EMPIRE STATE OF MIND

Visionary people face the same problems everyone else faces; but rather than get paralyzed by their problems, visionaries immediately commit themselves to finding a solution.

Bill Hybels

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T is an honour to unveil my labour of love to you and introduce you to this extraordinary young man. I am never stingy with praise and where it is deserved I will never keep it to myself. It is truly a privilege to feature Mr. Mfundo Vincent Nyambi. This visionary as I like to refer to him is a man who knows what he wants and not only that but he is breaking new ground and realising his dreams. I always say there are two kinds of people, the people that say they want it and those like Mr. Nyambi who not only say they want it, but are actually getting it. At just 24 young man has already established and is growing what most people his age just talk about. He is the founder of the ARK (Artistic Real Kontent) an entertainment-cum-record company in his hometown of Steites in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. I looked up the word visionary and this guy’s picture should have appeared next to it, he is defined as “Thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom.”  That is exactly what he is.We speak to him at the ARK headquarters about his life,successes,struggles thus far and his vision in going forward.

 

Q.I was born..                                   

A. Mfundo Vincent Nyambi.

                                                                                

Q. My parents are              

  A.Victor Makhubedu and Martha Makhubedu.

Q. My childhood in 3 words

A. adventurous, doubtful, sheltered.

Q. Favourite childhood memory    

A. It has to be visiting my mom at Turfloop, formerly known as the University of the North.

Q. What no one realises about me is..

A. I enjoy my own time more and contrary to popular belief I am a very private person and really enjoy being by myself. I find it relaxing especially my conversations with God, they keep me grounded.

  Q. I hate it when..

A. people are lazy to think and do things for themselves and are just content with being dependent on others.

                       

                                                                                  

          

Q. I think that I cannot..

A. Fail.                                                  

                                          

Q.  You’re worst fear coming true is..

A. If I don’t realize my potential and dreams soon enough, my grandmother and mom will not see the fruits of their hard labour.

Q. I am at my best

A. When I’m surrounded by likeminded people.

Q. The ARK is..

A. the ARK (Artistic Real Kontent) is and entertainment-cum-record company. The focus is on real artistry. Producing real art through film, photography, fashion, art and music.  

Q. The ARK was born..

 A. the ARK was born in 2006 when I heeded the call to create an industry in Nelspruit that was by us and most importantly for us.

Q. The struggles..

A. It has to be trying to teach people about hip-hop. We were forging a new identity that a lot of people could not identify with. Promoters and people were not receptive because they could not understand what we were doing and what we were about.   

                 

 Q. Building the ARK has taught me that..

  A. The most important lesson has to be that I am not accountable only to myself but to a lot of people. It taught me the concept of family in a sense that, I look out for the artists like they were my own siblings.

 

Q. The ARK in the next 5 years..                                    

A. Well established and recognised, not only in South Africa but the rest of Africa as well.

                   

Q. What do you want people to know about the ARK?

A. I want people to know that we are about producing real artistry, real music in a nutshell producing quality art.

Q. What I am most proud of..     

A. I am proud that I believe and follow my dreams. I set the bar higher for myself and now I can almost touch it.

Q. I want people to understand that

A. I will never give up and I want to be an example that if you believe in something, never allow those who don’t to derail you.

Q. What I do to unwind..

A. I read a lot of magazines. 

  
Q. Meeting Russell Simmons

A. It was a confirmation that I was on the right track. Being in the presence that’s made his dreams come true was humbling.

Q. Who I look up to and why?       

A. I look up to people who live in what they believe in. Those include my mother and yes of course Mr. P Diddy.


 Q. Looking forward I can say that..

A. The first step forward starts with the ARK headquarters, which is situated in Steiltes , Nelspruit. I want to make sure we stay true to our mission and that is making real music, produce real art and most importantly that we contribute in the cultivation of Africa’s talent. I plan to participate in this continents growth in entertainment as well as the arts, realising this leads me to my future plans, which are in the pipeline and include building studios in other parts of the country that will assist in achieving our mission as the ARK. I have said too much, I prefer revealing my plans through action rather than talking about them. I don’t just talk I act, I want to be a subject of success amongst my people, so they can use me as a point of reference that you can get what you want if you are willing to work for it.

*For more about Mfundo Nyambi you can follow him on Twitter @ iamnyambi or @arkmusic_sa . 
His facebook page: Nyam-B March, ArkMusic and Arkjam Ent. Design or simply visit www.arkmusic.yolasite.com . To listen to what the ARK has to offer, click on the following link --> www.soundcloud.com/arkmusic.