House Afrika @ Fuel this Friday Night
Fri 30 May, 9pm, R50, Fuel Cafe, House Afrika DJ’s and sounds. Need we say more? Oh, just one thing, wear comfortable shoes and make sure to drink lots of liquids as this night rocks downtown Joburg. Wish we were...
African Arts & Crafts in Newtown
A new home for the Zasekhaya Market in Newtown, downtown Jozi, do your bit for African Arts and Crafts and enjoy what Newtown has to offer: As a result of its growing popularity, the monthly Zasekhaya Market is moving to a new location at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown from Saturday, 31 May 2008.Formerly housed at the Bus Factory, from this weekend the market will take up residence at its new home near the Market Theatre. The market is expanding at a rapid rate, and the square will afford it the space it requires for its exhibitors’ extensive range of high-quality, original and innovative homegrown items. The Zasekhaya Market is not your average flea market. A cut above the rest, it specialises in indigenous, hand-crafted wares ranging from fashion and décor to artworks and jewellery. In attendance this weekend are crafters who fashion attractive items out of recycled products such as wire, paper, tin and plastic bags. Also check out stalls featuring beadwork, embroidery and mosaics; as well as pottery, traditional cloths, raffia and woolen shoes, and many more creative delights. They include crafters who have attended the Urban Spirits VACA training programme which was made possible by funding from the Lotto Enjoy an all-round sensory experience at the various stalls, while taking time out for a snack or to admire your purchases at one of the coffee ships. The Zasekhaya Market epitomises creativity at work, so support African arts and crafts with an original twist, and head down to Mary Fitzgerald Square on Saturday between 10am and 4pm. Secure parking is available around the square or at the Market Theatre complex. The next Zasekhaya Market, which takes place on the last Saturday of every month, will be held on 28 June. For more information, and to enquire about booking stalls, phone Eunice at (011) 833-3329, or e-mail katherinec1@telkomsa.net or...
Filmmaking Youth Take Action
The University of Jozi in conjunction with the Gauteng Film Commission will be hosting an international film festival to coincide with Youth Day this year. It’s a Mexico/SA collaboration and they’ll be flying about 7 of Mexico’s most inspiring filmmakers to SA and teaming them up with SA filmmakers. The awesome FYTA film festival is taking place at UJ on the 13 – 16 June, offering free workshops, showcase opportunities and a South Africa-Mexico exploratory and expressive film platform, young film makers, get amongst! FYTA FILMS: Through imagery and sensation language and ethnicity become blurred, making film an awe-inspiring transformer of society. Read more below.The first ever FYTA Film Festival (Filmmaking Youth Taking Action) launches in June 2008. Inspired by the need to fight against young minds being numbed by stereotypes, conventions and trashy entertainment, this festival aims to reignite the passion in young filmmakers. It aims to encourage them to speak their minds and join the movement realizing that while escapism is great, when it outweighs and white-washes all reason it becomes dangerous. FYTA Films also enables young filmmakers to tell their own stories. There are voices outside of Hollywood and FYTA is there to help uncover them amongst the true free spirits of society- the youth! This year we join forces with Mexican filmmakers to explore the common ground between our countries- in film, in history and in daily life. The Festival: Entrance to all screenings and workshops is free. FYTA Films in 2008 is presented by the University of Johannesburg in association with the Gauteng Film Commission, Embassy of Mexico in SA and Nedbank. It will be held from 13 – 16 June at the University of Johannesburg’s FADA Building on Bunting Rd Auckland Park. The Festival consists of three main categories: 1. Mexican-South African Film Showcase: FYTA Films will screen several African premières. In addition, filmmakers from both countries will be in attendance at screenings for discussions and workshops. Guests: Some of the well-known Mexican guests include Elena Fortes Acosta, director of the Ambulante documentary festival run by Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, Flavio Florencio, creator of the Africala festival which highlights the ancient connection between Africa and Latin America and the African roots present in South America. Other guests include Alejandro Ripstein; son of veteran filmmaker Arturo Ripstein, Francisco Vargas whose magnificent film El Violin has won over 30 awards at film festivals around the world, Elisa Miller, winner of a Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival last year and animator Ricardo Arnaiz winner of a Mexican Academy award for The Legend of Nahuala. Workshops and colloquia With so many interesting visitors...
Show your love @ AFROTONIC
There are many ways you can show your love of all people African, shaking your touche to Afro beats is a cheerful option – try it out at AFROTONIC that takes place this Friday at Carfax featuring two of our favourite bands, 340ml and Max Normal as well as the eclectic Zong, all the way from Reunion. Organised by the French Institute as part of their promotion of cultural diversity, urban culture, nd artistic exchanges between South Africa, France and Francophone Africa, you know it’s going to rock… ALLEZ-Y!!! AFROTRONIC #1 Friday 30.05.08 @ CARFAX Featuring Zong – a Réunion (France) Max Normal TV – Cape Town (RSA) 340ml – Maputo (Mozambique) Cooked in the great African Pot with three spoons of hi-voltage electricity, a dozen of the hottest chilies, the juiciest melodic passion fruits and liters of pure sweat: AFROTRONIC is the new vibrating musical feast proposed by the French Institute of South Africa, and for its premiere, we picked up nothing but the freshest ingredients: Hailing from La Réunion, Zong is not just another electro band “with spice”. Indeed, even without electricity, Drean, Costa and Fever remain three accomplished musicians whose “savoir-faire” cannot only be reduced to “Machine-Made Music” and whose three strong personalities locate them far from the anonymous and sometimes dehumanized electro producer profile. If Jane Fonda had had a punk daughter, she would have been something like Drean: sculptural, enigmatically magnetic, dangerously charming, as smooth and burning as a shot of Reunionese Rhum. Playing the Kayamb (a traditional reunionese percussion instrument) with rock’n’roll attitude, Drean is Zong’s singer and muse, and her unique voice can awaken all the senses as well as kick bottom. By her side: Costa, the melody maker, and Fever, the drum machine. From his classical piano background, Costa quickly went into the electronic music. From dub to drum’n’bass (his influences go from Lee Scratch Perry to Roni Size), with ecstatic virtuosity, he pushes the limits of his keyboards and machines to a level only his “comrade” Fever can follow. As soon as he sits behind his drum kit Fever’s cool and almost shy temper turns into a fury. Fascinated by the Punk energy, the unbeatable Drum’n’Bass skips and the accuracy of Jazz drummers, Fever delivers rhythms that make Zong’s sound unique on the global music map: a combo of Dub, Maloya (reunionese traditional sound) Techno and Drum’n’Bass, bridging the gap between “electronic” and “acoustic”, “roots” and “post-modernity”, as on their latest album “Fractures” (to be issued in SA). Max Normal TV is back!!! And he is also about to release a new album entitled “Good Morning South Africa”: What could...
Durbanites write for us @ Fashion Week
We’re always going on about how much of our great artistic talent comes from Durban, the hot spot of creativity. Well prepare yourselves for the 4th MTN Durban Fashion Week that’s set to shine all over the east coast. Represent is looking for hip and happening Fashion fundi’s to cover this years Fashion Week for us. Please email editor@represent.co.za and tell me why it should be you. You’ll need to be able to write in fluent English although we always like a touch of spice, and have your own ditigal camera or a friend that’s a good photographer. Young, energetic and funky MTN Durban Fashion Week, now in its fourth year, is once again set against the backdrop of Durban’s vibrant ambiance, magnificent Indian Ocean coastline and mixture of African, Eastern and Western cultural influences. MTN Durban Fashion Week 2008 is set to be a visual feast, presented by award-winning South African and international designers. Positioned as the cradle of South Africa’s young and emerging talent, MTN Durban Fashion Week 2008 will marry creativity with business, youth with experience and fashion with a cause, to present a truly spectacular and memorable event. Developing and supporting young and emerging talent has always ranked high on the list of priorities for convener and co-owner of MTN Durban Fashion Week, Vanashree Singh. Concurrent with their annual young designer search at top design schools, MTN Durban Fashion Week has embarked on a ground breaking initiative, partnering with the KZN Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism (DACT) to launch an exploratory programme across KZN, whose main aim is to seek, cultivate and nurture would-be designers who have the talent but lack the means to achieve success in the fashion industry. “MTN Durban Fashion Week has always taken the fashion business seriously and intrinsic to the success of any business is investment at a grassroots level. KZN has a wealth of exceptional design talent and our event presents exciting opportunities to showcase to a wide audience. The South African fashion industry is under continuous threat from foreign imports. We believe by investing in young South African talent, we are promoting Proudly South African brands and thereby making a positive impact on South Africa’s emerging fashion talent. Young talent – their creativity and hard work – is the very essence of what makes MTN Durban Fashion Week a success and we are proud of their achievements.” said Vanashree, This was reiterated by Evan Schiff, spokesperson for, African Fashion International (AFI) who are joint owners of MTN Durban Fashion Week, “MTN Durban Fashion Week fulfils a vital role on the local fashion calendar which falls in line...
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