Bheka Mchunu’s KZN Matric Excellence Has Been Operating since 2007 & Now Offers Extra Classes for Grades: 10, 11 and 12
Ukhozi FM personality, Bheka Mchunu founded KZN Matric Excellence 15 years ago and this year they are excited to be offering classes for grades 10, 11 and 12. I know that as we are still fighting the Corona Virus pandemic, most parents are worried about the results of their children as their studying schedule has changed. That is when I heard of the School I thought of sharing it with you guys. Here’s some info and their background below:
OUR VISION
To educate, empower, and inspire young South Africans to march boldly towards their academic aspirations by being a platform through which they can pass or upgrade their matric results, thus enabling easy entry into studies of their choice.
OUR MISSION
>> To help students realize their academic dreams
>>To help students produce their highest possible matric results
>>To produce great minds
>>To inspire a culture of academic excellence
>>To inspire a generation of achievers
>>To restore hope to students who may have lost hope
LEARN MORE
Starbucks champion’s secret is to keep calm and coffee on – Teddy Nyazema
‘Keep calm and brew coffee’ could be Starbucks barista Teddy Nzama’s mantra. He’s the first (and only) barista from Africa to have won the prestigious Starbucks Barista Championship, which he did in London in 2019 against the national champions from 29 other Europe, Middle East and African (EMEA) countries. He kept calm throughout and brought the trophy home to South Africa.
Teddy, who is a barista and qualified coffee master in Durban’s Florida Road Starbucks café, grew up in KwaMashu outside Durban, and matriculated from the Isibonelo High School. There were no funds in the family for tertiary education, so, following a suggestion by his grandmother, he applied and joined the Ciro Coffee Academy in Mt Edgecombe on a learnership.
His understanding and enjoyment of all things coffee took root in his life and he committed himself to learning all he could. He then attended a barista competition as a spectator, where he met – and was extremely impressed by – Ishan Natalie, Category Lead with Starbucks South Africa, three-time South African Barista Champion and two-time All Africa Barista Champion.
Teddy says, “Ishan was competing in the championship – and he won. He inspired me immediately, and I realised I wanted to be like him. He’s my role model and my brother, and I am so pleased to have the opportunity to work with him.”
After a few years of working in a coffee shop and running a mobile coffee bar, Teddy joined Starbucks Florida Road as part of the opening team in 2017. The baristas were sent to Johannesburg for three weeks for Starbucks barista training and to understand how Starbucks works. When the Florida Road store opened, Teddy was ready to immerse himself in as much learning and practicing as he could.
“Coffee has become my passion, the many different types of it, the styles of preparing it – each of which produces its own unique taste profile. I practiced the art of great coffee-making endlessly and started entering the in-store competitions, which were followed by the regional and then national barista championships. In 2018, I came second in the national championships. I then set my heart on winning the national competition in 2019, which I did.”
What kept him motivated to keep going through to winning the Starbucks EMEA Barista Championships? Teddy’s answer is immediate. “The Starbucks team – my bosses and fellow partners, including Siya Nondwayi, my store manager, Ishan, and many other colleagues were and still are my mentors, coaches and teachers – and their encouragement and support have always been brilliant.” He adds that their confidence in him and his ability helped him to stay calm throughout all the competitions. “Keeping calm in a tough competition is the only way to win.”
Teddy is both a people person and a coffee person – and he makes sure the two work well together. He loves the ongoing interaction with customers and sharing his passion for a good brew with them, and he loves helping and training other Starbucks partners and baristas to deliver the world-class quality brews that Starbucks is renowned for.
His advice to youngsters embarking on a career in the coffee industry is to grab every opportunity with both hands, to set goals and to work hard to achieve them. “Life is short,” he says, “make the most of the time you have and use the opportunities you are given.”
Looking ahead, Teddy says he hopes that one day Starbucks will have its own roastery in South Africa, and he will be able to expand his coffee horizons even further. He knows there’s still a lot to learn in the coffee world and he’s willing to learn it – and share his learnings.
In his spare time, he enjoys brewing a cup of coffee just the way he likes it. “Coffee is my peaceful space,” he says. He also enjoys sport (soccer and cricket), listening to music, and chilling with friends.
Artist Of The Week: Zameka
The self-thought singer-songwriter wrote her very first song at the tender age of 11 and had her first professional music studio recording experience at the age of 13.
In her teens, joined forces with a close friend and neighbor (Thandi) to start their very own band named (Souls Deformed), the group released a single titled “Sunday Afternoon”, which quickly became a favorite in their immediate circles and neighborhood at large, helped them create a niche in Soshanguve and neighboring areas.
Unfortunately, due to personal growth, the group split, taking different career paths, leaving Zameka devastated but not defeated as she continued in pursuit of a music career, following her calling to entertain through song.
Zameka managed to carve her way into the South African mainstream industry when she scored her first feature on a professional body of work on Prince Kaybee’s sought after debut album where she featured on a song titled “Storyteller” a song that signaled the beginning of greater things for then rising star; as this brought her much attention from music producers across the country.
Her most significant collaboration was with hit making production duo, Trademark who produced her most well received solo debut single titled (Kiki Riki) in 2017. Sunday Sun called her a “Rising Star” when they interviewed her the same year and the song caught traction on social media whilst enjoying airplay on urban, commercial and community radio stations.
One of Zameka’s notable highlights of 2017 was when DJ FRESH compiled her song Kiki Riki on his FRESH HOUSE FLAVA VOLUME 9. The recognition further proved that she’s on the right musical path.
Shot by the credible Pilot Films; her first ever music video for the title (Kiki (Kiki Riki) continues to accumulate publicity for the songbird, as the visuals remain a favorite across music channels to date.
In 2017 Zameka showed diversity to her brand by releasing a mellow, meaningful jam titled Guqa Ft Afrikan Roots who also produced the song. Guqa enjoyed play listing on radio and brought Zameka closer to the people, through print and radio interviews where she was granted an opportunity to promote the single on Power FM, Massive Metro, True FM, Lephalaphala FM and Legwalagwala FM to name but a few of the radio stations she visited.
In 2018 she collaborated with Gqom supreme Dj/Producers, Rude Boyz on a unexpected summer smash hit, titled “Let It Flow”, the song charted at number 30 on the Metro FM Top 40 chart on its first week of release. It stayed on the chart for a full month and continues to climb other stations (Top 40 charts); notably on Ukhozi FM, Gagasi FM, Capricorn FM and has proved to be a crossover with high rotation spins, on 5 FM and Goodhope FM and music video channel charts such as MTVBASE, Trace and Channel O.
The year 2018 came with many highlights for “Drum Queen”, to her fans, her collaboration with Dj Ganyani’s all time producer, Dj Chase were invited to perform on Supe- sport world cup special show broadcasted live on SABC 2.
In 2019 Zameka was featured by TNS, on a song titled “Believe” Ft Zameka & Londie London. The trio performed the spiritual dance anthem on Metro FM’s “Centre Stage” hosted by Thomas & Pearl Modiadia and was generally well received by fans.
The long awaited, body of work from Zameka comes droped in 2020 in the form of an 8 track EP dubbed “Drum Queen 90s”, an alias she’s popularly known by- Not only that; but the music also lives up to the title: This 8 track EP is sonically inspired by the 90’s disco era, and builds up nicely to modern times. This offering intentionally feeds the current “nostalgic feeling” in today’s pop culture; the Drum Queen 90s Ep positions itself as the background music the market has been yearning for.
The Ep enjoys features by the legendary Durban’s Finest, Dj Sox and production by the super talented duo, Afro Brothers who produced the SMASH hit single “Gugulethu” by Prince Kaybee.
Zameka-Drum Queen 90’s EP is a perfect sync with current trends, it fits perfectly into the repackaged “old school” aesthetic enjoyed by Gen Y.
Furthermore, this project sees Zameka use her voice as if it were a paint brush, as she stretches her vocal range, allowing her to paint various colors of sound on one canvas; thus music connoisseurs will enjoy the progressive approach, and simple to complex production.
Drum Queen 90’s is a peep into the future as it advocates the creation of music beyond genre. The EP available across digital platforms and offers a song for road trips, a song for when at home relaxing, and a TURN UP song for the weekend.
Zameka has managed to thrill audiences as far as Swaziland and Cape Town. A breath of fresh air, with a unique angelic voice and a likable aura; which are important ingredients for an artist who hopes to breakthrough in the mainstream industry.
Highlights:
Rude Boyz “Let It Flow” Ft Zameka
Top 20 on the chart
Discography
2015- Prince Kaybee (Storyteller) Ft Zameka
2016- Zameka (Kiki Riki) Ft Trademark
2017- Zameka (Guqa) Ft Afrikan Roots
2017- DJ Steve (All Over Again) Ft Zameka
2018- Rude Boyz (Let It Flow) Ft Zameka
2018- Dj Chase (Can’t Get Away) Ft Zameka
2018- Zameka- (Vibe) Ft Madanon
2019- TNS (Believe) Ft Zameka & Londie London
2019- Zameka- (Found You)
2020- Kususua & Argento Dust (Victims of The Night) Ft Zameka
2020- Dj Mngadi (UThando) Ft Zameka
2020- Zameka- Drum Queen 90’s EP
Artist Of The Week: Moh Mavuso
Mbongeni Mavuso – Stage name ‘Moh Mavuso’ raised in the hearts of KZN – Emandeni; his love for music started at the tender age of 5 Years, his granny used to hear him singing church melodies, as he matured it started to sink in that he could actually sing.
With the influence he had around his community, he continued to sing and entered competitions, one of the most memorable competitions was when the duo [ IZIQHAZA] competed at the SABC 2’s competition, ‘X Factor’ and they came 2nd Runner Up.
Apart from being a professional nurse, his love for music and the music industry at large is Moh Mavuso’s first love as he believes that it was a God blessed talent. 2020 – Moh Mavuso decided to embark on his Solo journey as he believes that one should grow by creating one’s journey, he sees it fit for his voice and also to be creative without being limited. He released his first single on the 14th of August 2021 titled, ‘Hamba Kahle’ featuring Fey – One of the greatest Vocalists in KZN. ‘Hamba Kahle’ was dedicated to the families that lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemics. As a professional nurse, he saw patients dying left right and center, families having to face difficulties of burying their loved ones.
2021 – He welcomes the year on a brighter note, he created a love song which encourages couples not to listen to a third party but should be making their own decisions and also to communicate more in a relationship. The single drops on the 5th of February 2021. Moh Mavuso hopes to work with the likes of Black Coffee – Heavy K – Dj Euphonik – Dj Fresh
in the near future.
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