Africa Day is for you
Africa Day – Giving a Voice to African Unity As a country, South Africa is probably best known for overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges, and forging reconciliatory links where conflict and strife seemed the only outlet for expression. The events of the past few weeks have reinforced the need for bridge-building initiatives such as the Africa Day celebrations, and organisers have resolved that this year’s events will take place as planned. The weekend of 23, 24 & 25 May, is devoted to Africa Day celebrations, culminating in two free concerts held in Newtown’s Mary Fitzgerald Square (24 May) and Soweto’s Mofolo Park (25 May). The concerts have always attracted a widely diverse audience. One the key reasons for its success is that the shows enjoyed the support of nationals from all parts of the African continent. The Concert Goes On “The easy thing would be to cancel or postpone the shows, but we believe that now, more than ever, it is critical that South Africans and our brothers and sisters from the rest of the continent gather together on this auspicious anniversary to celebrate and honour the ties that bind us, the commonalities that make us one people.” explains Steven Sack director for Arts Culture and Heritage within the Department of Community Development, City of Joburg “It’s important to remember that Africa Day was founded to connect us to one another as a people. We want the concerts to be an exemplar of this principle – let it be a place and time where we can be part of turning the tide against the xenophobia, and remind ourselves that fundamentally, we’re all in this together. ” Safety and Security The unrest has also prompted the organisers of the Africa Day celebrations to bolster the safety and security set up of the event to allay any potential worries around security at the shows. Comments Graeme Dickson, Arts Alive Disaster Management Consultant “We are confident about our security plan, and working in close conjunction with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department and the South African Police , have escalated the security and police presence to an appropriate level. “ As the preparations for the events continue, there is no doubt that, in keeping with our tradition of overcoming strife and challenges, the City of Johannesburg’s Africa Day 2008 celebrations will become part of a new story – one that tells of the triumph of compassion and Ubuntu over fear and...
TED conference ‘Suspended’
It’s been a tough week for South Africa’s people as we contemplate the wave of devastating violence rampaging across our glorious city of Johannesburg. Our hearts are heavy. To kick us while we’re down, we received the sad news that September’s much-vaunted TED conference Africa (that we told you about in November last year), has been ‘suspended’ apparently due to a ‘lack of available’ time. We have written to the organisers to request more information. We’ll get back to you as soon as we hear more. For now, read the reasons...
DJ Sdunkero’s magic hook
We’re so happy for Mpumalanga as we realise how much the ‘Song of the year’ title means to one of our favourite provinces. We’re going to keep listening to the mysterious “Maputo Song” to see if we can find the magic hook that got the province voting the song into first place for “Song of the Year”, give us time to find that kwasa rhythm ne! Congrats to Ligwalagwala FM and DJ Sdunkero – see some of their photo’s of the Ligwalagwala FM experience of the SAMA’s and the delight of some of the Maputo Song fans here and read our thoughts from a marketing perspective on our sister site JOVA . You can also find out more about DJ Sdunkero at MIO. Read Ligwalagwala’s announcement below: Mpumalanga’s finest house DJ Sdunkero caused a stir when he won the “MTN record of the year award at the SAMA event this past weekend 03 May. The whole of Mpumalanga was behind the KaBokweni born muso who was nominated for the record of the year, the famous “Maputo Song” from his album Edladleni Volume 1. Ligwalagwala FM is more than ecstatic after one of its very own DJ Sdunkero won the biggest award of the South African Music Award. DJ Sdunkero emerged head and shoulders above prolific artists in the category of Record of the year to win it. “The 3rd of May 2008 will forever be a memorable day to me because I was able attract the recognition that Mpumalanga province deserves”, I was more than confident about my work prior the awards but the win gave me more joy than I anticipated Messages of support were conveyed from the Mpumalanga Provincial government, Department of Arts and Culture and the Public prior to the event. He received a hero’s welcome when he landed at the Kruger Mpumalanga international airport where hundreds of fans where eagerly awaiting their hero. “Sdunkero has put Mpumalanga entertainment industry on the Map, the whole country will now give us the respect we deserve” said an excited fan. Amongst the crowd was ANC treasure Mathew Phosa and his wife Speaker of Mpumalanga legislature YM Phosa Indalo car hire sponsored the Ligwalagwala FM DJ’s with two branded Mercedes Benz, while Sdunkero’s was dressed by Mpumalanga born tycoon Robert Gumede executive chairman of Gijima ASP. DJ Sdunkero hosts the “The Zone Eskhaleni” with Giventake 18h00-21h00 on...
SAMA Award Winners 2008
Sadly we couldn’t be at the SAMA‘s in Sun City last night but from what we hear – they rocked yet again! See the official press announcement below filling you in on the evening’s entertainment and the winners. Well done to the PR team behind the event… great online presence! The only award that really puzzled us was song of the year… please share the appeal of “Maputo Song” with us… we’re not getting it. Otherwise, we’re touched by the Lucky Dube tribute and that Lira and Tony Cox were recognised and of course that SA’s king of music HHP got propped yet again… Now can we please take Jabba and Lira global? It was all that the fans had expected – and more. The Main Awards Ceremony on Saturday the 3rd of May at the 14th Annual MTN SA Music Awards was a triumph for the local music industry, an opportunity to showcase our country’s extensive talent to the audience in the Sun City Super Bowl and to the millions of fans who tuned in to watch it live on SABC 1. This was truly South African music’s biggest night, an event that has come to be considered as one of the highlights on the local entertainment calendar. The event was hosted, for the second year running, by kwaito kingpin Kabelo, and the energetic artist proved that he’s much more than just a musician – he’s an all-round entertainer. The nominees were announced, the winners were called up, the acceptance speeches were delivered and the audience got involved in an absolutely electrifying evening of blinged-out lighting, phenomenal dancing and uplifting animation. And then there were the live acts, a selection of SAMA 14 nominees who proved how richly diverse our musical landscape is. The show kicked off with an emotive performance by Jub Jub and Jaziel Brothers before the party really got going when dance-floor doyens DJ Sdunkero and T’zozo en Professor got a massive response to their kwaito hits. Kurt Darren showed his range with two hits – one for the feet and another for the heart – before a very moving tribute to much-loved deceased singer and Lifetime Achiever Gé Korsten. MXO and Zonke got together for a power-packed collaboration that celebrated their shared roots before The Parlotones took to the stage to entertain the exited audience with their melodic rock. Freshlyground performed next and the got together with Kwela Tebza and Lucky Dube’s band One People (the house band for all live performances) to pay a touching tribute to the late reggae legend, the evening’s second Lifetime Achiever. The party got going again when DJ...
Represent Recommends: David Goldblatt
We’re delighted that David Goldblatt, one of our favourite South African photographers, is being shown at the Goodman for an entire month. This exhibition, entitled Joburg, will showcase photographs by Goldblatt from 1960’s to the present time, including amazing scenes shot in Hillbrow in the 70s. GO GO GO! David Goldblatt is renowned for his documentation of the progress of societal changes and how these impact on the landscape and South African communities, without being judgmental. His works are widely collected, both locally and abroad, in public and private collections. His work is a real statement about the changes currently taking place in South Africa. Goldblatt says about the show, “Over the years I have become interested in different aspects of the city. Some of these photographs I have not printed before, some I have not exhibited before, some I showed at the Market Theatre Photography Gallery in the 70s and 80s, others I have shown more recently. Together they come from attempts to get to grips with something of the life and places of this city.” The exhibition will include early black and white images of Johannesburg, some of which have never been seen before, as well as Soweto, Structures, and more recent colour works from the Johannesburg Intersections series. The exhibition opens on the 26th of April 2008 at noon and closes on 24th of May 2008. David Goldblatt Photo from the Goodman Gallery website: She said to him: You be the driver and I’ll be the Madam. Then they picked up the fender and posed. Hilbrow, 1975 Image size: 50.5 x 50.5cm | Print size: 56 x...
What we’re listening to right now.
These two tracks have got us going C R A Z Y….. We just wanted to share them with you dear Representers. LISTEN NOW! Kanye West has outdone himself on the massive chart-climbing hit, AMERICAN BOY where he collaborates with British soul singer Estelle . It’s a gorgeous playful conversation between Kanye and Estelle that plays on the US and UK accents and references… Catchy, funk-driven, soulful, bringing out the dance moves… American Boy will without a doubt be one of the global hits of 2008. “Take me on a trip I’d like to go some day… Take me to New York I’d like to see LA…” Put it on to get the dancefloor bouncing! Click here to listen NOW or watch the video below. By the way,let the song play on into her second song ‘Wait a minute -Just a Touch’, how similar is the beat to TofoTofo by Pitch Black Afro??? Please educate us if it’s a sample they’ve both used. Then, we can’t stop whistling the refrain from the hit track Young Folks, coming from the simply named Swedish trio Peter Bjorn and John . Our only question is who sings the lady’s voice in this all male band? Visit their MYSPACE site and take a listen to YOUNG FOLKS, which bears the accolade of being Apple’s iTune song of the year in 2007. Or watch the video below. Kanye West and Estelle – American Boy [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IY5ILcKF3A[/youtube] Peter, Bjorn and John – Young Folks...
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