Culture and creativity at work in Newcastle, Amajuba at inaugural event in July 2024 On Saturday the 27th of July 2024, Afropolitan Explosiv held a cultural event, “Chords & Chill”, at Baywash Lounge in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. The evening was a remarkable experience that blended art, emotion, and community spirit. The ambiance was vibrant, filled with […]
Art & Music Invades KZN: Chords & Chill Event Read More »
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
Utalagu Exhibition by Durban Artists Amasosha Read More »
My name is Linda Sydney Zwane and let me just share with you my experience of the Kasi Movie Showcase, a traveling film festival hosted by Afropolitan Explosiv: I’d like to first of start-off by saying that I came into this experience as an AFDA graduate who obtained a BA degree in Motion picture, here
Reflecting on the Kasi Movie Showcase Read More »
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
Exhibition puts Spotlight on Lobola Read More »
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.
Sabelo Mlangeni Exhibition on Zion Churches shows in Johannesburg Read More »
“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
Guitar, Jazz & Spirit in the Creative Imagination of Sibusile Xaba Read More »
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
Highlights from the Pan African Arts Festival 2018 Read More »
Nanu Mabaso writes for us about film culture in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This is following the shooting of a new movie, called Uncovered, which was shot in Newcastle. by Nanu Mabaso “What a time to be alive in Africa!” I often wondered how it feels like to say this. I must admit, it came to
Film Culture in KZN gets a Boost Read More »
A meditation on the difficult issues of race and racism. by Dr Litheko Modisane Author of award-winning Renegade Reels: The Making & Public Lives of Black-centred Films Is it not disturbing that blackness as a state of being is perpetually on the run? It is forever suspended between captivity and freedom – yes both in
Reflections on Race from a Global Perspective Read More »
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
Jaded Comrades/ Ineffective Citizen : communities beyond our present state Read More »
Stokvels are an investment instrument born and bred in the township. The earliest cases of the stokvel-kind of association are from the 1910s in the gold mines of Johannesburg. The success of the stokvel movement is largely undocumented. It is indeed a story of our history we have yet told. A story of social bonds,
iStokvel: Where do they come from? Read More »
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
Future Generations, Conflicted Pasts Read More »
How many people do you know that would agree with the following statement? “I’ve had enough of the Kardashians…I’m sick of this family! (They’re) a non-story!” I believe most of us, including myself, would shout “amen” at the top of their lungs like it’s a Sunday in the South if we heard someone in the media utter those words.
I’ve had enough of the Kardashians! Read More »
At the end of an evening with friends, my husband and I showed a bioscope of pictures to our guests. Pictures of places unrecognizable that at some point in the series became recognizable as outer and inner parts of the township where all in the room currently lived appeared. At the end of the series
No Longer Beautiful Read More »
“F**k the media,” says former star in Nelson Mandela movie, Morgan Freeman. After the wave of protest inspired by the death of African-American, Freddie Gray, while he was in police custody in a police station in Baltimore. Morgan Freeman–the famous actor who most people would love to have him narrate their lives, has slammed reporting
Morgan Freeman on Baltimore Coverage Read More »
She is ambitious and full of energy. He has seen some of the best times (World Cup 2010) and some of the worst times (xenophobic attacks). She is still at university preparing to be the best she can be. He is sobering from the first festivities of 1st year. Now its time to tighten-up and
South Africa at 21 Years Old Read More »
When I was younger, as I nursed on my mother’s milk, I understood love as unconditional. Though I may have not known it, yet I experienced through my total dependency on her, something extraordinary. Here she was, this human being who met all my needs. As I went out of the maternal chamber, I met
