PayPal Launches In South Africa

Mar 25, 2010 | ,

Being a layman when it comes to most technical things, there are certain things that I always seem to discover late and PayPal is one of those. I had always heard it being bandied around but never really took the time to figure out what it was about. Until, a couple of months back, I was chatting to a potential client in the US who needed some writing work done. I had spent time selling them my services and convincing them that I am best person to do their writing. Everything was going relatively well until we got to payment. 'What is your PayPal account' was the question that had me...

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The Skin I’m In

Mar 24, 2010 |

Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Johannesburg has a number of different experiential programmes that are designed to change and expand perspective. I have been fortunate to interact with the space quite a bit and, for the last four years, have spoken at the opening session of their programme for high schools students called Spirit of Youth. The first  session is always on Race and Identity. Recently, I was invited to come share my story at their Nexus programme for session on Identity. Essentially, they had a number of guests and we were each assigned a seat with a couple of...

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Nike’s Plastic Football Kits

Mar 22, 2010 |

Merchandising for football clubs (soccer for the Americans) is massive business. The various brands pump much development into securing sponsorship deals with the football clubs that are spread across the globe. Premier League, Serie A and La Liga clubs are now global brands and push out thousands of football tops throughout the world. Take one of the big teams globally and you’ll find that people, like me, will have home and away kits, as well as alternatives, tracksuits tops, etc. We are in a World Cup year and have just come out of the Africa Cup of Nations so national kits are also in...

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TKzee’s New Video – Dikakapa

Mar 1, 2010 |

TKZee are legendary. When they came on the music / kwaito scene over 10 years ago, they truly changed how kwaito was perceived and created. Their past EPs and albums, from Phalafala and Shibobo to Halloween and Trinity, amongst others, hold a very special place in the hearts of many South Africans (and Africans). The three friends, and artists, Zwai Bala, Kabelo “Bouga Luv” Mabalane and Tokollo “Magesh” Tshabalala, finally reconnected after an eight year hiatus to release Coming Home. The first single for the album is Sdudla and the video is alright but they have definitely raised the bar...

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Win a Sade Hamper

Feb 27, 2010 | ,

In honour of the release of Sade's first album - Soldier of Love - since the year 2000, I am giving away one Sade hamper. I posted my Layman Thoughts on the new album a couple of weeks ago and have been able to get my hands on some of the groups past CDs and DVDs. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post answering a very simple question: what was the name of Sade's last album? Only one entry allowed. Please note: Unfortunately, this competition is only open to residents of South Africa. Only if you have a South Africa address that the hamper can be delivered to. The...

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Mpho Skeef Update

Feb 26, 2010 |

A couple of months back, I did a mini-profile on Mpho Skeef, a UK artist with roots in South Africa, who has been plugging away in the music industry for many years now, as a singer and songwriter. At the time, it seemed like she was finally receiving the recognition and backing she deserves, after signing with Parlophone Records in the UK. After hearing her first single Box n Locks, I was looking forward to hearing the full album as well as, hopefully, seeing her in South Africa at some stage. I recently had a chat with her and there are new, less than positive, developments. It seems the...

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