Open Line: Tribute to pioneering publicist, DJ and fashion designer Maria McCloy, and using your ...

Añadido: 2026-05-15

[00:00:01]Visit primed plus.com to enter 702 Jersey my [music] jersey walk the talk the talk >> hosted by the city of Johannesburg walk with the people for the people for our [music] >> forber by jober inber >> you're [music] with clementatella >> on 702 >> let's walk the talk streaming [music] on the prime media plus app >> DS TV channel 856 >> 92.7 [music] and 106 6 FM [music] Heat. Heat.

[00:01:08][music] [music] >> [music] [music] [music] >> 8 [music] minutes after 9:00. Dillang, good morning. Welcome to the Clement Pangatella [music] Show. It's great to have you with us here on 702. We always love keeping you company. I trust grand this morning. The 702 open [music] line starts now on 01188372.

[00:01:56]The WhatsApp line is 07272172. [music] [music] So that's a that's a pedi that's [music] the language and it means you're welcome to our show. I'm saying that because I was reflecting this morning about my fluency [music] in Vanag and I wonder how often you speak your mother tongue. Like do you find that you're starting to lose it because you speak English almost [music] the entire time? cuz I feel like I've started to lose the two languages that I used to speak so fluently.

[00:02:38]I mean, I can still speak the language [music] as well, but I'm not as fluent as I used to be anymore. And this is worrying me a lot cuz I would like I would like to teach my [music] children these languages because that's part of their culture and their identity. But yo I we speak English a lot guys at work with our friends and then when you get home you still have English and I wonder if you have found the balance how do you ensure that you are still [music] retaining that fluency I try listen to FM [music] it's a radio station or that was their tagline um back [music] in the day I also try listen sometimes comes to Eco FM. It's an radio station.

[00:03:27]Um, what was it? I [music] don't know what their tagline is now, but it used to be [laughter] which means where we are there's light.

[00:03:39]Yeah, I have tried to encourage my friends to use [music] the neck when we speak, but we end up forgetting. Um, so yeah, Lord help us. How do you do it? Are you intentional about not getting stuck with English when not necessary? How do you make sure that you don't lose your fluency in your mother [music] tongue?

[00:04:00]Whether it's Africans or Chitonga, French, you name it. 011883072, WhatsApp's on 07272172.

[00:04:10]I come to you this morning with a broken heart because this morning the family of Maria Mlo confirmed that she has passed.

[00:04:20]Maria Matlloy is the cultural pioneer that we hosted on the show last week on Thursday on our Hangout feature. And before I give you more reflections, I just want to read you the statement that came from the family. It says, it reads, "It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we confirm the passing of our beloved sister and media industry giant, Maria Mlo, who died at 50. Um, Maria sadly passed away on Tuesday evening, the 12th of May, 2026 at Mil Park Hospital in Johannesburg following a heart failure.

[00:05:01]Maria, a vibrant and creative soul who embraced life wholeheartedly as a DJ, as a publicist and fashion designer, was loved by her family, her friends, her colleagues, and community at large. Her kindness, warmth, generosity, and unwavering love for those around her touched many lives and will never be forgotten. She had a special way of bringing people together and her presence brought com comfort, laughter and love to all who knew her. She leaves behind her mother and two beloved sisters Tandi and Natasha along with countless family members and friends who are devastated by this loss. During this incredibly difficult and shocking time, the family humbly ask for privacy as they grieve and come to terms with their loss and kindly ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers. The family also extends their heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love, messages of support and condolences received since the news broke regarding her memorial and funeral service that will be communicated in due course. with love and gratitude the Mlo family. [sighs] So it's so heartbreaking and I was saying to Bongani that yes there's quite a heavy sense of sadness that I feel but I also feel a bit of joy in that we were able to give her her flowers while she is still alive.

[00:06:43]And perhaps that interview that we did with her last week was her bidding us farewell.

[00:06:52]And I'm glad we had the opportunity to appreciate her. The funny thing is when I told her that I needed her on the hangout feature at some point, she was like, why me? You know, because you know, Maria is a designer. She's a lot of things including a publicist and she works with like really big brands and works with these big artists. So whenever we would even need interviews and we want to interview an artist like Maria makes that happen, right?

[00:07:27]She was the person that we went to when we wanted to speak to and interview some of the artists that she she represents.

[00:07:36]So she was like, "But why me? Like I'm not a celebrity." I was like, "No, it's not about that. In fact, you are Maria Mlloy. Like you are a big deal.

[00:07:46]You're a cultural pioneer.

[00:07:49]You are an incredible designer. and you have been shaping the city's creative landscape since the late 1990s.

[00:08:00]And to wake up this morning to news of her passing is incredibly sad. And I my thoughts and my prayers are with her family, all of her loved ones and condolences.

[00:08:14]And I hope that we can always just go back to the words she said last week and hold those dear to our hearts and know that this is someone who fully lived who fully enjoyed life and who enjoyed what she did. And I'll play you a clip in fact where she says some you know someone asked her if you were rich what would you want to do? And she said I would be doing exactly the same thing I'm doing. And what an opportunity she had to live her dream and do the things that inspired her that she was honestly quite passionate about. This is someone who's been shaping the city's creative landscape for so long. I mean, go back to her founding the groundbreaking Black Rage Productions and Outrageous Records, which helped launch the careers of artists like Proverb and Reason.

[00:09:05]She built an afroentric accessories and fashion label. She was rocking the decks at some of Jober's most vibrant events. So, we're talking about someone whose fingerprints are all over the city's cultural DNA. And I think for that she really deserves to be honored.

[00:09:26]So if you want to share your tributes with us um this morning and send some love to the family and and and your thoughts and your prayers, please uh give us a call on 011883072.

[00:09:38]You can send WhatsApps as well on 072721702.

[00:09:44]Um the official unemployment rate has climbed to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 31.4% at the end of last year. And that translates to about 345,000 jobs lost in a single quarter, bringing the number of employed South Africans down to 16.8 million. Can you imagine? 16.8 million employed people.

[00:10:09]Out of how many are we? 60 million.

[00:10:15]For young people, this picture is even more dire because the youth unemployment rate for those between the ages of 15 and 34 now sits at 45.8%.

[00:10:26]So this focus on unemployment, great. But we also want to hear from those of you who are employed because even if you are currently employed, you are not insulated from this crisis and perhaps you are the sole bread winner in your household. You're carrying the financial weight of family members who cannot find work. Perhaps you're watching friends, neighbors, or recent graduates in your circle close to you, and you're just hoping month after month.

[00:10:59]That's what they do, these graduates.

[00:11:01]And perhaps in your own workplace, you are noticing a shift in how employers treat their staff because they know that for every person who walks out, there are dozens desperate to walk in. So, how is the unemployment crisis touching your life even while you have a job? Like, are you the only employed person in your family? And what does that pressure feel like? What are you seeing in your circle? Is it getting harder or easier for people to find work? Like have you noticed employers becoming more demanding, less flexible or quicker to remind you how replaceable you are? you know, in the state of the job market making I I wonder if it actually makes you think twice about asking for a raise or pushing back on unreasonable demands or even leaving a toxic work environment because you know how difficult it would be to try to find another job. So, I would like to know from you how unemployment has affected you whether employed or unemployed. The numbers only become real really when it's a fully qualified member of your family in your social circles circle who's struggling to find a job. And I think almost all of us can point to someone we know who is a graduate and is unemployed.

[00:12:23]011883072 WhatsApp's on 07272172.

[00:12:28]At 10:00 we're going to be doing our monthly feature. We call it exploring spirituality with Vumzi.

[00:12:36]And today we'll be discussing the clashes that sometimes exist between cultural wedding practices and the law.

[00:12:43]And then at 11:00 we do our listener's choice feature. Today we are talking debt review 101. What do you as a consumer need to know? Uh what is it? What is a debt review? You know what is it for and how does it work? I mean many South Africans are under severe financial pressure due to the rising cost of living, high interest rates, mounting debt. So debt review is often then presented as a solution for overinded consumers. But there are still many misunderstandings about the process. So on our listeners choice feature this morning, we'll take you through that. We wrap up the show at 11:30 with the sharing space. That's the show coming up over the next 3 hours.

[00:13:26]Clement [music] Manatella streaming on the Prime Media Plus app, >> DSTV channel 856, >> 92.7 [music] >> and 106 FM.

[00:13:37]>> Good morning um Clement and the and the listeners. Um yeah, so I actually listen to a lot of uh Muing FM um during the day. Usually I I would listen to Banana.

[00:13:48]I would listen to your show and somewhere during the day I would then switch over to Muing. I think it's actually helped me to, you know, to sort of stay in touch with my situana and uh not drift too far away. It's actually helped quite a lot. Yeah. Thank you.

[00:14:03]Bye.

[00:14:04]>> Morning Clement.

[00:14:08]Uh I hear you about the language thing.

[00:14:12]Um me uh in my ripe old age. Uh it's a big number. Can't say it. But anyway, many a few decades older than older than you. But um I intentionally I've got friends I live up in Jo have done so since the late '7s left. Yeah. But my friends in that are in KZN. We text each other in completely and we add proverbs and etc. That's how we do it.

[00:14:47]When we speak, we speak in obviously sometimes you you just mix a bit, but when we text, we text my kids, I I speak to them.

[00:15:01]I speak to them both in from when they were very young, so they fluent in both. Yeah. I read books.

[00:15:09][snorts] I listen to that's how I do it.

[00:15:12]Good morning, CL 72 listeners.

[00:15:16]You know what? I'm Zonga and I love speaking Zonga. I love my language. I try my best to speak it every time as much as I can, you know. But I find the problem even when I'm speaking to my fellow to my fellow Tonga people, they sometimes don't believe that I am.

[00:15:37]If I meet you for the first time and I start speaking to you and you you I get that surprised face, you know what I mean? And sometimes mid conversation, mid conversation to a Tonga person, the Tonga would person would then revert to maybe Zuru or English and I'll be like, "No, man. Let's stick here. Let's stick with the Tonga, [laughter and gasps] you know." Yeah.

[00:16:00]But how I maintain speaking my language, I listen to the Tonga radio station.

[00:16:09]Um, and I follow a lot of Tonga people on Tik Tok, you know. Plus, I call a lot of Tonga people, you know. I'm always on the phone. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> I think that's um Oh, that's that's Oh, it's not. Okay.

[00:16:38]The point though is I think we speak English so much that we end up I mean sometimes when my mom calls I find myself in it all right okay and then jump into English after the greetings. [laughter] That's not good. At least for me, I don't like that. Like I want to raise children who are going to learn as part of their culture and identity.

[00:17:08]And what I'm asking you this morning, how do you make sure you don't lose that fluency? Because the temptation is to just speak English.

[00:17:16]I mean, the whole time at work.

[00:17:23]And sometimes I encourage my friends, stop talking to me in English and I must stop talking to you in English. Let's speak Zulu. I'll speak and let's find our way towards each other. How do you do that? I I have completely failed with my friends. I think they've disappointed me and maybe I've disappointed them too cuz we've never been consistent. But how I keep that fluency is I would I listen to Tobella FM sometimes. I listen to Ecoquazi FM just to hear them speak that fluent verac and that just sort of reminds me of of my own. It's 24 after 9.

[00:17:59]>> Your voice, >> your station, >> your open line.

[00:18:03]>> Walk the talk with [music] Clementa >> on 702.

[00:18:08]>> Clement.

[00:18:09]What's shocking is that Maria walks everywhere. she half of the time, I'll say 60% of the time, obviously if it's out of her reach and maybe she has a meeting, then you know [clears throat] she'll use Uber, but she was against the idea of driving or getting a car because she was um such an avid walker of the city, an avid walker of the suburbs. you know, when she used to stay in Yville and she would walk to Rosebank all the time, walk to Rosebank, walk to um Melville, walk to um Brantine, a walker and for the reasons that she passed on for it just doesn't make sense cuz she was one of the most active and healthiest individuals. maybe not a a marathon runner like yourself or a gym enthusiast so much, but [snorts] her health was one that is she's always up and she's always walking. It was just so unfair that um what caused the death was the reasons of um um cardiac arrest.

[00:19:18]That just doesn't make sense, right?

[00:19:20]Mariah Maria Podesta.

[00:19:24]>> Yeah, Maria Podesta. I asked her about that song uh last week when we had her on the show. Oh, it's just so heartbreaking. Like my heart is just so heavy. But also, I've I'm I'm at a stage in my life where I'm learning to celebrate people who pass. And I don't want to spend a lot of time um wallowing in this darkness and sadness. And and yes, those are feelings you can ignore. And I can only imagine how difficult that must be for the family. But I'm I'm saying for me, I I'm trying to get to a point where I actually want to spend more time celebrating the people who have passed, celebrate what how they've lived, celebrate what I've learned from them, celebrate what their contribution has been to either my life, to whatever industry they were involved in. So yeah, please um keep those tributes coming.

[00:20:21]011883072.

[00:20:23]Let's go to your lines now. We've got uh Pis M who's the deputy minister of sports, arts, and culture um calling us this morning. Uh thank you for for calling. Uh deputy minister. Good morning.

[00:20:35]>> Thank you so much for having me and good morning to you and to your listeners. M >> I I also called after hearing the sad news of the passing of our young talented uh female uh creative >> leader. Um I didn't know her personally but I knew her work and of course the lives of other people that she has touched >> and uh for that we are grateful for for her life and we can only learn from her contributions. You know you touched on two important things this morning. The issue of language, the use of language >> and of course the passing of Maria who was also an Africanist.

[00:21:19]>> Yeah. Very much so. a young woman who also never see any boundaries. Uh she would um combine her work with other African countries. She understood the use of fabric you know very intelligent.

[00:21:35]>> Mhm.

[00:21:36]>> Um you will carry one handbag but it will be a contribution of three or four African countries and people would not even understand that. So she she she saw life beyond being a South African and that's how educated and talented she was and creative of course. Um the use of language um it's a it's a it's a it's a it's another struggle for us. [laughter] >> Yeah.

[00:22:04]>> But I think you know uh language it's a it's a choice. You choose what language you want to to communicate in.

[00:22:12]Um I if you are familiar with the kosa people I'm a closer they speak closer you know >> and and you will learn to speak sa because they will not compromise >> and I I'm saying that because I grew up in the west I'm a mutual speaking person but I I write I even dream in sosa really [laughter] >> because we'll always um joke about the fact that we're colonized by Kosas, you know, being a young activist in the structures of the agency.

[00:22:50][clears throat] So, Kasas will do. So, I'm saying it's a issue of choice, you know. No, I speak I can even write in I frame in. So, Sosa is a I mean, language is a is a choice.

[00:23:03]>> Yeah. But again, you know, after touching on these two important issues, the passing of Maria and the use of language. Yesterday, we just passed our budget and I went through my budget speech. Yes, I I fairly covered the issues of the use of language and then and the bill that is that is that is h currently on underway.

[00:23:24]>> Um the recognition of sign language as well. You know, we need to also encourage people to learn uh sign language. It's very important.

[00:23:34]>> Yeah.

[00:23:34]>> And absolutely >> I I looked at how I captured or reflected on art and culture, the promotion and development of women in the arts development pro and the development programs that we are bringing. But I never said anything about fashion >> and Maria's passing will make sure that I must never leave any important platform without promoting fashion.

[00:23:59]>> Yeah. Yeah. Deputy Minister Peace M.

[00:24:02]Thank you so much for your call this morning on the 702 open line. I'll continue with your calls and WhatsApps, your tributes. Um, uh, Eagles on the lighter note on the WhatsApp line says, "Let Ma, what is it that what is it, uh, that you do when you interview people and they pass away? This is not the first time. It's scary. Uh, people will be scared to be interviewed by you." I think Eagle is also referencing cuz City passed how many months or a couple of weeks? Was it a couple of weeks after we had her on the hanging out feature?

[00:24:36]And that's why I'm saying for me it's I'm I'm I'm glad that we were able to because it's important for people to know that their work has been appreciated. And Maria has been doing a lot of work as a cultural pioneer, someone who loves this city, who loves this continent since the late '9s. And taking time to celebrate and appreciate such people, I think is so important.

[00:25:04]Your voice, >> your [music] station, >> your open line.

[00:25:08]>> Walk the talk with Clemens when Taylor >> on 702. [music] >> 23 minutes before 10:00. This is the 702 open line. We're taking your calls, your WhatsApps. 011883072.

[00:25:20]Your WhatsApp's on 072721702.

[00:25:25]Let's go to Nar who's calling us from Oh, we've just lost Nar there. Let's try get Nar back on the line. Let's go to WhatsApp voice notes in the meantime.

[00:25:33]>> Morning. Good morning, Clement. Um, Lindo from Johannesburg.

[00:25:37]I I didn't know Maria. I only knew her when you had the interview last week and I [snorts] listened to the interview and oh my goodness, I thought, "What a wonderful pioneer." I immediately looked through her socials. I went through her Twitter, her Instagram, and I thought, "Oh my goodness, what a pioneer of a woman." and to just learn today that she passed on really is so so sad. Um my deepest condolences to the family.

[00:26:13]>> Yeah. No, condolences to the family. Um indeed.

[00:26:18]Um it's just sad guys. It really is. Um and I suppose that is it that it's that with death, right? It it catches you by surprise. You can never fully be ready for it. And even in this case, I mean, if you go on Instagram, you'll still see the stuff she posted yesterday on the Instagram stories.

[00:26:42]So, this person was living life as normal last night already yesterday throughout lived life normal. There things that she posted late yesterday that are still on her Insta stories and then boom.

[00:26:58]But hey, that's life. Hey, I've also been asking you about the issue of languages this morning and how you try and keep your fluency in your mother tongue, whether it's French, whether it's Africans, whether it's chitonga, uh whether it's chanda, whether it's you name it.

[00:27:23]How do you keep that fluency? Because we live in a world where English is a medium of instruction. That's the language of communication.

[00:27:33]But we dare not forget about our cultural identity and languages are part of that identity.

[00:27:43]>> Oh, Clement, you you know, you read my thoughts this morning. Uh on Friday I was just doing a presentation to you know because I'm a programming extraordinaire so I deal you know I do a lot of programming in terms of radio stations and you know I speak so much English that when I meet people that speaks like our language whatsoever I get so excited I want to do the presentation in that language so yo you've read my thoughts like one of the guys I was actually telling them that yo can we just speak just for today so thank Q.

[00:28:17]>> Hi Clement speaking to Andy and breaking down speaking of radio station the influence in terms of language. I come from a very very strong Zulu background but when I can hear me speak Suana you can say as speaking people will say I learned it from radio ma to back then and at school I had friends. So each time I'll hear something new on radio I will always refer to Jim Mal. So he had a very very strong influence on me in terms of language challenges writing it but speaking and broken down.

[00:28:56]>> Good morning Clement and the 702 family at large. Yes, I think we are sufficiently exposed to English as a language. Um, we work, at school, during the day, everywhere we go. I see no reason for us as a family.

[00:29:13]Uh, with my friends, I see no reason because we come from the same tribe. So, you know, where we can, we preserve our identity and culture. Stick to what you and your people do best. Other than that, I do not change my radio station.

[00:29:32]It's forever on 702.

[00:29:34]>> Good, >> Queens.

[00:29:36]>> Good, good ch good ch queens.

[00:29:41]>> Thank you so much. All right.

[00:29:44]Uh I realized that uh my zonga as well has been little bit uh affected because I've I've not been talking uh most of the time especially in K.

[00:30:01]So what like other guys do from time to time, I would just tune in to Mongana and uh because that's the only station in the country that really uh talk talk in in song that we can access. But yeah, it's not easy though because you need to uh make sure that you don't neglect that part most especially when you are here in alone here in in Clement. Yeah, very interesting topic.

[00:30:38]Uh what I do is I listen to Muring FM and yeah um they've got a that short story um yeah we call it um the the so now and it's got a omni bar on on on the weekend I think on Sunday after after two just before the the sports for for for for Sunday. Yeah, it's very interesting. And I normally, yeah, on the weekends, yes, I I I I listen to Ming FM, especially when I'm with my son in the car so that he can understand.

[00:31:12]Okay, back to um your tributes to um for Maria Mlo. Greg on the WhatsApp line.

[00:31:19]Oh, this is Greg McMoreographer who says, "Oh, dear Clement, I'm so sorry to hear about Maria Mlloy's passing. She was instrumental in publicly announcing many of my projects and in these challenging times of bringing audiences back to the theater.

[00:31:38]Her contribution was invaluable. Her support significantly expanded our reach particularly with our last production Genesis the beginning and the end of time. On behalf of all of us at Gregory Matoma Industries, uh we extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends, may her spirit rest in eternal peace.

[00:32:04]Yeah, [sighs] thank you so much, Greg, for sending the message. And yeah, um what maybe that was actually the last show that I attended where I saw her. Um when I went to see Janess's the beginning and the end of time, she was such a brilliant production. Um and Maria was always instrumental in just making sure you are in the building when these projects come alive. And yeah, that's probably the last time we were at a thing together where we attended the uh like like this theater production. Yeah. But what a what what a giant. Hey, thank [clears throat] you so much for for for the condolences to the family and and her loved ones. Steve uh Steven, you um Oh, something seems to be wrong here with the lines when I'm taking them.

[00:32:58]Yeah. So, we'll get we'll get it to help us out here. Um, but it looks like when I'm taking your calls, somehow they get cut off. So, we'll sort it out in a moment. In the meantime, let's try go to the WhatsApp on 07272 and 702.

[00:33:13]>> My good sir, my brother Clement Mana Taylor King Peter.

[00:33:18]Um, you did justice to the interview you had with Maria. I listened to it most of the time cuz I was on the road at the time. Um, little did we know it was going to be the last. Oh, yeah.

[00:33:32]May her soul rest in peace. What a vibrant young woman she was. I still remember how she explained how her friends surprised her at the birthday party.

[00:33:44]Ay, I don't know what to say, my brother. Condolences to you, to her family and her friends. May her beautiful soul rest in peace. God bless you.

[00:33:55]>> Yeah. T um on the WhatsApp blind says Clement Maria came to say goodbye to us on the show um last week. God works in mysterious ways. May her cross may her cross over to meet our creator be smooth. That's T in Ranburg. Uh Stephen, you are in Ramach. Good morning.

[00:34:16]>> Morning Kmet. How are you man?

[00:34:18]>> I'm all right man. Go ahead.

[00:34:19]>> Um I'm Yeah, we are very sad. So I'm um a founder and a director of the soon launching streaming platform blackowned.

[00:34:29]We termed it African celebration TV. We are going live on the 1st of June. Now Maria was one of the the the the partners that were just entered into because then she was going to carry on you know the the the creative corner. I remember the last time we were talking that we no longer have creative, you know, places where we hang out >> and we spoke about that on the show last week actually.

[00:34:52]>> Yes, we did. And we said and we said to her, don't worry, we're going online with our own platform. So, we're going to hang around. So, we have we were settled to have a meeting on Friday this week to conclude, you know, the show how she's going to come on board and stuff.

[00:35:07]So, wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. But the de the devil is a liar. We're going to go ahead. We're going to honor her. We're gonna honor her and every other person including TD Mad. I just want to I don't want to make you cry, Clement, but on the 1st of June, we're launching our own current affairs. We're calling it ACTV News 24.

[00:35:30]>> So, one of the people that we're going to honor on that show, we're going to get there. Yeah. So, I'm so devastated with with the passing of Maria.

[00:35:39]>> Yeah, it is devastating. And all the best uh Steven with um your new uh project >> 702 [music] >> WhatsApp clearment >> on 072 >> 702 >> 1702 >> 9 minutes before 10:00 I want you to listen to part of the conversation we had with Maria Matroy uh last week on our hangout feature and I would encourage you to go watch the full interview um watch it on YouTube or listen to it on podcast um but I I really do believe she is bidding us farewell and this is part of the chat we had >> exist from now on.

[00:36:16]>> Yeah. Well, Marlo, thank you so much. We appreciate you and thank you for your contribution to the culture in the scene and the industry. Um, thank you.

[00:36:27]>> Thank you. It's a privilege to be invited and Kuwano and Dino are listening too. Dino is a >> shout out to them.

[00:36:32]>> He is a lecturer in journalism in England and Kutano is in Italy and has a podcast called the Shades and Layers podcast. So, I'm just Is there anything else you like? That's always been on my list and I want to achieve that.

[00:36:44]>> Well, like I was saying, I just was talking to someone at City Press who just told me that this is their last edition.

[00:36:49]>> So, I'm wondering, you know, with I'm so sad about media and journalists, what's happening >> like in we're we're losing TV and and newspapers and even online. So, I'm worried about that and looking at that like what is my next move going to be?

[00:37:03]You know, I kind of always have made it work. Being a journalist, then being a publicist, also doing clothes, also DJing, all doing it. And someone said, "If you were rich, what would you be doing?"

[00:37:14]>> Like, would what would you want to do if you had all the money in the world? And I said, "Exactly this."

[00:37:17]>> Exactly.

[00:37:18]>> I would like to carry on like this. I would definitely like to travel more, >> travel throughout the continent, make things, make clothing and jewelry throughout the continent, but I also want to keep telling African culture stories in whatever medium >> that's going to exist from now on.

[00:37:34]>> Clement, you know, the one thing that always struck me about Maria and um people who were calling in last week said the same thing is that she would acknowledge you every single time she saw you. Um, and so I think the best thing we can do is every time we see someone wearing her clothes or her jewelry is just to carry that same sense of humility and and recognize her art, which I think will live forever. Rest in peace, my queen. Your you have run your race.

[00:38:08]>> Clement, you are spot on, Kamaria. You know, man, Maria's life needs to be celebrated. Let's go back to 2017. Afro Punk, you know, her involvement from a PR and marketing point of view to get the festival to where it ended up being.

[00:38:27]>> Um, look at Bashauru playing a big role with Cornhill to transform Basha to what it used to be to what it is today. You know what I mean? I've got an establishment in Pakan North.

[00:38:42]She played a big role in the past year to get the place to where it is today.

[00:38:46]How it looks like the kind of lineup we create.

[00:38:50]Maria man, you know, it's if we had to speak about Maria and what she's done for the industry, we we we will just we'll talk for the whole day.

[00:38:59]May her soul rest in peace. Condolences to her family. Um yeah, we just need to go on and celebrate her life.

[00:39:07]>> Yeah, true. Paul says Clement. Um, just a short tribute to our multicultural and ever talented trailblazer, Maria Mlo. I met her back in 98 at the beginning of what used to be called Greenfield radio stations, the likes of Kafm and YFM. She was in partnership with uh, one media trailblazer who read news at Kaya uh, Gutano Scosana and a guy called Zeno, the brains behind Rage Productions. She definitely touched our lives in different ways. From a fellow media personality, fashion designer and DJ Roala Boro.

[00:39:47]That's a message from the WhatsApp line.

[00:39:50]Again, another part of the conversation we had with her last week. I feel sad because I followed it for for you know we work in the city. I make my clothes at Ephim Mall studio in town. I do my embroidery in town, my bag making in town. Yeah. If you and Tula Cindy who are my fashion mentors are in town and when I did shoes they were made in town.

[00:40:08]Uh the bead work people I work with are in my or on like you know market street and I buy cloth on market street and you know the knitwear where I make my knitwear isn't far away so everything is kind of city- based for creatives and I just it's we can see it falling apart and that's really sad.

[00:40:25]>> Yeah quite hectic.

[00:40:29]Um and then another person uh a lot of you are sending really tributes um and your condolences to the families. Uh says, "Hey, Clement, condolences to Maria McCloe's family. Uh what a way to bid us farewell um on your show last week. Uh may her soul rest in peace. our thoughts and prayers with the family and yeah, let's keep the family in our prayers because this must be so difficult for them.

[00:41:01]I'll play you the last clip from the conversation we had with her. If you want to listen to the full interview, I encourage you to go check out the podcast or go watch it um on YouTube.

[00:41:12]>> You're with Clement Manatella >> 7:02 >> 2 minutes before 10:00. Hi Lawrence. I am shocked. I'm stunned. Uh Maria, a shape shifter, culture maker, just unparalleled on her own and a creator of life. Um met her, experienced her just an experience of a divine individual. [sighs and gasps] This is unreal. This is unreal. Um, yeah, man. The best of culture, of experience, of whatever that life presented. That's Maria.

[00:42:01]Thank you.

[00:42:03]>> Morning, Clement and the team. This is Mo here from Albertin. Yeah. Jeez. Look, uh, I didn't know Maria uh, up until I listened to the interview last week. Um I yeah like I was so I was so inspired um with the work that she she has done.

[00:42:23]Um and then actually I was actually driving actually when I was uh listening to the interview but when I got home I later watched the the podcast um yeah she's such a wonderful woman. Um at 50 years Yeah.

[00:42:43]Life life it's something else. There's a saying that says life is unpredictable.

[00:42:53]The next thing you are there happy and then the next thing you gone.

[00:43:00]Sure. Sure. Yeah. No thoughts and prayers to the family and friends.

[00:43:06]>> Um Jesus. No. Thanks. Thanks Dmond.

[00:43:11]>> Yeah. Rest in peace. Rest in power, Maria.