AFRIPOP! is now on Apple Music!
Listeners in Africa can now hear music curated by Afripop’s team of music experts on Apple Music. How rad? Global African pop culture site AFRIPOP! joins a group of select curators on Apple Music, and members in Africa can now access regularly updated playlists of music carefully chosen by a team of music tastemakers, led by editor Phiona Okumu. A long-standing champion for urban African music on the continent, as well as in the UK and the US, AfriPOP! will continue in its music-forward tradition, making sure that the best, most relevant and deserving sounds from Africa and the Diaspora get heard worldwide. “When you look back on what happened when Drake jumped on and played Wizkid’s song Ojuelegba on his Beats 1 show, you realize the potential for impact when the right songs get into the right hands. Literally, anyone has a chance at the big time because of the levelling effect of digital. I can’t think of a more exciting time to be involved in pushing music than right now!” says Phiona Okumu, AfriPOP! Editor. Read all about it here ...
Are The Jakes Missing?
Janice and Donald Jakes have fallen out of love and into Witness Protection. Being at the wrong place at the wrong time sends a teenage boy and his parents to a journey where they will rediscover what it means to love each other. Simon Jakes is teenage boy obsessed with music. His parents now living in modern day society of riches and wealth are also strict about the life their son leads and do not approve of his musical interest, unless classical. Janice and Donald Jakes (Simon’s parents) are at a crossroads, Janice wants to leave this relationship and Donald has been so busy at work he hasn’t noticed his wife hates him and wants to leave. One night, while supposedly being grounded, Simon sneaks out to a music event that could possible change his career forever. However it changes his life forever as he becomes the witness to a murder and escapes the crime scene with the one thing the criminals are willing to kill for. This movie promises to be another great South African film telling authentic local stories. The movie will be released on Friday 23 October 2015, be sure not to miss it at your local...
Kaya FM presents: Zonke – Live @ The Bassline
Afro-Soul Superstar ZONKE is making a welcome return to the South African music scene, and also to The Bassline stage. Saturday 10th October will be the third show for the Kaya FM Presents Live@The Bassline series with Zonke Dikana headlining, music fans are in for a rare treat. The graceful songbird is currently riding high with the recent release of her brand new album Work Of Heart. This superb album is already topping the charts and drawing rave reviews across the board as well as holding a place at #1 on the iTunes R&B chart. The multiple award-winning, platinum-selling Zonke is known for her sublime and powerful live performances. She is also a sought-after songwriter and producer, and she produced Work Of Heart. Hailing originally from Port Elizabeth, she now calls Johannesburg home. It took Zonke some time to find her voice and to crack through the tough Jo’burg music scene, and her breakthrough 2011 album Ina Ethe saw her reach the pinnacle after a decade of struggles. She followed that up with a successful live album entitled Give and Take – Live, which went Platinum. Then, just as Zonke was finally ready to start work on another album, her sister and fellow artist Lulu Dikana was struck down with a respiratory ailment and passed away in December 2014. For Zonke, rediscovering her inspiration after such a blow took months, but early in 2015, her muse started to return. “Changes make you stronger,” Zonke says. “No matter what happens, I don’t have it in me to lie down and give up. There is always a way. For me, music is that way. Music is goodness.” The track Meet Me In My Dreams is the centre-piece of the new album, and a fitting musical tribute to Lulu. What is not in dispute is the strength and resilience of this African music superstar, she has risen above pain and hardship more times than she cares to remember, always emerging better, stronger, a more talented, more spectacular version of herself. Support for Zonke will be provided by the multi award winning BERITA. This talented young singer/songwriter/guitarist hails originally from Zimbabwe, but has been making a name for herself locally over the past few years, especially after taking home the Best African Album at the 12th Metro Awards and SAMRO Songwriter of the Year Award in 2015. Saturday 10th October 2015 Doors open 8pm Tickets are R200 available via Webtickets Tickets are R230 at the door....
Quick chat with Minnie Dlamini
TV Personality Minnie Dlamini will be joining J’Something on last week’s episode of Knorr Whatsfordinner. We asked her a few questions about her favourite meal, see below how it went down. As Heritage month comes to an end , what are your most favourite dishes that you like making? I love my traditional foods, I’m a typical Zulu girl. I’ll learn how to cook all my favourites one day 2. How would you describe your relationship with Food? I love food, I try to be healthy so I will mostly have a salad for lunch and something light for dinner. I usually have a veggie juice or smoothie for breakfast. On a Sunday and when I’m in Durban with my mom and dad, that is when I let go and eat the soul food – but also not too much. How was it cooking With J’something and what are your highlights from the show? It was awesome – we made something quick and simple. J is a great host and teacher. People can expect a few giggles and a few embarrassing moments from my friends at my expense. Knorr and J’something invite you to sign up now for the next classes before it’s too late. Remember to also tune in for the season finale of Knorr whatsfordinner on Sat. Oct 3rd at 7pm on SABC 3. For more recipes, tips and ideas visit www.facebook.com/whatsfordinner Next Cooking Classes: Saturday October 10th 10:00am – 12:00 Bunny Chow with mutton curry & Curried Samp Easy Cape Style Bobotie, French Onion Soup with mozzarella toast Saturday October 22nd 10:00am – 12:00 Classes take place at: SMEG showroom – 2985 William Nicol Drive, Bryanston. Tickets will cost R200 per person and each guest will receive a Knorr goodie bag. Space is limited and bookings can be made through the SA Culinary Club info@saculinaryclub.co.za....
Travel diary: SoulProviders explores Zimbabwe in style
By Lebogang Mgiba After a long seven days of being kept in suspense, we were finally told the destination for our SoulProviders weekend away. We were going to Zimbabwe! Since we only found out on the day of our departure, we didn’t have much time for the news to sink in before jumping on a plane and flying off to what would be the weekend of a lifetime. Each year, Sarah-Jane ‘SJ’ Boden, our CEO takes us away as part of our long-term incentive program at SoulProviders. SJ believes that we all need to experience the wealth of countries and cultures in Africa, right on our doorstep – and it’s not only a way to encourage people to travel, but her way of saying thank you for all the hard work we do throughout the year and to reward our loyalty. Anyway, if you think Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga is hot, then you need to visit Zimbabwe. It. Is. HOT! When we arrived at Livingstone Airport (Zambia), the thirst was killing us, but we were all a bit scared to drink the tap water in this new country, since the last thing we needed was to get sick on Day 1. Our shuttle from the airport took us across to Zimbabwe, with its rich history and culture, and our awesome tour guide, Shadrach, kept us entertained all the way. As he talked us thorough the sights, the word ‘activity’ kept popping up and it started to sound quite funny. Actually, it became the ‘word of the weekend’. It turns out that Zimbabwe is a tourist destination and, in an attempt to earn a living, the tour guides are keen for visitors to participate in all sorts of ‘activities’ with a hard sell from the minute you hit the tarmac. Luckily, we already had an ‘activity’ waiting for us at 16:00 – a sunset cruise. I’ve never experienced anything as beautiful as that cruise along the Great Zambezi River and it was then that I realised we really do live on an amazing continent, which deserves to be explored. What made the experience even more special for me was that I could share it with the people I love – my colleagues. There’s a time and place for solo travel and this wasn’t one of them. Back on land, I was blown away by how exquisite The Kingdom Hotel is. It’s actually quite therapeutic, because of the nature, the waterfall and the absolute tranquillity. And then there was the joyful moment when I received my hotel key and a piece of paper with two magic words written on it saying: ‘free...
We will be back!
