ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Jan

22

2021

Black coffee scores 100 million streams on yet-to-be-released album

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO SOUTH African house DJ Black Coffee has achieved another milestone in his career, another 100 million streams worldwide for his album ‘Subconsciously’. The surprising detail with this announcement is that the album will only be released on February 5th. The ‘Subconsciously’ album has nine out of twelve tracks currently available to the public on streaming sites such as Apple Music and Spotify, which features artists Msaki, Sabrina Claudio, RY X, Usher, Sun El Musician, Elderbrook, Pharrell Williams and Maxine Ashley. Black Coffee took to Twitter to share his excitement over the news and thank his fans for continuing…

Sep

06

2021

By The African Mirror

Nina Stamper empowers with the languages of love

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO LOVE comes in many forms and it often desires one to share how they want to be loved and how they want to love their beloved - that’s where Nina Stamper comes in. A new-age singer and songwriter from Gugulethu, the home of some of the most world’s recognised jazz musicians (like Winston Mankunku Ngozi), in Cape Town, South Africa, Stamper sends the message of what women have gone through all in the name of love whether it be self-love or romance. A feel good song, Language of love, is as inspirational as it is soulful for those…

Jan

21

2021

By The African Mirror

Poet Amanda Gorman, 22, captures ‘bruised, but whole’ U.S. at Biden, Harris inauguration

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ANDREA SHALAL AMANDA Gorman, the youngest poet in U.S. history to mark the transition of presidential power, offered a hopeful vision for a deeply divided country on Wednesday with her poem "The Hill We Climb". Gorman, 22, a Los Angeles resident, joined the ranks of previous inaugural poets Robert Frost, Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Alexander, with a powerful performance at the swearing-in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. "Being American is more than a pride we inherit. It's the past we step into and how we repair it," Gorman said, in a short poem that was greeted…

Jan

20

2021

By The African Mirror

South African editors condemn Somizi

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has called for television personality and choreographer Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung to answer for his actions after doxxing two journalists this week. The entertainer was approached by a City Press journalist, who was requesting to communicate with him on the allegations that he was filing for divorce from his husband, Mohale Motaung. Somizi responded via text to the request saying, “Please make my year and write the story as I will sue the living hell out of you and your publication for this crap you are asking me….get your facts right or…

Feb

04

2021

By The African Mirror

Hip hop and Pan Africanism: from Blitz the Ambassador to Beyoncé

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

HIP hop is many things. Most recently is has become more of commodity, a commercial venture, but it has always been and remains a global culture that represents local realities. It speaks about where one is from – through rap lyrics, DJing, graffiti or breakdancing – by incorporating local slang, references, neighbourhood tales, sounds and styles. MSIA KIBONA CLARK, Associate professor, Howard University Hip hop emerged in the 1970s in the South Bronx, in New York City in the US, among young, working class African Americans as well as Caribbean and Latino immigrants. Hip hop culture’s connection to African musical…

Sep

02

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigerian-born Tunji Balogun named Def Jam CEO & chairman

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER MUSIC Executive Tunji Balogun has a new title under his name. Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced that the media executive will be moving to the top role at Def Jam Recordings, the massively successful US recording label known for being the home to Jay-Z, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and many more. "I grew up on Def Jam's music – collecting, listening to and studying their albums and singles – those early moments as a young fan have had a lasting influence on who I am today," Balogun said. Balogun is currently the Executive Vice President of A&R…

Feb

03

2021

By The African Mirror

Disney takes Black Panther to TV

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO MARVEL’S Black Panther is coming to your TV. Entertainment company Walt Disney Co. has announced that director Ryan Coogler is developing a TV series based on Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’, set in the technologically-advanced nation of Wakanda, to be shown on the company’s streaming site Disney+. The series by Disney forms part of a five-year television deal that was struck between Disney and Coogler’s production company Proximity Media. Coogler said their work with Disney will go way beyond the Wakanda series. “We’re already in the mic on some projects that we can’t wait to share,” he said. “Ryan Coogler…

Sep

01

2021

By The African Mirror

15 million African viewers to stream movies online

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD THE number of streaming subscribers in Africa is expected to jump nearly 200 per cent to 15 million by 2026, according to new estimates, as the pandemic forces Africans to look for entertainment at home. Movie streaming services are projected to rack up millions of subscribers in Africa as the raging COVID-19 pandemic changes the entertainment habits of most Africans. New estimates show subscription-video-on-demand (SVOD) on the continent will jump 194.72 per cent to 15.06 million in 2026, up from 5.11 million expected in 2021. According to Digital TV Research, the threefold increase indicates the nascent market…

Feb

06

2021

By The African Mirror

Cardi B dazzles with visuals for new single ‘Up’

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO CARDI B is back with a new single titled ‘Up’ and the recently premiered music video visuals are to die for. The New York rapper teased fans with the cover art for her new single during the week, her most recent since the release of her chart-topping 2020 single ‘WAP’ which featured rapper Megan Thee Stallion, and was certified Gold by RIAA seven days after its release. The video for Cardi’s new single ‘Up’ shows that budget was not an issue with her singer delivering her catchy bars in gorgeous attires like her black crystal-adorned corset fitted with…

Feb

05

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s Pearl Thusi to star in Netflix’s ‘Wu Assassins’

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER TOP South African actress, radio presenter and model Pearl Thusi is to star in Netflix’s martial arts series ‘Wu Assassins’. ‘Wu Assassins’ is an American supernatural series about a young Chinatown chef named Kai Jin (played by Iko Uwais) in present-day San Francisco, who learns that he comes from a line of ancient assassins, and uses his enhanced martial arts skills to stop modern day criminals from reeking havoc around the world. Picture: Twitter The action series features emerging and known faces in the cast including Tommy Flanagan (from Sons of Anarchy), Byron Mann, legendary actor Tzi…