Get ready for the MAMA’s – MTV Africa!
Our dedicated scribe of the moment, Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema, attended the MTV press announcement of the ‘MAMA awards’, MTV’s pan-African music awards brought to you by MTV and their sponsor ZAIN (a telecommunications company…). He reckons healthy competition is the way forward to uplift and keep on diversifying and enriching our music scene, we have to admit, we agree! See our photostory at our RepresentFlickr set here. Read all about the event below – the official media release follows. Sharpile RTMM! It’s official, MTV Networks Africa is here! And if all the over-the-top hoo-hah of Tuesday night has any truth to it, then the end for the MTN SAMA Awards is definitely not nigh but rather in a very real way so resoundingly here. The setting of MTV’s “take-over-Africa” spectacle was the Japanese themed Tokyo Sky of Fourways, Johannesburg. Ja, the ambiguity was very clear: the guillotine’s blade has gut-gushingly fallen on the video-jockey controlled entertainment industry in this part of Africa! I have to admit though, with all the fine sushi, on the house liquor en masse (Double Remmie Martin and Lemonade…one more please sir!), the glitz and splendour that was blatantly flaunted, the Network has a lot of credibility and plenty to offer Africa’s musicians in sharp contrast to the MTN SAMA Awards that favours the same few artists all the time and only focuses on SA. Let us not forget the controversy-riddled quagmire of the recent MTN SAMAs which did not help the situation either, in fact if anything – this year’s SAMAs managed to quicken the event’s long awaited coup de grace. Competition is often a healthy thing and in this case it’s long overdue. The Media targeted event (Nou Ek Spog!) had the makings of a typical TRL show on MTV Base. The MC was as chirpy as all the free flowing video mouthpieces on the network’s channels. The program direction was lively with a twist of spring. The audience (le paparazzi!) was very receptive, although at one stage a tad disappointed (we’ll come back to this one…). Mr. Alex Okosi, a Nigerian born, American raised, British groomed and now South African Corporate Executive is the driving force behind MTV Africa’s no-holds-barred takeover bid. His passion and inspiring vibrancy is believable enough to prop-up one’s expectations of the fresh wave of reprieve that has at last beached on our shores. An array of Dj’s and musicians were bopping away, including Cleo, KB, boys from Skwatta Kamp and Brickz. One particular artist caught my attention, the 12 year old In-cha who is an ingenious (lest I be tempted to declare her a maestro) violinist....
The Return of the B Girl @ 88 on Friday
Fly flyers all over Jozi this weekend, must be that Spring is springing early this year. The Party People crew are already well recovered from the Oppikopi bash and ready to dish it up to you with even more flavour this Friday night with a full juicy line up of sweet sounds. They tell you as it is: “For those of you who have been living under a rock and have missed all of Bahamadia’s shows, we hope to see you there.” Word! Merely a week after performing to an immensely diverse crowd at Party People Oppikoppi, Northam on the 9th of August, and killing it I might add, the queen Bahamadia, along with her talented Dj, Dj Statik will be getting ready to bring back the real definition of the B Girl to 88 Lounge in Norwood. Sharing the stage with her will be an equally talented South Africa line up by the likes of Party People’s first lady Fifi, Miss GolDigger herself and of course what would a Hip-Hop party be without Dj Kenzhero. Catch all of this at 88 Lounge on the 15th August 2008. Doors open at 8:00pm and the damage to the pocket is R100. 00. Woman’s Month Special:Ladies R80 before 9:30. For more info on our featured artist check out...
Mawe-2 LIVE at House of NsakO
Nice flyer design from the B-side crew. We’re sure the music at House of NsakO in Brixton is going to be just as sweet this Saturday night. Just up the hill from Melville, aim for the tower then hit a right and head for the High Street ;). The B-side Party with Deejay BlaQt presents Mawe-2 ” live “… As he takes us through the soulful jazzy sounds from his debut album – titled a fools hope, So expect an explosive perfomance… with DJ BlaQt taking us through the night with some of that good music….@ House Of NsakO ( 101 High Str., Brixton Jozi town ) & R 40 bucks guarantees you a dope night out.. http//: www.myspace.com/bsideblog http//: www.myspace.com/mawe2 http//: www.mawe2.rooftopmedia.co.za http//: www.myspace.com/djblaqt Download Deejay BlaQt`s Bside mini mix …. http://www.zshare.net/audio/14680764a732b4a4/ Check the tracklisting & artwork on :...
Represent Review: RnB Women’s Day Concert
At heart, we all know he’s a serious ladies man. Represent’s one and only Reuben “The Matrix” Malema finds a new sidekick and surrounds himself with the wonders of women as he at the Women’s day RnB bash at the Bassline in Johannesburg… See our Flickr photoset here. Sharpile as always Reuben : 21H00 on Friday: 08 August 2008 at Bassline – Newtown, Johannesburg. A fairly cool night for a typical late winter, early spring day in the city of gold. Mr. Nkateko Siweya (My cameraman and the newest member of Matrix Incorporated) joins me on a colourful journey of discovery to celebrate and honor man’s better half: Abafazi. Funny though, that on this journey so full of affection, comfort and lots of happy emotions, Ms. Janica Nhlapo had to purposefully go AWOL on me. Oops, I forgot: she’s enjoying all that is beautiful about being a woman: the early and tender days of her new born baby boy. And yes, Congratulations to her and all the other strong and mild willed women out there who are jealously guarding the fort and by some miraculous wonder when life pits them against all odds, still manage to constantly hoist the torch of humanity ever so high. To this end, yours truly unreservedly salutes you. The venue of the Newtown (Jozi) Celebrates: Women in Arts – R&B concert was warm and very homely. The guest lounge had been decorated with red silk dressing, a scatter of chocolate nibbles and matching white candles. Fresh, crisply clear juice in flute glasses was served together with a helping of bite-size chicken skewers, roast leg of lamb portions, fish cakes, beef burgers, an assortment of mouth-watering sausages and tantalizing sauce-dipped meatballs on “Sterk-Blatjang”. At 21H30 the build-up process was well underway with DJ Franso rearing in a collection of very good house and smooth tunes. A brigade of well adorned ladies started streaming in by the bus loads! The fact was clearly evident that this one was selfishly for the ladies. Ms. Lulu took to the stage to get the live performances off to a very beautiful start; her romantic ballads coupled with her sweet melody were a reminiscent of Mama Letta Mbuli`s “I need you baby”. When the mellow ballads had warmed up the hall; the energetic Busie set the dance floor alight with her paced up performance of popular and very circular jingles; with the naughty (see pictures) Chomie infusing all sorts of excitement upon the outnumbered male part of the audience, while they all sang along to her famous track: Jaiva Sexy! Edgars Consolidated Stores was kind enough to the ladies to...
Represent Recommends: La Traviata
Our very fabulous world traveller, in-house dancer, choreographer and sometime therapist (yeah, we’ve got a biiiig colourful family at Represent and lots of talent!) went to spend some time at the La Traviata open-day rehearsals – she was inspired and loved every minute of it, convinced to get her tutu back on. Elmarie gives you LOTS of reasons why you MUST go to the Ballet in 2008 and specifically to La Traviata by the South African Ballet Theatre, dates and details provided below. Sharpile Elms! (PS – How awesome is that rehearsal studio? I wanna dance there!) “Get high on dance! To say ballet is a dying art form is completely inaccurate! The South African Ballet Theatre company is very much alive. In disbelief? My advice is that you get yourself to their newest performance ‘La Traviata’ opening 15 August. I recently had the privilege of attending an open day rehearsal at their magnificent studios in Jozi; it was uplifting to say the very least. Once again, I felt extremely proud of our South African talent. So! For some divine inspiration treat your mind to a night at the ballet. No one’s asking you to wear the tights, simply turn off the tele’ and indulge in a truly beautiful mood-altering experience. If you’re interested in seeing a perfect machine reveal its existence of a soul then you owe it to yourself to see this dynamic company perform La Traviata. And remember, Live a lot!” www.saballettheatre.co.za FNB’s La Traviata – The Ballet The Nelson Mandela Stage At The Johannesburg Civic Theatre 15 August – 7 September 2008 A ballet in three Acts With The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Allan Stephenson Twenty two performances of FNB’s La Traviata – the Ballet choreographed by Veronica Paeper. An exquisite story ballet based on the famous opera ‘La Traviata” La Traviata is Cape Town based choreographer Veronica Paeper’s ballet translation of the Verdi opera of the same name. Based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas, it tells the story of a Parisian courtesan who unexpectedly finds herself in love and loved in the midst of a cynical and frivolous life among the demi-monde of Paris. But it is a love that is destined soon to be shattered on the shoals of family duty and mortal illness. The score is drawn from Verdi’s exquisite opera, especially arranged for ballet. Regarded as one of Paeper’s finest works, La Traviata brings to the stage the tragic story of a dying woman’s last love. La Traviata – The Ballet Saturday 16 August @ 3pm Saturday 16 August @ 8pm (Half-price night) Sunday 17 August @...