Latest news with #Blxckie
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Cassper Nyovest to light up BAL Playoffs in Pretoria
The 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs and Finals are set to electrify Pretoria from 6 to 14 June. A star-studded lineup of South African musical talent is taking centre stage during halftime shows at the SunBet Arena. This marks the first time the BAL playoffs and finals will be hosted in South Africa. This is a milestone that promises to blend thrilling basketball action with vibrant cultural celebrations. Award-winning hip hop sensation Cassper Nyovest will ignite the opening night on 6 June. He will perform during the seeding game between Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya), led by former NBA player Jaylen Adams, and Al Ittihad (Egypt). They will be led by ex-NBA player George King according to the NBA . Cassper's high-energy show is expected to set the tone for the entire tournament. Other top South African artists will light up the stage throughout the playoffs. Ch'cco, Aymos, Blxckie, Bassie, Maglera Doe Boy, and Focalistic will all perform during halftime. This ensures that every game is a feast for both basketball and music lovers. Blxckie will perform on 7 June during the US Monastir vs Rivers Hoopers game. Aymos will take the stage during the second semifinal on 11 June. The finals on 14 June will feature Maglera Doe Boy and Focalistic, promising a grand closing celebration. BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall expressed excitement about this new chapter. 'The league has seen tremendous growth over the first four seasons. Hosting the playoffs and finals in Pretoria will build on that momentum and further showcase the level of talent and passion for basketball in Africa.' He emphasised how the event will be a celebration of African excellence on and off the court. The BAL Fan Zone at SunBet Arena will offer a lively atmosphere beyond the games. Fans can enjoy official BAL merchandise, delicious food and drinks, DJ performances, and interactive entertainment. This will create a full-day experience for attendees. The 2025 BAL season features 12 club teams from across Africa, including South Africa's own Made by Basketball (MBB). Sam Vincent, the 1986 NBA champion, coaches the MBB team. The playoffs will showcase the continent's best, with teams such as Al Ittihad (Egypt), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), US Monastir (Tunisia), and Petro de Luanda (Angola) competing for the title. For South African fans, this is a celebration of culture, music, and basketball coming home. As Cassper Nyovest put it, 'Bringing my music to the BAL playoffs in Pretoria feels like a full-circle moment. It's where sport meets culture, and I can't wait to share that energy with my people.' With basketball thrills and unforgettable halftime shows, the 2025 BAL Playoffs and Finals promise to be a landmark event in South Africa's sporting and entertainment calendar. 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
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Kwesta drops 'The Big Bro Theory', a powerful tribute to his artistic journey
The offering, which Kwesta has proclaimed be his "homecoming" album, consists of 12 tracks and features an array of collaborations with notable local artists, including the exciting track 'Ghost' with Blxckie, 'Out of Love' with Amanda Black, and ' Joy ' with Nkosazana Daughter, which was released a month ago. The album not only marks a new chapter in his illustrious career but also serves as a heartfelt tribute to his lasting legacy and influence within the hip hop landscape of South Africa. Having carved his name in the industry for over 15 years, Kwesta embraces an esteemed role as a Grootman (big brother), taking pride in the narratives he has shaped and the lessons he has learned along the way. As he puts it, 'I've grown, I've led, I've learned. This album is me owning that journey, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It's the theory of what it means to be a Big Bro, musically and personally.' Kwesta expressed his excitement about the release, stating: "Thank you to everyone that's been riding with me for all these years, it's not a short time, it's been 18 years and you've shown me nothing but love and I appreciate every single one of you. He elaborated on the depth of this project, saying: "This album, 'The Big Bro Theory' is really a culmination of all these years, all these sounds that we've built up as we were going, that you've loved, that you've supported. "This is, you know, 'OG Kwesta', this is 'new-ish Kwesta', this is 'try something new Kwesta', but all in the hopes of moving the culture forward.
Zawya
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
Original Feeds Original: Ruberto Scholtz, Sindiso Nyoni, Rowan Sakarombe and Botswana Metalheads from Southern Africa join KFC Streetwise to celebrate the power of influence and inspiration
Cultural Creators from three of South Africa's neighbouring countries feature in KFC Streetwise's ( new Original Feeds Original campaign, which celebrates the inspiration that feeds creativity. Windhoek fashion designer Ruberto Scholtz, Harare visual director Rowan Sakarombe and the Botswana Metalheads feature in the campaign's epic TV commercial ( which stars Khuli Chana, Blxckie and 25K. The commercial's soundtrack ( is a new song, the Originals Anthem, written and recorded by the rappers. 'Just as KFC's Streetwise brand takes its inspiration from the iconic taste of KFC's Original Recipe – while adding bucketloads of value for a new generation – the film depicts Khuli, Blxckie and 25K inspiring each other and those who will follow them,' says KFC Africa Chief Marketing Officer Grant Macpherson. 'The Cultural Creators are part of the same powerful narrative.' Scholtz, who made the suits Blxckie and 25K wear in the photoshoot scene in the TV commercial, is inspired by collaborations. 'If you see someone who can do something well, why not work with them?' he says. Sakarombe appears in the film shooting the Originals Anthem music video in the street with Khuli Chana, Blxckie and 25K. He says he's inspired by the 'raw experiences of life around me' and the vibrant energy, constant motion and diverse cultures of cities. The Originals Anthem inspires the Botswana Metalheads – whose music often contains local influences and whose style reflects cowboy culture - to infuse their originality and give it a heavy metal angle. The campaign, which launches on 04 March 2025 across SADC regions, also features a packaging collaboration between KFC Streetwise and Cultural Creator Sindiso Nyoni, a Bulawayo-born illustrator who has built a stellar career after being inspired by an 'original' – his high school art teacher, a retired graphic designer. Making a mark Macpherson says it's a time when young people are hungry to share their unique signature with the world. 'Who better to feed their hunger than the originals who came before them?' he says. 'We want the Originals Anthem and all the activity around it to inspire all the young Africans trying to make their mark through their creativity and individuality.' Khuli Chana says that as one of the legends of South African hip-hop, he's passionate about inspiring new artists. 'The reason I started Maftown Heights in 2009 was to help rappers from Mahikeng find their footing in Joburg with a sound and language that wasn't mainstream at the time,' he says. 'It led to great things and it's still giving new artists a platform. I love inspiring musicians to find their original sound.' Blxckie says his career and development has been built on collaborations, and every one of them keeps him original. 'Musicians lift each other up,' he says. 'They support each other and make each other better at what they do.' 25K was introduced to rap by artists such as DJ Mojava, Ghetto Squad, and old school hip-hop groups Dead Prez and Outcast, and became an original by rapping in S'Pitori, a mixed language spoken in Pretoria. 'I want to be remembered for that and I want to inspire kids,' he says. 'When I'm no longer here, I want to feel like I left something that will make it easier for another kid to come out of Pretoria.' Other Cultural Creators who appear in the Original Feeds Original TV commercial include Kind Kid toymaker Sanele Qwabe, 'Nail Pimp' Nailed Ntswembu, the Island Gals skateboarders and custom car pimper Ofentse Mphatsoe. Passing the torch The commercial begins with Khuli starting to write the Originals Anthem and ends with him as the OG, welcoming Blxckie and 25K on stage and handing the mic to them. 'It's the story of my life and it's the story of KFC Streetwise,' says Khuli. 'Passing the mic is like passing the torch, and that's how Original Feeds Original.' Director Sam Coleman says the 90-second video portrays the endless cycle of inspiration, in which each creator is galvanised by the ones before and motivates those who follow. 'It's an explosive mix of visual eye candy, entertainment, musical reward, style, and unique brand integration that instantly hijacks your attention and eyeballs,' he says. 'Everything about it is engaging, surprising and fresh.' And there's an extra twist to the campaign, says Macpherson. 'Every time someone streams the Originals Anthem, the money it earns will go to KFC Add Hope. It will be used to feed malnourished children throughout South Africa. 'Among the kids who benefit from Add Hope are the next generation of Khulis, Blxckies and 25Ks and the Cultural Creators of the future. So, anyone who listens to the anthem will be helping them on their way.' The Originals Anthem is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify ( YouTube Music ( and Apple Music ( Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KFC Africa. 30' TVC available here ( 90' TVC available here ( KFC socials: KFC Eswatini Facebook: Instagram: @ kfc_eswatini - About KFC Africa: KFC has been in South Africa for over 53 years and has more than 1,300 stores across the country. The first KFC restaurant in South Africa opened in 1971 in Orange Grove, Johannesburg. KFC is the leading quick-service restaurant brand in South Africa with just under a third of market share, according to Brand Image Tracker. KFC serves more than 20 million customers a month and we work hard to ensure that no matter which of our restaurants they walk into, they will get that distinctive KFC flavour and have a great experience. KFC's Original Recipe® Chicken was first made by Colonel Harland Sanders in 1940 when he perfected his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices at his restaurant in Kentucky. Today, KFC is the world's most popular chicken restaurant, still preparing our chicken with the Colonel's secret recipe to his exact standards. Every KFC restaurant follows the same global processes and procedures to ensure that our customers get great-tasting food, every time. KFC Streetwise is a registered trademark.
