Celebrate 20 years of Freedom with Under Madiba Skies
In November 2013, 8 musicians came together to interpret the words of Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech in a special performance where many influences and cultures came together on one stage. French band Gran Kino invited Manelis (DBN), Ayanda Nhlangothi (JHB), Jitsvinger (CPT) and Burni Aman (CPT) to share their vision of South Africa today. The group successfully toured France in 2013 with performances at some of the biggest world music festivals the country knows (such as Festival Generic and The Worlstock Festival). For this year a South African visit (September 2014) and a South American tour (November 2014) are part of the plans of Under Madiba Skies. The team is also already working on their tours for 2015. Several songs were born through meetings between the musicians in South Africa and France. Whether from Durban, rapping in Zulu, from Johannesburg singing with a traditional sweetness or from Cape Town rapping in Afrikaans or in English, the vision is mutual: coming together on one stage, different languages, visions and ideas and, above all, an endless artistic richness. The music weaves itself together with traditional song, rock, hip hop and acoustic piano/voice duets and show the image of their performers: colourful and carrying out values of peace and openness to the world. The project is officially endorsed by The Nelson Mandela Foundation as a Mandela tribute. Listen to Brand New below and share your thoughts on the song: http://snd.sc/1g1RLOm ...
Revisiting Abundance.
Opening your heart up, is painful. But so necessary. By Sarah-Jane Boden Whenever people ask me why I started SoulProviders, I always smile and say ‘for my sins.’ But we know that’s just posturing, because everyone that knows me knows how much I love being the founder and owner of young, flighty SoulProviders and that running a vibrant ‘couture content marketing’ agency is a dream I have long held. I remember in the good old hippy times doing a moodboard around 2004 visualising the kind of business I wanted to build one day and when I look around me, I know, and am incredibly grateful for the fact that we’ve somehow managed to actualise what seemed to be a mostly blurry, ethereal vision, into a real evolving, growing, exciting organisation. Not without a considerable amount of blood, sweat, tears, sacrifice and wine-fueled evenings, of course. And, let’s be real, growing a small business has not been tear-free either. Running SoulProviders has been and continues to be a roller-coaster ride of emotions, with every week knocking us about with new learnings, new highs and new lows that leave us battered, bruised, patched up and lop-sidedly grinning every Friday afternoon as we wander on home. The real reason for why I started the business is because I essentially wanted to have a ‘balanced lifestyle’ and importantly, as a new Mom and a ‘creative’, have the freedom to live the life I wanted to live and try to shape the kind of business I would want to work for. I have always been entrepreneurial and I wanted to do content better than I had ever seen it done; and to work with young talent in telling authentic, exciting African stories, online. And of course I had been enthusiastic about digital for a while and really wanted to be more of a future-forward ‘digital native’ as my dear friend Nkuli calls us. And as we approach three (ahhhsome!) years of our content business, I find that every now and then I have to revisit the inspiring and clean spirit in which we launched SoulProviders, which was, as I so often used to say ‘An Abundance Mentality’. I can’t remember where I learnt about it or read about it, but it was such a powerful notion that a few years ago it became infused in everything that I did or planned to do and I reshaped it to shape my own meanings — which is always easy to talk about in retrospect. But, as with any heyshoowow-ish, lofty aspirations, it’s not always easy to be 100% true to them – hence making sure we always try to ‘revisit abundance’. An abundance mentality for me starts with...
25th Battle of the Giants All Styles Dance Festival.
Let the energy and rhythm of dance captivate you at South Africa’s premier dance event, the 25th Battle of the Giants All Styles Dance Festival between Friday 11 April and Sunday 13 April at Sun International’s Sun City Resort. Under the aegis of the South African Dance Teachers Association Stage Branch, the event presents a kaleidoscope of dance forms attracting amateur, championship and professional dance entrants from around the country. Dancers will compete in Freestyle, Slowdance, Ballroom and Latin, Hip Hop, Showdance, Street Dance Show, Disco Dance, Jazz, Breakdance and Electric Boogie. The Stage branch has opened a para category for disabled competitors as well. The audience can expect to see a visual feast of colourful, glamorous costumes, dramatic make-up and the dynamism, passion and energy of dance, coupled with expert choreography and dancing. The high calibre judging panel reflects the importance of the Battle of the Giants on the dance calendar. Judging this year’s contest are Kirsten Dan Jensen from Denmark who serves on the Presidium of the International Dance Organization, along with a leading panel of South African judges including David Jones, Rudi Smit, Diana Moore, Pacou Mutombo and Craig Bullock to name a few. The Festival is also a springboard for talented entrants who go on to achieve even greater recognition. The current World Freestyle and Slowdance Champion Kalon Badenhorst is one such example. According to Bev Wood of the South African Dance Teachers Association Stage Branch, “We encourage each and every participant to reach their goals and strive to reach new heights in their dancing achievements. I know that the dancers will create another spectacular and successful Battle of the Giants and at the same time, climb the ranks of World dancing.” Each day of the Festival dancing will begin at 9am. Tickets are available from Computicket at R75 per person per day, and R80 for the Grand Final on Saturday evening. Discounts are available for children under 12. For more information about Sun City’s special accommodation packages contact Dreams on (011) 217 5555, or E-maildreams@suninternational.com or log into www.suninternationaldreams.com. DATES Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2014 TIMES From 07h00, dancing starts at 09h00 daily. Grand Final at 19h00 on Saturday 12 April 2014 VENUE Sun City Superbowl TICKETS Booking at Computicket. Tickets from R75 daily, R80 each for Saturday night, discounts are available for children....
Nissan Easter Festival.
Easter long weekend is approaching. For those who will be in and around Johannesburg, the place to be is definitely at the Nissan Easter Festival! See more after the jump. Now in its 5th year, the Nissan Easter Festival will once again deliver a 10 day celebration of equestrian events, entertainment and fun for the whole family this April. Nissan South Africa has again partnered with Kyalami Park Club to bring you a fun filled programme from Saturday 12th April until Monday 21st April 2014. The first weekend will concentrate on the dressage classes and the rest of the show will mainly feature show-jumping and the Inter-Africa Cup. The Nissan Easter Festival includes the SA Pony Rider Grand Prix, The KPC Young Rider Grand Prix and will conclude on Easter Monday with the hotly contested Adult SA Jumping Outdoor Grand Prix. After the success of last year’s festival, which included a spectacular tie at first place in the Nissan Six Bar event as well as a memorable win by Capital Don Cumarco in the Nissan SA Adult Outdoor Grand Prix, this year’s action is set to be every bit as exciting. While South Africa’s top riders and horses are without a doubt the main attraction, the festival has far more to offer. Food stalls, entertainment, child-friendly activities and market stalls will provide plenty of fun throughout the duration of the festival. With free entrance and secure parking – families, friends and sporting fans can enjoy the live action as it unfolds, with each day offering more excitement, big wins and plenty of family fun. Event dates: 12th April until 21st April 2014 Time: 8:00am to 17:00pm Address: 1 Dahlia Road Kyalami 1687 Ticket price: Free entry Website: and http://www.kyalamipark.com/www.nissan.co.za Facebook: GautengHorseSociety and...
John Newman’s Concert Moved to Stand-Alone City Show
John Newman’s international success continues with the UK modern soul sensation’s first highly anticipated tour to South Africa. Always happy to give South Africans great music, presenting partner Virgin Mobile, radio powerhouse 5FM and Seed Experiences have announced that John Newman will now perform live in concert on Thursday 24 April at Joburg’s Town Hall Lane, Newtown. Due to unforeseen global tour rescheduling, the Joburg show set to take place at Sowing the Seeds Music Festival, has been moved to a one-night performance in Joburg. “Working together with John Newman’s management and booking agency to find a solution that best suits everyone especially the fans, John Newman will now perform a day earlier in Joburg. We believe he is perfectly suited to an urban concert experience and along with Virgin Mobile our presenting partner, we look forward to bringing his fans a night to remember,” says Brian Little, Seed Experiences managing director. “True to our brand heritage, Virgin Mobile loves music – it’s in our DNA. That’s why we’re excited to be bringing the latest music to eager fans, by being involved in urban concert events such as the John Newman SA tour. Through our partnership with Seed Experiences we aim to give concert goers a unique Virgin Mobile experience to remember,” says Jason Hair, Virgin Mobile Chief Operating Officer. “Along with our partners Virgin Mobile and 5FM, we can now give our South African fans the opportunity to enjoy one of two great John Newman experiences in Cape Town and Joburg. Fresh from the recent successes of a sold-out Bastille SA tour and the highly praised Olmeca presents Mad Decent Block Party, Seed Experiences continues their momentum by producing a John Newman concert event like no other. Be ready for a sizzling, swinging, roaring music experience; with décor, lighting and production to match. It’s the return of the era of big sound and big style. As one British music review put it: “Hearing John Newman live, you’re truly in the presence of something big. It’s as mesmerising as it is memorable”. The four-time Brit award nominee – including for Best British Male Solo Artist and Best British Single – is best known for his infectious tracks ‘Losing Sleep’, ‘Love Me Again’ and ‘Cheating’. ‘Love Me Again’ has already sold over two million singles worldwide, peaked at no. 1 on iTunes and charts in several countries, and has racked up a whopping one hundred million views on YouTube. This is not a music event you want to miss. So dress the part, get your swing on and prepare to be mesmerised by...
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