The SA Fashion Week SS16 Collections – Part 5: Scouting Menswear in Association with GQ Magazine
Apr29

The SA Fashion Week SS16 Collections – Part 5: Scouting Menswear in Association with GQ Magazine

Words by Ludwig Spies Photography by Simone Oranje Additional photo edits by Stuart Hendricks   The common problem with fashion writing is that we either overlook the most brilliantly conceived and painstakingly produced elements of a collection – or we ramble on, praising, criticising, fainting and gasping to a point where it’s no longer clear whether we’re talking about coats, shoes or an obscure branch of 19th Century philosophy. So we set ourselves this challenge for the SAFW SS16 Collections: reveal the essence of each collection – in less than 50 words.   Floyd Avenue SS16 The winner of SS16 Scouting Menswear presented a relaxed collection of manzanilla-toned khaki. Apart from some Indian silhouettes, the palette, overall-style suits and leather strap harness details are solidly located in the safari trunk of a gentleman explorer.     Hombré SS16 Poison green, black and snakeskin warn onlookers that a bite from a boy who wears this collection will take you down in 10 minutes. Dangerous, seductive and slick.     Non-European SS16 The calm silhouettes and light fabrics contain hints of Asia and Africa, but the collection strongly hearkens back to North America before the arrival of Europeans. Feather accoutrements, and bead and embroidery detail around the collars adorn the garments with a dreamy, mythic quality.       Zamaswazi SS16 Zooty blocks and strips of colour, pleats, grid patterning, and unusual Springbok skin detail offer the perfect ensemble to the modern dandy. It’s uptown funk with a slightly inflated ego.     House of St Luke SS16 This collection is a vibrant, heady mix of tropical prints and colours. Afro-Asian headdresses are combined with candy-coloured sport shoes and country club shorts. It’s the kind of psychedelic you’d expect from African expats on the Paris art scene.     Martelle Ludik SS16 Dark, brooding fabric, dishevelled layers, tears and largeness create a heavy, gritty and aggressive collection that unashamedly seeks to arouse and challenge anyone who sees it. The collection boldly moves beyond androgyny towards genderqueer and gender-bending.       Rogue SS16 The winner of Scouting Menswear AW16 returned with another collection true to the post-apocalyptic, urban inspirations of the brand. The palette and cuts are cool, stark and functional, and this mood is entrenched by the plastic buckle-clip details. Grey concrete and windswept coastlines come to...

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BET Awards 2014 Winners List
Jun30

BET Awards 2014 Winners List

It was a night full of electrifying performances, emotional speeches and unforgettable moments at the “BET Awards” ’14 — also known as the “Black World Cup,” according to hilarious host Chris Rock — which aired live from the Nokia Theatre at L.A. LIVE last night. Pharrell Williams opened the show with an energetic rendition of “Come Get It Bae” surrounded by a bevy of cheerleaders, and was joined by surprise performer and fellow Virginia native, the amazing Missy Elliott, who brought the crowd to their feet to “Pass That Dutch.”  Williams became a familiar face on the stage after winning both “Best Male R&B/Pop Artist” and “Video of the Year,” and again coming on to present music icon Lionel Richie with the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Young Money andBeyoncé took home the most trophies with three awards, as did acclaimed film “12 Years A Slave” which swept the film award categories.  See the winners below: Best International Act: Africa Davido (Nigeria) Best International Act: UK Krept & Konan Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Beyoncé Best Male R&B/Pop Artist Pharrell Williams Best Group Young Money Best Collaboration Beyoncé f/ JAY Z – Drunk In Love Best Male Hip Hop Artist Drake Best Female Hip Hop Artist Nicki Minaj Video of the Year Pharrell Williams – Happy Video Director of the Year Hype Williams Best New Artist August Alsina Best Gospel Artist Tamela Mann Best Actress Lupita Nyong’o Best Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor YoungStars Award KeKe Palmer Best Movie 12 Years a Slave Subway Sportswoman of the Year Serena Williams Subway Sportsman of the Year Kevin Durant Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award August Alsina f/ Trinidad Jame$ – I Luv This Centric Award Jhené Aiko – The Worst FANdemonium Award Beyoncé Images from Getty...

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Simphiwe Dana talks about “Nzima” and her forthcoming album
Jun06

Simphiwe Dana talks about “Nzima” and her forthcoming album

1. What music direction are you taking on the new album? For the first time I’m not looking into any one direction. This album is free of boxes. As an artist I have proven enough that I am capable and I have an individual identity. This time around I am challenging myself to explore different sound that are out of my creative scope. 2. Nzima is catchy and moving, how was the writing process? Nzima took me around 3 months to write. 3 months of torture really. It became urgent that I should write the song not only to canonize the memory of those we lost to a massacre, but to also honour their memory and give them a melody that will guide their spirits home. That is why there is the familiar upbeatness that Africa so loves. I infused the pain with the familiar heartbeat of Africa. 3. You said the song is drawn from centuries of pain and violence, and is essentially a prayer for people that have had a history of violence inflicted upon them, is there a specific thing or emotion that made you to write this song? Nzima is about Marikana. On August 16th 2012, South African police were set on unsuspecting protesting miners at the Lonmin mine. The police mowed them down with automatic weapons and 34 lives were lost. The miners were protesting for a wage hike which I did not find unreasonable. They were armed with sticks and some machetes, but they marched peacefully. The order to massacre them will haunt out young democracy. Moreover it makes the call for economic freedom much more urgent. Our people are not free economically. We cannot continue like this. Please read my article here: http://bit.ly/1pXHofN 4. Did you visualise the video for Nzima as you were writing song? No. I did not have to visualise the video, the scene was etched in my mind as I replayed the Lonmin massacre over and over in my head. It was all over the news. With the help of the producer Themba Sibeko and the director Thabang Moleya we worked on the storyline for the video. 6. What can your fans expect from your forthcoming album?  An eargasmic eclectic mix. 7. What do you think is your role as a musician in South Africa today? My role has always been to speak truth to power. To make the days and nights more bearable. To bring hope to desolation. To be the rhythm for your celebration. To remind us of the beauty of our humanness. 8. What kind of stories or conversations would you like to spark with the...

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R&B Superstar, Miguel joins Line-Up for the MTV Africa Music Awards
May21

R&B Superstar, Miguel joins Line-Up for the MTV Africa Music Awards

Music and youth lifestyle brand MTV Base has revealed that R&B superstar Miguel is to join the star-studded line-up of performers at the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA).  Miguel will be performing at the global celebration of African creativity, talent and youth culture, taking place on 7 June at the ICC in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The MTV Africa Music Awards is brought to you by KwaZulu-Natal Province in association with Absolut & The City of Durban.  South Africa Tourism is also on board as a partner for the MAMA. Also adding star power to the awards ceremony will be Nigerian sensations Flavour and Tiwa Savage, while urban hit makers Uhuru, Oskido and Professor will be flying the flag for South Africa.  They join previously announced African artists Davido (Nigeria) and Mafikizolo (South Africa) at the stunning music event and live telecast that will be broadcast around the world on MTV, MTV Base, BET International and affiliate stations. Commenting on his involvement in the MAMA, Miguel said, “What I love most about Africa is the people and the spirit there.  What makes me most proud to be involved in the MAMA is the feeling that my music has reached further than I imagined it could…it’s inspiring.” Picked as one of Time Magazine’s “Most Influential People” in 2013, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer Miguel has become one of the genre’s most significant artists thanks to his personal brand of daring, soulful and emotionally authentic R&B, tinged with traces of avant garde hip-hop, funk, soul, electro and classic rock....

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2014 BET Awards nominees list
May14

2014 BET Awards nominees list

BET has announced the nominations for the “BET Awards” 2014.   Nominations were announced in 20 categories, selected by BET’s Voting Academy comprised of a group of respected entertainment professionals in the fields of television, film, music, social media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, creative arts and fans. The “BET Awards” 2014 will take place on Sunday 29 June at th Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, CA.  The 2014 BET Awards will premiere on BET International in Africa on 1 July at 21:00 CAT. “This year’s nominees represent the best of the culture,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Music Programming and Specials.  “It’s great to see our talented new artist’s right alongside our more beloved ones with long careers. We appreciate our BET Awards nomination committee, over 300 strong, for their efforts and congratulate all the nominees.” The complete list of nominees for the “BET Awards” 2014 are: Best International Act: Africa Davido (Nigeria) Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Mafikizolo (South Africa) Sarkodie (Ghana) Tiwa Savage (Nigeria) Toofan (Togo)   Best International Act: UK Dizzee Rascal Ghetts Krept & Konan Laura Mvula Rita Ora Tinie Tempah   Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Beyoncé Janelle Monáe Jhené Aiko K. Michelle Rihanna Tamar Braxton   Best Male R&B/Pop Artist August Alsina Chris Brown John Legend Justin Timberlake Pharrell Williams   Best Group A$AP Mob Daft Punk Macklemore & Ryan Lewis TGT Young Money   Best Collaboration August Alsina f/ Trinidad Jame$ – I Luv This Beyoncé f/ JAY Z – Drunk In Love Drake f/ Majid Jordan – Hold On (We’re Going Home) JAY Z f/ Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail Robin Thicke f/ T.I. & Pharrell Williams – Blurred Lines YG f/ Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan – My Hitta   Best Male Hip Hop Artist Drake Future J. Cole JAY Z Kendrick Lamar   Best Female Hip Hop Artist Angel Haze Charli Baltimore Eve Iggy Azalea Nicki Minaj   Video of the Year Beyoncé – Partition Beyoncé f/ JAY Z – Drunk In Love Chris Brown – Fine China Drake – Worst Behavior Pharrell Williams – Happy   Video Director of the Year Benny Boom Chris Brown Colin Tilley Director X Hype Williams   Best New Artist Ariana Grande August Alsina Mack Wilds Rich Homie Quan ScHoolboy Q   Best Gospel Artist Donnie McClurkin Erica Campbell Hezekiah Walker Tamela Mann Tye Tribbett   Best Actress Angela Bassett Gabrielle Union Kerry Washington Lupita Nyong’o Oprah Winfrey   Best Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor Forest Whitaker Idris Elba Kevin Hart Michael B. Jordan   YoungStars Award Gabrielle Douglas Jacob Latimore Jaden Smith KeKe Palmer Zendaya   Best Movie 12 Years a Slave The Best Man Holiday Fruitvale Station...

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