A Reflection on My Year that Was
It’s been a really hectic year for the most part and in truth, I’m grateful to have got through it in one piece. That said, in addition to a lengthy visa process for the UK (we move in March 2024), keeping a child alive and a family happy, I’ve also had some really cool career things happen that I’d like to share with you. I’ve been so fortunate to work with incredible people, teams and brands this year and I’m grateful to be doing the kind of work that I’m doing, working on various touch points of the literary, publishing, design, social media, advertising and media industries and loving every minute. So without further ado, a selection of this year’s career highlights.
I FINISHED WRITING ANOTHER BOOK
Although it’s quite fresh, homeless and still in need of an eagle-eyed editor, I wrote another collection of poetry. My last one, and first ever book, is called ‘Milk Fever’. Buy it or read an excerpt.
I WROTE FOR A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Including Insider, Medicinal Media, The Good Trade, and POP Sugar. Read my essay called ‘Joy to the Snip’. Thanks must go to its editor, Kayti Christian.
NEW EPISODES OF LIL-LETS TALK ONLINE VODCAST WENT LIVE
This year, I continued hosting the Lil-Lets Talk Online vodcast alongside B Word presenter and founder, Bokang Lehlokoe. We interviewed an amazing array of guests about everything from tampon taboos to menstrual cycle tracking and mythbusting. I’m eternally grateful for my time on this vodcast, the brain child of the Lil-Lets team at Premier FMCG and Retroviral. Watch the episodes here.
LIL-LETS TALK ONLINE PODCAST HIT SPOTIFY
Oh hot damn, Lil-Lets Talk Online went live on Spotify! Listen to it here.
I DID MY FIRST PROFESSIONAL VOICE OVER
I was super excited to do my first ever professional voice over (old Rhodes JMS Radio work doesn’t count, LOL) for Lil-Lets. It was for an ad that ran on Spotify.
I WORKED WITH DREAM CLIENTS
This year has been the year for branching out and making new business relationships. I’ve loved every minute of working in the teams that I do, for companies around the globe, including the AMAZING B2BeeMatch. Thank you to CEO and Founder, Karima Catherine Goundiam, for having me. No post is complete without mentioning the powerful women behind The Brave Collective, to whom I am so grateful. Thank you for having me on the social media side of things!
ISELE MAGAZINE PUBLISHED MY PERSONAL ESSAY ON OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE
I love Isele with all my heart and am grateful to Ukamaka Olisakwe for publishing my essay, ‘This is How I Survived’. Detailing my personal experience with obstetric violence and postpartum depression, the essay has been cooking for a long time and I was pleased that it found such a special home. Read it here.
I DESIGNED AND TYPESET SEVERAL AMAZING BOOKS
Not-so-humble brag: this year I was in super good luck in that I - yet again - was able to design book covers and typeset manuscripts for a number of African publishers and authors. While some books are still forthcoming in 2024, I can share that I worked on several books for Paivapo Publishers and Zukiswa Wanner, as well as my beloved Short Story Day Africa - their latest anthology is entitled ‘Captive’. One of my favourites to work on was ‘The Heart is a Bastard’, an anthology of short stories edited by Zukiswa and Elias Mutani and published by Paivapo. Buy it here.
I DESIGNED FOUR ISSUES OF NEW CONTRAST LITERARY MAGAZINE
New Contrast is the oldest literary magazine to run in South Africa and it’s been a privilege to continue designing each issue. You can subscribe here.
RETROVIRAL & LIL-LETS WON A SABRE AWARD FOR THE ‘BE YOU CAMPAIGN’
The Lil-Lets “Be You” campaign, in which I played a small role, won a platinum Sabre Award for Best In Show, AS WELL AS ‘4th Best Campaign Globally’.
AND RETROVIRAL KILLED IT, NATURALLY
Of course, writing copy for the best-ever, Retroviral Agency, has yet again, been one of the great highlights of my career in 2023. This year, the agency has won a crazy number of awards, in addition to being named the Financial Mail AdFocus Awards Small Agency of the Year Winner. I’m hashtag blessed to work with one of the most talented, compassionate, loving and creative teams in the country, who are making cool shit with the dopest South African and international brands. Chef’s kiss!