Fashioning Modern Africanism

With just two weeks to go before the   Idols SA   season 18 winner is crowned, and after last week’s top four enjoyed a coastal adventure in Cape Town, the show have reached the most anticipated stage of the competition yet: the top three.   Making the cut, after over 15 million viewer votes this week, are: Mpilo, Nozi and Thapelo, with Ty Loner’s road unfortunately coming to an end.   With a nuanced yet uplifting live show in front of a packed Heartfelt Arena in Tshwane, the finalists performed three songs each. To paraphrase host ProVerb, that was triple the music for viewers – but also triple the pressure for the singers.   For their first song, contestants performed the track they first auditioned with. The next round saw them performing classic diva hits, and the final songs were chosen by the judges.   Nozi kicked things off with Daniel Caesar and H.E.R.’s   Best Part . “It was like we were at your concert, and you sang it like Nozi would sing it,” said Somizi. Her next song was

As judge JR Bogopa said, it’s no longer about proving that they can sing – contestants must show that they have what it takes to win it all.  Making up the season 18 top 4 are: Mpilo, Nozi, Thapelo and Ty Loner. Sadly, it was time to say goodbye to Zee. Before they were announced in the top 4, the five contestants kicked things off with a group performance, re-imagining PJ Morton’s  How Deep Is Your Love  in front of an enthusiastic full house at Tshwane’s Heartfelt Arena. This was followed by an electrifying guest performance from De Mthuda, Da Muziqal Chef and Sino Msolo with the amapiano megahit  Jola .  Mpilo was first to perform, taking on  Khusela  by Kabza De Small and Msaki.  Thembi Seete said: “I admire the discipline and control you have with your vocals. It was a very hard song, but you held it down.” Mpilo’s next song, later in the show, was  Jealous  by Labrinth, under the theme ‘How it should have been done’ – contestants taking on Wooden Mic performances and giving them

As Halloween is approaching, Showmax announced a locally produced horror film Gaia will be available for streaming on Showmax as of the 31st October 2022. The breakout South African horror film won director of photography Jorrie van der Walt the 2021 Zeiss Cinematography Award at South by Southwest (SXSW) - widely considered one of the five most prestigious film festivals globally.  Gaia  follows an injured forest ranger on a routine mission (SAFTA nominee Monique Rockman from  Nommer 37 ) who is saved by two off-the-grid survivalists (Silwerskerm winner Carel Nel from  4 Mure  and SAFTA nominee Alex van Dyk from  Die Stropers ). But what starts out as a welcome rescue grows more suspicious as the son and his renegade father reveal a cultish devotion to the forest. When their cabin is attacked by a strange being, it’s clear there is a far greater threat in this unrelenting wilderness.   Set in the Tsitsikamma National Park,  Gaia  won Best Film, Director, Editor, Sound Design and Hair

The Mthatha-born actress has already earned DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Award and SAFTA nominations this year for her fan-favourite role as Mandisa in  The Wife,  Showmax’s most popular series ever. Now she’s also stealing scenes in the African fantasy epic  Blood Psalms,  which had the most first-day views of any drama on Showmax ever.  In  Blood Psalms , she plays Sithenjwa, the mistress of Senator Jabari (SAFTA and Africa Movie Academy Awards nominee Richard Lukunku) of the mighty Great Nziwemabwe. She’s traveling with him to the Akachi citadel for the upcoming wedding of King Letsha (four time SAFTA winner Mothusi Magano), but she has her own reasons for attending.  When  The Wife  returns in November for Season 3, expect Twitter to be singing Zikhona’s praises for  Blood Psalms  every Wednesday and for  The Wife  every Thursday - especially as this season her character Mandisa goes through the most.  We caught up with the 37-year-old to find out more about starring in two hits sho

Singer, Songwriter & Producer, Nonhle Mhlongo, affectionately known as Skye Wanda, whose prolific penmanship pivoted the spirit of groove tunes into an upper echelon as she has been honoured by the inaugural Basadi In Music Awards, winning the coveted SAMRO Songwriter Of The Year award. Skye Wanda garnered the accolade for her evergreen songwriting contributions for the likes of Zakes Bantwini, DJ Tira, Harrison Crump, Kings Of The Weekend, Malumz On Decks, Prince Bulo, Beast, Zakwe, Worst Behavior, Themba Broly , and Benny Maverick to name a few. In grand songwriter fashion, Skye Wanda celebrates her win by announcing her brand new single “AMAZWI” scheduled for release on 21 October 2022. “AMAZWI” taken from her forthcoming project, “STARLIGHT”, sets the tone for a booked and busy festival season where Skye will adorn her fans with roof-tearing performances.

       Thursday Evening saw the opening of South African Fashion Week with the House of Rubicon showcasing their latest collection entitled Mahovhohovho. As with the previous showcase in 2021, the AW’23 season collection is heavily inspired by the late Dickson Ralushai, father to founder and lead designer of Rubicon Hangwani Nengovhela. The collection pays homage to her father’s endless signature of strength and perseverance.   In addition this year’s theme is underlined by the flow of water. There is no denying there is something truly fascinating and powerful about the way water flows, without being compromised by rocks or any other obstacles that hinders its path. So too is the new collection entitled Mahovhohovho:- a flowing and serene yet powerful and enchanting waterfall.             ‘The past two and half years have been a true testament to our resilience and persistence in an almost non-operational industry. This year's AW’23 collection is inspired by the power and strength

Last week Wednesday saw the official opening of one of the country’s most prestigious fashion gathering hosted by CRUZ Vintage Black Vodka, with all the who’s who of the South African fashion world in attendance. And what a night it was! Actress Sihle Ndaba Kicking off SA Fashion Week celebrations, luxe vodka brand and official headline sponsor CRUZ Vodka together with over 180 fashion and entertainment industry players celebrated their long standing SA Fashion Week sponsorship with an invite-only, star-studded red carpet affair at Fergusons on 5 th  in IIlovo, Sandton.   Television Presenter Chris Jaftha As a prelude to the week of upcoming runway shows and fashion festivities, guests got to experience the brand that is strongly rooted in New York provenance and is associated with the high-end fashion you would expect to see in the Big Apple. Kamo Moth dress by Seditsi Collection  Esteemed guests adorned in sparkling fashion included DJ LeloWhatsGood Treated to an exclusive evening of

  On the 26th of November, Y, the biggest commercial youth radio station in South Africa, takes its LYFE music festival to the East Rand.   Globally acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning, superstar Black Coffee returns to South Africa in November following an unparalleled 5-month, European summer tour to take the reins of this highly anticipated summer festival.   Carnival City Lawns will witness performances by global Amapiano stars Focalistic, DBN Gogo and Musa Keys.  AKA, who has one of the most impressive catalogues in South Africa, will be on the stage too.   Hip Hop royalty Nasty C, internationally acclaimed DJ Lag, together with A-Reece, Maglera Doe Boy, Sha Sha and SAMA Winner Nomfundo Moh, Y’s own Venom, Legendary Crisp, Candii and Fif_laaa are expected to set the stage alight as they officially usher in Summer 2022.   Focalistic, DBN Gogo and Musa Keys, celebrated for the local Amapiano genre, are creating waves internationally while touring the world. Nasty C is a respected hip-ho

Making World Music, Rapture 90s a trio from Alexandra Johannesburg with a single subtitled “Sondela” managed to hit 40 000 streams on spotify and got played in more than 108 countries across the globe. World Music takes different forms of musical styles all around the world like Bossa Nova, Rock, Punk, Jazz, Soul, Samba and Hip Hop and puts them in a single groove that can be enjoyed by anyone from different race, gender or ethnicity. Whenever they get in the studio they start painting the world musically with sounds which cross from border to border. "For us music is about setting a light to many than chancing stardom or fame. We believe that many people are still yet to set a taste of greatness when they listen to our music." Serving music for more than 5 years now they have performed with the likes of Shimza, Kabza De Small, Young Stunna and many more. They say from Alexandra many think that it’s impossible to make it out to the world with anything but crime, which they ha

As South Africa’s biggest fashion telenovela, it comes as no surprise that House of Zwide is joining forces with South African Fashion Week –  21 October 2022 In the House of Zwide, as the R100 million deal comes to a close, Funani Zwide and Alex Khadzi are forced to work together and split the money in half (R50 Million each). Both heavyweights are set to showcase their most iconic creations yet! This will be the biggest onscreen rivalry in South African television ever, coming to a head on the same day as the actual SA Fashion Week event. Don’t miss the moment as we shine the spotlight on SA fashion like never before!   Catch House of Zwide’s biggest fashion show on the 21 st  of October at 7PM on  e.tv

Brutal Fruit Spritzer’s #YOUBelong campaign is an open invitation to all South Africa’s superwomen to embrace our power, get comfortable with our value, and recognise that we fit – anywhere and everywhere; anytime and every time; with anyone and everyone. The #YouBelong campaign featuring Kelly Rowland alongside other powerful South African ladies has enjoyed tremendous success and has positively resonated with South African women since its’ inception. We are excited to announce that we will be ending the year with further celebrations as Kelly Rowland returns to South Africa between the 9 th  and 10 th  of December 2022.   Kelly Rowland is no stranger to Mzansi after visiting us during the shooting of the #YOUBelong TVC with Brutal Fruit Spritzer and she is looking forward to connecting with more South African women. Brutal Fruit Spritzer will be creating spaces and experiences that create an opportunity to rub shoulders and share minds with Kelly in person and savour in the inspirati

The countdown to the country’s most prestigious fashion gathering is almost upon us. With cutting edge fashion from over 27 talented South African designers taking to the runway, SA Fashion Week 2022 is set to launch in Johannesburg  this coming weekend. Kicking off SA Fashion Week celebrations, luxe vodka brand and official headline sponsor for the showcase, Cruz Vodka will host an exclusive opening party like no other, this Wednesday. As a prelude to the week of upcoming runway shows and fashion festivities, guests get to experience the  brand that is strongly rooted in New York provenance and is associated with the high-end fashion you would expect to see in the Big Apple. Runway shows will take place from Thursday 20 th   - Sunday 22 nd   October, with 3 days of incredible South African fashion being showcased to not only an eager SA audience but fashion enthusiasts  from around the world. SA Fashion Week will conclude with trade shows, taking place from 23 - 24 October in the Mall