A new Year! A new You!

The new year brings along with it pressure to better our lives and the expectation from people around us, to make New Year's resolutions. Even when it is just clichéd empty rhetoric half the time. I must loose weight, I must change my hairstyle, I must shave! PLEASE! I have a couple of resolutions though, that are fun to do and easy to accomplish. Try going for this ride with me.

One of the strategic partners of African ID Lifestyle, Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa), are hosting a musical evening at The Theatre on the Track At Kyalami on the 17th of January 2008 that you have to resolve to attend. As you may know, CC Africa runs luxury lodges, and I mean luxury with a capital L. They have luxury lodges throughout Southern and Central Africa as well as in India and their employees from all those regions have choirs singing in a competition judged by former idols finalist, Brendan October. He will attend the event and even perform alongside the employees. This rich cultural cocktail is a must experience. What is even more exciting is that on the evening in question there will be various grand prizes drawn which include trips and flights to various CC Africa lodges. Tickets go for as little as ZAR 250,00.

One resolution that I have made this year is to do an exciting collection of collectible live music DVDs by some of Africa's most exciting musicians. Ayo drives me up the wall with excitement and Cesario Evora always has a way of making me feel like an African king serenaded by a musical baroness. Yossou Ndour, on the other hand, has ways of calling spirits from deep inside of me with his enchanting bellow and enigmatic voice. South Africa's Jonathan Butler is amazingly talented and is one of those music geniuses that continue to put the continent of Africa on the world map. I simply love the guy's sophistication. All these musicians have Live in concert DVDs I believe you should add to your collection. Read all about why I think so in this issue of ID Encounters.

Ghana 2008 is just 2 weeks away and I can not help but be ecstatic about the quality of players lined up to showcase Africa's talent in the world's most popular sport. Accra and other major cities in Ghana will be the home to millions from right around the world via television and in person for 3 whole weeks. The spectacle is a must see and I can not over emphasise the reasons! For the guys, the skills displayed by Africa's best players will leave you dumb founded! For the ladies, the muscles, the sweat, will be just what the doctor ordered for the beginning of the year. There is something for everyone at Ghana 2008!

A new year, a new you!!! We reveal how you can bring a new look to your wardrobe that will stun and mesmerise your encounters! These ideas are guaranteed to rekindle your youth in spite of the passing years! Be a sport and have a ball while buying these absolute must haves with us!

We are about to put to rest the next issue of African ID Lifestyle magazine. I have no words to describe it other than that its simply dynamite. The content includes an exciting one on one with the legendary Dr. Maya Angelou, a conversation with the influential James Makawa (Founder of The Africa Channel), an "at home with" encounter with designer Nkhensani Nkosi and her hubby Zam, a high tea date with Nigerian-born jazz maestro Kunle Ayo at a Greek restaurant you must visit, Plaka. We reveal, in our cover story, the sexiest Diaspora Africans as voted for by thousands of readers from right around the world. Needless to reveal Charlize Theron was the most selected! We take you on five destinations with African celebrities of note and tell you which car you should buy in 2008! Ensure you get your copy!

Tell us all about you and your thoughts about African ID Lifestyle!

You can read African ID Lifestyle magazine online by clicking HERE

Themba Nkala

The Season to be Afro-Jolly

On the 29th of December 2007, I will be in Cape Town for what promises to be the race event of the year on the South African calendar. Sponsored by what Forbes Magazine has continually named as one of Africa's super rich families, The Ruperts, The Queen's Plate promises loads of snobbish fun in the right company. Often we are told and read about The Ruperts but being invited to mingle with their guests in the VIP tents is truly inspirational. Ofcourse they would like a story about the event afterwards. Talk about the power of media. No wonder Oprah is so powerful! Aha-moment, hugh!?

Talking about events, these days I attend so many of them my drinking head spins half the time. I recently attended the FIFA 2010 World Cup preliminary draw event in Durban on the eastern coast of South Africa and was tremendously impressed by the show. Although I struggled to get accomodation innitially, I eventually settled in a cosy Bed & Breakfast in scenic Berea which I would recommend to anyone travelling to the city.
The hosts, Philip and Shirley-Ann, were tremendously welcoming and the quality and cleanliness of this hide away was enough to get romantic juices flowing. The scenery is absolutely to die for and the property homely. Nunuburd(ladybird) should be your next accomodation of choice when you visit Durban. Visit their website! Seeing is believing. http://www.nunuburd.co.za/.

The ANC begins its National Conference in 2 days time in the city of Polokwane in the Limpopo province of South Africa. There is a feverish freenzy in the air all over South Africa as an anticipated disappointment is envisaged. I wonder why people feast on people's disappointments. It is widely believed that Jacob Zuma will defeat Thabo Mbeki in his quest for a third term as president of South Africa's ruling party, the ANC. While I resisted the burning urge to attend the conference, I believe that this event will be a watershed, a moment of definition for South Africa's young democracy. Whoever wins in Polokwane must know and understand that the people are banking on them to deliver a world class economy that looks after its citizens. Thabo Mbeki has done a sterling job so far. Time will tell if Zuma will match that, should he be elected president of the ANC albeit rape and corruption allegations that have dogged his political life. May the best man emerge victorious!

I must congratulate the judges of this year's Miss South Africa pageat. The winner is certainly Miss Universe material and we at African ID Lifestyle are already lining her up for a powerful cover fashion shoot event. Tansey Coetzee is certainly one who would represent this country of beautiful people and go very far doing so. Big up to the judges!

Go out and have a fun time during the holidays and don't forget to play hard. Do not forget as well to diarise the 24th of May 2008, as we will be awarding the most hard working Africans on the continent of Africa at the Royal Livingstone in Zambia during the 2008 African ID All Africa Music Awards "The Guitars."

Read the latest copy of ID Encounters HERE
Talk to me!

Themba