LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Aug

04

2020

Black is King: A modern love story of black identity

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO BLACK is King, Beyonce’s much anticipated visual album which features a high number of Africans, is out to much acclaim and some criticism. Folajomi Akinmurele as Simba. Picture: Youtube On the evening of 1 August 2020, fans across the world saw the premiere of the long-awaited visual accompaniment of ‘The Lion King: The Gift’ - an audio album curated and produced by Beyoncé and popular black and brown voices all made into a 1 hour 30-minute long film titled “Black is King”. The late Mary Twala. Picture: Twitter Viewers on the streaming network Disney+ or on DSTV were…

Aug

02

2020

By The African Mirror

Somizi strips naked

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER IDOLS presenter, TV star and mega influencer Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung nearly brought social media platforms down when a video of him stripping naked on the Idols set went viral. Mhlongo-Motaung, a popular host on the M-net talent show, lost a bet and disrobed in front of his colleagues, cameras and ran across the Cape Town audition hall, to the amazement and the excitement of Idols contestants and fans. The streak was greeted with screams, whistles and huge laughs. His fans on social Twitter loved the moment and the enjoyment it provided. Some even suggested that he should consider…

Aug

12

2020

By The African Mirror

British music stars resurrect Rock Against Racism

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

EMMA BATHA MORE than 700 figures from Britain's music world, including pop star Rita Ora, One Direction singer Niall Horan and producer Nile Rodgers, united to "wipe out racism" declaring "silence is not an option" in response to discrimination and abuse. The pledge made in a letter published in Britain's Sunday Times newspaper comes four decades after British musicians banded together for Rock Against Racism - a cultural movement that emerged in 1976 in response to rising xenophobia. The letter comes amid a growing global movement to tackle racism following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in police…

Aug

13

2020

By The African Mirror

Africa’s comic artists tell powerful stories in unique online exhibition

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ZEENAT HANSROD Follow THE work of 16 comic artists from seven African nations is showcased in an online-only exhibition, Afropolitan Comics. The French initiative, which germinated in South Africa, aims to show “what Africans can do”, the curators say.ADVERTISING Afropolitan Comics is part of the Africa 2020 project and regroups comic authors from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria. ‘Afropolitan’ is an amalgam of the words 'Africa' and 'cosmopolitan' in a reminder of the modernity and diversity that exists across the African continent. “We wanted to break away from the clichés and stereotypes about Africans. Also, inform people that comic authors in Africa do not…

Aug

14

2020

By The African Mirror

John Legend and Chrissy Teigen expecting baby #3

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO THE stork is making its way to the Legend household for a third time. R&B singer John Legend and wife, model Chrissy Teigen have announced that they will be welcoming their third child to their growing family. The revelation was made after Legend released the music video for his new single titled ‘Wild’ which features Gary Clark Jr. on Youtube, as well as posting a snippet of the video on his Instagram page. The Grammy award-winning singer held a live premiere for the music video along with Teigen and their two children, Luna and Miles. Prior to the…

Aug

15

2020

By The African Mirror

Remembering Zindzi Mandela, the writer

LITERATURE

NTOMBIZIKHONA VALELA ZINDZI Mandela comes from a family of writers. Although her parents were not writers by profession, this craft was a crucial way of keeping their family together. Mandela was barely 18 months old when her father, Nelson Mandela, was arrested on 5 August 1962 after being a wanted man for his role in South Africa’s liberation movement. His life sentence following the conclusion of the Rivonia Trial in 1964 was served on Robben Island, which meant he could only communicate with his wife, freedom fighter and social worker Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and children through writing letters. These initial circumstances…

Aug

20

2020

By The African Mirror

Burna Boy’s “Twice as Tall” reaches streaming high

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

African Mirror Reporter NIGERIA’S Burna Boy’s star has continued to soar at some speed with the release of his fifth album ‘Twice As Tall’. Released on Friday 15 August, ‘Twice As Tall’ was commended by scores of fans, who also praised the artist for continuing to fly the Nigerian flag high and for keeping up with the positive momentum from the artist’s previous offering, the 2018 Grammy-nominated album ‘African Giant’. Since its release, the album has amassed popularity on streaming sites. It accumulated 5 million streams in one hour by August 17, and to date has over 6 million streams…

Aug

19

2020

By The African Mirror

Like Mother, like Son

LITERATURE

In this chapter extracted from his newly published hospital memoir, “Sound and Fury: The Chronicles of Healing”, SAUL MOLOBI looks forward to spending his weekend break from the Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital with his mother – they are both disabled and using similar assistive devices… Though I love my Fridays, this is a special one since I will be spending this weekend with my mother, Kadimo Jane Molobi. This shouldn't make me sound like a momma’s boy. I am not. Besides, I grew up hearing all people, including my late dad, fondly calling her ‘mmaKgomotso’ (Kgomotso’s mom) to the extent that…

Aug

18

2020

By The African Mirror

11-year-old Nigerian ballet star’s video earns him a dream scholarship

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE graceful movements of an 11-year old boy dancing ballet in the rain captured not only the hearts of the social media community but also the attention of a prominent ballet theatre. The viral video shows Anthony Mmesoma Madu dancing a ballet routine barefoot in the rain, showcasing exquisite pirouettes and leaps just outside his ballet academy, Leap of Dance Academy, where he trains in Nigeria. The video of Madu received more than 15 million views and received praise from the likes of American actress Viola Davis, who reposted the video on her Instagram feed with the…

Aug

17

2020

By The African Mirror

Hair is just not hair

BEAUTY AND FASHION

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER BLACK women’s hair styled not only contributes to their physical beauty but also determines their job prospects, a new study has revealed. According to CNN, black women with natural hairstyles, which include traditional afros, braids and twists are less likely to secure job interviews than white women or black women with straightened hair. The CNN report is based on studies carried out by researchers from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. According to participants in the studies, natural black hairstyles were perceived as less professional. The effect of the perception is particularly pronounced in industries where a…