On the 24th of April The Rosewood Hotel in London will be graced by dignitaries from all over the world in honor of the late and well respected struggle icon Nelson Mandela.
Here's what Bonang had to say about the upcoming event:
How do you feel about hosting an event of such magnitude?
I'm excited, fantastic and honored. This is an important event and this couldn't have come at a better time. I attended the event last year as a guest and I'm happy to be returning but this time around as a host.
What is the one thing you're looking forward to?
Last year I had the pleasure of meeting fashion icon Victoria Beckham and actress Eva Longoria so I'm excited to meeting new people. The one thing I'm looking forward to is to network with the likes of Pamela Anderson, I'll get to tell her about my country and the talent we hold. Who knows? Something big might just come out from our interactions.
How important is charity work for you?
I used to be involved in a lot of things in the media, but now my workflow has shifted. Not only do I carefully choose my work, I choose work that feeds me spiritually, grows me as a person and this centenary dinner does just that. Last year at the event I knew I wanted to be a part of it not only as a guest but as a way to contribute to this great initiative hence we started engaging with the forum to see how we can get involved in this good cause.
What charity work are you currently involved in?
I'm working with the Bonang Matheba Bursary Fund and currently we've awarded ten girls with bursaries to study in various fields and in different universities across the country. The aim is to fund 40 to 50 girls by 2020 and get global leaders to help fund us. I'm all about women empowerment.
Do you think all public figures need to be involved in charity work?
It really depends, giving back should come from one's spirit not because they're forced to and charity work can be anything besides money. Public figures are giving back to the community in different ways and that's the important thing.
Any last words?
2018 is going to be a great year for me. My brand is taking me out of the country. I've got a number of things lined up in different countries like London, Nigeria, Namibia, the list is endless so watch the space.
