Jeff requests a d.a.n.c.e
From sexting to soft-shoe shuffle for Radebe
Plenty of blokes who need to crouch through a doorway, two of South Africa’s richest women and a smorgasbord of food from across the continent.
Throw in performances by a couple of African legends — and the sight of our latest presidential hopeful showing off his dance moves (no way near a Madiba jive, though) — and Thursday’s African Legends Night was the sort of do that makes going out in the middle of winter worthwhile.
Held at The Venue in Melrose Arch, this was part of a week of activities culminating in yesterday’s NBA Africa Game 2017.
Walking up the stairs of the swish venue and into the cocktail area, I say hello to one of the prettiest politician wives, Nozuko Mbalula, who is married to Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula. Nozuko looks striking in a long black, red and white African print dress — but no sign of her famous Twitter-addicted hubby.
Rich List
Only a few metres away is Judy Dlamini, who last year was the second-richest woman in South Africa according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
Judy, owner of luxury fashion emporium Luminance, is at the function with her equally wealthy husband, former FirstRand head honcho Sizwe Nxasana. I ask Sizwe if he’s a basketball fan. “No,” he replies.
Someone who is a fan is Nigerian-born Alex Okosi, head of the Viacom International Media Networks in Africa, who tells me that he was able to complete his US studies thanks to a basketball scholarship.
We make our way downstairs for dinner, and there I meet Reni Folawiyo, owner of landmark Lagos store Alara, and mining queen Bridgette Radebe, who was worth more than R1-billion last time I checked.
You’ll know that Bridgette’s political half, Jeff (aka “v.o.t.e.s requested”), announced his willingness to lead the ANC this week, making that race almost as crowded as the Durban July.
The night’s entertainment comes in the form of musical legends Oliver Mtukudzi and Yvonne Chaka Chaka — and it is the latter who got a sheepish Jeff on his feet.
Our minister in the Presidency proves he is a good sport, but should be thankful that come December the elective conference won’t be voting according to dance moves because he’s more clunky than twinkle toes.
So, what of those players who are infinitely more light-footed on the basketball court?
The Players
Well, the room is teeming with past and present legends of the game from 2.18m Dikembe Mutombo, the Congolese legend who famously built a hospital in Kinshasa in honour of his mother, to the 2.01m NBA star we claim as our own, Thabo Sefolosha, who last month signed for the Utah Jazz.
I meet Thabo, all in black with a trendy beanie, near the bar at the back of the room where many players are gathered.
I ask the Swiss-born player, whose father hails from Mamelodi, to pose for a pic with the night’s MC, sports presenter Carol Tshabalala.
Then it’s back to my table to take in the culinary journey created by Pierre Thiam, the Nigerian chef from Lagos’s Nok by Alara restaurant. Our trek starts in South Africa with a biltong and papaya salad, before taking in flavours from the east to the west of the continent.
Proper African fare with spiced plantain kelewe, equally spicy peanut stew and of course, jollof rice. I’m a big jollof rice fan and I enjoyed the fried plantains, but there was too much ginger and too little biltong in the salad and overall too much spice in the rest of the meal.
On to the frocks, and I found the two fashion ladies a little too Eurocentric: Judy’s head-to-toe European ensemble, complete with Chanel handbag, felt more Knightsbridge than Kinshasa, while Reni’s only nod to Africa was the head wrap with which she finished off her burgundy velvet dress.
On the other hand, Yvonne’s long cotton Ankara print dress, complete with pussy bow, justified her title as Princess of Africa.