Latest news with #AfrikaBurn
The South African
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Sue Duminy confirms new romance after marriage split
Sue Duminy – the former wife of cricketer JP Duminy – has confirmed rumours she is dating again. The blonde bombshell has been spotted with an older man during a recent trip to Berlin. In February, Sue and the former Proteas player officially announced their split in a social media post. The former couple wed in 2011 and have two daughters. On her Instagram account, Sue Duminy posted more pics of her mystery man. The couple enjoyed a trip to Berlin, Germany, where they visited art galleries, enjoyed local cuisine, and enjoyed the nightlife. While Sue made no mention of the new man in her life, she did like comments that read… 'Wow, a hunk! Happy for you, darling.' 'As long as you are happy and being treated well.' 'Happy looks so good on you!' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sue Duminy (@sueduminy) Sue Duminy's post comes after she attended AfrikaBurn last weekend with her new bae and a group of pals. In a previous post, Sue Duminy tagged her romantic interest as a man named Franco Roberto. The man has made his Instagram account private. 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.
The Citizen
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Inside AfrikaBurn: The desert town that exists for one wild week
On a windswept Friday night deep in the Karoo desert, a man dropped to one knee under a sky full of stars and before the dust could even settle, he and his beloved were married in a full-blown, impromptu celebration complete with singing, drumming and an African choir. That's AfrikaBurn. Equal parts art festival, social experiment and desert dreamscape, it's a place where the extraordinary becomes ordinary and strangers become family overnight. Set against the stark beauty of South Africa's Tankwa Karoo, AfrikaBurn is the largest official Burning Man regional event outside the United States – but to describe it as just a festival would be missing the point entirely. AfrikaBurn is not something you attend. It's something you co-create. For one week each year, around 10 000 participants from around the globe gather to build a temporary city, called Tankwa Town. Founded on principles of radical self-expression, participation and a culture of gifting, there's no money, no advertising, and no spectators allowed. Everything you see, from the intricately designed mutant vehicles to towering wooden sculptures (some destined to be burnt in ritual celebration), is built, brought and shared by volunteers. Between April 28 and May 4, under this year's theme, 'Out of the Blue', the desert pulsed with sea creatures on wheels, spontaneous performances, sonic adventures and hundreds of interactive art installations. In a place with no phone signal, no commerce and no hierarchy, what you bring to AfrikaBurn defines what it becomes. For Philip and Nikki, Cape Town residents, AfrikaBurn became an unforgettable part of their story when they said 'I do' in a whirlwind wedding on May 3. The couple, who asked to go by their first names only, were at Mad Hatters Village on Friday night when Philip popped the big question. 'I say yes – obviously!' Nikki told Caxton Network News. 'Before we could even process what just happened, our friend Xolani Sibanda yelled: 'We are having a wedding tomorrow'. And just like that, we were getting married at Afrika Burn.' At sunset on Saturday, the female members of an African choir arrived at Philip and Nikki's camp, bringing with them a 'full-blown musical invasion'. 'Drums, tambourines, voices raised high in iXhosa chanting, 'The Bride is coming'! The whole street lit up like a scene from a dream,' says Nikki. 'We paraded down the road in a joyful, singing procession until we reached the Chillaz tent, where Phil and his best man, Van Zyl de Vos, were waiting – along with a pastor ready to seal the deal.' They exchanged vows and 'rings', with Philip having to settle on an improvised keyring. 'The moment we were declared husband and wife, the tent erupted in song and dance. About 100 strangers – now all family – celebrated with us under the stars of Tankwa Town. It was wild, beautiful and perfectly us. A true love story that I will be able to tell for generations to come.' It seems Cupid is an AfrikaBurn regular – last year, Dave Agsteribbe and Jessica du Toit were engaged there, and the private AfrikaBurn Facebook page is peppered with similar stories. Caxton Network News caught up with Dave, a DJ and producer who goes by the name Dave Skinz, to hear about his experience as a performer at this year's AfrikaBurn. Based in Northriding, Johannesburg, Dave attended the Burn with a group of six, including Jessica and his 13-year-old daughter. 'There are school lessons and then there are life lessons,' he says, explaining why it felt important to share the experience with his daughter. True to the spirit of intentionality, Dave chose to gift his music at just one camp, Luminosity Lounge. 'I try and restrict myself so I can get the most out of AfrikaBurn,' he says. During his first set on Wednesday evening, a double rainbow, unobstructed by city lights or buildings, made him feel doubly blessed. His set extended an hour beyond his scheduled time, and he was later asked to open the floor on Saturday. Dave says trying to define the essence of AfrikaBurn is like trying to explain a dream. As many participants have said, there's something deeply transformative about the rawness of the space and the way it forces you to confront yourself. Dave echoes this sentiment, noting how the experience strips away daily pretences. 'It's like a weight falls off, but once you're home, you have to armour up again,' he says. 'It makes us realise how much of our true self we repress in the daily grind.' He also shared how personally healing the experience was. Having lost both of his parents at 17, his life's journey has been marked by emotional resilience. AfrikaBurn allowed him to release some of the pain he'd long carried. 'I cried. Over and over again, I found myself in fits of tears in the arms of a stranger.' In a surprising twist, his rare surname helped him connect with a distant relative in Amsterdam, adding another layer of meaning to an already profound experience. Brian Palmer, communications lead for AfrikaBurn, says that the organisers were excited to host many Burners from around the world and look forward to future adventures under the equator with 'our creative community of participants'. He explains that AfrikaBurn is a community of participants who come together to create art, costumes, performance, theme camps, music, mutant vehicles and more. 'All of this is created through a volunteer and gifting culture,' he says. Since first being held in 2007, AfrikaBurn has upheld the principle of radical self expression. 'AfrikaBurn encourages you to express yourself however you want to… be it with a silly hat or a full-blown costume.' 'This year's event had several standout features,' says Brian, 'with more artworks, mutant vehicles and theme camps than ever before. So I guess the real standout feature is that almost everyone who came to AfrikaBurn fully participated in the event.' Themed camps can offer anything from music and meditation to Ethiopian coffee, pancakes and silent discos. They are elaborate affairs that beg to be explored. Brian explains that in recent years, participant numbers have been limited to around 10 000. 'While we could have grown the event quite easily, we felt that we wanted to rebuild after Covid more sustainably and focus on the quality of experience, rather than the numbers. 'We're an extremely diverse group, with participants from around the world,' he says, adding that just over 50% come from South Africa. Why are installations burnt? Despite the mammoth effort that goes into making the art installations, several of them are burnt at AfrikaBurn. 'This was inspired by the original Burning Man event in Nevada, USA. One of our founding principles is immediacy, and burning (some of) the art when finished encourages participants to appreciate it in the moment while it still exists,' says Brian. The AfrikaBurn community has a central effigy that is set alight at the Clan Burn at the culmination of each year's event. Want to go in 2026? Brian says the dates and theme for AfrikaBurn 2026 will he announced in the next few months. 'As usual, with limited numbers, we expect to sell out within minutes, so anyone planning to come should start preparing and sign up for our newsletter for ticket announcements.' Interesting AfrikaBurn facts The only thing sold is ice. AfrikaBurn has its own radio station: Radio Free Tankwa Tune (99.9fm). Mutant vehicles must be licensed. This year's temperatures were extreme, ranging from 38°C to 5°C. Skollie Patrollie is AfrikaBurn's volunteer traffic crew, ensuring mutant vehicles are safely driven. It takes nearly 4 000 shifts of volunteers to run Tankwa Town. There is a danger of scorpion stings and snakebites. Everything brought to the desert must be taken away again. Even greywater is responsibly disposed of. Rangers are event participants who volunteer a portion of their time at AfrikaBurn in service of the safety and well-being of the AfrikaBurn community. Also known as The Orange, they act as non-confrontational community mediators and providers of reliable information. Watch a video taken by a participant: Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Sue Duminy shows off new man amid JP split?
Sue Duminy – the former partner of cricketer JP Duminy – has posted pics of her cosying up to another man. Could he be her new love interest? In February, the mommy influencer and the former Proteas player officially announced their split in a social media post. The former couple wed in 2011 and have two daughters. On her Instagram account, Sue Duminy posted pics of her trip to AfrikaBurn, an eclectic music and arts festival held in Quaggafontein in the Tankwa Karoo. The blonde bombshell dressed to impress for the occasion, which wrapped up over the weekend, with carnival-inspired outfits that included fur, sequins, and combat boots. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sue Duminy (@sueduminy) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sue Duminy (@sueduminy) In several of the pics, Sue Duminy cosied up to a shirtless man. Seemingly avoiding public speculation, the former cricket WAG turned off the comments under the post. She captioned a collage of pics with pals and the mystery man: 'This is my tribe and these are my people. The non-conformists, the rule breakers, the black sheep, the ones who forever get judged for being true to themselves. May we all find the courage to discover our true inner happiness, our flame, our light. 'These are the moments I live for. True to myself, free, happy, and a bit of a rebel-hippie-free spirit'. Sue Duminy's festival fun comes weeks after her single 'momcation' to the tropical island of Mauritius. JP's ex revealed that she had 'dropped the kids off at grandma's' before heading to her tropical destination. She joined other mommy influencers like Aisha Baker and Siba Mtongana, where they sipped cocktails by the pool, enjoyed candle-lit dinners, and took a trip on a luxury yacht. 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.
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Experience AfrikaBurn: A journey through Tankwa Karoo
Road to Tankwa The Dusty Road to Utopia, do you know your destination? Image: Burnbite Afrikaburn 2025 is officially under way, lighting up the Karoo desert's skies with wild creativity, fiery art installations, and a community ready to celebrate freedom and expression. This year's festival sees thousands flocking to the Karoo to gaze at the giant wooden sculptures engulfed in flames, quirky handmade vehicles cruising the dust, and eye-catching outfits.. It's a one-of-a-kind party where art, self-reliance, and radical fun collide under the wide-open South African sky. This year's theme, Out of the Blue, celebrates the all-encompassing world underneath. And with each year, the Karoo welcomes a new crowd. With familiar faces returning, and first-time burners who get to sound the gong upon arrival. From afar, it looks like a vision from another planet. It would be easy to mistake AfrikaBurn for pure escapism, a psychedelic playground far above the gravity of real-world concerns, where tales of belonging and exclusion come to life. Sounds of the Sunset First Time Burner's sound their arrival Image: Zac Cirivello 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. 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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 ✕ Are we all together? Radiating Fire Light's up the Nights Sky Image: Ya'eesh Collins Afrikaburn emphasizes a world where status and hierarchy fall away, where connection feels simple and unmediated, where creativity is not a commodity but a basic human instinct. Yet the desert is not a vacuum. Outside realities seep in. Long-time burners speak of the tension between radical expression and unconscious exclusion. In a country where inequality runs deep, true escape is a luxury not all can afford. Even the logistics of survival, tents, water, and transport require resources that many do not possess. Escapism, in the end, is not evenly distributed. Not a luxurious utopia AfrikaBurn was never intended to be a luxury event. It rejects sponsorships, bans cash transactions, and enshrines gifting as a core principle. Yet despite its best intentions, it has increasingly become a utopia accessible mainly to the privileged. Organisers have made efforts to lower them. Subsidised tickets, shared transport initiatives, and community engagement projects all have grown in recent years. Nevertheless, the demographic makeup of the Burn remains heavily skewed. In this, AfrikaBurn mirrors the unfinished project of the nation itself, the ongoing struggle to turn ideals of equality into a lived reality. There is a cruel irony in a utopia that is inaccessible to most. Yet there is also something brutally honest about it. AfrikaBurn does not pretend to have solved South Africa's divisions. Instead, it holds up a mirror, sometimes beautiful, sometimes brutal, to the dreams and fractures that live within its temporary city. AfrikaBurn fiercely protects the principle of immediacy. There are no stages, no scheduled performances, no boundaries between creator and observer. Cell signal is scarce by design. Yet in the aftermath, the imagery of Afrikaburn floods social media platforms. There are no vendors, no advertising, no performers set apart from the audience. The city belongs to everyone, or at least that is the promise. Everyone brings something. Everyone contributes to the fabric of Afrikaburn, be it a conversation, a dance, or a hand-built shelter strung with lights and laughter. Yet even in this celebration of radical inclusion, questions rise from the dust. Who can reach this distant, demanding desert? Who can afford to gift without expecting a return? In a country where most still struggle for basic rights and security, AfrikaBurn, despite its dreams, often reflects the same imbalances it hopes to transcend. AfrikaBurn's founding principles call for immediacy, participation, self-expression, and communal effort. For many, these ideals offer a profound form of escape, not simply from the daily grind, but from the rigid structures of identity, history, and expectation. In Tankwa Town, participants shed their uniforms of modern life. CEOs dance barefoot with students. Painters swap philosophies with accountants. Queer, straight, black, white, rich, poor, the usual divisions blur beneath layers of dust and creativity. In a nation still reckoning with inequality and social division, AfrikaBurn offers a glimpse into a different mode of being. One where exchange is not transactional, where art is made to be experienced rather than sold, and where participation is valued more than presentation. At the same time, this year, one can only begin to start their journey, asking ongoing questions about access, privilege, and who truly gets to participate in these kinds of experimental spaces. For many, the challenge now is what comes next. What happens when the music stops, when the costumes are packed away, and the signal bars return? Because AfrikaBurn may disappear from the landscape after this year's event, but for those who are to experience what happens in the Karoo, footprints dancing in the sand are imprinted long after the last ash turns to dust. As one ventures to the world afar, may it beckon you with a sense of grace for the world we find ourselves in. AfrikaBurn Landscape The land we play on. Image: Ya'eesh Collins
