Latest news with #Sango
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Southern Cross top geography school in SA
HOEDSPRUIT – Southern Cross Schools (SCS) has earned national recognition after two of its Gr 12 learners, Sophie Swemmer and Kelly Taylor, excelled in the prestigious Southern African National Geography Olympiad (Sango) 2025. Sophie Swemmer achieved a remarkable second place nationally, making her the top-performing female learner in South Africa and the top Gr 12 learner in Limpopo. Her outstanding performance also placed her in the top 1% of participants, earning her a Platinum Award. Close behind, Kelly Taylor secured fourth place nationally, also achieving a Platinum Award for being among the top 1% of competitors across the country. Their combined achievements have earned Southern Cross Schools the title of Top Sango School in South Africa for 2025, a prestigious accolade that highlights the school's academic excellence and commitment to nurturing talent in the field of geography. Principal and staff have commended both learners for their hard work, dedication, and passion for learning. 'Sophie and Kelly have put SCS on the map, quite literally, and we could not be prouder,' Alex Adams of SCS said.
The Citizen
22-07-2025
- The Citizen
Two die, one in hospital after fatal accident
SHARPEVILLE.- A culpable homicide case is being investigated following a fatal accident that took place in Tshepiso Phase 1, Sharpeville in the early hours of Sunday, July 20. It is said that police were called to the scene of the accident that involved a white Toyota Etios that had crashed into a tree where it remained trapped. It is believed that the driver lost control of the vehicle before the crash. Police spokesperson, Constable Busisiwe Sango, said that upon arrival at the accident police discovered that three people had been injured. One person was taken to the Sharpeville Clinic and the other two to the Sebokeng Hospital. Two of the people involved in the accident later died due to the extent of their injuries, one at the Sharpeville Clinic and the other at the Sebokeng Hospital. 'We are investigating a culpable homicide case and, the investigations that are ongoing will determine the cause of the accident,' Sango confirmed. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- The Citizen
Murder inside Quantum
SHARPEVILLE.- The Sharpeville police are investigating a murder case after a man was mysteriously killed in Sharpeville last week. The Sharpeville police responded to a complaint on Friday, at about 19:30 where a witness informed them that he was driving on Seeiso Street in the direction of Vereeniging when he heard gunshots inside a Quantum (taxi), said police spokesperson, Constable Busisiwe Sango, that is when he phoned the police. 'Upon further investigation, the police found a man lying inside the quantum with multiple gunshot wounds. The suspect is unknown at this stage and an investigation is underway,' Sango said. Sharpeville police are pleading with the members of the community that anyone who might have information that could assist the police in this matter to contact the police on 08600 10111,112 or visit the Mysaps app which can be downloaded on any smartphone. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Kuwait Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Online or on stage, C.African comics try to break through
Under a mango tree in a residential area of Bangui, the filming of "Problem Booth" is under way, a series of skits imagined by Lemuel Luther-King Godonam and a few fellow comedians. Filming, then uploading the videos to build a following is an uphill struggle in the Central African Republic, a war-scarred country that is one of the world's poorest and where internet penetration is just 15.5 percent. But Godonam, a 19-year-old high school student, is undeterred. As "Luther LG" he leads the troupe, playing the harassed owner of a shop dealing with problem customers and the girl selling peanuts next door. He just wants to make a name for himself. "It's a new thing for us," he said, explaining the lack of scripts and dialogue, and the use of a simple sign as scenery. "You can count comedians here on the fingers of one hand," he added. 'People need this' A few curious locals stopped to see how it was all done. "I thought they just did this on the phone but there's real effort behind it," said 21-year-old student Kharl Malibangar, marveling at the booms, mics and cameras. "I want to encourage them, like their channels, subscribe and give them likes," he added. "Humor helps a lot of people. We've been through war and people need this to escape and relax." Actress Manuella Koula, known as Poutine, talks into a microphone ahead of the filming of a comedy sketch on the outskirts of Bangui. Director Luther Lemuel Godonam (center) poses for a photograph with the rest of the team after filming a comedy sketch on the outskirts of Bangui. Gervais Symphorien Kpignonin (center), a member of the Bangui Parrots, performs during their comedy sketch at the Missy Momo cultural center as part of an event marking the beginning of the cultural season in Bangui. The Bangui Parrots perform a comedy sketch at the Missy Momo cultural center during an event marking the beginning of the cultural season in Bangui. Godonam said he wants to take comedy from the CAR "to another level" and win fame outside the country. That is why the young performers, aged between 19 and 24, speak in French rather than Sango, one of the country's official languages. "It's not just Central Africans who follow me," said Godonam, who dreams of being as popular as Cameroonians, Ivorians or Beninese on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. "Foreigners also need to understand what's being said, so I have to do it in French." Posting the videos online however is a challenge. "There isn't good internet connection here, which stops me from posting on certain networks," said one of the other comedians, Jessie Pavelle. "It stops me from getting noticed." Sometimes, the 2,000 CFA francs ($3.40) that 19-year-old Pavelle puts on her phone as credit is used up even before her video is online. Such problems mean they cannot rely on an online presence alone. Professionalize But the Central African capital is sorely lacking in the kind of comedy venues or events that Ivory Coast, a launchpad for comedians, enjoys. Niger's Mamane, whose "very, very democratic Republic of Gondwana" mocks dictatorial tendencies in Africa, has run the "Abidjan: capital of laughter" festival for the last 10 years. Ivory Coast's economic capital also boasts filming locations, where production companies create comedy shows, bars where stand-up nights are held regularly -- and even, in recent years, comedy schools. "Ivory Coast is the country of comedy," Mamane told AFP as he recorded his "Parliament of Laughter" show, broadcast on French channel Canal+. "You've just got to arrive at the airport in Abidjan and get off the plane... the Ivorian sense of humor is everywhere, it's become legendary and spread across west Africa and all of central Africa." Mamane said he could have spent his career in France. But he wanted to come back to help develop professional comedy in Africa. Next generation The Central African Republic is not quite there yet, said Gervais Symphorien Kpignon, from the famous Bangui Parrots troupe. Comedy spots are often limited to official political ceremonies or events organized by NGOs where the aim is to "raise awareness, sensitize and educate the population" through humor, he said. That's a far cry from the new wave, which is focused on more lightweight topics such as romantic relationships. To bridge a gap and ensure the future of Central African comedy, Yvon Cyrille Gone -- also known as Dr Mandjeke -- created the "Bangui Laughs" festival seven years ago. He also trains a new generation of young Central African comedians. "The young people who are coming up are good but they don't have enough experience so I decided to give them a hand," he said. That night, he added Jessie Pavelle's name at the last minute to perform alongside more experienced comedians. It was only her second time in front of an audience. The white plastic chairs at the Missy-Momo cultural space in Bangui were all taken and the audience burst out laughing when she joked about big guys being generous and skinny ones being stingy. "I really want to become the best-known Central African comedian in the world," she said after finishing her set. - AFP
eNCA
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- eNCA
Online or on stage, Central African comics try to break through
BANGUI - Under a mango tree in a residential area of Bangui, the filming of "Problem Booth" is under way, a series of skits imagined by Lemuel Luther-King Godonam and a few fellow comedians. Filming, then uploading the videos to build a following is an uphill struggle in the Central African Republic, a war-scarred country that is one of the world's poorest and where internet penetration is just 15.5 percent. But Godonam, a 19-year-old high school student, is undeterred. As "Luther LG" he leads the troupe, playing the harassed owner of a shop dealing with problem customers and the girl selling peanuts next door. He just wants to make a name for himself. "It's a new thing for us," he said, explaining the lack of scripts and dialogue, and the use of a simple sign as scenery. "You can count comedians here on the fingers of one hand," he added. AFP | PATRICK MEINHARDT "Godonam said he wants to take comedy from the CAR "to another level" and win fame outside the country. That is why the young performers, aged between 19 and 24, speak in French rather than Sango, one of the country's official languages. "It's not just Central Africans who follow me," said Godonam, who dreams of being as popular as Cameroonians, Ivorians or Beninese on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram. "Foreigners also need to understand what's being said, so I have to do it in French." Posting the videos online however is a challenge. "There isn't good internet connection here, which stops me from posting on certain networks," said one of the other comedians, Jessie Pavelle. "It stops me from getting noticed." Sometimes, the 2,000 CFA francs ($3.40) that 19-year-old Pavelle puts on her phone as credit is used up even before her video is online. Such problems mean they cannot rely on an online presence alone. But the Central African capital is sorely lacking in the kind of comedy venues or events that Ivory Coast, a launchpad for comedians, enjoys. AFP | Issouf SANOGO Niger's Mamane, whose "very, very democratic Republic of Gondwana" mocks dictatorial tendencies in Africa, has run the "Abidjan: capital of laughter" festival for the last 10 years. Ivory Coast's economic capital also boasts filming locations, where production companies create comedy shows, bars where stand-up nights are held regularly -- and even, in recent years, comedy schools. "Ivory Coast is the country of comedy," Mamane told AFP as he recorded his "Parliament of Laughter" show, broadcast on French channel Canal+. "You've just got to arrive at the airport in Abidjan and get off the plane... the Ivorian sense of humour is everywhere, it's become legendary and spread across west Africa and all of central Africa." Mamane said he could have spent his career in France. But he wanted to come back to help develop professional comedy in Africa.
