ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Feb

21

2025

Souleymane Cissé, father of African cinema has passed on

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SOULEYMANE Cissé, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest African filmmakers of all time, has passed away at the age of 84 in Bamako, Mali. The Mali-born director was commonly described as the father of African cinema. His feature Yeleen became the first African film to win the jury prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. In 2023 Cannes honoured him again with the Carrosse d'Or (the Golden Coach) award. David Murphy, a critic and scholar of African cinema and Cissé’s work, told us more about why his films were so important – and particularly his classic Yeelen. Who was…

Feb

11

2025

By Manfred Zwecker

Joburg Film Festival 2025 to open with powerful Ernest Cole documentary

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IN a groundbreaking moment for African cinema, the 7th Joburg Film Festival is set to illuminate the city's screens this March with the world premiere of "Ernest Cole: Lost and Found," a compelling documentary about one of South Africa's most influential photographers. The film, which captivated audiences and claimed the Best Documentary award at Cannes, will kick off six days of cinematic excellence from March 11-16, 2025. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck, known for "Lumumba" and "I Am Not Your Negro," the documentary unravels the extraordinary tale of Ernest Cole's life and his powerful documentation of the apartheid era.…

Feb

04

2025

By The African Mirror

Rhythms of triumph: An African musical odyssey as Nigeria, South Africa win Grammys

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE Los Angeles night crackled with electric anticipation as two extraordinary African artists transformed the Grammy stage into a canvas of musical magic. Wouter Kellerman's journey began with a flute, a dream, and an impossible vision. On this glittering night, the South African virtuoso claimed his third Grammy, this time alongside a Japanese cellist and an Indian vocalist. Their album *Triveni* wasn't just music—it was a bridge across continents, a testament to art's power to connect souls. "Music unites and heals," Kellerman declared, his voice trembling with emotion, his words cutting through the glamorous arena like a gentle yet powerful…

Jan

31

2025

By TINASHE MUSHAKAVANHU

South African poetry has a new digital archive – what’s behind the project

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SOUTH AFRICAN poetry, rich with history, has long been an underappreciated cornerstone of the country’s cultural landscape. But a new free-to-access digital archive is helping change that. Focused on the poets published by a small but important press in a town called Makhanda in the Eastern Cape province, the Deep South Books and Archive initiative seeks to elevate their voices by offering an archive of background information about their work and lives as well as extensive excerpts from their books. It’s a rare window into a vital but overlooked tradition of South African literature. Robert Berold, after spending a decade…

Jan

30

2025

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Tyla’s livestreamed concert redefined live events in Africa

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

TAMASHA Khanyi, a South African journalist and host at East Coast Radio, described the performance of South African sensation, Tyla, at the grand finale of her "Encore" homecoming tour on July 18 at Time Square’s SunBet Arena in Pretoria with the words “incredible show is an understatement!” “It was so much more than an entertaining evening where I got to hear some of my favourite songs live. To me, Tyla represents so much for SA’s youth,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post after the concert. Khanyi is one of many attendees who took to social media to express their appreciation…

Jan

26

2025

By The African Mirror

Keyshia Cole: Live in South Africa will continue new dates set for April 2025

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MULTI-platinum R&B sensation Keyshia Cole is thrilled to announce the rescheduled dates for her highly anticipated Keyshia Cole: Live in South Africa tour. The tour, scheduled to take place this weekend, was postponed following the tragic loss of the artist’s Los Angeles home in the recent wildfires. Keyshia expressed her heartfelt gratitude to fans for their patience and understanding during this challenging time, “The wildfires in LA devastated not only my home but also my spirit for a moment. I needed time to heal, rebuild, and be fully present to give my fans in South Africa the show they deserve.…

Jan

21

2025

By LIANI MAASDORP and REINA-MARIE LOADER

Films can change the world – why universities and film schools should teach impact strategies

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

WHEN was the last time a film changed the way you saw the world? Or the way you behaved? Miners Shot Down (2014) countered mainstream media narratives to reveal how striking mine workers were gunned down by police at Marikana in South Africa. Black Fish (2013) made US theme park SeaWorld’s stock prices plummet. And Virunga (2014) stopped the British oil company Soco International from mining in the Congolese National Park from which the film takes its name. These films were all at the centre of impact campaigns designed to move people to act. In filmmaking, “impact” may involve bringing…

Jan

18

2025

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Showmax’s Tyla event livestream to test Africa’s streaming future

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE live streaming of Tyla's homecoming event on Showmax on Saturday (January 18) symbolizes a major shift in both the streaming and creative industries in Africa, according to academics and industry insiders. Tyla Laura Seethal, known simply as Tyla, is a 22-year-old South African singer who has claimed 24 awards from 77 nominations, including a historic 2024 Grammy win making her the youngest African soloist to be feted. Recognized by Billboard and celebrated globally, she’s hosting a homecoming event this Saturday, January 18, in Pretoria, South Africa, before kicking off her nationwide tour. In a press statement on January 10,…

Jan

17

2025

By AKINWUMI OGUNDIRAN

Nigeria’s Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo festival celebrates the power of a Yoruba goddess

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo festival is the most important annual event in Òṣogbo, south-west Nigeria. It draws thousands of devotees and tourists from across Nigeria and worldwide. The festival is a devotional event and a civic ritual dedicated to Ọ̀ṣun, a principal female deity in the Yorùbá pantheon. Ọ̀ṣun is the deity of femininity in Yorùbá cosmology and rules over the river named after her in Nigeria – River Ọ̀ṣun. Her spirit is believed to reside in any freshwater. She is associated with the authority of motherhood, purity, fertility and sensuality. She is also the patron deity of Òṣogbo, a Yorùbá…

Jan

16

2025

By DIRK MATTEN

‘Squid Game’ Season 2 is a dystopian reflection of capitalism’s dark side

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE second season of Squid Game, Netflix’s most-watched show of all time, has been eagerly awaited by many. The first season featured players participating in a series of deadly children’s games to win prize money. The new season, which is also on track to set another Netflix record, takes a deeper look at the economic context and constraints surrounding the surrealistic games. More than a third of the season takes place outside the actual game setting, highlighting the dystopian life circumstances that drive participants to enter the deadly competition in the first place. In many ways, Squid Game Season 2…