ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Dec

10

2020

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…

Jan

29

2021

By The African Mirror

Iconic actress Cicely Tyson dies at 96

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER ELECTRIFYING Hollywood actress Cicely Tyson has died. Her death has sent a shockwave through the world of arts, as tributes pour in for the iconic actress, who portrayed roles that shattered the stereotypes of Hollywood-written black stories. Tyson’s manager, Larry Thompson, said working with the actress was a huge honour and blessing. “I have managed Miss Tyson’s career for over 40 years, and each year was a privilege and blessing,” Thompson said in a statement. “Cicely thought of her new memoir as a Christmas tree decorated with all the ornaments of her personal and professional life. Today…

Jan

28

2021

By The African Mirror

Nomzamo Mbatha and Thuso Mbedu heralded among rising Black Hollywood stars

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO SOUTH African actresses Nomzamo Mbatha and Thuso Mbedu have become big names to watch in the Hollywood scene, joining the cozy company of some of Hollywood’s rising talent. Mbatha and Mbedu have been included in the global “20 Black Hollywood stars to watch out in 2021”, a list compiled by American lifestyle magazine Essence that shines a light on Black entertainers who have their impression in the cutthroat entertainment industry. Actress Thuso Mbedu. Picture: Supplied On their website, Essence detailed that their list is based on how Black Hollywood has continued to stand up and make a difference…

Sep

12

2021

By The African Mirror

This entrepreneur wants to connect Africa through its creatives

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ROYAL IBEH Olamilekan Olawale Dauda, the founder of Create Naija, at Memphis Art Gallery, one of Create Naija's partner, in Abeokuta, Ogun state, Nigeria. Photo : Create Naija. “IF you truly want to succeed in the creative business, then you should not begin with the idea that you want to make money, you should start a business because you want to make a difference, change the narrative," announces Olamilekan Olawale Dauda with all the conviction of someone who has already accomplished that goal. Dauda, who goes by the online handle of "LEKKY D" was nine years old when he started…

Sep

09

2021

By The African Mirror

The Mayhem that is Drake’s CLB and Kanye West’s Donda

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO Donda, Donda, Donda. I love you, i love you, i love you, until I — Two very different introductions belonging to two of hip-hop's biggest names; setting the tone for two very different moods. If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m talking about the week-apart releases of Kanye West’s DONDA, and Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. If there were artists akin to a holy grail, these two would come extremely close and with good reasons. They are the wordsmiths part of a generation that has continued to shift cultural views on music, fashion and art. The Donda album (left)…

Jan

25

2021

By The African Mirror

Jonas Gwangwa embodied South Africa’s struggle for a national culture

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MUSIC is not a zero-sum game with only one ‘best’. But if you seek to name one musician whose life embodies the South African people’s struggle for a national culture, it must be trombonist, composer and cultural activist Jonas Mosa Gwangwa, who was born on 19 October 1937 in Orlando East, Johannesburg, and died on 23 January 2021 in Johannesburg aged 83. GWEN ANSELL, Associate of the Gordon Institute for Business Science, University of Pretoria Through 65 years on stage, Gwangwa’s playing contributed to every genre of South African jazz. Overseas, he was hailed as player, producer and composer. Yet…

Sep

09

2021

By The African Mirror

S.African animator fuses cartoon with reality in satellite debut

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SELF-TAUGHT South African 3D animator Lwazi Msipha wanted to create something for both grown-ups and kids, along the lines of The Simpsons, when he dreamed up the character that won him a coveted slot on satellite TV. So he hit on an idea: what if his children's cartoon character were to accidentally get stuck in the adult real world? That notion forms the premise of 'My Cartoon Friend', which debuted on Cartoon Network in South Africa last month - the first of his compatriots to get a full 13-episode series. In the new show, Msipha plays himself as a young…