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 …
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 …
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, …
“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 …
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 …
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 …
The Intellectual Practice of Mazisi Kunene & African Languages in the Future 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 »
Afropolitan Explosiv’s Creative Director, Dr Thokozani Mhlambi, reflects on the ‘Music and the African Archive’ event, which took place in Cape Town in August. On the 22nd of August, a seminar took place at the South African College of Music, University of Cape Town. Convened by the Black Archives & Intellectual Histories Seminar Series, a …
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, …
Buhari Wins War on Corruption? Stolen Money in Nigeria Read More »
I believe that what we need is isivivane—an old African tradition which obligated every traveller passing a certain spot to add his or her stone to a pile of stones. In doing so, every traveller became a part of isivivane with solidarity, common purpose and identification with a good cause. The tradition of isivivane originated …
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 …
What I Learned from My 600 Pound Life: Enablers & the Enabled Read More »
Ukuncoma omunye umuntu, nokufisela omunye umuntu inhlanhla does not take anything away from you. It does not mean uzokuhlula. It does not mean they will have more money than you. You can stay on your lane. Do you. Ukuncoma omunye umuntu does not mean uyazincengela. Yebo impela une-pride, but ukuncoma omunye umuntu is to be …
Discourse on Umona #1: Notes for Climbing the Top Read More »
Research and Development (R&D) is a word often used by governments and research agencies, but really it is a business phrase, rather than an academic one. In South Africa, for example, the National Research Foundation has set as its target: R&D can be defined as those activities a business may involve itself in without any …
Nothing beats community. Every good business or creative idea has as its lifeblood the communities whom it must serve. The passion to change our communities is not only for NGOs and development agencies. You have an obligation to your community, a “what can I do?” A “what can I bring that is of value?” Only …
“The education struggle was firstly a matter of trying to bridge the language gap and then trying to bridge the content gap,” writes Khaya S Sithole , Chartered Accountant & Speaker. Orignally from Empangeni (KZN), Khaya now lives in Johannesburg. He is also a motivator of rural communities and youth to pursue accounting as a …
Commitment is to say something, or do something no matter what. Commitment builds character, because it allows your life to be driven by connections rather than feelings. When you’re not committed, the moment you get upset, you’re out of the door. Why? Because you have never felt obligated in that relationship, your involvement was purely …
I never understood why internships don’t pay or pay too little. Until I was an intern and later had my own intern(s) to mentor that I realized why this is the case. The fact is, when you are a fresh graduate entering the work place, you have little to no exposure that is practical to …
Internships: Career Advancement or Exploitation? Read More »
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 …
Kanye West & Kirk Franklin Collaborate: Losing Religion? Read More »
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 …
The Creative Spirit looms large over all African ways of life! But as soon as we speak of “growth”, we go back to the same old European formulas of industrialization. Art, Creativity then becomes merely entertainment, fitted with the power to provide a ‘magical’ escape. Serious business, being in the office or factory, is what …
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. …
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 …
BB King is remembered as one of the most important artists in the history of blues, with a long career that spanned seven decades and included classic hits such as Three O’Clock Blues (1951), The Thrill is Gone (1969) and 1989’s When Love Comes to Town (recorded with U2). Widely considered one of the most …
How BB King’s days on radio helped shape his career and music Read More »
Each of us are called to influence, shape and impact whatever area of life we are involved in. We have heard it before there are those who build, there are those who think about the building (the engineers), and then those who are more concerned with what will happen when the inside is finished (interior …
Sharpening your Edge for Influence, Achieve Maximum Results Read More »
We got a chance to konnekt with Post-Revolutionary Leader, Markay Berhane. Who is also a Civil Engineer based in the Western Cape. Don’t be fooled by his present locale, Markay is a global citizen with afropolitan tendencies. What is your name? Markay Berhane Where were you born? Moscow, Russia. My parents, both from Eritrea, met …
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 …
In 1989 communism collapsed. We knew it was not sustainable. But the final demise was a moment for the West to say “we told you so”. Liberal democracy had gained a final win over Marxism-Leninism and moving with almost unquestionable consensus, the liberal democratic agenda was shoved down every country that was in the process …
A lovely lady by the name of Amandla Kwinana who writes for Kasi Times did the write-up for our last event held at the Goethe-Institut on Saturday, 16 June 2012. Here’s an excerpt from her review… “Break over and we poured into the auditorium. I’m sure a lot of people also wanted to share their …
I feel that what defines a generation is both what they have learnt from predecessors as well as what they have added to it. Our generation is still grappling with the positioning and emancipation of the African continent as a whole, we are still grappling with leadership issues and as well as those of raising …