By Michelle Strydom

What was your reaction when you were appointed as the new editor of The Afropolitan?

One of the things I love about The Afropolitan is that it’s about celebrating black excellence – as the magazine’s readership is 95% black. It’s been 10 years since the magazine hit the shelves and so much has happened since then. Ten years ago, there was no Snapchat or Instagram. The challenge for us as a magazine is in exploring how to merge new media (social media, blogging, etc.) with a tried-and-tested editorial outlook. Part of my mandate is to grow the magazine’s social media community while moving the magazine into the next ten years. 

What excites you most about this position?

The idea that I get to curate content that not only reflects the readers but also myself as an editor excites me because I’m the kind of person that would not only read The Afropolitan, but I would also consume the products featured in the magazine. 

Which qualities of The Afropolitan really stand out for you and why?

The wonderful thing about being the very reader you’re speaking to is that you’re able to easily tap into the things that matter to them. I love the fact that the magazine reader has to essentially straddle two worlds. Our readers are proud of their African roots but they’re also cognitive of the fact that they are part of this cosmopolitan world we live in. They’re unapologetic about how hard they’ve worked for the things they get to enjoy now. It’s everything I believe and feel for my own life as a black South African. 

What will you bring to the magazine that’s new and interesting?

My background has been about making commercial publications viable to both the advertiser and the reader. But sadly, most of the time, commercial products rarely take risks, and I love that The Afropolitan has the kind of editorial autonomy that allows it to have a commercial sensibility without losing its identity. Crucially,though, I have learned what a huge network social media can be in terms of growing online communities, and I’m excited about the prospect of our social media platforms being a place where our readers can connect with like-minded individuals.  

Besides being editor of The Afropolitan, what other careers are you interested in trying out?

I’ve recently released my first book, titled The Way I See It, published by Penguin Random House. It’s a satirical but incredibly blunt look at South African society. In future, I’d love to get into radio. I’ve hosted an online radio show before and it would be a dream for me to find myself on the airwaves. I must say, a talk show wouldn’t hurt either. As you can see, I’m trying to be like my fairy godmother, Oprah Winfrey. 

What is the best thing about being an editor or working for a well-known publication in general?

Editing is about curating content, bringing together all the elements of life that interest you (and like-minded people) in order to reflect the time and state of the nation or readership. When you get that right, it’s an incredibly gratifying feeling. It’s very rare that we speak directly to the people who represent who we are, particularly as a black South African in media. Talking to The Afropolitan reader excites me. It makes me feel like I’m fulfilling a bigger purpose. 

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*Image courtesy of Victor Dlamini