A last-minute call last Sunday saw me boarding a flight to Durban to attend the opening of what’s billed as one of the world’s top three must-visit events of its kind.
It turned out to be more than a brief respite from the highveld chill — offering a chance to connect with the remarkable women helping to elevate the land’s tourist gems, and to play my small part in telling a uniquely South African story.
Africa’s Travel Indaba is the go-to-place for many in the travel industry to sing the praises for what the continent has to offer.
Held at the Durban International Convention Centre over three days, this year the trade show attracted delegates from over 50 countries — including 27 from Africa — and more than a thousand buyers.
The day before the indaba got under way, attendees were invited to broaden their minds and networks at BonDay — a clever portmanteau for Business Opportunity Networking Day.
Many didn’t need to look far for inspiration. The keynote address was delivered by Londy Ngcobo, a cherubic young woman renowned globally for her passion in unlocking the oceans economy.
“I choose not to be Rose from the Titanic, I choose to be captain,” she tells us.
“Deals will be made today, not from how much we know, but from the stories we tell. I will remember you even after this is all over, so I hope you will remember the girl they said wouldn’t be able to swim, the girl that they said wouldn’t be able to get it done, when I ask you not to play it small,” urges Africa’s first female dredge master.
The morning began with a welcome by South African Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe, while we also heard from the tourism authority’s board chair, Gregory Davids. The panel discussion that followed featured another maritime queen, Jacqui Mabuza from Mercy Ships, and media entrepreneur Zimasa Vabaza.
After a brief break, with little time for chitchat, I found myself getting mic’d up for a panel of my own. This time, I wasn’t there as a columnist, but to share how — through the founding of my label 20 years ago — I helped to shine light on a little-known ecological treasure in Limpopo: Lake Fundudzi, the sacred site of the Venda people.
Moderated by investment thought leader Lynette Ntuli, the panel proved a formidable one. I was joined by Zipho Sikhakhane, CEO of a business advisory agency, and Makhosi Msimango, whose grit and determination have led her to provide rare, exclusive tours of Zulu royal palaces.
Makhosi recounted how she had been turned away several times from Ulundi before finally being granted an audience. Her perseverance paid off: today, she is able to give well-heeled globetrotters a rare opportunity to traipse through royal grounds.
Back in Joburg, I found myself at the Everard Read Gallery in Rosebank a day after another daughter of our soil, Marlene Dumas — now based in the Netherlands — set a new record for the highest price paid for an artwork by a living female artist, when her painting, “Miss January”, fetched $13.6m.
The occasion? The opening of a new exhibition by Neill Wright, whose mixed media works — vivid yet quietly contemplative — have earned him a growing international following over the past decade.
Tall and lanky, the artist was on hand to introduce “We Turned Off The Road”, his latest exhibition.
“It could be a metaphorical escape, or just genuinely turning off the road — getting away, getting out, taking a break. Stepping away from the chaos,” he explained.
Things were far more energetic in Sandton, where the thriving streetwear brand GalxBoy celebrated the opening of its 14th store.
Guests were ushered into a cinema for the screening of a three-minute “fashion film” — more an indie movie style exploration than the high energy blast I was expecting.
The true pulse of Thatiso Dube’s retail empire was best experienced in person at the store itself, where we headed afterwards — and where rappers Priddy Ugly and Focalistic, lifestyle influencer Missy Roberts, author and activist Tshiamo Modisane, and amapiano star Hope Ramafalo, were spotted checking out the latest drip.
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