Fashioning Modern Africanism

New sitcom Young Rock traces the early years of wrestling legend and top actor Dwayne Johnson •The show has a 90% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where they say, “Anchored by a winsome ensemble, Young Rock is an endearing peek behind the curtain of both Dwayne Johnson's childhood and the wild world of wrestling” •  #32 on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the Best TV Shows of 2021 So Far •Already renewed for a second season Dwayne Johnson might be the nicest guy ever to beat people up for a living. With his cocksure charm, killer smile and willingness to be the butt of the joke, the wrestling phenomenon we all know as The Rock is the consummate showman. But even the world’s biggest star started out small. Dwayne’s latest TV offering,  Young Rock , now on Showmax, is a sitcom based on his own life. The 11-part first season goes back to Dwayne’s roots as a 10-year-old in Hawaii, his high school years in Pennsylvania, and his university years in Miami, all within the (as yet) fictional fram

Day three of auditions for SA Idols season 17 brought yet another week of tears of joy and disappointment. In addition, there were plenty of laughs and birthday balloons on stage as the judges sifted the good from the bad, paving the way for dreams of stardom to come true. This week’s guest judge was one of South Africa’s greatest talents, Ringo Madlingozi. He took a day off from the world of politics and Parliament to help select the best singing talent South Africa has to offer. For Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo and Unathi Nkayi, the day brought with it some pleasant surprises as they – assisted by Ringo –  dished out 24 golden tickets. The day may have started with a no as 22-year-old Karabo Mogola from Pretoria failed to make the cut. However, there were plenty of golden tickets, with several Idols hopefuls managing to secure a full house of nods. Twenty-two-year-old Katiso “Kat” from Johannesburg rolled in with his roller skates and falsetto to clinch the first golden ticket of

Sonia Mbele joins the DiepCity family and she will play the character of Zola.  Zola is a female kasi version of Mgedeza. A gorgeous, sexy, sexual, man-eater who is a cutthroat  and hardcore killer. Men want her but also fear her. She was raised and groomed by her kingpin father whose gun smuggling syndicate she inherited. Read about IdolSA17: Unique sounds make their mark on day two of Idols SA Auditions She grew up in the business and was raised to be tough as nails so that she's not undermined when she takes over. The other kingpins want her, but they fear and respect her more because she killed her father's lieutenant when he undermined her in front of other people.  She has no female friends , and   she   is   a playful vixen who only reveals her dark side when i t is   necessary. Read About New Mzansi Wethu Reality Shows shine the spotlight on ‘Black Tax’ and Bad payers She pursues Mgedeza because she sees him as his absolute equal. But things don’t go as planned for her

  THE Bold type  S5  | First on Showmax  Big on girl power, and even bigger on real friends, the six-episode final season of  The Bold Type  came to our screens this month, express from the US finale.    Read About uThando Lodumo also available for streaming on Showmax Created by writer-producer Sarah Watson ( Parenthood ) and inspired by the life of former Cosmopolitan editor Joanna Coles,  The Bold Type  has a 91% critics rating on  Rotten Tomatoes .  AV Club  calls the show, “ A heart-on-its-sleeve, good-for-you affair that's also a glossy, giddy comic workplace drama.” The new season holds the promise of long-overdue break-ups, tantalising hook-ups, fan-favourite make-ups, heart-breaking split-ups, character clean-ups (for those messy loose ends left by the pandemic-enforced abrupt end to Season 4) and level-ups for Jane (Katie Stevens), Kat (Aisha Dee), and Sutton (Meghann Fahy) as they navigate life, work and love in New York City.    Read About Life with Kelly Khumalo Season

Miss South Africa Shudufhadzo Musida can now add the title of author to her impressive list of achievements. Musida has written a children’s book –  Shudu Finds Her Magic , published by Jacana Media in six languages and with delightful illustrations by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne – which will be available in bookstores around the country and online towards the end of August.   The book is inspired by Musida’s own childhood and the bullying she experienced when she moved to a new province and a new school.   Musida is a well-known advocate for mental health awareness, and this year launched her online mental health initiative # MindfulMondays  on her Instagram platform @shudufhadzomusida ,  in conjunction with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and Discovery Vitality. She explains: “The book is aimed at children aged between four and 12 years of age and deals with bullying and the power of friendship. I hope that youngsters will be able to see themselves reflected in

It continued to rain gold on day two of Idols SA season 17 auditions, with 31 entrants securing that all-important golden ticket to theatre week. Unfortunately, for the many others selected to appear before the judges – the dream ended far too soon and they will be watching the show on TV like the rest of Mzansi. This week, judges Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung and Unathi Nkayi were joined by a new guest judge, award-winning gospel artist Ntokozo Mbambo, as they weeded out the good from the bad and downright scary. The first golden ticket winner was 16 year-old Zukisa from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, who felt he had something unique to put out there, which was not yet out there. After his rendition of Ami Faku’s  Ubuhle Bakho , Unathi said his audition was beautiful. “Your voice is rich, your range is wide, your delivery is sincere, what else should I want?” An overwhelmed Zukisa garnered enough votes to get a golden ticket with a hope of following in the footsteps of

Andile Gaelesiwe is celebrated across SA as the adored host of  Khumbul’ ekhaya   on SABC 1. Yet few know that behind the glamour of her public image, there is a vulnerable girl from Meadowlands, Soweto.  Andile Gaelesiwe grew up in a time of turmoil, not only in SA, but also in her family. This led her to look for her biological father who then betrayed her in the worst possible way. In the late 1990s she took the music industry by storm when her first single   Abuti Yo   was released. "Remembering"  is Andile’s fierce, and at times funny, memoir. It touches on serious issues of rape and patriarchy, but also reveals a woman with a will of steel, music in her soul, and a commitment to living to the full. About the author Andile Gaelesiwe hosts the popular TV shows  Uthando Noxolo  and  Before I Do . Founder of the GBV response NGO, Open Disclosure, she has also been the Amnesty International anti-­sexual violence ambassador. Gaelesiwe has released five albums. BOOK EXTRACT My

Season 17 premiered on Sunday 11 July 2021 with guest judge Prince KayBee joining the Idols SA judges, Randall Abrahams, Somizi Mhlongo and Unathi Nkayi for the first judges’ auditions. The show’s host and co-executive producer, Proverb was also present to ensure that the contestants gave us feedback about their auditions.  Linathi was the first aspirant to take centre stage. Through her beautiful audition, the show was off to a great start. We got the first four yeses and first golden ticket of the judges' auditions.  Golden tickets were dished out, and more contestants marked a spot for themselves to attend Theatre Week.  After some positive auditions, things started to take a different turn.  It surely would not have been a complete show without Somgaga dishing out words from his personal and unique dictionary. He used unfamiliar words such a "phelled" or "bedanger" There was also 30-year-old Berry, who is a second time lucky contestant. She made it to the to

Mzansi Wethu continues to entrench its production prowess with the launch of two brand new exciting reality shows , Ho   Lekane  and  Wang’kolota .  Ho   Lekane   will explore the dynamics of breadwinners who draw the line against financially demanding family members, whilst  Wang’kolot a will profile individuals who spend their money while neglecting to pay back those they owe.  Ho Lekane Renowned actor Kopo Makgae will be the host of  Ho Lokane  as he helps family members resolve issues pertaining to provision in their homes. In a country that is overwhelmed by unemployment and paltry remuneration, most of the sole providers deal with family members that are inconsiderate and they take advantage of their generosity.  The shows seeks to find a permanent resolve that will make everyone happy.   Viewers are going to watch a breadwinner’s wife threatening to leave her husband for sending too much money home, to a woman desperate to move out of home but held back financially by the financ

Zwai Legendary Kwaito artist, producer and musical director Zwai Bala and renowned singer, producer and Member of Parliament Ringo Madlingozi are among the guest judges as the popular talent search show   Idols SA   returns for its 17 th   season this Sunday. Ringo The much anticipated return of the IdolsSA, which attracted a record 15 000 online entrants, will heat up viewers’ living room this winter as  Idols SA  hopefuls belt it out to impress the guest judges as well as the show’s resident judges. Reality TV star, musician and choreographer Somizi Mhlongo, musician, radio and TV personalities Unathi Nkayi and Randall Abrahams, Rapper, radio and TV personality and the show’s co-executive producer Proverb also returns as the show’s host. Idols SA  will start with the airing of all online auditions on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) this Sunday, 11 July 2021 at 17:30. Somizi “We are excited that South Africa’s most-loved talent search show ,  Idols SA ,  returns this Sunday to enterta

Meet the Miss South Africa Top 30 vying for the title of Miss South Africa 2021 and vote for your favourite to make the Top 10. The Top 30 is an impressive and diverse group. Among them are two medical doctors, an attorney, a commercial pilot, an environmental specialist as well as models, graduates and students. Some have started their own businesses while others run charitable organisations. There is also the first transgender woman – Lehlogonolo Machaba from North West – to openly enter the Miss South Africa pageant.   Three have entered before – they are Miss South Africa Kgothatso Dithebe who was Top 5 in 2019; Olin Shae de la Cruz who believes this year will be third time lucky (she placed Top 15 in 2020 and Top 26 in 2017) and Catherine Groenewald who was Top 30 in 2019. The 30 contestants come from around the country – Gauteng has 12 contenders (with four from Pretoria), followed by the Western Cape with seven; KwaZulu Natal with four; the Eastern Cape with three and the Free S