MUSIC GREAT, organisation dodgy – Coke Colab
Well we didn’t get to go to this Saturday’s concert through some media bungling which we won’t even go into. We weren’t particularly interested in the music, except for Fat Boy Slim and Collective Soul, so we weren’t that dissapointed not to be considered or included. BUT that said we don’t like to let our readers down (which is why we like to go to events so we can report on them???) … especially as we have readership all over the world that likes to know what’s going on here. Lucky enough we have dedicated readers who send in their own interpretation of the event. The media are saying that 43 000 people attended (when last did you see so many white people in one place? Apparently there were only about 10 black people there – guess that what happens when you only cater to one genre of music.) YFM reported this morning that there were only 150 toilets or something and 3 bars and that both food and drink ran out. Not good. However we don’t believe everything that we read or hear, so thanks to CARINE a Representer for sending us this report on the event: On Saturday, 18 March, a group of us went to the Coca Cola Colab Massive Mix Concert in Centurion. We were really excited about seeing all the fantastic bands at the event. We really would have enjoyed seeing all the bands except that we had to stand in queues for most of the day in order to get beer, water & food. There were approximately 45 000 people at the concert but it was almost impossible to get anything to drink or eat. I can not understand how the organisers of the event could sell so many tickets and not provide the basics. To get a beer took anything between 2 to 4 hours. How can you hold a rock concert and only have about 2 bars? To try and buy water and cold drinks wasn’t any better. How do you expect to have so many people at a day event and not have the basics sorted out. Everywhere you went people were complaining about the same thing. On one occasion a friend of mine tried to get an empty 2l Coke bottle, to go and fill it up with water in the bathroom. The guys at the specific kiosk refused to give him an empty bottle. At the same kiosk they charged people R40 for a 2l Coke!!! People bought cases of water and cold drinks when they eventually got to the front of the queues because who wants to...
South African’s show the way
“Indeed, my dear friends, I believe it has inspired you, and you in turn have inspired Africa and the world.” KOFI ANAN Let’s face it, South Africa has had and continues to have her fair share of problems, like any other country. But one thing that we do seem to be moving towards getting right (in general – there are still places that aren’t quite g…etting it) is learning to get along with each other. There is no question that we have accepted a multi-cultural society in Greater Johannesburg, however as soon as you head into the Bundu’s and even to other cities like Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban, you are faced with those same old images of inequality and racist mentalities and behaviour. In general we can agree that we have accepted the concept of a “multi-cultural” society, but we still have a long way to go to put those words to action. We look to the untainted youth as they will show us the way. Shift your minds people. Come on. Thanks to “SA’s premier good news portal” for this article on Multi-culturalism in South Africa. CLICK HERE to go to SAGOODNEWS.CO>ZA: In an address to the joint sitting of South Africa’s Parliament this week, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan praised South Africans for showing the world a new way. Rather than being imprisoned by a history of bitter conflict, South Africans are embracing their diversity and are working together to build a common future. In a world “seething with resentment based on past and present injustice and with misunderstandings based on differences of culture and belief”, South Africa had shown that the way to a better balance “lies through dialogue, and the establishment of mutual trust.” Recently, many countries have been dealing with the issue of multiculturalism, of how to manage cultural diversity in a multi-ethnic society. At the end of last year, France was consumed with civil unrest as disenchanted ethnic minorities took to the streets to protest against the social discrimination and racism they claimed to be pervasive in their adopted land. Similar scenes were experienced in Britain in 2001. Anti-immigrant race riots in Sydney hit the headlines three months ago. Historically, the populations of France, England and Australia have been relatively homogenous. In recent times, the influx of immigrants has forced these nations to come to terms with multiculturalism. As evidenced by the riots, the progress from uni-culturalism to multiculturalism has proven to be difficult. South Africa, by contrast, has been a dealing with multiracial and multi-cultural society for centuries. Since the signing of the Freedom Charter in 1955, South Africa...
AL PRODGERS having a one night stand
Here’s your chance to catch Al Prodger’s on stage along with KEDIBONE at Tanz Cafe in Bryanston when they make a live recording of their work… sounds like a good laugh – we recommend that you go if you need one. “OF COURSE I’LL STILL RESPECT YOU IN THE MORNING!” Al Prodgers is doing a one night stand (up) comedy show at Tanz Cafý in Bryanston on the 18th of March. It’s a …nutty celebration of the South African psyche with a positively, proudly local flavour. Special guest act is the flaming hot comedy emcee, Kedibone Mulaudzi. These guys stormed the Joburg Arts Alive Festival in ’05 and have appeared together in comedy venues from Brakpan to Soweto. They’ve even been privileged to entertain such luminaries as Archbishop Desmond Tutu. You’re invited to join them at the recording of an original, unashamedly Jozi-style comedy CD. Show starts at 20h30. There’ll be a full bar and excellent restaurant facilities are available. To secure a seat, email AL by clicking here. Language and themes will be adult, so no under 18 please. ******************************************* UPDATE DATE: 24 Feb. 06 In the run-up to the elections and I think I’ve been happiest when a radio talk show host described the whole political process as boring. I love boring elections. I remember when they weren’t and I’ll take boring over bodies in the street and stockpiled tins of pilchards any damn day. Last general election, I was standing in the queue for the polling booth chatting to a stranger, who said, “Before 1994 I wasn’t allowed to vote. Now, today, this is my 3rd time.” I was so proud! I came over all snotty eyed and patriotic, “Yep, what a rainbow nation! I also voted in ’94, ’99 and now 2004.” He smiled, “No, no! This is my 3rd time voting& today.” (Then a perfect comedy beat and a slow wink.) I’ve learnt a few things in our 12 years of democracy. I’ve discovered that patriotism may be the last refuge of a scoundrel, but hiding out in Hillbrow is probably more effective. Certainly, it seems to have worked for the bastard who stole my car. Most importantly, I’ve decided that being fearful of the future is pointless. The realisation gets stronger every day, because I’m still eating tins of pilchards that I stockpiled before the first election in 1994. I’ve learned we can all change for the better. Recently I did a gig in Tshwane. You may know it as Pretoria, but the city is now being renamed Tshwane, the monicker derived from the first family that settled in the area, the Tshwanepoels....
“Hello baby. I love you”. As if…. take a hike losers!
Thanks to Janine in Pietermaritzburg for telling it like it is: Just some ranting about the absolute imbecile attitudes of some men on the street: What is it about the country we live in that makes it okay for women to be subjected to continual harassment? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some man-hater and I know people don’t want to hear a woman complain about the attention she g…ets, but come on – aren’t attitudes like these at the root of the high rape and sexual violence statistics? There I was standing at the side of the road waiting for my friend to pick me up when, for the umpteenth time, a man walks past (way too closely, mind you) and says something inane like “hi baby”. This happens about a million times a day, and sisters I know this happens to you as well. But right now, I’m gatvol!!! What am I supposed to do when a man drives past me/walks past me and whistles/ makes a comment/ tries to touch me? What exactly is the expected reaction? Am I supposed to go up to him, and say “Oh my goodness, I’ve been waiting for this all day. Your show of sexual harassment is SUCH a turn on. Here’s my number, I’m not busy tonight, use it”? What is the success rate with that technique? Are there women out there who enjoy being the centre of attention on the streets of South Africa? And then has it ever happened to you when you don’t react (because I don’t), you’re called a “bitch”? Some men in South Africa believe that they have the absolute right to comment about women’s bodies and their beings. When did all this behaviour become acceptable? And why are we so passive about it all? I mean, this has been happening to me for YEARS (probably since I hit puberty) and the accepted reaction is not to react. Why don’t we react? Why aren’t we, as women, allowed to turn around and say “F*ck off”? I read an article recently where the author stated that women in South Africa walk around with a “to-be-raped” label on them. We have a greater chance of getting raped than winning the Lotto. I’d much rather win the Lotto. These attitudes are transmitted everywhere, but most shockingly on the streets. I can’t walk around without lewd comments being made. When are the men of this country going to realise that this is not flattery? This is degradation. This is my body and only I have any rights or claims to it. And then not to mention the harassment...
Top down in the city – Picasso in Africa
We almost forgot to tell you about one of the highlights of our year so far… no not the Picasso In Africa event, but the shuttle bus-ride back to the parking lot! Let me fill you in, we were invited to the Picasso in Africa exhibition at the Drill hall in the city… well on the border of Hillbrow. First of all, what an incredible venue… right next to Noord taxi rank, beau…tifully restored, spacious and gorgeous. The Drill hall is surrounded by city dwellers living in their high-rise apartments… it’s alive and buzzing! The event was ok…. a great turn out full of French accents and arty types…we weren’t really sure what we were there for but we drifted around merrily taking it all in and seeing lots of familiar faces. Unfortunately the weakness was the bar which was way too small, understaffed (by very friendly guys! Merci) and badly positioned which meant a 15 – 20 minute wait for a drink… one of those awful experiences where you find yourself jostling and elbowing just to keep your place. But we can forgive that oversight. In terms of the art and the interpretation by various artists of Picasso, while not that original our favourite was definitely Themba and Kris the graffitti artists who created a mural while the event was ongoing… some awesome eye-candy. We also loved the dresses (see pic) from Annah Getanah…. wow… with the city flats as a backdrop her dresses were truly to die for! While live poetry has got a little boring and overdone, the short punchy and emotive poem from Thokozani Mthiyane was great too. We weren’t that impressed with the other live performance which had a crusty and unrehearsed feel to it. Crusty meaning hippy and “trying too hard” to be deep. Yeah man. BUT – as mentioned, the highlight of the night was our trip atop an open double decker bus through the city streeets back to the Market Theatre where we had parked our car. As my friend so succinctly put it: EUPHORIC. Clearly everyone on the top deck may have sipped on a few wines before leaving (that’s if they got to the bar) but as we drove off, a sudden elation, excitement and euphoria took over, with everyone standing up, arms wide, looking up to the city skies and waving at all the people we passed. And wow did they wave back… I remember a surreal moment driving past some homeless people snuggled up in their blankets on a pavement whose eyes lit up as we past and whose hands waved hello. Not that’s what we call...
PAYOLA -know what that means?
Thanks to Gufa Buda* for some interesting food for thought. He raises the question of PAYOLA on SA RADIO – do you know what PAYOLA means? We didn’t until now: Here’s the Wikipedia definition: PAYOLA In the music industry, the illegal practice of record companies paying money for the broadcast of records on music radio is called payola, if the song is presented as being part of the no…rmal day’s broadcast. On influential stations (and particularly on television) payola can become so commonplace that it becomes difficult for artists to get their records/videos played without offering some sort of payment. The term gets its name as a take-off of the names of some early record-playing machines, such as Victrola. Apparently PAYOLA became a popular term in the 50’s when several high-profile DJ’s were accused of PAYOLA in the take-off of Rock n Roll. What GUFA wants to know is two-fold. FIrstly, do you think that PAYOLA exists on South African Radio and secondly if it exists in the genre of HipHop in SA as it does in the US…. mmmhmmm what do you think readers? Click here for an interesting site on PAYOLA in the HipHop industry in the US. GUFA also sent us this article: “Here’s an interesting read from yesterdays The Star newspaper in the tonight section: smacks a little bit of payola (SA style) dont you think? make up your own mind.” March 1, 2006 By Therese Owen – Crisis management seems to be needed at YFM as their three prime- time deejays have announced their resignations within the last month. Fresh’s well-documented move to 5fm was announced a mere two weeks ago while S’bu Leope announced his resignation over the weekend. He has plans to start a production company. The seeming implosion of YFM may be contributed to self-interest and own agendas by the deejays. The popular YFM deejays have bigger interests in the music industry. One only has to look at DJ Fresh, who regularly releases his popular dance CDs, or S’bu Leope, who is kwaito star, Mzekezeke, to see how much mula there is to gain as a deejay on this station. S’bu also owns his own record company, TS Records. Their artists conveniently fit into YFM’s format. For the last 16 months there’s been increasing dissatisfaction among music industry players outside of the YFM cabal. There is much concern over deejays’ alleged abuse of power. The deejays on YFM all came from relative obscurity. However, their increasingly powerful positions laid the door wide open for them to abuse that power. The rot set in with the now deceased Iggy Smallz, who was...
We will be back!
