BAL x Hennessy: A night of cultural celebration
As part of its partnership, Hennessy brought together prominent figures, including Phindile Gwala, Gugu Nyatsumba and Kamo Modisakeng to name just a few, to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the continent through the universal language of sports.
We chatted to Lungile Mpharu, Hennessy Brand Manager, to discuss the luxury cognac brand's collaboration with BAL. He said that Hennessy and BAL share many values — a commitment to excellence, self-expression, and crafting experiences that transcend their core offerings. The partnership is about amplifying the energy of the BAL and intentionally enhancing the overall fan experience.
'For Hennessy, the BAL aligned with our legacy of partnering with platforms that shape culture. The opening weekend gave us a chance to contribute authentically, through curated experiences that are rooted in who we are. Whether it was the elevated lounge environment or how we engaged with friends of the house, our approach was to enhance the overall experience, and basketball, particularly through how BAL is opening new ways for people to connect across borders,' he said.
We caught up with celebrities and influencers who attended the BAL event to get their take on the exciting fusion of basketball and African culture.
South African actress Phindile Gwala said the atmosphere during halftime was fantastic, and it was heartening to see young people showing an increased interest in basketball. The growing enthusiasm from young people indicates a brighter future for basketball in our country and across the continent.
She added that the event emphasised inclusivity and highlighted Africa's potential in the sports industry, which can contribute to both global sports and the economy. 'We need more championships like this to nurture our African spirit and grow our economy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 minutes ago
- IOL News
Book Review: South African Champion packs 125 years of motorsport intrigue between two covers
South African Champion is a substantial hard cover book that comprehensively chronicles 125 years of single-seater racing history. Image: Supplied A fact that might not be known to many modern motorsport fans is that South Africa once had its very own Formula One Championship. Staged in various guises from 1953 until 1986, in strict compliance with international regulations for 15 of those years, it produced some of the country's greatest drivers of all time. Single-seater greats such as John Love, Dave Charlton and Jody Scheckter could compete with the best drivers in the world. Although many scattered records exist, until now the South African single-seater racing story has not been told in one complete and comprehensive record. That changes with a new hardcover coffee table book called The South African Champion, compiled by long-time motoring publisher Michele Lupini. Author Michele Lupini put many years of research into the book. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ I witnessed this book's genesis over 20 years ago when I worked as a journalist for Lupini's Cars in Action magazine, where at least two pages each month would be dedicated to these racing champions of yore. Often I'd walk into his office to find him hand-drawing colourful sketches of racing scenes (during those rare occasions when he was quiet!) and to this day I don't recall ever meeting someone as passionate about single seater racing history. The South African Champion is the result of decades of intense research, but it's not for the average Joe with a passing interest in motorsport. Priced at R3,350 in South Africa, including delivery, it is an unashamedly large and heavy limited edition coffee table book. It is also available internationally, with final pricing dependent on delivery costs. My 'Read Test' copy arrived in a large plastic suitcase, requiring a secret combination to open, in a very James Bond-like manner. Measuring 30 x 30cm, and featuring colourful illustrations from cover to cover through 304 pages, it is the kind of book you're going to cherish and look after. Reading it is a comprehensive and chronological journey through South African single-seat motorsport history, from the very beginning in the year 1900 right through to modern times, even including the A1 Grand Prix and Cape Town's e-Prix. Kicking off with a foreword by South Africa's only F1 world champion Jody Scheckter, it progresses through eight chapters, comprehensively describing each era, while the back section meticulously lists race and championship results through the years covered by the book. It took me on a fascinating journey through the first Grand Prix era of the 1930s, and each of the 33 South African Champion seasons, in addition to the Rand, Cape and other local Grand Prix championships. The book also features sidebar profiles on the most successful drivers covered through the pages and the book is a visual delight too thanks to numerous colourful illustrations. Also included are colourised versions of historical photos and a few images that have never been published before. Lupini describes South African Champion as a full and representative timeline of a most significant slice of South African sporting history. 'South African Champion is in essence the fruit of a quarter century of work that started as a magazine series, but has now most significantly evolved into a tome of its own,' Lupini remarked. 'The book records and recalls the century and a quarter of a story that has never been collated in a single publication before.' Each is personally signed and numbered by the author, and you can order yours on The South African Champion website. IOL Motoring
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Get ready for a risqué ride: 'Khaki Fever' turns game drives into hilarious adventures
Abel Knobel and Christopher Jaftha during a scene in 'Khaki Fever'. Image: Supplied. South Africans are renowned for their love for the bush, with Mzansi's breathtaking natural surroundings also attracting scores of travellers from across the globe. Whether it's for the chance to catch a glimpse of one of the Big 5 in action or to unwind in scenic settings under the embrace of the African sun, the nation's nature resorts are a hot commodity. Then there is the beloved South African hospitality, as well as those khaki fits, which have generated plenty of viral fashion trends. With all of this in mind, local film-maker Brett Michael Innes decided to put a comical and raunchy spin on the country's bush culture with 'Khaki Fever', a new film premiering on Showmax next month. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Anja Taljaard, Abel Knobel, Christopher Jaftha, Anja Taljaard, Sean Brebnor, Francois Jacobs and Liam Bosman in 'Khaki Fever'. Image: Supplied. The Afrikaans comedy, which Innes wrote and produced with his husband Nick Ahlers, is a labour of love. 'We just love the bush,' he told 'Independent Media Lifestyle' during an interview. 'We always go there with friends and family, and when you see 'Khaki Fever' taking off, we thought someone had to make a movie about that, and we were the ones who did it.' Innes added: 'I love a good comedy and I think that the world needs one right now. I love doing the heavier stuff, but I don't think that the world has the bandwidth to engage with too much trauma on the screen and just needs a good laugh on a Friday night.' 'Khaki Fever' centres around a group of quirky game rangers who set up a challenge to see who can have sex with the most tourists during a season. As they battle for the 'King of Khaki' title as well as the losers' collective tips from the season, the eccentric rangers will also have to outsmart the stern and rigid conservative lodge manager. Trix Vivier plays a conservative lodge manager in 'Khaki Fever'. Image: Supplied. As they get their salacious shenanigans underway, the group also face the prospect of being fired if they are caught fraternising with the guests. Drawing parallels between this movie and risqué Hollywood hits, Innes warned that this type of comedy could 'ruffle a few feathers.' 'I think that the people who enjoy this kind of humour are going to love it, so if you like 'The Hangover', 'Bridesmaids' and those types of movies, you will definitely love this one!' However, he is wary of critics. Ilse Klink in 'Khaki Fever'. Image: Supplied. 'I am expecting a mixed reception when 'Khaki Fever' is released because I know that it might offend and not impress many of the most conservative viewers, and that's fine; they don't have to push play.' 'We are not here with the necessary intention of being controversial, but you do have a group of people, where if there is even one swear word, they are upset, so this movie is definitely not for them.' Meanwhile, Innes spoke of the challenges of casting for this kind of project. 'Finding the cast was tricky because a lot of local actors either don't do sex and nudity or don't enjoy this style of humour but we had an excellent casting director which was vital for this film.' Christopher Jaftha in 'Khaki Fever'. Image: Supplied. 'We wanted to make sure that beyond the talent, that everyone was lekker because film-making is hard enough and it was a case of making sure that everyone who came to the party wanted to be at the party and we ended up creating a hub of people who got each other, who cared deeply for each other and who felt safe.' Innes was thrilled with 'Khaki Fever's' illustrious cast, which includes Saftas-nominated Christopher Jaftha alongside four 2025 Silwerskerm nominees Anja Taljaard, Trix Vivier, Liam Bosman and Ilse Klink. They are joined by other top Afrikaans stars such as Abel Knobel, Francois Jacobs, Sean Brebnor, Juanita de Villiers and Izette Blignaut, with special appearances from exquisite lions, giraffe, hyena and a runaway French bulldog named Chardonnay. 'I think that what will surprise viewers the most about the movie is the heart in it,' Innes explained. Chardonnay the French Bulldog in 'Khaki Fever'. Image: Supplied. 'The headline that people lean into is how risque it is and I don't think they are going to expect how warm they will feel at the end of this.' 'It is very heartfelt, we are not here to make people feel bad about life.' Overall, Innes hopes that 'Khaki Fever' will result in a few more offerings as it brings people from all walks of life together. 'I would really love for it to become one of the most viewed films on the streamer because we have an entire world for a second and third movie.' 'I also want to bring this family together again and have some fun in the bush!'
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs news: Goalkeeper and R1 million cash
It seems Kaizer Chiefs have made a U-turn on Fiacre Ntwari. The Rwandan star may be staying at the Betway Premiership giants. For months, reports linked the former TS Galaxy star with a move to Africa. Tanzanian giants Young Africans and Simba SC were rumoured to be circling. But in a twist, Kaizer Chiefs have reportedly decided to keep him on for the 2025/26 season to compete with Brandon Petersen and Bruce Bvuma. 'Ntwari is an international goalkeeper. He's with the team and the club wishes him all the best this season,' a source said…Full story here. Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch FC, the second Betway Premiership representative, will fly the South African flag in the CAF Confederation Cup. Amakhosi sealed a spot after winning last season's Nedbank Cup final, thanks to Yusuf Maart's superb late winner at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. According to CAF, each participating team in the preliminary rounds will now pocket R1.7 million to help cover travel, accommodation, and match preparation. That's double the previous amount…Full story here. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
