ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Abdullah Ibrahim: South Africa’s master pianist is going on a world tour at 90

ABDULLAH Ibrahim, South Africa’s most distinguished pianist, was born on 9 October 1934 in Cape Town. This year marks not only his 90th birthday but also the start of a world tour. Christine Lucia has studied Ibrahim’s work and published research articles about him. We asked her why he is so important. CHRISTINE LUCIA, Extraordinary Professor, Stellenbosch University Who is Abdullah Ibrahim and what shaped him? Abdullah Ibrahim is the finest jazz pianist-composer that South Africa has ever produced – even in such a jazz-rich country. He is the country’s equivalent of the US jazz star Duke Ellington, because his…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Oscars 2024: panned by Trump, host Kimmel quips, ‘Isn’t it past your jail time?’

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

HOLLYWOOD'S biggest stars gathered to celebrate the year's best accomplishments in film at the annual Academy Awards. Here are some takeaways from the 96th Oscars ceremony. TRUMP REVIEWS KIMMEL Late in the show, Jimmy Kimmel read aloud from a scathing online review of his performance as Oscars host, revealing at the end that it was written by former U.S. President Donald Trump. "Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars," Trump posted on his Truth Social social media platform, also criticizing the show as "Disjointed, boring, and very unfair." Talk show host Kimmel, who's long feuded…

Mar

2024

By FLORENCE MARTIN

Four Daughters is a Tunisian masterpiece – what makes the film groundbreaking

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

FOUR Daughters is the story of a Tunisian family torn apart by an extremist Islamic group. It’s won several major documentary awards and was nominated for a Best Feature Documentary Oscar. This makes its director Kaouther Ben Hania the first Arab woman ever to receive two Oscar nominations. FLORENCE MARTIN, Dean John B. Van Meter Professor of French Transnational Studies, Goucher College Ben Hania has blazed a trail with powerful and politically poignant films featuring women and is the subject of several studies by North African cinema expert Florence Martin. We asked her to tell us more. Who is Kaouther…

Mar

2024

By The African Mirror

Bobi Wine: The People’s President – a gripping Oscar-nominated film about Uganda’s fight for freedom

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Bobi Wine is a pop star in Uganda who uses his music for political protest and social activism. Born Robert Kyagulanyi, he became a member of parliament (MP) in 2017 and has gone on to lead a popular opposition movement in the face of state violence and repression. His political journey is now the subject of a documentary. JULIA CAIN, Lecturer in Screen Production and Film Theory & Practice, University of Cape Town Bobi Wine: The People’s President is one of the five films nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 2024 Oscars in the US. All five are…

Mar

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Artists’ residencies are on the rise across Africa as art investment catches on

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

FROM Accra to Dakar, Marrakech to Lagos, Nairobi and now, Cape Town, art residence programs are on the rise, often initiated by successful African artists and now also by public-private partnerships. The French Ambassador to the southern African region, David Martinon, recently signed a letter of commitment with MEMORIST’s Director of Corporate Development, Sophie Taïeb, committing to supporting an African art residency in Cape Town. “This is the first such residency we’re establishing in Africa, we’re very excited about the possibility of creating a modern, cultural experience within a historic environment,” he is quoted in the South African art news…

Feb

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Africa’s music and sports icons are forging a tech-sports fusion through investments

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICA'S music and football luminaries are increasingly channelling their resources towards the continent's tech startups, utilizing their wealth and expansive global networks to secure their futures while fostering community-level social change. Nigerian musician and businessman Oluwatosin Ajibade, also known as Mr. Eazi, is widely recognised as a master of this new trend. In a December 2023 appearance on the podcast Silverbacks Valley, Ajibade explained how the intersection of music, technology and entrepreneurship had landed in his favour. “Music has given me access to networks and finances, but I've never really left technology and entrepreneurship because that's what I've always been,”…

Feb

2024

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Triggerfish, Ng’endo Mukii, Africa’s busy animation ecosystem all recognised in Annie Award

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

WHEN ‘Enkai’, the tenth episode in the 2023 animation series ‘Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire’ emerged as the Best Limited Series Episode in the TV/Media category at the 51st edition of the Annie Award on February 17, the honour marked another milestone for African animation. The episode, written by Ng’endo Mukii, a Kenyan filmmaker, is one of the six episodes from the Disney animation series that were nominated in various categories at the Annie’s Award. Produced by South African animation studio, Triggerfish, the short film combines advanced technology, aliens, spirits and monsters, while paying tribute to African culture. The film chronicles…

Feb

2024

By BIRD STORY AGENCY

World Tour for 88-year-old cultural icon kicks off with Cape Town retrospective

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BOLD strokes and visually compelling patterns seamlessly fusing traditional African art and contemporary art have transformed the walls of the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town - both inside and out - with the opening of a retrospective exhibition featuring a South African legend: 88-year-old Esther Mahlangu. The exhibition, dubbed "Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting": Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective, summarises a career spanning five decades, showcasing her style that blends the rich heritage of Ndebele culture with modern art. “The retrospective pays homage to Esther Mahlangu's unique approach to art, which intersects African cultures with…

Feb

2024

By GBEMISOLA ESHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Omotunde Akiode is bringing joy to children. It’s what she always dreamed of

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

OMOTUNDE Akiode sits at her workstation in Lagos, appearing to doodle. To the occasional visitor, this may look like play but the result of the creative session will be a very real cartoon character, possibly for an acclaimed African cartoon series -- like Supa4. “I grew up watching Sesame Street, the Muppet show animations on television. I saw the vibrant colours, fluid movement, and captivating storytelling. It intrigued me, and I could not help but wonder how these enhancing worlds were created and dreaming of one day I could be the writer of those shows,” Akiode said. Akiode has always…

Feb

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s Tyla makes history as youngest female artist to win a Grammy

NEWS, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

South African artists, including Black Coffee, Sho Madjozi, and Nasty C, celebrated Tyla's victory, highlighting the collaborative and supportive spirit within the African music community. IN a groundbreaking moment for South African music, Tyla, at the tender age of 22, has etched her name in history as the youngest female artist in 55 years to clinch a Grammy Award in the category of "Best African Music Performance." Her winning track, "Water," catapulted her to the forefront of global recognition, surpassing established icons such as Nigerian sensation Burna Boy. Tyla, whose meteoric rise has captivated music enthusiasts worldwide, has become a…