Mike Mpofu, Author at 1Africa

#PrayForOrlando

Mike Mpofu

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June 14, 2016

While many were fast asleep or preparing for church during the early hours of Sunday, 12 June 2016, 50 people were gunned down in the US city of Orlando.

Another 53 were critically injured as a result of the shooting, which has been described as the worst in the history of the United States.

It is reported that Omar Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub – Pulp – killing and injuring dozens in the same act. Mateen ultimately died after an exchange of fire with the police

The gunman is said to have been on the FBI’s list for suspected terrorist links back in 2013, but these were never confirmed.

Given the scale of the tragedy, president Barack Obama was bound to make a statement, which he did, and he made it very clear that as always, the US would not “give into fear” – following such an act of terror

Watch his statement here.

When something as tragic as this takes place, the conversation around gun control is always reignited.

And the pro-gun lobbyists continue to argue that guns do not kill people – people do.

On the other side, many will contend that guns cannot be so easily accessible to those who not have the purest of intentions or may be mentally unstable.

Winning the gun control debate is one of the things the outgoing president may never be able to add to his list of accolades. It appears to remain beyond his reach, no matter the number of emotive appeals he has made to Congress to back him and his proposed amendments to US gun law.

Before shooting down 50 people , Mateen had legally purchased two guns – a week before the incident. This means he walked into a store, put money on the counter, picked his weapon of choice, and left. This is a man whose wife left him because he had been physically abusive and violent in nature. No one asked questions – his papers were clearly in order and only he knew what was to come.

How do you win against a system that allows this?

Am I pro-regulation? Not in many instances. But in this situation? I fail to see any other way around it. How else do we protect and defend people going about their business from ill-meaning members of society?

Freedom of choice, activity and movement cannot be true freedom if it infringes on my ability to go about my life without looking over my shoulder every two minutes.

Even with freedoms that are serious – and necessarily so – responsibilities must be enforced.

So, when and how does it specifically apply to gun law? And why won’t Congress do its bit to change this?

God help us. Because this is a shift that only true prayer will bring about.

#PrayForOrlando

The 100 highest-paid athletes

Mike Mpofu

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June 10, 2016

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This week Forbes released its latest list of the world’s 100 most paid athletes.

According to Forbes:

“The 100 top-earning athletes hail from 23 countries and compete in ten sports, with Americans (65) and baseball players (26) the most numerous. Over the last 12 months, they banked a cumulative $3.15 billion, 29% of which came from endorsements and appearances.”

There are some familiar names on the list, like Tiger Woods – yes he is still on it – who will take home a whopping $45.3 million (US dollars) in pay, which includes $274 000 in winnings and other endorsements. And he is only ranked 12th on the list!

Other familiar names include Lewis Hamilton (number 11) with $46 million, Roger Federer (number 4) with $67.8 million, and Lionel Messi (number 2) with a whopping $81.4 million!

The most notable name on the list – because of his rank and earnings – is Real Madrid and Portugal star soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo (ranked 1), who takes home an insane $88 million per year!

Apart from all the money listed the most outstanding thing about it, in my opinion, is the number of women on it: two.

Out of 100 athletes around the world, only two made it onto this list – Serena Williams (ranked 40th) and Maria Sharapova (ranked 88th), who has recently been slapped with a two-year ban for doping. She will no doubt drop in ranking next year and after, due to lack of time on the tennis court.

I think it is ludicrous in 2016, that the issue of paying our female athletes less than their male counterparts remains unchanged.

Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there has been some progress in levelling the playing field. And I also know that earnings are dependent on the athletes themselves, the sport in question, and the team you play for, among other things such as TV rights and sponsorships.

Even with these factors in mind, one wonders if it still isn’t a reflection of how sponsors, TV companies, and sport teams in general view the involvement of women in sport – as secondary.

Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but something does not seem right.

Have a look at the full list here.

Rumble, young man, rumble

Mike Mpofu

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June 7, 2016

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It’s one of the many “one-liners” the late Muhammad Ali is famous for.

He would – often during interviews – burst into short prose about his boxing prowess and high level of skill.

“Float like a butterfly… sting like a bee…rumble, young man, rumble”.

Ali, who grew up as Cassius Clay, died last Friday at the age of 74, and will go down in history as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT), no doubt.

The late boxer changed the way the world viewed the sport. In my opinion, he actually made the sport famous. In one interview, he speaks about how he made the sport famous; how ticket prices and match attendance had skyrocketed because they all wanted to see him in the ring.

Perhaps he was not the most humble man by our standards, but he certainly walked the talk.

This blog will be one of millions of tributes that have been pouring in in recent days in honour of the champion.

Many have said what they will miss him for his boxing skill, his humour, and his love for people, among many other attributes.

But I believe Ali will not be remembered for what he did in the boxing ring.

Don’t get me wrong, you cannot erase his achievements in that space, but it was his actions outside that inspire me.

I was not alive during some of these historic moments, but I am grateful to be able to read and watch footage and interviews from that era.

One stand-out period was when Ali, as a US citizen, decided to take up a different fight – against his government.

It was during a time when the USA was at war in Vietnam. The US government was recruiting young men to fight for their “freedom”.

At the time, Ali received notice that he had been conscripted.

During the same period, the (Black) Civil Rights movement was also at odds with the US government. Black men and women were mistreated and their rights not respected in many ways across the US.

Ali refused to be conscripted, arguing that his enemy was not the Vietnamese, but his own people at home (the US) who could not respect his rights, or acknowledge him as a human being.

Ali could not justify fighting a war for “freedom” when his own people were mistreated.

The US government retaliated and stripped him of his boxing championship, revoked his boxing license, and denied him a visa to travel elsewhere and ply his trade.

This immediately stopped his flow of income. Ali was barely making ends meet.

It was during this time that universities across the US began inviting Ali to give lectures and host question and answer sessions on various topics, including his beliefs and decision to refuse conscription even if it meant jail. Ali accepted these invitations – he had the time and needed the money.

These talks proved to be the saving grace Ali needed as they paid approximately US$1 500, which was a lot of money back then. For some time, this is how be paid his bills. He later joked about this in interviews.

His commitment to standing for this principle and not giving in, even when the odds were against him, is worth admiring.

He just didn’t talk a big game – he walked it, even when his income was cut off.

One doesn’t want to portray a perfect picture of the man, none of us are, but Ali certainly inspired the world over – in and out of the ring.

His act will certainly be hard to follow for those coming after him.

As the world mourns a legend and champion, we are grateful for his tenacity and integrity in his fight against injustice.

Rest in peace, champion.

Rumble, young man, rumble!

Steph Curry 1 – Lebron James 0

Mike Mpofu

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June 3, 2016

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So, the seven-game series of the NBA finals kicked off last night (or in the early hours of this morning, for those of us in Africa).

This final series is pretty historic for two main reasons: these two teams met in the finals last year and everyone will be watching the Lebron James – Steph Curry “shoot out” – metaphorically of course.

Lebron James – who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers – is also making some history of his own. He is the eighth player in the NBA to appear in six straight (or consecutive) finals.

The seven-game series started off on the Gold Warriors’ home turf, where they managed to take Game 1 with 104 to the Cavaliers’ 89.

What was pretty epic about this game was not the Lebron-Curry rivalry, but the performance of the Golden Warriors’ bench (substitutes).

As most would be aware, players that come off the bench are generally considered second rate – or simply not good enough to start ahead of some of their counterparts.

In this case, Game 1 appears to have been won because of the Warriors bench. In fact, the bench came on and put 45 points on the scoreboard compared to the 10 points put on by the Cavaliers bench.

As the game concluded, one of the commentators remarked how this game had been won by the Warriors bench.

During the post-match press conference, Lebron, who appeared slightly annoyed (for obvious reasons), also gave credit to the outstanding team effort put on by the bench. This came after a journalist asked what he thought about Steph Curry carrying the Warriors team. Lebron quickly interjected, arguing that it wasn’t just Steph, but the team, including the bench, which put on a stellar performance.

In his six NBA finals – of which he has won two – Lebron has only won Game 1 once. This means he is in familiar territory and may not be really fazed by it.

What remains to be seen however, is how the Cavaliers will bounce back – if they do. Or will they suffer at the hands of Curry’s lethal three-pointers from long range?

It is no secret the Cavaliers have risen to their current glory because of Lebron’s talent and leadership. But he cannot do it alone. He needs everyone, including the Cavaliers bench, to put in their bit.

After a while, it gets a tad too heavy to carry alone, even for champions, especially in a seven-game series!

We will keep watching the series and bring you the reports (most likely on the deciding game) – stay tuned.

Good luck to both teams!

#Choklahoma City Thunder

Mike Mpofu

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May 31, 2016

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It hurts me to write the word “choke” in reference to sport. It hurts even more when I write it in relation to my favourite basketball team: Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC).

During the early hours (South African Time) of this morning – or last night, depending on where you are – social media was abuzz with the hashtag #Choklahoma. This was in reference to the heart-breaking defeat the OKC suffered to the Golden State Warriors, led by the two time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), Steph Curry.

This defeat was part of the Western Conference play-offs that will now see the Warriors face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA 2016 finals.

This is how NBA play-offs (finals) work:

The league is divided into two conferences: West and East.

In each conference, the teams battle it out until the top two teams meet in a seven-game series play-off (i.e. best of seven). Whoever wins that series is the champion of their respective conference, and proceeds to take on the champion of the opposing conference. This was the case between OKC and the Warriors in Game 7.

As an OKC fan this has been a bitter pill to swallow.

For the last few seasons, OKC has been described as a “championship team”. Others have referred to it as “the most athletic team” in the league. They were not wrong.

I put it this way to a friend on Twitter: “OKC have all the right ingredients, the meal just doesn’t come together”.

OKC is one of the most talented teams in the NBA.

They have former MVP Kevin Durant, former All Star MVP Russell Westbrook, and some of the league’s best forwards in Serge Ibaka, Steven Adams, and Enes Kanter. The talent in the team is endless, but it just fails to translate into a “W” (win) for the Thunder.

What made this year’s pill even more bitter to swallow than previous years, is that this time, the Thunder was leading the seven-game series play-offs 3-1 a few days ago, only to have the Warriors not only level the series, but go on to beat them.

This can be attributed to the incredible leadership and three-point shooting abilities of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, who have been dubbed the Splash Brothers for their ability to rain buckets (score baskets), especially from long range (three-pointers).

Together Curry and Thompson scored 23 points on 8-of-8 shooting (including 6-of-6 from 3-point range) in Game 7.

Given the size and athletic ability of the Thunder, it’s not surprising to see that they opted to go long range in a lot of cases.

One has to feel for the Thunder though. For many years, pundits have said their title win would just be a matter of time – and this year it seemed closer than usual.

Maybe next time?

All the best to the Warriors, who will now face the Cleveland Cavaliers led by Lebron James on Thursday Night (Friday morning SA time).

We’ll be sure to bring you a report on that!

Is ‘a new kind of gospel’ even a thing?

Other

Mike Mpofu

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May 27, 2016

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Music’s latest sensation, Chance The Rapper, is re-writing how we view the term “gospel”.

Chance recently dropped an incredible piece of work called Coloring Book.

The new album features very interesting references to Chance’s faith and God. In fact, there are three tracks that speak on faith and God: Blessings, How great [is our God] and Blessings (this time featuring Future).

Before I am lambasted by those among us who have a “strictly gospel” policy, let me explain how Chance and other artists are changing our perspectives of what constitutes “gospel”.

Before releasing Coloring Book, Chance had a lot of input in Kanye West’s latest project, The Life of Pablo. While still working on the album, Kanye tweeted that the upcoming album was going to be a “gospel album”.

As usual the internet exploded.

People had all sorts of things to say about it.

And now, Kanye’s mentee – Chance – is releasing songs that refer to how great God is and blessing falling from heaven as the praises go up?

So what is going on?

Have they now joined Kirk Franklin and Lecrae?

In a recent interview with Zane Lowe from Beats 1 radio (owned by Apple), Chance explains himself (and indirectly Kanye’s reference to gospel).

He talks about a time when he rented a home in LA when he would wake up early every morning and play Kirk Franklin’s music at full blast for everyone to hear. Presumably that’s how he listens to music. It was during this period of his life he started some music but realised that this next project would be “…founded in God and founded in my faith. He continued to say that he “never really set out to make anything that could pretend to be ‘the new gospel’ or pretend to be ‘the gospel’. It is just, I think, music from me, as a Christian man”.

Chance goes on to explain that previously artists really didn’t make declarations about their faith (publicly at least). It would appear he is free from this.

In his words: “We are not all free unless we can talk about God”.

So perhaps he is not setting out to make “gospel” music as we know it, but rather to freely make a deceleration of his faith despite his flaws and imperfections as a man.

I do not condone Chance’s entire lifestyle, because I have no knowledge of it, but I salute his break from the mould that so called “secular” artists have no place speaking about their faith in God.

My take? Chance and Kanye can give us all the “gospel” they want.

Chance’s album is available on iTunes. But check out his performance of Blessings on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

Guvna B and Hillsong Youth UK’s ‘Fear is a lie’

Mike Mpofu

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May 24, 2016

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Guvna B and Hillsong Youth UK’s ‘Fear is a lie’

Now for something completely different.

Up-and-coming UK Rapper Guvna B has collaborated with Hillsong Youth (UK) and released a track called Fear is a lie.

Hillsong Youth (London) is very well known for the trademark Fearless Generation movement, so the track title comes as no surprise.

Guvna B – who recently featured on our site – is a household name in the UK rap/hip-hop/grime game. The young rapper has won a few awards, with a few mixtapes and albums under his belt and has also worked with some notable names including Lecrae and Deitrick Haddon, among others.

His current work – Secret world – is definitely something worth checking out.

Fear is a lie is a decent piece of music.

Not only is the message relevant and true, but you can move to it. It’s a dance track with meaning and an incredible message. Definitely a sound that will resonate with this generation.

It is however, very different in the sense that it carries a “UK sound”.

That’s the best way to describe it. The UK has its own sound and feel in its music. And this track captures that perfectly.

The track is available on iTunes.

Kudos to the Hillsong Youth (UK) team and Guvna B for bringing this one out.

Check out the official music video and share it with everyone, and let us know what you think:

Is Justin Trudeau the new Barack Obama?

Mike Mpofu

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May 20, 2016

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There is a new kid on the block and he is putting Canada on the global relevance map.

Prime minister Justin Trudeau is the second youngest prime minister in the history of Canada – in December he will only be 45 years old. That is one year younger than when Barack Obama, outgoing US president, took office. This is a big deal.

Not only does Trudeau hold that record, but he is the only son of a former prime minister – Pierre Trudeau – to hold office.

Ironically, Justin came to prominence because of his father’s funeral. It was at this funeral where he gave a moving tribute to his father. This appears to have been the beginning of his political career.

Apart from his academic achievements, Trudeau is also the Liberal Party leader. For his age, this is an achievement.

When his victory was announced and he assumed office in October last year, I immediately started following his progress.

He made an unprecedented move when he announced his cabinet. It is the most diverse in (Canadian) history. Half of his cabinet is women. According to Trudeau, he wanted a cabinet that looks “like Canada.”

He reminded me of someone – Barack Obama, back in 2008.

Trudeau, like Obama at the time, is a young prime minister.

He possesses the charm, eloquence, and gravitas required at that level.

He – like Obama – is an excellent orator.

He – like Obama – is tech savy and uses that to his advantage.

He – like Obama – is highly intelligent.

He – like Obama – is one of the guys you hate to like because it seems they can’t get anything wrong.

Oh, and he is fluent in both English and French (like a true Canadian, I suppose).

The Trudeaus recently paid their neighbours, the Obamas, an official visit to the White House. He was the first Canadian prime minister to visit the White House in at least 20 years.

During the two-day state visit, the media had a field day, dubbing the Trudeau-Obama relationship one of the greatest “bromances” of all time. It certainly looked like it.

Arms around each other’s shoulders and the friendly banter between speeches. It was something to admire.

The Canadian PM recently displayed his charm in a brawl during one of the Canadian parliamentary sessions. Members of opposite sides of the house seemed to be close to exchanging blows when he walked across and broke up the fight. In the process, it is alleged that he elbowed a female MP. Facing this accusation, the prime minister immediately stood up and issued a heartfelt apology. Moments later he was receiving a standing ovation for being honest and open.

Now here is a leader.

I am sure, he – like many others – comes with his imperfections.

But what is most striking about him is that he represents hope – like Obama did when he assumed office.

He represents a shift and a change of the guard. A young leader looking to take international politics in a different direction – that of dialogue and not conflict.

We’ll be watching Justin very closely and hope he can inspire a new way of doing this things and expand his influence beyond Canada.

Good luck Mr Prime Minister!

Lessons from the Old Trafford bomb scare

Mike Mpofu

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May 17, 2016

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Lessons from the Old Trafford bomb scare

Several thousand football fans were left disappointed this weekend after their dreams were dashed, ironically, at the Theatre of Dreams.

At least 20 minutes before Manchester United was scheduled to play Bournemouth in an English Premier League game at Old Trafford, emergency evacuation procedures were initiated.

This “scare” came after an object resembling a bomb was discovered in the men’s bathroom. It apparently looked like a cell phone attached to a “package”. It was so believable that the bomb unit opted to blow it up, instead of attempting to remove it.

Only after it had been destroyed was it discovered that this particular object was actually “forgotten” in the bathroom during a training drill – presumably by one of the specialist bomb squad teams.

While everyone was evacuated safely, and it turned out to be a dud (thankfully), it got me thinking about how sometimes our small actions have massive implications.

We always choose to believe otherwise, until thousands of people are being evicted from a stadium because of a mistake.

It got me thinking about all the “small” decisions I tend to brush off or “outsource” (my euphemism for getting someone to do what I don’t want to), and the weight they carry and I tend not to realise this.

The reality is that one person forgot that device in that bathroom – one person – and now the world is reeling from it.

A full inquiry has been launched into who forgot the device in the bathroom.

Whoever they are, I’m sure they’ll be more careful in future – if they still have a job.

Old Trafford officials decided to move the match to a different night (the 17th of May), and fans who had tickets for the game on the weekend will be able to watch the match for free.

Glad everyone is safe.

The madness of strictly 90% local music

Mike Mpofu

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May 13, 2016

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This week the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) – the public broadcaster in South Africa – sent out an instruction to all 18 of its radio stations, that from the 12th of May 2016, strictly 90% of music played would be local.

The other 10% – well I guess that’s up to the DJ’s and the radio stations.

Perhaps it’s just me, but this is just mad.

I tried to understand the logic of the decision before commenting.

I tuned in to talk shows, read people’s tweets, and listened to one of the SABC’s top managers explain the reason for the decision.

The decision – which will be reviewed in 3 months’ time – is intended to give local artists, producers, promoters, and anyone in the entertainment industry a platform to have their product played.

Local artists, we are told, have complained about not getting enough “air time” as they are drowned out but international music most of the time.

To my surprise, many a tweet and Facebook status supported this call.

The decision to strictly play 90% local music is nothing short of crazy.

Firstly, to argue that the reason you’re not successful as an artist because other artists are getting more “air time” is tantamount to saying that you’re broke because the next person has taken your job.

In plain language: No one owes you that job or opportunity. It’s your responsibility to prove why I must go with you, over the next person. It’s called a “free market”.

It is the principle that drives (most) good economies – people’s will to decide what they want to eat, drink, drive, watch, wear, and listen to.

Which leads me to my next point.

It is, in the 21st century, unthinkable that the industry should dictate what my listening habits should be.

Some would say, “fine, then don’t listen”. And they’re not wrong. I have the option of switching off the radio. But this defeats the very purpose of the 90% directive.

The whole point is to give artists exposure. Hoping that people will enjoy the music to the point that they look for the album or single, buy it, and then go to the live show.

But if I switch off my radio and stick to iTunes and other platforms, I may never be exposed to your music, never buy it, and never attend the live show – then the artist doesn’t get paid. We are back to square one.

The very notion that a government or any entity would dictate to people what they can and cannot watch goes against the values of democracy and the freedom of the market.

It is forcing customers to shop at one store because “you buy too much from the one next door”.

Instead of imposing bans, raise the bar!

Make better music, produce great quality, and compete with the best. And sometimes the best isn’t necessarily from overseas – it may the rapper or singer from next door.

Usain Bolt cannot be disqualified from a 100m final because you are slower and feel he is taking away your opportunity to win. Beat him and gain the recognition you desire.

The irony of this situation is that most of the artists celebrating this new decision spend half their careers mimicking international artists. And if they’re not, they are trying to collaborate with them. Most have been inspired by them.

One that comes to mind is DJ Black Coffee.

Disclaimer: I admire and enjoy his work. I think he is a genius.

But Coffee tweeted his full support for this, yet spends half of his time playing all over the world.

There is obviously no ban on artists performing elsewhere, but it shows that if one is truly good enough then they are able to play Coachella and other major festivals.

Am I saying that there are no local artists of good quality? No. The opposite is true.

There are some brilliant musicians out there.

But if they are to reach legend status, let that process happen naturally.

There may be some unintended consequences to the issue that we are yet to experience.

But this is one just madness.

What are your views on this?

Mike Mpofu

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