Must-attend: Fashion Battle in Jozi
What a fascinating concept, for anyone interested in fashion and culture, don’t miss this Fash-off. It started with people dressing up in Kinshasa… In January 2007, French artist Jean Christophe Lanquetin staged an exhibition of portraits photographed over a period of two years in the streets of Lingwala, Kinshasa (DRC). The images captured the legendary ‘Sapeurs’, documenting a practice that primarily revolves around street fashion and haute couture, the competitive rituals and performance of dressing up. Implicitly, the practice of ‘sape’ raises arguments around ‘body politics’ and its agency: how to claim one’s own, ‘clean’ and exclusive space in contrast to a disintegrating city and world at large? ‘100 Year War’ is the name of one of the ‘sapeurs’ gangs in Kinshasa and references the extended series of wars that started in France in the 14th Century. The practice of competing in the streets against other groups, such as the ‘Japanese’, to show off the most expensive clothes and ingenious poses, styles and dances, is a highly popular tradition in Kin’. Each ‘sapeur’ challenges the other’s territory – the codes of display, resistance and aspiration towards all that ‘Europe’ represents for them: colonialism, globalism, an affluent world of choices… And in Johannesburg: Continuing with this theme, Lanquetin is collaborating with Joburg designer and artist Athi-Patra on a series of public interventions that aim to explore the local geographies of ‘body politics’, as they are taken up by the Congolese Sapeurs in Yeoville, the Emo-kids and NuKool skool of Melville to Pantsulas and Swankers of Jozi. Leading up to the event on the 30th, the artists stage performances that include the posting of large prints of the ‘Sapeurs’ on the walls of the Fashion District, Yeoville, the Zone and the Drill Hall. This project developed out of the Artist-in-Residency programme facilitated by the Joubert Park Project at the Drill Hall and supported by the French Institute of South Africa in the framework of EUNIC projects, and the National Arts Council of South Africa. With thanks to: Nadine Hutton, Mbuso Kagebe, Lolo Veleko, Ra Ngoato and the Kelektla! Team, Vuyo Gope, Djoca Paulo, Frans Radebe, Tau Skosana and Sakhlie Madi, Adam Levine, Cleo-Patra, Laurent Clavel and the IFAS team, the sapeurs of Kinshasa and all particpants. A project developed by artist-in-residency JEAN-CHRISTOPHE LANQUETIN & ATHI-PATRA RUGA & the Joubert Park Project in association with the French Institute of South Africa WEDNESDAY 30 APRIL, 6:30pm till late Drill Hall, Corner Twist and Plein Street, Joubert Park Opposite Noord Street Taxies /Shell Garage Free Entrance, Secure Parking & Cash...
‘BACK TO THE CITY’ Street Festival
Freedom day is on Sunday – we hope everyone is celebrating this special day, remembering our past, celebrating our vibrant present but also looking to the very promising future of South Africa. The second annual Street Festival is taking place in Newtown, so get amongst! On the morning of the 27th of April, a wave of urban youth will stream into downtown Newtown for the popular, annual Back to the City festival. Disciples and converts of the hip-hop movement will celebrate the art and urban culture through a day of live performances, street art, extreme sports and exhibitions. The one-day event was launched with critical acclaim from the hip-hop media and masses last year, winning accolades such as Hype magazine’s event of the year. The second edition promises more historic performances, boasting a Fiery line up of 22 mc’s, 10 dj’s, 8 graffiti crews and thousands of young people celebrating the birth of South Africa’s democracy. Cutting edge performers from various parts of the country will deliver hot commentary and entertainment in diverse indigenous languages while artists will be expressing their freedom in colours. This event will take place outside RITUAL STORES at corner Bree and Henry Nxumalo streets in Newtown. Aside from being entertained, audiences will get to attend an educational summit, which will be held at City Varsity. Hosted by the British Council, the workshops offer an exchange of knowledge. Individuals working in the mass media industry will cover topics such as publishing, distribution, recording, music videos, and independent vs. mainstream, entrepreneurship and advertising. Performances by: Zuluboy, Mo Molemi, Driemanskap, Prokid, Ben Sharpa, Fifi, Cuba, Hymphatic Thabs, Substance, The Scavengers, Koldproduk, Reason, Mawetu, The Anvilz, Damola, Bianca Williams, Abantu, The Federation, Zeus, DJ’s Kenzhero, KGB, Blaq T, Raiko, Soosh, Medicine, Graffiti Crews: PCP – MSE – SEC – FUK – IAP – TK – DS – UN ENTRANCE: FREE DATE: 27 April 2008, Freedom Day TIME: 10:00 – 23:00 PLACE: Ritual Stores Cnr Bree & Henry Nxumalo Street...
Win Tickets to Electric Circus
Win a pair of tickets to Electric Circus next Saturday night at Truth, simply answer the following simple question and send an email with your name, cell number and id number to Editor@represent.co.za. Name one DJ from each of the three dancefloors! On Saturday the 28th of April, Truth nightclub presents ELECTRIC CIRCUS: A wild night immersed in the marvel and mystery of the big top. JHB’s irresistable theatre of illusion, a seductive magic show of decadene audio enchantment and exotic decor…Low menacing bass, dirty disco sleaze, twisted funk and filthy ghetto beats will be roughing up your dancefloor. R80 entrance Doors open 10pm Main Floor: Pimp Squad, Roger D’Lux, Deepgroove, Ricardo da Costa, Nick Supply Minimal Floor: Karmi, Nick Lumb, Andy Dill, Jimmy Chronic Hard Floor: Speedy, Louis, Morgan, Eddie Virgo In the event of great weather, a 4TH floor will be pumping outside. Truth, Old Pretoria Rd,...
50c and G-Unit coming up
Hip Hop heads get your tickets for 50c and G-Unit featuring Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo as well as Woo Kid (Who kid?) representin’ US Hip Hop. Let us know how it rolls. Jozi 1 May Coca Cola Dome CT 3 May Belville Velodrome Tickets from R150 – R400 depending on how much HipHop means to...
Global music we’re listening to
You can’t keep our musical tastes in one box. And if you thought you could you obviously don’t know us at all. Yesterday was Ayo, today Soko. We share our Songza playlist with you. Amy Macdonald – The Scottish teen singing sensation has something about her. Soko – We’ve already told you about the scary French girl who Weeell keeeel ‘er if she catches ‘er. The DO Band – A multi-Euro band from Helsinski, France and Finland – their hit On My Shoulders is blasting its way up the charts. Duffy – If you haven’t heard the Welsh bombshell sing it 60s style, you’re out of touch. Alice Smith – big voiced New York soulful babe – we’re keeping a close eye on...
Represent is loving: Ayo
We just can’t get enough of young German/Nigerian singer and guitarist Ayo – think chilled out sweet reggae and soulful acoustic rhythms that zoom you instantly to a beach somewhere hot and colourful, the slight Lauryn Hill accents giving Ayo’s voice a depth we love. “AYO is a German born artist, the offspring of a Nigerian father who had come to Germany to study in the 1970s, and sometimes worked as a DJ, and a mother who is a gypsy. AYOs rather unusual name means joy in Yoruba. Her rich cultural background is also reflected in her musical influences. She grew up amidst Pink Floyd and Fela Kuti, the Soul Children and Bob Marley, and many others.” Ayp’s Myspace here. Watch the video of her single “Down on my knees” below:...
We will be back!
