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 ‘Arch’ of Joy

January 9, 2022 Melanie Hawken

By Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The South African Nobel laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (“Just call me ‘Arch’) who sadly died on December 26th 2021, was according to the Financial Times (here)“…a beacon of honesty, conviction, inclusiveness and human decency.” He was also one of those rare people in public life to be totally consistent. His battles were against injustices, any injustice and this drive of his, through his words and indeed actions remained constant and consistent throughout his life: “We cannot afford to be silent in the face of injustice, inequality and poverty, and we may not falter in the face of oppression.” (here)

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In Team Lioness Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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You have power over your mind

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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By Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” So wrote Marcus Aurelius (seen above in a statue in Rome fittingly with a beautiful Blue Sky above him) in his book Meditations (here), which without doubt would have been a global best-seller at the time had he actually published it, given he was the last of the ‘Five Good Emperors of Rome’ at the end the era ‘Pax Romana’, controlling most of the known world at the time. However it was not published, they were writings only for him and him alone, which in a way adds great strength - they were not written to impress or to dictate or even to guide others, but more of a personal daily exercise, a mantra.

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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You’ll never do wrong by doing right

April 18, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

‘Doing right’ means different things to different people, but in business it is absolutely essential and represents your core values. The above photo showing the impact that UZURI K&Y, the Rwandan business founded by entrepreneurs Kevine Kagirimpundu and Ysolde Shimwe, has had on so many lives as a perfect example of this. So, “What are the core values of your business?” could have been the title this week…

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Embrace Thinking…

March 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

“If knowledge is power, knowing what you don't know is wisdom.”, so wrote Adam Grant, the renowned professor of psychology at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in his new book, “Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know,”. One of the basic frustrations he has is that: Too many people in the world listen to opinions that make them feel good, instead of ideas that make them think harder.

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In Business Unusual, Team Lioness Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Embrace Curiosity…

February 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

“No one can label you a failure when what you are trying to do is audacious. Botching something easy is a failure. Failing in an attempt to achieve something huge is just courageous.”

…as stated by the fabulous Anne Boden, who against all the odds founded Starling Bank in the UK. Read Melanie’s review of her book here and indeed we too wrote around her book in our Blog entitled ‘Dreaming with Ambition’ here, (so clearly we are fans!). But that one message above from her book ‘Banking On It: How I Disrupted an Industry’, is interesting because great leaders do not worry so much about being labelled (Elon Musk, for example, would stay under the duvet if labels concerned him!). What is noticeable is that they encourage their employees, their teams to reach for the sky, to go for the huge, not because they are relaxed about risk, (in fact they respect risk, never fear it), but exactly because this encourages far greater results for their employees and for their businesses.

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In Business Unusual, Team Lioness Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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#NoiGoesToWTO!

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization | photo courtesy of ngoziokonjoiweala.com

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization | photo courtesy of ngoziokonjoiweala.com

“Choosing the WTO Director-General should be on merit. If that person happens to be a woman, then great. If that person happens to be an African, then great. I hope it is a sign not only to women and girls of my country, but to women and girls worldwide, that the world is ready and women can do it.”

…and so said our very own Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria who on Monday became the first African and the first women to take the reins of this massive global organisation at a time at which world trade is at its most polarized and highly politicized position for decades. Talk about a hospital pass!

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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“Mola Mia…”

January 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

January, just the mention of that month brings high hopes and expectations of greater things. Given the low base that was 2020 (although as we pointed out in our last Blog, 2020 was a year of such incredible opposites, not only of terrifying lows but also for many Lionesses, incredible highs), 2021 for the entire world from a health perspective has to be better!

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Light during the dark…

December 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

The year 2020 was the 250th anniversary of the world’s greatest composer, Beethoven. Many consider Mozart to be the greatest, but his abilities came too easily, he never had to struggle, his music flowed as if from the heavens. Beethoven was mortal, he was human, he struggled. Mozart found composing easy, as if he had a ‘hot line’ to the angels, and indeed if you see his original manuscripts, there are no corrections, he wrote everything down once (when was the last time you wrote an email with no corrections?) - this was an orchestral work with 20 different parts! Beethoven, however, struggled and with errors, scribbles, corrections, angry lines crossing out, starting afresh many times, he forced incredible music out, finally accepting (begrudgingly) that he had gained immortality on paper.

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Purpose…

December 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

“…a company cannot achieve long-term profits without embracing purpose and considering the needs of a broad range of stakeholders. A pharmaceutical company that hikes prices ruthlessly, a mining company that shortchanges safety, a bank that fails to respect its clients – these companies may maximize returns in the short term. But, as we have seen again and again, these actions that damage society will catch up with a company and destroy shareholder value.”

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Never lose sight of your Gifts…

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

Terrific Tuesday (or ‘TT’ as we like to call it) is, if you remember, when the Head of Finance (HoF) gives us the morning to think outside the box, to move for a moment away from the incredible projects with which we are busy and step back for a moment from the crazy energy that is Melanie who, in the last 2 months, not only brought us the amazing LOA/Harvard Conference, then the Lioness Xpo B2B platform with Absa, and not stopping for breath just this week, the brand new (and in time for Christmas no less), incredible LOA / Facebook - Virtual Masterclass Series.

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Time to hear the Lionesses Roar!

November 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

“But every person in poverty, they dream of a better life, they want a better house, they want to provide for themselves, they want better roofing, they want water inside, they want electricity inside their homes.”

…so said an inspirational Lioness who is setting the world alight winning awards for her work to bring clean water to villages and into homes in Rwanda. At the tender age of 26 (so she is still a Lioness cub!), she is of course Christelle Kwizera of Water Access Rwanda.

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Dream with ambition

November 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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By the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

“Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before.”

…and so said the brilliant and inspirational Kamala Harris in a speech that many of us feared might not be possible as we saw the initial numbers coming out of the US Election on the night of the 3rd November 2020.

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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…now there’s an idea!

October 11, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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From the Lionesses of Africa Operations Dept

It was looking like it was going to be a quiet day in the Lionesses Hub. It was 9:30am, the Head of Finance (HoF) was deep into a third coffee, all was as normal. But was it? Emerging from the darkness that is the Finance PowerRoom (as the HoF likes to call it!), we were shocked to hear the announcement, “Retail is Dead. Long live Retail!” boom across the stunned room.

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In Team Lioness, Business Unusual Tags BU Inspiration & Motivation
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If you’ve had enough of COVID, then you need to read this…

September 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Lori Milner

“If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it”. - Mary Engelbreit

In 2018, I got the opportunity to tick off an item that had been on my bucket list for the past 8 years – to do a TEDx talk. Around the fifteenth draft, I was finally ready to send this off to my coach for review. At this point, I thought I had nailed it and was ready to move onto the next phase of preparing for the stage.

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In Guest Blog Tags Lori Milner, BU Inspiration & Motivation, Mindful Entrepreneur
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Conquering the Rocky Battlefield of 2020

September 6, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Elizabeth Otieno

Earthquakes, locust infestations, food wastage and shortage, Forest fires, park fires, mismanagement of funds, police brutality, and don't get me started on the Covid-19 pandemic. When historians finally write about the year 2020, it will most definitely sound like a horror story lifted from the pages of an Edgar Allan Poe or a Stephan King novel. Nothing from the year feels real, and yet here we are reading this on our laptops, from the safety of our homes with our masks nearby. Even though it feels like a pre-apocalyptic era, it doesn't mean we should live in a state of constant melancholy.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Elizabeth Otieno, BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Asking for help could be your game changer

August 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Usha Maharaj, Speaker, Coach, Facilitator

Asking for help at work, at home, in any area of our lives is tough. But asking for help could be the game-changer that you need in order to reduce the stress, make more time available, and lessen the burden you’re carrying.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Usha Maharaj, BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Date nights in lockdown don’t have to be boring

August 14, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Paula Quinsee

I’m hearing so many couples say that there’s not much they can do when it comes to date nights with being in lockdown. That’s because traditionally when it comes to date nights, the majority of couples have resorted to dinner at their favourite restaurant, or maybe even a movie and popcorn thrown in too – it was quick and easy. However, being in lock down, we are not able to go to restaurants and movies anymore so it’s become harder for couples to implement date nights and they are needing to be much more creative.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Paula Quinsee, BU Inspiration & Motivation
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I’m harnessing all that creativity and positive energy

August 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Kabira Dewan

We are inevitably heading to the so called “new normal way of doing business” but I must admit I am still spinning with all the creativity and positive energy that I experienced during Lockdown.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Kabira Dewan, BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Opportunities Knock despite Covid-19 Crisis

July 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Ronel Jooste

Despite the financial stress, uncertainty and knock-on impact the covid-19 crisis is causing for the economy, businesses and households, there are also multiple opportunities for people to create wealth for themselves amid the crisis. Looking at history various companies that have grown into massive multi-national companies were in fact born during a time of recession – Microsoft, General Electric, General Motors, Disney, IBM and the Hyatt Hotel Group to mention a few.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Ronel Jooste, BU Inspiration & Motivation
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Post-Pandemic Growth 

July 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken
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by Kathy Mann, Author and Speaker

I recently wrote the story of my grandparents’ love and their life together that spanned seven decades. I travelled to the coast early January and interviewed my 94-year-old grandmother about her life and how they fell in love. My husband stayed behind to feed the cats and to work, so the week was an opportunity to soak up the female company of my grandmother, mother, aunt and my two little girls. We laughed, we shared and we bonded. There is something special about being in the presence of multiple generations of women.

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In Guest Blog, Business Unusual Tags Kathy Mann, BU Inspiration & Motivation
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


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LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORIES

LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow
Teboho Seretlo, a passion-driven entrepreneur helping SMEs to grow
Zanele Njapha, a transformational business leadership coach
Zanele Njapha, a transformational business leadership coach
Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer
Mekdes Mesfin, a proudly Ethiopian fashion designer and manufacturer
Emilia Chisango, a multi-faceted business empire builder
Emilia Chisango, a multi-faceted business empire builder
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Morongwe Mokone, a passionate champion of artisanal homeware

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c
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Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi
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Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company
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Silk Serenity…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Her latest Deep Dive Collection is inspired by the p
Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized
Image of the Day / Sari for Change

Sustainable Sari Glamour - If you want to wear a robe that makes you feel and look glamorous, then Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, has a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics. She has
Image of the Day / MonChoco

Pure chocolate heaven…If you are a chocolate lover, then you need to experience raw chocolate at its finest, and Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco an artisan chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire, has just what y
Image of the Day / Mulandi Brindes

Say it with flowers…If you want to make someone feel special, then there is no better way than with the gift of fresh flowers, and Mulandi Brindes in Mozambique, founded by Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, creates
Image of the Day / Mariée Eventos

The Wedding Planner…Every big celebration day needs great organization, and that’s where Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos in Mozambique, is your go-to person. She launched he
Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi
Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Big bold accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The brand c Image of the Day / ReelFruit
 
Healthy snack treats…We love showcasing Africa’s women agribusiness builders, and ReelFruit, founded by Affiong Williams, is inspirational - it’s the largest fruit processing, packaging and distributi Image of the Day / Dokmai Rwanda

Made in Rwanda Handbag…A passion for handcrafted accessories, combined with a sense of pride for ‘Made in Rwanda’ products, inspired Dokmai Rwanda founder, Bernadette Umunyana, to create a company Image of the Day / Eki Silk

Silk Serenity…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Her latest Deep Dive Collection is inspired by the p Image of the Day / The Nanjala Company

Pot plants delivered… Give gifts that will last, such as these stunning plants in individual pots from The Nanjala Company in Kenya, founded by Teresa Nanjala Lubano. This online store creates customized Image of the Day / Sari for Change

Sustainable Sari Glamour - If you want to wear a robe that makes you feel and look glamorous, then Rayana Edwards, founder of Harem in South Africa, has a range of fabulous robes all made from sari fabrics. She has Image of the Day / MonChoco

Pure chocolate heaven…If you are a chocolate lover, then you need to experience raw chocolate at its finest, and Dana Mroueh, founder of MonChoco an artisan chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire, has just what y Image of the Day / Mulandi Brindes

Say it with flowers…If you want to make someone feel special, then there is no better way than with the gift of fresh flowers, and Mulandi Brindes in Mozambique, founded by Vanessa Guilherme Nhabete, creates Image of the Day / Mariée Eventos

The Wedding Planner…Every big celebration day needs great organization, and that’s where Iris Lezi Munguambe, founder of Mariée Eventos in Mozambique, is your go-to person. She launched he Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi

STARTUP STORIES. MEET THE WOMEN WHO’VE LAUNCHED.

Featured
Mbali Ndandani and Portia Nondo, two passionate ecosystem builders driving support for Africa’s crafters and fashion brands
Mbali Ndandani and Portia Nondo, two passionate ecosystem builders driving support for Africa’s crafters and fashion brands
Kelly Jean Valigy, a dynamic marketing and communications professional building a creative powerhouse in Mozambique
Kelly Jean Valigy, a dynamic marketing and communications professional building a creative powerhouse in Mozambique
Jacqueléne Coetzer, a pan-African business consulting and specialist trade firm builder empowering other women entrepreneurs
Jacqueléne Coetzer, a pan-African business consulting and specialist trade firm builder empowering other women entrepreneurs
Schneidine Phidelmond, an entrepreneur building a holistic digital agency supporting WSMEs and SMEs in Mozambique
Schneidine Phidelmond, an entrepreneur building a holistic digital agency supporting WSMEs and SMEs in Mozambique
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Suné Theisinger and Dr Juanri Jonck, two dynamic players in the aesthetic industry in South Africa

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Afro-Optimism Unleashed by Adeolu Adewumi-Zer

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