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I'm an experienced writer, sub-editor, and media & public relations specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the media industry – across digital, print, TV, and radio. I earned a diploma in Journalism and Print Media from leading institution, Damelin College, with distinctions (Journalism And Print Media, Media Studies, Technical English And Communications, South African Studies, African & International Studies, Technology in Journalism, Journalism II & Practical Journalism). I also hold a qualification in Investigative Journalism from Print Media SA, First Aid Training from St John's Ambulance, as well as certificates in Learning to Write Marketing Copy, Planning a Career in User Experience, and Writing a Compelling Blog Post.
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Eyewitness News
43 minutes ago
- Eyewitness News
South Africa's amapiano has the world dancing
At a studio in central Johannesburg, dancers from various countries moved together to the rhythm of South Africa's amapiano sound that is taking social media by storm. With energy and purpose, they rehearsed a sequence in the style of the house music subgenre born on the streets of the townships around 15 years ago and now showcased by stars like Beyonce and Tyla. Soweto's Finest Dance Studio draws dancers of all kinds - from ballerinas to party-goers - to learn the amapiano moves sweeping the world through TikTok tutorials and challenges. Amapiano "is not about the words but you feel it inside of you," said Venus Chidinma, 25, a professional dancer from New York who studied at the studio for several weeks. "It doesn't matter where you come from, what race, what colour - you feel it and you have to just move. It's just from inside you," the Harvard graduate told AFP. Central to the sound is the log drum, a distinctive bass that sets it apart from other forms of dance music. It blends soulful jazz and deep house with 1990s kwaito to create a local genre with no strict rules. The dance style mixes up others, from the coordinated quick steps of South African pantsula to the "baleka" move that closely resembles Michael Jackson's iconic moonwalk. "Its authenticity to South Africa makes it stand out," said Thando Nhlapho, the 21-year-old professional dancer and choreographer at the landmark Soweto studio. Nhlapho, still glistening from her latest class, creates and posts dance videos on social media to "get my name out there". "I don't only dance to amapiano but I choose to use amapiano as a marketing strategy because it is now the trending thing, the hot thing globally," she told AFP. - Global language - "Amapiano is so powerful, it's taken over Africa," said Emmanuel Mwenya, 25, a choreographer from Lusaka. "In Zambia, we dance and sing along to the music even though we do not understand the lyrics," said Mwenya, who spent a week in South Africa to learn the style. "We do amapiano but it's never original. So I thought I'd take the time to come here to learn something original," he said at the studio. Amapiano is its own language, said the professional dancer who also uses social media to promote his work. "Whether you speak Zulu, Bemba, Nyanja, English... it all connects, no matter where you're from." This spirit of inclusiveness comes to life on social media, where people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures unite in dance challenges, like the one for "Tshwala Bami" on TikTok that was taken up by US performer Jason Derulo. "My mom is 46 years old today and even at her age, I still teach her some TikTok dance challenges," said 21-year-old South African Snethemba Mathe, her face lit up. Xiaoying Zhan, 30, brought three friends visiting from China with her to a class. Zhan, who is from China but now lives in South Africa, said she caught on to the amapiano beat during the Covid-19 lockdown around five years ago. "I was enjoying the music and that is why I started dancing to amapiano," she said. "The music has a lot of upbeat tempo," she said, listing South Africa's DBN Gogo and Uncle Waffles, originally from neighbouring Eswatini, as among her favourite artists, but only after Tyla. According to Spotify, amapiano featured in more than 855 million streams recorded in 2024 alone, making the genre a powerful promotion tool for career dancers. "Amapiano is something that's so easy to vibe to," said Chidinma, the dancer from New York who posts videos of various styles on her Instagram account. "Whenever people come up with a dance, it's going to go viral," she said.
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Jazz legend Feya Faku dies while on tour in Switzerland
Tributes are pouring in for the legendary musician. Renowned South African jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist Fezile 'Feya' Faku has reportedly passed away. Faku died on Monday at the age of 63 while on tour in Basel, Switzerland, according to Daily Sun. After he reportedly missed rehearsals on Monday morning, his colleagues went to check on him and found that he had passed away. Tributes have been pouring in on social media from fans and fellow artists, including Thandiswa Mazwai and Kenyan jazz musician and composer Christine Kamau. Farewell Feya Faku🎺💔 South African Trumpet/Flugelhorn player was a gentle giant of African Jazz music. He was also a forerunner in Swiss/South African jazz music collaborations, glad I got to watch him live at Moods Club in Zurich '23 after many years of listening to his music June 24, 2025 Faku was born on 6 June 1962 in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth. He became a respected figure in South African jazz, known for blending traditional jazz with African sounds. Throughout his career, he recorded and performed internationally, collaborating with some of the greats of South African jazz, including Abdullah Ibrahim, Bheki Mseleku and Zim Ngqawana. ALSO READ: Tributes pour in for sports broadcaster Phumlani Msibi Faku's heartfelt tribute to Louis Moholo Just a few days ago, Faku posted a heartfelt tribute to fellow musician and legendary jazz drummer Louis Moholo. Moholo passed away on Friday, 13 June, after a long illness. He was 85. 'Happy moments shared with the great Master. Your presence was an honour to many of us. Your departure has broken me,' Faku wrote on Instagram. 'Go well, Louis. You needed some rest, Maestro. Even giants must lay down their instruments one day. And when you see Rashid, please give him my love. Tell him we're still keeping the fire burning down here,' Faku added. NOW READ: From Umlazi to Joburg: Phumlani Msibi's son honours father's dream-driven journey
TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
BAL x Hennessy: A night of cultural celebration
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is the premier men's basketball league in Africa, which typically runs each season from March to June and consists of 12 teams. This time the BAL took place from June 6 to 14 at the SunBet arena in Pretoria, featuring eight teams from across the continent. In a thrilling finale, Al Ahli Tripoli from Libya emerged victorious, defeating Petro de Luanda from Angola in the championship game on Saturday. 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.'
