Entertainment Archives - Page 11 of 16

MARVELS OF MZANSI: Zolani Mahola to kick off Durban July with anthem of heritage

11May

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Entertainment

MARVELS OF MZANSI: Zolani Mahola to kick off Durban July with anthem of heritage

By Sitha Maliwa: Zolani Mahola (Image: Facebook) As the winter sun rises over the iconic Greyville Racecourse, anticipation crackles in the air like static. It’s almost time. South Africa’s most prestigious sporting and social event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, returns on Saturday, 5 July 2025 - and this year, it promises to be more than a spectacle. It promises to be a moment. And that moment begins with one voice - a voice that has carried a generation. Zolani Mahola, once the radiant frontwoman of the internationally acclaimed band Freshlyground, now known as The One Who Sings, will step into the spotlight to perform the South African national anthem, marking the powerful opening of this year’s event. With a presence both commanding and deeply rooted in authentici...

NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2025: Bold return to its rebellious roots

7May

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Entertainment

NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL 2025: Bold return to its rebellious roots

By Sitha Maliwa: The Soil will be appearing at the 2025 National Arts Festival After marking its 50th milestone in 2024, the National Arts Festival (NAF) returns to Makhanda from 26 June to 6 July 2025 with a programme that promises to be its most daring in years. Under the theme “Vivid. Bold. Unfiltered,” this year’s event offers a sweeping, energetic reflection of our times - restless, uncertain, but brimming with artistic vitality.Set against the backdrop of the Eastern Cape winter, the Festival will once again transform the historic town into a national and international hub of cultural exchange, where performance, visual art, dialogue, and innovation converge.“This year’s Festival is a container for the ideas and questions shaping the world,” said Artistic Director Rucera Se...

METRO FM AWARDS 2025: Tradition butchered, crowns cracked, and chaos in couture

5May

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Entertainment

METRO FM AWARDS 2025: Tradition butchered, crowns cracked, and chaos in couture

By Zee: Darlings, Zee, your gossip girl in the trenches was at the Metro Awards this weekend. If you thought the Metro FM Music Awards 2025 would be a night of glam, grace, and musical glory... you were gravely mistaken. What unfolded at Mbombela Stadium was less a crowning of champions and more a catastrophic couture crime scene - splashed with sound disasters, questionable wins, and fashion faux pas so tragic they might be outlawed by the AU. If the theme was “Crowning Greatness”, someone handed the crown to a clown. The Black Carpet bloodbath The AFI MMA Black Carpet was billed as a showcase of African elegance, curated by House of Nala. What arrived, however, was a chaotic cosplay of confusion. Cue: Nigerian-inspired outfits clumsily draped over South Africa...

THE VIP PASS TO THE DRAMA YOU MISSED: The night Helen Zille rebranded as Magogo the Menace

5May

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Entertainment

THE VIP PASS TO THE DRAMA YOU MISSED: The night Helen Zille rebranded as Magogo the Menace

By Zee: BABES. Where do I even begin? Friday night at the Sandton Convention Centre was less a comedy show and more a live political exorcism. The Roast of Helen Zille, courtesy of Showmax and the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, delivered drama, danger, and a disturbing lack of actual celebrities. Yes, I was there looking unbothered, overdressed, and ever-messy. Let’s unpack this hot, navy-blue mess. The celebs who weren’t there First red flag? The red carpet had more cameras than it had famous people. Unless you count Lasizwe, who was flapping around the venue like a lost extra from Lockdown. I saw more Showmax interns than A-listers. It felt like a family reunion for background actors and production runners. Where were the celebs, hun?! Fashion? or national...

Jazz & Juice: Black carpets & old money energy at the Joy of Jazz launch!

30Apr

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Entertainment

Jazz & Juice: Black carpets & old money energy at the Joy of Jazz launch!

By Zee: Babes. If melodrama were a musical genre, then the 2025 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz launch was a full-blown opera, staged in a wine bar, catered with pastries, and wrapped in exactly one centimetre of black carpet. Yes, you read that right. ONE. CENTIMETRE. A bathroom mat pretending to be a runway. Who signed off on that nonsense? Let’s talk venue: The Artistry – Ma’am, more “hipster influencer hub” than “pan-African jazz sanctum.” All gloss, no groove. The jazz legends were perched awkwardly on bar stools, champagne flutes trembling in their hands as the aircon struggled for relevance. The mood? Confused. The lighting? Brutal. The vibe? A boozy Sunday brunch with sound problems. Honestly, jazz royalty deserves chandeliers, not cocktails in jam jars. Now...

FROM KOMANI TO THE SPOTLIGHT: How Amahle-Imvelo Jaxa is educating and influencing a generation

26Apr

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Entertainment

FROM KOMANI TO THE SPOTLIGHT: How Amahle-Imvelo Jaxa is educating and influencing a generation

By Mpumzi Mshweshwe: Amahle Jaxa (Image: supplied) In a world dominated by curated perfection and filtered images, Amahle-Imvelo Jaxa, known to her growing legion of 211,300 TikTok followers and 22,700 Instagram followers as Jaxx, dares to break the mold. From her humble beginnings in Komani in the Eastern Cape, she transformed from a shy, uncertain girl into an outspoken entrepreneur and educator with a powerful voice in social media. Armed with knowledge of politics, economics, and philosophy, she uses her platforms to spark change, challenge perspectives, and educate her audience on critical issues. Jaxa’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. She opens up about her rise to fame, her authentic approach to influencing, and the mission driving her every post. 1. What...

RHYTHMS OF RECOGNITION: Unpacking the significance and impact of International Jazz Day

24Apr

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Entertainment

RHYTHMS OF RECOGNITION: Unpacking the significance and impact of International Jazz Day

As we celebrate International Jazz Day, a designated occasion that resonates deeply with music lovers and cultural enthusiasts worldwide, it's essential to explore not only the significance of this vibrant genre but also the broader implications of such international observances. Established in 2011 by UNESCO to highlight jazz as a unifying force that transcends cultural and social barriers, International Jazz Day invites us to reflect on the role of music in fostering dialogue, understanding, and community. At its core, jazz embodies a spirit of improvisation and collaboration, mirroring the very essence of cultural exchange. Rooted in African American communities, and has since grown into a global phenomenon that inspires creativity and interaction across borders. The day serves as a ...

“THIS IS NOT A STAGE”: Loyiso Bala spills the holy tea on SA celebs finding Jesus

23Apr

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Entertainment

“THIS IS NOT A STAGE”: Loyiso Bala spills the holy tea on SA celebs finding Jesus

Zee Hey besties, grab your Rooibos (or your rosé, no judgement here), because I’ve got some spiritual spice that’s got SA’s celeb streets in praise and panic. One minute they were lighting impepho and talking to the ancestors… the next? They’re raising holy hands and dropping “Amen”s like it’s gospel Sunday every day of the week. Yes Ma’am, I’m talking about the Jesus Revival currently taking over Mzansi’s celeb scene, and not everyone is clapping. But don’t worry, Zee’s here to spill the righteous tea. Let’s rewind a bit, shall we? Not too long ago, the trend was ukuthwasa. Our faves were trading in music videos for amagqirha, and Ma’am, they weren’t shy about it. From Boity to Gogo Skhotheni, from Dineo Ranaka to the many others who proudly rocked their beads and...

FROM PASSION TO POWERHOUSE: How Zesipho Mncwango is redefining scent culture in South Africa

17Apr

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Entertainment

FROM PASSION TO POWERHOUSE: How Zesipho Mncwango is redefining scent culture in South Africa

By Sitha Maliwa Zesipho Mncwango isn’t just running the perfume game - she owns it. The brains (and bold personality) behind The OfficialPerfumePlug, Zesipho has turned a scent obsession into a full-blown fragrance phenomenon. From your fave influencer’s IG shelfie to A-list vanities, her curated scent collections are everywhere - and trust, if you know, you know. Once just another beauty girlie with a dream, she’s now the it-girl of South African scent culture - named Glamour’s Next Gen Woman of the Year and a DStv Content Creator of the Year nominee. Oh, and the industry? They’re watching. Because Zesipho isn’t just setting trends - she’s rewriting the whole rulebook. With that signature mix of perfume know-how, digital confidence, and just the right amount of sass...

CRESCENDOS OF CHANGE: Exploring the role of music in defining identity and political discourse

17Apr

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Entertainment

CRESCENDOS OF CHANGE: Exploring the role of music in defining identity and political discourse

By Cathay Yenana – Media Specialist /Broadcaster/Business Owner For many of us, music is an essential aspect of cultural identity. It serves as a conduit for storytelling, preserving traditions, and expressing the complexities of lived experiences. Through genres, we weave narratives that reflect their struggles, triumphs, and aspirations. The act of creating music becomes a declaration of self, allowing them to reclaim their identities in spaces often dominated by patriarchal norms. In a world that often seeks to define and constrain identity, music emerges as a powerful medium through which we assert our voices, challenge societal norms, and engage with political discourse. As a vibrant form of expression, music has the unique ability to transcend barriers and ignite conver...