Are you an aspiring performer? Here is an opportunity to rock like #ShaSha or act your way to #Uzalo

If you are a performer, here is your chance to take a step up.

Project Performer is presenting a national online lockdown competition with tons of prizes valued at R100 000 to be won.

The competition is open to all aspiring performers across all genres - dancing, singing and acting.

Entries are open until Friday, 17 July.

 'This is about rallying together a number of industry professionals and amateurs.
'We are proud to be associated with 45 national and international industry professional judges, who will judge the final round, including giving feedback and choosing the winners,' said director, Shylo Pereira.

Judges include Maps Maponyane, Steven Stead, Samantha Peo, Jono Johanssen, Lelo Ramasimong and Bernard Kruger.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Theatre Benevolent Fund.
Semi-finalists will be announced on 24 July and the winners on 14 August.

* Singing - musical theatre/Broadway, pop or contemporary
* Acting - monologues or duologues of any style
* Dance - any style
* Choreography
* TV commercial (maximum of two minutes)
* Instrumental - classical

Visit www.projectperformer.co.za for entry details.

Afro #Poetry Times returns with sizzling July issue. #MondayMotivation

Yesterday was all but a day that led to today. Tomorrow is another day that that will lead humanity into the unknown. 

While we embrace the future, it is equally important to embrace each day as it comes. 

Seasons come and go but the work of art sticks on forever like expensive chewing gum. 

The Afro Poetry Times digital magazine's July issue is here. It is better than ever before as it continues it's endeavor of promoting poetry and the literary arts. 

So much has been happening around the world and the the power of poetry has inspired many to people to believe again. 

That is because poetry has the power to influence change and motivate lifestyles. 

Poetry speaks to the soul. 

The sizzling July edition is your poetry royale! This issue features:

* A poet explains how her praise poem went viral

* Poetry joins Black Lives Matter 

* Alicia Keys talks about her new book and writing during Covid-19. 

* How South Africa once brought Africa together

* Short Story - Femicide Justice 

* Poetry Book Review

* A poets joy at being recognized 

* Poetry competitions, POEMS Galore and lots more. 

Get your copy now from the PressReader website or download the PressReader App and search for the Afro Poetry Times. 

The Afro Poetry Times is here to serve poetry and the literary arts. 

Holly Rey continues thriving #MondayMotivation

Holly Rey has made the most of the lockdown.

She launched a cooking series on Instagram with her sister, Mimi; announced being a signee at Black Coffee's Soulistic Agency; had a virtual lockdown performance, released a single and now has dropped the music video of said single – Wanna Be.

"It's a lot harder than I thought it would be. I have been trying to learn new things to inspire some form of creativity. I have learnt how to edit videos, learnt the tech behind the music and different sound systems.

"I want to come out of this a better musician, especially on the technical side of things."

On how the pandemic will change things for the industry, Holly said it has been a chance to find new ways of doing things.

"I am big on meeting my supporters and interacting with them and this has allowed me to do that. I think we didn't take online performances and streaming serious before. But now we are forced to learn how to do those and to do them properly. It's shown us that we can do it even when the lockdown is over." 

On releasing new music during a pandemic, Holly said she was a bit conflicted.

Holly is famous for being one of the few independent artists to be successful enough to go on and win a major award. Last year she made history when she became the first woman since Brenda Fassie in 1999, to win record of the year at the SA Music Awards with Deeper. 

On whether we can expect a collaboration with Black Coffee, Holly said not yet.

"As I have previously mentioned I have been a huge Black Coffee fan for years and I am so excited that we are stable mates at Soulistic, so we will just have to wait and see if anything happens."
Wanna Be is on streaming sites and the video is on YouTube.

Why not develop a Covid-19 international visa? #FridayFeeling

The aviation industry is battling to stay in business as so many countries have closed cross-border travel to help control the pandemic.

International travellers are well used to obtaining visas – often at considerable cost and inconvenience.

So why not develop an international Covid-19 visa.

The purpose would be to test all passengers before every flight to see if they are infected. It would require testing stations and a dedicated laboratory to do these checks, but much of the cost could be recovered from those who apply for the visa. 

Spare capacity could be made available at a charge to governments so that the time taken for results is fast enough to allow boarding onto the plane.

It doesn't mean dropping the need for precautions such as hand cleansing, and masks where applicable, and strictly controlled social distancing at airports. But it would open up the possibilities of international flights.

The vocalist behind all the #Amapiano chart toppers

Amapiano has grown into a popular genre across South Africa.

Essentially, amapiano is a mix of deep house and gqom, all mixed in with the jazzy, soulful sound of a piano.

Although people like Tall Ass
Tee and The Soul Dictators are cited as the creators of this sound, many other artists have jumped aboard the amapiano ship to create hits of their own, from Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa to Samthing Soweto, Scorpion Brothers and even Mlindo The Vocalist.

They all teamed up with Zimbabwean vocalist Sha Sha to create their hits.

The young beauty from Mutare has become an in-demand vocalist in amapiano and it's no surprise.

After pursuing music professionally and having her singles hit the airwaves in Zimbabwe, she decided to move to South Africa and pursue music here. 

She started doing gigs and soon started growing a fan base but things really changed when a cab driver she befriended introduced her to DJ Maphorisa.

Following her introduction to the DJ, Sha Sha was featured on songs like Nge Thanda Wena and Akulaleki, which has helped cement her name in the music industry.

How #rooibos tea fights flu... Plus an amazing rooibos tea recipe. #coronavirus

For over a century, antioxidant-rich Rooibos tea has been used to help ease and provide protection against colds and flu. Its ability to support the immune system in fighting viruses, enhances the body's natural defence system making it a must-have pantry staple. 

Here's how Rooibos can help fight coughs and sniffles this winter season:

1.     One of the most important healing functions of Rooibos tea is that it keeps the body hydrated, unlike Ceylon tea, coffee and energy drinks, which could deplete the body of fluids. These drinks all contain caffeine which is a diuretic. When you're ill, you tend to lose a lot of fluids from sweating (if you have a fever) and a raised metabolism as your body increases its internal level of activity to battle the infection. Since Rooibos tea is 100% caffeine-free, it will keep you sufficiently hydrated. Drink up to six cups of Rooibos tea a day for maximum benefits.

 

2.     Sore throats and other aches and pains that are characteristic of colds and flu, could also benefit from Rooibos tea. Drinking the tea will keep your throat moist and help to reduce irritation.

 

3.     Rooibos also has a calming effect on the body, which could help to alleviate tension and thus promote better sleep, which is essential for getting over a cold.

Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council (SARC) says if you're looking for a natural way to beat colds and flu, look no further than Rooibos.

"It is packed with polyphenols, which are micronutrients with antioxidant activity. Polyphenols act as scavengers of free radicals throughout the body, which are detrimental by-products of cell metabolism that can cause inflammation. Aspalatin – a unique antioxidant found only in Rooibos tea, will help to boost immunity, whilst protecting the body against other illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes," she says.

Give your body an immune-boosting shot with these tried and tested Rooibos remedies:

SPICY ROOIBOS

Ingredients:

A cup of strong Rooibos

1 tsp of lemon

1 tsp of honey

½ tsp of preferably fresh ginger (try a full tsp if it's not too strong for you)

A pinch of cayenne pepper

 

Method:

Pour boiling water into a cup or mug, add one Rooibos teabag and let it steep for at least 5 to 6 minutes. Add a teaspoon of lemon, honey, ginger and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

 

*If you prefer something cold, make your own herbal ice lollies or ice chips using the same Rooibos tea combination as above.

Pearl Thusi's touching #poem that tackles gender based violence

While many took to social media this week to commemorate the sacrifices made by the youth of 1976, actress Pearl Thusi has called on young people to take a stand against femicide and abuse of women and children.

Thusi brought attention to today's struggle of women and children being at the centre of abuse, saying that something needed to be done by this generation.

The actress took to Instagram in honour of the youth involved in the June 16 1976 Soweto student uprising to address the issues faced in the country, questioning whether people were willing to die to get justice.

With a picture of the Soweto uprising, Thusi captioned her post saying: 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The powers that be may have changed, but the struggle continues

Women are killed. Police are still specifically violent with black people.

Are we a generation willing to die for justice?

Or are we willing to watch our fellow citizens, especially women and children, be abused and murdered by our very own?

We come from a lineage of brave fighters.

We should not be fighting so many years later but this memory should not only remind us, it should inspire us to create and sustain a change that the next generation can build on.

No more fighting the power.

We must learn to be the power.

#Nokia give Fashionista's the edge

Nearly 60% of South Africans have smartphones, which means 24 million people, less about 6m that are under the age of eight, will want one, or need one.

Of that remaining 18m that don't have the latest in cell technology, about 10m are young fashion-conscious teenagers, and a great phone is also a fashion statement.

Nokia recently released the next generation Nokia 2.3, with an array of features, but to differentiate the phone from the host of competitors, an affordable price was not enough. 

Out-of-the-box thinking took Nokia's marketers into a space where young South Africans could identify with fashionista brand ambassadors and learn how they used the phone to enhance their businesses and personal life.

Nokia looked for creatives with "never-give-up" spirit. They had to be inspirational to their communities. The fields decided on were sport, fashion, beauty and photography.

HMD Global is the home of Nokia phones. Shaun Durandt, GM for Southern Africa, said Covid-19 had led to a sharp increase in social media engagements. A direct result of this was the need to find new ways to stay in touch with family, friends and clients.

Smartphones facilitated this through video conferencing, video calls and live streams. The ambassadors shared their tips and tricks on navigating the digital world.

Jean-Marc Johannes, who is a professional skateboarder, threetime Guinness World Record Holder, Olympic skateboarding qualifier and Nokia ambassador, said: "Use your devices to smartup your life, create some routine. If you study online and use your mobile phone as a classroom bell. I set daily reminders the night before to help schedule my days.

"Think outside the box. The internet is limitless, and we can turn our ideas into action in a matter of minutes. The key is to finding apps that bring out your best abilities — whether it is song writing, video production, art or even cooking. Remember, everything you document is content."

Fashion designer Zoliswa "Zolfreckels" Mbadu said: "It is important, now more than ever, to be active on social media, because that is the fastest and most convenient way to reach your audience. While you cannot physically connect with your most important clients, fans or followers, channel your passion and expertise into the digital space to engage them where they are.

"Most people are at home during this time, which means you have a captive audience. I create fun tips and advice videos on how to dress for online meetings. Digital creates an opportunity to stay connected despite distance."

Life in lockdown gave hairstylist Bomzi Lekgoro the opportunity to teach her parents the significance of a video call.

"They now know that they can use a phone to interact with their friends and family and digitally travel the world without leaving the comfort of their home. From a business aspect the shift to digital creates an opportunity to enhance skills, be it by learning how to do braids or cutting hair in my industry."

How Absa PSL players can join fight against #femicide

While the world is at war against a microscopic enemy that's scientifically called the coronavirus, South African women are embattled in a gender infused war that has seen countless women painfully losing their lives. 

Femicide has reached alarming levels that even president Cyril Ramaphosa has vocally spoken out and expressed his dismay. 

Communities have joined hands, activists have spoken out loud, civil rights groups have condemned the attacks and society is ready to wage war. 

Many Absa Premier Soccer League (PSL) stars have used their social media accounts to condemn the rising femicide spike. 

But posts and hashtags on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat are not enough. While they are crucial in maximising the reach, there are lots of activities that our footballers can do to join in the fight. 

1) Becoming feminist dads

Feminism is no longer just a female thing. A new breed of feminist dads is trending worldwide. Feminist dads see the worth of women and give the girl child equal life opportunities. 

Footballers such as Mamelodi Sundowns star Andile Jali have used their social media handles to highlight the bond between them and their daughters. Feminist dads are important in the war against Gender Based Violence because they can relay a woman's worth to other dads. 

2) Setting up marches

Slain American George Floyd became a global icon in the march against racism. It showed the power of joining hands in combating social ills.

Footballers are role models and imagine the impact that a bunch of our local players could have if they set up a March in the fight against femicide. The whole of SA could take to the streets and the message would be bold. 

3) Engaging their peers

Local footballers are known to attract an entourage of followers in their social gatherings. Be it a chesa nyama, an outing at a club, a boy's get together or a Sunday chillax at home, the onus lies on footballers to engage their friends or associates or colleagues about the hurt that women abuse does to our country. That engagement could go a long way towards changing the perceptions that some men have over women. 

4) Leading by example 

It takes a man to be a man. Footballers are the mainstay of their communities and people look up to them for inspiration. The way they liase and respect women in their communities will undoubtedly rub onto fans. 

5) Campaigns during matches 

Football is a gentleman's game and likewise thousands throng to football stadiums to watch their favourite stars in action. Players could embark on anti femicide campaigns before, during and after matches. There are so many innovative campaigns bordered around this.

Femicide is everyone's concern.  It is not a private matter or a family issue. Everyone's involvement is crucial at this stage and the involvement of our PSL players won't go unnoticed. 

Women aren't enemies, SA needs more feminist dads to fight #femicide

For the first time in three months, news headlines shifted from the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic to another pandemic that is painfully staked against women - femicide.

Lockdown alert level three brought more pain than joy in South Africa as the number of murdered women drastically rose. It prompted president Cyril Ramaphosa to condemn gender based violence and further highlighted the challenges that modern women go through. 

What's painful and heartbreaking is the fact that so much has been written and said about gender based violence, yet the curve hasn't flattened a bit.

Women still go through painful experiences in their homes and in the hands of their inamorata's - the very men who are supposed to shelter, provide, love and care for them. 

Society has watched in silence as they believe that they can't interfere in private matters or family issues. 

Femicide concerns us all. Talk and social media hashtags amount to nothing if action is still a faraway mirage. 

It is high time SA raised a new breed of feminist dads who will fight for all of Mzansi's daughters. 

#PhoneReview: #Vivo's kids mode makes sharing a phone between parent and child very exciting

Vivo is slowly but surely taking the South African smartphone stratosphere by storm. Having recently entered the local market, innovation was simply something they couldn't afford ignoring. 

And they rung all the innovative buttons - taking artificial intelligence to a whole new dimension. 

I recently got to try out the Vivo Y91C (model 1820) and what I anticipated is exactly what I got.  

The phone boasts of some really cool features which add more smart into smartphones.  Upon open the box, one is greeted with the maverick Halo FullView display adding glamour to the screen. 

The phone also has a long lasting 4030mAh battery and the 2 gig tomorrow and 32 gig ram are ideal for gamers. Infact, I can say that this phone is a haven for gamers.  

Without the fingerprint function, it's equally impressive Face Access is simply irresistible. 

One more feature that adds zing to the fling is the Kids Mode tool. This is very useful for parents who are constantly nagged by their kids for games. There is no need to download App lockers. Kids Mode has settings that allow your kids access to certain apps and media.  You can also lock pics and set a maximum time for the kids to use the phone.  Data usage limit can also be set. 

Overally, this an amazing phone and its a must have. It is currently available on special at OK at a retail price of R1899.

Its soap, not water that kills the #coronavirus

Early in the lockdown, I remember a scientist explaining how hand-washing kills the coronavirus.

The virus is not destroyed by water. But it is literally torn apart by soap.

The soap needs water to get to work, but that does not mean anyone needs to hold their hands under running water for 20 seconds.

All you must do is wet your hands and apply soap.

Rub the soap on your wet hands for 20 seconds.

This will kill any viruses on your hands.

At the end, turn the tap back on and rinse your hands under running water, and the soapy water with the dead viruses goes down the drain.