LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Oct

26

2024

Introducing Joburg’s newest luxury destinations OKIO & Bellucci Lounge

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NESTLED in the heart of Africa’s richest square mile, a game-changing nightlife destination has arrived: welcome to OKIO and the Bellucci Luxury Lounge. This meticulously designed venue invites you to indulge your senses and elevate your evenings into a world of unparalleled luxury and energy. Offering two distinct and elegant spaces, OKIO Nightclub and Bellucci Luxury Lounge, this destination stands out for its unique ambiance and attention to detail. OKIO Nightclub From the moment you step into OKIO (pronounced Awk-Key-Oh), the modern luxury nightclub and event venue, you will be mesmerized by its striking design—an artistic fusion of rich colours and textures. With opulent lounge…

Oct

22

2024

By The African Mirror

The Clocktober Rush. Is it worth it?

FOOD

WHAT'S all the fuss about October in South Africa? Everyone is run off their feet, sweating the small stuff, breathing heavily, jumping hula hoops. Somehow October seems to be the ‘red flag’ of months, where stress indicators fly off the charts, as we beat our deadline drums and rush around the clock in a frazzled fiasco to December. From school obligations to deadlines and daily admin, we’re on the clock. But who’s clock is it anyway? Our own. And we’re wasting it on too many ‘to-do’s’ and not enough ‘to-be’s’. This is why I take lunch. I believe in the…

Oct

18

2024

By The African Mirror

Discover Morocco’s west-coast marvels: A journey riding waves and embracing culture

TRAVEL, MULTIMEDIA

ON the western stretches of the North African coastline, cradled by the Atlantic's rhythmic swells, Morocco's shores have risen to become an international surfing destination catering to wave riders of every skill level. In the second episode of 'No Contest: Off Tour' Season Two on Red Bull TV, influential surf figures, including Big Wave surfer Othmane Choufani, professional surfer Soufiane Charoub, and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Ramzi Boukhiam - the first Moroccan to qualify for the World Surf League's Championship Tour - shed light on the captivating allure that solidifies Morocco's status as a global hub for all those who ride…

Oct

12

2024

By ALABA ILESANMI

From Fela Kuti to Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead – the story of music manager Rikki Stein

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

RIKKI Stein, born into a regular, middle-class home in the UK, has had what must have seemed an unlikely career. As a music manager, he has toured the world in the company of music legends – from the late Nigerian Afrobeat star Fela Kuti to American rockers The Grateful Dead and Morocco’s Master Musicians of Joujouka. The stories of the people working behind the scenes supporting great artists rarely get the spotlight they deserve. But Stein’s recently released autobiography Moving Music is as colourful and compelling as the artists he’s worked with. It serves as a time capsule of sorts,…

Oct

12

2024

By BARNABAS TICHA MUVHUTI

Namibia’s art scene has been built by unsung heroes – like queer artist Jo Rogge

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

A week after the opening of their solo exhibition So She Was Turned To a Pillar of Salt at The Project Room in Windhoek, Jo Rogge also facilitated a workshop for aspiring female artists at the gallery. Squeezing in a workshop in the few days they were in Namibia is an affirmation of their commitment to the advancement of art in the country. This is despite having been forced out of Namibia in 2016 when, after 30 years of living and working there, Rogge’s work permit was not renewed. They relocated to neighbouring South Africa. Rogge is a cultural worker…

Oct

11

2024

By JAMES MULDOON

Sex machina: in the wild west world of human-AI relationships, the lonely and vulnerable are most at risk

LIFESTYLE

CHRIS excitedly posts family pictures from his trip to France. Brimming with joy, he starts gushing about his wife: “A bonus picture of my cutie … I’m so happy to see mother and children together. Ruby dressed them so cute too.” He continues: “Ruby and I visited the pumpkin patch with the babies. I know it’s still August but I have fall fever and I wanted the babies to experience picking out a pumpkin.” Ruby and the four children sit together in a seasonal family portrait. Ruby and Chris (not his real name) smile into the camera, with their two…

Oct

09

2024

By MAMADOU DRAMÉ

Senegal’s female rappers aren’t letting obstacles get in their way – who the rising voices are

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IN Senegal, rap music and hip-hop culture emerged in the 1980s, driven by the urban youth. It has grown to be one of the most popular music genres in the country. But what role do female Senegalese artists play in developing and promoting hip-hop? And what challenges do they face in this male-dominated industry? Mamadou Dramé, who has done several studies on Senegalese hip-hop, answers these and other questions. What characterises Senegalese hip-hop? The year 1988 marks the beginning of rap in Senegal. After a phase of imitation, artists set themselves apart from the rest of the world by incorporating…

Oct

04

2024

By MAKHOSAZANA XABA

Wretched of the Earth has been translated into South Africa’s Zulu language – why Frantz Fanon’s revolutionary book still matters

LITERATURE

FRANTZ Fanon was an influential psychiatrist, Algerian revolutionary and pan-African thinker who was born on the Caribbean island of Martinique. His work – and particularly his final book The Wretched of the Earth (1961) – is still widely referenced to understand the fight against colonialism and also the postcolonial era in Africa. This global classic has already been translated into numerous languages – and is now available in South Africa’s Zulu language as Izimpabanga Zomhlaba thanks to poet, short story writer, anthologist – and now translator – Makhosazana Xaba. We asked her about the book. Why is it important that…

Oct

01

2024

By The African Mirror

Rubicon collection inspired by medley of nature

BEAUTY AND FASHION

THIS year’s collection is inspired by the ‘Medley of Nature’ based on the great historical Mapungubwe Kingdom in Limpopo. The design aesthetic is derived from the kingdom’s social structure, the influence of trade with the Far East and the area’s ecosystem. With little research available on the exact fashion trends that were popular in 1200 AD, our head designer and Founder, Hangwani Nengovhela allowed herself to dream and re-imagine fashion history. We know that this was a bustling kingdom in which the people lived in abundance. To show their strength and power, Mapungubwe’s ruler moved the upper classes to the…

Sep

27

2024

By The African Mirror

CRUZ Vodka brings Studio 54 vibes to SA Fashion Week opening night celebration

BEAUTY AND FASHION

THE Venue in Morningside transformed into a dazzling homage to the iconic Studio 54 as CRUZ Vodka hosted yet another unforgettable opening party for South African Fashion Week. The event drew the crème de la crème of the South African fashion scene, setting a high bar for style, sophistication, and innovation ahead of the week-long fashion extravaganza kicking off tonight in Mzansi. Embracing the glitz and glamour of New York’s legendary nightlife, the dress code encouraged guests to showcase their bold interpretations of disco-inspired couture. The result was a stunning visual feast, with attendees donning avant-garde ensembles that combined urban…