Afrique Beat
All That (African) Jazz
SUNGURA: the review
SUNGURA: Story of John Chibadura and Zimbabwean Music Written & Directed by Andreas Hoehn Film Director: Vladimir Petrovski-Karter Running Time: 104min A REVIEW BY CONSTANCE VAN NIEKERK This extraordinary DVD brought tears to my eyes. As a Sungura fan, I applaud the creators of this DVD for an amazing job well done! It’s quite informative … Continue reading
Ryan Koriya’s EP, releasing Monday the 9th
by Constance van Niekerk in SA When someone is presented with the concept of a Zimbabwean musician, one wouldn’t necessarily imagine a sound called Passion-Pop. Currently located in Denmark, Ryan Koriya, dubbed ‘The Soul Mechanic’ who releases a new EP on Monday the 9th of January 2017, has indeed started the New Year on a … Continue reading
Stunner’s dirty laundry is stinking on social media.
By Constance van Niekerk in SA The Social Media is abuzz with videos of Stunner’s wife Olinda Chapel Chideme’s rantings – a woman scorned! Stunner, a Zimbabwean award winning musician whose real name is Desmond Chideme has apparently cheated on his wife, a UK based business woman. In one of the videos, Chapel threatens to … Continue reading
Keeny Ice, gets signed to Nigerian Label, Mo’Shes Musik
Originally posted on Bishopteam:
Budding Ghanaian artiste Barnabas Amu popularly known as Keeny Ice has officially inked two years record label deal with Nigerian record label, Mo’shes Musik. The artiste who hails from Aflao in the Volta Region of Ghana was in Nigeria recently to seal the deal which covers branding and promotion of his…
It’s a family affair
Constance van Niekerk in South Africa It’s a family affair this Thursday, the 15th of December! Two Legendary music families (quite the musical royalty of Zimbabwe if you ask me) share the stage in a show that’s likely to be one to remember. We speak of none other than superstar Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi and Green … Continue reading
CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY
Constance van Niekerk in Vereeniging, SA I was shocked as I read with utter disgust an account of how the law enforcement officers in Zimbabwe are turning into the criminals they’re supposed to be locking up, now they’re just assisting them to rob tourists and nationals of their hard earned cash in a nation where … Continue reading
Kobiri Music Takes Off
Constance van Niekerk in Vereeniging, SA November 30 in the Year of Our Lord 2016 was memorable for upcoming music jewel Mackenzie Mwase, aka Kendyman Kobiri. On this day Kendyman Kobiri launched kobiri music through his debut album ‘Punha,’ in a well-attended and successful event at Harare’s City Sports Bar. If you are wondering what … Continue reading
Poetry in Waldrift, Vereeniging
Constance van Niekerk in Vereeniging, SA All roads lead to Waldrift tomorrow night as TNT Lounge, the home of Comedy Nights hosts for the first time ever a Poetry and Musical event dubbed Up & Kunning. The event was organised by seasoned Spoken Word artist Siphiwe Vincent Nxazonke aka Vins, a Vanderbijlpark based poet who … Continue reading
Poverty and hunger in Zimbabwe turning some citizens into criminals
Constance van Niekerk in Vereeniging, SA Is poverty and hunger turning some Zimbabwean citizens into cold blooded murderers and heartless robbers? For Julius Ziva, a multi-talented musician with the Zig Zag Band of the Gomo Ramasare fame, the answer is undoubtedly a ‘yes’. On the 9th of August this year, the musician boarded a commuter … Continue reading
Circle of friends
Before Women’s Month is over, I would like to acknowledge two very strong, supportive women in my life, a part of my circle of friends. These women have been my pillars, my strength, my friends and my colleagues. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Every woman needs a supportive circle of friends, … Continue reading
Vins the Poet
A poet of a kind is what VINS regards himself. He makes sure that he leaves his crowd with jaws dropped and gives it goose bumps with his heartfelt recitals every time he performs. VINS is a Vanderbijlpark based poet in a town called Bophelong who is on a quest of reframing poetry. One … Continue reading
Happy Freedom Day SA!
Constance van Niekerk, Vereeniging in SA Happy Freedom Day South Africa, I can’t help but ask, are you really free? Or are you just under a different dictator? I’m not talking politics, I’m talking about emancipation from mental slavery as Bob Marley rightly put it. It tears my heart when I see the effects of … Continue reading
My Kasi Music Festival
By Constance van Niekerk in SA The young band we heard about in October 2014 is not so young anymore as they keep growing musically. They are at it again, this time for the noble reason of charity. Soulful Mindz was founded in June 2014 by 21-year-old Sailas Mutambalika. Sailas is a very talented pianist, … Continue reading
An Open letter from Michael Lannas: Anger
Is anger justified? In a world that is characterised by injustice, racialism, violence, inequality, bigotry, pandemic government corruption,war, greed and grinding poverty; is anger justified? When the same capitalists, bigots and racialists keep telling you that your reaction is over the top and exaggerated; is anger justified? As the gulf between the Haves and the … Continue reading
Talking Drum… Zimbabwe’s Prodigal Sons
Choose a year, any year, maybe 1990… That is the year that Talking Drum recorded the Album “The Song The Dance”. The album title works like a mirror reflection of a reflection. Lannas says “Nobody understood the meaning. I had to climb up the walls and do cartwheels until the word came down and said, … Continue reading
Echoes of My Heart: A Poetry Collection by Constance van Niekerk
