Man on Ground selected for Toronto Int Film Festival
Check out the new film Man on Ground from Tom Pictures. MAN ON GROUND has been selected to have its world premiere at the prestigious TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL due to be held from the 8th-18th of September 2011. MAN ON GROUND will be showcased in the CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA category and will screened on the 12th, 13th and 17th of September. TIFF describes MAN ON GROUND as follows: “A bold and exacting portrayal of rising xenophobia in South Africa. Omotoso casts the story of a young Nigerian man living in the African refugee tenements of Johannesburg who disappears against the backdrop of animosity against immigrants flaring into violent rioting. In the span of a single night, his brother, on a short visit from London, tries to elucidate the mystery. There are three sides to every story. Yours, mine, and the truth. No one is lying, but memories shared serve each differently. Ade (Hakeem kae-Kazim) is a naturalized citizen of the UK. During a trip to South Africa with his wife Nadia (Mandisa Bardill), he is tasked by his mother with delivering a package to his half-brother Femi (Fabian Adeoye Lojede). Ade who has always lived in the shadow of his brother reluctantly agrees. On arrival in South Africa, Ade discovers that his brother has gone missing. With the help of Zodwa (Thisiwe Ziqubu), femi’s fiancée. Ade embarks on a search that sees him slowly peel away at his estranged brother’s life. Against Zodwa’s advice, femi had returned to the informal settlement ravaged by a wave of xenophobic violence and civil unrest a week earlier in search of work. In his efforts to find his brother Ade enlists the help of Femi’s employer, Timothi (Fana Mokoena), a man with his own problems. His wife Lindiwe (Bubu Mazibuko) has been acting strange since Femi disappeared, and the township hothead Vusi (Makhaola Ndebele) has been seen wielding his gun around. The last thing Timothi needs is Ade’s questions. As another riot erupts Ade is forced to take shelter with Timothi and the journey of the night will reveal the truth of what happened to Femi and force Ade to deal with his complex relationship with his brother. Watch the Trailer For more information please contact Unathi...
BENG BENG BENG – Femi Kuti here on Fri!
*UPDATE: BengBengBeng – don’t miss Femi Kuti guys – it’s this Friday start planning now. We are finding out the concert schedules/times for you and will let you know shortly. * Time for some good news! We have been waiting a long time to see one of Africa’s most incredible performers in SA. Get ready for an energetic, sexy, move your bones performance from the inimitable Nigerian SupaFunkArtist Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti right here on Southern African soil. There’s no excuse not to be there ‘coz it’s a FREE concert in one of Jozi’s coolest places, Mary Fitgerald Square in Newtown, all in celebration of AFRICA day – damn it feels good to be African today. Lets ALL go downtown. Support the city, the country and the continent! If you don’t know Femi, buy his music now. So put Friday night the 25 May in your diaries now and REPRESENT with more brilliant music from Ringo, the mysterious SAMA winner Lesego, Louis Mhlanga and others on the night… It just gets better on Saturday the 26th May with another free concert in Jukskei Park in Alex featuring Kwaito’s flavour of the moment (We heart LVD) L’VoVo Derango, the soulful Siphokazi and the ever popular Flabba then if you still ain’t partied out, head on over to Mofolo Park SOWETO on Sunday the 27th May for more Femi and our best girl Lira and our main man HHP, hopefully with his full band. SHO! It’s seriously jam-packed. Here are the details: The weekend-long Africa Day celebrations are about to commence, and preparations are at an advanced stage for the various events that will take place on the weekend of May 25th. This years Africa Day activities, hosted by the City of Joburg, the French Institute, Arts Alive, the Lotto and SABC will take place as three free events throughout different areas of Joburg, namely Newtown, Alexandra and Soweto. The festivities kick off on May 25th, with a concert at the Mary Fitzgerald Square, featuring Nigerian afro-beat star Femi Kuti, South Africa’s Ringo, Lesego, Corlea and Louis Mhlanga, Zambian vocalist Lindiwe, Ugandan Kinobe as well as the Vuvuzela Orchestra. The concert, which is free to members of the public will be televised on SABC2 and SABC Africa from 22h00 – 00h00 on Friday, 25th May. The next day, May 26th, the move is in Alexandra’s Jukskei Park, where a fashion show with a difference will take place along the banks of the Jukskei River, followed by performances by Flabba, L’vovo Derango and Siphokazi, all open to the public at no charge. The final part of the Afro-centric celebrations takes place at Soweto’s Mofolo Park, where Femi...
Represent Interview: Billie Zangewa
We remember reading about Billie Zangewa when she won the Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award Exhibition in 2004 for her gorgeous handbags. We were very envious of her prize – a return ticket to Paris and a few months in the incroyable city d’amour…but at the same time we were delighted for her. Billie has been on quite a journey since then and is now holding a solo exhibit at the Afronova gallery in Newtown from Friday 4 May 07 (opening night) to Saturday 2 June 07. Email afronova@tiscali.co.za for queries. Represent caught up with Billie: So Billie, give us the short version of your backstory if you don’t mind… from birth to now, how did you find yourself where you’re at? Born in Malawi. Grew up in Gaborone, Botswana. My dad is Malawian and mom South African (Sotho from Aliwal North). I am somewhere in between. After varsity I moved to Jhb as there are more opportunities for an artist here than in Gaborone. What inspired you to become an artist? Where did you study and how long did it take? It’s a bit like it was pre-destined because I have known it since I was 9 yrs old. I got my BFA (Bachelor of Fine Art) at Rhodes university and that was a 4 year degree. How do you define and describe yourself? I am a visual artist, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, girlfriend….I am a simple person just trying to fulfill my dreams with the support of those that care about me. Have you been lucky in life, if so, tell us how? I FEEL as if I have been lucky. Because every time I have been trying to do something the “universe” has sent me an earth angel (or several) to help me. What was the last exciting thing that happened to you? This journey in general is really exciting. Being awarded a residency in Antwerp at the Dak’art 2006 was awesome. Being on the ski slopes for the first time this past December was pretty exciting too. What do you love about Johannesburg? Jhb CBD, which is full of exciting visuals. The blinding sunlight – even in winter! The level of cuisine – we can find so many kinds (Japanese, thai, Indian etc) and its all extremely good. What would you change about Jozi if you could? The crime! It’s cramping our style. What’s your ideal city to live in and why? I am eternally in love with Paris. I spent 5 months there and did not want to leave. I love French culture and you can walk around the city pretty much anytime of...
Represent Interview: SPOEK MATHAMBO
Spoek Mathambo’s Spoek Mathambo’s name keeps on knocking on our radar so we thought we’d get straight to it, get in early before the rest & let you know all about this young rebel musician with his own flow. Expect the unexpected when it comes to our featured peeps! In the first of a whole lot of interviews with young people who stand out from the crowd and are defining their own future, here’s SPOEK – see how he rocks . You can check out his MySpace site here where you can hear his music and see his videos. It’s a long interview, but we think it’s worth it! Good luck to you Spoek and BIG UPS for the interview! Keep it up bro! : Represent: So Spoek, give us the short version of your back-story if you don’t mind… from birth to now, how did you find yourself where you are at? How old are you and where do you live? My real name’s Nthato Mokgata, I like to think of myself as the Ndebele prince (and I don’t mean prince like diamante studded one piece lycra suits and hi-heels, but I mean Maraba royal family of Polokwane). My connection to the crown is somewhat remote, but it makes me feel fun inside. I’m the singer, dancer, songwriter, fashion-face, doodle artist extraordinaire. I like watching old episodes of Seinfeld and drinking slush puppies until my face turns lime green. I have come to grips with the fact that I’m a bit of a nerd, because hey, what can I say, nerd is very much in vogue now. Everyday I wake up to my grandmother’s voice. She’s 94 and very strong, abnormally strong (and perty) for a lady of her age. She asks lots of questions, like what am I doing with my life, when I’m going to wash the dishes and when I’m, going to get my driver’s license. That’s my driving force. I live in Johannesburg in my mother and father’s house. I am 21. I have been writing songs since I was 10. I never, ever thought I could be a professional rapper. I wanted to become a ninja, a computer programmer and a doctor, then eventually went to med school (because I was a big hippy and wanted to save the world….long story) and ditched the whole ninja thing. I then ditched the whole med school thing and learned to make pictures on the computer…graphic design. I’ve now decided I will become a professional musician. I am in a group called SWEAT_X with the incredibly talented Afrikaaner, Markus Wormstorm. We...
Nataniël’s Hong Kong Kiss
He has 13 albums, 11 books and has had over 50 stage productions and he wears lipstick! Something was brewing inside of me on Friday afternoon when I realized that there were a couple of hours left until my very first experience of this man; it was a kind of nervous excitement. And although I didn’t know what to expect, Nataniël’s latest stage production THE HONG KONG KISS was absolutely fabulous! With a full on band made up of glorious singers, a percussionist, keyboard player, guitarists and drummer, exquisite lighting and staging the singer/songwriter/entertainer tells his experience of traveling to Hong Kong to meet one of the world’s most famous porcelain masters and designers of ceramic bowls. What was intended as a week-long business trip, turned into an epic saga of intrigue, misunderstandings, deceit and a near death experience. The script is a mixture of English and Afrikaans and whilst he shares his bizarre experiences of Hong Kong he also tells little unrelated stories and personal beliefs. Stories about a school teacher who made him tea with salt and taught him that opening the window just a little bit on a very hot summer’s day will allow for a stronger breeze to flow through, and that his lifelong belief that when one goes outside that they should always wear protection because nothing makes one more common than bad skin! Nataniël also launched his latest album “I Wear White” and performed some of his latest songs. Over the past decade Nataniël has not only established himself as producer, director, designer, playwright and public speaker, but as South Africa’s leading exponent of the solo stage act. An outspoken and controversial figure, he continuously crosses over from the alternative circuit to the main stage, generating extensive media coverage and a massive cult following. THE HONG KONG KISS opened on Friday 9 February and performances will be from Wednesdays to Saturdays at 20h30 and Sundays at 15h00. Book at Computicket or the Emperors Palace box office. No children under 13. CD’s books and selected products from the KAALKOP range (which is gorgeous by the way) will be available at all...
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