08 / september 2019
PhotograPhy by Dimitriotisgq. co. zaContributors
Thobeka
Phanyeko
Content
ProduCer
HavingswappedtheGP
fortheCPT,theMother
Cityhassincehelda
specialplaceinThoby’s
heart,whomovedto
advancehermedia
career.She’salifecoach,
NLPpractitionerandDJ,
butherfavouritetitleis
Momtoherfive-year-
olddaughter,Oratile.A powerful story
nkosiyatikhumalo
Editor-in-ChiEftenyearsago,InstagramdIdnotexIst.Lifestylemediaplatformswereonly
justbeginningtolaunchwebsites.Wecertainlydidn’thaveawebsiteyet(that
wouldcomelater,in2011).Facebookwasroughlyfiveyearsold.Twitterwasonly
threeyearsold,andmostpeopledidn’tknowwhattouseitfor.Bloggingwasa
hobbyratherthanarevenuestream.
Ten years ago, I arrived in Cape Town, having
freshly returned from the US to the continent
of my birth. With a lot of persistence (and
assistance), I was able to build my own network.
There’s tremendous power in networks, as the
adage indicates, but once you’re in the door
you’ve got to consistently prove you deserve
a space at the table. I’ve been fortunate to be
able to do the same, and for me this issue marks
seven and a half years at GQ, and also marks
two years since taking over as editor-in-chief.
So many things about how we produce
content, and even the economics of media
brands, has changed – but the one thing that
hasn’t is the art of storytelling.
Perhaps my favourite description of
GQ came from Tony Parsons, a longtime
contributor to British GQ. He said GQ should
be a mirror and a window. It is both a reflection
of the reader’s life – and a portal to the world he
wants. The great thing about GQ’s predecessor,
Apparel Arts (which started as a guide to fabrics
and trends, published in the early 1930s) was
that it enabled its group of insiders to illustrate,
to contextualise, to educate, and yes, to sell, not
just the latest trends and movements in fashion,
and gentlemanly etiquette, but to sell a lifestyle
- through storytelling.
Social media’s the same today, where every
platform, and at this rate, probably also your
next fridge, either has or will have some kind
insidE GQ
lEttEr from thE Editor
Shannon
Manuel
senIor Content
ProduCer
A lover of telling
engaging stories and
meeting interesting
people, Shannon joined
the GQ team four
months ago with six
years experience in the
publishing industry.
Books, music, tattoos,
animals and Sebastian
Stan are a few of her
favourite things.of story function. It still messes with my mind
that Twitter’s most popular methods of message
sharing is via threads. But it’s because people
love a great story. Not only does storytelling tie
our traditional industry with new outlets, but
it’s also how we spark the conversations that
drive our culture forward.
This month, we explore several examples
of the power of storytelling, and of owning
your story – through conversations with
the likes of SA filmmaker Jonathan Sidego
(p58), who translates hedge-fund language
into things we can understand; the women
who founded the Middle East’s first all-female
supercar club (p74); or our cover star Seth
Rogen (p66), who’s discovered a newfound
power in being authentically himself, no
matter the playing field.
I’m incredibly proud to be at the helm of one
of the only platforms in Africa which has the
power to connect so many unique individuals.
As we continue in our mission to be equal parts
a mirror and a window, I’d encourage you not
to let anything stop you from working towards
that next chapter – and for securing your own
spot at the table.