The rise of African Hip-Hop on BBC Radio
It seems like African Hip-Hop’s star is finally rising as the BBC radio features a four-part documentary looking at “Afropop – The rise and rise of African hip-hop”. Thanks to everyone out there for REPRESENTING far from home. Check it out: The story of Afropop is the story of a new African youth. Nigerian-born, London-based JJC, frontman of Afropean hi…p-hop outfit JJC & 419 Squad and producer to UK R’n’B stars Jamelia, Liberty X, Big Brovaz and Lemar, looks at the rise and rise of African hip-hop in this four-part documentary, Afropop from Wednesday, 2 November 2005 on BBC 1Xtra, broadcast as part of the TXU programme, 2 – 4pm GMT. African hip-hop is spreading across the African continent like wildfire. JJC talks to young Africans about the trials and tribulations of creating music that reflects their lives in the 21st century. He looks at how the traditional music of Africa is being morphed and fused with Western hip-hop styles to create a unique musical movement. From the major label presence of the South African region to the independent, self-financed productions of the northern regions, JJC explores the music industry in Africa, highlighting the ways it compares to the western world. He hears stories from Senegalese hip-hop superstars Daara J (who won the award for best African group at the World Music Awards 2004) and Reggie Rockstone, the inventor of hip-life in Ghana, to the ghetto realism of Kenya’s Ukooflani Mau Mau Camp (part of the 38-strong collective Nairobi Yetu). He also learns about Arabic hip-hop acts like Moroccan group H Kayne through to the established music industry in South Africa which is ruled by acts like Zola, Godessa and Bongo Maffin. He also looks at the relationship between youthful rebellion and parental disapproval and the clash between old and new African sentimentalities. JJC learns about the opposition that musicians face from politicians and policemen. He also discusses the sometimes unique language and content of young stars’ music, whether rapping about HIV/AIDS or political corruption or simply how they just want to dance; and the difference between rappers who celebrate their personal wealth and those who use their music for protest. Presenter: JJC Producer: Bobby Seiler (BBC World Service) Researcher: Ilka Schlockermann This programme was first broadcast on BBC World Service as part of The Music Feature. Broadcast times: Afropop, 4 x 30 minute programmes, to be broadcast as part of the Africa Lives season on 1Xtra’s TXU programme BBC Wednesdays from 2 November 2005, between 2 and 4pm GMT 2 November 2005: Part 1 – West Africa 9 November 2005: Part 2 – East Africa 16 November 2005:...
LIVE 8 Concert in JHB – Mixed feelings about Africa’s role
Latest update – MADIBA will be there – it’s from 12 noon till 7:30pm. **************************************** We just drove past Newtown where they’re setting up the event – the stage is HUGE – wonder how much that cost! Anyway – it remains to be seen if this concert will be a success and if it will draw as many people and have the same vibe as the YOUTH DAY concert – we will drive by and check i…t out. The bonus of this venue is that you can drive on the M2 highway and look down on the concert and get a fantastic view. Buzz around the concert seems to be a bit slow – maybe that’ cause they only put it together over the last few days and the black n white posters have only just gone up. Well the Youth Day concert was incredible and we wish them the same attendance – we love a freebie! *********************************************************************************************** Another UPDATE – it seems there are mixed feelings around this event. You can’t please everyone all of the time! Thanks to Keralanext.com for this info: The Live 8 rock concerts highlighting Africa’s woes should have been staged in the world’s poorest continent with global stars performing alongside local acts, organisers of the Johannesburg gig said on Tuesday. Nine Live 8 gigs featuring top acts like U2, Elton John and Madonna will be held on July 2, but critics have lambasted Irish rocker Bob Geldof, mastermind of Live 8, for shunning African stars in an event meant to underline the continent’s problems. “If we had a collaboration with these European and U.S. stars, if we stood on stage with them, that would have had a bigger impact,” said South African star Zola, who will perform at a concert in Johannesburg endorsed by Live 8 on Saturday. “It would have been nice for them to come here… they need to see the real Africa,” he told reporters. Live 8 organisers, under pressure to mount an African effort, approached local campaigners at the 11th hour to suggest a local concert with a link to the bigger gigs. Hassen Lorgat, South Africa spokesman for the Global Call to Action against Poverty, one of the organising groups, said he was thrilled Africa would be given the global exposure that comes with being affiliated to Live 8, but said he would have done things differently if he had been in Geldof’s shoes. “Sometimes he worries about the prize, so the idea is to raise the maximum amount of funds. Geldof is not a bad guy, but I would do it differently,” he told a news conference....
31 Dec New Year’s in Joburg – keep it Urban!
The Joburg Carnival is warming up – come on people get out there and celebrate your city! It’s a day time parade ending at 6 – just in time for you to keep on moving on to the next party. They now have a website for more info – click here to check it out. **************************************** 1 Dec For those of you looking for something f…abulous and Urban for New Years – join the Joburg Carnival! It’s multi-cultural and multi-faceted- sounds fantastic! It’s in the name of a clean grime-free and safe city – we love that! The second Joburg Carnival will see thousands of people congregate in the Newtown cultural precinct to celebrate the City’s planned year end festivities. People from community-based troupes and cultures will be part of the creative display of costumes, floats, singing and dancing. The theme of the 2005 carnival is ‘Nyakaza – Joburg on the move’. This design allows for a broad creative interpretation, which will be showcased in the carnival activities, as well as the procession of the carnival through the City. Hosted by City of Johannesburg Arts, Culture and Heritage Services (ACHS) and The Carnival Consortium, the carnival will feature the City of Joburg business entities like City Power, Joburg Water and Pikitup. The South African Police Services (SAPS) will play the role of lead collaborative partner. The 11 metropolitan regions of the City will also participate in the design and production of the 2005 Carnival, each competing with its own sub-theme and identity, represented by costumes, flags, floats, dances and songs. The carnival procession will also be made up of other cultural groups residing in the city, such as Zimbabweans, Zambians, Ethiopians and Chinese, with colourful representations of their countries’ traditional attire. The carnival aims to promote the transformation of Hillbrow, Joubert Park, Newtown and the Joburg Inner City into a crime and grime-free zone, where free and safe movement is encouraged, to boost existing urban renewal programmes. Joburg Carnival 2005 will also provide the inner city communities with opportunities to participate in New Year’s Eve activities, thereby discouraging crime and vandalism. “Carnivals are unique cultural events, which have been used all over the world to diffuse ethnic tensions and strengthen relations in the community,” says director of ACHS, Steven Sack. The carnival will highlight crime-combating activities of SAPS, in areas that require intense policing, thereby creating constructive dialogue between the police and the citizens that the police serve. Hillbrow, Joubert Park, Newtown, Joburg Inner City – and the 11 regions – are key tourist destinations for local and overseas guests. Marshals trained in crowd control, first aid and emergency...
Review:YFM and FRENCH INST. affair…Bassline
WOW – two nights in a row at the Bassline… we dragged our feet to get to the show on Saturday night with our sins of Friday still hanging around in a haze… But SHO! was it worth it – YFM and French Institute – merci beaucoup. We can’t help but compare the two nights – so please bear with us… Sat night was probably just over half as many people as there were on Friday – bu…t somehow the space felt just as full. I don’t know if it was all the rasta’s bopping around but the air was filled with a mellow happy feeling and everybody that performed was ROCKOUS! One of the great features of the bassline is the raked seating areas on the side of the main floor where you can park your derriere and see everything clearly on stage while still feeling a part of the action…Less people means more options as to where you wanna stand or sit… the bassline is your oyster… and damn those seats are a welcome haven. So stand and sit we did – but who could stay seated to AWADI whose came on nice and early as the final act – catching the crowd wide awake at around 10 o clock – The changeovers between bands was really quick (maybe coz of backing tracks?) and each crew came on and did a short sharp and superpowerpunch performance. A compact night filled with the smooth rhymes of Prokid, Proverb, Nomadi and Skwatta Kamp as well as a suprise visit by the sexy Lebo Mathoza – all of whom represented SA hiphop and music so finely. Awadi from Senegal is one of the most energetic and theatrical of African hiphop groups around – they’re a bit like their soccer team – you can’t help but want them to win the world cup… the female vocalist provided a soulful thread to a magical set – Ces mecs savent bien danser hein! As we said – we’re so glad we went – a well organised, fairly well attended event where the bar was quiet which means we were happy! Is that a bad thing? Bien...
28/09 :: Walk on the “Wilds”side – Joburg’s Central Park?
UPDATE!! We went along on one of these walks a couple of weeks ago – we’re pretty brave, independent people so for us in a sense it’s a pity that one has to go in a big group but the bonus is that you can find out all about the history, the stories and the birdlife from the guides! It’s a mind-blowing place and we were delighted to see some magic hidden corners that no-one knows about. …The views of the city are outstanding. Go on the group walk. It’s worth it. But then make sure to go back yourself (in a small group!) UPDATE! A walk in The Wilds this Sunday August 28 2005. The coral trees are ablaze, the bottle brush is a vivid red, the African daisies are painting the ground with orange and gold. Spring is here early, but there is still one last official winter walk in The Wilds in Houghton/Killarney/Parktown this Sunday (August 28) at 8:30am. Secure parking at the end of St Patrick Rd cnr Houghton Drive (M31S). Children and dogs (with leads) are welcome. Good walking shoes. Donations. Tel TJ 082 554 9972, or see www.wildswalk.co.za for details. ——————————————————– UPDATE! August 9th walk. There’s a walk this Woman’s day to check out the rich winter colours of the park. Join a group walk (approx hour and half) on Tuesday, August 9 at 09:00. Come and see the winter colours in The Wilds in Houghton/Killarney/Parktown. Secure parking at the end of St Patrick Rd cnr Houghton Drive (M31S). Children and dogs (with leads) are welcome. Good walking shoes and a water bottle. Donations welcome. *********************************************** The one criticism about living in Joburg that I can agree to without vehement debate is the fact that Joburgers DO NOT WALK ENOUGH… in fact some Joburgers DO NOT WALK AT ALL. Well, there’s a great big urban space filled with indigenous plants and flowers and trees and amazing nature…so close to the city, Hillbrow and Yeoville – THE WILDS. And you can do a walk around them every second Sunday as part of the thousands of people that are taking back the WILDS. Let’s make the Wilds our Central Park.: TJ de Klerk is someone that’s very passionate about the area known as “The Wilds” in Joburg -it’s that tree-filled greenbelt next to the M1South (Harrow rd/houghton turnoff) that borders on the glorious old suburbs of Killarney, Parktown and Houghton. Since March this year he has been encouraging Joburgers to walk through the beautiful 18 hectares of The Wilds every second Sunday morning. You can get amazing views of Hillbrow and the Northern Suburbs and...
BLOOM 01 – Oh what a Spring night!
CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS If you were lucky enough to get invited to the underground event BLOOM 01 that took place at Nino’s in the city, you must have had a sore head on Saturday morning. This event rocked. BLOOM 01 is the start of a series of events with a very serious aim – they want to g…et people into the city at night for after-work drinks. The first session took place at NINO’s in the gorgeous Hollard Square… with smooth sounds, a diverse range of people and great vibes. NINO’s must have one of the best locations in the city. It is surely THE PLACE to be this spr/ummer…. especially on Friday nights! BLOOM 01 is a viral event, with a small group of city-slicking friends that emailed their friends that emailed theirs…And they intend for it to continue to grow organically. As the flyer said – it’s not a party, it’s not a jol – it’s good Joburg people getting together in the sexy city for after-work drinks…. That may have held true – with the tables over-flowing with people chatting and networking… and flirting… but by midnight when there was not a bum in a seat – it was definitely one sexy party in the city. Looking around at everybody dancing in the lap of the city centre at 1am, one could just imagine how awesome the city centre will be when we’re there every night getting down and dirty. If you would like to hear about future Bloom events, email that devious Editorista. Nice one Sista’s! Stunning flyer by the...
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