Represent Competition: Win Tickets to Galliano!
Aug23

Represent Competition: Win Tickets to Galliano!

It’s going to be a goodie and we will be there Representin’ sans doubte.  It’s been a while since we had a good night out! You, yes you, can WIN one of 5 pairs of tickets to the Arts Alive Opening Party NEXT Friday at the Bassline in Newtown… catch a diverse range of performers from all over the world – YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS:     * French DJ Frederic Galliano      * Napalma (band consisting of  guys from Brazil/Mozambique/SA)     * Afro Drop-Heart – of the Czech Republic     * Our very own Kid Fonque representing for SA. All you have to do is EMAIL Editor@represent.co.za with the following answer, your name, contact number and ID number: Name three countries that artists will be Representin’ at the Arts Live Opening Party on Friday 31 August at the Bassline! GOOD LUCK! Winners will be chosen through a drawer and notified on email – no correspondence will be entered into. Please only enter if you will use your...

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Aiybo! Phuza’d K-Ci lets the ladies down.
Aug13

Aiybo! Phuza’d K-Ci lets the ladies down.

Sounds like Keith Sweat was the knight in shining armour that saved what could have been a disastrous Ladies Day concert thanks to the shameful drunken/drugged performance of K-Ci and JoJo, although Ginuwine did his part too to keep the concert on the up.  By the way losers, we do have newspapers, tv and internet in “Aaafrica” and your poor treatment of your African fans will not go unchallenged.  Thanks to Linda for representin’!  As I watched K-Ci and JoJo’s performance at the Women’s Day concert on Wednesday night, I was fuming, already planning what I was going to write about the ridiculous farce of an act the Hailey brothers were putting on. I was also cursing the crime situation at concerts because out of fear of being robbed of my new sleek new phone which takes such lovely photos, I had brought my old crappy phone. I wish I’d had a fantastic camera with me to capture the moment because I don’t think anyone who wasn’t at the concert would actually believe how poor a performance K-Ci and JoJo put on, and how drunk K-Ci was. That was all before Keith Sweat came on stage though! He was the concert’s saving grace. He was professional, organised, and daymn! still oh so sexy after all these years! But let’s talk about the first two acts first. Ginuwine is cute, and he can really dance! I’ve never been a big fan, and I only really know his popular tracks that got played on the radio, like “Pony” and umm, umm, that other one. But I enjoyed his show; he was energetic, so fine, and very entertaining. His backing singers had great voices, and there were a couple of dancers with him as well, all male – a nice break from the standard fare of booty-shaking ho’s on stage. I really liked the fact that we didn’t have to wait 30 minutes between acts; the stage management was tight. Well, actually, it’s not like there were any instruments to be moved around – Ginuwine had no band, just a DJ. K-Ci and JoJo had no band, no DJ, just a boom box. I’ve noticed that American artists tend to do this when they perform here in “the motherland”. They generally give us the budget version of the shows they put on back home. They should watch some of our local acts in concert – I’ve HHP perform with an 8-piece band; and I won’t even talk about the tight choreography of the likes of KB and the late Lebo Mathosa. American artists, we know what a good concert is; we are not fooled! I’m...

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Representing in Phalaborwa!
Aug01

Representing in Phalaborwa!

So many of us are not from Jozi.   In fact many of us are from everywhere but here: drawn to the gold rush, the vibe, the work opportunities… searching for success and a ‘piece of the good pie’ that our wonderful adopted city of Joburg generously offers us.  But there’s nothing like going home to your town, kasi, village or street, nostalgia flooding your being at the emotions of remembering where you are from and how far you have come since you left for the big lights.  Our writer Reuben “The Matrix” Malema paints exactly this scenario as he takes us through his visit to his hometown of Phalaborwa in Limpopo to attend the Cell C/Ghetto Ruff/Zola event on the weekend.  Thanks for reminding us of how good it feels to make a triumphant return.  Bring on the holidays. See our photos here. On Saturday 28/07/2007 the Palamine Club – Namakgale – Phalaborwa (My Origins and Home base!!!), had its wide-open grounds teeming with bodies all out in full force and well adorned – partly in support of a charitable good cause and partly in a quest for an exhilarating night out.    For me and the ‘Jus Dat’ entourage, the night and fun started way before the official proceedings took centre stage as our convoy conglomerated at the Malepe residence in Namakgale (Di – 12 !!), a place all too familiar to me.  In a very emotional way the setting evoked images of my childhood days in a juxtaposed collage of memorabilia against my now triumphant return to my Origins (The warm feeling really defies words and any attempt to express these emotions). At 18:00, hazards flashing, our convoy took to the streets in a presidential-like parade with all routes leading to Palamine Club. Our entry through the VIP access point was indeed a very  momentous occasion which got even Big Vic (one part of Jus Dat`s management and Executive production duo) in a near tear-jerking moment as in his own words: “We left home in search of greater opportunities in Johannesburg and now Palamine Club is paying homage to our achievements!” – If I never cried right there and then, I knew i`ll never cry that night ever again, because his words were not just his own, but sentiments shared intimately by many of us from Limpopo who’ve undertaken the same search for success in the Highveld of gold down south! Hence the emotional gratitude and heartfelt tribute to Big Vic and Tumelo Mailula`s success (Re a Thekga Bakone!). The tight security venue was embellished with red and white, clearly symbolic of Cell-C`s corporate identity. At 19:00 Phalaborwa’s star Radio personality: DJ Eddie Crooks handed the stage over to one local star...

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Arts Alive brings on Spring
Jul30

Arts Alive brings on Spring

Spring is definitely on it’s way as more and more events fill the September calender.  Arts Alive announces a hot line-up for this years festival including the electro maestro Frederik Galliano, world music heavyweights Mory Kante and Hermeto Pascoal and a dance and film segment for some flavour on the side. Here’s more: Newtown, Johannesburg is set to come alive with the sounds and sights of the annual Arts Alive September Festival, which boasts an array of compelling artistic offerings for Joburg residents to indulge in! Kicking off on August 31st, the festivities will continue throughout the month of September, and include artistic programmes from a diverse set of disciplines – theatre, dance, film, comedy, music and the visual arts will all be part of the Arts Alive programme this year. The annual festival, hosted by the City of Joburg, has become synonymous with an exceptional, accessible and engaging artistic programme that harnesses artistic talent from various parts of the world to create an incredible smorgasbord of cultural events. Arts Alive is housed in the Community Development Department of the Joburg City. The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Community Development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza said: “Arts Alive is making a meaningful contribution towards the City’s vision where community development, personal growth and social mobility are enhanced so that challenges of poverty, vulnerability, inequality and social exclusion can be fundamentally addressed”. True to tradition, this years Arts Alive September Festival 2007 has secured the services of musical giants such as Cuba’s Omar Sosa, Frederic Galliano, from France, the world-renowned balafon playing genius Mory Kante, Vieux Farka Toure, son of the late, great Ali Farka Toure and Brazilian, Hermeto Pascaol amongst others.                                                                                                                                 “Once again, the City of Johannesburg will be home to the crème of the world’s cultural and artistic talent over an entire month period, comments Steven Sack Director for Arts and Culture. “ From Newtown right through to Soweto, Arts Alive will be providing Joburg residents an incredible array of arts and culture offerings.  We’re bringing Brazil, Mali, France, Guinea, Cuba, India, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe right to Joburg’s doorstep in the form of an incredible artistic line-up, and really encourage Joburger’s to shake off the winter blues and enjoy the festivities brought to you courtesy of Arts Alive. The programme includes a must-see visual arts tribute to Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, which will be hosted at the Hector Pieterson Museum throughout the month of September. Also on the visual arts programme is the highly acclaimed Africa Remix exhibition and the Sasol Wax Art Award held at Johannesburg Art Gallery.                                                                          Arts 02 The dance element of Arts is an exemplar...

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Represent Competition: Win with DORP!
Jul16

Represent Competition: Win with DORP!

Many old faithful SA rockers will remember DORP the band that rocked our world’s mid to late 90’s.   We have to give a massive big ups to these guys for never giving up – seems like their time is now as their single “London out there” (video) gathers some traction in the UK where they are now based.  They’re bringing it home in August and we have an awesome prize for a lucky Representah to celebrate their return: a Dorp goodiebag filled with: Limited edition CD single, 2 different limited edition vinyls, Dorp Sticker, T shirt and 2 tickets into a dorp show on their tour to SA… Awesome hey? Simply read the article below, email editor@represent.co.za with your name, age and cell number and answer the question: “What is the name of the brand new DORP single ?” (Clue: they’re coming to shoot the video here.)  Read all about their backstory below. Following on from their hugely successful SA tour in December 2006 and the incredible response from radio to their previous single, “London Out There”, Dorp return to South Africa in August of this year for 8 date tour and video shoot AND to release their latest single , “Simon Says’. “As Kevin and I are from SA, we always like to return as much as we can,” commented lead singer Piet Bez, “But nowadays its also a business pleasure. We are so pleased that the South African music public has taken to our new music so well, and its great to play to a home town crowd. The best part is that our French DJ and English drummer also absolutely love it!” The tour stretches from Oppikoppi in the North, to Cape Town, back to Durban and returns to Johannesburg before August is out. The band will also be taking time out to shoot a new music video and the public is warned to listen out for the new single, Simon Says from their forthcoming album, on radio stations countrywide. The Tour Thursday 09 August   Oppikoppi Festival Friday 10August  Johannesburg The Dome Thursday 16 August  Stellenbosch Hidden Cellar Friday 17.August  Cape Town Mercury Live Saturday 18 August  Durban Burn Wednesday 22August  Pretoria Tings ‘n Times Friday 24 August  Johannesburg Roxy’s Sat 25 August   Johannesburg 5FM Live For more on the band and their London life, visit www.myspace.com/dorp An Illuminating History of Dorp Way back in the dusts of time, circa 1996, a gang of old School friends got together in Somerset West to create the then Boere-Ska band that was to become known as Dorp. This entity spent seven years developing a reputation for infectious, totally mad live shows and released three albums and an EP in South Arica, before...

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