21ICONS - Kitty Phetla

“Even in difficult situations, you’ve got to get up and dust yourself off and say this too shall pass.”

21 ICONS is a showcase for the South African spirit; a tribute to the men and women who have helped to shape our country and, indeed, our world. The series is part of an annual project which features unique narrative portraits and short films by Adrian Steirn, one of the continent’s pre-eminent photographers and filmmakers. 21 ICONS South Africa will feature the eighth icon of its second season: ballerina, choreographer and model Kitty Phetla.

The portrait features Phetla in a classical dancer’s pose, poised at the edge of a lake as if she is about to dance on the water. The photograph is a salute to Phetla’s most famous role as The Dying Swan, which she performed in Amsterdam for former president Nelson Mandela and the Dutch Royal Family.

In an intimate conversation with Steirn, Phetla talks about her journey through ballet, and how it transformed her from a chubby nine-year-old tomboy in Soweto to the first black ballerina to perform Anna Pavlova’s famous solo The Dying Swan in 2012, transforming the role and making it her own in the process.

RAPT BizTrendsTV: Student Village's Ronen Aires - Gen Z's disruption of the world

Born in 1994, Gen Z are the born free generation and they are redefining the world from work to play, opening challenges and opportunities that brands need to understand they want to stay relevant and thrive in the Gen Z world.

27 May 2025 09:18

RAPT BizTrendsTV: Musa Kalenga - How agentic AI is revolutioning business

This episode of RAPT BizTrendsTV focuses on agentic AI and how it is revolutionising business, especially on the continent.

29 Apr 2025 11:08

RAPT BizTrendsTV: GG Alcock on KasiNomics - A growth trend reshaping Africa's economies

The second episode of RAPT BizTrendsTV focuses on the informal economy, a key growth trend reshaping South Africa’s and Africa's economies. Often referred to as the grey economy, it is brimming with potential.

25 Mar 2025 09:33

RAPT BizTrendsTV: Li Ndube on Afro-optimism - African growth vs Western degrowth

Afro-optimism, or more specifically, the African growth mindset is a greater sense of optimism that, despite challenges such as electricity and water that the continent faces, is in stark contrast to a growing Western degrowth mindset of pessimism about the future, and Africa.

25 Feb 2025 13:47

Birdwatching at The Loeries Episode 3: The Energy Episode

Episode 3 is the Energy Episode with special guests Kagiso Tshepe, executive creative director at Grid Worldwide, Roanna Williams, chief creative officer and co-founder of Boundless, Fran Luckin, chief creative officer of VML, Preetesh Sewraj, CEO of The Loeries and Brandon Govender, digital & integrated executive creative director at Joe Public.

12 Oct 2024 08:03

Birdwatching at The Loeries Episode 2: The Emotion Episode

Birdwatching at The Loeries Episode 2 is the Emotion Episode and features special guests Neo Segola, head of creative at Le Pub, part of the Publicis Group, Sharleen James, chair of the ACA and marketing practice lead at Accenture Song, Tebogo Skwambane, WPP country manager, Terry McKenna, executive creative director of The Odd Number and rounding it off Carl Willoughby, chief creative officer of TBWA / Hunt Lascaris.

11 Oct 2024 10:16

Birdwatching at The Loeries Episode 1: That 5 percent difference and more

Birdwatching at The Loeries Episode 1 focuses on that five percent difference, with special guests Wayne Naidoo, CEO of the Duke Group, Marc Algranti from Algranti Music and Nkanyezi Masango, chief creative officer from Dentsu Creative.

10 Oct 2024 10:04

WATCH: Drinks Federation SA revises Communications Code of Conduct

Angela Russell, CEO of DF-SA, discusses the newly relaunched Communications Code of Conduct, and the important step forward that it takes in encouraging ethical and responsible communication, promotion, and brand marketing in the alcohol industry.

18 Jun 2024 10:27

Lettie-Basani Phume on Momentum Metropolitan's certification as Top Employer and why it matters

On this episode of BizTakeouts, group human capital executive at Momentum Metropolitan Lettie-Basani Phume discusses the company’s global benchmark recognition having earned its 4th consecutive certification from the international Top Employer Institute, as well as the ever-evolving workplace, employee expectations and the future of working-from-home....

28 Mar 2024 09:34

Helm X Avon: Transforming beauty in the digital age

Helm helps worldwide beauty brand embrace digital solutions, as told by former Avon CMO Momin Hukamdad.

6 Mar 2024 09:53

Helm X Avon: Transforming beauty in the digital age

Helm helps worldwide beauty brand embrace digital solutions, as told by former Avon CMO Momin Hukamdad.

6 Mar 2024 09:53

Helm X Avon: Transforming beauty in the digital age

Helm helps worldwide beauty brand embrace digital solutions, as told by former Avon CMO Momin Hukamdad.

6 Mar 2024 09:53

#BizTrends2024: Bronwyn Williams – Techno-optimism not acceleration: How to make friends with machines

This exclusive #BizTrends2024 interview is with future thinker and Flux Trends partner, Bronwyn Williams.

17 Jan 2024 10:36

#BizTrends2024: Ndeye Diagne - Africa at a crossroads: Threads of gold

This exclusive #BizTrends2024 interview is with Ndeye Diagne, the managing director West, East and Central Africa at Kantar.

16 Jan 2024 13:37

2023 IAB Bookmark Awards finalists showcase

View the finalists showcase video of the 2023 IAB Bookmark Awards.

31 Jul 2023 12:19

Next