LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Aug

08

2024

How an Idris Elba film studio in Zanzibar would be a big boost to the Swahili film industry

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE allocation of an 80-hectare parcel of land in Zanzibar to Hollywood star Idris Elba to build a film studio marks a new milestone in efforts to develop a regional film industry - efforts that are being supported by local government. "Idris Elba will be building a modern studio similar to Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood… I'm not sure how we will call it in Zanzibar, whether Zallywood or Zawood, I don't know," Zanzibar’s Minister of Investment, Shariff Ali Shariff said during the 27th anniversary celebrations of the Zanzibar International Film Festival held between August 1 and 4, according to AFP.…

Aug

07

2024

By The African Mirror

John Kani, a legend of the South African, African theatre honoured by King Charles

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

FROM the dusty streets of New Brighton township to the grand halls of Buckingham Palace, Dr John Kani's journey is a testament to the transformative power of art and the indomitable spirit of human perseverance. As King Charles III bestowed upon him the Order of the British Empire (OBE), the world bore witness to the coronation of a true titan of African theatre. Kani's life reads like an epic play, each act more compelling than the last. Born in the crucible of apartheid South Africa, he wielded words and performances as weapons against oppression. His stages were not merely platforms…

Aug

02

2024

By ALABA ILESANMI

Fela Kuti is more famous today than ever – what’s behind his global power

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ALMOST three decades after his passing in 1997, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the legendary Nigerian musician and activist who created the Afrobeat music movement, remains the subject of global obsession. The self-proclaimed “Black President” is everywhere, like an omnipresent deity. His presence is felt, and his legacy is honoured, through contemporary showcases from Lagos to London, Bonn to Brazil. Among his many afterlife manifestations are reissues of his music, like the 2024 Fela Vinyl Box Set #6 curated by British actor and DJ Idris Elba; the display of his life, activism and music at the Rébellion Afrobeat exhibition in Paris in 2022-23;…

Aug

04

2024

By CAIO SIMÕES DE ARAÚJO

Mozambique’s transgender history is on display in a powerful photo exhibition

LIFESTYLE

A pioneering queer photo exhibition that was staged 20 years ago in Mozambique and South Africa has found new life and a new audience. Manas 2000-2024, by the Danish photographer Ditte Haarløv Johnsen, opened at the French-Mozambican Cultural Centre, in the capital Maputo, on 8 July. The show kicked off Ulayo Fest, Mozambique’s annual LGBTIQ+ pride week. Held in July since 2021, this cultural event celebrates the power of the arts to bring about and reflect social change. Many of the photographs of Manas 2000-2024 have been seen by the public before. Firstly, at the University of the Witwatersrand in…

Aug

04

2024

By The African Mirror

Lights, camera, action: Idris Elba’s “Zollywood” cinematic revolution

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IN a groundbreaking move set to transform the East African film landscape, Zanzibar has unveiled plans for an International Film Studio spearheaded by Hollywood heavyweight Idris Elba. The Tanzanian archipelago, known for its pristine beaches and rich cultural tapestry, is now poised to become the beating heart of Africa's film industry. Announced at the star-studded 27th Zanzibar International Film Festival, the government's allocation of 80 hectares in Fumba village for this ambitious project signals a seismic shift in the region's creative economy. Zanzibar's Investment Minister, Shariff Ali Shariff, heralded the studio as a game-changer, promising to catapult Tanzania onto the…

Aug

01

2024

By HENNING MELBER

German colonialism in Africa has a chilling history – new book explores how it lives on

LITERATURE

GERMANY was a significant – and often brutal – colonial power in Africa. But this colonial history is not told as often as that of other imperialist nations. A new book called The Long Shadow of German Colonialism: Amnesia, Denialism and Revisionism aims to bring the past into the light. It explores not just the history of German colonialism, but also how its legacy has played out in German society, politics and the media. We asked Henning Melber about his book. What is the history of German colonialism in Africa? Imperial Germany was a latecomer in the scramble for Africa.…

Jul

31

2024

By ZANIEL DADA, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Nigeria’s sports “queen” scores with local language radio show

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

“…and it’s a corner kick for Man City!” “They’re trying by putting pressure on Arsenal’s No. 18 but their defender Ben White kicked it out, so he isn’t a ‘Ben 10’!” “Raya is pushing Akanji…while saying ‘Akanji don’t push me?’” “Pep Guardiola clearly needs a water break!” “There is no end to the bullets in the guns at Arsenal!” It’s 6:30 PM on Sunday and Aderonke Adesola is live. The popular sports presenter has about three million listeners within Ibadan, Nigeria’s third largest city. Her lively updates and analysis of soccer, motorsports, golf, and even racket sports have fans eagerly…

Jul

27

2024

By RODERIC KNIGHT

Toumani Diabaté: the famed musician from Mali who took the kora to the world

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE world has lost a significant musical ambassador for the Mande people of West Africa – the virtuoso kora player, composer, and collaborator from Mali, Toumani Diabaté. He died on 19 July, just short of his 59th birthday, at the peak of his career. When Toumani was born in Bamako in 1965, neither his surname Diabaté nor his instrument, the kora, an iconic 21-stringed African harp, was familiar to anyone outside the Mande region. By the time Toumani passed, his father Sidiki Diabaté Sr had been known as “the king of the kora” and Toumani himself was world-famous, representing the…

Jul

27

2024

By IBRAHEEM ADESINA KUKOYI

Nigeria’s Ojude-Oba festival celebrates heritage with colourful parades and horsemanship: how it could be used to attract tourists

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE Ojude-Oba festival is a vibrant annual celebration that has become an integral part of the identity of Ijebu-Ode, a city in south-west Nigeria. This colourful event, famous for its cultural displays and public parades, has been observed for nearly two centuries. Though the festival had its origin in Islam, it brings together people from all walks of life, regardless of their religious beliefs. At its core, the Ojude-Oba festival is a grand homage-paying ceremony to the Awujale, the king of the Ijebu people. The earliest documented reference to the Ijebu kingdom is a Portuguese source of late 15th-century context.…

Jul

16

2024

By ABAYOMI AWELEWA

Wole Soyinka at 90: writer and activist for justice

LIFESTYLE

AKINWANDE Oluwole Soyinka, the legendary African author and activist, is proof of what words and acts can achieve in the struggle for justice and human rights. Soyinka, aged 90, embodies unrelenting activism and literary excellence. The importance of Soyinka’s work lies in demonstrating the powerful role of the arts and artists in society. He has shown that literature and artistic expression can be formidable tools for challenging oppression, advocating for justice and inspiring social change. From his early plays and poems to his recent essays and speeches, Soyinka has consistently addressed political corruption, social injustice and human rights abuses –…