- 2 days ago
This episode of Afrimaxx is all about glamour, glitz, and gourmet food, celebrating what makes modern Africa so special—from Mali to Rwanda, Malawi, and Nigeria.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Today we are at the sleek and sophisticated Q Lounge in Rosebank Johannesburg, a space
00:14where design meets indulgence and every detail is curated to impress.
00:19Now today's show is all about glam, glow and gourmet and we're celebrating what defines
00:25modern Africa with just that.
00:27It's the Malawian designer who is proving that glow can be sustainable.
00:33Discover the vibrant culture and dynamic spirit of Africa through our next story.
00:38With their unique perspectives and achievements, they embody the modern face of the continent.
00:43And in Nigeria, Chef Lola demonstrates how wellness food is replacing gourmet cuisine.
00:49I am Zemi Ngonapagatema Bunzi and you're watching AfriMax.
00:57As an up and coming music star, Bwiza is already accustomed to the glamorous life.
01:12But as the red carpet rolls out, some are already asking, is Rwanda really celebrating the right
01:17talent?
01:18Let's hear more about it.
01:23Five years of recognizing Rwandan music, five years of celebrating talent.
01:29But as the Asangona Musica Awards turn five, one question remains.
01:34Do these awards truly honor talent or is there more beneath the surface?
01:39I think I have to win this time around.
01:46Yeah.
01:47Bwiza, one of Rwanda's top female musicians, rose to fame in 2021.
01:52Her electrifying performances earned her a spot on the 2024 Isangona Musica tour.
01:57Back then, she was named best female artist and is now determined to defend her title.
02:03What makes her so confident?
02:09Bwiza is convinced that her talent and hard work will secure her another win.
02:14But things don't always go so smoothly in Rwanda.
02:17Several local music awards have already failed due to financial difficulties or credibility
02:21issues.
02:23But Isangona Musica has prevailed.
02:25To mark its fifth anniversary, there's even a press conference to dispel any doubts among
02:29journalists and opinion leaders.
02:32While some see a stable platform, others are still not convinced.
02:39Is Isangona Musica Awards really about supporting music, or is it just a business venture?
02:45One of our missions is to promote artists.
02:49When we're fortunate, we secure sponsors, but even without them, we do it anyway.
02:57For the past five years, we've seen other awards emerge and then collapse over credibility.
03:02How do you navigate the challenges that have caused others to fail?
03:08Gaining recognition as a fair award organizer is never easy.
03:12We do our best to ensure that the awards remain merit-based, minimizing personal relationships
03:17and external influences that could compromise fairness.
03:21While the debate continues, Bwiza concentrates on her concert.
03:26And it is, as always, special.
03:28She draws her fans on stage and turns every performance into a communal celebration.
03:33Is it just a performance?
03:35Or is there something deeper behind her desire to dance with her audience?
03:40When I was younger, I used to see all these big musicians.
03:46Maybe they come at our school and I want to join them at the stage.
03:51Some of them, they were, how can I say, maybe rude.
03:54They can give you that chance to join the stage, to dance with them, to make that memory.
03:59I think it is in that way, I do that, to create some memories with my fans.
04:05To strengthen transparency, the music awards organized by Isango took a new approach.
04:14Instead of relying on an internal panel, they involve journalists and influencers in nominations and voting.
04:20The public also votes online, and an independent jury finalizes the winners.
04:30This is an unusual approach.
04:31Other organizers tend to keep it to themselves, and then we discredit the whole thing because we didn't know how the process went.
04:38Thank you for getting us involved in supporting the Isango Namuzika Awards 2024.
04:43The big night is here.
04:46Tonight, the winners will take home their awards.
04:49Musicians, mentors, journalists, and many experts from different fields have joined to witness the celebration of talent.
04:57The event is also joined by Isango Namuzika's key partner DW, dedicated to promoting African talent globally.
05:05Usually, Africa is associated to sometimes poverty wars and ETC, but then this is an example that Africa is developing.
05:14Africa has more to offer than what has been often subjected to it.
05:21As the winners in different categories are announced, the audience has their own predictions on who they think will take home the trophy of the best female artist of the year.
05:29Let's hear it.
05:31Biza worked hardest this year.
05:33Biza worked hardest this year.
05:34Biza worked hardest this year.
05:35Biza worked hardest this year.
05:38I would say Biza.
05:40She's doing great.
05:41And the final moment comes.
05:44The nominees are…
05:46Best Female.
05:48The best female artist for 2024 is Biza.
05:57As Biza predicted, she wins.
06:00But unfortunately, she isn't present to receive the award.
06:03She's abroad, preparing and promoting her debut album.
06:06In her absence, her manager steps on stage to accept the award on her behalf.
06:11For her, the award is a testament to her growing influence.
06:15In three or two years ahead, I want every person in Africa to be proud of me and say that that's our girl.
06:22That's an African girl.
06:23That's…
06:24I'm really, really coming.
06:25Yeah.
06:26After five years, Isangona Musica continues to grow with a system that ensures fairness and transparency.
06:35Biza's win, like others, highlights a stage where talent, not just influence, shines.
06:41Will it stay on this path?
06:43Or fade like those before it?
06:45Only time will tell.
06:47But for now, we wish them all the best.
06:50With this episode being all about glam, glow and gourmet, Q Lounge is definitely serving up all three.
06:58Let's find out what makes this place so impressive.
07:02Wayne, what is the glam factor for you?
07:04We needed to kind of bring something from the Winelands to Joburg.
07:08A lot of our clients are from Joburg.
07:10If you look up, we've got these beautiful leaves that you see, which are vineyard leaves.
07:15Oh, wow.
07:16Also, if you look towards our bar, the beautiful marble cutter that we have there.
07:20Absolutely beautiful.
07:21This is actually a sketch of the Simonsburg mountain range.
07:24Wow.
07:25That you'll find in Stellenbosch.
07:26Upstairs in our Vinetech, we've got some special wines that you're not necessarily going to find anywhere else.
07:31From architecture to beautiful wines and, of course, beautiful food too.
07:34Chris, we have quite the beautiful spread here today.
07:37If you had to pick one signature dish that says gourmet with attitude, which one would it be?
07:43All our different dishes have different personalities and flay to it.
07:47For example, this is our spicy or new style tuna sashimi, which has got a little bit of a bite and kick to it, but it's so delicious.
07:57And then you can also go to the more hearty, softened, comforting lamb cutlets with barley and teriyaki.
08:05And it's just so beautifully inspired by so many cultures.
08:10Can't wait to dig in.
08:11In Mali, tradition glows through silver and flame.
08:15With fire and flair, today's makers craft desert soul into wearable glam.
08:20One piece of leather, metal and memory at a time.
08:23Deep in the heart of the desert, the blue people of the Sahara are still fighting with fire and metal against extinction.
08:32And they are not alone.
08:34We try to convey a message of peace, a message of solidarity, a message of living together and of dialogue.
08:51Because through each jewel, through each work made by an artisan, a great story is hidden behind it.
08:57Mohammed Abderramane runs Mali's largest artisanal collective, a community that is literally taking the future of the Torek tradition into its own hands.
09:12The importance of this association is that it tells the story of the Malian community.
09:18These artisans bring together all the communities around the workshop to talk, discuss and dialogue.
09:25Above all, it is a source of peace for us.
09:29In the heart of Bamako, Mali's capital, the Timidwa workshop, hums with life.
09:36Local artisans melt silver, hammer jewellery and dye leather using ancestral techniques.
09:45The tamashek, as people from the Sahara call themselves, have been master craftsmen for generations.
09:53In 1997, Mohammed's father founded Timidwa, meaning friendship, in Tamashek.
10:03What began in Timbuktu has grown into a lifeline for over 150 artisans across Mali.
10:11Men, women and youth now gather under one roof to protect their heritage.
10:18We have always worked together we will never see in a workshop where only one artisan is built.
10:26There are always ten artisans who are together at work to inspire each other, to learn from each other, because craftsmanship is this.
10:35It is to live together, to speak through our designs, engravings that we make with our hands.
10:42Here, silver jewellery is hammered with ancestral techniques, gold leather dyed with organic pigments, and wood carved with symbols of pride.
10:54As artisans work, knowledge flows between generations.
11:00Mohammed, a master craftsman, shares techniques that predate written history.
11:06I came here to Timidwa because I wanted to learn how to make bracelets at Timidwa.
11:14Thanks to Timidwa, I've learned a lot today.
11:18Beyond artistry, Timidwa is innovating.
11:23Ancient techniques are adapted for modern markets, while cultural authenticity remains intact.
11:30The collective is now a model for economic empowerment.
11:36The artisans manufacture their jewelleries, and we will exhibit them at the international level.
11:43This is what we bring to the artisans who are part of Timidwa.
11:48And to avoid them from being involved in terrorist groups, to be inspired to immigrate to another country.
11:57So, this is our goal.
12:01For Mohammed, Timidwa is personal.
12:04North and Mali have faced decades of political instability and climate challenges.
12:10First of all, we have experienced a lot of difficulties, which mainly comes from financing.
12:18Financing is very important, because we are a community and it's important for us to access funds to help these people around us.
12:28We have created another festival, which we have named International Artisans Week.
12:34We will gather all our artisans from our collective of 154 artisans to exhibit their products.
12:43Through our times of turmoil, Timidwa offers an alternative livelihood and emotional support for artisans of all ages.
12:54Here, the support we find, we exhibit, we create products, and we exhibit products abroad.
13:02Thanks to these products, if the products are sold, we take our kids to school.
13:09We support our families, we take care of our families, health, and create roots in the villages too.
13:18Timidwa's work is Tamashek's diplomacy in silver and leather.
13:23It travels beyond Mali.
13:26Muhammad's father regularly exhibits in Europe and Asia, where the art is worn by collectors and admired by cultural institutions.
13:36In a world rushing towards the future, Timidwa's hammers and tools serve as a reminder.
13:43Craftsmanship still has space to thrive, from the deserts of Timbaktu to the streets of Bamako and beyond.
13:51And it all begins with fire, metal, and friendship.
13:58From the desert right back to Rosebank in the heart of South Africa, we're here now to see what's shaking.
14:06Manazela, what are you mixing for us?
14:08We are mixing passion and wine today.
14:10How do we maintain its trendiness while keeping it local?
14:13Because of our local wine from Stellenbosch.
14:15Yes.
14:16Incredible.
14:17And which wine is this?
14:18This is our Chardonnay.
14:19It turns into one vintage.
14:25That is the glow we're talking about.
14:27Yes.
14:28Absolutely love.
14:29The citrus coming through.
14:31In Malawi, fashion is getting a bold remix as yesterday's discards become tomorrow's statement pieces.
14:38Let's meet the designer who's turning textile waste into wearable change.
14:43If the clothes you're wearing aren't your own, and if they've been recycled from leftovers, what do you think that would be worth to you?
14:54In order to find a very good fabric, leftover fabric, you need to put in the effort to go out and search for that.
15:04At the same time, the quality is custom made.
15:07We make sure that we make things that are long lasting because the goal is that if I make a suit for you, you shouldn't get another maroon suit or another red suit made anytime soon.
15:19So you should wear that for the longest time possible.
15:22So they are just as valuable and they are actually even more valuable than fast fashion items.
15:2838 year old Kulukaya Siddiqui is challenging conventional fashion by giving discarded clothes a stylish new life.
15:36Normally we get orders for our outfits and from there we go out to source the fabrics from local women who sell them because that is also part of the value chain to support local women.
15:51And when we come back, we make the item as was discussed with the client or as we see fit for the client.
15:59As popular as Kunjika secondhand clothes imported mostly from Europe are in Malawi, Kulukaya and her team go beyond this.
16:07They take leftover garments and fabrics and turn them into unique and desirable fashion pieces.
16:13First of all, by encouraging the reuse of recycled and upcycling other materials as well, then we are saving those materials from going into landfills and causing maybe further pollution into the earth, which at the end of the day affects the climate as well.
16:33In a world grappling with textile waste, her innovative approach to recycling and repurposing fashion is offering a sustainable and valuable alternative for Africa as she's not just creating clothes, but pioneering a movement towards a more circular and conscious fashion industry in Malawi.
16:51I realized my love for style and also my passion for the environment and helping the community.
16:59So I needed I needed to reach a point where these three can be aligned.
17:04And that's when I came up with having a brand that does not only just make clothes, but a brand that actually makes a difference within the community and around the club.
17:14Tailcoat rental is a well known term, at least in Europe, when it comes to dressing up properly for a social event and workwear is also often hired.
17:23This not only reduces the cost to the wearers, but also makes supply and disposal easier because repairs are included, for example.
17:31Given the high purchase costs for private clothing, wouldn't this also be a sustainable model for Africa?
17:36One of the benefits is that it's cost effective and at the same time it gives the product a longer life.
17:43It's not just enjoyed at one event, but it's used at different events by different people.
17:50We are staying away from fast fashion, fast land refills and people just keeping clothes in their closets after an event.
17:59The city of Plantire generates approximately 192,720 metric tons of solid waste annually, of which 70% is not formally disposed and only a mere 4% is recycled.
18:15Textile waste, when improperly discarded, can obstruct vital waterways and drainage systems,
18:21leading to flooding, particularly affecting poor and rural communities situated downstream.
18:27We collected about 100 tons of waste, but that was mixed waste.
18:31But when we started separating it, we found 40% was material.
18:35Then another 50% was made out of various types of plastics.
18:40You go around all the rivers in Malawi, I'm sure you'll be able to see a single use plastic in these rivers.
18:47So it's a terrible pollution in our country.
18:49But until customers start thinking of sustainability, will this vicious cycle end?
18:56So most of my clients understand their style, but they also understand the need to get items done that are longer lasting, friendly to the environment, because they are versatile as well as unique.
19:12Now let's see if or how Kulukaya seed grows.
19:16What do customers think about rented clothes?
19:18And what if they themselves were also produced sustainably?
19:22I also wanted to talk about how she rents out ready-made pieces of clothing.
19:28I enjoy that part of renting because it is affordable for me.
19:32And I find that it is not sustainable or realistic to be buying new pieces of clothing every other time.
19:41So if I come here, rent an outfit and give it back, it works for my budget.
19:48Kulukaya's, Sadiki's designs are not just about fashion.
19:51It's a powerful statement about resourcefulness and sustainability.
19:56Nigerian chef Lola is serving up more than just flavour.
20:00She is dishing out a whole new way to glow from the inside.
20:03Here's our Gourmet Wellness Trip.
20:06What if the cure for chronic illness wasn't a pill, but a plate?
20:13Chef Lola is redefining wellness in Africa through food, fitness and holistic living.
20:19The only way to have a healthy body is through our diet, basically.
20:23Because even before a pill comes into the picture, your meals, everything you're eating on a daily basis is what builds up to how strong your human body is.
20:33Before the healthy plates and full classes, there was just a woman with a question.
20:38What if we could eat our way to healing?
20:41What does this mean for Tolua Lache or Mito Woju? Learner Chef Lola.
20:46For every time you require your food to function, you need to charge it.
20:50And that's what food does.
20:51So let's go back to food.
20:52Now, the food is energy.
20:55And that energy is what charges all the human cells.
21:00So if the quality of your food is low, if it's not enough, if it's too much, if it's not in balance, the human body can't charge to its full potential.
21:08For me, it's been practical.
21:10The more I ate those meals that are turned as healthy, the better I felt within my body.
21:18I was feeling it.
21:19I was giving people around me and I was seeing improvements in their diet and everything.
21:23I'm like, okay, this now has to become a lifestyle for me.
21:27Chef Lola is a health-focused chef and passionate wellness and advocate from the vibrant city of Lagos.
21:37Her modern wellness principles are to create nourishing culinary experiences that uplift and inspire.
21:43From farmers markets to fitness mats, Chef Lola's approach blends tradition and transformation.
21:50But how exactly does she do it?
21:52I would agree that my approach merges tradition and transformation because I understand that God gives the food that will help our body to the environment that requires that food.
22:09So when you decide that you want to eat healthy, you don't have to get foreign things.
22:14Every society has the nutrients in the plants and the food that grows in that area.
22:21So if, for example, you have diabetes and you're used to eating jollof rice, you can choose to start eating jollof millet, which is also a grain that grows.
22:30You can eat jollof foamy, which is also a grain that grows in Nigeria, you know, but you're not missing anything on the flavors that you're used.
22:37Chef Lola learnt the art of cooking and healing through food from her grandmother, who passed down traditional wisdom and recipes.
22:45She now shares her knowledge through classes and courses, focusing on therapeutic nutrition.
22:52Everyone knows a healthy diet keeps the body healthy.
22:56But what about curing chronic diseases with the right food?
23:00It's not about replacing medicine, but certain foods can support or counteract conditions.
23:06Why it's important for me to focus on chronic illness is because I saw someone literally lose their life from chronic illness.
23:14And I feel that if people can get tips and skills to be able to prevent these illnesses, then we won't even be getting to the point where we are trying to reverse disease.
23:25So prevention is key for me. And I noticed that in Nigeria, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, cancer is on the rise.
23:33And I am very passionate about teaching people how they can prevent and also reverse the disease in diet.
23:39A purpose grounded in healing, education and transformation.
23:43While nutrition is a key pillar to Chef Lola's philosophy, she also emphasizes the role of physical exercise and fitness.
23:51Though every individual is different, is there a simple, relatable way to understand how these elements can be balanced for overall well-being?
24:00The nutrients that you need to support all the organs of your body is gutted from food.
24:05So if lack of nutrients and lack of support, proper support of the body is what causes the disease,
24:12that means that if you give the body those nutrients, the disease can be reversed, right?
24:17So that's the whole concept of reversing disease using diet.
24:20Because it is diet that you can use to get the nutrients, it is still diet that you can use to supplement if it's the low power.
24:30When you pay attention to your diet, your movement, as well as your breathing, you will find out that all the things in your body start to work.
24:40You step better, you are able to function better, you are less anxious and you are less tired and stressed.
24:47But beneath the meal plans and workouts is a deeper purpose healing, empowerment and reclaiming wellness as a right.
24:55For Chef Lola, every dish is a step forward generational change.
24:59I would say that every dish is a step towards generational change because whatever health decision that you make today is going to impact your future generations.
25:11Your genes are changing as you are making diet decisions.
25:15Healing doesn't just begin in hospitals or therapy rooms.
25:18It starts from within and often with what's on your plate.
25:22The food we eat can nourish more than just our bodies.
25:25It fuels our minds, lifts our spirits and can be the first step towards wholeness.
25:30And that is it for today.
25:32Do hit us up on dw.com forward slash AfriMax for more sparkle style and flavour.
25:38Until then, goodbye.
25:52Bye.
25:53Bye.
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