Phumelele Ntokozo Bohlela is a vibrant, dynamic and consumer-focused marketing professional. Also, a fun-loving dancer, Bohlela has a beautiful mind from which listeners have enjoyed intellectual discourse.
What brings you alive while on a travel excursion?
I personally enjoy the culture of the place – hearing the way people speak, the food that is serves and also the landscape, in terms of how the buildings look and what the feel of the place is like.
How would you describe yourself to a stranger?
I am a very curious/inquisitive person who likes meeting new people because it gets me to connect with others and learn more about the human race
What do you do for a living?
I am a marketing professional and social entrepreneur.
What drives you?
I am driven by rhythm and movement. I am driven by the rhythm of design, rhythm of life, dance, music and that life operates on rhythm
What are the biggest achievements and milestones you’ve made as a youth frontrunner?
I lived and studied in Japan in 2003/4 in my teens where I translated a children’s book that was published and raised funds for HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa. I raised funds for Hurricane Harvey through an Afro Beats dance Bootcamp in Austin, Texas in 2017.
When was the last time you shed tears of joy?
Last week for my birthday when my niece gave me a beautiful drawing of me and her – it moved my soul
What does the Africa you dream about look like?
Empowered people who are self-aware, comfortable and confident in their skin and are proud to share who they are with themselves and foreigners alike
What is the colour of your inner heart and what does each of the colours represent?
It’s the colour of the rainbow. All colours come together to form a bright white light
If you were to lead the Rainbow Nation, what would you do differently?
I would invest in educating the young about how the power lies in themselves and how they are creators
What does the statement, ‘We rise by lifting others’ mean to you?
To me it means that we are all interconnected – it reminds me of the spirit of Ubuntu (humanity) that states” I am because you are”
What makes you proud about your native culture?
I am proud to be Zulu because my roots and ancestors show the resilience we possess as a tribe and the creativity which flows in our DNA (the way we eat, the way we speak, the way our traditional attire looks, the way our traditional housing is designed) – it all tells a story about who we are and where we come from. I am truly proud of that.
What makes or breaks your heart while on a travel experience?
I appreciate seeing the people and how they meet the demands of life. It breaks my heart to see inequality in areas I visit; everyone should have the ability to access the basics of life
Which travel destinations are on your to-do list?
I want to travel across Africa (West, East and Northern), I want to visit South America and want to explore my own country more (South Africa)
What are the three songs you’ve listened to more than 10 times, and why? Can you stand the rain by Pearce Byrson, Jehovah by S’villa ft Zuma, Fever by Wiz Kid
What message do you have for your 20-year-old self?
Be kind to thine self – life is meant to be embraced gently
