Latest news with #Homecoming
News24
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Former Smoke & Mirrors actor Khayalethu Xaba talks new roles and career growth
His dramatic exit from hit telenovela, Smoke & Mirrors, shocked the show's viewers, but it wasn't the last time he'd grace the small screen. Actor Khayalethu Xaba, who played the role of Mpendulo on the show, is now starring in Mzansi Wethu's telenovela, Homecoming, which is being recorded in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal. Taking a break from filming to speak with us, he's eager to explain why he decided to take on the role of Vusi. He tells Drum that he was drawn to the role because, unlike all his previous characters who were based in Johannesburg, this one offered something different. He also shares his journey and how he continues to grow as an actor. ead more | 'I've grown so much' - House of Zwide's Nefisa Mkhabela talks industry lessons 'I decided to take the role firstly because of where he's based in Bergville, KZN. All of my previous characters have been either street smart or cheese boys from the suburbs. I've never played a boy from the villages. Most importantly, though, as a storyteller, it's important to know your audience, and right now I feel like I'm talking to people, especially those in the hoods and villages, even the ones in the suburbs. The challenges I usually have with characters resonate with young men,' he says. The heartthrob shares that he is also entering into a new dimension of comedy. 'I'm also dabbling in stand-up comedy, but I'm new in the space. I still have a lot to learn in the space. I don't just want to be an actor who thinks he's funny. I want to be a comedian. Everything I'm doing now has been a childhood dream of mine since I was five and ten years old, ' he reveals. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Khayalethu Xaba 🇿🇦 (@ Although he was aware of the pitfalls of the industry, he remained undeterred in his pursuit of his childhood dream. 'I only became aware of the challenges of the industry just before I got my first gig, but I realise that every career has its pitfalls. I didn't let that stop me from pursuing my childhood dream.' As a young actor, he cherishes having mentors who have walked the path before him. 'One of our mentors is Sdumo Mtshali, because we worked together before. He has always supported me and showed me the ropes. Another one is Bonko, who told me that his door is always open for me to talk to him to get guidance on whatever I need help with. These are my two mentors, who have been instrumental in helping me with my career so far,' he concludes.
Pink Villa
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BTS beats Beyoncé to earn biggest live album debut for Permission to Dance on Stage with 14.5 million streams
BTS has proven once again that their global influence remains unmatched. On July 18, the iconic group released Permission to Dance On Stage, marking their first official live album. Within just 24 hours, the album racked up 14.5 million streams on Spotify. It set the record for the biggest debut for a live album in the platform's history. Notably, the group surpassed the previous record held by Beyoncé's live album Homecoming, which debuted with 8.8 million streams. The release was a special gift for fans. It compiles some of BTS ' most powerful stage moments from their 2021–2022 Permission to Dance On Stage world tour. The album includes 22 tracks, featuring high-energy live versions of fan-favorites like Dynamite, Butter, Life Goes On, and more. Each performance captures the unique energy and passion that has made BTS a household name across continents. BTS drops Seoul concert film with 92-page photobook for ARMYs In addition to the audio experience, BTS also unveiled a digital concert special titled Permission to Dance On Stage – Seoul. This companion release includes performance footage from their show at Seoul Olympic Stadium on March 13, 2022. The members, RM, Jin, SUGA, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, shine on stage. It gives fans an up-close look at one of their most memorable performances in their home country. What makes the package even more special is a 92-page photobook packed with exclusive behind-the-scenes shots, personal reflections, and interviews. The content gives fans a deeper look into the preparation and emotions that went into putting together such a massive show. It offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane for long-time ARMYs. BTS confirms 2026 comeback and world tour The timing of the live album's release couldn't be more meaningful. Earlier this month, all seven BTS members reunited on-screen after completing their individual military enlistments. On July 1, they appeared together in a surprise Weverse livestream, sitting closely on a couch and chatting casually with fans. Their reunion brought an emotional wave across the fandom, but it also came with thrilling news. BTS confirmed that they're preparing to release a brand-new album in spring 2026. Not only that, but they also revealed plans for a full-scale world tour. The announcement reignited anticipation for what promises to be a massive return to the global stage. As ARMY waits for their official return, one thing is clear: BTS' impact isn't slowing down, it's only getting stronger.
The National
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
At Kashtat Amina, Mariam Almansoori serves up Emirati home cooking inspired by childhood memories
It begins with a kettle. Not the tall, sleek kind that whistles in designer kitchens, but the round, sturdy bronze squat vessel with a thickened base found in many Emirati homes 'It's the same one we used in our house in Abu Dhabi,' says chef Mariam Almansoori. 'Every day we used to boil the water and pour it into this big kettle with black tea with cardamom, cloves, sugar. The smell would fill the whole house.' The kettle is now just inside the entrance of Kashtat Amina, Almansoori's newly opened restaurant in Sharjah's Aljada district, with its suburban walkways and lush greenery. There's no sign beside it. No curated description. Just the quiet suggestion that memory lives in objects as much as it does in taste. For Almansoori, the decision to launch her first Emirati standalone restaurant – its name translates to 'Amina's picnic' after her mother – is more than a professional step. It's a homecoming. 'I had a lot of chances to open a restaurant before,' she says. 'But I always waited. I wanted it to be at the right time, in the right place, with the right meaning.' That meaning comes through strongest in the food, which draws directly from Almansoori's childhood meals. Dishes such as keema hamsa (minced meat sauteed with tomatoes and onions), grilled jeder (lamb shank with tamarind sauce, basmati rice and nuts) and thareed (bread soaked in meat broth with vegetables) appear on the menu not as nostalgic flourishes, but as cultural inheritances. 'It's not only about the food,' she says. 'Lots of people come and say: 'Chef, can we take this home with us?' It's just a flower on the table, or a cushion, nothing big. But to me, it's full of love. It's my mother's hand in it. I still feel her, even when I'm serving strangers.' Raised in Ras Al Khaimah, Almansoori grew up in a home with two kitchens – one run by her mother, the other often commandeered by her father – each guided by a distinct culinary philosophy that she learnt to absorb early on. 'If I ask mama how long to cook something, she never says minutes,' Almansoori says. 'She says: 'When the smell starts to change' or: 'When the rice starts to dance.' That's the kind of knowledge that stays with you.' Her father, also a skilled cook, brought a flair for presentation. 'He was all about hospitality,' she adds. 'He loved to garnish, while my mother didn't. They were always arguing about that.' Kashtat Amina carries both impulses – the quiet intimacy of home cooking and the polish of a well-run kitchen – in its expert take on rustic Emirati staples. The restaurant, bright and lined with woven baskets, with furniture and staff in indigo, is both modern and homely – and is full of local markers, from the kettle and old transistor radio to shelves of clay jars. A painting of Almansoori's mother Amina hangs proudly in the centre of the kitchen, her eyes warm in invitation. One dish that carries particular weight is the chicken maragooga, a stewed chicken with vegetables and thin bread layers. 'This was always loved by the family and guests,' she says. 'The pot would come straight from the stove to the table and we would eat it immediately.' That inherent sense of hospitality, so central to Emirati cuisine, is something she learnt from her mother. 'My mother used to make it when people came after the dhuhr prayer. It wasn't just food. It was the way she opened the house, welcomed people, showed care.' Almansoori's other ventures – including the popular Montauk in Abu Dhabi's Yas Island, where Sri Lankan rice might be topped with slow-roasted ribs and cinnamon coconut cream served alongside Emirati majboos and an apple Danish – have long embraced reinterpretation. But this time, she wanted to move in the opposite direction. 'I wanted to stop mixing. No fusion,' she says. 'I wanted to go back. Bring things to their original taste. To say: this is what we had in our houses. This is how it was done.' That backward glance, however, isn't about retreat. She speaks frequently about Emirati food as something underrepresented, not just internationally, but at home. 'If you go outside the UAE, you see restaurants from everywhere. You see Turkish, Lebanese, Japanese, but not Emirati. Even here in Sharjah or Dubai, how many restaurants are really doing Emirati cuisine? I don't mean owned by Emiratis. I mean the food.' And she's intent on giving those local flavours a global platform, with Almansoori hoping Kashtat Amina will be recognised if the Michelin Guide extends its UAE presence to Sharjah. 'We want to be ready, because there is a guideline that Michelin follows – from using organic produce to changing the menu regularly,' she says. 'We try to update parts of the menu every three months, not just to change, but to keep enhancing and evolving. There's a lot we still need to do, but I think we're more than capable – because we're doing it for the right reasons.' That desire to teach without diluting also informs her next venture: a culinary training academy for Emiratis as well as residents. 'I want to create a space where we train them from zero,' she says. 'Not just how to cook, but how to work in a kitchen, how to run a restaurant. 'I already have six or seven with me now. Some of them were not confident at first, but now they are leading the service. They are managing the guests. I'm so proud.' When asked what makes a dish truly Emirati, she doesn't hesitate. 'It's not the ingredients or technique. It's when you know what each one means and why we why we use turmeric, when we add ghee, how much to stir the rice. It's not rules. It's memory.' By the end of the visit, our own kettle of tea has gone cold. A young staff member moves to take it away, but she stops him. 'Leave it,' she says quietly. 'I just want to savour this moment a little more.'
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Meet the stars of 'Homecoming': Thembinkosi Mthembu and Mpume 'Six' Nyamane lead the telenovela charge
Thembinkosi Mthembu and Mpume "Six" Nyamane will star in the upcoming Mzansi Wethu telenovela "Homecoming". Image: X A new culturally-rich telenovela, 'Homecoming', is coming to our small screens soon. In the announcement that was shared by DStv on Monday, July 14, it was revealed that 'Homecoming' is replacing 'Sibongile & The Dlaminis", which will be coming to an end on Wednesday, July 23. Produced by the award-winning production house, Tshedza Pictures, 'Homecoming' follows the life of Zethu Hlongwane (played by former 'Generations: The Legacy' actress Mpume 'Six' Nyamane), a medical graduate who dreams of joining the list of a few black female surgeons in our country. However, she realises that her dream appears to be far-fetched because things are not going as she had hoped or planned out, which forces her to go back to her rural town of Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal. While back at home, she faces unexpected life hurdles and a complicated, unexpected love life. This telenovela features a star-studded cast including 'Shaka iLembe' star Thembinkosi Mthembu, 'Smoke and Mirrors' actor Khaya Xaba and former 'The Queen' actor Sipho Manzini. Mthembu plays the role of Sifiso Kubheka, a police officer and a traditional healer who crosses paths with Hlongwane and leaves her in a dilemma between science, tradition and love. Mthembu has solidified and dominated the acting industry for quite some time since his role on 'Shaka iLembe' for his role as King Dingiswayo, the son of King Jobe of the Mthethwa. He has gained widespread recognition and won multiple accolades for not only appearing on the historic series, but Mhembu received nods for Best Actor for his role on 'Outlaws' and Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor in a Telenovela for 'The River' in 2024. The recent announcement about his new role on 'Homecoming' received a positive reception from netizens, as many revealed that he is one of their favourite actors in Mzansi. 'Bagging roles all day, every day. Love it for him,' one social media user said. 'I love the fact that he plays different characters, he's versatile,' another user shared. ∎ 'Homecoming' premieres on Mzansi Wethu (DStv channel 163) on Monday, July 28, at 6.30pm.
TimesLIVE
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Actress Mpume 'Six' Nyamane joins Mzansi Wethu's new series
Homecoming, a compelling new telenovela from award-winning production house Tshedza Pictures, is set to premiere on Mzansi Wethu at the end of July. The telenovela features a stellar ensemble cast, blending familiar industry powerhouses with rising stars including Sabelo Hadebe, Sipho Manzini, Khombi Phetla, Mpilo Mbatha, Khayalethu Xaba and Amahle Khumalo. Set in the scenic backdrop of Bergville, KZN, Homecoming follows the journey of Zethu Hlongwane, played by rising star Mpume 'Six' Nyamane (Unmarried), a brilliant medical school graduate with dreams of becoming one of South Africa's few black female surgeons. However, when reality hits hard — no job, no placement — Zethu is left with no choice but to return to the rural village she once left behind, her aspirations seemingly stalled. Back in Bergville, Zethu finds herself torn between two worlds — one of Western science and medicine, and the other deeply rooted in African tradition. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Sifiso Kubheka, portrayed by the award-winning Thembinkosi Mthembu (Shaka iLembe, The River). Sifiso is a man of dual identities: a dedicated police officer by day, and a traditional healer by night. Their meeting ignites a powerful exploration of identity, healing, belief — and ultimately, love. Speaking to TshisaLIVE, Shirley Adonisi, director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net said: ' Homecoming is a story that speaks to so many South Africans. It is rich in emotion, grounded in culture and full of heart. We are proud to have a show on Mzansi Wethu that reflects the complexity and beauty of rural life in a way that feels fresh, honest and deeply relatable.' Homecoming is helmed by acclaimed producer Lulu Hela, who sees the series as more than just entertainment. ' Homecoming is a deeply meaningful project for us,' Hela explains. 'The title reflects a return to the places, people and practices that shaped us. At the heart of this story is a powerful conversation between traditional and Western medicine — two worlds often seen in opposition. Viewers can expect a rich, character-driven narrative that challenges, heals and sparks conversation.' This promises to be one of the most talked-about new local dramas of the year. Don't miss the premiere on Monday July 28 at 6.30pm. The show will air every Monday to Wednesday on Mzansi Wethu. Homecoming takes over the time-slot of fan-favourite Sibongile & The Dlaminis, which wraps up on Wednesday July 23.
