The wildly successful singer Prince died on Thursday, at age 57, according to news reports quoting his spokesperson. A massive outpouring of condolences and grief overwhelmed social media. Prince had many hits including “Purple Rain”, “Kiss”, “Diamonds and Pearls” and “When Doves Cry”. No cause of death was immediately given, although questions were raised earlier this month […]

Take a listen to this exquisite South African version of Adele’s ‘Hello’… sung in Zulu by Esperanca de Tavares. Richard van Schalkwyk, from Richard Henry Productions, who filmed Esperanca’s performance says “she did a great job translating the song and singing it virtually unrehearsed. Sound recorded in camera. No studio.” Watch Video: ‘Hello’ in Zulu Today Billboard.com announced that […]

The Brothers Streep have released a lighthearted fun song – “Let’s Go To London”… where they leave South Africa’s currently ‘bleak’ shores for the so-called greener pastures in London…but they don’t stay too long… The song ends with the words: “We made a mistake, South Africa’s great / It’s got problems, but it’s not too late […]

A day after President Jacob Zuma made his much-derided and much-criticised apology to the nation over Nkandla, one of his ministers was booed off the stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa came on stage before the performance of SA duo Mafikizolo on Saturday, but was quickly met with […]

Musician/comedian Deep Fried Man has released a new  video called “Gupta Bling”, based on singer Drake’s mega-selling “Hotline Bling” and which riffs on the relationship between President Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family. “You used to call me on my cell phone, To discuss that nuclear deal,” starts Deep Fried Man, rather than Drake’s “You used to call me […]

South Africans have long known how fantastic DJ Black Coffee is…but this weekend the Durbanite got the ultimate ‘cool’ seal of approval – from American star P Diddy, who posted photos and videos of Black Coffee on various social media platforms. The 40-year-old SA house trailblazer – born Nkosinathi Maphumulo – was killing it yesterday from Arcadia Spider […]

South African singer-songwriter and poet Sydney Stanley Kitchen was unique – he even said so himself, and called his style of music ‘Afro-Saxon’. His attitude to the music industry was uncompromising… and while it didn’t help him further his career, it did establish him as an iconic figure. His lyrics were tinged with socio-political messages… […]

The Economic Freedom Fighters have released a house video based on the words that the EFF shouted as they exited parliament during President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation address – “Zupta Must Fall!” They aren’t the first to “musically” exploit Zuma and his relationship with the Gupta family as well as the scandals surrounding him, such as Nkandla […]

Nashville singer Beau Davidson has released an epic version of ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight‘ in collaboration with the very band that made it a worldwide hit in 36 countries. The song, which had its roots in South Africa, was made famous in 1961 after The Tokens performed it in America. Speaking in a documentary about the new […]

Many people know “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – a song often associated with the movie “The Lion King” – but few people know the famous tune was born in a small town in South Africa almost a century ago. In tribute to that song – originally titled “Mbube” – we thought we’d post several of the countless wonderful versions that have been done […]

Check out this performance by former South African expat Gavin Edwards that everyone’s talking about tonight. His rendition of ‘Say Something’ on TV singing contest The Voice South Africa had judges fighting over him and set social media on fire. In fact, there was even a little #ProteaFire involved when AB de Villiers tweeted his […]

With all the Grammy 2016 talk being focussed on the microphone that fell on a piano during Adele’s performance, and Taylor Swift becoming the first woman to win a Grammy of the Year award twice (as main credited artist)… you may have missed this magical moment from Benin musician Angelique Kidjo as she accepted the Grammy […]

It was one of South Africa’s many dark moments. Fifty years ago, on 11 February in 1966, the neighbourhood of District Six on the fringe of Cape Town’s centre was declared for “Whites Only”. More than half a century later the area has (lamentably, after many hold-ups) still not been built on, and it remains a very visible […]

In an interview with The New York Times, South African photographer Chris Saunders says his love of the pantsula dance culture stems from its spontaneous and makeshift energy and the positive message the dance’s champions are trying to spread. Pantsula originated in the townships of South Africa during apartheid. Modern pantsula dance moves have turned into a […]

The innovate site 10and5.com have launched a free Web show that highlights lots of creative things going on in South Africa you might not have heard about. Hidden galleries, music gigs, shops and loads of things to do. “This is our first episode and we’re super excited to share it with you – it’s full of […]

Perfectly timed to make a repeat appearance on social media while “Sugarman” singer Rodriguez is in South Africa for his sixth tour is the cartoon “Nkandla Man”. “Nkandla Man” was created in 2013 by former Cape Argus cartoonist John Curtis and cartoonist Jerm, who collaborated on it for a related article in an edition of Rolling Stone. “It is obviously a parody […]

In the first of a series of sold-out concerts around the country, British Grammy-award-winning rock band Mumford & Sons played to a crowd of thousands on the Grand Parade in Cape Town on Friday night. The band will play another concert in Cape Town, one in Durban and two in Pretoria. Watch the crowd join […]

For anyone who hasn’t seen a South African theatre production recently, “Singin’ in the Rain” will astound you. The famous musical – which is actually seeing a revival on Broadway this year – gets nothing but praise, praise and more praise. After a wildly successful run in Cape Town – with audiences in the first three rows getting ponchos […]

Three years ago this weekend, small-town Mpumulanga schoolgirl Pretty Yende made her debut at the world-famous Metropolitan Opera House in New York. More astonishing than her voice was that it had been only a decade since Yende had learned what the word “opera” meant. This weekend Yende posted a message on Instagram from Paris, where she is soon to […]

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has paid tribute to late musician David Bowie for championing the struggle for equality. “He spoke out and pointed out uncomfortable truths to those around him about racism. In so doing, he was an agent of change and a trailblazer in many different ways,” Minister Mthethwa said. Bowie passed […]

Watch one of the best cover versions of Toto’s Africa ever performed… Using a unique intro – the kind that will make you want to rub your hands together! – the Angel City Chorale, from Los Angeles. recorded this video at least two years ago…but it has recently gone viral again on social media. If you haven’t […]

A lanky teenage boy in jeans and a t-shirt takes a seat in front of a grand piano in a Karoo farmhouse. Behind him are a few dozen people on sofas and dining room chairs, waiting expectantly. At the entrance to the room is a platter bearing a small but growing pile of cash. The […]

South African fans of Mariah Carey are celebrating today as it’s been announced that the international superstar – and diva amongst divas – will tour South Africa for the very first time! In a statement this morning on their facebook page, the Publicity Workshop quoted Mariah saying: “Lambily, it’s been too long!! I’m so excited to […]

South African musicians Jack Parow and Freshlyground have got together to make an action-packed Bond-esque music video with all the makings of a great spy thriller…including explosives planted in Table Mountain! Exquisitely directed by Jon Savage and Craig Hunter Parker, the five-minute mini-movie follows our South African secret agents of #zefspionage – Jan Bont (Jack Parow) and Geldpenni (Zolani Mahola) […]

Congratulations to Johnny Clegg who received an OBE this month for his contribution to music, upliftment, and the fight against apartheid in South Africa in a career that has spanned over three decades. Here’s the photo that says it all: The legendary South African singer joined personalities like actor Benedict Cumberbatch to be honoured by Queen Elizabeth II last Tuesday with […]