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YE OR NAY? Is Kanye West coming to South Africa?
Entertainment

YE OR NAY? Is Kanye West coming to South Africa?

By Thabo Shole-Mashao: Khanye West, now called Ye. (Image: TicketPro) Kanye West, arguably the world’s biggest hip hop star, may perform to a half-empty stadium in South Africa for his live concert this December -that is if the event will happen at all.  Now known as just ‘Ye’, the cantankerous artist who is also a producer and fashion designer, could be met by mostly vacant seats and a hollow stadium field if the ‘Ye Live Concert’ is not abruptly cancelled before then.  Slow ticket sales and threats The concert, which was supposed to be the biggest live music event of 2025, has been riddled with a litany of controversies, including slow ticket sales and legal threats. Event finances are central to this messy debacle.  It is alleged that the South Afr...
RESILIENCE IN BLUE: A mother’s journey through love, science, and our dis-ease of Autism
Entertainment

RESILIENCE IN BLUE: A mother’s journey through love, science, and our dis-ease of Autism

By Cathay Yenana: In Bagamoyo, Tanzania. Regular drum making, acrobatics, arts, dance and music with boys from the neighbourhood. After evaluation and realisation of autism A Different Kind Of Mountain When a mother first hears the word autism, the world doesn’t end; it tilts. Time slows down, questions multiply, and the familiar becomes uncertain. It’s not the diagnosis itself that changes her life, but the vast, uncharted terrain that follows, the search for understanding, the daily negotiations with systems ill-equipped to help, and the quiet strength required to keep going when the world refuses to adapt. For Nena Tenacity, a South African woman now living between SA and Bagamoyo, Tanzania, that word became both a challenge and a calling. Amani, her son who is l...
STAGED LIFE: Theatre is still the social educator – (A review of Potholes, the play)
Entertainment

STAGED LIFE: Theatre is still the social educator – (A review of Potholes, the play)

By Mpumzi Mshweshwe: Theatre continues to poke the bear and pose questions to the public, aiming to reveal and expose the ills the world faces.  Potholes, written and directed by Thato Mazui, was on show over the weekend of 13 August, where the audience was made to ponder issues such as love, infidelity, miscarriage, and parenthood.  The play is a one-person show, also known as a one-hander, which is a play acted out by one. Passion, anguish and  love  The audience was taken on a ride where they saw Gift (Mvubu) laying bare his emotions on stage, from happiness to sadness, from passion to anguish, and from lover to deserter.  Gift and the appropriately named Lerato navigate their relationship through the troubles of infidelity and deception,...
FROM MZANSI TO MANHATTAN: Thapelo Mokoena takes South Africa to the world’s most fascinating dinner
Entertainment

FROM MZANSI TO MANHATTAN: Thapelo Mokoena takes South Africa to the world’s most fascinating dinner

By Sith Maliwa: The Big Apple pulsed with glamour and cultural gravitas this week as Stella Artois staged its latest Let’s Do Dinner soirée - a dazzling global gathering where icons, visionaries, and creators meet over a meal. And right at the heart of it all, South Africa’s own Thapelo Mokoena claimed his seat among the world’s elite, shining as a proud representative of African excellence. The invitation-only affair - often described as “the world’s most fascinating dinner” - saw Mokoena share a table with none other than football legend David Beckham and tennis powerhouse Maria Sharapova. For one night, the dining table became a stage where cultures collided, ideas blossomed, and stories connected continents. Known for his magnetic presence on screen and his...
MORE THAN MUSIC: Jazz Wise turns young talent into industry leaders
Entertainment

MORE THAN MUSIC: Jazz Wise turns young talent into industry leaders

By Sitha Maliwa: The Joburg Theatre roared to life as the 2025 Jazz Wise Youth Music Business Workshop unfolded into a day of vision, inspiration, and unshakable energy. More than just a workshop, it became a stage where the future of Mzansi’s arts and culture industry announced itself with confidence and fire. Curated as part of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival, the youth-focused programme lived up to its promise of being an empowerment junction for young dreamers, innovators, and rising stars. From sunrise, the theatre was abuzz with the voices of high school learners, university students, and young professionals eager to seize wisdom from the greats – and to make their own mark. Under the masterful direction of Mandla Selby Maseko, the day unfolded in ...
COCKTAILS, COUTURE, AND CHAOS: My day at Malondie’s show
Entertainment

COCKTAILS, COUTURE, AND CHAOS: My day at Malondie’s show

By Zee: Darling, when Vaseline personally slides into your life with a shiny invite, you don’t RSVP - you just show up glowing. And show up we did, at Pere House in Kyalami, where Londeka Malondie turned fashion into a full-on cultural spectacle (and a bit of a circus, but we’ll get to that). The show opened with a Zulu dance sequence - a feast for the eyes - before Malondie flexed her creativity with four collections. The Sigege-inspired line gave heritage its moment, the “Fruits of Where We Come From” served colourful holiday realness, the Vaseline Collection reminded us why every household has that blue jar, and the black-and-white finale was for the corporate girlies who secretly want to be fashion killers at the office. Now, let’s talk sponsors. Apero...
82 AND UNSTOPABLE: Mam’Letta Mbulu steals hearts and headlines
Entertainment

82 AND UNSTOPABLE: Mam’Letta Mbulu steals hearts and headlines

By Zee: Oh babes, let me just spill… last weekend at the Thaba Eco Hotel, I was looking hot as usual, sipping on something dangerously delicious, and soaking in vibes so electric you could feel them in your soul. The Ignite Her Soul X-Perience? Honey, it was Everything. And the queen of the day? None other than the legendary, untouchable Mam’Letta Mbulu. Yes, the roots lady herself - 82 years young and still serving looks, wisdom, and absolute icon energy. The moment I stepped in, the room was dripping in elegance: earthy harvest tables that made me want to Instagram the whole thing and a colour palette screaming “grown, rich, classy, and unstoppable.” But babes, let’s be real - the décor was cute, but the music? The music had me clutching my pearls and my ...
GOSPEL  SPECTACULAR RETURNS: Bethusile Mcinga to debut Akwaba Ndinamandla in Mthatha
Entertainment

GOSPEL  SPECTACULAR RETURNS: Bethusile Mcinga to debut Akwaba Ndinamandla in Mthatha

By Sitha Maliwa:  The countdown is on as the 6th Annual Gospel Spectacular is set to light up O.R. Tambo Hall on Saturday, 06 September 2025 at 6 PM. This beloved festival has become one of the Eastern Cape’s most anticipated gospel gatherings, drawing believers from across the country for a night of song, worship and unity. This year’s line-up is overflowing with gospel powerhouses, including Dr Lusanda Mcinga, Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors, Jumbo, Mpumi Mtsweni, Thinah & Ndumiso Zungu, Vincent Mboniswa, and many more. Of course, fans are eagerly awaiting Bethusile Mcinga, who is preparing to bless the audience with something truly special. Speaking ahead of the festival, Bethusile shared his excitement: “All I cannot wait for that night is experiencing ...
LIPS GLOSSED, EGOS BRUISED: The night Revlon ruled Midrand
Entertainment

LIPS GLOSSED, EGOS BRUISED: The night Revlon ruled Midrand

By Zee; Babes, Midrand was never ready! Prison Break Market turned into a glitter-soaked Barbie dreamland when Revlon launched their Glimmer Shimmer Shine collection - and trust me, if your invite got “lost in the mail,” you better start asking your management some serious questions because all the IT girlies were there. Picture this: influencers dripping in sequins, pink from head to toe, designer bags swinging like it’s payday at Sandton City. Faces? Snatched. Hair? Laid. Outfits? Straight fire emojis. If you dared arrive looking dusty, shame my love = the crowd would’ve swallowed you whole. Now, Revlon didn’t just throw a party; they threw an experience. Pink slushies, a candy wall, a dartboard, putt putt, arcade games = ev...
BOOM SHAKA RETURNS: Legends take the stage at Basha Uhuru 2025
Entertainment

BOOM SHAKA RETURNS: Legends take the stage at Basha Uhuru 2025

By Sitha Maliwa: Johannesburg, get ready to feel the pulse of the city like never before! The Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival returns to Constitution Hill with its much-anticipated Sounds of Freedom Music Concert on 13 September 2025, promising a day of pure energy, creativity, and unforgettable performances. This 13th edition of the festival is themed “Celebrating The Legacy Of Creative Expression”, honouring the role of youth in shaping South Africa’s creative and social landscapes. True to its reputation, the festival brings together the country’s biggest stars and the freshest emerging talent. Prepare to be blown away by Khuli Chana, Pabi Cooper, Mthandeni SK, Kid Fonque, Lamiez Holworthy, Toss, DJ Cndo, Jahseed & Admiral, Que DJ, and a special performance by...