Crime, love, corruption, freedom: It’s all centre stage in riveting new Mzansi Magic homegrown drama series
The mix of crime and love and corruption and freedom that has come in the wake of the birth of democracy in South Africa takes the spotlight in a brand new, homegrown drama series on Mzansi Magic. Saints and Sinners, a 13-part drama kicks off in August. It is a gripping family drama centered on the lives of two very different families, living in the south of Johannesburg. The show is being produced by Penguin Pictures and stars a superb line-up of acting talent, including, Nthati Moshesh, Tumisho Masha, Nomphilo Gwala, S’dumo Mtshali, Tshepo Maseko, Warren Masemola, Sibulele Gcilitshana, Yonda Thomas and Siyabonga Radebe. Inspired by a quote by Nelson Mandela (“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”) Saints and Sinners focuses on the new struggle faced by South Africans – an inner quest that revolves around economic freedom, issues of identity, the fall of traditional family structures, and lack of cohesion within the nucleus and community at large. The two families at the heart of Saints and Sinners represent this struggle in such a compelling way that the series is likely to become essential viewing alongside other homegrown Mzansi Magic dramas like Rockville. “We are excited about the debut of Saints and Sinners which follows on the huge success of Rockville. Our dramas tell poignant, resonant stories that allow the viewers to self-reflect as much as they are entertained. We aim to tell stories that are rooted in character driven narratives with a meaningful edge, speaking to the state of our country from an individual perspective. Saints and Sinners will showcase how we are connected as people through the choices we make, which affect others” says, Nkateko Mabaso, Director of Local Interests Channels at Mnet. One of these families is the upwardly mobile Khumalos. Headed by matriarch Mamohato and her two attractive daughters, Phindi and Boni, the Khumalo family lives in the upmarket suburb of Bassonia. The other family is that of hard-working Lulama and Thabang Moloiswa who live in a modest home in Diepkloof with their adored son, 12-year-old Tshepiso. The Khumalo and Moloiswa families present two contrasting South African ideals. Driven by a fear of poverty, the Khumalos’ aspirations appear to be entirely materialistic, and they are not averse to bending the law to achieve their ends. Meanwhile, the Moloiswas’ driving force is to alleviate poverty in their community, and to share their knowledge and expertise to create a better South Africa for all. But their altruism will be sorely put to the test during the course of the...
South Africa’s rock heavyweights added to the TribeOne Dinokeng Festival line-up
The TRIBEONE DINOKENG music festival has announced more of South Africa’s biggest rock heavyweights confirmed for the Thunder Valley Main Stage, performing throughout the weekend of the 26, 27th and 28th September at what is set to become Africa’s biggest music festival. The Thunder Valley Main Stage is one of the TribeOne Dinokeng main stages and musically has a focus on Rock, Pop, Alternative and related music genres. The producers are currently planning a mind-blowing line up of rock, pop, alternative, metal, and other music-genre-related acts to fill all three days on this stage and will be announcing new acts on a weekly basis. The first line up of local rock acts have been confirmed and include some of the biggest rock heavyweight acts including Fokofpolisiekar, Gangs of Ballet, Zebra & Giraffe, Black Cat Bones, Van Coke Kartel, Shadowclub, Taxi Violence, Wrestlerish and Al Bairre. The festival, which has already confirmed massive urban superstars such as Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Nicki Minaj, J Cole, Kid Ink, D’banj, Wizkid, Fally Ipupa, Sarkodie, Khuli Chana, Keko, AKA, Redsan, Alikiba and Xtatic to name a few, and will also be catering for rock lovers with the Thunder Valley Main Stage – a stage for the best in local and international rock music acts. The stage runs all weekend, starting early afternoon on the Friday until after midnight and again from early morning until just after midnight on the Saturday and Sunday and are set to be jam packed with the best in local and international acts. The Sunday lineup will end slightly earlier to allow festival to depart should they wish to and for fans that wish to stay on and depart the Monday, they can migrate to the Dance Village which runs non-stop 24 hours a day from the Friday right through to the Sunday. More acts will be announced over the days ahead, so keep watching this space for more info. Fokofpolisiekar is Francois van Coke (lead vocals), Hunter Kennedy (guitar), Johnny de Ridder (lead guitar), Wynand Myburgh (bass) and Jaco Snakehead Venter (drums). The band has become known for their explosive live performances and raw on-stage energy. Controversial and ever questioning in their lyrics as well as their lifestyle, the band has generated much controversy in the South African media. Five times SAMA nominated, MTV MAMA award winning band, Gangs of Ballet is a Durban band comprising of four musicians and friends – three of which have undertaken studying Music at University level. Their sound cannot be pinned down to one specific genre but rather experiments with an eclectic mix of alternative, melodic, anthemic, and electronic and dance. Gangs...
Dance Workshops In KZN – Starting tomorrow!
Swiss style and sensuality for SA dance stages. Brilliant news for dance aficionados is that the award-winning Swiss contemporary ballet work NILE will be touring venues throughout Southern Africa for two weeks in July. Created by choreographers Laurence Yadi and Nicolas Cantillon, with original music by Sir Richard Bishop, NILE scooped the prestigious Swiss Award for Dance and Choreography in 2011. Now, this sensual and beautiful work is winging its way southwards. It will be presented in South Africa and Mozambique by Company 7273, a Swiss/French contemporary dance outfit, and supported by Pro Helvetia, the Swiss arts council. NILE can be seen at the Transnet Great Hall at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown on 5, 6 and 7 July 2014, before it heads to the Franco-Mozambican Cultural Centre (CCFM) in Maputo on 15 July 2014, and then to the Wits Main Theatre in Johannesburg as part of the 969 Festival on 17 July 2014. In between these performances, from 9 to 12 July, Company 7273 will be in KwaZulu-Natal to present workshops and master classes for professional and semi-professional dancers, as well as for parents and children interested in contemporary ballet. These classes will be held in partnership with the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as local dance companies Flat Foot and Siwela Sonke. Company 7273’s choreographers and artistic directors, Ms Yadi and Mr Cantillon, worked extensively as performers and choreographic assistants at the Ballet Jazz Art in Paris, the Geneva-based Alias dance company and Rui Horta in Lisbon. In 2003, they started branching out to choreograph their own work, first with the piece La Vision du lapin, followed bySimple Proposition (2005) and then Climax (2006), which received the Lietchi Foundation’s Award for the Arts. After En Concert and Laï laï laï laï, Listen & Watch (2009), the third installment of a trilogy exploring the relationship between dance and 1970s American folk music, marked Company 7273’s first artistic collaboration with experimental American musician Sir Richard Bishop – a composer, guitarist and singer who, in the early 1980s, co-founded ethnic-improv pioneers the Sun City Girls. In 2011, this meeting of three creative minds came to potent maturity with the creation of the award-winning work NILE, which is now set to grace Southern African stages. Acoustic guitar music and the sounds of the region where the river runs, move these five dancers in a way that can be described as sensual and layered with emotion, and combines with the choreography to create a subtle, sexy energy. Rich with allegory and abstraction, NILE conjures emotions that overtake the physical reality of the river to which it alludes. It is no longer just a river on a map, but a reservoir of imagination, a way to explore movement...
The Class of ’79 tells the story of Three Students who Risked their Lives to Destroy Apartheid
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Nelson Mandela, May 2002 Out of the class of 1979 at Rhodes University came two women whose identities merged with the painful birth of the new South Africa: two journalism students whose journey was to take them into defiance, imprisonment and torture during the apartheid years. One of the quietest girls in the class, Marion Sparg, joined Umkhonto we Sizwe, trained in exile in Angola and was eventually convicted of bombing three police stations. The Cape Times journalist Zubeida Jaffer was imprisoned, poisoned and tortured for her writing and her union activism, yet chose not to prosecute her torturer. Guy Berger, also a student and later a lecturer at Rhodes University, was arrested and interrogated for possession of banned books. He spent seven months in custody, three of which he spent in solitary confinement. He was ultimately sentenced to four years in prison. This is a book that you should read to understand where journalism comes from and perhaps where it’s going...
Africa in the Spotlight
By Mariam Mahomed Africans are blessed with a number of things. A striking landscape, great heritage and a number of beautiful cultures. It is no wonder then that we are so proud to be from this amazing land.Our pride is only increasing now as the rest of the world notices our splendour. African inspiration is now at the forefront of trends in arts and design. From Burberry’s use of blankets in the Fall 2014 collection to the use of various afro-chic inspired prints and textures by numerous fashion houses, such as Etro, Givenchy, Mary Katrantzou and Suno, Africa seems to be the go to place for inspiration across international catwalks. Aside from the clothing, African design elements come across clearly in the accessories and jewellery pieces used and created by fashion’s most prestigious brands. Italian luxury brand, Fendi’s bold and beautiful leather and fur cuffs from their Fall 2014 show reminds us of a great African warrior and seems to be the favourite jewellery piece amongst fashion lovers across the world. Another favourite accessory from the Fall 2014 shows is the handbags from Burberry featuring colours and prints that brings about warm thoughts of African landscapes and artworks. And if conquering the world of fashion is not enough the most stunning décor and interior looks of the season boasts African design elements. Global interior and architecture web-magazine , Decoist, realises that ‘it is time to put the vivacious African continent and its captivating prints, artifacts and designs under the spotlight’ and showcases a number of exquisite African inspired interiors. Sir Richard Branson’s luxury safari retreat Mahali Mzuri showcases the perfect mix between African inspiration and contemporary architecture. The modern, exclusive and absolutely breath-taking camp-styled lodges serves as a global architectural inspiration and is an epic salute to African design. We can definitely expect an increase of African inspiration in architecture, interiors and fashion design across the world. As more magazines, blogs and other media platforms showcase this trend , African design will be available on a number of websites and retail outlets and seen in cities around the world in the next few years. Yes, the world is saying ‘Look at Africa!’ and to that we say, ‘It’s about time!’ Pictures from Style.com and...
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