Latest news with #BlackAfrican
The Star
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Tutu Puoane returns home to celebrate Lebo Mashile's poetry through jazz
Renowned jazz vocalist and Pretoria native Tutu Puoane is set to grace stages across South Africa with her much-anticipated tour, showcasing her current project, Wrapped In Rhythm . Puoane reveals that this award-winning double album is a heartfelt homage to the evocative poetry of South African poet and activist Lebo Mashile, featuring a unique blend of jazz, soul, and singer-songwriting that resonates with audiences both locally and internationally. Since relocating to Antwerp, Belgium, in 2005, Puoane explains that she has found herself profoundly inspired by Mashile's anthology, In A Ribbon Of Rhythm . For nearly a decade, the book accompanied her, stirring emotions that encapsulated her experiences as a young Black African woman navigating her identity amidst the complexities of living away from her homeland. 'Ten years ago, this book had me in a chokehold. I often find things about my country so difficult to express; it all feels so strange after being gone from home for so long, and yet I still hold a very deep connection to the land and people. The poems of Lebo helped me feel and express things I couldn't express myself.' This tour will also see Puoane performing two larger concerts in Gauteng with her full band, featuring Ewout Pierreux on piano, Shane Cooper on bass, and Sphelelo Mazibuko on drums. Following these performances, she will partner with Pierreux for intimate duo concerts in Durban, Cape Town, and Gqeberha, aiming to draw audiences close to the essence of her music and Mashile's powerful words. The full orchestral Volume 2 of Wrapped In Rhythm featuring the renowned Metropole Orkest is scheduled for global release on September 19, but concertgoers will have the distinct advantage of purchasing limited physical copies of the album on CD and vinyl at the shows. Puoane invites her audiences to experience the concert not just as a performance, but as a shared moment of connection and reflection. 'For this upcoming SA tour, I really want people to come, sit down, turn their cell phones on silent, and really drink in these words and this music. I will, of course, play some of their old-time favourites, but this is a chance for my South African audience to experience/remember the magic of Lebo Mashile's powerful 'In A Ribbon Of Rhythm.' Her excitement to return to South Africa is palpable as she expresses her love for performing in front of those who understand her cultural nuances. 'The South African audience, MY audience, is by far the best audience in the world. There's nothing like singing Sepedi to people that truly comprehend every word you're saying. It uplifts a part of my soul I don't get to feel often when I perform for an EU audience. I really would love to come home often to sing, not only once a month at a huge festival. I love singing in smaller intimate gatherings as well, so I'm really hoping that people will come out and support these few dates I have lined up.' Lebo Mashile further echoes the sentiments of their connection, recalling how Tutu's interpretation of her poetry felt like the merging of timelines during the isolation of the pandemic.' 'When Tutu started sharing her experiments online during the pandemic, and when I first heard what she and Ewout were doing in their home studio, it felt like multiple timelines were collapsing and converging at once. Across continents, in the isolation of lockdown, on social media, I felt intimately connected to Tutu's imagination of these poems and seen and affirmed in a way that no artist has ever made me feel before.' Puoane's South African tour dates are set to be Aug 1 - Market Theatre, Johannesburg; Aug 2 - State Theatre, Pretoria; Aug 6 - UKZN Jazz Centre, Durban; Aug 8 - Youngblood Gallery, Cape Town; Aug 10 - Guga S'thebe, Cape Town; and Aug 15 - The One Room, Gqeberha. [email protected] Saturday Star
The South African
15-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Stricter BEE quotas for South African businesses just 45 days away
New, stricter BEE quotas in South Africa dictate that all workforces must, 'reflect the racial, gender and disability makeup of the population.' This is as stipulated in the latest Employment Equity Amendment Act, which came into effect in 2025. As such, the Department of Employment and Labour has been hosting workshops all around the country to get employers up to speed. Moreover, the department has warned that any South African businesses that don't comply with the new BEE quotas will face censure. The IMF and World Bank has called Employment Equity 'well-meaning but flawed' in a South African context. Image: File The Labour Department's new BEE quotas come into effect in just 45 days' time, on Monday 1 September 2025. Amendments to the Employment Equity Act require percentage-based quotas on businesses across 18 different sectors. And employers have five years (2030) to meet said targets. Each businesses' workforce should be made up certain percentages of 'designated groups,' reports BusinessTech . These groups are made up of: Black African, coloured, Indian, women and the disabled. Amendments to the Employment Equity Act come into effect in 45 days' time. Image: File According to the Labour Department's 2030 BEE quotas, all businesses employing more than 50 people are considered 'designated employers' under the new laws. As such, these businesses must have Employment Equity Plans that outline their five-year strategy. Businesses with less than 50 employees are exempt from these stricter BEE quotas. However, several business groups are not happy and have banded together to challenge the stricter BEE quotas in court. They are unhappy with the following issues: Government failed to consult with public and private stakeholders. New sectoral targets differ greatly from previous versions. Quotas within the new BEE quotas are arbitrary and irrational No economic impact studies were conducted to determine the effect of these laws. The stricter BEE quotas laws are unconstitutional in that they go against the ideals of non-racialism, equality and justice. 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
09-07-2025
- Health
- IOL News
High-risk sexual behaviours revealed in new South African HIV surveillance study
A recent comprehensive surveillance study in South Africa has shed light on alarming sexual behaviours and the state of HIV awareness among participants. A recent comprehensive surveillance study in South Africa has shed light on alarming sexual behaviours and the state of HIV awareness among participants. With a participant pool of 3,265, predominantly male (71.3%) and mostly Black African (98.7%), the study elucidates critical insights into the sexual health landscape of the region, particularly among younger adults with a median age of 30 years. The results expose a striking prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviours. Over one-third of participants (34.0%) disclosed engaging in sexual relations with casual partners, while nearly 40% reported multiple sexual partners. This heightened sexual activity raises significant concerns, especially as approximately 20% of participants (576) had sought treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the previous year. In terms of HIV awareness and status, an encouraging 94.6% of participants (3,088 out of 3,264) were knowledgeable about their HIV status. However, it remains a pressing issue that 20.6% (634) of these individuals identified as living with HIV. Among those self-reporting as HIV-positive, a substantial majority (88%, or 557 out of 633) indicated they had at some point taken antiretroviral therapy (ARVs). Impressively, 98.4% (548) of those who were on ARVs had maintained their regimen in the three days leading to the survey, reflecting a significant commitment to treatment adherence. The demographic breakdown also reveals important insights into male circumcision rates, which are often linked to reduced rates of HIV transmission. Out of the male participants, 68.7% (1,591 out of 2,316) reported being circumcised, with over 63.9% (1,015 out of 1,588) having undergone medical circumcision. These figures underscore a proactive approach among many men towards reducing their vulnerability to infection. The findings of this study are a clarion call for intensified public health interventions aimed at addressing both awareness and behavioural changes in the region. With a troubling combination of high-risk sexual behaviours and significant numbers of HIV-positive individuals, the urgency for targeted educational programmes and accessible healthcare services is more pressing than ever. IOL
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Angélique Kidjo makes history: First black African artist to receive Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Angélique Kidjo, a singer from Benin, will become the first Black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, according to a report by the BBC. Kidjo is one of 35 people named in the Walk of Fame's class of 2026, alongside others such as singer Miley Cyrus, actor Timothée Chalamet, actress Demi Moore and former basketball player Shaquille O'Neal. Now 64, Kidjo has been making music for more than 40 years and has released 16 albums. She has won five Grammy awards and performed across the world, combining West African sounds with funk, jazz and R&B. She has also worked with artists such as Burna Boy, Philip Glass, Sting and Alicia Keys. During the announcement event, she was described as 'Africa's premier diva,' BBC said. Kidjo will join Charlize Theron, a white South African actress who received her star in 2005, as one of the few Africans to be honoured on the Los Angeles walkway, which features more than 2,700 stars. A date has not yet been announced for when Kidjo will officially receive the star. Once selected, recipients have up to two years to schedule a ceremony. Kidjo, who grew up in Benin, West Africa, moved to France in 1983, saying she left because of political oppression at the time. 'From the moment the communist regime arrived in Benin, I became aware that the freedom we enjoy can be snatched away in a second,' she told the BBC in a 2023 interview. She added that she has always been curious, 'My nickname was 'when, why, how?' I want to understand things, to understand my place in this world.' Before launching her solo career in 1990 with the album Parakou, she worked as a backing singer in France. Kidjo is also a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF and Oxfam. She runs a charity called Batonga, which supports education for girls in Africa.
Business Insider
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
5 interesting facts about the only African artist to get a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Angélique Kidjo has made history yet again, this time on the streets of Hollywood. On July 3, 2025, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce revealed that Kidjo, from Benin, is the first Black African artist ever chosen for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of the Class of 2026. Angélique Kidjo has become the first Black African artist to be recognized with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, announced on July 3, 2025, as part of the Class of 2026. The Walk of Fame board made their selection on June 25, 2025, with the unveiling ceremony to occur within two years. Kidjo, born in Benin in 1960, has profoundly impacted global music by blending African rhythms with international genres. The African music sensation joins a remarkable lineup for the Class of 2026, including Miley Cyrus, Timothée Chalamet, Deepika Padukone (who becomes the first Indian actress to earn the award), Shaquille O'Neal, and more. The Walk of Fame board accepted her selection on June 25, 2025, after reviewing hundreds of international nominations, as seen on Forbes Africa. While the specific unveiling date has not been set, awardees have up to two years to prepare their ceremonies. Kidjo was born in 1960 in what was then Dahomey (now Benin), and grew up immersed in music, drama, and dance. She released her first album, Pretty, in 1981 before going to Paris in the wake of a political crisis. There, she perfected her craft by combining West African rhythms with jazz, funk, R&B, Latin, and gospel elements. With that said, here are 5 interesting facts about the artist. 5 interesting facts about Angélique Kidjo Five-Time Grammy Winner Kidjo has won five Grammy Awards, including Best Contemporary World Music Album for Djin Djin (2008), Eve (2015), Sings (2016), Celia (2020), and Mother Nature (2022). Time 100 and Polar Music Prize Honoree Angélique Kidjo was named among TIME's 100 Most Influential People in 2021 and awarded the prestigious Polar Music Prize in 2023, cementing her place as a global cultural icon. Generational Music Collaborations Despite beginning her musical career in the 80s, Angélique Kidjo's collaborations with other artists have spanned 5 decades and different continents, from working with Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, and Bono, to more recent cross-generational collaborations with Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Davido, and Mr Eazi. Educator & Honored Scholar The famous and highly accomplished Benin artist holds multiple honorary awards from numerous academies, including Yale (2015), Berklee (2010), Middlebury (2014), and UCLouvain (2020), recognizing her artistic brilliance and advocacy. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
