In commemoration of Women’s Month, we’re shining a spotlight on women striving to make a positive impact on our nation
The famous author Harriet Beacher Stowe once said: ‘Women are the real architects of society.’ And this couldn’t be more true for the four women mentioned below. With sheer strength, creativity, ingenuity and tenacity, these trailblazing ladies are creating new opportunities and a brighter future for generations to come.
THE ARCHITECT: SUMAYYA VALLY
As an avid believer in the incredibly powerful social impact of architecture and urban planning, and the ways in which it seeks to exclude and divide, Sumayya Vally is the principal founder of Counterspace: A collaborative studio and design research practice based between Johannesburg and London. ‘It’s important for me that architecture not just includes people who are generally excluded from the discipline
or from the profession, but also draws on the workings of other places and the intelligences in those spaces,’ she says. Today, she is an esteemed breakthrough female architect who is known for her work with the prestigious Serpentine Gallery, as she and her all-female studio designed their 20th anniversary pavilion. In 2021, she was recognised as the world’s most influential architect shaping the future – as an honouree on the TIME 100 Next List. Most recently, she was shortlisted for the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture 2022, and was also named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Going forward, Sumayya will be working as the curator for the Inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale which is set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, early next year.
THE ARTIST: MARY SIBANDE
The most recent recipient of the Helgaard Steyn Prize, for her sculpture named In the Midst of Chaos, There Is Opportunity, Mary Sibande is an award-winning, internationally-acclaimed female artist who is applauded for her work on identity exploration and formation in a postcolonial South African context. She dabbles in a variety of mediums, from painting to photography. However, it is her knack for creating sculptures that spark deep conversation that sets her apart from most artists. Her explorative sculptures, with their pops of bright blue, purple and red, are moulded in the image of her own body as canvas; they are a celebration of who she is as a black woman, her history and her legacy. ‘I have always tried to be true to my own history, and that of my family and community, my gender and my ancestry,’ she says. ‘But I know I am not alone in the challenges I face – the black female body can no longer be the site of violence that it has historically been… I want the audience to see the struggle but also the potential for agency, celebration, and empowerment.’ Mary is a 54th Venice Biennale artist who continues to inspire society to question and dismantle stereotypical depictions of women, all in the hopes of enriching South African culture and empowering marginalised communities across the world. Some of her most notable awards include the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Visual Arts (2013), the University of Johannesburg Alumni Dignitas Award (2014), and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts Award (2017).
THE FASHIONISTA: CARLA FRANKEL
Announced as part of the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 class of 2022, Carla Frankel is the founder and creative director of Top Drawer Collection – a South African luxury sleepwear brand that’s committed to ethical practices and playing a positive role in the sustainability movement. As a young girl, she found inspiration in her grandmother, and had a great desire for attaining the finer things in life (which she learned could be achieved without harming the planet, after completing her B.Com degree at the University of Johannesburg). One thing we know about the COVID-19 pandemic, is that it brought serious issues plaguing the country to the forefront, regarding raw materials, resilience and resourcefulness. Working hard with her team of experts and manufacturers, Carla is an entrepreneur who prides herself on creating ethically-made materials and products that are authentically South African, and that uplift not only the community but also the skilled makers behind each garment. Self-love and self-care are also key ideals promoted through her business campaigns. Carla hopes to continue to inspire and impact other change-makers, and show that sustainability and ethical living is not just a passing trend; it is important for safeguarding our future. Aside from her entrepreneurial endeavours, Carla is an Animal Welfare Activist and Cancer Research Supporter of the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA.
THE HUMANITARIAN: AYANDA BOROTHO
A woman of many talents, Ayanda Borotho is a mother, actress, speaker, respected author (of best-seller Unbecoming to Become: My Journey Back to Self), and activist, using her voice and platform to raise awareness around the oppression of women, children and struggling communities across South Africa. She may have gotten her big break into the entertainment industry with shows such as SABC 1’s Nomzamo and Mzansi Magic’s Isibaya, but she truly has the heart and drive for uplifting women and fighting against gender-based violence, cultural and societal practices that ‘other’ women and children. In 2021, she launched iNjabulo Foundation, providing underprivileged communities with much-needed food supplies throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period. ‘Anything that can lend
my voice to the eradication of GBV, to the empowerment and liberation of women, I’m really just happy to do that because that’s in line with my calling, my purpose, and my mission,’ says the change-maker. Today, she is a renowned philanthropist known across the globe, having earned an international nomination from the United Nations Awards, being included on the Global 100 List, in the category of ‘The most influential people of African descent Under 40’.
Words by Charndré Emma Kippie
