Living an African Dream

What does it mean to live an African dream? Is it owning a painting by Nelson Makamo? Or having an in-depth understanding of “Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe?

Perhaps an African dream is to Africans what an “American dream” is to Americans. Why does it feel like it should be more than rocking an African print attire?

Maybe an African dream is mere ‘ubuntu’, a lifestyle, or a new mindset. The internet gave us a platform to be part of the global community. Now, African creatives and innovators are able to promote their ‘African ideas’ without compromising their authenticity.

We stand for Africans that are living their versions of the African dreams in a way that inspires the whole continent. Below we have selected Africans that are promoting Africa to the world.

Black Coffee

Black Coffee is the first South African artist to win the BET Award. He introduces our unique sound to the world. He has collaborated with international artists like Alicia Keys, Usher, Drake and partied with Beyoncé and Jay Z.  Coffee in 2017 he was ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the bankable artists in the African continent. Born in the dusty streets of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape to the world. What a dream!

Trevor Stuurman

Trevor Stuurman is an award-winning contemporary multimedia visual artist. He is globally recognised in photography, blogging, and styling. Stuurman has traveled all over the world because of his outstanding taste in fashion. In 2012 Trevor won the ELLE style Reporter Search award.

Trevor uses art to represent authentic South African stories. In 2018, he documented former US president Barack Obama’s visit to his ancestral land of Alego, Kenya.  Born in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape. Can you believe he’s just 28 years? The African dream is valid indeed.

Master KG

The ‘Jerusalema’ hitmaker has recently become a global success. The song Jerusalema has been streamed more than any other on Shazam – way ahead of hits by famous international artists like Drake and Chris Brown. It is top of the streaming charts in South Africa on a larger streaming service, Spotify, and it has raked in hundreds of millions of YouTube video hits and over 320 million impressions on TikTok.  The Limpopo born artist is now Mzansi’s ambassador to the world.

Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah is Africa’s biggest export. The multi-award-winning comedian and host of The Daily Show is living the (maybe the American dream) African dream. Born A Crime, a memoir about Trevor’s upbringing in Mzamsi is New York Times best-selling book. Noah has interviewed one of the biggest names in politics and the entertainment industry.  The Jozi street couldn’t hold him back from living his African dream.

An African dream is not a one-way street.

It differs for each person. For others is conquering the world and for some in putting the spotlight on African soil.

What’s your African dream?

Cheers!

Your wingman in becoming a better man,

Anele

(*Image source here, here, here and here)