ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Apr

04

2022

SA’s DJ Black Coffee wins Grammy Award

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SOUTH Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has led the nation in singing praises of DJ Black Coffee - real name Nathi Maphumulo - who has won his first Grammy Award. Black Coffee won the Grammy - the ultimate prize in music - in the dance/electronic category for his album titled “Subconsciously” Ramaphosa said: “Congratulations to Black Coffee for being awarded the Best Dance/Electronic Music award for his album ‘Subconsciously’ at last night’s #GRAMMYs. Thank you for flying the flag and inspiring a new generation of talent to take over the world.” In his acceptance speech, Black Coffee said: “I want to…

Apr

04

2022

By The African Mirror

Who is Nigerian music star Wizkid – and why is he taking over the world?

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE global appreciation of West Africa’s Afrobeats music has grown significantly in the last decade. Afrobeats stars are touring the world, racking up record sales, winning awards and collaborating with big-name international artists. In fact, seven of the nine African artists nominated for a 2022 Grammy Award – one of the world’s most sought after music awards – are West African. Most of these make music driven by Afrobeats sounds. Author SAMSON UCHENNA EZE, Lecturer, University of Nigeria Afrobeats is a broad, generic term for African contemporary popular music with rhythmic and harmonic influences of West Africa’s highlife and Afrobeat…

Apr

03

2022

By The African Mirror

‘Heartbroken’ Will Smith quits film academy

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

LISA RICHWINE ACTOR Will Smith has resigned from Hollywood's Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, saying that his slapping of presenter Chris Rock on stage at this year's Oscars ceremony was "shocking, painful and inexcusable." "I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken," Smith said in a statement. "So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate," he said. At the Oscars ceremony…

Apr

01

2022

By The African Mirror

From Nigeria to the world: Afrobeats is having a global moment

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ANOTHER Grammy Awards season and there is a growing list of African nominees. For African music enthusiasts, it is heartwarming that recognition is being accorded to practitioners in the Afrobeats space. Afrobeat and Afrobeats, although related, are quite distinct. Afrobeats is the genre that emerged when West African pop music became cool. Its origins coincide with the media liberalisation that accompanied the “final” wave of democratisation in Africa from 1999. More than this, it is a convenient term for Europe to refer to music coming out of Africa, distinct from Euro-American pop. Author GARHE OSIEBE, Research Fellow, Rhodes University Afrobeat,…

Apr

07

2022

By The African Mirror

South African soul star Simphiwe Dana’s new show is about healing

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SINGER-SONGWRITER Simphiwe Dana is working with fellow South African creative director, theatre producer and dancer Gregory Maqoma and his Vuyani Dance Theatre company. The new theatre work featuring Dana on vocals is called MOYA. It’s subtitled, “An artistic reflection on the role of spirituality in healing”. MOYA speaks to the significance of one’s spiritual health, particularly following the traumas associated with loss and feelings of helplessness owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. It seeks to use music and theatre to draw performers and audiences alike to a deeper connection to their spiritual roots. As articulated by Dana and Maqoma, the show…

Jul

19

2020

By The African Mirror

Female comic superhero in line for honours

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Female comic superhero in line for honors Own correspondent Fresh from making her debut into the male-dominated world of comic characters with magical powers, Ethiopia’s first female superhero “Hawi” is making her way into the history books. “Hawi”, created by Ethiopian writer Beserat Debebe, has been nominated for the annual NOMMO Awards. Debebe, who created the “Hawi” is also the founder of Etan Comics and has been nominated for the NOMMO Award for African Speculative Fiction for “Hawi” in the “Graphic Novel” category. The NOMMO Awards were established in 2016 by the African Speculative Fiction Society, an organisation of African…

May

28

2020

By The African Mirror

A tricky legacy: How Fela lives on in pop stars like Wizkid and Wyclef

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Fela Kuti remains Nigeria’s most famous musician. He pioneered Afrobeat – a genre-blending jazz, funk, psychedelic rock, traditional West African chant and rhythms – into conscious music in the 60s and 70s. Fela’s music continues to live today across the continents. Famous for pairing his music with politics and with human rights activism, Fela, who passed in 1997, stood against Nigeria’s military dictators, often at great personal cost to his family and band members. His art has become fuel for a new generation of creators who are tapping into his music, and the spirit behind it, to make new records.…

May

25

2020

By The African Mirror

Jazz has returned to Joburg.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The sounds that were very much part of the creation of the real Johannesburg, South Africa, much of it in celebration of humanity and in opposition to apartheid, are again echoing through the inner city. The legendary Kippie Moeketsi’s saxophone and Jack Lerole’s pennywhistle sounds and the angelic voices of Sophie Mgcina, Mirriam Makeba, and Dolly Rathebe vocals provided solace and dignity to the thousands who were deemed but resisted being labeled non-citizens. The Jazz Pioneers provided the dance tunes, both at special venues and at occasions such as weddings. For black South Africans, jazz provided a blanket of dignity.…

May

20

2020

By The African Mirror

African dance hit ‘Pata Pata’ gets reboot for coronavirus

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Miriam Makeba’s famous song is being re-released with new lyrics about disease prevention By Nellie Peyton WASHINGTON, April 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The world-famous song "Pata Pata", a South African dance hit from 1967, is being re-released with new lyrics to spread information about coronavirus to vulnerable communities. Coronavirus: our latest stories Meaning "touch touch" in the Xhosa language, "Pata Pata" was written by Grammy-winning singer Miriam Makeba who named it after a dance move popular in Johannesburg at the time. The new version sung by Beninese artist Angelique Kidjo includes lyrics such as, "We need to keep our…

May

20

2020

By The African Mirror

In coronavirus, Senegal rappers find a new enemy to fight

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

DRESSED in hooded medical suits and protective goggles, Senegal's activist hip-hop group Y'en a Marre rap about washing hands, disposing of used tissues and avoiding crowds in their latest release: 'Shield against Coronavirus.' The new video marks a sudden change for the collective, named 'Enough is Enough' in French slang, which has a history of challenging authority, fighting social injustice - and urging Senegal's youth to hit the streets to protest the government. But when African countries confirmed their first coronavirus cases this month, the group offered to help the government persuade people to take the disease seriously, in an…