Table of contents for Issue #2 in Afropolitan

Cannabidiol (CBD) helps the body achieve a state of systemic balance or homeostasis; it targets more with less. As such, it is fast becoming a sensation in the world of healthcare, gaining much public attention in recent years. Homeostasis refers to any psychological process that takes place within the body in response to a changing external or internal environment. Maintaining a balanced internal environment is crucial for the survival and proper functioning of the human body. However, numerous factors such as lifestyle, diet, stress and heat can cause imbalances, leading to inevitable health-related consequences. According to Sean Willard, Pharmacist and Certified Holistic Cannabis Practitioner, scientific research has found that CBD products help to promote homeostasis, which is imperative to optimal health. It can also positively impact our common needs when…

Steyn City in Gauteng needs little introduction. The development recently launched its City Centre, which houses over 700 apartments and 11 penthouses. The homes are spacious, with décor options to die for. Working on this project were some of South Africa’s leading names in interior design, such as Stephen Falcke of Stephen Falcke Interior Design, Ayesha Nobanda of Urban Glam, Bilala Mabuza of Cocoon Lifestyle, Yvonne O’Brien of The Private House, and Donald Nxumalo of Donald Nxumalo Interior Design. Not only does the City Centre offer its own secure urban living within the development, but residents and potential residents get to experience a beach vibe just a stone’s throw away; – Steyn City’s lagoon is equivalent to six Olympic swimming pools combined. City Centre aims to offer residents a peaceful…

Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chiravadee Khunsub, said the importance of a healthy tourism industry to the global economy is very clear. “One-tenth of the world’s economy is already significant, but for many countries the portion that tourism contributes to their individual GDPs is even greater.” She added that Thailand, for example, attributed nearly 22% of its GDP to tourism in 2019. “By comparison, only 3% of South Africa’s GDP came from tourism during that period, but it also employed close to one in every 20 working adults. In a country such as South Africa where unemployment is such a massive concern, tourism fulfils an important function.” According to Khunsub, Covid-19 devastated both the local and global tourism industry, leaving a lasting effect on the economies of a…

Following the announcement that former president Jacob Zuma was to be sentenced to 15 months in jail, his supporters in KZN blocked major highways and burnt trucks in support of their political hero. This soon escalated to businesses being looted and vandalised. The unrest then moved to Gauteng. African News reported that the protests closed the N3 and N2 highways, which link the Indian Ocean ports of Durban and Richard’s Bay with the industrial hubs of Johannesburg and Cape Town. Zuma’s jail sentence came after the Constitutional Court ruled he was in contempt of court after failing to appear at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry. According to Africa News, about 40 000 businesses in KZN alone were looted, burnt or vandalised. Of these, 161 were malls, liquor outlets and…

If you are in search of accommodation for a getaway where you can comply with all the Covid-19 protocols while still having a great time, then choose the self-catering route. Be it a luxury seaside apartment, house or villa in Knysna and Plett, a unit in a historical town, a budget-wise cottage in a nature reserve or a luxury game lodge out in the bush, self-catering accommodation means you can avoid confined, enclosed spaces, close-contact settings and crowded places. You can eat, sleep and relax in your bubble all while enjoying the fresh air and tranquillity, soaking up the sun surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, hills, rivers or sea. HERE ARE SOME TOPTIER SOUTH AFRICAN HOTELS OFFERING SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION. DE HOOP COLLECTION A member of Cape Country Routes…

What is the number one complaint you hear about when it comes to underwear? It’s too tight and it feels uncomfortable, which is why many women are opting for more comfortable cotton undies or athleisure-style lingerie. These options are becoming major trends in the intimates section. Underwear was invented by the ancient Egyptians. It was the concept of wearing a second layer of clothing between their skin and a layer of dress. The inner layer was more for status than for practical reasons, but it’s still an amazing piece of innovation. Fast forward to 2021, the world is demanding inclusive basics that serve all women’s bodies. Women are demanding more from their clothes and underwear. They want designs that can be worn on a larger range of body types, across…

Designed by the Centro Stile Maserati in Turin, Italy, the MC20 is a blend of sporting prowess and elegance. For the Maserati MC20, every design is functional. According to the brand, the car’s butterfly doors improve its ergonomics and enables optimal access to and from the cabin. Its looks have an uncompromising sporty soul with a 630 hp V6 Nettuno engine delivering 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 2.88 seconds and a top speed over 326 km/hour. “Our mission was to design a car that would be remembered in the future as the model that launched the Maserati New Era,” said Klaus Busse, Maserati Head of Design. The European Product Design Awards is a competition created to acknowledge the efforts of talented international product designers. The MC stands for Maserati…

Businesses seeking to flourish and remain relevant in a changing world have been forced to refocus their efforts and prioritise transformation. The days of digital transformation being a distant goal are long gone, as businesses have had to speed up the digitisation of their operations, customer services and product development in order to keep up with changing consumer needs. Despite the fact that the majority of organisations think digital transformation is essential, over 70% of digital transformation efforts fail. What can you do to ensure digital transformation is effective for your business? DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OR DIGITAL STAGNATION? According to BCG’s Flipping the Odds of Digital Transformation Success, even though more than 80% of companies plan to accelerate their company’s digital transformation, 70% of efforts fall short, most often because of…

ANDREW BOURNE REGIONAL MANAGER: AFRICA AT ZOHO CORP Customer engagement entails actively engaging with an audience through messaging that interests, educates and helps them, as well as encouraging two-way communication with your business. In short, it’s about figuring out what the customer wants and giving it to them at the right time. This may appear to be a simple and straightforward task. However, in today’s world where the majority of a business’ customer base is composed of digital-native millennials and zoomers, the consumer has little patience for complicated processes in the name of customer engagement. So, what does this mean for you as a business and how can you adapt to this new market reality and ensure your engagement techniques are actually engaging? PREPARING FOR A MOBILE-LED SHIFT Mobile use…

Marketing has always been consumer-led. Since the birth of marketing in the early 20th century, brands have spent enormous resources trying to understand what people cared about and then crafting messages that spoke directly to them. A lot of it was hit and miss. John Wanamaker, who is credited with being the father of marketing, famously said over 100 years ago, “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half.” With the advent of search engines and social media this became easier because brands could pinpoint search terms and who clicks on which content. Today’s challenge is that the way consumers use the internet and social media channels is shifting, which means marketing strategies need to adapt again. THE MOVE TO BRAND…

The attention that comes from being a professional sportsman or woman can be a heavy burden. Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Junior Khanye shares this sentiment. He said, “When you play professional sport, you become a public figure, you are doing work that everyone watches closely.” The soccer star rose to fame at a young age while playing for South Africa’s biggest teams. He said while he would be celebrated when things were looking up, the opposite was true on his bad days. “Getting out of a dark pit means working hard. The public doesn’t see the hard work you put in behind the scenes.” With little understanding of how to cope with the negativity, Junior turned to alcohol. “The problem is alcohol is easily accessible. When things are not going…

Located on The Leonardo’s 57th floor in Johannesburg is Alto234. Dubbed as the highest bar in South Africa, The Leonardo is the tallest building in Africa. The word ‘alto’ means height in Latin and 234 is how tall the building stands in metres. The space’s interior design is inspired by Johannesburg’s mining history, the city’s rich vegetation and the building’s architectural style. Varoom Interiors worked on the space. Alto234 can accommodate up to 100 people and has internal and external seating. According to Varoom, complementing The Leonardo’s architecture – its exposed concrete, visible roof tins and steel supports – was key to the design. Minimal décor was used to ensure less distraction of the view. From Alto234, visitors have a 360-degree view of Johannesburg. The team used bold greens and…

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are a new way of buying and selling digital artwork. They are unpredictable, so much so that when Everydays – a digital piece by American digital artist Mike ‘Beeple’ Winkelmann – fetched a staggering ETH 42 329 (Ethereum; $69 million) at an auction, the doyens of the art world and Winkelman himself were taken by complete surprise. Even Christie’s, the global art auction house that offered the work for sale had no idea what value to place on this NFT when it went under the hammer in March. There was no reserve price or estimate for the work and bidding started at $100. The auction was run entirely on the ETH blockchain, with settlement governed by a smart contract. NFTs are a one-of-a-kind digital asset that acts…

The second year of the pandemic means budgets will be tighter, however, this year’s Black Friday is expected to attract millions of consumers looking for the best deals. “We are now 18 months into the pandemic and it has impacted different families in different ways,” said Craig Lubbe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bidorbuy. “Some people will have saved money by not going out as often and maybe looking to reward or treat themselves using some of the cash reserves they have built up. We may also see people looking to maximise their savings and save time by doing the bulk of their holiday shopping all at once.” Though South Africa is emerging from the unprecedented slump brought on by the hard lockdown in the first half of 2020, the…

Level 1 lockdown. We all have a good idea how this will play out socially, but what are the ramifications for business? How will it affect our day-to-day workflow and what systems will we need to put in place? The conditions imposed upon organisations during the various lockdown levels focused on digital interactions and finding new ways of connecting, ensuring continued delivery on our commitment to patients, employees, communities and stakeholders. This also facilitated better work-life balance for our employees, which will continue to be a focus in the future. Taking a step back, we’ve established a clear distinction between the uncertainty of the initial stages of the pandemic and the more manageable place in which we now find ourselves. Initially, no one had any idea how long this would…

MSC Orchestra, a popular ship for South African holidaymakers, will homeport in Durban and Cape Town for the local 2021/22 season and offer two, three, four and seven-night voyages up to 11 May 2022. The vessel has recently undergone a major refurbishment programme and replaces the MSC Musica that was originally earmarked for South Africa in the upcoming cruise season. MSC Orchestra will welcome guests on a total of 41 local cruises from Durban and Cape Town, providing South African cruisers with a wide choice of options to suit their holiday needs. Highlights include Pomene Bay in Mozambique, a marine safari experience complete with its own beach club, Portuguese Island, and other destinations in Southern Africa. MSC Cruises plans to implement stringent health and safety measures onboard the Orchestra and…