Latest news with #Teboho
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Midrand Chess Club novices Arham and Teboho shine in official tournaments
The Midrand Chess Club continues to nurture and develop promising talent, with two of its young players recently making impressive strides in official tournaments. Arham Khalife (14) competed in the Chess Powerhouse Youth Day Rapid on June 16, while seven-year-old Teboho Ntseare participated in the JMC Blairgowrie Rapid on June 8. Both players showed significant progress and discipline. Arham performed exceptionally well, placing second in the B Section, a notable achievement considering the fast-paced 15-minute format. This was only Teboho's second tournament, and she finished seventh out of 18 competitors in the U8/U10 Combined Section. Despite facing tough competition, Teboho's resilience was particularly impressive, especially after a crucial comeback in Round Six following an early setback. Also read: Midrand Chess Club rising stars move their pieces in official tournaments Kgosimang Molefe, the club's coach, praised their growth and outlined the focus moving forward. 'We still need to review Arham's games, as they serve as preparation for the upcoming SA Open Championship this month. Teboho's resilience during Round Six was a testament to her improvement in managing nerves and game strategy, a key improvement from her Midrand League showing.' He emphasised that both players adhered to their training strategies, utilising familiar openings, managing their time effectively, and sharpening their tactical alertness. 'Arham executed this well, while Teboho worked on improving her board vision and time management, both areas where she made notable progress.' 'Arham is ready for tougher opponents and is on the verge of moving into higher-rated sections. Teboho is gaining confidence and beginning to understand tournament dynamics, which is a significant step for her age. Both players reflect the Midrand Chess Club's growing culture of commitment and competitiveness.' Also read: Midrand Chess Club's prodigy Arham Khalife wins gold at JMC Crawford International Tournament Looking ahead, the club plans to enhance training to meet the specific needs of each player. For Arham, the focus will shift toward complex middlegames and advanced tactics in preparation for facing tougher opponents. Teboho will continue to refine her calculation skills, visualisation techniques, and the management of tournament nerves to build her confidence and resilience. 'We are waiting for the release of the SA Open 2025 dates, after which the Midrand Chess Club's league and tournament calendar will resume. We are also scouting for new talent and will be hosting training intensives during the winter holidays.' Read more: Midrand Chess Club continues to inspire and empower local talent Molefe expressed pride in the progress of his players, particularly those from previously underrepresented areas. 'Their success is proof that, with the right support, local talent can rise and compete. We also extend our gratitude to the parents and the community for backing their journeys.' For those interested in supporting or joining the club, please contact Kgosimang Molefe at 073 494 3478 or via email at kgosi@ Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Teboho Louis: The Outie from Langa
The great Louis Moholo passed away on June 13, 2025. Image: Supplied In one of the most personal and powerful accounts of Louis Teboho 'Bra Tebs' Moholo, titled 'Remembering the Blue Notes: South Africa's First Generation of Free Jazz' by Gwen Ansell, the author shares a quote that encapsulates the deep frustration which drove the mass exodus of some of South Africa's finest artists. It also conveys the stifling, oppressive environment experienced by them—and other people regarded as non-white—in apartheid South Africa. 'We were all kind of rebels,' drummer Louis Teboho Moholo-Moholo recalls, 'so, like birds of a feather, [we] flocked together.' Birds do not walk away—they fly. And so it was with the Blue Notes: a group of rebels and radicals—literally, figuratively, and artistically. They flew to places where they could be themselves: artists, creatives, free spirits. They took with them 'ideas from the Xhosa music—complex rhythms; overtone singing; the oscillating harmonics of stretched bowstrings; a heterophony of voices, each cycling through its own sequence of notes and beats—that have infused Eastern Cape jazz, from the work of pioneering bandleaders such as Christopher Columbus Ngcukana in the 1950s right through to current players such as Andile Yenana and Feya Faku,' as Ansell writes. One could add that they also carried with them the rich and vibrant urban township (elokishini) sound of the Merry Macs, and the lasting influence of big band leaders like Joel 'Mbrooks' Mlomo, of whom Langa had several. As he left these shores, Teboho carried the haunting resonance of Tem Hawker's Harmony Kings Band with him—Bra Tem is a story all on his own. Bra Tebs, ever the seeker of the holy grail of music, was once part of Langa's flourishing jazz scene. This included groups like the Hay Marketers, Zum Bum Rhythm, Rhythm Jugglers, and the Sentimental Monarchs, among others. He awoke to the sounds of De Bafana Band and the Hip Cats Trio—Joe Oliphant, Christopher Columbus Ngcukana, and Tem Hawker. He often spoke of the great Moses Molelekwa, the multi-instrumentalist he described as 'that cat with another sound'. He was lulled to sleep—and disturbed in his sleep—by the Dlova brothers: Danayi on piano, and Woodrow 'Bra Wood' Dlova on trumpet, whose searing tone shaped the soundscape of Langa. As Kwezi Kobus and Carla Lottering have written in more detail, these musicians left a permanent imprint. Teboho also internalised the pain of the forced removals from Ndabeni/Uitvlugt (modern-day Pinelands and Epping), weaving it into his rhythms: the amagwijo of young men going to the mountain; the humming, throat-deep mbolorho of migrant workers singing of green mountains, lush fields of home, and the backbreaking mule work in the city. Such a vibrant community, and a rich family environment, inevitably left a mark on Teboho and shaped his approach to music. He brought this essence into the Blue Notes—a sound that was free yet disciplined, rough yet soothing to the soul. It bypassed the ear and struck straight at the heart. This was a sound that could not be contained. It was too cheeky, too insubordinate, too bold—everything the apartheid government did not want a Bantu to be. This was Louis's sound. It was the sound that, according to jazz photographer Valerie Wilmer (as quoted by Gwen Ansell), 'literally upturned the London jazz scene, helping to create an exciting climate in which other young players could develop their own ideas about musical freedom'. The rebels left. But with them, they took the soul of this country. The staid British jazz scene was hit by a hurricane of sound—defiant, joyful, difficult to categorise. In every venue they played, it reverberated with echoes of umqhashiyo, kwela, mbaqanga, sorrowful hymns of Mothers' Union gatherings, tears for those left behind, longing for home, lost love, broken hearts and homes. All these came through in Bra Tebs' performances—alongside jazz greats like Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, Keith Tippett, Evan Parker, and Jon Surman. These musicians consistently hailed the Blue Notes as pioneers, innovators whose influence revitalised the dwindling jazz scene in Europe at the time. One witnessed this first-hand at venues like Ronnie Scott's or the Vortex in Islington. As Louis walked in, the musicians on stage would nod respectfully mid-performance; he would wave back, and the patrons would flock to his table. He'd speak to them as though they were old friends—no airs, no pretence. Just Teboho, the outie from Langa. Eskom—as Langa is affectionately known. Thank you to all those who contributed additional information. * This is a piece written by Geoff Mamputa on the passing of his friend, Louis Moholo, the great jazz musician and drummer. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
The Citizen
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Midrand Chess Club rising stars move their pieces in official tournaments
The Midrand Chess Club continues to nurture and develop promising talent, with two of its young players recently making impressive strides in official tournaments. Arham Khalife (14) competed in the Chess Powerhouse Youth Day Rapid on June 16, while Teboho Ntseare (7) participated in the JMC Blairgowrie Rapid on June 8. Arham performed exceptionally well, placing second in the B section, a notable achievement considering the fast-paced 15-minute format. Read more: Young Midrand Chess Club player garners two accolades in a week This was only Teboho's second rated tournament, and she finished seventh out of 18 competitors in the U8/U10 combined section. Speaking to the club's coach, Kgosimang Molefe, he praised their growth and outlined the focus moving forward. 'We still need to review Arham's games, as they serve as preparation for the upcoming SA Open Championship this month. 'Teboho's resilience during round six was a testament to her improvement in managing nerves and game strategy, a key improvement from her Midrand League showing. 'Arham is ready for tougher opponents and is on the verge of moving into higher-rated sections. Teboho is gaining confidence and beginning to understand tournament dynamics, which is a significant step for her age. Both players reflect the Midrand Chess Club's growing culture of commitment and competitiveness.' The Midrand Chess Club's league and tournament calendar will resume after the SA Opens. The club is also scouting for new talent and will be hosting training intensives during the winter holidays. For those interested in supporting or joining the club, please contact Kgosimang Molefe at 073 494 3478 or via email at kgosi@ Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
