seek & find

Companion Magazine ed. 17

hamburg my harbour

Wind, waves and warehouse bricks frame Hamburg, where every district hums its own tune. For Nairobi born musician Onejiru, the city is pure rhythm. Wherever you roam, Hanseatic flair is certain, though each neighbourhood reveals a strikingly different face.

if not now, then when?

The members of electro punk band Egotronic have been engaging in musical hedonism for 19 years—a kind of hedonism which can increasingly be viewed as a political outcry. Their latest album Ihr seid doch auch nicht besser (You’re No Better Either) represents the zenith of this development. It’s about the erosion of the political centre and the necessity of forging new alliances.

south africa’s hidden gems

Sustainable tourism is developing in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. With organisers such as WOWZULU, an NGO which has made it its goal to strengthen rural, marginalised communities, the region can be experienced off the beaten track—for example on a trip to Inanda, where COMPANION learned about traditional Zulu beadworking from Mma Mtshali.

bon voyage

Wouldn’t it be great to not only bring back something special from your travels, but also to leave something special behind? From cleaning up the beach to rescuing animals to helping out on archaeological digs, doing something worthwhile on holiday hasn’t become a travel trend for nothing—after all, it allows you to get to know the local culture and people that little bit better.

pirates of activism

Illegal fishing, oil tanker spillages, floating fields of plastic bottles spanning kilometres: We have caused a lot of damage to our oceans in recent decades—damage with far-reaching consequences for marine life, for the balance of Earth’s ecosystems, and for humanity itself. The ocean is essential to the lives of billions of people, whether directly or indirectly. That’s why the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has been dedicated to fighting the destruction of habitats and the slaughter of wild animals in the world’s seas for over 40 years now.