2020-04-01 Forbes Africa

FORBESAFRICA.COM APRIL 2020 FORBES AFRICA | 31

I wasconvinced

m

m

m

ne

LLOYD HARRIS, 23, SOUTH AFRICA
TENNIS PLAYER
INDUSTRY: SPORTS

Nicknamed ‘The King’ in the South Africa Davis Cup team, at only 22,
Lloyd Harris is currently South Africa’s second ranked tennis player
behind Kevin Anderson.
The young Cape Town-born player found his feet at the age of three
when he picked up his first racket. Following in the footsteps of his
mother, who would play at a tennis club, by the age of four, Harris was
already able to serve from the baseline.
When other 10-year-olds were riding bicycles and playing video
games, Harris was competing in the Under 10 World Cup in Croatia, his
first game on an international stage.
This was the beginning of his tennis career.
In 2014, he became the first-ever South African to represent South
Africa at the Youth Olympics in 2014.
But it wasn’t always easy.
Harris and his family sacrificed everything to ensure he reached a
professional level.
And in 2018, Harris endured a devastating loss.
At the eleventh hour, while preparing for a match, he received news
that his father passed away.
Harris did not react well to the news.
Waves of unimaginable pain shot down his spine, making it difficult for
him to play.
“It was an eye-opener that changed my world. He was incredibly proud
of me and my tennis. I lay in bed, cried all day, had no idea whether or not I
should play. I was ready to get on the next plane home and then decided to
stay and play for my father. I won two tournaments, in two weeks,” he tells
FORBES AFRICA.
Harris’s decision to continue to play for his father brought him more
triumph. In 2018, he was nominated as an alternate for the Next Gen ATP
Finals in Milan.
He also represented South Africa at the Davis Cup as the number one
player in seven ties with a win-to-loss record of 11-4.
Last year, he qualified for his second Grand Slam main draw at a senior
men’s singles level and he reached the 100th spot in the ATP Rankings,
cracking the top 100 for the first time in his career.
“I think that as South Africans, we need to have a lot of belief and support
to get far on the ATP Tour. Where I come from, nobody has really, for so
many years, made it from South Africa. The last one was maybe Wayne
Ferreira. It’s hard to believe we can actually do everything from South Africa,”
he says.
“I still have plenty of time on the tour and only have to look at Roger
Federer, who is still playing at 38 and remains at the top of his game, to gain
inspiration. I still have many years to go and we are just focused on the
process at the moment.”

DJ CUPPY, 27, NIGERIA

DJ, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, RED VELVET MUSIC GROUP

INDUSTRY: ENTERTAINMENT

Many had high expectations for Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola

to follow in her family’s oil business and become an oil

trader.

Her life was a set stage from the day she was born.

Dancing to the tune, she pursued a degree in economics

and management.

“I was convinced my plan was to make lots of money and

be the next Femi Otedola!” she tells FORBES AFRICA

But the young Nigerian longed to pursue the arts.

As a teen, she performed at local parties, events and in front of

crowds filled with youthful energy.

It was one gig here and another there, honing her skills until

she became the reputed DJ she is now.

Otedola now goes by the name ‘DJ Cuppy’ and has become

one of Nigeria’s most accomplished DJs, always identified by her

trademark pink hair style.

In 2015, she had the

opportunitytoperformfor

hercountryandpresident

MuhammaduBuhariathis

cou

Th

anN

upl

chi

livi

and

suc

ma

pov

ma

Bu

Un

num

inc

DJ

in 2

201

bee

Nic

Ch

yplanwasto

akelotsof

oneyandbethe

ext FemiOtedola!

MuhammaduBuhariathis

inauguration.Sincethen,she

hadbothherhands on-deck

performingalloverthe world

fromSenegalandGhanatothe

UK,playing in front of more

untrypresidents.

In2015,shefounded

eCuppyFoundation,

NGOaimedat

liftingwomen,

ldren,andpeople

ng withdisabilities

dtacklingissues

chaseducation,

alnourishmentand

verty.

DJCuppyalsoholdsa

aster’sdegreeinMusic

sinessfromNewYork

niversity.

Shehaswona

mberofawards

ludingBestFemale

atthe BeatzAwards

2 016,2017,2018,

1 9. Thisyear,shehas

en nominatedfora

ckelodeon’sKids’

hoice Award.