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Mobile brand Tecno Mobile launched its latest offering, the Tecno Spark 7 Pro, last week.
Available for sale in South Africa next month, it offers a 48MP Clear Triple Camera and a new Helio G80 chipset.
The phone also has a 6.6-inch edge-to-edge display, complete with Super Night Mode. Stephen Ha, the general manager of Tecno Mobile, said the company was focused on what younger generations wanted from their smartphones.
It was time to party as Nescafe RICOFFY celebrated turning 50 years old this week, at one of Joburg's hidden gem venues, the Hallmark House, that overlooks the beautiful skyline this city has to offer.
The 50th birthday party was attended by the who's who of Mzansi, and guests were serenaded with epic performances by legends, that one would otherwise have had to spend a fortune to see.
Imagine getting a front row seat to watch performances from global superstar Master KG, renowned duo Mafikizolo and even Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, during a pandemic? A once in a lifetime experience.
Under the theme "Express your South Africanness", guests put their best foot forward in varying interpretations of what African Heritage means to them, creating a myriad colours and creativity that Mzansi is best known for.
Before being admitted to the party, guests were tested for Covid-19, but the regulations continued inside the venue, which made guests like myself feel more relaxed.
The party was hosted by multi-talented Jason Goliath and a string of celebrities adorned the top floor with actress Thembi Seete, who never seems to age a day in her life, dazzling in a red and floral top, and designer Gert Johan Coetzee joined the flaming red squad (which seemed to be the dominating colour) in a beautiful red short suit, with a white T-shirt and sneakers.
The Princess of Africa Yvonne Chaka-Chaka calmed the fiery situation with her elegant blue dress, Hotstix keeping it simple in black, and Mafikizolo duo Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza never disappointing with style.
Nhlanhla shone bright in a pink tutu dress, while Theo kept it smart yet elegant in black.
And you know you've made it when even celebrities want to take a picture with you, right? The humble, and seemingly shy, Master KG was the centre of attention, as stars lined up to grab him for a quick snap. All he could do was smile and nod. Shame man!
The rest of the day, right into the early night, as the sun descended and caressed Johannesburg's buildings, giving off wonderful spring hues, performances continued and guests danced, all in celebration of a brand that has been a part of Mzanzi's heritage for 50 years.
The world has truly become an oyster for the Ndlovu Youth Choir, who are set to feature in a spectacular new Disney production in the US.
The choir made the announcement on its social media platforms on Thursday, much to the delight of fans.
"We are incredibly excited to announce that we are part of a cast of musicians from around the world that perform in Disney's new production, Harmonious.
"The show is one of the largest night-time spectaculars ever created for Disney Parks.
"We're youth from Moutse, Limpopo, and are now part of a global production in one of the biggest shows ever created. Dreams do come true."
According to Disney World, the nightly show kicks off on October 1 at Epcot theme park in Florida, US.
"The heart of the Epcot transformation comes to life with Harmonious, one of the largest night-time spectaculars ever created for Disney Parks.
"The show is a beautifully crafted medley of classic Disney music and visuals reinterpreted by a culturally diverse group of 240 artists.
"This magnificent new show brings to World Showcase Lagoon an innovative combination of floating giant screens, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers in a 360-degree view," Disney World said.
The choir's fans could hardly contain their excitement.
"Amazing! Congrats! Go show them what South African talent is all about!" one fan said.
"The world is now your oyster! What an opportunity," another said.
Thuso Mbedu's star keeps shining brighter and we can't help but be proud.
The Underground Railroad star will be one of the celebrities making an appearance on Rihanna's Savage x Fenty Vol. 3 show.
Rihanna shared a trailer of the show on her Instagram account, ahead of appearing at the Met Gala.
This is another achievement for Mbedu, whose critically acclaimed performance on Railroad earned her a Hollywood Critics Association Award, and also a role on Tristar Pictures' The Woman King, alongside Viola Davis.
Mbedu recently shared a campaign with French luxury maison, Christian Dior, for their Miss Dior perfume.
She is also currently on the cover of W magazine, where she has been named one the new pop culture icons.
The fashion show/concert, which showcases the latest range from Rihanna's lingerie brand, will premiere on Friday, September 24, on Amazon Prime Video.
Teasing the upcoming show, Rihanna said: "We want to make people look good and feel good. We want you to feel sexy and have fun doing it."
The Savage x Fenty lingerie show has become one of the most anticipated shows since it launched in 2019, and it is mainly due the art direction, the diversity the show features and, of course, the garments.
YouTube has announced that the Youtube Nextup programme will be available in Nigeria and South Africa. The programme is an opportunity for creators to take their content creation to the next level.
Twenty creators with eligible channels will be selected to win a production stipend of $1 000 (about R15 000) to be used for the acquisition of production equipment to advance their Youtube careers.
The selected creators will also have the opportunity to attend a week-long intensive "Creator Camp", learn new skills and access support by the Youtube partnerships team.
The Youtube Nextup programme is available to creators who are committed to advancing their Youtube careers and producing fresh and compelling content.
Eligible channels for selection into the Youtube Nextup programme should have 10 000 to 100 000 subscribers and at least three pieces of original and native video content uploaded in the past three months.
Channel accounts must be compliant with the Youtube community guidelines and have no strikes. Participation in other Youtube creator master classes is also a basis for acceptance.
"We believe that the next generation of successful creators are already honing their skills on Youtube," says Addy Awofisayo, Youtube Content Partnership in Sub-saharan Africa.
"We are excited that the Youtube Nextup programme will help take creators to the next level in their Youtube careers, enabling them to develop whole new genres and online experiences for audiences around the world."
Applications for the Youtube Nextup programme are open.
To apply for Youtube Nextup, each creator must submit an entry form with the video they are most proud of and that best represents their technical production skills, creativity and storytelling ability.
The Met Gala, which finally took place at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday night after months of postponements, is the most coveted ticket on the international celebrity red carpet parade (and this year only a third of the usual guest list was invited to participate in fashion's biggest night).
It garners a lot of attention, so you probably know the theme was "American Independence", which gave the exhibitionists among the famous and fabulous attendees (and, let's face it, most of them are) plenty of room for interpretation, from founding fathers in powdered wigs, rhinestone cowboys and star-spangled gowns, to Lady Liberty cosplay and lime sequined takes on American football gear — all saying something about America's varied heritage.
A$AP Rocky wore a memory quilt made with fabric and antique quilts sewn together, including a few personal effects such as his dad's bathrobe, to represent his take on America.
Spanish singer Rosalia wore a tasseled red leather number to represent her Spanish roots. Who knows what Germany-born singer Kim Petras was trying to say about America with the giant horse head she wore on her chest.
Perhaps a reference to America's Mafia history, if you know your Godfather movies, or maybe she was just giving Megan Thee Stallion a run for her money.
It would be interesting to see what local celebrities would came up with if they had to wear an outfit that represented SA. I'd love to see Somizi in a sequinned rainbow jumpsuit. We also have great traditional outfits to draw on, which we usually see on our streets across the country on Heritage Day (Friday, September 24).
Not willing to allow anyone to dim her light, singer and Jerusalema hitmaker Nomcebo Zikode will soon make an appearance on the US reality show Love & Hip Hop.
Zikode shared the news on Instagram, saying how excited she was about the opportunity.
"Guess who's gonna be on the biggest show of America: VH!'s Love & Hip Hop," she captioned her snap with the show's producer, Mona ScottYoung.
Zikode is still on her international Jerusalema tour and is set to rock North America next month.
In a video she shared, giving followers a sneak peek into what had happened behind the scenes, she is seen strutting her stuff with two of her dancers on set.
In the comments section, Scott-Young thanked the singer for taking time out to be on the show and said it was her pleasure to meet the Xola hitmaker.
"It was absolutely wonderful spending time with you and again, thank you!" Scott-Young wrote.
While Jerusalema remains one of the biggest songs ever to come out of Mzansi, the politics behind the anthem-like song have hogged headlines in recent months.
The fights behind the scenes for royalties and profits were exposed when Zikode released a statement two months ago saying she hadn't received a cent from the hit song, despite its global success.
She alleged that, instead of getting paid what she was due, she was being ridiculed and that her contribution was being "minimised" by the record label.
Fresh-faced teen sensation Nefisa Mkhabela rebelled against her father's wishes to pursue a law career by taking her breakout role in novice soapie, House of Zwide.
It has all paid off for the 19 year-old newcomer, who has emerged as television's biggest breakout star of 2021.
The e.tv daily drama has been ratings gold, with a viewership of 4.24 million in July and 4.37 million last month, according to data by Broadcast Research Council of SA.
It comes as no surprise considering how irresistibly charming Mkhabela's wideeyed gaze and radiant smile lights up the screen before she even opens her mouth to speak.
Surely, young girls across the country are recreating her character Onalerona Molapo's bright-hued hairdos and punk style as much as they have done with Sho Madjozi.
But what has won the hearts of viewers is Onalerona storyline that depicts a relatable tale of a talented and aspirant fashion designer from Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, defying her father's orders to study marketing in pursuit of her fashion dreams in Rosebank.
So, you can imagine that I ' m hit with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu when Mkhabela details how in real life she also disobeyed her father.
A year ago, Mkhabela was a grade 12 learner, stressing about writing her matric exams in the age of a pandemic.
Her matric dance, which she was looking forward to, was scheduled for March 27 – but the national lockdown upset those plans when is started on March 25.
"It has always been my dream to be in the spotlight, but I never thought that I will be living the reality I am right now. It is one thing to dream, but to achieve one of the biggest dreams you thought will come later in life so early is incredible," she gushes.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber never resorted to playing the "R" (referee) card in explaining away the national side's 28-26 loss to the Wallabies on Sunday.
Though there were definite questions about the quality of the officiating, the bottom line is that the Australians didn't so much win the match as have it handed to them by the Boks.
Nienaber was gracious in saying the Wallabies deserved to win … because they did.
But Springbok indiscipline saw their opponents being given 23 points in goaled kicks. That made the difference and the overtime penalty of Quade Cooper just put the bow on the show for the Wallabies.
However, if (and this is a big if) the Boks learn from their mistakes and tighten up on discipline, then the next game could be a wholly different affair.
Even losing as they did, the Springboks were ahead in the try count, three to one, and the South African power mauling – which has scared many an opponent in the past – was still alive and well.
Kicking by Handre Pollard was also not up to scratch … but that can be rectified.
All in all, Sunday's loss makes the next encounter all the more appetising ... because a Bok bounce back is beautiful to behold.
Sunday night's episode of Idols SA is still the talk of the town on the TL, thanks to Limpopo musician Makhadzi powerful and her energy-filled performance.
The singing competition, which was announcing its top 10, saw great performance on the line from Boohle, who took to the stage with Busta 929 (and voice of the late Mpura) to perform the hypnotic amapiano jam Amawaza.
While the show was filled with amazing performances, it was the Ghanama performance by Makhadzi and Prince Benza that left SA going gaga.
Queen Makhadzi absolutely slayed her performance and closed off the show on a high note.
Makhadzi had SA in the palm of her hands. From her vocals to her dance moves and the "unique to Makhadzi" energy she served, fans couldn't get over what a great performer the Venda queen is.
On Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, people were raving about her performance and particularly the way she falls as if it's "nothing hectic".
On Wednesday night, Cassper Nyovest trended on Twitter for his foray into TV on SABC1.
Mzansi loved him as the host of season 2 of The Braai Show with Cassper Nyovest. That it was a controversial "takeover" from his arch-rival and predecessor, AKA, certainly fuelled curiosity, too.
The bottom line, though, is he holds his own in his new playground, so kudos to him.
He introduced himself as, "The rapping pantsula aka the new Doc Shebeleza, and this is The Braai Show With Cass."
He was a bit nervous as he rolled up to the crib of his first guest – former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi.
Just to contextualise, his excitable state had more to do with Tunzi being his crush than TV jitters.
As they made their way to grab a few braai essentials, Nyovest caught viewers up on what she's been busy with, now that she is back home after a spell in New York City.
He also snuck in the fact that she's been his crush. The banter between the two was chilled and underpinned by a few jibes.
Overall, a few editing glitches aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the show.
◆ The Braai Show 2 airs on SABC1 on Wednesdays at 6pm.
Thando Thabethe is a lot of things, but an overnight success is not one of them.
The 31-year-old radio and TV personality is, however, running a tad late for our tête-à-tête at the 947 studios in the heart of Sandton, Johannesburg.
It's an hour before her afternoon drive show when the pint-sized star makes her appearance from her white Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.
Yes, girls who drive big cars...
But it's her short cycling suit that attracts the most attention. Thabethe then opens the boot of her car to take out her brand-new bike and helmet.
Thabethe is camera-ready for us. Her face is exquisite, though it's amusing to watch her walk with discomfort because of the stiff-soled cycling shoes.
An amateur cyclist, Thabethe can hardly contain her excitement about participating in this year's 947 Ride Joburg Road in November.
"I don't know what I'm getting myself into. I'm not a rider but I run and gym. The bike at the gym is my least favourite thing," Thabethe mentions.
"But I'm excited about the challenge and it seems fun. I'm that girl that is easy to convince with these kind of things."
1 CONSIDER YOUR SKIN TYPE
Is it dry, oily or combination? If it's dry, look for a product that offers extra hydration and glow-inducing properties. If it's oily, avoid any overly dewy finishes: the new long-wear offerings are your best bet. If it's a combination, go for lightweight formulas that adjust to your needs, controlling midday shine without looking flaky and dry by 3pm. If it's fairly balanced, choose on the finish you like instead.
2 FINISH IS EVERYTHING
Are you looking for a sheer, lightweight product that you can apply just where you feel you need a bit to even out your skin tone? Or do you like full coverage colour that instantly conceals redness and imperfections? Are you comfortable applying liquid with a foundation brush or would a stick or a compact and sponge you can blend with your fingers suit you better? All good questions to ask.
3 TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
The upside of buying a higher-end brand is that generally counter staff will offer to colour match your skin tone, as well as send you home with a few samples, so you can try the foundation on your own time. If you are doing an in-store swatch, try the foundation on a neutral area like the lower area of your cheek near your jawline. Check it in natural light. Look for the shade that almost disappears.
The prime spinning event in the country, Red Bull Shay' iMoto, is back to thrill Mzansi and crown its third champion.
Once again, the best spinners across South Africa will go gusheshe-to-gusheshe for the top spot in a closed event taking place on Saturday.
Now in its third year, the competition sees participants battle it out for the trophy by showcasing their best tyre-screeching skills and stunts, while tackling special obstacles including "the kitchen sink", and "bread and butter".
Twelve of the country's top spinners will come together to battle it for the coveted trophy.
Last year Limpopo's King Katra spun his way to victory and walked away with the trophy after impressing judges with his stunts in the freestyle section.
Six of the best spinners will be joined by six more chosen from an online competition. You can vote for your favourites to help decide who makes it to the top six.
To celebrate three years of Red Bull Shay' iMoto, fans will get a chance to win a VIP trip to this year's closed event – along with a chance to win weekly prizes which include Red Bull Shay' iMoto merchandise.
Fans can play a virtual game via the website to try to spin their way to the top of the leader board.
While many will not be able to watch the event live due to Covid restrictions, the action will be available live at www.redbullshayimoto.com, redbull.tv online as well as on connected Smart TVs and devices.
Red Bull Shay' iMoto is proudly supported by BMW and Puma.
Award-winning musician Kelly Khumalo continues to reclaim her space in entertainment as she joins the judging panel of a new family singing music competition.
Khumalo has been selected as one of the judges for a new SABC2 singing competition called Stand Up South Africa.
The show is set to make its premiere this evening at 6pm – while she is also anticipated to be a guest judge on Idols SA.
Khumalo will be joined by musician Kurt Darren and choreographer Lorcia Cooper on the judging panel, while Dineo Langa presents the show.
"Stand Up SA is a reality TV talent scout show about family members singing together in a duet and it means a lot to me that I get to be a judge in a family based show. I am looking for chemistry, authentic interaction and a duo that's here to have the best time of its life," she said.
Rapper Gigi Lamayne is all beau'd up after the first season of the hit international reality dating show Temptation Island SA, and she hopes she can change public perception of Mzansi celebs as well.
"My brand has always been about surprises. Just people never really know what I am going to do next," said Gigi about shocking fans with the news of joining the cast of Temptation Island SA.
Chatting to TshisaLIVE, Gigi had fans excited that they are finally going to get a sneak peek into her personal life.
"I want people to see me outside my element, you know, not as a celebrity, not as an artist but as someone who also faces the same challenges. I am single, I am looking for someone, if it happens on the show, why not? I've always kinda dated people in my industry, and it was only recently that I decided not to," she said.
Chatting about why she joined the show, the ''Slaap Tiger'' hit-maker said she wanted to start dating outside the music space and meet people of different backgrounds who could possibly be "the one" for her.
"Just because I don't want to be chatting about the same thing around the table. I just wanted someone to challenge me, someone who lives a lifestyle completely different to my own. Previously I would date for the moment and be in the moment but I think I am slowly starting to understand how stability is super-important," she said.
Gigi also hopes that audiences can change their perceptions of women of colour and hopes to see more women like herself be unapologetic.
If statistics from the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa are anything to go by, it's clear that South African audiences love Indian dramas.
Since its launch in 2018, South Africans have taken to the many drama series on Star Life.
With an average daily viewership of more than 150 000 viewers and a monthly reach of more than 5.5 million, Star Life has established itself among the top 10 TV channels in the South African market and the number one channel among dubbed telenovela offerings.
All the channel's shows have made a distinct place for themselves in the hearts and minds of viewers.
It's delivered many hits, among them, The Evil Eye, about a wicked witch who was a servant of the mother goddesses Kali and Durga.
The recently launched A Magical Love Story, a fantasy drama, broke into the 400 000 viewership club on its first episode that aired last month and within three weeks, more than 600 South Africans were hooked.
"We're growing rapidly by building strong emotional bonds with our audiences through stories like My Identity and Strange Love, that bring progressive and inspirational characters in compelling dramas and are leading performers with a consistent viewership of 300 000," said the channel.
This month, the channel launched two new dramas – The Frontliners, a medical drama about the ups and downs in the lives of doctors at the Sanjivani Hospital, is a tribute to front-line workers and the Covid-19 warriors.
Exactly a month since actor and co-founder of Ferguson Films Shona Ferguson died, his widow and actress Connie Ferguson has reflected on his death and shared her feelings.
Taking to Instagram, Connie expressed that the death of her husband - who died on July 30 after succumbing to Covid-19 related complications - still felt surreal for her.
"Exactly a month today and it still feels surreal. It's always been said that legends never die!" Connie wrote.
Even though she has been a proud Christian for most of her life, Connie has immersed herself in God's word since Shona died.
The actress accompanied her post with a scripture from the Bible that she revealed had taken on a new meaning since she lost the love of her life.
The scripture from the book of Revelations reads:
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself Will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Connie shared a reel with some of Shona's TV moments.
After travelling the world in search of greener pastures, Fanele Malaika Nyawo, 24, came to realise there were opportunities in abundance if one had the right mindset.
The Richards Bay-born fashion designer is self-taught and now making a living off her talent. She created her clothing brand, They Tailor.
Nyawo said that designing clothes saved her from depression caused by a lack employment opportunities.
She said that working in hotels in South Africa and in the Middle East as a hotel receptionist, she realised her job was no longer sustainable due to Covid-19.
"As a coping mechanism, I started flipping old clothes. I realised that I had a love for making clothing and entrepreneurship. I decided to start teaching myself how to design and make clothes by watching videos and reading articles."
She draws inspiration from her mother and from her clients who give her honest feedback about her work.
Nyawo works from a studio she created in her mother's house. She said the community and the neighbouring townships of Empangeni and Esikhawini have been very supportive of her work.
She said her dream was to have a fashion house that showcased authentic African aesthetics in modern and sustainable fashion.
One of her aims was to hire and
train unskilled youth who were passionate about fashion.
"People love fashion but they do not have the funding to get the required skills. With my experience I could inspire youth not to be afraid to start businesses and follow their dreams.
"Aspiring entrepreneurs must know that starting a business has its challenges. All that matters is that you remember why you started in the first place. We must embrace our failures and learn from them."
Nyawo pleaded with other designers in her area to work together in advancing their dreams and encouraged people to wear local brands.
Esports and gaming content specialist Mettlestate has teamed up with Incredible Connection to bring gamers one of the biggest Apex esports competitions in the country. Competitors will be fighting for a prize pool of R100 000 in cash and prizes.
Mettlestate, in partnership with Incredible Connection, ASUS Republic of Gamers, Intel Gaming and NVIDIA, has set the stage for South African teams to fight for the prestige (and the winner's share of the prize pool) in the Respawn Entertainment game Apex Legends. This battle royale is incredibly popular among gamers, and this tournament is sure to put them to the test.
Registrations officially opened on 30 August 2021. Gamers have until 15 September to sign up, and they can do so here. The entrants will compete in three weeks of group stages. Thereafter, the top teams will go through to the grand finals. The grand finals will be hosted online in order to accommodate COVID-19 health and safety protocols. They will be streamed on the Incredible Connection Twitch channel.
The schedule for Apex Legends All Stars is as follows:
15 September
16:00 SAST: Registrations close
19:00 SAST: Group stages begin
22 September
Week 2 of group stages
29 September
Week 3 of group stages
6 October
Grand finals
Mettlestate's Community Manager, Carly Twaddle, is pleased to see big tech brands getting behind the gaming scene. "It is great to see a goliath brand like Incredible Connection getting involved in South African esports. The All Star Gaming side of the company is making waves in our community", says Twaddle.