The gaming industry reached 2.3 billion consumers and nearly US$138 billion in spending in 2018, with South Africa home to over 11 million gamers and R3,060 million in spending in 2017, marking a 16.8% increase due to mobile gaming and eSports. The local sector consists of 59 companies, primarily in the Western Cape, generating R476…
Drag shows are a hoot and it’s fun to see drag kings beginning to take themselves more (un)seriously in the local context. Jozi Kings and Things Part.2 was a repeat performance by Johannesburg’s first drag king collective, Jozi Kings and Things. For those who’d missed out on the sold out tickets for the first show,…
The fight to protect the rights of sex workers in South Africa has been long and arduous, with policymakers focusing on moral standings over cold, hard facts. In August 2017, Ishtar Lakhani criticized the South African Law Reform Commission’s report, which recommended keeping sex work illegal and adding a partial criminalization option. She argued that…
JiK’iZinto is a movement representing a generation determined to take control of their future and rewrite the narrative. Backed by Girl Effect, a global non-profit organization, this initiative is all about inspiring young people to make informed choices and equipping them with the tools to tackle life’s challenges head-on. With its blend of music, multimedia…
Dimpho Mashile, co-founder of Kgopelo, discusses how her brand blends indigenous African knowledge with modern technology within a beauty industry that has historically excluded Black women. This Q&A reveals Kgopelo’s approach to competing in the industry, its origins, challenges, and emphasis on storytelling, sustainability, and community. In such a competitive sector, the brand stands out…
From September 2nd to 4th, Imbewu Collective hosted a Jazz and Zine Workshop at Umhlabathi Collective in Newtown, Johannesburg. Drawing from Black Consciousness Centred by Tumi Mogorosi, the three-day event was a gathering of minds and bodies deliberating together on the influence of Black Consciousness on artistic practice. It provided a platform for critical dialogue and collaboration…
Sustainability has become something of a buzzword nowadays in the world of design and oftentimes, with its tendencies towards cultural appropriation and erasure, it isn’t hard to see through its thin facade. But every so often, you come across an entity that is so tethered to the soil and the culture, that it is hard…
On the 27th of July, The Keleketla Media Arts Project launched their latest publication, Wondering Hand(s) and Spirited Ink: Snapshots into the Black Public Humanities (2024) at their Troyeville location. For years Keleketla! has been an indelible symbol of resilience and communal spirit and it was a great delight to be invited to their commercial…
Meet Hugo E Silva, a visual artist, stylist, and set designer whose work blends fine art and fashion. With a fresh portfolio and a passion for innovation, Hugo is making huge moves in the creative industry, collaborating with esteemed brands and participating in high-profile events. Hugo’s formal education in fine arts has equipped them with…
On June 18th, the team from Quiet Ground held an intimate event at Zimbabwean artist Kudzanai Chiurai’s The Library of Things We Forgot to Remember, founded in 2017 as an ‘audio-visual archive of Black resistance’. The generous servings of soup went well with the themes of home, land, water, and communal repair explored in the multidisciplinary…
Dance is more than just physical performance; it’s a form of communication that intersects personal and public interests. While I’ve always admired dance as an art discipline, I’ve also grown fascinated by the concept of movement itself as a crucial and independent subject. Key to helping me understand the topic of dance and movement more…
Every year, South Africans celebrate Youth Day to honour the 1976 Soweto Uprising in their own special way. The ComUnity festival is set to hold its Youth Day Reunion celebration at the Old Biscuit Mill on Monday, June 17th. This festival stands out for its unique celebration of culture and its efforts to promote diversity…
