Fashioning Modern Africanism

Miss South Africa 2021 will be crowned on Saturday, October 16, at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town. The event will be screened live from 17h00 on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) and Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) and will also be streamed for an international audience on MissSA.live. Anele Mdoda has been associated with Miss South Africa since 2013 as a judge but this is her first time hosting the pageant. It’s second time around for Panagio who recently completed fronting the latest series of  Survivor SA  for M-Net.   So how does Anele feel about moving from the judges’ panel to centre stage: “It’s the Top 10 who are centre stage, I am merely a vehicle that moves the night along with an insight of where the finalists’ minds should be and what the judges will be thinking, and I will be the one giving the audience at home the scoop!” She encourages television and online viewers to tune in as the next queen is crowned: “It’s going to be a beautiful evening – finding our new Miss South

Mzansi Magic’s red-hot original drama lineup will see two fantastic new additions in October: the Sthandiwe Kgoroge-led Sunday night thriller,  Umkhokha , and the Zandile Msutwana-starring family drama  Grootboom and Sons , which will take over Monday nights. Umkhokha  is an intriguing take on power and betrayal, while  Grootboom and  Sons follows a family at war over their legacy.  Umkhokha  is another excellent addition to our Sunday night roster, which continues to perform exceptionally well with Mzansi Magic audiences “ Our dramas are the top viewed on DStv Compact during their  time slots. We’re delighted to have such successes and are inspired to keep bringing our viewers content that keeps them glued to their screens. We are confident that both Umkhokha with Grootboom and sons will continue this winning formula,” says Nomsa Philiso Director of Local Entertainment Channels at Mnet Umkhokha  a story about two families at war with each other, Sthandiwe Kgoroge (Mzansi Magic’s  The

Umakoti Wethu  is now streaming first on Showmax, just in time for Heritage Day. SAFTA and Africa Movie Academy Award Best Actress winner Fulu Mugovhani gives another prize-worthy performance as Khathu, a Venda woman struggling to conceive, who finds herself in crisis when her Zulu husband's new job takes them back to KwaZulu-Natal, his overbearing mother, and his old flame.   SAFTA nominee Melusi Mbele ( Isibaya ) co-stars as her husband Sizwe, with rising star Kwanele Mthethwa ( Isithembiso, Abomama S2 ) delivering a breakthrough performance as Nobuhle, the woman caught in the middle of this love triangle with a twist. Duduzile Ngcobo ( Durban Gen ,  eHostela ,  Uzalo ) also features as Khathu’s disapproving mother-in-law.  “Umakoti Wethu  is about family matters,” says Fulu ,  who’s acted in everything from  Ayanda  to  Happiness Is A Four-Letter Word, One Night Kwa Mxolisi  to  Seriously Single ,  Ring of Lies  to  Still Breathing.  “It follows a couple who are going through a

Johannesburg, South Africa -  As the leader of fashion forward footwear in the country, Footwork today introduces their latest fun and chic feel for the upcoming SS21 campaign. Aptly titled,  #EveryWomanIsFootwork  the brand celebrates a group of South African female trailblazers setting the trends for others to follow.   The new campaign will tap into the notion of showcasing women as the leaders of the 21 st  century, whilst embracing who they are expressing themselves through their choice of footwear. Footwork lovers are constantly looking for something fresh, trendy, different and creative. The aim of the campaign is to give them exactly that with the new SS21 collection, which is infused with dynamic and bold designs. To bring the #EveryWomanIsFootwork campaign to life, the brand scouted for fashion forward women who are not aligned with the brands identity but also leaders and innovators in their own individual fields. Females who aren’t celebrated enough. Leading the campaign is

Hospitals are places of both trauma and hope, where a single decision can save a life or end it.   Wounds , the gripping new 1Magic medical drama, captures the tightrope that medical professionals walk daily, all while they grapple with the complexities of being human. Coming to your screens in October,  Wounds  is set in the fictional Healing Hands Hospital, where nurses and doctors dedicate their lives to helping others. It is where we meet Busisiwe, a new intern who is understandably nervous – but for reasons that have more to do with the past she is running away from and is keeping secret from everyone around her. “ Wounds  is 1Magic’s first medical drama, and we pride ourselves in diversifying and growing the excellent local content slate we have for our viewers. It’s important that we keep pushing the envelope and challenge ourselves with each new show we bring out,” says Nomsa Philiso,  the Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net. The impressive   Wounds   cast feature

Creating a name and cementing yourself as an actor in South Africa has it's tolls, but for KZN born actor Mondli Thusi the journey came with a lot of surprises. Growing up in New Castle, Mondli has always had his mind fixated on becoming an entertainer.  Mondli Thusi says his career as an entertainer started as a community radio host at New Castle, he started as a news reader, then a breakfast show host. He was later appointed a station programme's manager. He got a call from his cousin, the popular poligamist Musa Msekleku to work behind the scenes as a production assistant intern.  Working on the production of uThando nesthembu has opened Mondli's eyes to chase his dream of becoming an actor. After two seasons of uthando nesthumbu, Mondli relocated to Johannesburg. Within a period of 2 months and a few auditions he eventually landed a role as cop on Mzansi Magic telenovela Isibaya. Playing these cameo roles has taught  Mondli to persevere chasing his dream.  "Thembel

CELEBS HELPS RAISE FUNDS TO SEND SPECIAL OLYMPICS SA NATIONAL TEAM TO THE WINTER GAMES IN RUSSIA      With a growing participant list of over 170 South African celebrities, well know personalities, media and industry players who have committed to plunge, the 5 th  annual Special Olympics South Africa Polar Plunge marks the biggest since its inception in 2017. With 5 days to go, the organization today officially announced the ‘final’ list of plungers participating this year. Funds raised will support the 2021 Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) National Team who will be competing in the 2023 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Russia. The Winter Games have been postponed to January 2023 due to pending wave 4 concerns globally. The Polar Plunge is an annual Special Olympic South Africa fundraising event, which has received overwhelming support from media, celebrities and corporate South Africa over the past four years. Participants commit to taking the “plunge” into a pool with 5 ton

OBAMA: IN PURSUIT OF A MORE PERFECT UNION   | Stream now HBO’s  Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union  chronicles the personal and political journey of President Barack Obama as America grapples with its racial history.  Directed by seven-time Emmy winner Peter Kunhardt and executive produced by  The New Yorker 's Jelani Cobb, the three-part docuseries has a 91% critics rating on  Rotten Tomatoes , with  RogerEbert.com  calling it “a comprehensive and compelling analysis… Kunhardt’s film brightly illuminates how essential the discussion of Obama’s handling of race is to American culture as a whole, especially when it was no accident that every president before him was a white man.” Timed to coincide with the former president’s 60th birthday,  Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union  features the likes of politician Jesse Jackson, professors  Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cornel West, political consultant David Axelrod, authors Michael Eric Dyson and Ta-Nehisi Coates, journalists

Donate R10 and stand in line to win a braai with Cassper ______________________________ ______________________   The Braai Show  – which is airing every Wednesday at 18h00 on SABC 1 until November 10 – has joined forces with host Cassper Nyovest to raise funds for the Save Nompilo campaign. Nyovest himself has donated R150 000 while  The Braai Show  executive producer Cake Media has made a R100 000 contribution to the drive and has also created a SMS line where people can donate R10 by sending an SMS to the number 38058. Five lucky people, who contribute via the SMS line, will win a braai with Nyovest.   Earlier this year, the rapper took to social media to urge the public to donate money to an account started in Nompilo Dlamini’s name. She is a 26-year-old nursery school teacher from Swaziland who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Dlamini is hoping to get a lifesaving transplant in India but, unfortunately, she does not have the money to fund the operation. She needs R2-million, not only

S outh African National Parks (SANParks) today announced that it will be launching a 13 week Reality Television Series on 7 October 2021 at 21:30 on Mzansi Magic DSTV channel 161. Hosted by popular actress Rami Chuene and renowned life coach Romeo Mabasa, the series titled Away for Repair will showcase the heartfelt stories of ordinary people taking much-needed time away to mend broken bonds. SANParks Managing Executive: Tourism Development and Marketing, Hapiloe Sello, said, “Away for Repair, will treat viewers to an emotional roller-coaster as four teams of two undergo a relationship boot camp against the spectacular backdrops of seven of South Africa’s prime National Parks”.   Through this series we will be showcasing the diversity of our parks to the Mzansi Magic audience as well as the range of fun and educational activities available in these destinations. We also felt it important to emphasise the value of spending time in nature on emotional wellbeing – how the National Parks a

Hailed as “a modern crime family masterpiece” by   Rotten Tomatoes ,   Gangs of London   is now available to binge, first on Showmax. Nominated earlier this year for both a BAFTA and a Hollywood Critics’ Association Award for Best Drama, as well as an Emmy for its stunts,  Gangs of London  tells the story of a city torn apart in the wake of the assassination of Finn Wallace (Golden Globe nominee Colm Meaney from  Layer Cake ), the head of its most powerful crime family.  The 10-part series, which has a 91% critics rating on  Rotten Tomatoes,  is the latest offering from action auteur Gareth Evans (who wrote and directed the multi-award-winning Indonesian martial arts crime classics  The Raid  and  The Raid 2 ) and his co-writer and cinematographer Matt Flannery.  As  Rolling Stone  says, “ Gangs of London  will grab you by the scruff of the neck, hurl you against a wall, and remind you with repeated blunt force that the show comes from Gareth Evans, one of the great action directors al

- Last call for nomination submissions Roll out the carpet and iron out your Sunday Best- Africa's biggest gospel music affair is back as World Gospel Powerhouse hosts the 14th Annual Crown Gospel Awards. In the wake of the 2021 nominations opening, the prestigious Crown Gospel Music Awards is gearing for the return of the celebration as the entries pour in. The nominations submissions deadline has been extended from the 15th September to the 30th September 2021 closing date. After a challenging 2020, where we spent most of the year under lockdown, thanks to Covid-19 restrictions during the scourge of a global pandemic, the entertainment industry took a knock. However, through the messages of hope embedded in gospel music, many held on dearly to their faith and seek comfort in the music. 2021 comes with a fraction of hope and calm as the vaccination process rolls out around the world. Contrary to the massive glamorous red carpet event ushered by glittering ball gowns, feathers and

Dutch denim brand   G-Star RAW   announces today its latest worldwide ‘Hardcore Denim’ campaign with the doggfather the hiphop industry, the iconic Snoop Dogg. Helmed by a custom-made version of the soundtrack single ‘Say it Witcha Booty’, by the multi-platinum artist, Snoop Dogg is back like he never left.  Snoop needs no introduction – he’s a living legend and a globally recognised innovator, simultaneously iconic and super accessible, just like denim.  G-Star RAW has a long tradition of working with “true originals'' like Snoop, authentic and exceptional people who are one-of-a-kind and true masters of their craft. This Snoop Dogg X G-Star RAW campaign merges G-Star’s Hardcore Denim philosophy with Snoop’s signature blend of humour, sickest style, and backside appreciation.  The collaboration is brought to life by a video that is creatively celebrating denim booties, featuring both men and women, beautiful islands, hot air balloons and yes … even dogs.  Gwenda Van Vliet, CMO