May Johannesburg Bless You.
Now in its 2nd year, May Johannesburg Bless You brings together young creatives each year in May to document the state of the city of Johannesburg as they see it. The collaborating team is hand picked based on pro-active work done by young people in Journalism, Creative Writing, Photography and young entrepreneurs who offer services that contribute to the production of each series. It is a series of “unspoken known truths”. Rising young Photographers Simphiwe “Vice” Nene and Sherilea Gaspar of GASphotography captured the 10 piece 2013 series. It maintains its challenge for the public to imagine itself as the protagonists in the everyday stories told by the unsightly vagabonds in South Africa’s traffic intersections. The idea twists and exchanges roles removing the hobo and replacing it with you! The “normal” citizen who supposedly contends with “less” problem. With only 20 seconds a traffic light, a homeless person wielding a piece of cardboard laden with carefully planned writing regardless of the shattered grammar tells you their whole life story and can have you wretched with guilt for driving that car or even having clothes with no holes in them. The stories they write always have a secret weapon or a trump card. The words “May God Bless You”, these words are as good to a homeless person as a bank guaranteed check. The series then asks is it really the case? Do “normal” and “comfortable” citizens live with “less tragic” problems? Are they worthy of donations monetary or otherwise from strangers? But who is there to help you with your supposedly “easy” problems? Consider anaccountant who is ravaged by debt yet lives in a mansion and drives a posh car? Who is there to help him with change? Is there help for a father who continuously rapes his daughter and wants change? The silver spoon raised educated black diamond who concludes that poverty is a choice and society must change. The series supposes that in all our differences each and every one of us has a prayer to be fulfilled- a prayer for a successful day in Joburg. The images drive forward society’s personal stories and also mimics society in judging and asking how did one get to be the way they are. Couldn’t they see it coming? May Johannesburg Bless You suggests that we are all the same but in different circumstances. More than a social commentary and activist series, May Johannesburg Bless You is a skills transfer initiative for young creatives and entrepreneurs. Understanding the costs of tertiary education in commercial creative fields Founder and Creative Directors Banele Rewo and Art Director Ntsako Mitenda established I Create...
Meet David Tshabalala, one of the finalists in the Creative Union by PowerPlay Energy Drink campaign.
SoulProviders is proud to be nurturing the talent of our Digital Designer, David Tshabalala, who has been chosen as a one of seven finalists in the PowerPlay new creative talent campaign that will go on to be mentored by some of PowerPlay’s Heroes. David portrays the highest level of excellence and inspires us creatively.We are rooting for him ’til the finish line, go hero! You can read more about David and the PowerPlay energy drink campaign journey here: Creative Union Check out David on his Tumblr blog here:...
The Power of Zamantungwa Khumalo.
Represent is honored to bring you an interview with one of its previous feature writers Zamantungwa Khumalo. When we contacted Zamantungwa she had just landed a major gig as the legendary Tim Modise’s Producer on Power FM. It was a good fit for Represent to get the exclusive tell-all from our dearest Zama. From her travels to her accomplishments, we find out how she did it all. Firstly congratulations on your new job as Producer on Power FM. Well Represented. 1. Your bio in your blog reads like a summed up novel of achievements and experiences, how did you do it all and you’re just 23 years old? This is the one question I half dread being asked, mostly because I never quite know how to answer it. I think I’ve been very fortunate. I’m growing up in a South Africa, where, as a young black Zulu woman, there are a lot of opportunities – which my mother, or grandmother, for example, never had. I think I have just been smart enough to recognise what women before me did, and take advantage of the opportunities that come my way. As for doing it by the age of 23, believe it or not, I don’t consider what I’ve done a “big deal”, I never really have. So it’s all ‘in a day’s work’ for me, so to speak… 2. What impact did travelling around the world have on your studying and social life? Hahaha! What social life? You know, I started a twitter hashtag, #ZamaGetsASocialLife because, to be honest, I don’t really have one… I have a tendency to go on about how much I don’t have a social life and try and do a few social things every so often (I generally fail at this, but a girl can try). As for studying, I think there have been times where varsity was ‘comprised’. I’ve written a number of deferred exams (mostly because I was ill or out of the country). But I’ve realised that I wouldn’t have it any other way. 3. The events you’ve attended carry a lot of weight – what lessons have you learnt and how are you using those experiences now? One of the biggest lessons that came out of the different conferences I’ve attended was from interacting with the delegates, during breaks. I realised that even though we come from different countries and have a relatively different upbringing and views on life, there are a few common – I’ll call them traits – that we all have. For one, it doesn’t matter where in the world you’re from, I’ve realised that we all want to know that we matter. Whether you’re...
Boddhi Satva’s FREE Mixtape has arrived.
Believe it, some beats actually do make you wanna dance, if you’re like me and have two left feet – the dance floor is a daunting trail of embarrassment. But worry not, Boddhi Satva’s new mixtape “Ancestral Soul interpretations Pt. 2″ from Kenya’s capital Nairobi will convince you that you’re the best dancer in the club. Do close your eyes when you envision yourself there, get the mixtape below and see yourself dance till the night ends. It’s been less than a year since Boddhi Satva introduced the world to his ground-breaking concept of Ancestral Soul Interpretations. Popular demand and his personal conviction would have it that the time for a sequel is now. Ancestral Soul Interpretations Pt.1 set itself apart from your average mash-up set by breathing a special timelessness into songs from whatever realm of music – be it by mainstream favorites like Drake or Usher or more leftfield artists like Little Dragon and Robert Glasper. Boddhi recontexualised their work using “Ancestral Soul”, the unique spiritually-based musical identity he has defined for himself over the course of hundreds of remixes and original productions as a resident DJ/producer at the Grammy-award winning legend Louie Vega’s Vega Records, and also as the owner of his own Offering Records. The latest in the slew includes Ngnari Konon, his collaboration with one of Mali’s foremost musicians Oumou Sangare on his debut album Invocation. The intent with Ancestral Soul Interpretations Pt.2 is the same although this time it takes into special account Boddhi Satva’s growinng support base. The overwhelming response to ASI Pt.1 in places like Nairobi, where he played to an unfamiliar audience for the first time in September 2012, makes it all the more significant that he launched the mixtape in the Kenyan capital. As he pushes the frontiers further out enlisting new participants into the ancestral movement, Boddhi’s tributes his day one fans with tracks like Tracy Chapman’s Cross Roads and Fast Car – both previously unreleased remixes considered classics amongst the Ancestral connoisseurs. Ancestral Soul Interpretations Pt.2 also features fresh new spins on tracks by Miguel, Major Lazer, Rihanna, James Blake, Justin Timberlake, J Dilla and more. Download the free mixtape...
Tierney Fellow Exhibition Lebohang Kganye
Ke Lefa Laka A solo exhibition by Tierney Fellow Lebohang Kganye Opening: 7 August 2013 8 August – 11 September Walkabout: 24 August, 10h30 The Photo Workshop Gallery The Tierney Fellowship at the Market Photo Workshop in partnership with the Tierney Family Foundation was awarded to alumni Lebohang Kganye for 2012/2013. The goal of this project is to award an aspiring photographer the opportunity to develop their career and skills through this unique mentorship programme. The Tierney Fellowship creates an ideal space for a photographer to develop such a body of work. Ke lefa laka is Kganye’s first solo exhibition and features work from a year’s research into her family history using family photographs, testimonies from family members as well as personal narratives. She has been mentored by Nontobeko Ntombela and Mary Sibande. For more information, please contact: Molemo Moiloa Market Photo Workshop Tel: +27 (0)11 834 1444 e-mail: molemom@marketphotoworkshop.co.za www.marketphotoworkshop.co.za The Market Photo Workshop is a division of The Market Theatre Foundation. Represent will be there, hope we see you there in honor of Lebohang’s amazing...
The Sir Walrus Band LIVE.
The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is proud to present, a Durban based Fusion/ Jazz-Rock ensemble The Sir Walrus Band on Wednesday 31 July 2013 at 18:00 Sir Walrus Band is a groove-based, electric four-piece instrumental outfit. They are easily one of South Africa’s most exciting young bands and are known for writing catchy fusion pieces as well as re-arranges covers. The Sir Walrus Band prides itself on having an unusual musical balance that has seen the band perform the same set in front of Rock, Blues, Jazz and even Heavy-Metal audiences and has remained tasteful to them all. Guitarist Sebastian Goldswain, sax player Jonathan Judge, effortless drummer Bryan Stone (aka Zamani), and much respected bassist Ildo Nandja are top young musicians in the country at their respective instruments. Catch them live at The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College Campus at 18:00 Wednesday 31 July 2013. Doors open at 17:30 Entry fee is R35 (Pensioners R20 and students R10). Please contact Thuli on 031 260 3385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more...
Proudly brought to you by:
