KB RUNS FREE ON HER LATEST ALBUM

KB continues to re invent her sound with every album, and as a result people struggle to put her in a certain box when it comes to genre. Her energy charged and provocative live performances have earned her a top spot as one of the hottest female live acts. With the very powerful title “Run Free: The Evolution” and a striking album cover It’s hard to miss KB’s latest album. It’s quite evident that despite KB”s busy schedule which includes a role in the hit soapy “Rhythm City” music still remains in her blood. The album shows how much this young lady from Mafikeng has grown musically from her days of “Beautiful Vibrations”.

In this album which is released through Gallo Records KB goes back to her old skool sound that turned her into a bornified star. She mixes the sound with some live instruments that she explored on her albums “My Rhythm” and “Ke Mosadi”. These sounds mixed together give the latest album some colour and edge that makes it stand out from all her other albums.

The first single “My Way” featuring Tuks is a song about celebrating our uniqueness. It’s very easy in the ear with a very intoxicating electric guitar mixed with Tuks Motswako flavour; it’s bound to be a radio hit. Most of the Tracks have a “deep House” feel without losing that KB sound to give the Mmamosadi flavour. The song “Kwaliwa” which features a Swati poet gives the album a mix of indigenous sounds.  Other songs that shine are “Seo Seo Ft Seabelo, Let It Go and Run free.

This album is a clear indication that KB is serious about her craft and as an Icon she continues to up her game whether behind the microphone or on our TV screens. Get the album and Run Free.

KOJO BAFFOE FROM THE “LOVE POET” TO EDITOR OF DETINY MAN

 Kojo Baffoe is one of the chameleons in the very small sector, called the Media. Managing to cross over to all the forms within the field and still managing to set the standard high, from writing scripts and development deals with companies like Trans Africa to being the editor of Destiny Man magazine. Following the successful female magazine “Destiny” under the company Ndalo Media, formed by the very powerful Miss Khanyi Dlomo Mkhize.

Kojo was born in Munich, Germany to a Ghananian father and German mother. After his mother passed away he moved to Maseru in Lesotho and remained there for the rest of his formative years. After he completed his metric he moved to Kwazulu Natal where he enrolled at the University of Kwazulu Natal for a Bachelor of commerce degree. After he completed his studies he went back to Maseru where he ventured into the family businesses, which include:  Management Consultant, Retail: Cosmetic and hair products, Publishing Newspaper, Southern Star and a few IT projects.

He then moved to the city of Johannesburg with all the business experience from back home.  That is where he started to explore his writing skills and poetry further, even making a name as a performing poet. Everything was looking great for him in the city of gold as a writer. He began writing and developing concepts for a number of publishers like the Mail & Guardian then he joined the SABC and became a scriptwriter for their many programmes like the Jazz/contemporary music show Afro Cafe.

With his entire work one thing seemed to be becoming clear was Kojo’s love for the popular culture, human experiences and lifestyle, which came through in all the projects he became part of. His career was leaning more and more on the writing and poetry side. He then published two anthologies. The first one published in 2005 titled “Voices in My Head” and followed by “And They Say; Black Man Don’t Write Love Poetry” and that’s when he got the name the “Love Poet”. Soon after he settled down and got married and had a son, which came as no surprise especially with his love of performing love poems.

I fell in love with Kojo when he became a columnist for the City Press. As a lover of the popular culture and lifestyle, his columns really appealed to me and taught me a lot about the world of music and entertainment. He managed to write about topics that many writers seemed to neglect and made them so interesting while highlighting their importance. I followed him in the Destiny man where he also had a column which seemed to focus on the society and human experiences and I became more aware about the state of my society because of his columns. When he was announced the new editor of Destiny Man it came at such a great time as I was now in University and was in need of a magazine designed especially to make me a better man.

                                                                  

Kojo Baffoe has managed to climb to the top in the media industry in such a very short period of time. Whether in his writing skills, business skills or performing his famous love poems .Kojo is one of the few artists who just seem to have it all and yet still remains much grounded by his family.

To contact Kojo:

http://www.kojobaffoe.com/
http://www.destinyman.com/
kojobaffoe@gmail.com

NAPO MASHEANE RE DEFINES BEING A "PERFORMANCE ARTIST"

Napo Masheane is one of the busiest women in the performing arts scene. She is constantly re-inventing herself as a writer, performer, director, play writer, producer, which is one of the reasons she continues to wow audience nationally and internationally with her famous productions. She has mastered the art of being an all rounder. From funding her projects under her Company named “Village Gossip”, writing the scripts, being the director, to even being part of the cast.

This incomparable woman named Napo Masheane also a well known poet was born in Soweto but raised in QwaQwa in the Free State. She has a diploma in marketing management, speech and dramatic arts and has been part of many cultural exchange programmes all around the world. She has travelled as far as Italy, Amsterdam, United Kingdom, New York City and many other countries showcasing her talents as writer and performer and also learning and sharpening her skills and talent.

She is a founding member of the Fella Sistas spoken word collective which includes some of the most talented poets in South Africa (Lebogang Mashile, Ntsiki Mazwai and Maysha Jenkins).  Also she is the founder of Kalaneng Arts Track, a youth theatre organisation and   Co Director of Colour of the Dispora, an International collective of black women from the United States and South Africa. She has countless awards and recognitions as artists which include the Naledi awards and being nominated for the Daimler Chrysler South African Poetry Award in 2005. 

She published her essay and anthology “Caves Speak in Metaphors and embarked on a European tour in 2010 with her new production “Napo and Indigenous Orchestra”. She has also produced and directed many theatre shows including her one woman show that won the hearts of many women and critical acclaim “My Bum Is Genetic Deal with It” along with Fat Black Women Sing”. It’s her recent production Mollo (Woman in Me) which sees her teaming up with some of the most talented women in the entertainment industry.  These women who include Napo herself  Nkoto Malabye,Nqobile Sipamla, Refiloe Madume and the six piece band called Ladies In Jazz all in one stage dancing, reciting poems, singing and acting all in search of their of their critical conscience.

Napo continues to redefine the term performance artist by constantly breaking new grounds through her writing, directing and performances. It’s rare to see an artist who is so involved in every aspect of her productions and still continue to tell some of the most interesting stories in a foreign and exciting way. This woman is going to go down as one of South Africa’s most celebrated and honoured storytellers alongside the likes of Gcina Mhlophe. No one recites poems the way she does, no one performs the way she does, no one writes like she does and no artist can boast being a writer, director, producer, actor and performer and be able to master all of them the way she has done.

AFRICA DAY CONCERT WARMS UP A FREEZING JOBURG

The annul Africa day concert was held once again in Johannesburg at the New Town park this past weekend. It drew more than 10 000 people with its interesting line up which included the world renowned Senegalese singer Baaba Maal as the headliner. It was held on Saturday which was one of the coldest days of Johannesburg but that didn’t stop the thousand people from attending the concert.

Nkulee Dube the new reggae sensation and also the daughter of the late Lucky Dube graced the stage looking staggering in a jump suit. She kicked off her set with her new single “Who Dem” and in no timer the audience was singing along while she danced and interacted with her band.  She ended her set on a high note by singing  “Trouble” a song she said was her father’s favourite but it all seemed like an audience favourite too. After Nkulee warmed up the crowd the SAMA nominated alternative group UJU took to the stage and within no time they had the  audience singing along while Ntuthu the lead singer seemed to mesmerise them with her sweet voice. But it’s their rendition of the classic hit by the Trompies and Lebo Mathosa “Magasman” that won over the audience.

Olufemi singer and saxophone player from Nigeria took us to another with the Lagos afro beat. Everyone was on their feet including an old couple who were the highlight of the dance floor and for a moment the cold weather didn’t seem to matter. After the energetic performance there was an announcement about a 45 minute break to make final arrangements for the live broadcast which came as a bit of a bummer.

After the 45 minutes break we crossed over to the live broadcast which aired on SABC 2 with the very energetic hosts Anele Mdoda and KB. Dancers opened up the show with an interesting choreography and costumes as they danced to the Late Brenda Fassie’s classics. The broadcast show was kick started by the legendary Mahotella Queens who set the stage on fire with the choreography and colourful outfits. They sang three songs including their smash hit “GAZETTE” with the audience singing along fiercely as they took us back to memory lane. After the energetic performance the legendary Baaba Maal took to the stage for a more intimate set up that showcased those killer vocals, while he spoke to the audience in between the songs as if they were sitting right next to him. He was soon joined by Pops Mohammed and Olufemi for a very interesting collaboration that resulted in an eruption of intensive sounds that were very enchanting and very easy in the ear. After the more intimate set with Baaba Maal we went to Mali with a performance from Habib Koite who was so energetic that for a moment the whole New Town was on fire from stage all the way to the audience.

This year they also introduced a new segment for the new up and coming artists to showcase their talent and they chose Toyah and gospel a group called The Soil. Toyah started off well with a reggae inspired song while she showed off her piano playing skills, but she lost the audience in the second song which saw her go for the rock side with two dancers accompanying her. The soil followed her and they mesmerised the audience with their acapella performance and dance moves, with their flawless harmonies echoing through the park. After that outstanding performance Tumi and the volume turned up the volume with some hip hop jams. It was interesting to see how much Tumi has become such an audience favourite and the performance he gave was the best I’ve ever seen when it comes to hip hop. With that outstanding performance from tumi it was now for the man of the moment Professor.  The moment he walked on stage and the crowd just went insane you could clearly see how much this kwaito sensation has taken over South Africa. From the hit “Lento” with Speedy to the closing song “Sik’amarasor” New Town just came to a standstill.

It was very inspiring to see many people coming out in the cold to celebrate this day that is for us Africans especially during this time when we need each other the most. One of the most powerful things a man I talked to said was that we need this day now more than ever especially with all the xenophobic attacks that are happening around the country. I still feel like there is more that can be done to celebrate this day and maybe it could also be made a public holiday to show how important it really is.

NOMSA MAZWAI MORE THAN JUST A SISTER

As winter seems to creep into the very busy Jozi, I am getting ready for a night of great music. I dress up to my best but the weather doesn’t seem to be on my side, but anyway I proceed to Newtown.

Tonight it’s a very special night as Nomsa Mazwai the youngest of the Mazwai clan is taking to the stage for the first time since releasing her LP titled “Nomisupasta”. She is performing alongside her sister Ntsikie Mazwai for a pre Africa day concert special at Bassline. With all the hype that has been going around this girl, including her bagging three SAMA nominees among them the “The Best Newcomer” category, I had to witness her magic with my own two eyes. We all know the very talented Mazwai sisters Thandiswa and Ntsikie but what does Nomsa have to offer that sets apart from her sisters and does she have what it takes to make it into this very rife entertainment industry?

I was so excited that I got to the venue quite early and managed to get a glimpse of the rehearsals and my excitement sky rocketed. After waiting for quite a while in the cold weather we finally made our way inside the hall. The setting seemed so intimate with candles and a couple of tables; I took the table close to the stage to be able to get the best visuals. A couple of minutes later I was joined by a fellow writer and his friend and the evening couldn’t have gotten much sweeter. We indulged in some very interesting conversations with great music from the DJ while killing time as we wait for the star to take the stage. An hour later and there was still no sign of Nomsa and the crowd seemed to be growing impatient including me.

Nomsa finally hit the stage to the crowd’s applause and she looked like a star wearing a black futuristic dress and platform shoes topped with a rock star jacket to add a bit of a statement. She hit it off with her first song to hit the airwaves “Ndiyakuthanda Sana” and it proved to be a hit with the audience as they sang along with her. She then called on her sister Ntsiki who took to the stage looking flawless in a black number and a colourful beaded necklace to add a bit of life to the outfit. They do the song “Sweet Poison”. The first song they ever did together which is available in Ntsikie debut album. With Nomsa’s soulful voice and Ntsiki’s interesting deliverance with her poetry lines their bond transcends all over the hall with the audience screaming their lungs out. She finally gave us a taste of her poetry with a poem titled “Little Girl” and in that moment I could tell that this girl means business. She finally ended her first set on a high note with an emotional performance with her sister Ntsiki on a song called “You’re Hurting me” leaving us still begging for more.

The break proved to be a very long one as the time drew closer to midnight. Some of the guest grew impatient and departed, while some ordered more drinks and just continued to party. Despite the DJ’s intoxicating vibes the crowd seems to be getting more impatient and we just could’nt seem to take our eyes off our watches. She finally made her way to the stage again wearing a colourful outfit and trading the platforms for nothing but a pair of socks. She jumped on stage and broke into a dance while being joined by a couple of friends in very interesting outfits. They finally broke into a song with Cuba who had a folk spade with her on stage while wearing a brown overall and dropping hot rhymes with the audience on their feet.  Next was the song “what kind of love” and finally setting the place on fire with the song “Nguwe” which had a samba feel and had the audience on the dance floor. As the time hit 01h30 am unfortunately I had to be on my way because I was going to be crossing the Mandela Bridge alone and it’s notorious for muggings and I happened to be in possession of a digital camera.

One thing I cannot deny is that Nomsa has great potential to be a successful recording artist. She just needs to mould that talent and work more on her stage performance and presence but for her first headlining performance she was brilliant. She proved to me and the rest of that audience that she is a force to be reckon with and she is more than just Thandiswa and Ntsiki’s little sister.

To get a copy of Nomsa’s LP titled NOMISUPASTA send her a message on face book under the name Nomsa Mazwai or Join the group Nomisupasta.

NANDIPHA MNTAMBO'S FIERCE ART PIECES

Nandipha Mntambo was born in Swaziland in 1982. She graduated with masters in Fine Art (with a distinction) from the Michaelis school of Fine Art. Venturing into art was not first choice. She initially wanted to become a forensic pathologist but her calling to be an artist proved to be too strong to reject.


She creates sculptures cast out of cowhide and moulds them into feminine body forms which are usually her own. In a recent interview she says the work she creates is part of an engagement with the physical tactile properties of cowhide and aspects of control that allow or prevent her from manipulating this organic material. The use of the cowhide to make such bold statements about femininity is very intriguing and very authentic with connection to the African rituals.

The first time this woman’s fierce work caught my eyes it was just love at first sight. These master pieces are very hard to miss and spark a dialogue within yourself. The first time I heard about this very captivating artist was when she was announced as this year’s Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for the (Visual Artist) category. She is also a multi dimensional artist not only making sculptures but also creating photographs, drawings and videos. The video that made me aware of her strong presence is the video “UKUNGENISA” in which she engages in bullfighting in the abandoned Praca de Tourose in Maputo, the arena where Mozambican once had a fight for the entertainment of the Portuguese during the colonial epoch.
                                                                                         
She also had an exhibition on the Greek myths of Europa, Zeus and the Minotaur. On the images of the rape of Europa, she appears on the images as Europa. This woman is an unstoppable force in the arts industry. With exhibitions around the world and countless awards under her belt, she has achieved a very rare success with her authentic and very fierce art pieces. She makes art that sparks dialogues and art that arouses the mind and eyes, opening up your imagination

Her exhibitions include: Umphantsi Wempi, Ukungenisa, The Rape Of Europa, Waiting and Umncedo

Nandipha Mntambo will be exhibiting at this year’s Grahams town Annual Arts Festival.

SAMAs JUST ONE FOOT FROM THE GRAVE

The South African Music Awards known as the (SAMAs) are the most anticipated and respected awards in the music industry at large. This event sees the celebration of South African music and the honouring of artists who stood out from the rest on the previous year.

Instead of the event bringing joy and excitement they seem to bring nothing but bad publicity from the moment the nominations are announced. These awards seem to be more controversial every year, with lots of politics about the criteria for selection of the nominations and the judging panel being questioned. With many musicians who seem to meet the selection standards being constantly sidelined, these awards seem to always find a way to tick off many people.

The event had always been hosted at the Sun City Arena. Due to it being far from Johannesburg many artists had to sleep over, and the accommodation for artists always proved to be a nightmare which resulted in many not pitching for the event. The announcement of the move to Johannesburg was accepted with excitement, but the announcement of Monte Casino as the host put lots of fears to the surface. Can Monte Casino be able to accommodate the large numbers that are expected to grace the event? This was the question being asked by the media.

On Saturday South Africans witnessed what will eventually lead to the death of the SAMAs. Over the years SAMAs have grown very much despite other factors that were still lacking, but what I saw on Saturday was a huge step back for the event. The performances left a lot to be desired with most of them failing capture the audience; the only exceptions were Vusi Mahlasela and Ihashi Elimhlophe, The arrows and Tumi and the volume and Ray Phiri. The staging was terrible but the band was awesome. I still don’t understand the reason for the second stage because there seemed to be only five people watching until the end of the show. Most of the nominees I was not familiar with even most of the performers. The tribute to the singers that have passed was just terrible and there was no special tribute for the legendary jazz singer Zim Ngqawana to honour and salute him in style.


This year’s SAMAs should really raise concerns and the people behind the scenes should be questioned before these awards die before our eyes. The show lacked highlights and fell flat on presentation style. The only thing that the SAMAs made clear and that was these awards are just one foot from the grave. If nothing is done to rescue these prestigious awards, in no time they will be six feet under.