Our editor-at-large, Maps Maponyane, was in New York recently for his work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers initiative.
Here are some of his highlights.
THE PROTEGY
WHERE Jazz at Lincoln Center
WHEN 28 September
As part of my work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers initiative, I interviewed this phenomenal 10 year old, Erica Tandoh aka DJ Switch Ghana, who has been making waves with her remarkable musical talent, as well as promoting education and music in her community. She even has her own foundation!
GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL
WHERE Central Park
WHEN 29 September
This is the Global Citizen Festival held on the Great Lawn in the middle of Central Park. It was a fantastic line-up that included Janet Jackson, John Legend, Cardi B, Shawn Mendez, and The Weeknd. I’m a Global Citizen advocate and the ethos of the whole thing is that you have to earn your tickets by doing good in your community. Check out globalcitizen.org for the next festival to be held in Joburg on 2 December.
ARTISTIC ATTRACTION
WHERE Central Park
WHEN 29 September
Love this pic; it was two artists drawing each other. He had asked to draw her… so she took out her notebook and started to draw him. They were exchanging some really lovely moments… I would love to have known what happened after that!
ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
WHERE Financial District
WHEN 29 September
You can see the building from so many places around NYC but there was this beautiful blue light above me as I emerged from the new Oculus subway station, which is right below it. This was ground zero.
ROOFTOP VIBES
WHERE Kimpton Ink48 Hotel
WHEN 30 September
This was from the rooftop bar of the hotel I was staying in on the East Side. I went up there quite often – it was super busy and popular, and I loved the atmosphere. Plus it had incredible views of the city.
PICASSO
WHERE The Metropolitan Museum of Art
WHEN 1 October
This is Picasso’s “Woman Asleep at Table”. I like how this represents the heaviness of sleep… when you need to sleep you just need to sleep! I do love the way Picasso depicts how beautiful the imperfect can be.
LIGHT & HOPE
WHERE Washington Square Park
WHEN 1 October
This was a view looking down toward the Financial District. A storm was rolling in and it was dark from every angle. Then, as I turned and looked down the street, there, perfectly framed in light was the new One World Trade Center building. I loved the symbolism of it all.
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
WHERE Midtown
WHEN 2 October
I was on a rooftop on my final night in NYC and it seemed like the perfect moment. It was my parting shot that summed up an amazing week with the United Nations General Assembly, as well as the Gates Foundation.
