Rise of the black blogger

INLSA

Palesa Matlebyane

Palesa Matlebyane is a lifestyle writer and blogs for Jucy Africa, www.jucyafrica.com

When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging this year but have been a writer for most of my young life. I blog every day. Blogging is the best platform to debate certain issues, educate and entertain. At Jucy Africa, we focus on lifestyle trends in Africa and South Africa. I can safely say it is a blog in a magazine form.

Blogging is the quickest way to spark a conversation that matters and get the required response at the same time.

What do you blog about?

My blogs are about everything from fashion, parties, lifestyle to sex and relationships. I talk mostly about fashion.

Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine

Your most popular post?

The most popular blog on Jucy Africa was about a club in Cape Town that had a door policy we believed was racist. It got people talking, articles appeared in the mainstream media and the owner had to respond to something that had been happening for years.

Personally, my most popular blog has to be the one on ‘Are black South Africans holding themselves back?’ It was about the relationship between black and white people and how we black people sometimes tend to act or feel inferior to white people even after 18 years of democracy. It sparked a huge debate and I was overwhelmed, especially since it was my first time blogging.

Your thoughts on the importance of blogging for South Africans?

It allows people to read, learn and experience more. We say that going on our site is like travelling in Africa without moving from your desk. I blog about parties, fashion, and anything lifestyle-related so I sometimes feel as though I’m taking readers on a journey.

On a more serious note, blogging is important because our democracy is still in its infancy and I feel there are so many issues we need to thrash out.

Milisuthando Bongela

What feedback do you get?

So far it’s been great. I am very glad that people are responding well to my blogs. Every day brings a new experience and it has been a great journey indeed.

***

Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine. This former fashion magazine assistant editor and mother-of-two blogs at myyearoffirsts.blogspot.com, Zodwakumalo.wordpress. com and Mybalancingact.co.za

When and why did you start blogging?

In 2009. I had married, turned 30, and was pregnant with my first child and I wanted a way to capture those moments and share them with friends, family and anyone else who could relate. My Year of Firsts chronicles my journey into motherhood, the experience of pregnancy and all the firsts I was experiencing that year.

Mamello Mokoena

I plan to change the theme design, update some posts and turn it into a book for my daughter to keep.

What do you blog about?

My primary blog is Zodwakumalo.wordpress.com

I’ve been entertaining the idea of renaming it ‘A Lady Like Me’ and redesigning it. It’s really all about me and my life working in media – the beautiful things I’m exposed to, my life as a working mother, fashion, music, the occasional rant. It’s as diverse in its topics as I am in my interests. I was recently asked to blog about my life for Mybalancingact.co.za. My family and I recently moved to Cape Town, I started my freelance career and just had my second baby so the blog focuses on all those aspects. It’s still new, but it’s such a wonderful indulgence.

Your most popular post?

I stand to be corrected, but it was when I ‘broke’ the news about Coldplay coming to South Africa in October 2011.

I had an inside scoop and verified it. No earth-shattering numbers yet though.

Your thoughts on the importance of blogging for South Africans?

It gives creatives and thought leaders a great platform to explore and share our interests and opinions. It’s also proving to be a source for the media and entrepreneurs to tap into people who have skills you wouldn’t ordinarily hear about through normal channels. Blogs are inspiring and informative and it’s a wonderful space to play in.

What feedback do you get?

It’s been so warm and so encouraging. And not one troll, thank goodness. When you put yourself out there, people sometimes think they are entitled to hurl abuse.

***

Milisuthando Bongela. This fashion blogger is also co-owner of Johannesburg boutique MeMeMe. Blogsite: www.missmillib.blogspot.com

When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging in 2010 when I was going to New York Fashion Week. I wanted to document it for my friends and family and was surprised when other people cared. I blog probably on average three times a week, whenever the time and mood allow.

What do you blog about?

It all honestly, it depends on how I’m feeling that day or about a particular subject, object or person. I mostly like to post images and things that I discover on the internet, things that make me excited to be a creative and, of course, I like to share new talent in the arts with my readers.

Your most popular post?

The controversial one about how some black people made us blacks look stupid. It was a while ago.

Your thoughts on the importance of blogging for South Africans?

In the greater scheme of things that really matter, it’s a luxury to be able to talk about shoes and dresses, but we need it because life is too serious and news is depressing. I think that as another element of media, it has served its purpose of taking the complacency out of magazine publishing.

What feedback do you get?

Mostly readers have been supportive. I don’t remember an angry response to anything I have posted. I have had disagreements with people but nothing memorable. In terms of how it has boosted my career, I would say it’s my number one source of income – I have been commissioned to do many jobs as a result of people stopping by the blog first.

***

Mamello Mokoena is a comedian with Mum-z as his stage name and also an account executive for a media company. Blogsite: www.mumz-the-word.com

When and why did you start blogging?

Most people don’t realise that posting updates on Facebook is actually a form of blogging and Twitter is microblogging, so technically I have been ‘blogging’ since about 2003, but my mumz-the-word blog has only been active since 2009.

I was at a point in my career where I needed to up my game a bit. My comedy career needed to be matched with a strong online presence.

I needed a website where I could have videos to send to prospective corporate clients and comedy promoters. A blog was the best way to go about it as I could manage it myself and have full control over it.

What do you blog about?

My blog is mainly a comedy blog where I post jokes, funny articles, reviews, news of comedy events – basically whatever I feel would be of interest to comedy lovers. Being a stand-up comedian, my blog helps not only to showcase some of my comedic work, but enables me to stay connected with comedy-related content from all over the world.

Your most popular post?

I wrote a post titled “Trevor Noah Joke Thief’. It dealt with what at the time was a hot topic in the comedy industry and it got a lot of interest and reads.

Your thoughts on the importance of blogging for South Africans?

South Africans have a unique voice and it needs to be heard. The internet is a very powerful vehicle and has the unique ability of giving anyone the power to express themselves to a wider community.

What feedback do you get?

I get great feedback and responses from promotions and competitions. The site currently gets an average of about 1 500 unique visitors a month, which is not bad for a niche SA comedy blog. As the blog is also a platform for me to showcase my work as a comedian, it has allowed for me to get comments from other comedians (local and international).