Globacom-sponsored African Voices on CNN International in this weekend’s episode will be recapping the previous editions held in the month of September. Viewers will thus have the opportunity of seeing how the inspirational stories of three of the guests who featured on the programme during the month interrelate to underscore the change agenda on the African continent.
The guests who have become change makers through music and ecotourism are Zambia’s Mwila Musonda, popularly known as Slapdee, Mogamat Shamier Magmoet of South Africa and Albert Ndereki of Botswana.
Magmoet took to diving four years ago and through it came to realize the threat posed to aquatic life by humans. “I found out that billions of tons of waste and garbage end up in the oceans every year, and kill the marine and plant life,” he tells African Voices.
Because of this, he dedicated himself to educating children in his locality on the beauty of underwater, how to take care of the ocean by fighting pollution and how they could help the protection of marine life. “This way, these kids also get to see there is something better out there than gangs and crime. The aim is to spread awareness and love to protect our dying oceans and give many kids an opportunity for better future,” he added.
The second guest, Ndereki, is as one of the longest-serving members of the Botswana tourism industry and was one of the builders of the game lodge in 1971. He manages the lodge’s iconic ecotourism facilities which include a bio-gas plant, massive water-treatment plants, solar-powered safari boats and a recycling plant where cans and glass bottles are crushed to make building bricks. He has successfully mentored young Motswana from the country’s local communities to be responsible and diligent while nurturing the environment through ecotourism.
On the other hand, Musonda (Slapdee) lost his parents and only sibling while still young. He then had to live with his auntie, who moved around a lot in pursuit of her career. He attended schools in Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa before moving back to Zambia where he began his career in hip hop and rap as a high school student.
Slapdee has received nominations and awards, including the 2009 Ngoma Music Award for best hip-hop artist and the AFRIMM Award nomination(s) for Best Male (artiste) Southern Africa. He has also clinched nine Zambian Music awards for best male and hip-hop artiste and six Sun FM Kwacha Music Awards.
CNN African Voices Changemakers will be aired on DSTV on Friday at 8.30 a.m. and on Saturday at 11.30 p.m., 4.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. Other repeat broadcasts come up on Sunday at 4.00 a.m., 8.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m., with more repeats on Monday and Tuesday at 4.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. respectively.