LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Oct

28

2023

Izikhothane: a deeper history of a South African youth subculture where luxury items are trashed

BEAUTY AND FASHION

IN South Africa, a skhothane is a young, fashionably dressed black urban resident who engages in destructive conspicuous consumption. This involves regular get-togethers on weekends in which groups of izikhothane – most likely male teenagers – gather to compete in mock battles where luxury items are often destroyed. The name is derived from a word in the Zulu language, ukukhotha, meaning “to lick”, but in urban slang it means to boast. MTHOBELI NGCONGO, Lecturer in Communication Science, University of the Free State SIFISO MNISI, Senior Lecturer in Communications and Media, University of Johannesburg There’s no consensus about when exactly this…

Oct

31

2023

By The African Mirror

Shepherd Ndudzo’s celebrated sculptures tell an untold history of southern African art

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE work of award-winning Zimbabwe-born sculptor Shepherd Ndudzo is instantly recognisable. Fluid, elongated black bodies and body parts flow from white rock in a typical work. The bodies are dancing or praying, holding hands or reaching out. BARNABAS TICHA MUVHUTI, Rhodes University These figurative sculptures, carved out of stone (marble and granite) and wood (ironwood), were recently shown along with his abstract wooden sculptures (titled Seed) at the FNB Joburg Art Fair in South Africa by Botswana’s Ora Laopi contemporary art gallery and research project. The work by the artist (born in 1978) was displayed as a celebration of the…

Oct

28

2023

By The African Mirror

El Anatsui review: the great Ghanaian sculptor is the talk of London

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE international art world is celebrating the Ghanaian artist El Anatsui in London. On 9 October, a gigantic installation of three new works – Behind the Red Moon – opened at the Turbine Hall at the prestigious Tate Modern, displaying what Anatsui is most famous for: unique, large-scale sculptural hangings. AMUCHE NNABUEZE, Lecturer in Art and Researcher, University of Nigeria Behind the Red Moon is the 2023 Hyundai Commission, an annual exhibition where a globally important artist is invited to stage an installation at the gallery. The exhibition also kicked off the annual Frieze Week of art shows in the…

Oct

27

2023

By THANDO HLOPHE

South African violist tackles legacy of alcohol payments to labourers

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

A South African violist has used music and art to explore the painful legacy of how labourers at wineries in the Western Cape province were for centuries given wine as part of their payment, a practice known as "the Dop System." The system, which began at the time of slavery in the 17th century and persisted until the recent past despite attempts to abolish it, caused high rates of alcoholism among mixed-race workers who for historical reasons were the main labour force at the wineries. Violist Lynn Rudolph said they wanted to expose how the practice, introduced by Dutch colonialists and maintained…

Oct

24

2023

By The African Mirror

Community radio: young South Africans are helping shape the news through social media

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE number of South African internet users has nearly doubled in the past decade. One 2023 study of 45 developed countries suggests that South Africans even lead the world when it comes to the amount of time spent in front of screens, at 58.2% of the day. SISANDA NKOALA, Senior Lecturer, University of South Africa BLESSING MAKWAMBENI, Senior Lecturer in Communication Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology TRUST MATSILELE, Lecturer in Journalism, Cape Peninsula University of Technology This digital transformation has significant implications for the country’s media. Particularly for newsrooms that want to engage online audiences in a time when…

Oct

18

2023

By The African Mirror

Caine Prize 2023: Senegalese writers win for fantasy-horror story about dangers facing girls

LITERATURE

THE influential Caine Prize for African Writing for 2023 was won by a power couple from Senegal. Their short story A Soul of Small Places (which can be read over here) echoes deeper trends in the country’s literature while picking up on the growth of horror and speculative fiction across the continent. African literature specialist Caroline D. Laurent explains. CAROLINE D. LAURENT, Assistant Professor, American University of Paris (AUP) What’s the Caine Prize and what does winning it mean? The Caine Prize, awarded annually since 2000, acknowledges a short story written in English by an African author. Its objective is…

Oct

15

2023

By BRIGHT EMWANTA IGBINOMWANHIA, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Why traditional carving will never die in Benin

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ON the bustling 25\ 27 Igbesanmwan Street in Benin City, Southern Nigeria, a small white shop with rusty corrugated metal roofing stands between similar rundown buildings. Despite its dilapidated appearance, the Emma O Carving Depot, owned by Emanuel Osifo, holds a remarkable collection of historical artefacts. The store showcases various bronze and wood pieces, such as masks, medals, tools, plaques and sculptures of varying sizes and colours. While some are new, other older pieces are evidence of an ancient tradition. A common belief in Benin City is that certain families have a genetic inclination for sculptural art. The case of…

Oct

12

2023

By The African Mirror

The Black Book is a gritty new thriller that raises the bar for Nollywood

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NIGERIAN thriller The Black Book has been in the headlines for reportedly topping global figures at streaming service Netflix, with 5.6 million viewers in its first two days. Does it live up to the hype? In my view, as a critic, scholar and teacher of Nigerian film and storytelling, the short answer is yes. Directed and co-written by newcomer Editi Effiong, The Black Book emerges as a significant film that establishes a new milestone for Nollywood, the ever-evolving Nigerian film industry. EZINNE EZEPUE, Lecturer, University of Nigeria It achieves this by combining several key factors: high production values, a desire…

Oct

11

2023

By The African Mirror

Nigerian music legend and Angolan fashion icon bring class & glamour to global celebration of African and Afro-inspired music and talent

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, WHAT'S HAPPENING

NIGERIAN music legend, entrepreneur and philanthropist D’Banj, and Angolan supermodel and fashion icon Maria Borges have been revealed as the hosts of the first Trace Awards in Rwanda. Presented by Visit Rwanda and Martell, the Trace Awards will take place at the BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda on 21 October 2023. D'Banj and Maria Borges will preside over a star-studded lineup of 60+ performers and nominees at the Trace Awards including Davido (Nigeria), Nomcebo (South Africa), Yemi Alade (Nigeria), Mr Eazi (Nigeria), Blxckie (South Africa), Bruce Melodie (Rwanda), Bwiza (Rwanda), Chriss Eazy (Rwanda), Didi B (Ivory Coast), Dystinct (Morocco), Janet Otieno…

Oct

10

2023

By The African Mirror

Sho Madjozi: the pop star using traditional culture to shape a fresh identity for young South Africans

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SOUTH African rapper Sho Madjozi is a bold and colourful presence in pop culture, as famous for her catchy lyrics as for using traditional clothing and dance in a fresh way. The musician, actress and poet is also one of very few young South African artists working in a minority language, Xitsonga. With 12 official languages in South Africa, Xitsonga is the first language of only about 4.5% of the population, mostly in the rural northern province of the country called Limpopo. The Tsonga people also live in neighbouring Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Eswatini. OWEN SEDA, Associate Professor in Performing Arts,…