what is verve?
VERVE MAGAZINE is a platform where the goal is to expose the work of the many talents that reside in South Africa. That is our priority.
verve - (noun) the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance
VERVE encapsulates everything we want from this project as admirers of the spirit of what we as creatives have to offer, and we believe this project will be the conduit to exposing these talents.
Our magazine won’t be limited to what we think is popping, we want it to be a space for anyone with a voice, which we want to help amplify.
Brought to you by Ntsika Novoyi and Jeriah (Chef J) Fredericks, our plan is to do our utmost best to help creatives grow and give them a platform to help grow their brand to their highest level.
Ntsika Novoyi
"A world without music is the closest thing to hell"
Ntsika Novoyi grew up in a household surrounded by music. Having taken part in choir during his schooling days, Ntsika took his love for music and writing further in his early years, studying Communication Sciences and writing for small time music media outlets.
His love for the local music scene stemmed from the days of growing up listening to the names of AKA, Emtee, Khuli Chana and many more.
With all the information and experience gained over the years, Ntsika has taken the next step in his journalism career, starting VERVE with the goal of pushing Cape Town potential within the SA creative scene.
Chef Jeriah Fredericks
Stumbling into hospitality the year after high school, Jeriah discovered his passion for people. Driven by the adrenaline of the industry, he always pushed to craft a better experience for the guests that he served.
After 8 years on the restaurant floor he decided to pursue another passion, and restart his career as a chef. Having previously run the kitchen at Deer Park Cafe in Vredehoek for a year, he has now delved into fine dining and is looking to expand his skill set as a Chef De Partie at The Pot Luck Club.
VERVE is a combination of those two passions, and an opportunity to meet new creatives and learn more about food, while at the same time exploring what being a chef means to him.
Vuyolwethu Polson
My name is Vuyolwethu, or Vuyo, the name I’ve always gone by. Vuyolwethu means ‘our pride and joy’ in ngesiXhosa. Born and raised in Johannesburg, moving to Cape Town, away from everything that felt normal was the first step to me discovering me. Growing up, I had only known one thing, one way of life, and it was the antithesis of self-expression. Picking up my first camera in 2023 changed all of that.
It’s hard to describe my style of photography, partly because I’m new to all of this, but also because there are so many things I want to capture. I shoot on film, 35mm. The more I do capture, the more I fall in love with the idea of people. With what makes us, us. That moment where you can truly see someone and the beauty of what they feel. I want to capture that moment and have it tell a story.
I feel that my photography will really mesh well with what Verve is, and I am so excited for everyone to see what we do together.
For now, I want to explore this creative outlet through portraiture and lifestyle, as I continue to find my artistic voice. My creative process is extremely intuitive, which is why I thrive off being in the moment. To be present is to paint a scene through the lens.
This last year has taught me a lot about myself. Even though I’ve now been on this earth for two decades, it feels like I’ve just opened my eyes to the beauty of it all.