ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Feb

12

2021

GQ celebrates “Modern Love”

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO GQ Magazine is celebrating a new age of love. The American magazine’s March edition spotlights the relationships of singer Ciara and NFL footballer Russell Wilson, Tennis champion Naomi Osaka and rapper Cordae, and sports power couple FIFA Women’s World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe and WNBA champion Sue Bird. Titled “Modern Love”, the March issue is “an exploration of the many forms and facets of love today.” “For the three print covers of this special project, we turned to three couples who are setting exciting examples for what love can look like in 2021 (and beyond).” Each feature tells…

Feb

11

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigerian artist creates rotting exhibit as coronavirus warning

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SEUN SANNI NIGERIAN artist Olufela Omokeko carefully arranges fresh peppers on wooden boards hanging in a bare room. Instead of providing spice in a meal, he wants them to encourage people to obey measures that will stop the spread of the coronavirus. His pieces, comprising of red, yellow and green peppers mounted on boards and tomatoes hanging from nets, will rot during the lifespan of the exhibition in Lagos. The decay reflects the food wasted during lockdowns last year, said the 30-year-old artist. "I created this art space as a reflection of the scarcity... and numerous challenges that we experienced…

Feb

11

2021

By The African Mirror

First look: actress Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana for new biopic

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO PRINCESS DIANA - celebrated worlwide as the real queen of hearts - is heading for our screens. Her life is a major feature in a new biographical film on the British Royal family. American actress Kristen Stewart has been cast to play the late Welsh Princess Diana in a film titled Spencer. Images released to the public show Stewart with an uncanny resemblance portraying the late Princess in a red blazer and a black hat with a veil, with the Princess’ classic blonde feathered bob. https://twitter.com/neonrated/status/1354428951842721793?s=20 The story of Spencer, written by Steven Knight and directed by Pablo…

Aug

03

2021

By The African Mirror

Afrobeat and a growing sense of unity

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD NEWSROOM WITH the rise of Afrobeat and Amapiano, African pop stars are penetrating the global music scene and changing how the continent’s music is perceived and consumed. Significantly, they are also bringing a sense of unity to the continent. Africa’s rich terrain of musical styles is laden with fascinating genres such as Taarab, Genge, Ndombolo, Rhumba, Bongo, Benga, Kwaito, Amapiano, and Afrobeat. Over the past decade or so, the continent’s music landscape has changed dramatically, with new fusions blended into existing genres to create a magical and unique cocktail. As the music changes so do dance routines,…

Feb

20

2021

By The African Mirror

The quest to identify Fela’s successor: why it’s time to end it

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IT'S nearly a quarter of a century since Fela Kuti passed away. Yet, the influence of his music and pan-Africanist thoughts hasn’t stopped. Fela was notorious for the deployment of his Afrobeat as a critical tool against human rights violations, social injustice and insensitive cum inept leadership in Africa. And the conversation as to who best fits the profile of a successor has continued unabated. GARHE OSIEBE, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Rhodes University Many Nigerian artists have gone as far as naming themselves as the reincarnation of Fela. From Dede Mabiaku’s endless references to his closeness to the Abami Eda –…

Jul

31

2021

By The African Mirror

S.Africa’s Ster-Kinekor bets on drive-in cinema under the stars

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NQOBILE DLUDLA UNDER the stars of the South African night, the movie-goers who used to throng a cinema among the shops of Johannesburg's Sandton City mall, have since the pandemic watched the latest releases from a big screen in a rooftop car park. Drive-in movies are enjoying a revival in many parts of the world, but for South Africa, the stakes are higher because of a slow COVID-19 vaccine rollout that makes a return to normality especially hard and leaves more businesses facing the risk of closure. Ster-Kinekor, Africa's largest cinema group, is betting on the format to win back…

Jul

30

2021

By The African Mirror

Ola Rotimi: the enduring influence of a Nigerian theatre giant

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

TWENTY years after his death, the Nigerian dramatist Ola Rotimi is attracting renewed interest. San Diego State University hosted a webinar in April 2021 where the affection and reverence for the playwright were clear. Another webinar was held in his honour in August 2020 at Bowen University in Nigeria. SANYA OSHA, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Humanities in Africa, University of Cape Town The appeal of Rotimi’s theatrical practice and vision is that they are based on his infectious humanism, conviviality and reciprocity. The playwright, director and scholar was born in Sapele, Nigeria, in 1938 and passed away in 2000.…

Feb

18

2021

By The African Mirror

Rihanna faces backlash over Hindu goddess disrespect

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER RIHANNA has been called out by the Hindu community online over an image that the singer posted on Instagram, which shows her culturally appropriating a sacred Hindu god. Rihanna posted a topless image of herself wearing silk shorts from her Savage x Fenty lingerie line and jewellery which included a beaded necklace that falls between her bust, showing the small sculpture of the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, Lord Ganesha (also called Ganesh). View this post on Instagram A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) As a caption, she wrote: "when @popcaanmusic said 'me nuh wan ya wear…

Feb

16

2021

By The African Mirror

Celebrity Somizi good for business

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER A collaboration with mega South African influencer and celebrity Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung has become an instant boost to the business of entrepreneur Theo Baloyi, the brains behind the local shoe brand Bathu. Barely 24 hours after the launch of a specially designed shoe for Somizi - BathuXSomizi - Bathu sold over 30 pairs. The buyers were Somizi’s friends. And the celebrity took to social media to celebrate the purchase. “Friends like this are a blessing … two of my close friends just bought 30 and 10 pairs of my #bathuxsomizi pairs for their staff members... at full price...sneakers…

Jul

27

2021

By The African Mirror

Building an art gallery in the midst of war in Zimbabwe

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFTER being disenchanted with his work as a detective inspector in Rhodesia’s British South Africa Police, Derek Huggins quit his job and in 1975 decided to open an art gallery. The venture, Gallery Delta, is now an important institution in Zimbabwe’s art history. His partner and collaborator was his wife, Helen Lieros, a talented artist in her own right. In a documentary, Art for Art’s Sake: The Story of Gallery Delta, released in June 2020, Huggins explained: While we knew that a tiny gallery of three rooms in the midst of conflict and war and sanctions would not make a…