LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Jul

19

2022

South Africa mourns legendary poet Don Mattera

LITERATURE

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH Africans from all walks of life have paid tributes to and celebrated the extraordinary life of Don Mattera, the poet, author, cultural activist and community leader who passed away after a short illness. Mattera - 87 - was buried at the Heroes Acre at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to Mattera, who was honoured in 2006 by the government with the Order of the Baobab for his “excellent contribution to literature, achievement in the field of journalism and striving for justice in South Africa” President Ramaphosa said: “As a…

Jul

19

2022

By The African Mirror

100 years of pop music in Nigeria: what shaped four eras

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the early months of 2020 shut down nearly all physical and social human activities. For musical practice, this meant near death. Performing music is, after all, one of the oldest forms of social human engagement. In Nigeria, the shutdown of concerts and public music performances was swift. Not even the Nigerian–Biafran War of 1967 to 1970 could shut down all of Nigeria. In fact, popular music activities boomed in Lagos as bombs rained on Biafra. The pandemic was a watershed moment and offers a compelling reason to trace the trajectory and evolution…

Jul

16

2022

By The African Mirror

Nigerian’s dream comes true with “Iyanu”

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY "A dream 15 years in the making" is how Roye Okupe described the announcement that his African superhero creation Iyanu would be turned into an animated series on HBO Max. "That's right, folks, YouNeek Studios IYANU has been greenlit and is set to become an ANIMATED SERIES ON HBO Max!" the US-educated Nigerian creator of African-inspired superhero & fantasy stories behind YouNeek - known for its EXO series of graphic novels - said when announcing the news. “Iyanu: Child of Wonder” is a superhero tale set in the magical kingdom of Yorubaland, which draws from…

Jan

14

2021

By The African Mirror

NKWO looks to a sustainable future of fashion with new collection

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MPHO RANTAO THE world is only two weeks into 2021, but talks have already resurfaced regarding the ever-growing concern on climate change and the damaging effects that the fashion industry has on the environment. In a report published in Business Insider, the production fashion is responsible for 10% of total global carbon emissions, is considered to be the second-largest polluter after oil, and uses up to 1.5 trillion litres of water at the risk of the planet’s biodiversity. The Gerewol Jacket from a 2020 collection. Picture: Instagram/nwko_official The staggering reports released by environmental organisations, along with the wide-spread criticism from…

Jan

19

2021

By The African Mirror

Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez to perform at diverse Biden inauguration

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

LADY Gaga and Jennifer Lopez will take the stage at U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony in Washington next week alongside others in what his transition team said would showcase a diverse America. The two will perform at the Jan. 20 event for the incoming 46th U.S. president, which will also feature remarks from a black firefighter from Georgia, a former Youth Poet Laureate, a Catholic priest, and a pastor from Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. Lady Gaga will sing the national anthem and Lopez will give a musical performance. "They represent one clear picture of the grand diversity of…

Jan

17

2021

By The African Mirror

Vee Mmpeezy’s ‘Dumalana’ reaches 8.4 million views on Youtube

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO BOTSWANA singing sensation Vee Mampeezy has a big reason to celebrate this weekend with his latest video reaching over 8 million views on Youtube. This is the highest tally of views for the singer. The song ‘Dumalana’ is Mampeezy’s third single to reach over 1 million views on the platform after his previous singles ‘Dololo’ and ‘I Love You’ reaching over 1.2 million and 1.5 million views respectively. The Motswana singer took to Instagram to share his joy over the video’s success, thanking his fans for watching his videos and continuously supporting him. “I would like to say…

Jan

16

2021

By The African Mirror

Showmax creates first-ever Kenyan original series

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO AFRICAN streaming platform Showmax and CANAL+ have broken ground with a new drama series, a first collaboration between the platform and the French channel. The new series is called Crime & Justice, a gritty procedural & legal drama set in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi. Heavyweight actors Sarah Hassan and Alfred Munyua will take up the roles as the two detective leads, Maken and Silas, with the new role as a detective being Hassan’s first in her career. The new series focuses on Makena and Silas at the heart of the topical show that follows one ripped-from-the-headlines case per…

Jan

15

2021

By The African Mirror

Amazon film recounts epic meeting of Cassius Clay, Sam Cooke, Malcolm X, Jim Brown

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SARAH MILLS IMAGINE a time more than 50 years ago when four of the biggest Black American celebrities in the world met up and spent hours discussing race, religion and politics? That's the premise of the film "One Night in Miami," out on Amazon Prime on Friday, which recounts a 1964 meeting between boxer Cassius Clay, soul singer Sam Cooke, civil rights activist Malcolm X and football player Jim Brown. The meeting really took place, says screenwriter Kemp Powers, who came across a throwaway mention of it years ago and became obsessed with finding out more. "The characterizations and the…

Jan

19

2021

By The African Mirror

Death you are a cheat! We live in your shadow all the time

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

“Hi Khulu! Kunjani Mfowethu, ngu Sam Phillips lona. Yes, uSisi ungitsheshele izindaba ezinzima, of course, ngawe. Baba, hayi Mfowethu, I am sorry to hear… But ngiyethemba uNkulunkulu will hear our prayers masimcela ukuthi ube safe … he will bless [you], even the doctors will be looking after you. Please stay strong mfanakithi, We love you, Ngu Sam!” I received this voice message from my brother on the 23rd of March 2020, in the evening. I listened to it more than twice, and I was angry. Not angry at my brother Sam, but angry at my sister, Lillian. Why did he…

Jul

20

2020

By The African Mirror

Best-selling novel exposes life of child slaves in Nigeria

LITERATURE

NELLIE PEYTON WRITER Abi Dare grew up in a part of Lagos, Nigeria where most families, including hers, had maids as young as eight years old who worked all day, were often beaten and did not go to school. It was only as an adult that she realised these so-called "house girls" were essentially slaves. "I did have questions growing up but they weren't questions I necessarily voiced because it was the norm. It still is happening," the 38-year-old told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from her home in London. Dare's debut novel, "The Girl with the Louding Voice",…