Latest news with #MusicAwards
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Khanyi Mbau jets off to Los Angeles for Netflix Reality Universe
Khanyi is the first African to receive a Netflix Reality Universe Superlatives nomination. Media personality Khanyi Mbau recently jetted off to Los Angeles for the annual Netflix Reality Universe Superlatives, a global celebration of Netflix's most popular reality TV stars. Mbau made history this year, becoming the first African to receive a nomination in the prestigious awards, and it's her first-ever career nomination. She is nominated in the Main Character Energy category for her role in the hit Netflix reality series Young, Famous & African. 'So excited to be nominated as the first African for the Netflix Superlative vote for: Main Character Energy… 'What does giving the main character energy mean? Taking a lead role in your own life rather than living as a supporting cast member for others,' she wrote, sharing the exciting news on Instagram earlier this month. ALSO READ: Dr Rebecca Malope to receive lifetime honour at Basadi in Music Awards Khanyi Mbau: '16 hours flight' Mbau posted a few snaps on her Instagram Stories, giving fans a sneak peek inside her trip to the United States for the prestigious awards. Pictures: Khanyi Mbau's IG stories/Screenshot Voting closed on 15 July, with winners set to be announced during the Netflix Summer Break event on 17 July. Mbau is competing against several international reality TV personalities, including Too Hot to Handle's Harry Jowsey, Love Is Blind's Jess Vestal, and Owning Manhattan's Ryan Serhant. NOW READ: Gigaba's ex-wife on leaked sex video: 'We were blackmailed for almost six months'
ABC News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Marlon Williams guest programs rage
Singer-songwriter, actor, and absolute delight, Marlon Williams is guest programming rage this weekend. It's been 10 years since the Aotearoa artist released his debut self-titled solo album which landed him on the Australian ARIA and New Zealand album charts. Since then, Williams has been busy touring, scoring acting gigs in movies and TV shows like A Star Is Born , True History of the Kelly Gang , and Lone Wolf , earning top nods at the APRA, Aotearoa, and New Zealand music awards, and, of course, releasing more records – most recently his fourth studio album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka. Released earlier this year, the stunning record is sung entirely in te reo Māori as part of his journey to reconnect with his ancestral tongue, family, friends, and hometown of Lyttelton. And now, Marlon Williams is sharing some of that journey with us as he jumps on the red couch for his first full length rage hosting and lines up music videos that have shaped his life and a sample of what's in store: CHRIS ISAAK - Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing PATEA MAORI CLUB - Poi E WAXAHATCHEE & MJ LENDERMAN - Right Back To It LAURA JEAN - Touchstone THE BATS - Loline So join Marlon Williams as he guest programs rage this Saturday July 19 from 10:30am and 11:31pm on ABC TV.
CTV News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Bad Bunny makes a ‘political statement' as Puerto Rico residency begins
Bad Bunny performs during the iHeartRadio Music Awards, on Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP via CNN Newsource) A sense of excitement has permeated Puerto Rico as homegrown artist Bad Bunny, one of the world's biggest music stars, begins his long-awaited residency on Friday. Stores are selling out memorabilia, restaurants are creating themed menu items and local news stations are devoting special coverage to what residents are calling 'Bad Bunny mania.' Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, is performing a series of 30 concerts that fans say are meant to galvanize Puerto Rico's unique sense of pride and resilience against the backdrop of economic uncertainty, gentrification, and the long-lasting impact of colonialism. The first nine shows of his residency will be performed exclusively for Puerto Rican residents, while the rest will invite fans from around the world in a larger effort to promote the island's rich culture. All 30 shows, which will take place at the 18,500-seat arena Coliseo de Puerto Rico, have been sold out. Prioritizing Puerto Ricans for the residency 'signals that Benito is speaking personally to Puerto Ricans first and foremost,' said Jorell Meléndez-Badillo, historian of Puerto Rico. The shows are also considered a powerful symbol of Puerto Rican self-reliance and the belief that the U.S. territory can stand tall on its own, says Javier J. Hernández Acosta, dean of the School of Arts, Design and Creative Industries at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan. He views the concerts as a chance to show off the island's creative arts, which he says are Puerto Rico's 'best resource to build a future of economic, social and political development.' Ahead of the first show on Friday, the atmosphere outside the arena was festive, with music blaring and vendors selling food and merchandise as fans lined up to enter the arena. '(I'm) excited, super excited, super happy to see Bad Bunny live here in Puerto Rico, which is a unique experience that can only be had in Puerto Rico. Seeing Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico isn't the same as seeing him in another part of the world,' said Gilda Santos. 'Bad Bunny has been unique, unique, in carrying the name of Puerto Rico high. And now with this residency, we are here, so that they know that Puerto Rico is the island of enchantment,' said Jackeline Carrasquillo, a fan from Río Grande. Affirming Puerto Rican culture As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico does not have statehood status, although its residents are American citizens. As residents of a territory rather than a state, Puerto Ricans can't vote for president in the U.S. general election. The territory has a nonvoting delegate in Congress, called a resident commissioner. The King of Latin Trap has often sought to amplify the often-marginalized voices of the U.S. territory and to highlight the struggles his fellow Boricuas and other Latinos have faced and overcome. The concerts will feature songs from his latest album, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' (I Should Have Taken More Photos), which explores themes of injustice, including displacement, gentrification and American colonialism. The track 'Lo Que Le Pasó a Hawaii' (What Happened to Hawaii), for example, expresses concern that displacement could cause Puerto Rico to lose its identity. In a melancholy tone, he sings, 'They want to take away the river and the beach. They want my neighborhood and Grandma to leave. No, don't let go of the flag or forget the lelolai. I don't want them to do to you what happened to Hawaii.' Hawaii only became the 50th U.S. state in 1959, more than 60 years after the U.S. government overthrew its monarchy. The song 'Nuevayol,' meanwhile, celebrates the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York and the contributions Latinos have made to the United States. More than 5 million Puerto Ricans are estimated to be living in the U.S. mainland, according to the Pew Research Center. Many have left the island in recent years due to rising living costs, natural disasters, an energy crisis and other hardships. 'The theme and the ethos of this record is sort of affirming that Puerto Rican culture in the face of cultural and physical displacement of Puerto Ricans,' said Meléndez-Badillo, who teaches at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is attending one of the concerts this weekend. Some of those topics are also amplified in the music visualizers that accompany the songs. They display informative text about Puerto Rico's history and were written by Meléndez-Badillo himself at the request of Bad Bunny's team. A world tour without the U.S. The Puerto Rico residency will be followed by a larger world tour that notably leaves out the biggest market for musicians: the United States mainland – a choice that Meléndez-Badillo says is likely a 'political statement.' Fans have speculated that his decision to skip the U.S. could be connected to Bad Bunny's recent criticism of U.S. policies, such as the mass immigration crackdown under U.S. President Donald Trump, which has largely targeted Latinos. Earlier this year, he posted an Instagram story of what appeared to be a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid, where he reportedly called agents 'sons of b*tches' for targeting people trying to work. Asked by Variety magazine why he wouldn't be performing in the U.S., Bad Bunny simply replied: 'It's unnecessary,' pointing out that fans in the U.S. have had many opportunities to see him perform. The star is essentially telling the U.S., 'You are not the center of the world,' according to Hernández Acosta, and that Puerto Ricans 'are the ones who set the priorities here.' Above everything else, he continued, the performances are also a chance for Puerto Ricans to celebrate and have fun after years of hardship, including recovering from the devastating Hurricane Maria in 2017. 'We have to celebrate things,' he said. 'That's what life is for.' By Michael Rios.
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Trend Alert Prada, Gucci, Dolce: Gen Z's Fashion Shift
From vintage Louis Vuitton bags to timeless Cartier pieces, Gen Z consumers are embracing second-hand with enthusiasm, not as a fallback, but as the main character choice. Gen Z isn't just changing fashion; they're redefining what luxury means. In a world where designer price tags keep soaring, a new generation of South African shoppers is making pre-owned fashion the ultimate status symbol. For them, it's not about compromise, it's about control, consciousness, and curation. 'Luxury is still in demand, but today's shopper is in control,' says Michael Zahariev, co-founder of Luxity, South Africa's leading reseller of authenticated pre-owned luxury goods. 'They want meaningful purchases, things that reflect their values as much as their style.' Owning the narrative Luxury fashion store front in a modern shopping mall. Picture: iStock Globally, sales of new luxury goods are slowing down for the first time since 2009, but in South Africa, the resale market is gaining serious traction. From vintage Louis Vuitton bags to timeless Cartier pieces, Gen Z consumers are embracing second-hand with enthusiasm, not as a fallback, but as the main character choice. It's all about personal curation over conformity. 'There's a thrill in finding something iconic that doesn't scream, 'I just walked out of the store,'' says Zahariev. Whether in Durban, Pretoria, or Polokwane, young consumers are proudly wearing pieces with history, creating their luxury timeline, one unique purchase at a time. ALSO READ:Dr Rebecca Malope to receive lifetime honour at Basadi in Music Awards Sustainability is the new status For Gen Z, environmental impact matters. Fast fashion's ugly footprint has made resale more than a trend; it's a movement. 'Luxury is about endurance, not excess,' explains Zahariev. 'Our clients know that when you buy pre-owned, you're investing in quality that lasts, and making a statement against waste.' With fashion accounting for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, South Africa's young luxury lovers are increasingly leaning toward circular fashion. Over 50% of clients resell their items later, proving that stylish sustainability is here to stay. Counterfeit culture and the authentication game Luxury handbags. Picture: iStock But with demand comes danger. 'Superfakes' are flooding the market, mimicking high-end items with unnerving precision. Zahariev warns, 'These fakes are designed to sit in the sweet spot, believable enough to feel like a steal, but just cheap enough to raise questions.' That's why Gen Z is turning to verified resellers. Authentication isn't just added value; it's essential. 'Our clients pay for certainty,' says Zahariev. 'They want luxury they can trust.' A new era of fashion With resellers leading the charge and Gen Z driving the shift, pre-owned luxury isn't just a smart choice, it's a powerful one. Fashion is no longer about the newest drop; it's about making every piece tell a story. And right now? Gen Z is writing the most stylish one yet.
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Abdul Khoza withdraws from celebrity boxing match
Abdul was scheduled to face rapper Chad Da Don in the ring later this month. The 'Fist of Fame' celebrity boxing match will be held later this month. Picture: Instagram/@official_celebrityboxing_sa Actor Abdul Khoza has pulled out of the highly anticipated 'Fist of Fame' celebrity boxing match. The Wife star was scheduled to face rapper Chad Da Don in the ring later this month, on 26 July at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. On the same day, actor and musician NaakMusiQ will also trade blows with businessman Phumlani Njilo. Over the weekend, Khoza released a statement confirming his withdrawal, citing new professional commitments. 'I know many of you were looking forward to seeing me in the ring at the Fists of Fame Celebrity Boxing match… Unfortunately, I won't be participating this time around. 'Life threw me a few exciting commitments that I couldn't say no to – but don't worry, I'll still be cheering from the sidelines and sending love to all the stars stepping into the ring,' Khoza said. He thanked fans for their support, adding that he will announce his new projects in due course. 'Thank you for always supporting me in everything I do. I appreciate you all more than words can say, and I can't wait to share what's next with you soon…' ALSO READ: 'I want to give someone a blue eye': Skeem Saam actor Pholoso Mohlala ready to get in the ring Chad ready to rumble Presented by TLB Boxing Promotions, the Fist of Fame celebrity boxing bout was announced in April this year. In an interview with Robert Marawa on 947, Chad expressed his passion for boxing and said he was ready to face Khoza in the ring. 'I just never took the sport seriously. I never got into the ring, but I've always loved boxing. 'You are going to feel my strength. I've been a fighter my whole life. I'm training overtime. I'm a sportsman. I'm not scared of any man – especially Abdul.' The Fists of Fame series follows a growing trend of celebrity boxing matches in South Africa. Previous events have featured rapper Cassper Nyovest taking on the likes of Slik Talk, Priddy Ugly, NaakMusiQ, and Big Zulu, who went up against Phumlani Njilo – to name a few. NOW READ: Dr Rebecca Malope to receive lifetime honour at Basadi in Music Awards
