Women’s Month is an important calendar month in South Africa. As we commemorate the women of 1956, we believe it is as important to spotlight the women of today that are pioneering in their various fields and industries.
Our Moziak Women’s Month Portrait Series takes a look at 15 such pioneers through the lens of editorial and advertising photographer, George Qua-Enoo.
PAMELA IFENEME-NWOSA
Founder of fashion brand JIDEKA, Pamela Ifeneme-Nwosa, a Fashion Design and Marketing graduate from LISOF, is making clothes for the modern man and woman in mind that has propelled great success.
JIDEKA’s limited edition collections are made up of key garments that serve to act as puzzle pieces that will ultimately build a timeless wardrobe that provides the adaptability the modern working generation is looking for – the ability to transform one item into an entirely new concept.
Pamela’s puzzle piece ethos stems from the need of a working professional to be able to go to work, jet off to a lunch meeting and attend a semi-formal event afterwards without having the time for a quick stop at home to change.
Influencing current fashion trends, Pamela ensures that Africa is the first to benefit by using fine fabrics sourced from South Africa and Nigeria.
ALLANA FOSTER-FINLEY
For nearly two decades Allana Foster-Finley’s focus has been on telling the story of the African continent in innovative ways through fashion and design.
She specialises in developing and producing breakthrough, innovative tools for communication and building brand awareness.
In 2018 Allana served as a Business Development consultant to the Global Citizen Mandela 100 Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Before moving to Johannesburg in 2001 from Los Angeles/New York, she worked in fashion for such brands as Eileen Fisher, Tiffany & Co and Gucci America.
In recent years, Allana has worked with companies such as African Fashion International, CNN, PEPFAR, Stoned Cherrie, South African Menswear Week, Cape Town Fashion Council, Museum of African Design, Oxosi.com and KISUA.com.
Her focus is now solely on her newly launched consortium AFARA Group comprised of the country’s leading millennial and Gen Z innovators across various sectors.
NINEL MUSSON
Director and co-founder of Vth Season, as a Chartered Marketer (1 of 200 in the country at the time of graduation), youth mobiliser and business developer; Ninel Musson is one of the most influential young South Africans operating in the urban entertainment space on the continent.
A previous recipient of The Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the City of Johannesburg and a Master’s Degree awarded with Distinction by Wits Business School, Ninel’s business acumen has helped position Vth Season as a leading boutique full service entertainment agency and record label in South Africa – achieving monumental milestones which have contributed to game changing moves in the South African music landscape.
Vth Season is currently home to artists such as AKA, Manu WorldStar, Ami Faku, Eternal Africa, BigStar Johnson, Benny Afroe, Pro Monate and Lungisa Xhamela.
MONALISA MOLEFE
At 29, Monalisa Molefe remains the youngest, black, female owner of a framing business in South Africa, having acquired the business at age 26.
Taking a different approach to entrepreneurship, Monalisa took the plunge and left corporate to assume ownership of an already existing business, Artform Factory, which she has now expanded to add a second division: Artform Factory Sports.
No stranger to the luxury branding space having worked for iconic global luxury brands like Mont Blanc, Cartier and Estée Lauder as a luxury brand marketer, Monalisa’s experience and passion for luxury brands sets her framing business apart and puts her in a position to assist her clients with making their spaces feel and look luxurious.
Monalisa is also the SA ambassador to the Pan African Council which informs the Board of Directors by tailoring and implementing initiatives, programs and events worldwide.
ANCILLAR MANGENA NOMBEWU
Ancillar Mangena Nombewu is an award-winning journalist who believes in the power of objective storytelling to make an impact in society.
Head hunted by the Forbes Africa Magazine founding editor to join their publication, Ancillar has been behind some award-winning stories published in Forbes Africa Magazine and was responsible yearly for creating the coveted Forbes Africa under30 list.
Ancillar holds a Sanlam Excellence in Financial Journalism Award: African Growth Story category, a Sanlam Excellence in Financial Journalism Young Journalist of the Year Award, a CNN MultiChoice Young Journalist of the Year Award, a ZIMEO Award for her reporting on technology in Africa, a Zim Achievers Awards, and was a finalist for the Foreign Press Association Young Journalist of the Year Award.
Outside of her work as a journalist, Ancillar is a United Nations Refugee Ambassador alongside the likes of Nomzamo Mbatha, Anatii and Angelina Jolie. She is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, entrepreneur (Rallinca Media) and events moderator.
