TJ, Author at 1Africa | Page 10 of 18

Finding Mr Right

TJ

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May 6, 2015

I came across a fascinating article by Paul Hudson on elitedaily.com and I thought it would be awesome to share. The article lists specific qualities that ladies need to look out for in men and refers to these qualities as ones that qualify him as the one to never let go. In a world where divorce is on the rise, people’s intentions can never really be trusted and good relationships – at every level – are extremely hard to come by, everybody wants to know what really makes a good partner. Ladies, in particular, are known to often use the phrase “Mr Right” when referring to the man who ticks all the right boxes.

So, what, according to the author, are the qualities that ladies should look for when on the journey to finding Mr Right? Here goes:

When he looks at you, he really looks at you.
He’s a kind man, but not a pushover.
He’s driven, but patient.
He has incredibly ambitious dreams, but is down to earth nonetheless.
He can cook.
He’s physically active.
He’s brilliant, but not cocky.
He has an uncanny ability to make you laugh and smile.
He tells you he loves you although he doesn’t really have to – you can feel that he loves you.
He’s willing to lose an argument for the sake of keeping the peace.
Whenever you need any sort of help, he’s always offering to give you a hand.
Without you, he loses himself; you’ve become a part of him because he wants to keep a part of you.

Ladies, what is your take on this list? Do you think it’s a fair comment on the kind of things that women are looking for? If you’re a guy reading this, we’d also love to hear from you, especially if you think there’s some stuff missing from this list.

To check out the original article and see all of the author’s thoughts in more detail, click here.

On The Lighter Side: Boxing Fails

TJ

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May 6, 2015

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Every week here on 1Africa, we make sure that at least once, when we’re not dealing with pop culture trends, African issues or matters of the spirit and heart, we bring you something to make you laugh and hopefully brighten your day. From memes to stand-up comedians, our On The Lighter Side feature is all about taking a moment to recognize that life, with all its problems and challenges, can be downright hilarious.

This past weekend, boxing fans all over the world were glued to their screens to catch the title fight between two of the sport’s best – Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. By now, we all know how things went down and, for those who were hoping for a different result, so sorry

Having got that out of the way, we thought that today’s feature should be a fun one dedicated to boxing, in the aftermath of the Fight of the Century. You probably thought the funniest thing you can see in the boxing ring is a dramatic KO, right? Well, how about a boxer punching himself? If you didn’t think it could happen, don’t take our word for it. Check out this video of epic boxing fails!

Dealing With Political Corruption In Africa

TJ

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May 5, 2015

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Dealing With Political Corruption In Africa

Year after year, various organizations and bodies around the world release statistics related to corruption around the world. What is particularly interesting is that Africa often features among countries where corruption is rife. If our fortunes as a continent are to turn around, this problem has to be dealt with decisively.

Before a problem can be dealt with, though, it’s important to define it. What is corruption? To get a clear perspective, let’s look at the most commonly talked about form of corruption – political corruption. According to Transparency International, the leading entity dealing with corruption in the world, in their recent Global Corruption Report, “political corruption is the abuse of entrusted power by political leaders for private gain, with the objective of increasing power or wealth. Political corruption need not involve money changing hands; it may take the form of ‘trading in influence’ or granting favors that poison politics and threaten democracy”

This definition gives us a pretty good basis to work on to look at how we can go about dealing with political corruption in Africa. Here are a few things we take from this definition that can help us:

The abuse of entrusted power. If people in positions in power don’t recognize that what they have is a privilege entrusted to them, corruption is certain. Leaders, regardless of which sphere they operate in, need to respect the people they lead. We need more respectful leaders in Africa. Respectful doesn’t mean weak.
For private gain. Behind corruption is an attitude of selfishness. If we are to defeat the demon of corruption, people must care about other people. Leaders are called leaders because they have people to lead.
The objective of increasing power or wealth. This ties in with the issue of selfishness but, more so, relates to lack of focus. A leader’s reason for being where he or she is, is to move a group or community of people forward. If the very reasons for being in a place of power are not right, people will always chase after wrong objectives.
Granting favors that poison politics and threaten democracy. This is where everything goes wrong. Corruption muddies the waters and blurs the lines so much so that it’s no longer clear who’s who and what’s what. Because corruption turns the abnormal into something normal, everything else is thrown out of balance. Keeping lines clear is one decisive way to deal with political corruption.

What’s your view on political corruption in Africa? Has it affected you personally in some way and do you have some thoughts on how we can uproot it?

We’d love to hear from you.

Manny Pacquiao: Man of Faith

TJ

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May 2, 2015

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The world waited with bated breath for the boxing match billed as The Fight of the Century. Two of the greats of the sport came face to face and battled it out to seal their place in history. Manny
“Pac-man” Pacquiao went head to head with Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr in what was, without doubt, the most watched boxing bout of the past decade. In the end, only one man could emerge victorious. Regardless of what you may think of the outcome, Mayweather won and this boxing match will be talked about for a long time to come.

This post is about something else, though.

It’s always amazing to get insight into what makes high achievers tick. What is it that separates them from the ‘ordinary’ man or woman on the street. We came across this amazing video of Manny Pacquiao as he shares what defines him and makes him the man he is. The video speaks volumes all on its own.

We often make the mistake of thinking that there is a disconnect between our ‘normal lives’ – work, social, family – and what we believe at a deeper spiritual level. Many even claim not to believe in anything at all. The reality though is that we all believe is something.

After watching this video, we hope you are challenged – if this is not already clear to you – to make a decision about what you believe in. If you’d like to get on such a journey and give us an opportunity, like Pacquiao, to share our faith with you, please click on the banner below.

(This is an updated post)

Big Up Africa: Tuku

TJ

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May 1, 2015

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In the world of music, there are wannabes, one-hit wonders and people whose music we can tolerate. But above all these, there is a higher order. We call them the superstars – those who were born to do it and whose influence transcends race, generation and nationality. The superstars are a rare breed but they are no myth. They are out there.

When we talk about African music with international appeal, it’s almost impossible to have a conversation about superstars without talking about Zimbabwean legend, Oliver Mtukudzi. Band leader of the formidable Black Spirits, Mtukudzi, fondly known as Tuku, has been in the game since the 1970’s and is a household name on the continent, even in countries where his native Shona language isn’t understood. Tuku has traveled the world and has a whopping 56 albums to his name. How’s that for work ethic and consistency?!

Now over 60 years old, this cultural icon shows no signs of slowing down. He is the founder of Pakare Paye, an arts centre in Harare, Zimbabwe. The aim of the centre, according to its official Facebook page, is to “develop and nurture young talent in various practical artistic endeavors particularly music, dance, drama, poetry and storytelling”.

In March 2010, Tuku lost his only son Sam in a tragic car crash. The death of Sam, who was a musical sensation in his own right and viewed by many as the heir to his legacy, affected Tuku in a huge way but he didn’t let it kill the music. He later released Sarawoga, an album dedicated to and featuring songs co-written with Sam, to much anticipation and excitement from fans. Today on our Big Up Africa feature, we salute an entertainer extraordinaire, a master of perseverance and resilience, a songwriter and social commentator par excellence and a role model to the youth of our continent!

The video below, courtesy of Waza Africa, gives us a glimpse of Tuku as he talks about how he dealt with the death of his son.

I Want To Trust God More

TJ

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April 30, 2015

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When it comes to relationships and our interconnectedness with other people in life, one of the words that features often is trust. Google the word ‘trust’ and a very powerful definition comes up:

‘firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something’.

It is generally accepted that the most fragile aspect of any relationship is trust. It is the hardest thing to earn and often, once broken, it takes ages to regain it, if at all. I have experienced in my life how difficult it is to be trusted or even looked at with any regard when trust has been broken. Trust is as expensive as it is valuable. The presence of trustworthiness in you will open doors for you. Conversely, the absence of it will shut them.

Yet, in the midst of the complexity of human relationship and our propensity for breaking each other’s hearts, God is known for making bold statements about just how much he can and should be trusted. The Bible is full of promises made to everyone who chooses to trust him. Some of the promises God makes are astounding. Take, for example, the words “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. In a time like ours where people leave each other over the slightest whim, it’s an assuring thing to know that someone is this confident in himself.

That’s the easy part though. It’s cool to feel excited and pumped up when we read about what God says he will do for us but what do we do when the reality of our lives feels completely different? If it’s true that he will never leave us or forsake us, why do we often feel so lonely? If it’s true that God knows us by name, why do we often feel so misunderstood? If it’s true that he will not let anything hurt us, why are so many of us depressed? Why is there such a huge disconnect between what God promises and the reality of our lives, especially here in Africa?

That gap is called ‘trust’.

If we want to trust God more, there are two things we need to be able to hold onto about him:

1) Character. God’s character is perfect and unchanging. If he promises something, he does it. Generally speaking, people can change their minds about us and walk away from us even after they have promised the moon. God isn’t like that. His character is reliable.

2) Ability. Not only is God trustworthy at the level of character, he has the ability to deliver. Everything belongs to him and so, when he has decided to do something, he has the means to do it. The limitation of people is that they may really want to do certain things for us but not have the resources to follow through. God doesn’t have this problem.

Getting to know God is not something one can do by reading a single article like this. Like any worthwhile relationship, it is both a process and a journey. At 1Africa, we are committed to sharing our experiences with you and helping you get started on this journey, if you aren’t already on it. If you would like to take a next step for yourself and go deeper into learning how to trust God more, please click on the banner below.

Lighter Side: How To Stand Up For Yourself

TJ

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April 22, 2015

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Lighter Side: How To Stand Up For Yourself

When I was a junior in high school, one of the seniors who used to bully me was known for a phrase he used to like to throw around. I guess it made him feel important. After taking things that didn’t belong to him, he’d say, “Nice guys come second” and have this huge, icky smirk on his face. Whatever bro.

To be fair to him though, he may have been right. In life, it’s important to respect others and treat them with dignity. But it’s just as important to stand up for ourselves when the situation calls for it.

Our Lighter Side feature today is a hilarious example of just how necessary it is to cultivate the ability to stand up for ourselves from a very young age. If you want to be schooled on how not to have people walk all over you, this cute young thang has just what you need!

Xenophobia Is Silly

TJ

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April 21, 2015

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We’re often quick to forget that somehow, somewhere, we’re all ‘foreigners’. In fact, I only use this word because that’s the one being thrown around in the media in South Africa and the continent as a whole at the moment. Other than that, I avoid it like the plague.

Let’s face it: those who are going around stabbing, clubbing and robbing others because they’re ‘foreigners’ won’t read a post like this. Granted. But in our own way, we should all recognize that, at the end of the day, we are one. Hatred gets us absolutely nowhere. Here and now, we as the 1Africa team – a team composed of a mix of people: white, black, South African, non-South African, single, married, guys and girls – condemn xenophobia. Why? Because xenophobia is silly. We condemn outright the killing of Emmanuel Sithole, a 35-year old Mozambican street vendor on the streets of Alexandra, Johannesburg. We also condemn any kind of violence done in retaliation.

This witty, funny ad done by Nando’s a while back should remind us that none of us has the right to refer to the other as ‘foreigner’ (which I actually read to mean ‘stranger’ and ‘outsider’).

Only when we realize that we are one, and stronger in our diversity, will we make true progress as Africans.

Is It A Curse To Be Black?

TJ

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April 17, 2015

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This week, we have seen a dark cloud hanging over the African continent. Attacks against foreign nationals, very specifically those of black African descent, have been making headlines all over the world. Blamed largely on apparently misinterpreted utterances made by the Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini, the attacks have seen Durban, the largest city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, turn into a “mini war zone”. Five people are so far reported to have lost their lives as a result of the xenophobic tensions. It’s sad to say that, at the time of writing, the violence is ongoing.

Someone said once that “everything is connected”. For me, when these kinds of things happen, I can’t help but ask myself all kinds of questions – as I’m sure all people do – and use them as opportunities to reflect. One of the important questions that has arisen, in the context of these despicable events in South Africa over the last week, is: why are poor, black South Africans attacking other poor, black Africans? If indeed the issue is about the problem of general illegal immigrants, why is it that only foreign nationals of African origin are being attacked? Could there be more to this than just the much bandied-about issue of socio-economic frustration among South Africans?

When one looks at the various and very real issues that have affected African people in the past and even now, one finds oneself asking the question – is it a curse to be black? It’s a question I have heard people ask, one that I have, on occasion, asked myself and one which some feel is a rhetorical question. I know of people who believe, in their heart of hearts, that being black and African is a curse from God or whoever is in control of how things work. How can it not be when there is so much unending suffering in Africa? How can it not be when things that should be basic necessities for decent living seem so far away to many black, African people and have to be slaved for in a way that other people don’t? The general consensus seems to be that Africans just can’t get a break and struggle for things that shouldn’t be struggled for. There’s no denying that Africans are perceived a certain way, both by other racial groups but, sadly, by each other.

Am I saying that all black African people have it tough? No. Am I saying that people from other racial and ethnic groups all have it easy? Of course not. But if we’re to be real and do the math, it’s quite plain to see that something’s not quite right with the picture. If we are to see a change, not only in the landscape of African society but in the world as a whole, there have to be some radical decisions made. My firm belief is that those decisions must be both personal and political. More on what I think those should be at another time.

So, coming to the key question asked by this post, what is a curse? A curse is “a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something”. For us to believe that black people are cursed, we would need to believe also that someone powerful – at the level of the divine, like God – made that curse. Yet, when I read the Bible and see the story of Christ, His words were that everyone who believes in Him will have life and live life in abundance. I’m strongly convinced that this abundance of life should touch all areas of life. Am I saying that believing in God and Christ will turn us all into millionaires and take all our problems away? Far from it. But it will give us a different worldview on life and cause us to experience a hope and a peace that we couldn’t before. This promise applies to all, regardless of skin colour, tribe or creed.

Nobody should have to live as though they are cursed. It is not a curse to be black. We’d like to share this deeper message of blessing and freedom to you. If you’d like to hear it, please click on the banner below and find out more.

Money Makes The World Go Round

TJ

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April 15, 2015

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I can’t think of many people in the world who, in one way or another, are not affected by the power and influence of money. Money is currency. By it, the physical, material transactions of life are made possible.

Money is also one of the most polarizing things known to man. Some people feel they have too little; others have more than they know what to sensibly do with. Even the word ‘sensibly’ has to be taken with a pinch of salt here. What is a ‘sensible’ use of money to one person is probably a complete waste to someone else. There are levels and worldviews to everything. Money is no different.

I heard someone say once that money is an amplifier of human character. That’s to say that, on its own, money has no real power or ability to achieve anything. Only when it is placed in a person’s hand does it ‘come to life’, so to speak. Give money to a generous woman and watch it feed families and empower communities through schools and clinics. Give the same money to a self-centered man and see it squandered on pointless material things that are never actually used for anything other than puffing up the ego. Money assumes the character of the one in whose hand it is.

I often hear people trash-talk money. “Money changed him”, someone says. ” She was such an amazing person until she got all that cash”, another one mutters. Lately, I’ve stopped buying into all that. It’s not true. Money doesn’t change anyone. It just gives us a greater platform to demonstrate what we already were, actively or in a dormant way.

“Money makes the world go round” is the famous statement. That may be true figuratively, but how could it do that outside the hand of a living, breathing, thinking, deciding human being? I doubt that it could.

The world’s problems are, at their very source, human problems. Where money is involved, it does so only as an amplifier of what human beings already are.

So, what is at the core of things? What really makes the world go round? I’d say it’s the human heart – either the evil in it or the good in it.

One of the best things we can ever do is pay attention to the state of our hearts. In the Bible, the well known ruler and author of the Psalms said “Create in me a new heart…”. Perhaps you’ve seen it all and have come to a point of realizing that the true change you need is a change of heart. Please click on the link below and let us share with you how we believe this can be.

TJ

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