ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Jan

29

2021

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…

Sep

09

2021

By The African Mirror

In a surprise move, Britney Spears’ father asks for conservatorship to end

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

LISA RICHWINE JAMIE Spears, the father of Britney Spears, on Tuesday, asked a Los Angeles court to end the pop singer's 13-year conservatorship, saying circumstances have changed in recent months. In an unexpected development, Jamie Spears, who in 2008 set up the court-sanctioned arrangement that governs the singer's personal and business affairs, said in a court filing that he believed the judge should "now seriously consider whether this conservatorship is no longer required." "If Ms Spears wants to terminate the conservatorship and believes that she can handle her own life, Mr Spears believes she should get that chance," read the…

Jan

24

2021

By The African Mirror

Latin singer Maluma features on Elle as its first male cover star

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO COLOMBIAN singing maestro Maluma has made an iconic feat early in 2021, by becoming the first-ever male star to cover the fashion magazine. Maluma is the star of Elle’s February print edition. He shared his achievement on Instagram this week, writing that his cover feature is a hopeful message to “keep dreaming and achieving”. “IT'S MALUMA BABY!!!!! Thank u @elleusa for making me the first male on the cover of the magazine, this means a lottttt to me!” Maluma on the cover of Elle. Picture: Instagram Donned in a blue shirt and posed with his left arm outstretched,…

Sep

07

2021

By The African Mirror

‘The Wire’ actor Michael K. Williams found dead in apartment

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

TIM REID MICHAEL K. Williams, who played the character Omar Little in the TV series "The Wire," was found dead in his New York apartment on Monday, the New York Police Department said. He was 54. Lieutenant John Gimpel, an NYPD spokesman, said Williams was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment after a 2 p.m. (1800 GMT)emergency phone call to emergency operators. Williams, who received a 2021 Emmy nomination for his performance in HBO's Lovecraft Country, also found fame for his role in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. The NYPD said there was an "ongoing investigation" into Williams's death and…

Sep

07

2021

By The African Mirror

Cardi B and offset welcome baby no. 2!

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER CARDI B has given birth to her second child, and Offset’s fifth. The hip-hop couple announced on Instagram that they had become parents to a son, making Cardi’s first child Kulture, a big sister. Simply captioned as “9/4/21," Cardi B is seen sitting in a hospital bed cradling her baby boy , wrapped in a blue blanket and wearing a blue knit hat, with husband Offset dressed in blue seated next to her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib) "We are so overjoyed to finally meet our son," the couple wrote…