Thuso Mbedu stars with Viola Davis in latest Hollywood movie #SouthAfricaBlog #FridayFeeling

Local stars Thuso Mbedu, Tebogo Malope and Nomzamo Mbatha continue to fly the SA flag high on the global stage.

Ahead of her big Hollywood debut in Barry Jenkins's The Underground Railroad in two weeks, Mbedu has already booked her next big gig. 

According to American publication Deadline, Mbedu will star opposite Oscar winner Viola Davis in upcoming movie The Woman King. The historical epic will be helmed by director Gina

Prince-Bythewood and it's based on a pre-colonial African kingdom, the kingdom of Dahomey.

"Very excited," Davis gushed about Mbedu's addition to the film on Instagram.

Steve Harvey jets into South Africa and he has wise words for Africans #SouthAfricaBlog

 "Just like me."

These were the words comedian Steve Harvey used to describe South Africans.
The US funnyman is in the country to shoot season two of the American-inspired comic game show, Family Feud Africa.

"You are African and I am African-American — everything we are in America we got from you [and] that's the part that I don't understand, the rush to go to America.

"Everything we do is [because] of you — our soul, our rhythm we got from Africa, colours and jewellery we got from Africa," he said.

Harvey also spoke about the impact of Covid-19 on the production of the show, similarities to the American version and Michael B Jordan, who is dating his daughter, Lori.

He was being interviewed via Zoom.

He said fans could also expect to see more SA celebrities and more excitement on the show.

Harvey, who is sometimes left tongue-tied with the pronunciation of the names of contestants, said he had been more prepared this time.

"I have learnt a little bit more about the names and the pronunciations and how the consonants and syllables work a little better," he said.

Family Feud Africa season two will be aired every Sunday at 6pm from May 9 on the e.tv channel.

Fancy moving abroad? The Emigration Expo is currently happening at the #Sandton Convention Center #SouthAfricaBlog

The first public expo to open in South Africa since the start of the pandemic, opens tomorrow at Sandton City in Johannesburg. The Emigration Expo, which runs from 29 April - 1 May, is taking place in the heart of the Sandton City shopping centre, offering families, entrepreneurs, students, job seekers and anyone else looking to live abroad a comprehensive range of options.

With a virtual expo at TheEmigrationExpo.com running in parallel to the live event, The Emigration Expo is the first expo of its kind to open in South Africa and to service the thousands of people looking for change and opportunities in a new land. Through industry surveys, emigration is shown to be a massive business locally, with many South Africans looking at options away from our shores.

"UK, Australia, US, Portugal, Malta," replied John Dunn, director of emigration specialists Sable International, when asked where they see most South Africans looking to emigrate. And recent global events have seemed to have little effect on the industry, he explains, "The demand has been relatively constant throughout the pandemic, Covid-19 was merely a delay to people's plans."

The Emigration Expo is a must for anyone planning to move abroad temporarily or permanently.

Within Sandton City, the access-controlled expo is held in a Covid-19 prepared space with protocols in place allowing visitors and exhibitors to comfortably discuss emigration opportunities in a safe environment.

 

The Emigration Expo features industry leaders and professionals offering a variety of related services: Fast-Track Visa Assistance, International Job Vacancies, Global Study Opportunities, Exclusive Offshore Investment Opportunities, Moving Logistics Services and more.

 

Visitors wishing to attend The Emigration Expo Sandton City can register for FREE: www.theemigrationexpo.com/register-to-the-emigration-sandton 

Love is the secret - Nonhle Thema's journey can only get better #SouthAfricaBlog

TV star and actress Nonhle Thema has hit the gym to try to lose some of her "thickness", sharing her journey on social media this week.

The star took to Instagram to reveal she is "currently living at the gym to shed this thickness" and is looking forward to seeing the exercise "work some magic".

She posted a video of herself during a session, dressed in her gym warrior outfit.

While most wished her well, some encouraged her not to lose too much weight, but only refine the areas that need refining.

Nonhle acknowledged the love and said she was shocked at the suggestion.

"Someone said to me the other day 'Nonhle don't lose too much weight, we love you thick'. I was shocked. The blasphemy of it all. I mean, come on. Men don't understand this path," she said with a laugh.

She also got candid about her weight, explaining that giving birth to her daughter changed her body forever.

"Speaking of weight issues, my daughter played a role in my body changing. I love her dearly but it was tough going through changes. So my mom sent me this picture to remind me where I come from," she said, posting a picture of a magazine cover from several years ago.
She said her daughter had taught her how to love more deeply and become a better person.

"I'm not there yet, but I now know love is the secret." -

it's official. Women from these African countries know how to make a man happy #GirlTalkZA

We all love to be in love. But are we all happily in love? 

Well, not all of us. That's one thing for sure. And did you know that there was a poll which was conducted to reveal which African women make men the happiest. 

The verdict is out and it goes something like this:

Ivory Coast 

Research showed that inspite of all the hardships and dire poverty associated with Ivory Coast, Ivorian women are real mother hens with their spouses. They are passionate about their homes and play a role similar to that of their mothers before them.

Botswana

Women from Botswana as as soft as sheep wool. They are naturally gentle and caring. Botswana women are excellent wives, in the traditional sense of the term.

Burkina Faso 

Women from Burkina Faso are attentive listeners. They make sure to hear and understand the needs of their partners. 

Nigeria

You just have to watch African movies. Need I say more? 

Zambia 

Add all of the qualities listed above. The result is a Zambian woman.

#Perdeberg's Classic Chenin Blanc is an amazing #wine to suit any occasion #MondayMotivation #SouthAfricaBlog

The classic chenin blanc is packed with freshness and tropical flavours and the mineral aftertaste is mouth-watering. 

This wine is from dryland-grown vineyards in the Paarl and Swartland region, the perfect growing conditions for quality chenin blanc.

R55

Kgomotso Ndungane benefits for from 'Real Housewives Of Durban' #FridayFeeling #SouthAfricaBlog

Kgomotso Ndungane isn't surprised that the reality show she was on has been quite the hit with fans.

The Real Housewives of Durban on Showmax has been a series that had viewers glued to their seats every week.
Featuring housewives and businesswomen from different parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the show highlighted their ventures, lifestyles and dramas.

Ndungane was one of the more talked-about housewives during the first few episodes of the show, as fans were getting to know the characters.

"I think there was an expectation that the show would be very big. The production company is really excellent and, by the time they got the slot to be on Showmax, it showed that they had done an amazing job," she said.

"It's always so good to be part of something that is with people who take pride in their work. I think it was expected that it would be quite massive."

On her experience on the show, Ndungane said it played out just the way life would.

"I had different moments on the show. You don't go through life with just one emotion, you go through life with different emotions and moments, and it translates to work as well.

"I have grown and diversified myself in going into this industry, which I did not know before. I have never done a production before, and it was something lovely to add to my resume. I loved working with diverse women, from different backgrounds, who all had their own businesses. I salute the production team for their passion and commitment."

Ndungane, who is married to former Springboks rugby player Odwa Ndungane, said the biggest lesson she learnt from the show was to never be judgmental.

DJ Black Coffee gets international recognition #FridayFeeling #SouthAfricaBlog

The coronavirus pandemic has silenced many artists, but South Africa's house music pioneer DJ Black Coffee has been rocking it – dropping an album and creating a streaming platform.

The legendary DJ – whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo – released his sixth album, the first in five years, a few weeks before his 45th birthday.

As the pandemic hit the pause button on live music performances and pushed many in the gig industry to the brink, the township-born house superstar was navigating between composing, creating a streaming music service and philanthropy work.

On 5 February, he delivered a 12-track album, Subconsciously, featuring an eclectic mix of local and international artists, including American singer Pharrell Williams, French DJ David Guetta, Australian musician RY X and South Africa's Msaki. 

"Every artist that's there brings a certain side musically of me," said the lanky, soft-spoken artist, reputedly one of Africa's wealthiest, told AFP.

"He is our biggest international success really because he is worth $60 million (about R858 million)," said Wits University anthropologist, David Coplan, echoing the Forbes Magazine richest artists rankings.

Black Coffee has carved a niche for himself in the highly diverse house music market.

There is never a dull moment in Moonchild Sanelly's life as she takes viewers into her world on #MTV. #SouthAfricaBlog #Mzansi

If local musician Sanelisiwe Twisha, who's popularly known by her stage name Moonchild Sanelly, isn't in the studio recording a tune with a catchy chorus, it seems that she's unwinding and twerking with her close friends in her living room. 

And it's that dual world that fills her new reality show Moonchild Sanelly Woza, or "just Woza for short," says the 33-year-old singer who released a four-track EP album in 2020 titled Nüdes.

The controversial, blue-haired performer is holding nothing back in the 10-episode docu-series as she juggles motherhood, a budding career as a fashion designer, and her relationship with her girlfriend Gontse More. 

"For the first time, I'm fully lifting the curtain on my private life. If you thought that you knew me before, you haven't seen anything yet," says Moonchild about her reality show's offering. 

"There is never a dull moment in my life. With each episode, viewers will gain insight into my colourful world. I'm hard-working, I fight for my dreams, and I wear my heart on my sleeve. As I always say: there are a lot of stars but there is only one Moon," adds the star.

Moonchild Sanelly Woza airs on MTV on Monday's at 21:30

Amazing #Gin cocktails to spice up your home drinking pleasure #FridayFeeling

Grapefruit T&T (9.56%) 

50ml Tanqueray London Dry 

150ml Grapefruit Tonic 

Garnish: Dehydrated Grapefruit

METHOD:
Fill Tanqueray Copa glass with ice, add 50ml Tanqueray London Dry, top off with grapefruit tonic and garnish with a grapefruit slice and rosemary sprig

Sparkling Rose (12.75%) 

25ml Tanqueray No.TEN 

25ml rose syrup

10ml fresh lemon juice 

120ml champagne/MCC Garnish: red roses

METHOD:
Pour Tanqueray No.TEN, rose syrup and lemon juice in a shaker filled with ice, shake and strain into a champagne flute, top off with 150ml chilled Brut Champagne/MCC and garnish with red rose petals