Heeey!

How’s it going pod friend? Happy Spring/Autumm!

It’s been a while, I know, but I hope a lot of positive things have been happening to you and for you. The world is still in a terrible state, so that hasn’t changed. There has however been a slight change at Shades and Layers. You’ll notice that we have gone back to a fortnightly episode publishing schedule. And soon we will look at the numbers to see what your preferences are, versus what you tell me in the DM’s 😆.

Another noticeable change for us all is the season. New England is finally welcoming the Spring - although some argue that it’s too early - and I’m already planning how I’ll be spending my summer. The lead picture of this edition serves as inspiration.

This edition highlights two recent episode on the podcast feed and reflects on the high stakes of South Africa’s upcoming elections in May; 30 years after the late Nelson Mandela took an oath of office as South Africa’s first democratically elected Black president.

Before we get into all of it, please do a girl a favor and spread the word about this fabulous newsletter. And if this edition was shared with you, hit the Subscribe button below and never miss an edition.

Fikile “Fix” Moeti was one of the first MTV presenters when the channel launched its local version in South Africa in the late 2000. She also became a member of the new wave of daytime women DJ’s on 5fm. While she was living the life of an ‘It Girl’ in the bustling streets of Johannesburg, she was tending to the whispers of a call to healing and doing more with the platform she’d been given. Like all of us, the year that wasn’t, 2020 brought fundamental shifts to her life. She had a child, got divorced and moved countries - in that order. Find out about her journey to Social Entrepreneurship, how she evolved into a ‘Light Worker’, and how blending all her talents and interests led to a more creative life.

A conversation with the founder of WhatWeCherish, Melaney Oldenhof, gives insights into the possibilities for an African luxury marketplace. After two decades working as a fashion stylist in New York, Melaney moved to Johannesburg to start a family with her South African partner. What struck her the most about her new city were the seemingly ubiquitous beautiful handmade design goods that she spotted while going around and getting to know the place. She immediately set about contacting the mostly women founded makers and business owners of some of these products, and set about creating a collective that would share not only the products, but the stories behind the objects.

At the dawn of the new South Africa, it was appropriate to highlight the stories of the country’s majority after 48 years of Apartheid. One of the definitive theatre productions that captures the lived experience of the final years of apartheid, and aptly captures how hard won South Africa’s hopeful spirit of the time is a 1992 film called Sarafina (originally a Toni-nominated stage production) starring Whoopi Goldberg, South Africa’s own global music icon, Miriam Makeba, and rising star (at the time), Leleti Khumalo. The title for this edition is derived from the lyrics of a song called “Coming Tomorrow” from the stage production of Sarafina.

Sarafina’s achievements on the global stage showed what possibilities lay ahead for all of us in all spheres of life. Sarafina also serves as a history lesson as to how hard worn South Africa’s freedom has been. Today, South Africa celebrates 30 years of many great achievements kickstarted during the Sarafina era. At the same time, we are lamenting our disappointments in the broken promises of the Rainbow Nation project.