South Africa Blog

Don’t miss the 1st Umkhumbane Flea Market on Sunday 3 August! It’s on the corner of Booth and Bellair Roads just a short drive from the Pavilion or the University. Shop for curios, clothing, jewellery and home décor items, try a traditional herbal cure or have the bones thrown to solve your dilemma.

Relax at the tea garden and enjoy buskers and dancers. Open from Sunday 3 August and every Sunday thereafter from 9-4pm. Visit the Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19788899821 or call Nathi Zondi on 031 261 6640 or Zwelakhe on 083 9828 767 for more information and a map.

See additional info, view photographs and get directions at Umkhumbane Flea Market.

By Dominic Khuzwayo

Like in most parts of the world jazz music in South Africa is not a stranger to the people. However jazz artists in South Africa are treated as strangers if not ghosts (not seen) as compared to other countries.

The department of arts and culture claims to be providing or provided the platform but to me if ever they are, it seems not enough. One might say maybe jazz has less of a fan base in the country but what about the huge posters that greet us every time with “JAZZ FESIVAL”. Every time I see one I smile but not for long, my smile fades as my eyes scrolls down to the line up; Ringo Madlingozi, Siphokazi, Malakia, Zola, Bongo Maffin … ja nee!

I will be lying to myself if I say I don’t like these artists ‘I DO’, but they are not jazz musicians for crying out loud!

A great example is the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival – good idea, well prepared and let’s check the line up … eish! Lira, Siphiwe Dana, Camagwini, Yvonne Chaka Chaka etc, just to name the few before I run-off breath. Are these jazz artists? HELL NO!

This is just an insult to jazz artists, it’s like hosting a party without ‘Mr or Miss Party’.

Why not include these guys to the party; Adile Yenani, Bheki Khosa, Musa Manzini, Sydney Mnisi, Mccoy Mrubata, Faya Faku, Lucas Senyantso …

If jazz artists are omitted in the line-ups they deserve on the so called jazz festivals, are we still going to see headlines like A South African jazz legend died ?????????

By: Dominic Khuzwayo
CRN Magazine (Journalist)
Cell: 078 5745 807

A rising star in the opera firmament will grace the stage of the Nederburg Manor House recital room on July 27 at 17h00 to perform the third Nederburg concert of the season.

Up and coming local tenor, Given Nkosi will showcase the extraordinary talent that has seen him win a number of local and international awards. Accompanied by one of the country’s finest pianists, Victor Tichart, Nkosi will sing traditional German, Italian and English songs and some favourite opera arias such as La donna e mobile, Una furtive lagrima, Amor tivieta, M’apari tutt’ amor.

Nkosi started singing at school and in youth choirs, participating in various competitions. In 2001 and 2002, he was chosen as the Tirisano School Choral Eisteddfod national champion and, in 2003 and 2004, was national champion of the Post Office Eisteddfod. He has appeared in numerous local opera productions and concert performances, among others as soloist with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2005, he won first prize in the Schock competition at the University of Cape Town (UCT). He is currently studying towards a Performer’s Diploma at UCT under the tutelage of Professors Angelo Gobbato and Brad Liebl.

All concerts start at 17h00 and bookings can be made by calling Sonja Morkel on (021) 809-8344 or Irma Albers on (021) 809-8106. Tickets are R125 and include a superb finger supper served with fine Nederburg wines.

South African ARTS doccie reality show HEADWRAP will be screening the last few episodes of the show and then the series comes to an end. For everyone who is interested, here are two great ones coming up.

AFRO FIESTA AND MAMA KAAP S
SABC 1 18H30 30 JULY DIRECTED BY LLEWELYN RODERICK
Mama Africa in Long Street, Cape Town is a wonderfully clichéd melting pot of locals and tourists, dancing to the Congolese rhythms of Mermans Kenkosenki’s band – AFRO FIESTA. The band’s name reflects the mix of musicians, who are from all over the African continent. Although AFRO FIESTA is defined by a broad reggae afro jazz label, it’s music writhes with the strong spirit and sound of the Congo. Watch Headwrap to see how AFRO FIESTA and Mermans collaborate with one of Cape Town’s Jazz legends Sylvia Mdunyelwa a.k.a Mama Kaap, to take this fusion of sound to a new height. Mama Kaap, who calls Langa Township in the Western Cape home, is an internationally acclaimed jazz voice. She has travelled and worked in the USA and Europe, but has her roots firmly set on African soil. This bringing together of voices from the Diaspora comes at a crucial time in South Africa’s history, as we reach out to find ways of re-uniting as brothers and sisters from the continent.

Photograph: DINEO BOPAPE Contemporary Artist featured in Headwrap

AZWIMPHELELI MAGORO AND DINEO BOPAPE
SABC1 18H30 DIRECTED BY CHIPO LABA
Azwimpheleli Magoro is a man who is comfortable in his skin and in the ways of his people. He is best known for depicting traditional themes from Venda cultural life in his sculptures. Based in Muledane near Thohoyandou his love for carving started in primary school. Now an acclaimed sculptor, Azwi’s works are made from soft indigenous woods like Moroela and Wild Fig. He has a relationship with the wood, which comes alive with linear movement as it reveals itself to him. Dineo Bopape is a flamboyant character that likes the energy of the big city. Originally from Polekwane this young artist embraces the now. Dineo who graduated with a B Tech from the Durban Institute of Technology in 2004 calls her multi-media work “contemporary art”. She refuses to be boxed into a genre but does admit to being an obsessive collector and assembler of objects. These artifacts are the start of an idea for her ultimate artwork. Dineo and Azwi go on a journey together and start collecting objects with the hope of creating a joint artwork. Although both artists operate in a conceptual realm, they find that their ideas are conflicting and difficult to merge into a single outcome. Watch HEADWRAP to find out how these two strong voices each have their say.

Men’s portal AskMen.com has come up with a list of the top 10 beachside cities where the sand and the surf are an integral part of the place. At no 1 is Miami, USA followed by Dubai, UAE and then Barcelona in Spain. Fourth on the list is Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and then at number 5 is Cape Town, South Africa. Here is what they say:

5. Cape Town, South Africa
A city where sickening wealth rubs its Prada-clad shoulders with heartbreaking poverty, Cape Town has risen up the tourism ranks in the past decade to become a go-to place for expatriate residents looking for a better life in the sun.

Best beach: Clifton Beach is one of Cape Town’s most glamorous waterfronts while Big Bay and Little Bay are best for water sports such as windsurfing.

Photograph of Clifton’s 4 beaches with Twelve Apostles backdrop © SA Tourism

Links to Related Sites:
http://www.AskMen.com
Cape Town Beaches