Latest news with #AfricaUnite
IOL News
09-07-2025
- IOL News
Ashley Kriel Memorial Cypher: Honouring the legacy of an anti-apartheid activist
Ashley Kriel was killed by police on July 9, 1987, for his role in advocating anti-apartheid actions. Image: File The third annual Ashley Kriel Memorial Cypher will commemorate the spirit and martyrdom of anti-apartheid activist Ashley Kriel. Kriel, a 20-year-old from Bonteheuwel in Cape Town, was an anti-apartheid activist killed on July 9, 1987, allegedly by apartheid police. Kriel is still celebrated today for his efforts for liberty post-apartheid. He was a fiery orator, strategist, and thinker, and a representative of an extraordinary turn in South African resistance politics: the return to mass politics. 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 ✕ Ad loading The Ashley Kriel Memorial Cypher is an autonomous annual initiative that recognises how young progressives today, as in the past, have a critical role to play in the conscientisation of grassroots communities. The event, put together by Adwa movement, and Aboxan Arts and Africa Unite (NGO), will take place on Friday, 11 July 2025, at the Castle of Good Hope at 6.30pm. This year's cypher will take place under the theme 'Roots, Culture, Heritage and Decolonisation', which aims to explore how positive masculinity and leadership advance social justice. It will also reflect on the context that gave rise to the young lions of the 70s and 80s and the structural violence experienced by young men and women today. The event will include the screening of the documentary 'Action Kommandant', which is based on Kriel's life, a panel discussion, Q&A, and live music. Panellists set to be included are: Clarence Ford, special guest Michelle Assure, who is Kriel's sister, Gatto (Mario Wanza), Henrieta Abrahams, and Gorie November. The film itself was recently screened for about 35 high school learners from Modderdamn High School at the Cape Town Museum of Childhood in commemoration of Youth Day. One of the learners said: 'I saw a lot of the areas that I walked every day and thought 'wow, this happened in the area I grew up in' and I didn't even know about it… I knew his past, but I didn't know what he did for us.' Another learner said: 'The film really inspired me to achieve my goals, and fight for what I want in life, and the quote that stood out to me in the film was, 'an act of resistance is an act for humanity'.' The third Ashley Kriel Memorial Cypher will take place at the Castle of Good Hope, where it will pay tribute to Ashley Kriel, who was assassinated on July 9, 1986. Image: Supplied In a statement for Friday's event, the organisers said that the cypher celebrates the radical examples of masculinities in working-class communities, particularly in South Africa, seeking to clarify the forces that shape these, and explore the trauma and healing. The organisers said that they seek to affirm the importance of social and political consciousness as a means to enlighten grassroots communities, as in the Struggle against apartheid, which has a key role to play in building a more inclusive future. Adwa Movement - PRO and Africa Unite peer educator, Ras Hein, shared some insight into the motive behind not only the Kriel screening, but also their previous screening of 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' on July 4, and their forthcoming one focusing on Göran Hugo Olsson's 2014 documentary 'Concerning Violence' on July 15. 'We're doing it for the African renaissance. We're doing it for social cohesion. We're doing it to combat narratives of xenophobia.'
IOL News
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Experience the powerful film screenings honouring Lumumba, Fanon, and Kriel in Cape Town
The first screening taking place will be that of 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' on July 4, at the Africa Unite office located on 6 Spin Street, Cape Town. The film screening is set to begin at 3.30pm. Image: Supplied Cinephiles and pan-African activists are encouraged to attend the forthcoming film screenings reflecting on not only the legacy of Patrice Lumumba but also Frantz Fanon and Ashley Kriel. The first screening taking place will be that of 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État' on July 4, at the Africa Unite office located on 6 Spin Street, Cape Town. The film screening is set to begin at 3.30pm. The event will include a meet and greet among attendees, as well as a question and answer session. The screening is inviting people to reflect on the life and ideals of Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It will include a gathering of advocacy actors, activists, communities, families, and human rights networks in Cape Town, where they will interrogate the foreign influences on geopolitical instabilities in Africa with the Congo Basin as a focal point. The movie, 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'État', is a powerful documentary by Johan Grimonprez that explores the intersection of jazz, politics, and decolonisation, focusing on jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Nina Simone in their roles as cultural ambassadors during the 1960s. With a rich combination of archival footage, historical narrative, and unforgettable musical performances, the film reveals how these artists became unwitting players in the CIA's plot to assassinate Lumumba in 1960. The documentary highlights the important protests of powerful women like singer Abbey Lincoln and activist Andrée Blouin, while probing the murky alliances between Western powers and the local forces behind the assassination. Cinephiles and pan-African activists are encouraged to attend the forthcoming film screenings reflecting on not only the legacy of Patrice Lumumba but also Frantz Fanon and Ashley Kriel. Image: Supplied Adwa Movement PRO and Africa Unite peer educator, Ras Hein, said: 'An awareness of our past is essential to the establishment of our personality and our identity as Africans. 'As young pan-African practitioners, we advance the ideal that 'the People will praxis'. In the context of Congolese independence celebrated on June 30, and Patrice Lumumba, DRC's first prime minister, who turns 100 on July 2. 'We have organised this tribute event as a collective of civil society organisations, practitioners, creatives, and activists. The DRC represents the heart of Africa. In the words of Frantz Fanon, who turns 100 on July 20: 'Let us be sure never to forget it; the fate of all of us is at stake in the Congo'.' In conjunction with the first screening, there will also be the Ashley Kriel Memorial Cypher taking place on July 11 to honour Cape Flats anti-apartheid activist and youth leader Kriel, who was murdered by police. The event, taking place at the Castle of Good Hope at 5pm, is in commemoration of his legacy of leadership and the contribution that youth across South Africa played in the Struggle against apartheid. The Ashley Kriel Memorial Cypher is an autonomous annual initiative that recognises that young progressives today, as in the past, have a critical role to play in the conscientisation of grassroots communities. The event will include the screening of his documentary as well. Cinephiles and pan-African activists are encouraged to attend the forthcoming film screenings reflecting on not only the legacy of Patrice Lumumba but also Frantz Fanon and Ashley Kriel. Image: Supplied Thereafter, there will also be another screening of Göran Hugo Olsson's 2014 documentary 'Concerning Violence' on July 15 to mark the centenary of the birth of psychiatrist, political philosopher, and Marxist Fanon. The film is a 2014 documentary film based on Fanon's essay, "Concerning Violence" from his 1961 book "The Wretched of the Earth". American singer and actor Lauryn Hill narrates this exploration of the anticolonial struggles of the 1960s and 1970s. '2025 presents us with important Africa liberation struggle commemorations: 100 years of Patrice Lumumba, 140 Years of the Berlin conference colonial project, and a 100 years of Fanon, as grassroots community leaders, advocacy space organisers and civil society organisations, we know it is important to create these spaces of alternative education,' Hein said. Cinephiles and pan-African activists are encouraged to attend the forthcoming film screenings reflecting on not only the legacy of Patrice Lumumba but also Frantz Fanon and Ashley Kriel. Image: Supplied Hein said there are strong xenophobic currents in society, and that it is important to combat so that social cohesion can prosper. 'All of these dimensions (Kriel, Fanon and Lumumba) make up proper consciousness… It is different events, but usually it is the same networks (that is) growing and attracting people who want authentic and genuine grassroots initiatives like this.' [email protected]
TimesLIVE
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
'We as Africans are at the forefront of many things on a global level': Tresor
Pop singer Tresor says Africa Day will be a day of reflection for him . The Congolese-born singer, songwriter, music producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, known for his songs like Sondela, Funu and Folasade, gave us an insight into how he will be celebrating the day. Speaking to TshisaLIVE, the 38-year-old, whose real name is Mukengerwa Tresor Riziki, says Africa Day is a reminder of resilience, beauty and shared dreams. 'For me, it's an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a collective people. How we as Africans are at the forefront of many things on a global level. I am in fact scheduled to be in studio recording on the day. I am working on a very exciting global project and my way of celebrating will be through channelling our stories through sound,' he said. Tresor says the Africa Unite collaboration was truly an amazing one. 'I have nothing planned for this year. I see myself as a musical bridge. I carry the soul of the Congo and the spirit of South Africa in one voice. Through music in a very subtle but intentional manner, I am able to connect people from different backgrounds, cultures and creeds. We are stronger together. Africa's power lies in its people, its creativity and its diversity. The soil of Africa bares the seeds of creativity and a new way of thinking for global audiences. Let's remain resilient as this seed of creativity manifests itself to the world,' he said. Tresor is set to perform at the three-day Standard Bank Joy of Jazz 2025, alongside other internationally-acclaimed musicians . ' Joy of Jazz is such a sacred space for artists like me. It's an institution that plays a key role in the celebration of African music and artists. Being part of it feels like coming home — it's a full-circle moment in my journey and I am extremely excited for this year's show. I bring the heart of Africa with me — layered harmonies, rhythmic basslines and storytelling that is driven through music. My sound is a fusion of past and future, unapologetically pop but deeply rooted in jazz and African influences.'
