LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Leonard Cohen, rock music’s man of letters whose songs fused religious imagery with themes of redemption and sexual desire, earning him critical and popular acclaim, has died at age 82, a statement on his Facebook page said. “It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard […]

Cape Town held its 22nd International Kite Festival over the weekend, with awesome creations flying high in Muizenberg, as seen here in photos taken by ZAAHID APPOLES. The annual festival attracts kiters from around the world, as well as thousands of locals who come to enjoy the kites and family entertainment. The event is hosted […]

A small-town South African theatre student, who describes himself on Pinterest as a “big dreamer”, has uploaded an awesome cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Tougher than the Rest”. Elandré Schwartz posted the video a couple of days ago and it’s already had over 120,000 views on Facebook. Watch below. Elandré wrote: “Dankie Bruce. #springsteen #afrikaans #USA […]

The first trailer for ‘Mandela’s Gun’ has just been released, ahead of its world premiere on Friday night, 28 October, when it opens the inaugural Joburg Film Festival. The film stars SAFTA-winner, Tumisho Masha, as the first South African to play Nelson Mandela in the lead role of a major film. Mandela’s Gun is both a spy thriller […]

South African expat ELSA BROWNE, who lives in the UK, is one of the first people on the planet to have read Trevor Noah‘s book ‘Born a Crime’, which will only hit stores in mid-November. As most people get their first peek at the book’s contents this week, with the New York Times publishing an excerpt, […]

The Triplets Ghetto Kids first caught the world’s attention a couple of years ago with their awesome moves in Eddy Kenzo’s Ugandan hit ‘Sitya Loss’. Since then their dance moves have been viewed by millions, and this week they were announced as the winners of an international entertainment award! TGK say: “2016 has been an amazing year for […]

If you’re looking for a taste of home, savour this video – with majestic scenery, wonderful wildlife, South African sunsets… and to top it all, a reading of ‘The Real Africa’ poem that will give you goosebumps. The footage was filmed around Durban, St. Lucia wetland and the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve. Rhys Scott-Dawkins produced the video for his company, […]

The old Top Gear team reckon they visited South Africa the most “because the three of us like coming here more than anywhere else in the world”. During an interview in South Africa, when Jeremy Clarkson was still part of the team, he and teammates James May and Richard Hammond said they can’t even decide which city is […]

South Africa’s most iconic rock singer, PJ Powers, will tour the UK to launch an online mentoring programme for disadvantaged South Africans… in an initiative that would make Nelson Mandela proud; and which is set to inspire a new way of giving that lets South African expats contribute to the homeland they still love so […]

South African theatre group, Isango Ensemble, is no stranger to the London stage. In 2013 they performed Venus and Adonis entirely in Xhosa at the Globe Theatre to rave reviews. They are back in London this year with their latest production, A Man of Good Hope, which is at The Young Vic until 12th of […]

Open letters, even songs, have been written for President Jacob Zuma, as South Africans become increasingly desperate for a leader who will step down or step up and lead. Here now is an inspired poem by award-winning poet Athol Williams, who recently became the first person ever to win the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award twice! […]

Planet Earth was a landmark TV series a decade ago, when it redefined natural history film-making. Now, the BBC takes viewers even closer than before with Planet Earth II… and naturally Africa’s wildlife features a lot. The stunning series – narrated by Sir David Attenborough – uses high-tech cameras, the latest in camera stabilisation, remote recording […]

South African seven-year-old, Michelle Nkamankeng – who recently made history as the youngest author from Africa to be included in the list of Top 10 youngest writers in the world – has shared her tips with BBC World Service, as well as several other international media outlets. Michelle’s self-published book, ‘Waiting for the Waves’, is […]

Congratulations to Athol Williams who has been awarded the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award for the second year running, becoming the first person to win it twice! It’s been an incredible week for Williams in which he not only won this award but also launched his autobiography – Pushing Boulders – AND was selected as one […]

African stories and black protagonists show diversity is on the rise at the 60th London Film Festival which kicked off on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report (watch video below). The opening film – “A United Kingdom” – tells the true story of an African king and white British woman whose marriage triggered a political crisis […]

South African singer Wendy Oldfield has teamed up with a group of youngsters – whom she’s called The Wild Bunch – to release a ‘Reminder to the World’. It’s a soothing, beautiful song with a message from the song-writer to take care of Mother Earth, ourselves and those around us. The inspiring lyrics are particularly relevant […]

Afrikaans feature film, Noem My Skollie, has been nominated as South Africa’s official entrant into the 89th Annual Academy Awards! The film, which was launched in South Africa earlier this month by Ster Kinekor Entertainment and is still on circuit, has been selected by a special jury – put together by the National Film and Video […]

Fans have been tweeting their support of international award-winning DJ Black Coffee after an ‘incident’ at the DSTV iRock Festival in Limpopo, South Africa, Saturday night… in which the Durban DJ and music producer was alleged to have “slapped” AKA’s manager. Watch video below. Fellow South African musician AKA was meant to have also performed at the event in Polokwane, […]

The late Mduduzi Tshabalala, known to the world as Mandoza, made an enormous civic contribution as a motivation force and nation building brand ambassador through his music, says Communications Minister Faith Muthambi. Thousands of mourners attended the Nkalakatha hitmaker’s funeral at Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto, on Friday. The kwaito legend, who died on […]

A couple of North West traffic cops – Lerato Makhabane and her colleague ‘Spiedie’ du Plessis – posted a fantastic tribute to the late Mandoza, rocking to ‘Nkalakatha’ in their car… But more than just a few viewers are concerned that ‘Spiedie’ is only driving with one hand and doesn’t appear to be wearing his seatbelt! Others said it […]

South African zef rap group Die Antwoord delivered one of their highest-energy (and that’s saying a LOT), most insane (and brilliant) performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live this week. Watch below as they belt out love ballad (!) ‘Banana Brain’ on Kimmel’s outdoor festival stage. It was an extremely colourful show with singer Yolandi Vi$$er and back-up dancers […]

JOHANNESBURG – South African comedian and global star, Trevor Noah, has been confirmed to host the 2016 MTV African Music Awards (MAMAs) in Johannesburg next month. The organisers of the event made the announcement Wednesday morning and within an hour excited fans had made it South Africa’s top Twitter trend. In a post on Facebook, Noah […]

Internationally renowned opera singer and Piet Retief native, Pretty Yende, has thanked her South African fans for all their support after her debut album ‘A Journey’ went straight to the top of the charts! Leading up the launch, Pretty enjoyed time back home in South Africa, and took to Facebook to thank her “South African fans & […]

President Jacob Zuma – along with other South African politicians, celebrities and music fans – has extended his condolences today on the sad passing of Kwaito music legend Mduduzi Tshabalala, popularly known as Mandoza. Mandoza passed away today, at the age of 38, after a long battle with cancer which had reportedly spread to his […]

There’s an interesting new movie premiering tonight at the Labia Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa. It’s called “Let’s Be Frank”… but to be frank, we’re not quite sure what it’s about! #WHOISFRANK? Watch the trailer below and try work it out! According to the film’s website, it’s 50 minutes and slots into the documentary and […]