaz Isaacs greatest models. He looks at vehicles
us, including creating opportunities to What? A highly personal vlog-style at various levels and with modifications,
collaborate with local and international channel since March 2015 so it’s a lifestyle channel. At the same
fans. The love we get from our viewers Concept? Cars. Cars. Cars. time, he’s incredibly knowledgeable
is very rewarding. The main challenges Audience? Over 19k subscribers and and skips the hard sell in favour of
of being on YouTube in South Africa are 3.6 million channel views honest opinions. And his community
centred around data costs – there are His view? I do this because of my really values those opinions. I wouldn’t
plenty of great content creators but high passion for automotive engineering. be surprised if traditional media start
data prices still stifle growth. I was initially inspired by a YouTuber leaning on him for expertise.
Danilo’s take? They’re the coolest named Maxx Chewning. Being on
kids on the internet block. Opinionated

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 111

DISCOVER WHAT’S ON THE TUBE?

NHLANHLA ON LIFE Fashion FUNNYTUBE: MZANSI’S Pictures: Supplied, Ricardo de Leça, Mickey Hoyle, AlexRoz/shutterstock.com, Vik/shutterstock.com, Maxx-Studio/shutterstock.com
Breed BIGGEST CYBER-
Star? Nhlanhla Hlangu COMEDIANS
What? A daily upload channel Danilo’s take? His
featuring commentary and audiences really appreciate his views – no Mark Fitzgibbon (25k subscribers)
opinions about the entertainment matter how controversial some of them is a lad from Cape Town who
industry since September 2016 are. He’s one of the only South African works at the aquarium; he’s
Concept? An avid fan of South YouTubers who broadcasts in his mother super-funny, super-camp and
African soap operas, Nhlanhla tongue which makes him very unique. downright hilarious. He’s not
– in a very honest and laidback way – terribly brand-safe because he uses
talks about storylines, the on-screen FASHION BREED some vloekwoorde, but he captures
characters and the off-screen lives of the a uniquely Cape humour that’s
soapie stars. Star? Aqeelah Harron Ally made him one of the biggest local
Audience? Over 40k subscribers, with What? A fashion, lifestyle and travel YouTube comedy stars.
over 15 million channel views. channel since October 2013
His view? I won’t lie. Initially, I did it for Concept? For women seeking modest Okay Wasabi is the work of
the money. I made some good cash out fashion advice. Joburg-based George Mnguni.
of YouTube. But with time, I’ve come to Audience? Over 18k subscribers He’s a comedian who does online
really love the format – and what it can Her view? My channel is a lighthearted, skits. Having been discovered,
achieve. One thing you learn on YouTube is happy place. YouTube is now by far my he appeared doing a funny rap
how to grow a thick skin. Initially I wasn’t favourite platform. I’m a perfectionist so sequence in a recent Toyota advert.
prepared for some of the voices in the I’m always working to improve my
comments section – but they soon teach production values – in this respect, YouTube SuzelleDIY is the queen of South
you to toughen up. I enjoy knowing that has taught me patience. You get there African comedy YouTubers; she has
I’m being taken seriously and I like being gradually. A personal milestone has been over 142k subscribers. Her classic
a mentor to young people. Although I recently reaching 1 million channel views ‘How to Make a Braai Pie’ posted
enjoy meeting my fans, it’s not about and extending my reach internationally. four years ago has been viewed
fame for me, but a sense that I can My next goal is to get that 100k subscriber around 1.16 million times, while her
change the world. I enjoy being a kid from plaque delivered to my door. I’m working my most-viewed video on the Internet,
ekasi and sharing my journey with people. butt off to achieve that. ‘How to Make a Cinderblock
I see myself owning a dedicated YouTube Danilo’s take? Aqeelah is the only creator Bench’, has had 2.7 million views
studio within five years. And I want to on YouTube in South Africa creating since it was posted in August 2015.
be known as the YouTube guy. this kind of content at the level she
does. She’s joyful and bubbly and works Awkward comedy duo, Derick
Nhlanhla incredibly hard – and it shows. She speaks Watts & e Sunday Blues, who
OnLife to women who want to dress modestly create parody songs that ri current
and yet beautifully and in this respect a airs and stupid politics, have
she has captured an untapped audience. 157 947 subscribers. eir ‘Do
you Wanna Build a Wall?’ Donald
Trump parody to the tune of a song
from the Frozen soundtrack, has
been watched over 32 million times.

e biggest of the lot, though,
is Caspar Lee, who has been based
in the UK for years now. His
prank channel, Caspar, has over
7.48 million subscribers.

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BABALAS BEGONE DISCOVER

voodooTHAT
(THAT YOU DON’T DARE DO)

pictures: xxxxxxx Originally Afrikaans, ‘babalas’
is taken from the Zulu word
for drunk, ibhabhalazi. In any
language, a hangover is painful.
But what if there was a miracle
cure? Gaynor Lawson uncovers
some of the craziest babalas
cures known to humankind

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 115

DISCOVER BABALAS BEGONE of your head. The raging An
thirst. And, of course, ice bath
T he word ‘hangover’ was the grunge band will scare
incorrectly presumed to thumping inside most demons
originate from Victorian your skull.
workhouses, where the down-on-their- away
luck slept by draping themselves over We feel so awful
a stretched-out rope. Although this because, basically, we feast. How about
appalling sleeping system did exist, this is haven’t drunk enough. adding a teeny-
not the origin of the word. It was, in fact, Not of that evil poison called tiny yellow bird
first used in the early 1900s, and referred alcohol, but of that vital, life-giving to the mix?
simply to something lingering – or hanging elixir – water. Alcohol is a diuretic, so Cast your mind
over – from before. And, oh how it can you end up losing water while partying. back quite a few
linger. If you ended 2018 with a bang, then The more you drink and the higher the generations now
you may well be reeling in the aftermath concentration of alcohol in the drinks – can we trust those
still. The queasiness. The dizziness. Those you choose, the more dehydrated you'll animals of excess, the
moments when your eyes feel like they become. To talk biology for a short while, ancient Romans with their
are trying to catch up with the movement alcohol suppresses the release of the day-long gorging and quaffing,
hormone vasopressin, which normally to have insider knowledge of hangover
directs water released by the kidneys cures? Well, their remedy also called
back into the body. Without vasopressin, for fried food – but they believed in the
this water heads instead to the bladder restorative power of whole fried canaries
to be eliminated. That bashing rock-band rather than chicken eggs. Pliny the Elder,
headache is the result of temporary tissue the author, naturalist, natural philosopher
shrinkage, when your thirsty body pinches and all-round wise guy Roman, apparently
water from your lushly hydrated brain favoured this cure. His recipe is a bit vague
cells. Alcohol also causes inflammation about whether the bird was de-feathered
of the stomach lining, which can trigger or eaten ‘as is’, but the consensus was that
diarrhoea – another dehydrating condition. those crunchy little bones did the trick.
Talking of animals and all things furry
So, biology class over, onwards to the and feathered, do you know how the
cure. The only 100% effective method, we phrase ‘hair of the dog’ came about?
all know, is to abstain, or at least to limit It refers to the belief that an alcoholic
your alcohol intake. Add a glass of water drink can ease a hangover, based on the
between tipples and you’ve got a winning concept that ‘like cures like’, and it dates
formula. But there are those who swear back who knows how far into antiquity,
that they have another way to beat the when people believed that rabies could
post-partying punishment. Some of these be cured by placing hairs taken from the
remedies can be quite ghastly – be brave, dog that inflicted the bite into the wound.
noble reader. Please note that rabies kills mammals
– so stay away from rabid animals of
Fried food plays a large part in most all shapes and sizes and get your pets
morning-after fix-you-uppers. Often vaccinated annually. And no, ‘hair of the
recommended is the full English breakfast, dog’ won’t work. It just tops up the alcohol
a messy, massive plate-load of two fried levels (a hangover supposedly peaks
eggs (soft/sunny side up), bacon, sausage, about 12 hours after you start drinking), so
baked beans, fried tomato. Include fried you're merely prolonging your hangover by
bread for a truly terrifying artery-clogging drinking more alcohol. Bite the bullet and
get it over with… or get it sorted, perhaps
with one of these cures, though some
may make you consider giving up
booze forever.

116 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com





BABALAS BEGONE DISCOVER

In Bolivia,
soup made from the
intimate part of a bull
is the national cure for
hangovers; a cold shower,
though, may be easier

to swallow

The ancient Greeks, believing that fried hide yurt, Mongolians slurp down a cocktail Another crowd with a curiously
canary was too naff, espoused a hearty made from tomatoes and – wait for it – quirky cure are the drinkers in Puerto
breakfast of sheep lungs and owl eggs. pickled sheep eyeballs. Two of them. Rico: they suggest rubbing a slice of
What is it with birds and eggs? And as lemon or lime into the armpit of their
for sheep lungs, what poor hungover Some cures, though, are just plain daft. drinking arm – although this one is not
soul could swallow those down, fried And at the top of the list, naturally, are so much for the aftermath as it is for
or not fried? the Irish – known for their fine whiskies supposedly preventing the dreaded
and deliciously pitch-black Guinness. Irish hangover in the first place. It certainly
Let’s head to the scenic island of Sicily, legend has it that the best way to cure a adds zest.
home to the Cosa Nostra mafia since the hangover is to get some chums to bury
early 19th century. These guys are tough you in wet river sand up to your neck. This Also rather offbeat is the cure
and brutal, as can be seen from their probably works like a cold shower. While suggested by Haitian voodoo
favoured hangover cure – dried bull penis. it’s happening, you’re probably too busy practitioners: they apparently advise
Supposedly it restores virility and makes praying that you don’t get pneumonia to the patient to stick 13 black-headed pins
a new man of you. This might soon become worry about the screaming pain in your into the cork of the offending bottle that
a thing of the past – aspirin must surely be head. And you need to ask those lads who punished them. I have no idea how you
easier to get your hands on, and keep down. buried you to dig you out when you start punish these blasted screw-tops found
to feel a bit better. on most bottles today, though.
But would you – hungover or not –
Pictures: SDL/shutterstock.com, supplied be able to quaff and keep down a mug In Russia,
of rabbit poop tea? It’s the must-have being beaten with
morning-after cure of American cowboys. birchwood in a sauna
It’s only grass and water after all. Yeehaa! is one way to overcome
a night of vodka-
Another nasty-sounding culinary cure fuelled mayhem
prepared, in Turkey, for the terminally
hungover is tripe soup. Cow inners boiled
with garlic, onions and cream. This is also
a popular fixer-upper in Mexico.

But possibly the most gut-churning
recipe of all hails from Mongolia. After
a good night-long thrash in an animal-

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ROBOTS FOR AFRICA DISCOVER

WIRED
Forget high-tech AI, Andrew Thompson steps into
a workshop where robot creatures are being made the extra old-

fashioned way

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DISCOVER ROBOTS FOR AFRICA

A bird known for its streetwise tenacity, a starling was one
of his first wire robot creations

I n Ralph Borland’s cluttered Woodstock Satisfied with the performance,
studio, a motley crew of wire-art Ralph picks up the flailing creature, its
critters is slowly coming to life. whining mechanisms competing with the
Ralph lowers the volume of the tinny background techno. He flicks the switch,
techno echoing from his computer and, returning it to sleep state, and places it
like some dark overlord, picks up a fierce- alongside the other stationary bots.
looking wire army ant between his two
fingers. It’s about the size of a fat guinea Among them is a futuristic wire owl.
pig, sans fur, with a sturdy wire skeleton When a proximity sensor on its chest is
keeping innards of electrical wires, covered, its Furby-like eyes pop open with
chipsets, LED lights, and plastic toy parts a mechanical clunk, and then glow red.
from spilling out. There are also a few small birds crammed
full of computer chips, electrical wires, old
He flicks a switch hidden on its exterior iPod shuffles, and cellphone parts. And
and the ant squirms to life. He watches the another large insect – maybe a termite
movement with an almost morbid look of – with a whirly fan and LED lights on its
satisfaction, before placing the struggling back. It has touch-sensitive feelers that
creature on the studio floor to shuffle off activate a rainbow of lights whenever they
into a workbench leg centimetres away. make contact with a foreign object.

124 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com



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ROBOTS FOR AFRICA DISCOVER

They use basic electronics – the kind you’ll find in old
Nokia cellphones and mass-produced battery-operated toys

pictures: xxxxxxx Overseeing the entire scene from distorted repetitive chirps fills the studio
a wooden perch on the wall above Ralph’s as it raises and lowers it wings repetitively,
desk is a bird seemingly disinterested in its red LED eyes – fixed to a bottle top
mingling with the common bots below. inside its skull – are glowing menacingly…
It’s a starling, Ralph tells me, a bird known
for its streetwise tenacity, and also one The idea to make wire robot animals
of his first wire robot creations. ‘I thought using basic electronics – the kind you’ll
that as a clever urban bird, the starling find in old Nokia cellphones and mass-
would make a perfect robot,’ he says, produced battery-operated toys – first
explaining that there’s a cultural history of came to Ralph while he was wandering
mechanical birds that he wanted to through the organised chaos on the deck
tap into. above Cape Town’s train station a few
years ago. ‘I went up on the deck, and
His fingers run along the perch to find between the fast-food stands
a red detonator-like button, which he and hairdo places, there were
pushes to bring the life-size wire artwork little stalls where people
to life. The sound of mashing gears and repair cellphones.’

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DISCOVER ROBOTS FOR AFRICA

It struck Ralph that there might be a way form the guts of his animals. They created ‘There’s something rewarding Pictures: Andrew Thompson, supplied
of hybridising the electronic parts these wire prototypes using basic sketches and about these African objects eating and
guys were using with the wire artworks Plasticine castings, and then fitted them incorporating these foreign elements,’ says
the street artists were doing. with generic computer chips that would Ralph. ‘The artists working on them also
bring them to life. find it pretty empowering to take Chinese
Ralph was also fascinated by the almost toys, strip them, and build their own,
viral nature of street wire art – how within Although Ralph has since refined the original creatures around them. Usually
days of a popular film like Finding Nemo process and incorporated a custom-built what they see is Chinese goods flooding
hitting the circuit, there’d be artists selling chip, he still loves the beauty in their our markets.’
wire clown fish at intersections across simplicity. ‘I specifically wanted them not
the country. to look like a western hobbyist’s project, Ultimately, it doesn’t matter that Ralph’s
but more like something that could’ve starling will never learn to fly like a drone,
He figured if he could combine basic assembled itself on the street.’ or that his army ant can’t make its way
electronics from old cellphones and around the table leg. What’s important is
other found gadgets and toys with more The new custom chip means the robots the response these rudimentary robots
traditional wire art, he could launch a new have more power and greater capabilities. elicit from people who encounter them. ‘It
breed of African robots across the country. He uses what he calls ‘toy hacking’ to doesn’t matter that what’s driving them is
collect relay switches, little fans, lights, quite simple,’ he says. ‘It’s that you laugh
Ralph commissioned wire artists to speakers and movement mechanisms and you feel affection towards them.’
build the basic wire frames that would from the gadgets he plunders.
accommodate the electronics that would

THE OTHER BOTS All of this makes it a pretty neat bot for robots based on their existing
search and rescue missions – its intended silicon RealDoll design
Looking for a robot that’ll do more than purpose – though it’s unlikely that the – essentially playmates
make you smile? Dubai has introduced sight of this threading its way through for adults. By adding
robotic cops and Hanson Robotics the undergrowth will be particularly a robotic head with
has produced ‘Sophia’ who performs comforting. bostondynamics.com facial expressions (and
surprisingly well in interviews. And then YO2D2. Your next hotel check-in, or a swappable face system),
there are these… room-service delivery, might not require eye and mouth movements,
ASIMO. is was one awkward small talk or uncomfortable and links to a Bluetooth speaker system,
of the rst androids to tipping decisions. at’s because robotic they’ve created an AI-enabled bedroom
delight the world with butlers like YO2D2 are springing up at companion just like Henry here.
its startling human-like hotels around the world. ese functional realbotix.com
ability. is waist-high robots greet arriving Junko Chihira. If you prize social skills
humanoid robot was guests, deliver items to over agility, then Toshiba’s Junko Chihira
crammed full of sensors rooms, and even hang may be your match. is trilingual
that enable it to scale and out with guests at hotel android is alarmingly human-like in
descend stairs, pick up bars, in case they weren’t appearance, and has what many consider
objects, break into a sedate jog, and even already feel alienated to be the best interaction skills of any
respond to voice commands. First created enough. savioke.com bot currently on the market. She’s
in 2000, Honda stopped production RealBotix. If there’s one employed full time at a tourist
last year. thing Westworld has information point in Tokyo,
SpotMini. is small dog-like robot can taught us, it’s that robots will do anything where she’ll happily strike
trot over pretty much any terrain without they’re programmed to, including taking up a chat about the city’s best
a problem, and even pick care of the deepest human fantasies. Folks attractions in your choice of
itself up if it happens at RealBotix are cra ing custom-tailored Japanese, English, or Chinese.
to topple over.

128 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com





JUST ADD AI DISCOVER

Artificial intelligence is JANUARY 2019 131
changing the world in ways
human intelligence has
struggled to anticipate. But
are we ready for the rise of
the robots? Anthony Sharpe
moves to the algorithm

n May last year,
Anthony Levandowski
– an engineer who built
Google’s self-driving
car, co-founded an autonomous-truck
company, and found himself at the centre
of a massive lawsuit – filed papers to the
United States IRS related to his founding
of a church called Way of the Future. The
intention of the church is: ‘the realisation,
acceptance, and worship of a godhead
based on artificial intelligence developed
through computer hardware and
software’. According to the organisation’s
website, ‘Way of the Future is about
creating a peaceful and respectful
transition of who is in charge of the planet
from people to people + “machines”.’

kulula.com

DISCOVER JUST ADD AI

This isn’t just
the stuff of science
fiction anymore

Beyond demonstrating that Silicon route to your hotel? AI. The creepy way of Ultron. But this isn’t just the stuff
Valley types should probably do a little Facebook recognised faces in images of science fiction anymore; some very
less navel-gazing and a lot less cocaine, you upload? AI. The hulking, emotionless smart people have voiced concerns
and moreover that you really can man bearing an uncanny resemblance about this, including Bill Gates, Elon
start a religion based on anything to the former governor of California Musk and the late Stephen Hawking.
(Way of the Future was granted tax who you drove past on your way to the
exemption three months later), it’s airport? AI. One smart person who isn’t too
a sign of the times: AI – whereby worried, however, is Geoff Nitschke,
computer programmes use complex ‘I’M AFRAID I CAN’T LET a senior lecturer in the Department of
algorithms to perform tasks usually YOU DO THAT, HAL’ Computer Science at UCT performing
requiring human intelligence – is research in a host of AI-related fields
changing our lives in unforeseeable, Of course, while some folk may tend including evolutionary computation,
exponentially more numerous ways. to take the increasing ubiquity of AI artificial neural networks and neuro-
for granted, others are rather more evolution. He’s currently working on
If you haven’t recognised that fact, concerned about its increasing power. evolutionary robotics, ‘which combines
it’s likely because of something called The technological singularity refers AI and robotics, specifically taking
the ‘AI effect’, a process whereby as to the idea that once artificial super- biological (evolutionary) systems
any AI-based technology becomes intelligence (ASI) is created, it will as inspiration for machine learning
sufficiently integrated into people’s rapidly develop at an uncontrollable algorithms that are tested in real (and
lives, they stop seeing it as intelligence pace, with implications potentially simulated) robots’, and sees fears of
rather than computation. But you’ve beyond our imagination. The idea of ASI a dystopic future as absurd.
probably used AI several times already gone rogue has been a fiction staple
today. Your email spam filter? Powered for years, from 2001: A Space Odyssey ‘Many will argue that one of the
by AI. Google Maps finding you the best to The Terminator and Avengers: Age reasons future super-intelligent machines
pose a threat to us is that they, as

132 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com





JUST ADD AI DISCOVER

machines, will lack emotions and the of humans to be created, could pave the explains Nitschke. ‘In such a computer,
capacity of the human condition,’ says way for a future with ASI.’ the electrical impulses firing on organic
Nitschke. ‘This is based on assumptions connections between the artificial
that we can isolate human intelligence I HAVE NEURONS, neurons would be the software, and the
from other human characteristics such as THEREFORE I THINK, physical network of neurons would be
emotion, especially empathy.’ THEREFORE I AM the hardware.’

These considerations aside, there’s The thing is, human brains are This, says Nitschke, might pave the
the little snag that even contemporary complicated beasts, comprised of way for the development of something
supercomputers are not even remotely gazillions of neurons that exhibit akin to the intangible self-awareness
up to the task of handling this sort a degree of plasticity – that is, they of consciousness. ‘However, if the
of software. ‘The emergence of can grow, adapt and change over time. computer remains a disembodied entity,
ASI is theoretically possible,’ says Compare this to the rigid constraints of like a brain in a jar, then consciousness
Nitschke. ‘However, our current silicon-based microchips, and it’s clear seems unlikely since thousands of years
computer technology, despite rapid there’s little competition. That’s where of evolution of brains together with our
pace advances, is insufficient to the field of neuromorphic computing bodies seems to have played a key role
result in an ASI. It would take a comes in, the goal of which is to mimic in developing the capacity to problem
fundamental change of computer the function of a biological brain using solve, reason, speak, experience
architectures, languages, theories a new type of computer. ‘This computer a lifetime of events and perhaps to even
and computational methods. For will be made up of artificial neurons be self-aware.’
example, major breakthroughs in and neural tissue engineered from
neuromorphic computing, allowing replicated organic materials that make This evolutionary factor is cited by
brains of comparable complexity to that up biological central nervous systems,’ others as a constraint on the possibility
of a ‘hard take-off’ scenario: where an

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 135

DISCOVER JUST ADD AI

AI takes over the world in a matter of system are opaque. This is known as the often loses trust by overpromising and
hours or days. Moreover, think about how ‘black box’ concept in machine learning. underdelivering,’ says Cronje. ‘We need
often you upgrade your cellphone. Now to be careful in communicating clearly
imagine if you had to upgrade your brain. A major branch of research looking to what it is good at and what it is bad at.
address this is that of explainable Right now, it is too easy to imagine AI
THINKING INSIDE AI (XAI), whereby the machine’s actions to be human-like intelligence where, in
THE BOX can easily be understood by humans. fact, it is far away from that.’
The importance of this is underlined by
If artificial intelligence faces trust the increasing use of AI in credit-scoring, He’s quick to point out, however,
issues, it’s probably largely because profiling, medical and that it’s not an easy thing to do.
most people don’t understand it military applications. ‘Communicating what AI is doing and
(humans have a pretty well-documented can do is difficult. One of the underlying
history of fearing that which they don’t Frans Cronje is managing director principles of the AI theory is that
understand). But here’s the kicker: even and co-founder of DataProphet, a Cape through allowing AI to develop complex
programmers don’t always understand Town-based company that uses machine understandings of the task it is working
why AIs arrive at the conclusions they learning to optimise process parameter on, it necessarily needs to be more
do – they give inputs seeking certain control in manufacturing. He sees XAI complex. This means the better the AI
outputs, but the inner workings of the as a critical part of the company’s is at a task, the harder it is to explain
message. ‘AI historically and currently what it is doing. Communicating that
relationship is difficult.’

Understanding AI is also a key part
of regulating it, but those tasked with
developing legal frameworks often don’t
understand the technologies they’re
dealing with. Nitschke believes AI
experts should be involved every step of
the way. ‘Consider recent controversies
about the use of algorithms to automate
or assist with all kinds of jobs around
the world, everything from ethnic bias
in facial-recognition systems used by
law enforcement, or internet bots used
to write and disseminate fake news
articles and influence political events,’
he says. ‘AI experts are indispensable
for explaining the how and why, and
correcting such AI applications so they
are suitably used.’

WORK LIKE A MACHINE

Beyond the issues of understanding why
it does what it does, what we should
be more conscious of is how AI is going
to affect our economies and the way
we work. While history shows that
technological advancements have

136 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com



DISCOVER JUST ADD AI

traditionally usually resulted in net job It isn’t going away; it’s only going and rate of learning of each learner, pictures: Phonlamai Photo/shutterstock.com, supplied
gains, economists aren’t so sure this to get smarter. What people need to providing demonstrations, problems
time round. do now is adapt, prepare... and reap and solutions for an individualised
the rewards. AI is steadily working learning experience,’ says Nitschke.
A study published in March this year its way into almost every facet of our ‘This means the AI application would be
by the Organisation for Economic Co- lives. Nitschke cites customer-service itself learning what each learner needs
operation and Development of 32 of its and behaviour-analysis bots, big-data to do and at what pace.’
member states found that automation analysis, computer games, biometrics
will impact almost half of all jobs, but for security and cybersecurity, and Is AI going to take over the world?
that the risk isn’t even. self-driving cars and drones as just It just might – but perhaps not in the
five areas where AI is making a huge ways we expect. ‘The current state
Only 14% of jobs are highly impact. On the local front, he also sees of research is still only at the point
automatable, while another 32% have great potential for AI in the education of building very narrow, and very
a 50–70% chance of being significantly system, such as with apps that provide specific, AIs that can perform just one
affected by automation, in a way that a tailored learning experience to task, and that cannot reason through
changes their skill requirements. Of students. ‘The AI role in such “teacher” environments they haven’t seen before,’
concern is the report’s finding that, applications would be that the says Cronje. ‘When an AI can have an
despite widespread concerns that the application adapts to the competency argument with you, then we will need
AI revolution will do to white-collar jobs to worry.’
what the last industrial revolution did
to blue-collar ones, lower-skilled jobs
are the most at threat: ‘Automation
is found to mainly affect jobs in the
manufacturing industry and agriculture,
although a number of service sectors,
such as postal and courier services,
land transport and food services are
also found to be highly automatable.
The occupations with the highest
estimated automatability typically only
require a basic to low level of education.
At the other end of the spectrum, the
least automatable occupations almost
all require professional training and/or
tertiary education.’

FOUR AFRICAN AI STARTUPS TO WATCH

A erobotics: This local firm uses drones (pictured right) and AI to scan farms, providing farmers with valuable data on crop health
and feedback in order to maximise yields and reduce costs. aerobotics.io
Clevva: Stellenbosch-based Clevva helps companies by programming the logic they use to make decisions into virtual
advisor apps, or chatbots, which assist staff and customers. clevva.com
Xineoh: Consumer-targeted marketing is becoming the new norm, and this Bloemfontein-based startup uses a
combination of AI and machine learning to predict consumer behaviour, identify business opportunities and price
goods accurately. xineoh.com
U benwa: This Nigerian startup has developed an app that uses machine learning to analyse the amplitude and frequency
of a baby’s cry to monitor for signs of birth asphyxia, the third-highest cause of death in children under five years of age. ubenwa.com

138 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com



BACK TO THE

future(AUTOMOTIVE)
When it comes to movies and motoring, life often
imitates art, with film inspiring designers, drivers and
dreamers to create the cars of tomorrow.
Anthony Sharpe fires up the time circuits for a drive
from cinematic history into the automotive future

140 JANUARY 2019 kulula.com

SILVER SCREEN SOOTHSAYERS DISCOVER

E ver heard of the DMC-12? Of slip through a gap in the space-time
course you have. It’s one of the continuum. And while there are, as
most famous cars in history, yet, no plans to fit it with a garbage-
thanks to the Back to the Future movie guzzling fusion reactor, the Quant runs
franchise. You probably know it as the on something pretty novel: electrolytes.
DeLorean, however, because it was It’s powered by something called a
the only model ever produced by the flow battery, which uses two different
(ill-fated) DeLorean Motor Company. electrolyte solutions interacting over
With its unpainted steel frame, gull-wing a membrane to produce electricity,
doors and sleek, 1980s-futuristic profile, which is stored in the fluids themselves.
the DMC-12 left burning skidmarks on
the popular imagination as few movie NanoFlowcell, which is fronted by
cars have. In Back to the Future, the a musician turned chief technology
time-travelling DeLorean was retrofitted officer with no engineering background
by Dr Emmett Brown with a Mr Fusion and incredible hair, claims the 48Volt
Home Energy Reactor, which used produces 750 horsepower, can do zero
household waste as fuel to create power to 100km/h in 2.4 seconds and has
for the time circuits. It was gloriously a range of 1 000km. It sounds glorious
implausible and instantly iconic. and implausible, and sadly it kind of is.
The company has been cagey about
Doc’s spirit could be said to be alive how its technology works, with many
and well in the form of the Quant 48Volt, critics saying its performance claims
a prototype car designed by Swiss far exceed anything achieved with
battery research and development this kind of battery so far. But if it
company NanoFlowcell. With its gull- works, it could revolutionise the
wing doors and McLaren-esque styling, electric car – and batteries
the Quant looks like a car that could in general.

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 141

ROAD TRIP SILVER SCREEN SOOTHSAYERS

LASER RACER Rover prototyped a transparent bonnet on cars to navigate autonomously. To put
its Discovery Vision two years ago, using it (very) basically, lidar functions by
One of the mainstays of James Bond cameras mounted underneath the car constantly firing off pulses of light, then
films has always been the incredible to allow you to see the road surface and measuring the time it takes that light to
cars they showcase, and the range of wheel positions. return in order to measure the location of
incredible (and ridiculous) modifications objects. It’s accurate, fast and has seen
those cars feature. But as outrageous And of course, there was Timothy huge increases in detail resolution.
as car ejector seats, rocket launchers, Dalton’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
flamethrowers, rear-mounted water in The Living Daylights, which sliced And it’s getting better. Several
cannons and invisible bodywork might a pursuing police car down its length companies are working on integrating
seem, a lot of Q Branch’s forward-thinking using a hubcap-mounted laser. If you think Doppler lidar, which has typically been
technology has made it into the cars of cars shooting lasers is outrageous, you’ll used in meteorological and speed-trap
today. The Aston Martin DB5’s navigation probably balk at the latest developments applications, into self-driving systems.
unit, as featured all that time ago in in lidar. Originally a portmanteau of laser Doppler lidar fires a constant beam of
Goldfinger? Check. Remote-controlled and radar, lidar is now an acronym for light and uses the Doppler effect to
cars? Check. Run-flat tyres? Check. light detection and ranging, and it’s the measure the wavelength of that light
Invisible bodywork? Uh, actually Land key technology that enables self-driving when it returns to determine whether the
objects it hits are moving toward or away
from the car, and how fast. This enables
the system to determine instantly the
size, location and bearing of objects in
its surroundings, rather than constantly
pinging them with light to track them,
and it’s not hard to see how that should
provide a not-so-secret service to the
future of autonomous navigation.

KNIGHT VISION

Most kids (and adults for that matter) who grew up during the 1980s can probably still
hum the theme tune to hit TV series Knight Rider, which co-starred the Knight Industries
Two Thousand (better known as KITT), a heavily modified, self-aware Pontiac Firebird
Trans Am sporting a black molecular bonded shell and an anamorphic equaliser. The
car’s most distinctive feature, the equaliser was a strip of pulsing lights set between
KITT’s headlights that acted as a pair of electronic ‘eyes’, enabling the car and its driver
to see in X-ray and infrared wavelengths. While you may not be able to see through that
cute pedestrian’s clothes just yet, automotive night vision systems are real – designed to
highlight people and animals on dark roads.

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SILVER SCREEN SOOTHSAYERS ROAD TRIP

VIRTUALLY ON THE ROAD the makers of Tron may certainly have SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND
been onto something with virtual reality.
Sci-fi classic Tron and its much Car design has traditionally involved The 2004 science-fiction lark I, Robot,
later sequel, Tron: Legacy, depicted long meetings, concept sketches, clay set in the year 2035, featured Will Smith
a virtual-reality world inside a computer modelling, more expensive modelling facing off against an army of humanoid
where human users and digital allies after that, and a lot of engineers and robots. Those robots are controlled
battled against a malevolent artificial designers butting heads. VR technology by an AI that – given humanity’s self-
intelligence. The films’ stand-out scenes pioneered by Google with 3D painting destructive impulses – believes it’s in our
were undoubtedly those involving application Tilt Brush paved the way for best interests to keep us controlled and
the lightcycles – sleek, futuristic the likes of Reality Works, which allows restrained (possibly not a bad idea, given
motorcycles powered by pure energy engineers and designers to view, sketch the present state of the planet).
that leave behind a wall of light as they and manipulate 3D models of cars
go, piloted across vast arenas in life-or- at full size, greatly speeding up the For the film, Audi specially designed
death contests. process of taking a car from dream the concept RSQ vehicle – a natty, bullet-
to showroom floor. shaped silver beauty which incorporated
While lightcycles may not necessarily semi-autonomous driving systems and
be the future of automotive transport, spherical wheels, allowing for enhanced
manoeuvrability. While everyone knows
NOT YOUR AVERAGE SEDAN autonomous is the present holy grail
of vehicular research, did you know
Fancy a small ride for the daily commute but not too that Goodyear is developing spherical
keen on a motorbike? You’re who Electra Meccanica tyres? The Eagle-360 is a 3D-printed,
is targeting with the Solo, a three-wheeled, two-door completely round tyre that the company
oddity that looks like a regular automobile with the claims will offer a greater contact patch
back half squished. Built for just one person but with with the road, and thus more control
the accoutrements of a normal car, it’s got a top speed (and an end to parallel-parking woes). As
of 130km/h, a range of about 160km, and is expected to conventional wheel architecture pretty
retail in the R200 000 region. much goes out the window in this case,
the idea is to use magnetic levitation to
suspend the vehicle over the four tyres.
Car manufacturers have been fantasising
about introducing these babies for
years. Thing is, people are bad enough
at pointing regular wheels in the right
direction; controlling four that can spin in
any direction is beyond human capability
(even that of Will Smith). But Goodyear is
betting spherical tyres will be a perfect
fit for the 85 million autonomous vehicles
they reckon will be sold annually by,
coincidentally, 2035.

kulula.com JANUARY 2019 145



CONNECT & COLLECTTHINGS WORTH HAVING DISCOVER
1 One of the world’s most acclaimed
Words: Keith Bain, Pictures: Daniel Coetzee, Supplied novelists, Jonathan Franzen has produced 1 a refillable Dopper water bottle.
such gut-punching reads as The Produced from a quality synthetic
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with the current crises facing our planet. 4 Jean Roi Cap Provincial Rosé 2017 earnings goes to initiatives such as The
From a Russian crow that’s learnt the joy is a Provençal-style wine from Anthonij Ocean Cleanup and various local beach
of snowboarding to climate change Rupert Wines – it’s named for the French clean-ups. dopper.com
cover-ups by ornithological institutions, it’s Huguenot who pioneered L’Ormarins
a heartfelt meditation on the critical need Wine Estate’s 300-year-old viticultural 6 With the Summer of Champions
for a more human existence. history. A blend of Cinsault, Grenache and season officially underway, horseracing
Shiraz grapes, it’s a fusion of peach, enthusiasts can look forward to dressing
2 The organisers of Real Success – nectarine and melon flavours – very fruity up and getting down at this month’s
a free-to-attend conference aimed at and fresh, with a twist of zesty lemon to mega-highlight, the Sun Met, which
driving excellence, positivity, growth and balance it out. rupertwines.com happens on 26 January at Kenilworth in
prosperity – say they want to contribute to Cape Town. It’s considered the richest
making 2019 your best year ever. Speakers 5 If you’re still buying water bottled in race in Africa – and a colossal social
include Ann Wilson (author of The Wealth throwaway plastic, then you’re falling affair with covetable bespoke couture
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Brian Walsh (founder of The Real movement forward is to invest in all, you can place your bets hassle-free
Entrepreneur Institute), Justin Cohen with World Sports Betting.
(author of Pitch to Win), and Robin Banks 5 worldsportsbetting.co.za
(an authority on mind power and personal 4
mastery). Gallagher Convention Centre, 7 Having read about the Joburg brewery
19–20 January, realsuccess19.com that makes the stuff on page 43, here’s
a closer look at brewmaster Eben Uys’s
3 With its 319 round brilliant cut Mad Giant Killer Hop Pale Ale which
diamonds, the Shimansky Untamed recently took top honours at the African
Panther ring weighs 4.44 carats in total Beer Awards. Explosively tasty, the beer is
and is hand crafted in 18K white gold. There made with four types of aromatic hops and
are other sparkly panthers in the collection, a touch of malt for a real palate-kick. Aside
and the rings are also available in yellow, from single bottles and four-packs, it’s
rose and black gold, and can be crafted to available on tap from the brewery.
madgiant.co.za
3
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kulula.com JANUARY 2019 147