Vuuqa Lifestyle - June 2020

LIFESTYLE | THE PLUG TO AFRICA JUNE 2020 | ISSUE 7 Bootstrap TECH an AFRICAN Startup PARKUPP sign up for the FREE masterclass POEM ASALI EDU-TECH AMBANI AFRICA WOMEN HAONREMVOENREE-NINDDINUGCECDYCCLREAOZYF AFRICAN ECOSYSTEM BUILDER EMMANUEL AGGABMEOKOR AFRICAN DISRUPTORS VUUQA.COM

MULUMA ADVISORY SERVICES PROCESS OPTIMIZATION ENABLED WITH TECHNOLOGY AND AI CONNECT WITH US

o3 | Vuuqa Lifestyle - Vuuqa's Note VUUQA LIFESTYLE | THE PLUG TO AFRICA VUUQA'S NOTE Welcome to the latest issue of the Vuuqa Lifestyle e-Mag, your plug to African-owned brands and businesses. The Vuuqa Lifestyle e-Mag provides a digital platform where African-owned brands and businesses can showcase and promote their products and services, through a visual and well-curated narrative. For far too long, Africans have consumed innovations from other parts of the world. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, it is time for us, as Africans to stop depending on foreign goods. It is time for us to start creating innovative and disruptive solutions, that will benefit Africa’s people, and its economy. Technology has the power to bring real, fundamental and societal changes to Africa and to enable Africa to compete globally. In this issue, we focus on African Disruptors, those who have chosen to be part of the African disruptor’s movement. It is dedicated to those who are brave enough to believe in Africa and its capabilities. Special thanks to Muluma Advisory Services for sponsoring this issue. THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO THE CREATORS AND DISRUPTORS OF MOTHER AFRICA!! Enjoy the read, stay home and keep safe! Do you know of an African-owned brand or business the world is yet to discover? Or are you an African-owned brand or business looking to reach a bigger demographic? Email us on [email protected] or WhatsApp +27 68 254 2149 for a feature. WWW.VUUQA.COM

VUUQA LIFESTYLE JUNE 2020 / ISSUE 7 CONTENTS Women: A Never Ending Cycle of Hormone- 05 Induced Crazy Nothing fits like it should. Cute animal videos make 07 0 5 me cry. The trappings of power become irresistible. CLICK TO CHECK OUT LAST MONTH'S ISSUE Ovulation waits for no man. PARKUPP Commoditising vacant parking by allowing private 0 8 and commercial property owners, to rent out their available or unused parking spaces. ON THE COVER 11 AFRICAN ECOSYSTEM BUILDER: EMMANUEL AGBEKO GAMOR He is passionate about the continent, engaging with young people and validating the African experience globally. 16 AMBANI AFRICA Ambani uses technology to improve educational outcomes and language fluency in African languages. 16 VUUQA VUUQA VUUQA_ VUUQA 08 11 o4  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

BLOG - A NEVER ENDING CYCLE OF HORMONE-INDUCED Women: A Never Ending Cycle of Hormone-Induced “Crazy” WRITTEN BY WAITHERA KIJUU L et’s start from the beginning. IMAGE: CANVA “…and then the uterus gets very angry.” Everything hurts…for me anyway. My head hurts so I have pills for that. My cramps hurt so I have even more pills for that…plus a heating pad…plus the bathroom floor where I lay in foetal position because moving hurts. Lying on my stomach hurts because my breasts are super sensitive. My digestive system joins the why-you-no-give-us-a-baby crusade and throws in bloating, constipation and somehow manages to run at the same damn time. My skin IMAGE: CANVA breaks out because why the hell not. In this next stage I turn into a huntress.  Actually, I take that back. It’s because I I call her Peaches. crave everything deep-fried or saturated in sugar. “It’s either I take my crown, leave the competition dead and buried in the Nothing fits like it should. Cute animal ground. Or, come and let me make you videos make me cry. The cost of sanitary my King. You could make my heart sing. products makes me cry. Rap songs make I could give you some kin.” me cry… because damn. The homies really do be going through it. The sound of some people’s voices makes me entertain homicidal thoughts. IMAGE: CANVA I want to be cuddled and left alone. My skin clears up. Just as I start regaining a semblance of normalcy, the loud voices Society makes no sense. of all my ancestors firmly and persistently insist THAT I FIND A BABY I make no sense. DADDY! Out comes the dress that shows just enough cleavage and whose hem Whoosh…it’s a nightmare every. single. flirts suggestively with my knees; on goes time the red lip and the earrings that make my eyes sparkle. Armor. And then it ends… just in time for the body to release a different set of hormones. IMAGE: CANVA o5  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

BLOG - A NEVER ENDING CYCLE OF HORMONE-INDUCED IMAGE: CANVA I notice everything. The car, the shoes, the cologne The trappings of power become irresistible. If he reminds (preferably with a hint of cigarette smoke), the eyes, the me of Cassper’s verse on Ragga Ragga, then I’m down. We lips, the contents of his mind, the way he talks to me, what can ask questions later. Ovulation waits for no man. This he says or does that makes me smile…that makes me want phase is all about trial and error…and boy there have been to bite…that triggers red flags. some errors; but that’s a story for another day. Eventually the haze clears and I remember that I, in-fact, don’t need a man...I just wanted one real bad for a couple of weeks there. So I focus all the energies on me. Everything that has been neglected gets showered with attention. I reconnect with my gym and produce works of sheer brilliance when it comes to my job. Might even re- organize my house; paint a couple of walls because I need the change...the challenge. I flourish. I thrive. And then, Aunt Flow comes back and we are back to square one. Waithera Kijuu is a Counseling Psychologist and Ergonomist based in Nairobi, Kenya. This is her first Vuuqa Lifestyle Blog Contribution.   Waithera Kijuu o6  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

25% OFF #AfricanPerspective WINTER IS HERE! Limited edition items  SHOP NOW

PARKUPP Commoditising vacant parking, by allowing private and commercial property owners, to rent out their available or unused parking spaces. o8  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

TECH - PARKUPP Connecting a property owner who has parking to They generally include corporate businesses, retail a person that needs it. So simple, yet so genius. shopping centers, as well as traditional parking Makes you wonder why we hadn’t thought of it facilities. before. The users and drivers who book out the available Palesa Moloi, the cofounder of ParkUpp, beat us all parking benefit from the opportunity to book safe, to the idea back in 2016. Whilst working in secure, affordable and most of all convenient Braamfontein Johannesburg, which had very limited parking. This clientele usually includes corporate parking, she was convinced that there were other offices, small businesses and co-working space buildings in the precinct nearby that had vacant owners with limited parking in their buildings. parking spaces. Brainstorming on how to capitalize Another popular group of users are people who on this space inspired the birth of ParkUpp - where need additional parking at their residential areas. Palesa soon roped Michael Savvides in to join the team as a co-founder. Future Plans? 2018 was a particularly significant year for the As parking scarcity continues to be a global issue, cofounders, Palesa and Michael. They pivoted especially in densely populated cities like Cape ParkUpp’s model into a shared-economy. While Town, Los Angeles and London, ParkUpp continues walking the streets of Observatory in Cape Town, with their mission to unlock the world’s safest they noticed that there were a lot of cars parked on spaces for everyone’s vehicle. the side of the street. Yet, if they looked just a bit further down, they could see more than enough open Mr. Savvides shares that expanding into an parking bays and empty driveways. ParkUpp's goal international organization, within the next couple from that day henceforth, has been focussed on of years, remains an integral part of the brand’s solving how to capitalize on, and optimize those vision . He confidently confided to the Vuuqa team spaces. that  “once we are ready to expand into other How does it work? geographical locations, we will do so with precision The property owners list for free and benefit from and experience”. additional revenue from parking spots that would typically sit vacant. The next time you experience the frustration and anxiety often associated with finding and paying for parking, remember to ParkUpp. Referral Program: Register as an agent and generate your own unique code. Refer a property owner or a parking occupant. Commission will be paid upon occupancy. If you’re interested in collaborating with ParkUpp either as a property owner or driver, connect with them via : @parkupp parkupp parkupp parkupp ParkUpp Co-founders - Michael Savvides and Palesa Moloi www.parkupp.co.za [email protected] o9  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

DIGITAL MASTERCLASS HOW TO GROW AND BOOTSTRAP A DIGITAL START-UP IN AFRICA HOSTED BY HORESIA NYAWADE MBA | SPEAKER | DIGITAL CREATOR | C0-FOUNDER: VUUQA DATE & TIME 25 6:00 PM SOUTH AFRICA 7:00 PM 2J U0 N2 0E KENYA 9:00 AM CALIFORNIA VENUE ONLINE LINK TO BE SHARED* REGISTER FOR FREE

COVER STORY I AM AN ECOSYSTEM BUILDER EMMANUEL AGBEKO GAMOR 11  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

ECOSYSTEM BUILDER- EMMANUEL AGBEKO GAMOR I am an ecosystem builder so in other words, I form collaborations and intersections for thinking through and building economic growth in our communities. I was born in Ghana, grew up in the United States and before enrolling at Wits Business School; I was teaching in Mauritius. I am a trained multimedia journalist who is passionate about our continent, engaging with young people and validating the African experience globally. 12  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

ECOSYSTEM BUILDER- EMMANUEL AGBEKO GAMOR ECOSYSTEM BUILDER I therefore started documenting some Back in 2016, plans were of the in-classroom learnings for my announced to have an African You refer to yourself as an conference and international Passport by 2020. How do Ecosystem Builder. Give us engagements. This facilitated my 2019 those plans remain relevant insight into this ecosystem, the engagement on the WEF panel, in Davos, in the New Normal where key players and beneficiaries. on Africa’s Single Market. most institutions are encouraging remote work and Ecosystems are formed from AFCFTA RESEARCH relations? interdependent actors and network In your own words, break institution communities engaged in down the importance and The African Passport has already been productive activity. Building them means impact of the AfCFTA. activated with a handful of African economic enablement, through leaders – mainly presidents/heads of innovation and the application of The Africa Continental Free Trade state and select businessmen having research, coupled with talent, actions, Agreement (AfCFTA) is part of a multi- access. Before the pandemic, 2020 and implementation that leads to step process ratified in 1992, by was the year to have more general growth. African Union States, to develop public access, which would make the Africa’s Economic Community. The passport the actualization of the My working theory is that we need to Agreement creates a Single Market by Protocol, on Free Movement of critically assess what economic liberalizing trade across the AU’s people. engagements are needed to boost local member countries. Thus creating one talent. For example, looking at the of the largest trading blocks in the Remote working depends on a digital communities we currently live in; what world to boost intra-Africa trade on infrastructure. To encourage the are the critical health needs? What are goods and services; and most adoption and utility of agile, remote the educational needs and professions importantly enable dominance for and digitally collaborative work in that will help fill in the business gaps? improving the otherwise dismal African communities, the pain-point continent’s contribution toward global of access, affordability and reach will The aim is to accelerate the knowledge trade. have to be addressed.  transfer to allow for industry players, entrepreneurs in firms and co-working How does its mandate remain Due to the coronavirus, however, spaces to benefit from studies and relevant post-corona? travel globally has been halted and reports. The findings and conversations new health checks will need to be are critical to the trade liberalization The mandate asserts the need to foster employed before traveling across policy, as they inform Africa’s economic local economic activity. Post-Corona countries is allowed to resume again. community implementation, and help African countries and our respective Understandably, there shall be improve the overall welfare of the economies will be in dire need of delays in adoption of Africa-wide AU continent’s population. economic growth. The new-normal will Passports. require our own communal Unpacking Africa is an extension of my interventions and the Single Market & research journey. I am currently Architecture on our trade and services studying for a Masters in Management, liberalizations demands just that. Innovation Studies. The program Advocates of operationalizing the critically looks at identifying and agreement this year, share that it is the recommending policy frameworks for economic boost our countries and innovation systems which promote communities need to navigate economic economic growth. recovery and life after the pandemic. 13  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

ECOSYSTEM BUILDER- EMMANUEL AGBEKO GAMOR UNPACKING AFRICA: My podcast, Unpacking Africa, is PODCAST 4IR leading on conversations that help Podcasts have gained a lot of us collectively figure out ways to popularity over the past couple of years. What compels an collectively build our African academic like yourself to ecosystems navigate into this vocal medium of communication? Emmanuel Gamor Social intervention and political Sometimes I use it to let those in my campaigns within the continent, network know about a campaign, an especially outside of capital cities, initiative or an accolade so they too may continue to rely heavily on radio and take advantage of and/or work towards auditory listening, as a mode of addressing a challenge. communication. Podcasts allow for empathetic listening. I used to host an The podcast is available on: It is clear that you are a busy award-winning show MPwr which was man. How do you go about focused on sharing the testimonies of Unpacking Africa: Podcast 4IR choosing and allocating time entrepreneurs in the Ghanaian for extra-curricular or community. volunteer activities? Describe I was inspired to start the podcast how “time off” looks to you. during the pandemic to share relevant information through the barrage of Unpacking Africa: Podcast 4IR Before Corona, time off used to be street media reports of misinformation. My photography with my Fujifilm cameras, motivation was also based on the Unpacking Africa: Podcast 4IR meeting new people and exploring generalized expectation that the different and exotic cuisines. pandemic should affect African Unpacking Africa: Podcast 4IR Whenever I could, I'd play soccer with countries in a much more devastating my local community on a weekly basis. manner than it has to-date. Unpacking Africa: Podcast 4IR Every once in a while, I chose to unwind I primarily interview Africans for Africa by connecting with family, friends and who are based locally and/or abroad. PERSONAL the Global Shapers Community You reference the phrase members. The key target audience are economic “mosquito claps” a number of Under lockdown however, I've been agents; policy workers, firm-level times in your social media practicing calligraphy and creative professionals and entrepreneurs. posts. What does it mean? reflective writing. I'm definitely looking The discussion style appeals to Where does it come from? forward to dances with friends and millennials who are looking to attain #MosquitoClaps is a hashtag that I use colleagues after the pandemic. mastery and start families in African on social media, for awareness and countries as well as the diaspora. advocacy. Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor Growing up; it was not uncommon for us to clap our hands when mosquitoes were Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor around. Besides using mosquito repellent, hearing a clap, was a way of Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor alerting those around us about the insects’ presence. Maps and Bridges 14  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

Are you ready to adopt a sustainable remote work culture? Make it a part of your lifestyle with CONTROL IQ understanding the true capacity of your remote teams. REQUEST FREE DEMO [email protected] +27 12 943 0626

EDU TECH - AMBANI AFRICA 1.2 MILLION CHILDREN START THEIR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION EACH NEW YEAR. AMBANI It was during this journey that she discovered how AFRICA language impacts the educational achievement gap. According to the TIMSS 2015 Grade 5 national report, over ‘GAMIFIED’ EDUCATIONAL 50% of African students in the 4th and 5th grade, do not CONTENT, FOR MULTI-SENSORY understand what they are reading, and can’t do basic LEARNING IN AFRICAN calculations. This statistic is largely attributed to the LANGUAGES. scarce availability of teaching resources in their own African home-language. Futurist learning capabilities, using augmented reality, HOW AMBANI WORKS is truly the definition of tech at its best. Inspired by a personal pursuit, Mukundi Lambani founded Ambani in 2018. “I was looking for more resources for deepening my knowledge of my own home language and couldn't find much” shares Mukundi. 16  | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

EDU TECH - AMBANI AFRICA The learning cards, which activate the augmented reality, are available for purchase at: www.ambaniafrica.com CLICK TO WATCH www.toyswithroots.com Ambani Africa Give it a Try! Download the Ambani App for FREE from the Google Playstore. Place it on top of the dog image and see it come to life! Ambani uses language and technology, to improve educational outcomes and language fluency, which enable young Africans to enjoy learning. The app’s curriculum primarily provides foundation phase subjects. “Learning a new, “second”  language like English isn’t easy. It becomes more problematic when you are required to learn other subjects like math and science in English” Mukundi explains. “The foundation phase is vital because if you are behind by the time you’re in Grade 3, it is unlikely that you will ever catch up”. Mukundi’s biggest customers have been parents of young children aged 4+ and educational institutions for use in the classroom. Ambani’s ultimate goal is to close the education achievement gap through a fun, inclusive and accessible way of learning. 17 | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

POEM - ASALI ASALI. Sometimes I think in song lyrics Sometimes I think in numbers Sometimes I think in words whose meaning I find comfort to remember Sometimes I speak in symphonies, of jazz and mellow blues Sometimes my voice paints tapestries in every single hue I like the smell of spring; of raindrops and rebirth I like the smell of home-cooked meals, of love simmering in the hearth I like the feel of cold; the warmth of memories; a sweater well worn I like the feel of a stranger's smile in the place where I was born I often ponder the reason why my list of favorites grew But for each time, I find, I like something new, my love of self reblooms So thank you for nourishing my mind Thank you for flying with my spirit Thank you for seeing my soul I sing with my heart because you’re in it. A POEM BY WAITHERA KIJUU 18 | Vuuqa Lifestyle - www.vuuqa.com

OPEN A FREE INSTANT ONLINE SHOP AND START SELLING NOW! BENEFITS FREE: SAVE ON SET-UP COSTS SHARED ECONOMY: MORE BRANDS = MORE BUYERS ZERO INVENTORY: KEEP YOUR STOCK COMMUNITY: ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR AFRICAN- OWNED BRANDS INTERNATIONAL REACH AND ONLINE VISIBILITY # 2 1 D AAYPPLLOY CNOKWD! O W N IMAGE: CANVA

LIFESTYLE | THE PLUG TO AFRICA GET IN TOUCH WITH US FEATURES & SPONSORSHIPS +27 68 254 2149 [email protected] THE TEAM EDITOR -IN -CHIEF Horesia Nyawade Copy Editor | Art Director CREATIVE & DIGITAL MEDIA Manqoba Ringane Lead Designer | Social Media Officer SPONSORSHIPS & CONTENT ADVERTISING Tshiwela Ncube Snr Content Producer | Account Manager THIS ISSUE WAS SPONSORED BY:

NEW BRAND ALERT SHOP NOW NOW AVAILABLE ON

25% OFF SHOP NOW WINTER IS HERE! Limited edition items  NOW AVAILABLE ON