Manana Mends
My lash lady layers another 12mm extension onto my natural ones as the last notes of Little Things lower into silence. When I’m ill, you’re what I take/Breath of fresh air when I suffocate… Manana and his stack of vocals taper off. My eyes are closed, ears are open and I sense, from the stillness in […]
Sjava SZN
Bad Hair has a good run. Thandiswa makes jazz, bringing her mother into public consciousness. Anatii barely loses his composure to respond that, actually, the beat is 150. ‘Ngud breathes new life into quarts. Mandoza dies, reportedly from cancer. Black Coffee bags a BET and SAMA back to back. Politics goes pop when Mabala Noise […]
Zoë Modiga’s nomthandazo
By the time we’ve shuffled past a pack of patrons and plonked ourselves into our seats, Zoë Modiga is already on stage. I ask my friend, who was saving our seats way ahead of showtime, if what Zoë is singing now is her first song. She shakes her head no, her eyes looking sorry for […]
On: The #CottonFest2020 Bowling Invitational
“Nah,” Twiggy’s gloss shimmers on parts of her lips as she shakes her head. “I only want winners on my team.” A mischievous smile is drawn on the face that’s helped to bring attention to a variety of brands from K-Way to Corona. The content creator whose real name is Tshepang Mollison is sitting with […]
On: Solo’s The Dreamer’s ABCs
A square clock is suspended from the ceiling. The short hand is placed on the eight and the long one waves past two. Below the clock, and on the floor, a banner with the Soweto Theatre and Joburg Theatre logos stands tall behind a close-together band set-up including keys, MPC table and a mic stand. […]
Lyor Cohen learns how to zanku in Lagos
Do you know how to zanku? It was cute to watch Lyor Cohen attempt to. Enjoy your day!
Nadia strips down to bare her soul
I was feeling super under the weather yesterday. Definitely was not trying to go anywhere. Then my Dude encouraged me to go to Nadia Nakai’s launch of her debut album, Nadia Nakai. Below is a little snippet of how it looked and sounded. You know how I loved the Bragga EP and Nadia’s singles following […]
A Superstar is born
Sho Madjozi used the word “superstar” twice in her acceptance speech. The musician took home the Best New International Act award at the 2019 BET Awards, which took place in Los Angeles this week. Much has already been said about this win so I won’t bore you with my opinion. All I do want to […]
An AMPD Masterclass
Last month, I went to the media launch of Old Mutual’s AMPD Studios. I arrived to Thandiswa Mazwai on the couch with Mam’ Letta Mbulu. In front of the audience that included the likes of Bab’ Sipho Hotstix Mabuse (who performed that evening), Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Bonj, they chatted about the highs, and financial […]
There’s no stopping Moozlie
Moozlie speaks to Helen Herimbi about Vutha, Versus and vulnerability on Victory It’s hard to get Moozlie to sit still. It’s late August 2018 and people are trickling into the room. The rapper, whose real name is Nomuzi Mabena, is greeting folks and stopping to have meaningful engagement. She sports a gilded mini-dress, a bob […]