ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Dec

18

2020

Race, music, strong women at heart of movie ‘Ma Rainey’

JILL SERJEANT FILM drama "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" may be set in the racially divided United States of the 1920s and was written almost 40 years ago, but it arrives with much to say about today. Starring Viola Davis as Black blues singer Ma Rainey and the late Chadwick Boseman as a hot-headed trumpet player, the movie comes to Netflix on Friday as Hollywood and the United States grapple with systemic racism. "The reason why (the film) resonates today is because racism hasn't been destroyed. It has just evolved," said Davis. "You can't go through 400 years of systemic racism…

Dec

17

2020

By The African Mirror

Tom Cruise rants at ‘Mission: Impossible’ crew in London over COVID safety

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

TOM Cruise let rip over an apparent breach of COVID-19 safety protocols on the London set of the new "Mission: Impossible" movie, telling crew members they would be fired if they don't obey the rules, according to Britain's Sun newspaper. In expletive-filled remarks captured on audio tape obtained by The Sun, the star and producer of the action film yelled at the crew about lapses of social distancing and other rules that allow movies to be made during the coronavirus pandemic. A source close to the production said the tape was authentic. Cruise's representative declined to comment. "I'm on the…

Dec

14

2020

By The African Mirror

Country singer Charley Pride dead from coronavirus at 86

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN-AMERICAN country singer Charley Pride, whose No. 1 country hits included "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)" and "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin,'" has died at age 86 of complications from COVID-19, according to his website. Pride, who died in Dallas, was not the first Black artist to make important contributions to country music, but he was a trailblazer who emerged during a time of division and rancor. Between 1967 and 1987, Pride delivered 52 Top 10 country hits, won Grammy awards and became RCA Records' top-selling country artist, according to the website. "We're not color blind yet,…

Sep

30

2021

By The African Mirror

Disney, Netflix take notice of the talent driving an African animation dawn

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD GLOBAL demand for content is fuelling a surge in animation production across Africa as creatives tap into a market worth hundreds of billions of dollars. In 2018, according to Statista estimates, the global animation market was worth 259 billion US dollars and was projected to top 270 billion by 2020. For years, African animation has been limited to advertising, with only a few success stories - like "Bino and Fino", from Nigerian animator Adamu Waziri - finding their way onto TV screens and inflight entertainment. That is now changing fast as a growing interest in Black and…

Sep

28

2021

By The African Mirror

Bond stars ‘excited’ ahead of movie cinema release

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SARAH MILLS and MARIE-LOUISE GUMUCHIAN AFTER an 18-month delay, the James Bond film "No Time To Die" finally begins its cinema rollout this week - a relief for its stars and movie theatre operators. Daniel Craig returns for a final fifth outing as the suave British secret agent, known for his love of fast cars and cool gadgets. The movie was originally scheduled to debut in April 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced cinemas to close and impose restrictions on audience numbers. "This past 18 months has been a pretty terrible time for everybody," Craig told Reuters. "The great thing…

Sep

27

2021

By The African Mirror

Zanzibar’s pre-colonial “forbidden romance” hits big screens

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD LAST week, "Vuta N’kuvute" made history as the first Tanzanian feature film ever to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), debuting in the discovery section. A poster of the Vuta N'kuvute film . Photo Courtesy : Kijiweni Productions. Released in Swahili and with a majority black cast, Vuta N’kuvute (loosely translated as "Tug of War") becomes one of the most authentic African movies available on the global big screen. Director Amil Shivji told bird that using local language was deliberate –– as the use of east Africa's most widely spoken language best carries the depth…

Dec

10

2020

By The African Mirror

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma offers ‘Songs of Comfort and Hope’ in duo album

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ALICIA POWELL CELLIST Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathryn Stott have teamed up for the third time in "Songs of Comfort and Hope," dedicated to all the people who are going through tough times around the world. The album, coming out on Friday, starts by acknowledging the Black Lives Matter movement with "Ol' Man River." Other tracks include "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Moscow Nights," "Waltzing Matilda," and the South African lullaby, "Thula Baba." "All of these songs have specific meaning for people in different places," Ma said, noting that the coronavirus pandemic had been a global experience. "We're hoping that this…

Dec

07

2020

By The African Mirror

Master KG wins ‘Best International Song’ award in France

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO SOUTH AFRICAN hitmaker Master KG has added another award to his trophy case. Master KG has won the ‘Best International Song’ award at France’s NRJ Music Awards for his viral hit song ‘Jerusalema’. He beat out the USA’s Nicki Minaj, Jason Derulo, Black Eyed Peas and Britain’s Dua Lipa for the French award. The Limpopo-born South African DJ made the announcement on his Twitter account, thanking his fans and the NRJ for the achievement. https://twitter.com/masterkgsa/status/1335489212590796800 On the same weekend he also walked away with the Founder’s Recognition award at the 2020 South African Traditional Music Awards, for his…

Sep

20

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigeria to have its own ‘The Real Housewives’ reality series

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE ever-so-popular award-winning reality television series is making its way to the Nigerian capital for a new instalment of ‘The Real Housewives of Lagos’. Distributed internationally by NBCUniversal Formats, a division of Universal Studio Group, The Real Housewives of Lagos (RHOL) will be the first Nigerian instalment of the franchise, making it the third adaptation in Africa after The Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) and The Real Housewives of Johannesburg (RHOJ). “We’ve seen audiences across Africa devour The Real Housewives of Johannesburg and The Real Housewives of Durban,” says Candice Fangueiro, Showmax’s head of content. The cast…

Jan

30

2021

By The African Mirror

Remembering Sibongile Khumalo, South Africa’s divine diva

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

CHRISTINE LUCIA, Extraordinary Professor, Stellenbosch University THE passing of Sibongile Khumalo at the far, far too young age of 63 was a body blow. Sibongile epitomised ‘the new South Africa’, as it was born and as it matured. She sang in every style – from Carmen to UShaka – with equal accuracy, generosity and joie de vivre, making everything ‘popular’ to millions of people without ever sacrificing vocal or musical professionalism. This was one of her greatest gifts, that she made a place for everyone with her voice, a golden, melting voice that made all, young and old, rich and…