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Caster Semenya is a winner. The 29-year-old South African is the two-time women’s 800m Olympic champion, a three-time 800m world champion and a double Commonwealth Games middle distance gold medallist. To wrap those figures in further context, when Semenya won the Doha Diamond League 800m in May 2019, it was her 30th consecutive victory over the distance.
Put simply, when fit, in-form and free to run without distraction, Semenya is almost unbeatable over the 800m. But these are not circumstances often afforded to Semenya, who lives with a condition in which her body produces a much higher level of testosterone than most other women.
In 2009, on the eve of the women’s 800m World Championship final, it was revealed that World Athletics (then the IAAF) had asked her to undergo gender verification testing. Semenya was permitted to compete in the final and won gold but was subsequently stopped from competing for nearly a year.
In 2011 the IAAF established official rules restricting female athletes with elevated levels of testosterone, arguing it presents an unfair advantage. From 2011 to 2019 Semenya was locked in a cycle of appeals and court cases until the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of IAAF regulations stating that female athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD) are required to take testosterone-reducing medication to compete in track events from 400m to the mile.
Caster Semenya has appealed against this judgement to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. But in March 2020 the soft-spoken athlete revealed on social media that she now aims to compete in the 200m.
“My dream has always been, and will continue to be, to compete at the highest level of sport and so in order to pursue my goals and dreams I have decided to change events and compete in the 200m,” said Caster Semenya, whose personal best in the 200m at the time was 23.49 seconds.
Do not bet against Caster Semenya lowering that to the Olympic qualification mark of 22.80 seconds in time for Tokyo 2020. This, after all, is an athlete who won the 400m, 800m and 1500m in the space of three hours one extraordinary afternoon at the 2016 South African National Championships.
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Barcode is a group of dynamic young professional musicians who have joined forces to celebrate their South African heritage though their music, crossing and covering a diverse blend of South African favourites.
Their visually striking image embodies style and elegance and plays on the strong contrasts within the band and their easily recognisable repertoire and upbeat performance adds South African flair and flavour to any party or event.
The group consists of Vocalist Lindiwe Maxolo, electric violinists Balekane and Olivia, and producer / keys / viola / DJ Brendan Jury, all of whom have cast experience in the corporate entertainment worked.
They all come from different backgrounds, both musically and culturally and are having fun exploring and paying a wide variety of music together.
Musically they have taken popular songs from the past few decades and blended them into a set of music guaranteed to entertain a diverse audience with upbeat tracks from Mafikizolo, Brenda Fassie, Miriam Makeba and Lebo Mathosa.
The music of Barcode – Conference Corporate Band combines African sounds with catchy melodic and percussive loops, deep basslines and catchy rhythms and harmonies blended together with beautiful string lines, keys and sultry vocals.
This is truly a special collaboration in proudly South African style.
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Manteca is Durban’s hot Afro-Caribbean Salsa band. The Band has been moving hips and lighting up dance floors around the various salsa and live music venues in KZN and JHB since 2009.
The band is currently an 8 piece line up consisting: Raul Vasquez (a bona fide Salsa Dance Champion and instructor) on male vocals, Nosihe Zulu on female vocals, Avikaar Maney on Alto sax, Johan van der Molen on Tenor sax, Daniel Sheldon on Trumpet, Alberto Chemane on percussion/kit, Monks Legget on Bass and Avinash Maney on keys and Guitar.
Our repertoire includes some traditional and folkloric Afro Caribbean songs (Anabacoa, RanKanKan, La Esencia del Guaguanco) as well as some more contemporary tunes (Havana, Despacito, All of Me) and some Latin favorites (Oye Como Va, Labamba, Guantanamera) and some Latin versions of our own South African favorites (Pata Pata, Ntjilo Ntjilo, Meadowlands).
We have a crew of Salsa dancers that can be brought in to share and activate your Dance floor as well as some professional Dancers who can lead your guests in a fun and interactive Salsa line dance (a fantastic ice breaker) and do some dance Demo features and even lead a class on the beginner steps of Salsa.
The band has evolved over the years varying between a 13 piece and an 8 piece line up featuring a culturally diverse array of individuals with a passion for the intense rhythmically charged art form of Afro Caribbean music (a fusion itself of European classical and African musical traditions).
Durban’s hot-blooded, authentic, cooking Afro Cuban Salsa Band. Continuing the evolution and journey of Salsa and making it a part of Durbans Rich Cultural identity.
The band has over its existence featured at many corporate, cultural and sport events with even a favorably reviewed show at the local Rhumbelow Theatre.
Manteca (meaning Fat or Grease) loves fusing ideas of Music, Dance, Art, Architecture, Culture and Fashion (even inspiring a range of “Manteca Shirts” by Designer KMK).
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Nicola Cooper is a trailblazing cultural strategist and trend analyst who has redefined the way businesses understand and engage with African markets. With an extensive background in visual identity, business analysis, and global sociology, she is an authority on consumer behavior and cultural shifts. Nicola’s insights empower brands to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of fashion, lifestyle, youth culture, and digital trends, ensuring their strategies are not only relevant but deeply rooted in authenticity.
As the founder of Nicola Cooper & Associates, an independent consultancy specializing in African market insights, she has advised top-tier companies on how to integrate global trends while staying true to local identities. Her deep understanding of “glocalization” enables organizations to harness international influences that resonate with their target audience while simultaneously elevating homegrown movements to the global stage. Nicola is a sought-after keynote speaker, known for her engaging and thought-provoking presentations that challenge traditional perspectives and encourage innovation.
Nicola Cooper’s career spans over two decades of research, analysis, and strategic consulting within the fashion, lifestyle, and cultural spheres. She has built a reputation as one of Africa’s leading voices in consumer trends, helping businesses decode the shifting behaviors of modern audiences. Her work is particularly instrumental in guiding brands through the complexities of African identity and aesthetics, offering them a roadmap to create meaningful connections with local consumers.
A firm believer in data-driven storytelling, Nicola’s approach blends academic rigor with real-world application. She holds qualifications in visual identity and design, business analysis, and global sociology, with a specialization in identity formation. This multidisciplinary background equips her with a unique lens to explore how identity, culture, and commerce intersect, particularly in emerging markets.
Through her consultancy, Nicola Cooper & Associates, she collaborates with major corporations, startups, and creative enterprises to bridge the gap between local cultural movements and commercial success. Her ability to identify emerging trends and translate them into actionable strategies has made her an invaluable asset to industries ranging from retail and entertainment to technology and media.
In addition to her consultancy work, Nicola has been a featured speaker at numerous high-profile industry events, including Bizcommunity’s BizTrends sessions. She frequently shares her insights on the future of business, the rise of African consumer power, and the significance of embracing authenticity in branding. Her work is widely published and has contributed to shaping narratives around African identity in the global market.
Event planners looking for a dynamic and knowledgeable speaker who can provide deep, research-backed insights into African consumer behavior and cultural trends will find Nicola Cooper to be an ideal choice. Her expertise in trend forecasting, brand positioning, and strategic cultural analysis makes her an invaluable resource for businesses seeking to stay ahead of industry shifts.
Nicola’s presentations are known for their engaging, insightful, and forward-thinking approach. She has a talent for breaking down complex cultural trends into digestible, actionable insights that audiences can immediately apply to their own strategies. Whether addressing executives, marketers, or creatives, Nicola ensures that her content is both relevant and thought-provoking.
Her ability to highlight the importance of cultural relevance and authenticity in branding makes her a standout choice for conferences, corporate summits, and industry panels. She tailors her content to suit the needs of each audience, ensuring that event organizers receive a customized experience that aligns with their specific objectives. With a keen eye on the future, Nicola provides event attendees with a fresh perspective on how global and local trends converge to shape consumer landscapes.
Nicola Cooper is a highly respected cultural strategist and trend analyst, renowned for her expertise in African markets, consumer behavior, and brand positioning. As the founder of Nicola Cooper & Associates, she has helped businesses navigate cultural shifts and integrate meaningful, locally relevant strategies. Her thought leadership and research-backed insights make her a sought-after speaker for industry events, where she delivers engaging and transformative presentations.
With her unique ability to blend academic knowledge with real-world applications, Nicola is an essential voice for businesses aiming to connect authentically with African audiences. Event planners looking for an authoritative and compelling speaker will find her to be a game-changing addition to their lineup.
Hashtags: #CulturalStrategy #TrendAnalysis #AfricanMarkets #ConsumerBehavior #BrandStrategy #Glocalization #Innovation #KeynoteSpeaker #MarketingInsights #FutureOfBusiness
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Beat-Route is a classic, traditional swing jazz combo, performing regularly across Kwazulu-Natal and beyond.
The band has, over the past 6 years since its inception, developed an extensive repertoire of originals, standards, grooves, Latin, Afro, popular and show tunes executed with professional style in the jazz idiom, and features regularly at corporate functions, parties, weddings, fairs, restaurants and on the local jazz circuit.
The versatile instrumental four-piece provides a classy background show which still allows for conversation and networking without strain.
The band can and do often perform without a PA system, and for bigger events only subtle amplification is required.
They also perform regularly with vocalist Thobeka Langa, to make the band a vocal Quintet.
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It’s strange, how in a single brief moment in time, with only a few words spoken, one’s life can change so completely. Suddenly all you know, trust and rely upon, Yavi Madurai plummeted into the depths of the unknown.
This is precisely what happened to self- professed 33 year old, “control freak”, Yavi Madurai.
On the 14th of November 2003, at 15h02, her doctor uttered those words, “It’s breast cancer”. As life around her continued on as normal, the earth still spinning on its axis, people still going about their daily lives, hers came to a painful, grinding halt.
Hopes, dreams and wishes seemed far away now – especially those of becoming a mother.
What followed in the next two weeks, she can only describe as a “Brown Blur” – A surreal experience of living in the limbo between brown medical buildings, carrying brown envelopes containing test results.
Soon this muted hue seemed to seep into every aspect of her life, staining her days with sorrow. But a bright reprieve was to soon emerge from the depths of this monochromatic existence, coming in the form of another cancer patient.
Yavi Madurai is grateful for every new day and loves getting up in the morning. “I feel alive and know that I am now living in the moment” story acted as a catalyst for Yavi, triggering a metamorphosis within her. And like the seasons bring about the change from caterpillar to butterfly, so the new Yavi was born.
Previously her life had been lived in the fast lane, ambitious, driven and always on the go. She never stopped to appreciate the beauty contained within the tiny moments between life.
But now, Yavi had been presented with the precious gift of choice. It was as if her cancer said, “hey listen, wake up, value it”.
She began to view the world through different lenses, counting her blessings for the things she had previously taken for granted.
She decided that her greatest weapon against cancer would be a positive attitude. Even through the physical and psychological devastation of a partial mastectomy and the aggressive courses of chemotherapy and radiation, her positivity was unwavering.
Yavi Madurai soon discovered the undeniable, yet inexplicable power of the mind-body-connection, as her new attitude began to have a marked effect on her recovery.
But perhaps Yavi Madurai is grateful for every new day and loves getting up in the morning. “I feel alive and know that I am now living in the moment” greatest gift came from the “Moments in Time” project, which made her see her cancer as a gift from God. This knowledge allowed her to find profound meaning, in what was once a seemingly senseless struggle.
Cancer was no longer a burden under which she stumbled and faltered. Rather, it was a second chance at life.
And then, as if by some act of universal synchronicity, Yavi was granted her greatest wish, giving birth to a beautiful baby girl in October, breast cancer month.
This survivor had come full circle, from fighting for her life, to giving new life.
She believes that her cancer not only prepared her for the challenges of motherhood, but also gave her a priceless heirloom, a legacy that could be passed onto her daughter; the fundamental values she learnt, that so wholly transformed her life.
Today, Yavi Madurai is grateful for every new day and loves getting up in the morning. “I feel alive and know that I am now living in the moment”
Branding solutions and Reputation Management
Brand positioning and reputation management go hand in hand and serve as the heart of the Marketing and or Communications strategy of any company which in effect is the foundation of that company. At BBT, we have a passion for brand management solutions and ensuring a company’s reputation is managed efficiently
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As a stand-up comedian, MC, actor, writer & facilitator Trevor Gumbi – MC Comedian underlying charm offsets his assertive energy on stage as he brings to the fore, some socially uncomfortable issues and he delivers them with hilarity.
Whilst outspoken and sometimes controversial, Trevor Gumbi is a firm favourite in the corporate market, where he can be found entertaining executives and their employees with tailored material, proving that he has the ability to adapt rapidly and appropriately for diverse audiences.
Trever has had his audiences in stiches at several major comedy events in the country, including performing at Comedy Central Live, Sex Live at the Lyric, Kings & Queens of Comedy, Oppikoppi, Rocking the Daisies, Kingsize Comedy Jams, Blacks Only, Laugh Out Loud, Arts Alive Comedy Festival, to name a few.
Alongside John Vlismas, he co-hosted a multi-day conference for Nando’s in late 2005 and he performed for a large internal launch for McDonald’s in 2006.
That same year, Trevor performed at the FNB Life Start Campus Road Show, travelling to tertiary campuses countrywide.
With an impressive list of satisfied clients, Trevor has hosted an unprecedented number of Standard Bank conferences and numerous road shows.
He has a recognizable voice on a number of radio adverts, with a Top 5 Most Downloaded Radio Show on CliffCentral every Monday afternoon at 14:00pm.
He was voted one of South Africa’s Twitter Kings by Cosmopolitan readers in January 2011.
He is widely recognized as the character he played in Vodacom’s Brother Ubuntu Freedom ads and as the voice of the fowl in the Hippo Insurance campaign.
He has voice-over experience on ETV’s animated series, Jozi Zoo and he has been heard doing skits on 5FM as the ‘black guy at a braai’.
He has enjoyed the success of his TV skit show for the Vodacom Super 14 Rugby Season as Offside Vilakazi and he was seen weekly on SABC 1’s entertainment celebrity show, The Real Goboza.
A combination of Trevor’s talent, passion, dedication, professionalism and hard work has been seen in all opportunities presented to him and he continues to nurture his craft in order to be one of the best in his field.
Trevor Gumbi on comedy Central
Tech requirements: A good PA system with a good quality mic; good lighting and a stage (if necessary) required …
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Mark Fish is a distinguished South African soccer legend whose career spanned top clubs both locally and internationally. He rose to prominence with Orlando Pirates, where he played an integral role in securing the 1995 CAF Champions League title. Fish’s natural athleticism and versatility on the field earned him a move to Europe, where he played for elite clubs such as Lazio in Italy, and English teams Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic, competing in the prestigious English Premier League. His solid defensive skills and leadership made him a key figure in both his club and international teams.
Fish’s international career flourished with Bafana Bafana, South Africa’s national team, where he played a pivotal role in the country’s triumph at the 1996 African Cup of Nations. His contributions to South African soccer, both on and off the pitch, have made him an icon and a source of inspiration for many young athletes. After retiring from professional soccer, Fish continued to stay involved with the sport, dedicating himself to coaching, mentoring, and inspiring the next generation. He also works as a sports ambassador, promoting soccer and youth development across South Africa.
Today, Mark Fish is highly regarded not only for his achievements on the field but also for his leadership and role in mentoring young athletes. As a sought-after keynote speaker and mentor, Fish shares valuable insights on teamwork, perseverance, and leadership, using his career to inspire those aspiring to succeed in both sports and life. His passion for soccer continues to fuel his dedication to developing the future of the sport in South Africa and beyond.
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