afropolitanexplosiv

When Tunzi, Noah and Kolisi become the Yardstick for Black Success

Following the advent of Nelson Mandela as the first democratically elected president of the Republic of South Africa—not Azania—in 1994, something has dramatically changed in the character of the youth, especially from the black community. Now that the world is their oyster, they are told they can be anything they want to be. Or so …

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African Intellectuals Celebrated through Music

After a highly successful showcase in KwaZulu-Natal, the Early African Intellectuals as Composers of Music project ignited the Cape during Heritage Month (September 2019). The project a historical undertaking seeking to ‘wake up’ the African to their ancient music composition and intellectual excellence; as well as raise awareness of and educate about the birth and …

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Utalagu Exhibition by Durban Artists Amasosha

THE refreshing collective of nearly twenty artist from KwaZulu-Natal known as Amasosha Art Movement presents an exhibition titled ‘Utalagu’ on the 29th of November 2019. The Exhibition takes place at their new home Ikomkhulu Art Space, situated in Durban’s creative hub of Morningside. Amasosha, literally meaning ‘soldier’ in isiZulu, is a term the artists use …

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Kuhutshwe Ngeziginxi Nezimfijoli

Ngomhlaka 14 September 2019, uhlelo i-Artist Talk Series luphinde laqoshwa futhi khona e-Newcastle (KZN), endaweni yokunandisa i-Exclusive Baywash Lounge. Loluhlelo lethulwe i-Afropolitan Explosiv, inkampani edidiyelwa u-Dktl Thokozani Mhlambi, ongumqambi wamaculo kanye nomdlali we-Cello odabuka khona la e-Newcastle. I-Afropolitan Explosiv ibibambisene noMnyango wezaMasiko nobuCiko khona la KwaZulu-Natal. Kulohlelo, yilapho khona u-Dktl Mhlambi kanye nethimba lakhe besethulela …

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Discovering the value of Creative Collaborations

by  Thokozani Mhlambi We have lot of artist-as-loner myths, that seem to imply that the best art is one in which the artist places themselves in isolation, only to emerge after sometime with a masterful musical score or canvass. But that is not the case in the real world. As a classically-trained musician who finds …

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Pan-Africanism & Technology

Technologically Savvy Communication For the past six years Afropolitan Explosiv has created artistic events that bring change to emergent communities of African people who find themselves confronted with new challenges post-liberation in South Africa. But since 2015 we have placed a great deal of emphasis in using technology as a means of fostering this interaction, …

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An Early Music Revival: African Intellectuals as Composers

As early as the 19th century, Africa already had intellectuals who also excelled as composers of music. They took what was a western education and music training and made something of their own. The Early African Intellectuals as Composers of Music project puts a spotlight on this cultural renaissance. Tiyo Soga, who was the first …

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Creating Our Own Myths: A Public Conversation

“When the colonised intellectual writing for his people uses history, he must do so with the intention of opening up the future.” Dr Thokozani Mhlambi opened the conversation by quoting these immortal words by Frantz Fanon. This was at a gathering of cultural innovators that was held at the KZNSA Gallery in Durban, South Africa …

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Exhibition puts Spotlight on Lobola

Gerald Machona, artist, thinker and DJ, is a fascinating creative generator: manly in his avowel of lobola tradition, gentle in his love for pretty things like flowers and decorated vases, which are some of the artefacts of his latest exhibition. The work, titled Greener Pastures, is a biographical sketch of the experience of being home …

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Sabelo Mlangeni Exhibition on Zion Churches shows in Johannesburg

Growing up, our mother would, on certain occasions, remind us to be home earlier than usual from our childish escapades so that she would not be late ko moletelong. Moletelo or umlindelo directly translates to ‘ waiting’, and this waiting occurs when members of a congregation meet at a common place of worship to ‘wait’ in expectance. …

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The Intellectual Practice of Mazisi Kunene & African Languages in the Future

Few today can imagine that when Shakespeare was writing in English during his time, it was not fashionable to do so. During the 1500s educated English people wrote and read Latin. French was used for legal matters, while Latin was used to write science, philosophy and theology. That is what they learnt. They did not …

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Guitar, Jazz & Spirit in the Creative Imagination of Sibusile Xaba

“The more you realize what your work is on earth, the more you are in tune with nature…” These are some of the pearls that musician and guitarist Sibusile Xaba shared with the audience. In April 2018, Afropolitan Explosiv hosted Xaba for an Artist Talk Session with members of the KZN creative community. This included …

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Highlights from the Pan African Arts Festival 2018

In celebration of Africa Month, Afropolitan Explosiv announced a call for contributions for its first annual Pan African Arts Festival. Artists submitted across different creative disciplines, including, Music, Poetry, and Visual art. The festival took place on the 18thof May 2018, at The Creative Hub operated by Afropolitan Explosiv Media, which is located at the …

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Ukuthwebula and the Photographic Image

Kholeka Shange discusses the tradition of photography in relation to local ways of knowing in isiZulu. The nexus between photography and ukuthakatha is power. In isiZulu, the term “ukuthwebula” has multiple meanings. Amongst isiZulu speakers, this expression refers to a ritual where umthakathi (a noun that has meanings that go beyond witchcraft) uses umlingo to …

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#TotalShutDown In Madadeni, KZN & Womxn’s Activism Today

Afropolitan Explosiv joined South Africans, as they marched along the streets on the 1st of August 2018, as part of Women’s Month. A campaign called  #TotalShutDown, womxn are saying no to gender violence. Singer and womxn/LGBT+ sensation Thandiswa Mazwai, announced the program for the campaign on her Instagram: Marches were held in Pretoria, Newcastle, Cape …

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uprooting corruption

Buhari Wins War on Corruption? Stolen Money in Nigeria

Well it seems like President Buhari of Nigeria is really doing it. He is winning the war against corruption in the West African country. The Nigerian government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been granted permission by the federal high court in Lagos to forfeit funds held by the former petroleum minister, …

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What I Learned from My 600 Pound Life: Enablers & the Enabled

For weeks, I have been watching the reality-tv show called My 600 pound Life. I’ve been fascinated by the stories of overweight people participating on the show. At first I couldn’t understand why. How does a person get this big? And these people, who are hardly obese, surrounding them and that live with them: Why …

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iziyendane

Iziyendane: Early Afrikan Scientists

Iziyendane, abagayi bensimbi. Kulenyanga lapho sibungaza ezamasiko nezomdabu ngicabanga ukuthi kubalulekile sike setshise lokhu: Ingabe ubAfrika bugcina ngemvunulo nendlamu na? Cha. Akulona iqiniso leli. Kodwa imvasa sizithola sesigxila kulezizinto kakhulu ngenxa yokweswela ulwazi. Eqinisweni asizange thina njengamAfrika sizihluphe emvakokuba sesithole inkululeko ngo 1994, ukuthi sike sibheke kabanzi indaba yemvelaphi yethu. Uma uthi uyabheka ucwaningo ngemvelaphi …

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Building Legacies: How Passion meets Skill & Talent

Delani Mthembu Facilitator | Dynamic Leader | Reverend Managing Director of Landelahni Leadership Development Life is by nature an art and a science influenced by intuition, relationships and the mastery of socio-political context. The rise and fall of a professional is dependent on the ability to dance with a diversity of emotions, relationships and connections. …

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Universities in Crisis: Why Minister should do Nothing about it

Our universities are in crisis – here’s why Minister Blade Nzimande should do absolutely nothing about it.   20 years ago, Marguerite Poland began her seminal work – Shades – with the following words: “There is an odd sense of predestination. It is strange how strongly I feel it. But I shall leave before it …

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Kanye West & Kirk Franklin Collaborate: Losing Religion?

Gospel singer Kirk Franklin, whose latest album Losing My Religion was released in November 2015 in South Africa, has been criticized for collaborating with Kanye West in his new album, The Life of Pablo. The Life of Pablo was previewed early in February on livestream on Tidal, with over 20 million viewers. The album has …

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Jaded Comrades/ Ineffective Citizen : communities beyond our present state

For two days we had no running water. I had lived in my community of Madadeni for 6 months now. I knew some of the guys on the street, and waved at a few neighbours passing by. I certainly knew all the curious kids. My assumption was that everyone would say if something strange was …

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12 Plagues from Mandela’s Economic Legacy

In his 2005 book and a more recent article, former official in the Presidency in South Africa and now academic Alan Hirsch justifies neoliberal compromises on the grounds that the new government was “constrained by concerns for economic stability”. Yet weren’t government’s deals the main cause of subsequent economic instability, including the half-dozen currency crashes …

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Citizen-Comrade: An Open Letter to the People

Citizen-Comrade: a term made up, recognizes a dual imperative: Comrade recalls a shared past, and the brotherhood we formed in defying the oppression of apartheid. Citizen recognizes the new role we now play, as no longer victims of an external force, but as human beings with certain responsibilities. The burden of responsibility is simply not …

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5 Things Branding and Marketing Won’t Do For Your Business

Any branding and marketing exercise must stand on the back of good solid innovation in the product that is being sold. The time invested in the process of discovery, research and tweaking of product builds strong brands, that can be resilient even in the face of the toughest competition. Branding and Marketing Won’t: Cut-Short the …

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Future Generations, Conflicted Pasts

  When old friends resolve their differences and restore their relationship, reconciliation has occurred. Once this has happened they do not go back and count one anothers’ faults and weaknesses. They cease to describe their world, which they must both co-habit by reasons of history, using the same short-hand formulas they once used to refer …

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