Please tell us about your TEDx talk and what you hoped to deliver?
#TEDxCTWomen was so amazing and one of the greatest experiences we’ve had thus far. We didn’t go into it hoping to deliver anything major or incredibly profound. On many occasions, we were told that we were there to share an idea and to really own and deliver it. We never anticipated that we would be the people standing on a stage, delivering a talk to an audience of about 200 people (and all those who were able to stream it live).
When we were contacted and told about the theme, we couldn’t resist getting involved. Especially knowing the type of platform we’ve created and the types of conversations we both love to have and share. The theme of the event was Lixesha: It is Time, and our topic was “From (Wo)man to Womxn”.
This looked at the journey through time (past | present | future), redefining the inherited narrative of what it means to be a Womxn. This was quite a big task to take on as an idea but we believe it was/is a powerful and necessary conversation none the less.
We are a group of three individuals who have different tastes, personalities and ways of being. What we have in common is that we believe Womxn need to be given more opportunities. Our time is now to own spaces all-round (be it in corporate, in relationships…wherever). We spoke from our own experiences while touching on the wider view from a general perspective. Ultimately, we focused on what we know to be true to us, which made for an authentic perspective.
How would you like Pap Culture to grow and how would you individually like to grow with it?
Bongeka: I’d like Pap Culture to go as far as it can, or at least open up doors for us as a group and individually. I’d really like to see Pap Culture own serious space in the digital world and be a key player.
Personally I’d like to get more business savvy as we grow and get a better eye for detail and visual story telling.
Thembe: I would like Pap Culture to grow firstly on the platform of YouTube. For more subscribers, views and to get that golden plate from YouTube (over 1 million subscribers). I’d also like for it to grow outside of the platform of YouTube.
This can be either through holding workshops or creating and producing other programs either in television or film. All this should relate to popular culture, social commentary and satirical sketches.
Nwabisa: I would love to see the platform become something that Africans can watch. I want Africans to find a piece of themselves in our content. We recently went to the Sub-Saharan Africa YouTube Awards and one thing I can say is; Africans are creating and people are supporting and watching the content.
This affirms that the audience is there, we just need to work hard to tap into those various markets. We can do this by creating content that speaks to human truths and resonates with people from all walks of life. This is done in a way that naturally allows for people to support and share what we do. Basically African storytelling told by Africans for Africans…that would be epic.
Individually, I think I just want to get better at what I do both on and off screen. We’re essentially running a business on a small scale, for now. So what would be life changing is; being able to continue to do what I do; get even better at what I do; potentially provide opportunities for other people through my work; and then meet and connect with others creating and pioneering in entertainment.
[bctt tweet=”Africans are creating and people are supporting and watching the content ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”]
If you could own an existing fashion brand, which one would it be and why?
Bongeka: Adidas, I just want free stuff.
Thembe: Adidas. I started liking the brand as a young girl when I used to see it on Missy Elliot. I think from there I always associated it with being inclusive. You don’t have to be a really sporty woman to look cool in sportswear.
Now that “sports luxe” is becoming a fashion trend, I think welcome guys. We’ve been here for a while.
Nwabisa: Definitely a fashion brand creating African apparel. The likes of Khosi Nkosi, Maxhosa by Laduma Ngxokolo, Rich Factory and CHULAAP by Chu Suwannapha. I could go on.
But I die die die for a good African print in all forms, head scarves, dresses, suits, jumpsuits (always a jumpsuit), bags, shoes and and and!
If you could take on a persona of a movie character, which character would it be?
Bongeka: Sarafina from the movie, “Sarafina”. I’ve always wanted to be in the middle of the circle in that funeral scene.
Thembe: Slevin from the movie, “Lucky Number Slevin”. I would like to be that cunning, outsmart my rivals and have a great back story.
Nwabisa: I really can’t think of a character, but a leading character in a box-office Nollywood movie would make my life. I don’t even care if at some point I become a mute patient in hospital because my character is in a coma.
The idea of working with and in Nigeria is like life goals for me! And I low key believe in my past life I was Nigerian. I’ve got what I believe is the accent down pat, so I’m ready whenever Nollywood needs me.
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