ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Oct

31

2020

Former James Bond actor Sean Connery dies aged 90 – British media

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SCOTTISH movie legend Sean Connery, who shot to international stardom as the suave, sexy and sophisticated British agent James Bond and went on to grace the silver screen for four decades, has died aged 90, the BBC and Sky News reported on Saturday. Connery was raised in near poverty in the slums of Edinburgh and worked as a coffin polisher, milkman and lifeguard before his bodybuilding hobby helped launch an acting career that made him one of the world's biggest stars. "The world's greatest Scot, the last of the real Hollywood stars, the definitive Bond," said Alex Salmond, Scotland's former…

Oct

31

2020

By The African Mirror

The Angolan dancers who helped South African anthem Jerusalema go global

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ANANYA JAHANARA KABIR, Professor of English Literature, King's College London IN February the Angolan dance troupe Phenomenos do Semba created the viral #JerusalemaDanceChallenge video that showed off their dance moves to the South African hit song Jerusalema. Their video is set in a backyard in Luanda, where they break into a group dance, all the while eating lunch from plates in their hands. In the age of coronavirus, the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge video generated a counter-contagion. Almost overnight everyone from police departments in Africa to priests in Europe were posting their own Jerusalema dance videos that repeated the choreography. The challenge videos…

Oct

30

2020

By The African Mirror

Netflix shines light on Nigerian sex trafficking

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NELLIE PEYTON SET in the shady underworld of Lagos brothels, Nigerian thriller Òlòtūré gives viewers an inside look at the sex trafficking schemes that ensnare thousands of Nigerian women each year. The film is fictional but aims for a realistic and gritty picture to raise awareness of what is a persistent and little-discussed problem, said 36-year-old director Kenneth Gyang. For decades, scores of Nigerian women and girls have been lured to Europe with promises of work, then trapped in debt bondage and forced to sell sex. The United Nations migration agency estimates that 80% of Nigerian women arriving in Italy…

Oct

28

2020

By The African Mirror

JAY-Z joins the cannabis business with brand ‘Monogram’

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO AMERICAN rapper and businessman JAY-Z has officially joined the cannabis business in the United States with the launch of his new cannabis line. The hip-hop Grammy winner announced that his first cannabis line, Monogram, would be a partnership with California-based company Caliva, which the rapper joined forces with as Chief Brand Strategist in July 2019. Monogram, according to a press release and website, is a company that prides itself on its “careful strain selection, meticulous cultivation practices and uncompromising quality, while seeking to redefine what cannabis means to consumers today”. The brand unveiled its social media channels and…

Oct

27

2020

By The African Mirror

Kenyan doccie ‘Softie’ lands on Oscar 2021 Best Documentaries shortlist

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO KENYAN documentary ‘Softie’ has achieved recognition since its premiere in October by being shortlisted on the Oscars’ 2021 list for ‘Best Documentary Feature’, a list that features over 40 documentaries from across the world. Kenyan director Sam Soko’s debut documentary follows the story of Kenyan photographer and political activist Boniface Mwangi, and his journey as Kenya’s most vocal agent provocateur for social and political change over seven years. The film chronicles Mwangi’s journey with chaos-filled protests, which leads to campaigning on the streets for a political seat in his old neighbourhood of Starehe and risking his family’s safety…

Nov

26

2020

By The African Mirror

Burna Boy and Wizkid receive nominations for 2021 Grammy Awards

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO NIGERIA is leading the ranks for Africa with two major nominations in the Grammy Awards, with Burna Boy receiving a nomination for a second year in a row for his album ‘Twice As Tall’. Announced by The Recording Academy, Burna Boy is up against artists Antibalas, Bebel Gilberto, Anoushka Shankar and Tuareg desert rock group Tinariwen in the Best Global Music Album category. The Grammy nominee lost out to Benin singer Angelique Kidjo in the 2019 Grammy Awards, where he was nominated in the same category for his album. The other Nigerian nominee is Wizkid, who received his…

Nov

27

2020

By The African Mirror

The Kenyan film director taking on the world — with positive stories of black life

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IN a 2017 TED Talk, the Kenyan film director Wanuri Kahiu shared her mission to make what she called “Afrobubblegum” art. The aim is to contribute to a world where African audiences see themselves reflected in ways that capture a full range of human experiences. To go beyond agenda-driven single stories of war, famine and HIV that have characterised much storytelling about Africa. LYN JOHNSTONE, Research fellow, Royal Holloway Put simply, to tell stories where Africans are “loving and thriving and living … beautiful, vibrant lives” with the aim of creating among audiences a feeling that African lives are “worthy…

Dec

04

2020

By The African Mirror

Musicians from every country form Earth Orchestra to record unique song

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MINDY BURROWS FOR the first time in music history, 197 musicians – one from each country – have formed an orchestra, hoping to exemplify how people can transcend physical and cultural borders to come together. The Earth Orchestra's song "Together is Beautiful" - recorded in different locations then mixed together - and a documentary telling the stories of some of the musicians were released on Friday. Earth Orchestra member Olgha Nk, from Cameroon, said she saw the project, which was three years in the making, as "the whole world holding hands". Other musicians were also struck by the unifying element…

Dec

03

2020

By The African Mirror

The perils of mixing music and politics in Nigeria

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MUSICIANS play a prominent role in Nigeria’s dynamic political landscape, especially since the country became a democracy. Politics and music have always enjoyed a symbiotic relationship, even during austere military regimes. For example, in 1995, the late dictator, General Sani Abacha (1993-1998) commissioned highlife maestro, King Oliver de Coque to record an album titled Democracy. The project was designed to launder his image, and position him as an aspiring democratic president. GARHE OSIEBE, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Rhodes University Popular musicians endorsing politicians and their parties are common in Nigeria during elections. One particular episode stands for its post-electoral significance. Local…

Nov

29

2020

By The African Mirror

Nigerian rapper Falz Falana honoured

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO NIGERIAN hip-hop artist Falz (real name Folarin Folana) has been honoured by the state of Lagos, with a street named after him. The Lagos-born rapper and actor posted a picture of himself posing under a street sign with the name “Falz Falana Lane” written boldly. Under the picture he wrote, “Wahala for who no get street name o! (sic)” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Falz TheBahdGuy (@falzthebahdguy) Falana was honoured for his impact in the community, specifically with his activism in using his voice and social media presence to speak on the violence during…