IS IT KALANGA BLOCKING OR COLOUR BLOCKING? PLAGIARISM AT ITS BEST, GIVE CREDIT TO KALANGAS!!!!!!!!!!

ARTICLE BY:  DR GLORIA MASEKO

I am a pure, proud Kalanga born and breed in Tshesebe, North Eastern part of Botswana. One thing can testify is that during the 80’s when I was at primary school level, up to the end of the 20^th century,  I understood  that   a combination of  yellow and green , blue and red , orange and yellow on clothes, a comment like ''o apere sekalaka'' which translates to, ''you are dressed like a kalanga'', would be passed. I look back and say waaoooo!!! We Kalanga’s have not only been exceptionally gifted with high Intelligence Quotient (IQ), but to rebirth fashion which had remained stagnant and obscured for centuries.

I just got a shock of my life when this fashion really hit the twenty first century, now in a plagiarised way, Ohhhh...., they changed its name, they are now calling it colour blocking. I said, what? This is plagiarism at its best we inverted this combination and why a different terminology to our prestigious fashion which now seem to rock the world, imagine it is now globally recognized and we Kalanga's are no longer associated with it. I am proud to be a Kalanga, as this marks the highlights of the major trends in the development of fashion from the classical period to the present time. In the history of fashion the period which best describes the era of colour blocking is the renaissance, which is basically described as the rebirth or rediscovery of culture, knowledge and learning which has continued to be static and hidden for centuries. The renaissance served as a sign to the gradual return to ancient ideas. This has important consequence in the history of fashion as this marked the subsequent combination, interpretation of mixing colours and the distribution of ideas contained in those colours.

Of particular significance is the invention of Goggle chrome and Google search engine which made the dissemination of ideas to be cheap and worldwide, using all colour combinations which are said to be a mismatch. A rainbow nation is another typical example which gave rise to the emergence of a questioning spirit. People stopped the idea of accepting dogmas that certain colours are meant to match and demonstrated that as an unproven fact, and this foundation has been laid down well by our predecessors the Kalanga’s. We really need an international award for our idea (Kalanga blocking) which is basically the rebirth of an old idea to look like a new idea (color blocking).

Look back in your culture and some practices in your tribe as an individual and see what people got from you may be because it continued to be static and hidden for centuries and have named it differently and take it up like me……

Have a blessed week and remember all the credit goes to the Kananga’s for what we now call colour blocking.

Seven Principles of an Eagle – Dr Gloria Maseko

God created birds so that we learn a lot from them; he knew we have wisdom and that we are intelligent enough to learn good characteristics from birds such as an Eagle. I have the pleasure to present to you the seven principles of an eagle and how we can apply them to our New Year resolution. Sit back, relax and enjoy as you become an eagle in the comfort of your choice…..

PRINCIPLE 1: Eagles fly alone at high altitude

• Eagles fly alone at high altitude and do not find itself in the company of with sparrows or other small birds.
• No other bird can go to the height of the eagle. Stay away from sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly with Eagles.
• Surround yourself with those on the same mission as you
• Connect with  like minds
• Birds of the same feathers fly together
• Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are and where you are going
• God did not create perfect people, he created powerful people with potential.
•   Your talent should build you a house. Discover your talent.
•    People may not like you.
•  They may take away what you have but they cannot take away who you are
•     Who you are have been given to you by God

  PRINCIPLE 2:  Eagles have a very strong vision.

• They have the ability to focus on something up to five kilometers away.
• When an eagle sites his prey, he narrows his focus on it and set out to get it.
• No matter the obstacles, the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it.
• Learn to focus on one thing like the eagle focuses on the prey,
• Do not try to do many things at one time, you will be jack of all traits and master of none
•  Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.
• Stop focusing on what could go wrong and focus on what could go right

   PRINCIPLE 3: Eagles do not eat dead things.

• They feed only on fresh prey.
•  Vultures eat dead animals, but eagles will not
• Be careful with what you feed your eyes and ears with, especially in movies and on TV. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Always do your research well.
• In addition stays away from Gossip, when you are with friends learn to discuss your own lives.
• If you  focus on gossiping about other people when will you pay attention to your life you cannot tell me it is perfect
• Sometimes when you Gossip about somebody you do not know how close they are to God
• And when you Gossip about Gods favorite, you touch the apple of the eye of God and when vengeance come you  will not be able to stand what will come your way, be warned….
  PRINCIPLE 4: Eagles love the storm.

• In the meantime, all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees.

• When clouds gather, the eagles get excited.
• The eagle uses the storm’s wind to lift it higher.
•  Once it finds the wind of the storm, the eagles uses the raging storm to be  lifted above the clouds.
• This gives the eagle an opportunity to glide and rest its wings.
•  God uses no one until he puts them through the storm
• The greater your mission, the greater your storm
• If there is no storm in your life God you are not in the queue to be used by God
• We have testimonies of living example in the bible of people who went through the storm, this are Moses, Abraham, Job , John, and Jesus Christ
• Jesus Christ had the greatest storm and his mission was the greatest
• We can use the storms of life to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.

PRINCIPLE 5: The Eagle tests before it trusts.

v  When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate, she flies down to earth with the male pursuing her and she picks a twig.

v  She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her.
Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls.

v  The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases it.

• He has to catch it before it falls to the ground.
• He then brings it back to the female eagle.
• The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a higher altitude and then drops the twig for the male to chase.
•  This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of catching the twig which shows commitment. Then and only then, will she allow him to mate with her.
• Whether in private life or in business, one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.
•  Learn to test before you trust, let people commit to you, to know important dates to you like your birthday, your anniversary, buying you what you like e.g. flowers, perfume  jewellery and there should be consistency in doing these things

PRINCIPLE 6: Eagles have team work

v  When ready to lay eggs, the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach.

v  The male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff, then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest.

v   He flies back to earth and picks thorns laying them on top of the twigs.

v   He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns, lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass it on top of the thorns, then plucks his feathers to complete the nest.

v   The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders.

v   Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. That’s team work.

v  She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts.

v  During the time of training the young ones to fly, the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest. Because they are scared, they jump into the nest again.

• Next, she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest, leaving the thorns bare
•  When the scared eaglets again jump into the nest, they are pricked by thorns.
• Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them.
•  Next, mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air.
•  As they shrink in fear, father eagle flies out and catches them up on his back before they fall and brings them back to the cliff.
•  This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this newfound knowledge that they can fly.
• The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes
•  The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners leads to success
•  The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into us not experiencing life, not progressing and not learning at all.
• The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow, get out of the nest and live on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns.
• If you want to walk on water get out of the boat
• Get out of the grand stand and get into the playing field

The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.

PRINCIPLE 7: Eagles retire o their place of rest when they get old and plucks off its feathers

• When an Eagle grows old, his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should.
• When he feels weak and about to die, he retires to a place far away in the rocks.
• While there, he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare.
•  He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers, then he can come out.
• We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives.
• You cannot become what you are destined to be by remaining what you are
• When you change yourself opportunities will change, just for you

CONCLUSION:  

• Happy  moments-       Praise God
• Difficult Moments-    Seek God
• Quiet Moments-     Worship God
• Painful moments-   Trust God
• Every Moment –   Thank God

Trust in God we only see little bit down the road but he can see around every curve.

Great minds discuss ideas

Average mind discuss events

Small minds discuss people

THE A B C D E F’ S OF STARTING A NEW YEAR 

BY: DR GLORIA MASEKO

It is my pleasure to inspire you with the simple six Alphabets that we first got excited to learn when we started school.  Indeed God has given us wisdom; I have applied these alphabets to real life situation and converted this and said the ABCDEF’S of starting a new year, sit back relax and see how you can be changed by these six alphabets in 2015 and beyond……..

 

• There is nothing as exciting as approaching crossover, you just getting ready to say I made it once again.
• The good thing is no one will be left in 2014, whether the devil likes it or not you are moving with us to 2015.
• This year is twenty fit in: you might not have fitted in, the other past years but this will be the year to fit in (in 2015).
• 2014 might have been an excellent year for you but you will also perfectly fit in 2015
• 2014 might have been a bad year for you, but not everything was bad, so I will encourage you and say this will be your special year to fit in.

 

Proverbs 4v12 – I give you sound learning do not forsake my teaching.

A -New Year is not about changing Action its about changing Attitude

 

• Your attitude determines your altitude
• Abad attitude is like a flat tyre, you can’t go anywhere very far until you change it
• Know that every day is a second chance
• Keep putting out good it will come back to you tenfold in unexpected ways
• Learn to love yourself first instead of loving the idea of other people loving you
• Dreaming to be somebody else is a total waste of who you are          
• It is impossible to fail if you dare try
• If it is going to be it is up to me.

 

B -New Year is not about Being perfect but Bringing the Best of you each day

 

• Your  best friends are those who bring out the best in you
• Tell me who your friends are, and  I will tell you who you are
• If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl
• If you associate with eagles you will learn how to soar to great heights
• Proverbs 27: 19 As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart
• A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he/ she is really like is shown by the kind of friends he/she chooses
• The simple but true fact is that you become like those with you closely associate for the good and bad. Impartation is a product of association
• Think of it: almost all of our sorrows spring out of relationships with the wrong people
• Enlarge your territory- take the limits off
• Do not allow people to set boundaries and limits for you
• When you put a limit on what you will do, you have put a limit on what you can do

 C –New Year is not about changing calendars it is about commitment

• Almost everything we enjoy today was impossible yesterday
• So you know what transforms an impossibility into a possibility, a probability into a fact – its commitment  
• Deep inside you lives an impossible thought, A dream come true
• There is a mission residing in you – and at the end you should say mission accomplished
• The good news is that God wants us to do more than we can imagine
• When you take one step towards God, he will take more steps towards you than you could ever count
• He longs to take our impossibilities and turn them into possibilities

Mathew 19v26 “with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible”      

 

• Fear can keep you from going where you could have won
• Don’t let your fear steal from you and prevent you from pursuing your dream
• Most people their doubts and doubt their belief’s
• Never let a problem become an excuse

One person with commitment, persistence and endurance will accomplish more than a thousand people with interest alone

 

D -New Year is not about changing dates it’s about changing direction

• If you want to walk on water get out of the boat.
• For many years “safety first” has been the motto for the human race……… but it has never been a motto for the leaders
• If you never take risks you will never accomplish great things
• Everybody dies, but not everyone has lived” you need to live
• Stop worrying and start living
• People who take care never go anywhere
• So take a chance, take charge, and take control that will definitely change your direction

I encourage boldness because the danger of seniority and pension plans tempt a young person to settle in a rut named security rather than find their rainbow

 

E – New Year is not about the end of year its about enthusiasm, Eagerness throughout the year

• Review your accomplishments, daily. Weekly, monthly, quarterly, halfway throughout the year, and then you will have a picture of how the year will end
• When life put you in tough situations, don’t say “why me”, just say “Try me”
• Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help and brave enough to know when to ask for it
• Eyes that look are common, but eyes that see are rare
• Ears that hear are common but ears that listen are rare

 

 

F –New Year is not about changing fruit, it’s about Force Faith and focus

FORCE

• Procrastination is the fertilizer that make difficulties grow
• When duty comes knocking at your door welcome it
• For if you command it to wait, when it comes back it will come with seven other duties
• Climb out of the grand stand and move into the playing field
• You can’t fulfill your destiny on a theory, it takes work
• None of the secrets of success will work unless you do
• Listen to Shakespeare, “nothing comes out of nothing”
• For you to accomplish your dream you need to wake up
• Persistent people begin their success where most others quit
• The nose of the bull dog is slanted backward so he can continue to breathe without letting go

 

 

FAITH

• Feed your faith and watch your doubts starve to death
• Worry is a route that leads from somewhere to nowhere, never let worry direct your life
• Worry is like a rocking chair it gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere
• Fear of the future is a waste of the present
• Fear not tomorrow because God is already there

FOCUS

• Focus comes from a Greek word Foculia meaning fire place.
• When you have focus you are burning inside. You become like a fire place
• When you focus o the glory of God  to your focal point you have a bomb
• Fire is the driving force of a vision, but you need a focus which is the spark
• There may be fuel in the car but without a spark it cannot move
• Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and focus on what could go right

 CONCLUSION

          Q - Question

1. Activity 

1. Response 

Q- Had a rough year

A-Place your hand over your heart, on the left side

Q-Do you feel that? What is that?

R- Heartbeat

No that is not heartbeat it is purpose, you are alive for a reason, don’t give up. Create and commit to the best New Year ever. This is your year to fit in. 2015. Happy New Year……………Start a New Year with a new definition of what a New Year means…..