Buqaqawuli is a South African mixed-media artist trained in Fine Art and influenced by architecture. Her works are known for her striking use of lace - a thread that connects generations of women; a language of beauty, softness and strength. Through her textured paintings, she reimagines black womanhood and luxury in a way that feels deeply intentional and deeply personal.

In this episode

1. Lace as central to her practice, both as a material and metaphor
2. Defining craftsmanship in an age that often prizes speed and surface over depth and meaning
3. What luxury means in the context of black femininity
4. The symbolism of her work bridging traditional craft and contemporary expression
5. How her work is participating in a broader redefinition of African luxury

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @buyimafoko
• For sponsorship enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @buqaqawuli.nobakada on IG

Amonge Sinxoto is a youth architect, social entrepreneur, public speaker and the founder of Blackboard Africa, a youth-led nonprofit shaping a bold, identity-centered narrative for African youth. A Wits University graduate and current honours student in Political Studies, she has designed and implemented leadership programs rooted in African identity for schools and communities across South Africa.

Recognised as a 2019 Global Teen Leader, Mandela Washington Fellow, and Pasha de Cartier Talent, she has spoken on global platforms including TED, Google, and Facebook. With her powerful voice, dynamic vision, and growing global influence, Amonge is one of the continent’s most compelling young change-makers.

In this episode

1. Blackboard Africa and it's role in engaging the youth voice and social impact
2. How youth advocacy and identity work is influencing youth agency and luxury culture
3. Sustainability, pre-owned luxury and deeper consciousness among younger consumers
4. Redefining aspirations and influence among Gen-Zs
5. How social impact and commercial value can co-exist in the development of African luxury

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @nobleliving
• For media and sales enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @a_monge on IG

She is the visionary founder and creative director of GUGUBYGUGU, a South African luxury streetwear label renowned for its bold, gender-neutral knitwear. Gugu’s work is deeply rooted in authenticity and sustainable innovation—using locally sourced mohair and merino wool. She has showcased at New York and Paris Fashion Week, and earned the Best Young Designer Award at Paris’s Africa Fashion Up during Haute Couture Week 2024

Her designs are characterized by striking silhouettes and refined comfort and celebrate African heritage while pushing global fashion boundaries. Each piece from GUGUBYGUGU is crafted with intention—designed to spark connection, honor identity and promote mindful consumption. Her work is reshaping the global narrative around African luxury fashion and adding a unique lens to streetwear.

In this episode

1. How GUGUBYGUGU sits boldly at the intersection of luxury and streetwear and why this fusion uniquely reflects the African experience
2. Translating African heritage into modern, luxury streetwear fashion without compromising authenticity
3. Using locally-sourced natural fibers like mohair to connect both to the land and the brand's mission for sustainability
4. Bringing exceptional craftsmanship into the fast-evolving world of street fashion
5. Streetwear is closely tied to youth culture and this brand is bringing hope to young Africans through its designs

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @nobleliving
• For media and sales enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @gugupeteni & @gugubygugu on IG

Esethu Cenga is a leading circular fashion entrepreneur and sustainability advocate, recognised as one of Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 and a Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South African. She is the co-founder of Rewoven, which transforms textile waste into recycled fabric, and also leads Future of Fashion and Muna Studio, platforms dedicated to ethical fashion and circularity in Africa. With a Master’s in Economic Development from UCT, Esethu brings a systems-thinking approach to building fashion solutions rooted in African innovation, environmental impact, and social change.

Tshepo Bhengu is an entrepreneur and creative with a passion for building sustainable solutions that benefit both society and the environment. Originally from Pietermaritzburg and a BCom Financial Accounting graduate from UCT, Tshepo is the co-founder and Chief of Operations at Rewoven, a pioneering South African textile company focused on recycling fashion waste into high-quality fabrics. He is also the co-founder of Future of Fashion, an annual indaba dedicated to shaping a more ethical and future-fit African fashion industry. Tshepo’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to community, innovation, and long-term impact.

In this episode

1. The impact of fast fashion on the environment and the massive scale of textile waste in Africa
2. Reducing fashion waste and the importance of sustainability in fashion
3. Rewoven's role in circular fashion, their journey with recycled fabrics and how they are creating ethical fashion solutions
4. Entrepreneurship and building relationships in the fashion ecosystem
5. Circular Fashion and how it is changing the industry and amplifying the message of sustainability

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @nobleliving
• For media and sales enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @rewoven_africa on IG

Papama is a multi-talented creative force whose career spans the worlds of fashion, design, styling, and entrepreneurship. An award-winning stylist, fashion director, designer, businesswoman and speaker, she has established herself as one of South Africa’s most influential voices in contemporary African fashion and culture. She launched Africa Your Time Is Now — not just a fashion label, but a rallying call to inspire unrealized greatness across the African continent. Through this brand, she seeks to empower Africans by promoting self-belief, challenging stereotypes, and showcasing the continent’s rich cultural heritage through a modern, thought-provoking lens.

A true creative visionary, Papama previously served as Creative Director for Johannesburg’s luxury concept store Luminance, where she collaborated with global fashion powerhouses such as Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Giorgio Armani, Oscar de la Renta, Chloé, and Giuseppe Zanotti. 

In this episode

1. Unifying Africa through fashion as a medium for identity
2. The Connection Between Fashion and Culture
3. The Future of African Luxury Brands
4. The Significance of Local Brands in evolving African Luxury
5. Building the Africa Your Time is Now brand and solidifying it on the global stage

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @nobleliving
• For media and sales enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @papamamar on IG

Tebogo has a passion for creative industries and is the Founding Executive Director of MNM Marketing Solutions, a marketing, brand activation and events management company. He is also a successful business professional, creativepreneur and social activist. He’s worked at various levels in leading investment banking, management consulting, private equity, ICT, and insurance companies, primarily in business development, marketing, and sales functions. Whilst working in corporate South Africa, he founded the Young Professionals Forum (YPF) with the goal of empowering young professionals with a better ‘understanding of economic, social and political issues’ and developing the abilities through engagement. 

He holds a BCom Economics and Law degree from the University of Cape Town and an MBA from GIBS, specialising in entrepreneurship. Talk about a career pivot, with is currently the Gauteng Convener and member of the national coordinating team of Rise Mzansi which is building a movement of patriotic South Africans by organising, mobilising and empowering citizens.

In this episode

1. Empowering change through creativity
2. The Intersection of Creativity and Activism
3. The Ubuntu Economy and creativity as spiritual connection
4. Revaluing African Craftsmanship and building global excellence
5. The Role of Government Policies and creating safe spaces for creativity
6. Importance of legal aspects for creatives
7. The Impact of globalization on local creativity
8. Mentorship, community and the creative economy

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @nobleliving
• For media and sales enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @tebogomoalusi_ on IG

Timothy is a human behaviouralist, researcher and bestselling of author of multiple books centred on themes about human and brand behaviour. Known as the CEO Whisperer for helping C-suite executives understand behavioural psychology to position themselves and their mission; this methodology has been sought after by senior executives, political leaders and global entrepreneurs. His research interests lie in Personal Brand Leadership, Brand Influence and Gender Equality which he explores extensively in his podcast The Brain and Brand Show. 

Applying Neuroscience and Behavioral Science to Personal Brand Leadership, Timothy and his team leverage the evolving trends in Neuroscience and how professionals and organisations should think about how the brain processes identity, brand power and human behaviour. More so now than ever, there is a surgance  is well placed to have this conversation with us about the behaviours shaping luxury consumption in Africa given his vast background in branding, design and psychology.

In this episode

1. Introduction to Behavioral Science and Luxury Consumption
2. The Significance of Luxury as a Status Symbol
3. Understanding Consumer Behavior in Africa
4. The Role of Luxury in Personal Identity
5. How Community Shapes Luxury Preferences
6. The Power of Perception: How Stories Shape Luxury
7. The Importance of Storytelling in Luxury Marketing
8. Embracing African Luxury: A New Narrative

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @nobleliving
• For media and sales enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @instatimothy on IG

Dynamic, versatile and respected Ghanaian media personality, Sika Osei has close to a decade of experience as a TV presenter, actress and live show host. She started her career in PR, Advertising and Magazine publishing as one of the founders of CANOE Africa Magazine which set her up for entry into the creative world of African Film, TV, Influencing and Content production working with the likes of DSTv, TV3, Ebony Life TV, E!Africa.

Boasting a film career that spans over 25 projects and 2 films currently showing on Netflix and on other streaming platforms such as YouTube and Showmax. This is beautifully complimented with her TV presence which is consistent across the continent with both live and pre-recorded lifestyle shows in Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. 

In this episode

1. Building credibility in the industry
2. The importance of professionalism in media
3. The hidden struggles of women in the industry
4. Exploring opportunities in the global media industry
5. Balancing strength and softness in women
6. Aspirations in the South African market
7. The future of African entertainment

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @nobleliving
• For media and sales enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @officialsikaosei on IG

Ingrid is a multi-hyphenate businesswomen rewriting the art of winemaking. Raised a stone-throw away from Napa Valley wine region in California and a career spanning over two decades in the wine and spirits industry, iBest Wine was an inevitable creation. Drawing from the travels and life-changing business trip to South Africa, Ingrid was inspired to create her own wine brand which appeals to the modern-day wine drinker who desires new, dynamic, diverse and global wines. Launched in October 2023, iBest currently offers two award-winning South African blends (red & white). 

Blending wine, art and culture - vision for IBest Wines is to not only bring excellent wine to the US market, but also to share the stories and experiences of South African business owners and creatives. Ingrid and her team of six Black businesswomen - all holding equity in the company - are changing the way the wine industry looks, feels, talks, and tastes, offering a portfolio of fine wines perfect for the modern-day wine drinker who desires new, dynamic, diverse, and global wines. Ingrid's vision for IBest Wines is to not only bring excellent wine to the US market, but also to share the stories and experiences of South African business owners and creatives.

In this episode

1. Redefining winemaking with iBest Wines
2. Tapping into the the South African wine industry
3. Revolutionising wine culture through art
4. Mastering entrepreneurship through consistency
5. Celebrating emerging winemakers
6. Exploring the ultimate luxuries: Freedom, art and wine

Links

• Subscribe to our YT channel ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@africaonluxury
• Follow us on IG/ LinkedIn @africaonluxury @nobleliving
• For media and sales enquiries email [email protected]
• Follow @ms_ibest on IG

Meet my guest

He is preceded by an extensive reputation as one of SA’s foremost strategic thinkers and trend analysts pioneering idea forecasting for more than two decades. Dion is the founder of Flux Trends whose definitional business philosophy “trends as business strategy” has served as a reputable reservoir cross-industry to facilitate innovation as a culture embedded in corporate business.

His work constantly embraces the change needed in business and finds unique opportunities for organisations to remain agile by empowering them with trends and insights benchmarked globally that pose an enabling environment for them to shift, understand the impact of disruptive technologies and adapt themselves effectively in the African business context. Dion’s vast journalistic background enables him to seamlessly converge communication between brands and consumers, providing deep insights that inform the dynamic relationship between them. An area of deep passion for him are youth trends and subcultures, as well as for solution-based innovation for the greater good.

In this episode

Links