Durban – Wake up and smell the roses
We couldn’t resist this article published in the Sunday paper this past weekend. Having lived in Durban and having spent lots of time there we can tell you that there is an extreme amount of lethargy and disinterest in many things cultural. Whether its the humidity, the bad salaries or… the durban poison we can’t tell you. It always seems to be the same people that go to the same things – what do you think Durbanites? Is this article off the mark or accurate? Click here to go to www.iol.co.za for the full story. Durbanites are lazy. And if the city is to become a world-class cultural and sporting mecca, residents have to come to the party – literally. Given the poor turnout at the recent South Africa versus Australia cricket Test and the slow rate at which tickets have been selling for Monday’s Robbie Williams concert, local event organisers are wondering if it will be worth the city’s while to spend millions of rands on marketing Durban as a tourist playground. Durban is the only venue in the world not to have sold out tickets for the Williams tour – by mid-week, about 800 were still left for the concert at Absa stadium. Tickets for the Cape Town and Pretoria legs of the tour were sold out within five hours of going on offer, breaking all records. With the exception of Durban, tickets in every country on his current world tour were sold out in hours, earning the star a place in the Guinness Book of Records. ‘Durbanites leave everything, like buying tickets, to the last minute’ So big is Williams, that six German couples who could not buy tickets for his concert in their own country are flying to Durban to see him perform. International recording giants Snoop Dogg, Sean Paul, Mario and Rihanna are also due to perform at Absa Stadium on April 29. Why are Durbanites so slack? At the recent Test against Australia, about 30 000 people attended over five days – only 2 000 of them on the final day. The empty stands drew remarks from the commentators. Understanding the Durbanite’s mindset is a challenge, says Illa Thompson, an independent publicist based in Durban. ‘People in Durban are spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment’ “If could explain how locals thought, I would be a wealthy person because I would be able to capitalise on that. From my experience in organising and publicising events, I have found that Durbanites leave everything, like buying tickets, to the last minute. “It seems we also have a very sophisticated audience. I have found that...
TV: Living with Aids in Africa
You have to be strong to watch next weeks episode of Special Assignment. award-winning journalist Sorious Samura takes on the hugely challenging role working for a month as an orderly in a Zambian clinic where more than half the patients are living with HIV Aids. We encourage everyone to watch and if you don’t know already, …find out about the real face of Aids in Africa so we can all do more to help our continent. Let’s hope a few government ministers watch this too. Viewer discretion has been advised. Here’s the deal: 18 April 2006 SABC3 21:30 “Living with AIDS” Special Assignment is proud to broadcast a fine documentary by award-winning journalist Sorious Samura. Over the years Sorious has travelled the African continent, reporting on many of the major issues of our times. Viewers will remember his shocking exposý of the terrible atrocities committed in the civil war in his native country Sierra Leone. In Living with AIDS Sorious visits a small hospital in Zambia. Lewanika Hospital in Mongu, is like many other hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa: over half the patients are infected with HIV/AIDS. To bring viewers up close with the everyday reality of AIDS in Africa, Sorious worked for a month as an orderly there, swabbing floors, washing patients, even preparing the dead for burial. The documentary gives us an extraordinary insight into what it is like to be infected with AIDS in Africa, for women and men, for adults and children. Samura finds that AIDS has found its “perfect victims” in Africa, where poverty, sexual taboos and the stigma attached to HIV, all conspire to create a ready breeding ground for the disease. But what most disturbs him is meeting HIV-infected men who see nothing wrong with continuing to have unprotected sex. Living with AIDS is a powerful story about ordinary people. Some viewers may consider some scenes in it difficult to watch. Viewer discretion is advised. *************************************************** 22 March Check out this fascinating episode of Special Assignment that investigates the realities of being a poor white person in SA. We live in interesting times and this just goes to prove that colour is only skin deep. Poverty exists in all communities… the question must be asked though – why do white people not help their fellow white people in the same way that Black communities help theirs? Mhmmmh. Selfish? Shame? Fear? Good Question. Maybe because a lot of white people still believe that they are superior to everyone else. Then there are those that refuse to feel sorry for poor whites because they had every reason (thanks to Apartheid) not to land up like...
MARIO CANONGE TRIO – great Jazz in Newtown.
You can’t keep the French (institute) down… they put our own cultural and arts organisations to shame with the number of high-quality cultural events that they organise – and in such style! Trust the Frenchies. Every year diverse speakers of French all over the world (Francophones!) come together to celebrate their language and culture during the ‘Francophonie” in March, this year IFA… S and Alliance Francaise are bringing out a brilliant international jazz pianist Mario Canonge and his fellow musicians – here is the buzz: 2006 has been declared the year of the Francophonie and we would like to take this opportunity to inform you of an exciting jam-packed line-up planned for the night of the 25thof March 2006. The Mario Canonge Trio jets into Johannesburg as the highlight of ‘Francophonite 2006’. Mario Canonge needs little introduction to not only Jazz, but music lovers all over the world. This astounding Caribbean-born pianist is set to wow jazz lovers at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival; he’s a definite treat for those who won’t make it to Cape Town. An ambassador of Martinique’s (French West Indies) musical heritage throughout the world, he puts his talents to work in the most diverse styles from Cape Verde to Haiti, Cuba and the world over. He has collaborated with some remarkable guest soloists such as Jean-Pierre Koquerel, Roy Hargrove, Andy Narell and Richard Bona to mention a few. ‘Mario Canonge’s music is nonchalant and colourful, rich and ‘acrobatic’. It is also a full, solid and energetic blend of sounds, performed faultlessly…’ There will be a music contest on the night encouraging upcoming musicians to take to the mic. Adjudicated by a panel of established professionals and musicians, the winner will walk away with an opportunity to make a professional CD and the runners up stand to win cash prizes. Last year’s winner Alive PSJC, an MC from Ivory Coast, will give audiences a taste of his French and Ivorian-English repertoire, he impressed the judges last year, come and hear his magic! The multi-national, multi-talented Hip Hop outfit Nomadyi is billed to tear the roof down when they go on stage. With members from Senegal, France, Lesotho and South Africa their music is influenced by the sounds of urban Dakar and Southern Africa. Even if you’re not a hip hop head the familiar reggae and jazzy beats are going to have you bopping your head. On the decks for the rest of the night are Dj’s Kid Fonque and G Force. They are no strangers to the Johannesburg clubbing scene and let their selection of music take you all across West and East Africa,...
National Cleavage Day – Advertisers plumb new depths
Linny from Durban is not at all impressed with “National Cleavage Day” and questions the discernment and sensitivity of the minds behind the creation of such a day. While we are not prudes nor fun-spoilers and believe a little frivolity never hurt anyone particularly in a world of so much negativity, we must lean towards her notions… WAKE UP peopl… e. Please give Linny your feedback. Ok, so here’s the thing. This “National” Day is a marketing campaign sponsored by Wonderbra in order to sell more bras. Fact. At the risk of sounding like a hatched faced man-hating feminist kiljoy I really think that it is an absolute disgrace, and here’s why: Given the appalling statistics of woman abuse in this country ( I believe a woman is KILLED by an abusive partner every SIX hours and a woman is R APED every 45 seconds – never mind the common and garden variety abuse that is experienced on a daily basis) don’t you think that its just plain wrong for advertisers to use the word “national” to describe a day that is about breast size and sexuality. Anyone with even the most passing knowledge of gender politics knows that woman abuse is inextricably linked to sexual politics and in particular the sexual objectification of woman. These are not just feminist buzzwords but very real sociological problems. Women have spent decades trying to get society (which includes men and women) to view them as full human beings not second class citizens to be used and abused at will. To quote from the wonderbra website: National Cleavage Day is an annual event proudly brought to you every year by Wonderbra. The day is sure to produce its share of proud displays of womanhood, smiles and wholesome fun. So ladies, dare to bare your assets in your favourite Wonderbra and participate in this festive call to all women.” [this “festive call” has been given LOADS of airtime on both 5FM and EastCoast Radio] Aside from the rather hackneyed “get em out for the lads” type of nudge-nudge wink-wink writing I really really object to the use of the word “national”. This somehow puts a cyncial marketing campaign to sell more bras on the same level as National Womens Day, Childrens’ day etc I do not live in the Wonderbra “nation” – I live in a nation where women are still struggling to be recognised as human beings – not just chattels and it is this same nation that has expressly rejected sexism and any other form of discrimination. The whole campaign – stereotypical and lame as it may be – offends me...
Pink Wednesdays – “Gay cinema night”
I have some gay friends who would rather use Colgate shampoo than be seen at a “gay” movie night (you know who you are), however, i have others who will manipulate this occassion into a “be seen at” cruise (watch my eyes). Thanks to Anton for allerting us to this info from the fabulous MambaOnline website. From the 12 April onwa…rds, Cinema Nouveaux around the country will be screening a so-called “Gay” movie every Wednesday night. Here’s their explanation: The art-house cinemas of Ster Kinekor – South Africa’s largest film theatre chain – Cinema Nouveau will be meeting the seemingly insatiable desire for great gay movies every Wednesday from 12 April 2006. “Pink Wednesdays” will see a memorable gay or lesbian themed film shown weekly at Cinema Nouveau. Inspired by the remarkable growth of Out In Africa – the most successful film festival in the country; last year boasting an attendance of 18 000 – Pink Wednesdays target the ardent gay and lesbian film-going audience. (A survey by Mambaonline has shown that an astonishing 49% of respondents had seen a movie in the last week.) CLICK HERE TO GO TO MAMBAONLINE FOR THE FULL STORY....
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