LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Feb

14

2025

Michael Mosoeu Moerane was a pioneering composer in South Africa. A new book is restoring his place in history

LITERATURE

COMPOSER and educator Michael Mosoeu Moerane (1904-1980) is probably best known for a few evergreen choral works, including Della and Sylvia, still sung by choirs across South Africa today. And, of course, for his orchestral piece FatŠe laHeso (My Country). It had the distinction of being recorded by both the British and South African public broadcasters in an era when white minority rule denied even the existence of Black classical musicians. Apartheid held the identity of Black people in South Africa to be unchangingly simple, rural and tribal. Sophisticated activities such as orchestral composing were both beyond their capacity and…

Feb

11

2025

By Manfred Zwecker

Joburg Film Festival 2025 to open with powerful Ernest Cole documentary

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IN a groundbreaking moment for African cinema, the 7th Joburg Film Festival is set to illuminate the city's screens this March with the world premiere of "Ernest Cole: Lost and Found," a compelling documentary about one of South Africa's most influential photographers. The film, which captivated audiences and claimed the Best Documentary award at Cannes, will kick off six days of cinematic excellence from March 11-16, 2025. Directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Raoul Peck, known for "Lumumba" and "I Am Not Your Negro," the documentary unravels the extraordinary tale of Ernest Cole's life and his powerful documentation of the apartheid era.…

Feb

07

2025

By SYLVIE AYIMPAM

Congo’s stylish sapeur movement goes beyond fashion – 5 deeper insights

BEAUTY AND FASHION

IN the two Congos, there’s a cultural movement by the Society of Ambience-Makers and Elegant People (Sape), known as “sapeurs”, who blend fashion, culture and social resistance. Though it was rooted primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Congo, the movement is now spreading worldwide, through Congolese migration. As a researcher, I have studied Sape in its cultural, social and symbolic dimensions. Sape is far more than a fashion trend. Here are five key things to know about this movement. 1. The history of Sape Sape emerged during the colonial era, first in Brazzaville and…

Feb

06

2025

By LIEZILLE JACOBS

Psychology in democratic South Africa: new book explores a post-apartheid journey

LITERATURE

WHEN apartheid ended in 1994, South Africa underwent significant social and political transformation. A key aspect of this shift was the push for greater inclusion and representation of Black South Africans across all sectors – including psychology. Dr Liezille Jacobs was part of a pioneering generation of Black psychologists who started their training in 1995. Now she has written a book, Rocklands: On Becoming the first generation of Black psychologists in post-apartheid South Africa. In it she explores the barriers she and her colleagues faced and unpacks misconceptions around what psychology is and does. She also argues that critical (and…

Feb

04

2025

By The African Mirror

Rhythms of triumph: An African musical odyssey as Nigeria, South Africa win Grammys

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE Los Angeles night crackled with electric anticipation as two extraordinary African artists transformed the Grammy stage into a canvas of musical magic. Wouter Kellerman's journey began with a flute, a dream, and an impossible vision. On this glittering night, the South African virtuoso claimed his third Grammy, this time alongside a Japanese cellist and an Indian vocalist. Their album *Triveni* wasn't just music—it was a bridge across continents, a testament to art's power to connect souls. "Music unites and heals," Kellerman declared, his voice trembling with emotion, his words cutting through the glamorous arena like a gentle yet powerful…

Jan

31

2025

By TINASHE MUSHAKAVANHU

South African poetry has a new digital archive – what’s behind the project

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SOUTH AFRICAN poetry, rich with history, has long been an underappreciated cornerstone of the country’s cultural landscape. But a new free-to-access digital archive is helping change that. Focused on the poets published by a small but important press in a town called Makhanda in the Eastern Cape province, the Deep South Books and Archive initiative seeks to elevate their voices by offering an archive of background information about their work and lives as well as extensive excerpts from their books. It’s a rare window into a vital but overlooked tradition of South African literature. Robert Berold, after spending a decade…

Jan

30

2025

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Tyla’s livestreamed concert redefined live events in Africa

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

TAMASHA Khanyi, a South African journalist and host at East Coast Radio, described the performance of South African sensation, Tyla, at the grand finale of her "Encore" homecoming tour on July 18 at Time Square’s SunBet Arena in Pretoria with the words “incredible show is an understatement!” “It was so much more than an entertaining evening where I got to hear some of my favourite songs live. To me, Tyla represents so much for SA’s youth,” she wrote in a LinkedIn post after the concert. Khanyi is one of many attendees who took to social media to express their appreciation…

Jan

26

2025

By The African Mirror

Keyshia Cole: Live in South Africa will continue new dates set for April 2025

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MULTI-platinum R&B sensation Keyshia Cole is thrilled to announce the rescheduled dates for her highly anticipated Keyshia Cole: Live in South Africa tour. The tour, scheduled to take place this weekend, was postponed following the tragic loss of the artist’s Los Angeles home in the recent wildfires. Keyshia expressed her heartfelt gratitude to fans for their patience and understanding during this challenging time, “The wildfires in LA devastated not only my home but also my spirit for a moment. I needed time to heal, rebuild, and be fully present to give my fans in South Africa the show they deserve.…

Jan

21

2025

By LIANI MAASDORP and REINA-MARIE LOADER

Films can change the world – why universities and film schools should teach impact strategies

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

WHEN was the last time a film changed the way you saw the world? Or the way you behaved? Miners Shot Down (2014) countered mainstream media narratives to reveal how striking mine workers were gunned down by police at Marikana in South Africa. Black Fish (2013) made US theme park SeaWorld’s stock prices plummet. And Virunga (2014) stopped the British oil company Soco International from mining in the Congolese National Park from which the film takes its name. These films were all at the centre of impact campaigns designed to move people to act. In filmmaking, “impact” may involve bringing…

Jan

21

2025

By OLIVIER MOREILLON

K Sello Duiker, a rock star of South African literature, died 20 years ago. How his work lives on

LITERATURE

K. SELLO DUIKER was regarded as a “rock star” of South African literature. He was one of a group of budding black South African novelists of the late 1990s and early 2000s who emerged with democracy in 1994. They stirred up the country’s literary scene with their irreverent take on post-apartheid socio-economic and cultural realities. On 19 January 2005, Duiker committed suicide at the age of 30. He had suffered from bipolar affective disorder. Olivier Moreillon is a scholar of post-apartheid South African literature who has researched Duiker. We asked him about the author’s legacy on the 20th anniversary of…