Ramokone Madiba, popularly known as Busta Gushima the CEO of Perere By Gushima, will be celebrating 10 years at this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Madiba this week told Sunday World that this year is definitely one for the books. It will be a celebration of every small step taken towards this moment.
“It will be a celebration of each hand that was involved in the past decade. A celebration to our friends who are no longer here with us, who helped us carry this brand. This year is a thanksgiving celebration,” said Madiba.
Madiba said he is grateful for this milestone as he is not the only person with a story like his. However, somehow he was shown enough grace to witness this milestone.
Culmination of all sacrifices, hard work
“It is impossible to take in this moment without taking stock of the challenges of this past decade. There were losses and sacrifices that also affected the people around me. It gives me a big sense of joy knowing that none of it was in vain.
“I navigate this space the same way I navigate every single thing I do, prioritising the experience of our clientele. They come first, this milestone belongs to every single one of them as well.”
Getting into the events and lifestyle industry was about the kind of fun he wanted to have. And he identified a gap in the market.
From spontaneous events offering to niche market
“The business started as spontaneous themed parties in different venues. Always carefully curated, the theme and the venue would be an experience for the guests. Now we are at a place where we strive to offer that same feeling in our own establishments.”
From that single idea the business is now a three-tiered entertainment company. Gushima is the overarching brand under which they throw their events. But it also houses their restaurant chain Perere and their in-house Bubbly, Dess.
He says he makes sure to curate the experiences for people like him, who have the same background and want a place full of joy.
Authenticity sets business brand apart
“I have found that by sticking to this authenticity makes us stand out and even attract people we had not thought of. So, while we have an idea of who might walk in, we are always pleasantly surprised by the market we hadn’t thought of. In that way, out target audience has grown to be a mixture of different crowds.
“While the marquee is something that happens once a year, it is still part of a whole. The food served will be the kind of food that our clients have come to love at our restaurants.
“We offer a wide variety of food coupled with the very best of local South African cuisine. While our chefs have license to create, they always land within these parameters.”
