Local Entertainment 

Image: Instagram

Brother and sister duo, Biko’s Manna melt the world’s hearts with their talent

Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / February 21, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Biko and Manna Nhlangothi are a sister and brother duo raised by musician parents that perform as Biko Manna. They’ve been dazzling crowds with their street performances in their home county of South Africa for several years but have recently hit it big by covering popular songs on Tik Tok and Instagram.

From Jazz to Pop, this amazing duo’s musical range is versatile and has won the hearts of many. Of course, if you’re familiar with their videos, you would’ve repeatedly seen their little brother who busts out some of the coolest, most hilarious moves – talk about true choreography!

Biko’s Manna was recently celebrated by American actress, Gabriella Union’s daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade on her Instagram account, writing, ” Biko Nhlangothi has become an internet sensation recently and I can’t get enough! Biko and her brother’s, Manna and Mfundo, are a family band that perform as @bikosmanna.global where they’ve been wowing crowds with their street performances in their home country of South Africa. The band has been performing for several years now, but Biko has been singing since she was five. You can tell she is such a natural at it! This cover of ‘Put Your Records On’ has been on repeat lately and I urge you all to take a listen. Keep shining Biko I can’t wait to see what you cover next!”

Here are some of our favorite covers by the talented brother-sister duo:

Image: Supplied

Nolwazi Ngubeni’s final bow on Scandal!

Entertainment, Fused, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / February 16, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Nolwazi Ngubeni is one of South Africa’s most talented, seasoned actresses. We’ve seen her face on shows that date as far back as the early 2000s. Her most recent character was Mbali Kubeka on eTV’s Scandal!

Mbali has gone from being Jojo’s loyal wife to becoming a conniving stalker who wants no one around her husband. She’s turned into a scheming manipulator, overly ambitious, driven and prepared to do whatever it takes to get her dream life. Coming from a modest home in Snake Park, Mbali always dreamt of a better life for herself.

When she met Jojo, she saw all of her dreams coming true and immediately began lying in order to become Mrs Kubeka. Jojo used to believe that Mbali was a flower in need of protection, but once he started to see who she really is, he wondered if he wasn’t the one in need of protection instead.

Despite her flaws, Mbali truly loves Jojo and her actions, while questionable, are fueled by her need to be with him and give him the family and future he also wants. When Mbali married Jojo, she placed all her ambitions in him and so without him, she is left with nothing. Mbali is unable to carry a child, which left a big scar on her own sense of femininity. These struggles birthed the manipulative, dangerous liar that she eventually became.

“Being on Scandal! has been one of the greatest joys of my career. I truly appreciate the immense support the producers, cast and crew have shown me. I walk away with fond memories as I prepare to take on the next phase of my journey. Thank you to all the viewers for watching and consistently supporting my work. Onwards and upwards,” she said.

The South African actress, casting director and producer, who became a household name when she was awarded a  South African Film and Television Awards gong for her role in the 2008 production A Place Called Home, has earned her place on TV screens locally and abroad.

She also featured in the 2011 drama film Otelo Burning that earned her two nominations for best actress at the Safta and Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (best actress in a feature film). Nolwazi was also an actress in Single Guyz, Nothing for Mahala, Mzali Wami while working as a casting director in The Chemo Club, Farewell Ella Bella, MTV Shuga, AboMama, Umlilo and the multi-award-winning soap opera Rhythm City.

As she leaves Scandal!, the multitalented thespian will continue her journey as casting director in the new season of Mzansi Magic’s telenovela Umkhokha while also acting in another production that is yet to be announced.

Image: Instagram

Young Limpopo film director, Letlhogonolo Masipa’s film makes it big

Career, Entertainment, Fused, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / February 15, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

In the past, South African stories were always told by others and not us, but this norm has been slowly dying as South African creatives are writing their own books, singing their own songs, making their own fashion and certainly making their own films.

One of the many young creatives who is paving the way in this journey is Letlhogonolo Masipa, a film director from the Limpopo province.

Letlhogonolo’s recent short film titled “Memories Last for a Lifetime” which was shot in his home province of Limpopo has been chosen as an official selection at Kalakari Film Festival. The short film was also nominated for the Kalakari Film Awards that will be hosted in Indore – India on the 18th of March this year.

In a recent post, the artist celebrated this achievement by thanking everyone invloved in this project, including his grandparents. “Congratulations to the amazing cast and crew this one is for y’all. To my grandmother and my grandfather thank you for allowing me to tell your story,” he wrote.

The Kalakari Film Festival is an exclusive event of INDIA for upcoming artist and thinkers. It is an award function and art festival by Rishi Nikam, and is the most prestigious awards for the film, animation, visual effects, photography segment across the Indian sub-continent and beyond, including South Africa.

Letlhogonolo has a dream of becoming an Oscar-winning filmmaker, and in his words, “the Journey of getting it truly begins here” – we’d say he’s off to an amazing, inspirational start!

Image: Instagram

7 Times Pamela Mtanga slayed in red

Fashion & Beauty, Fused, Lifestyle, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / February 14, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

 Award-winning multimedia entrepreneur and beauty/fashion influencer, Pamela Mtanga from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s style, beauty, broadcasting, philanthropy, you name it, she’s got it!

In June last year (2022), Pamela was named top personality and influencer at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards hosted by Pat on Brands. The bubbly public relations graduate is one of the country’s hottest beauty and fashion influencers.

Red is the color of love, and on this Valentine’s Day, we look back at 7 red looks that Pamela absolutely slayed!

Image: Instagram

South African Tik Toker, Simo Ziqubu catches Kylie Jenner’s attention

Fused, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / January 30, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

It’s not every day that your favourite celebrity sees your content on social media, let alone respond to it. But South African Tik Toker, Simo Ziqubu garnered not only Kylie Jenner’s attention after posting a funny video, but the attention of international media too.

In the clip, Simo pretends to play the parts of both Kylie and her son’s father Travis Scott, as they attempt to pick a name for their son. The video was dubbed over with the opening moments of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, which famously begins with a narration the four elements: Water, Earth, Fire and Air.

Simo hilariously captioned it: ‘Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott deciding a baby name.’

Kylie certainly saw the funny side as she shared a comment underneath the video of two crying laughing emojis.

@simo_ziqubu

What an accurate sound 😂 IB: @Massimo Mandato #kylie #travis #aire

♬ original sound – Giselle Carrillo
Since then, the Tik Toker has created many funny follow up videos, referencing all the paparazzi he’s been receiving since ‘making it big’. Hilarious!
Image: Instagram

Akhenime Mfenyana impresses viewers with her beauty and talent on Mzansi Magic’s Gqeberha: The Empire

Entertainment, Fused, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / January 19, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

With an impressive cast, gripping storylines, and mouth-watering plot twists, the new Mzansi Magic telenovela, Gqeberha: The Empire, is promised to be a favorite with Mzansi viewers.

Produced by the multi-award winning Tshedza Pictures (The River, The Republic, Legacy), this is the first Mzansi Magic telenovela filmed entirely in the Eastern Cape.

Gqeberha: The Empire’s star-studded cast includes Zikhona Sodlaka (The Wife, Blood Psalms); Zandile Msutwana (Grootboom & Sons, The Queen); Mbulelo Grootboom (Wounds, Suidooster); Kay Bikitsha (The Queen); Phila Madlingozi (Isikizi, The Queen); Anele Matoti (Recipes for Love and Murder, Wounds); and Akhenime Mfenyana.

Luzuko Mxenge (played by Grootboom) is a successful businessman who is husband to three very different, very strong wives: Bulelwa (played by Sodlaka), Zimkhita (played by Luzuko) and Nozuko (played by Bikitsha). What more could he want? Another wife, for starters.

Akhenime’s character, Anathi is first noticed by Thulani, the businessman’s son, but later impresses the businessman himself with her beauty when he dines at the restaurant he works at. With her poor background and dream of becoming a chef with her own restaurant, Anathi agrees to marry Luzuko because she is charmed by him and knows that marrying him will change the life of her family.

Her portrayal of Anathi has already impressed viewers – and who doesn’t love a fresh face on television?

“Mzansi Magic is excited to premiere a new telenovela, which is one of the genres our channel is known for and that our viewers enjoy greatly. With its premiere, we are excited to expand into Gqeberha and the Eastern Cape – a first for the telenovela world.

With the incredible quality of storytelling from one of the top production houses on the continent, we are optimistic that the audiences will fall in love with the series,” says Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net.

His decision to expand the family soon threatens to bring out the bitterness his wives have long suppressed ­­– but also comes with complications no one could have predicted, endangering his relationship with his heir-apparent.

Gqeberha: The Empire follows themes of dynasty, family, love, betrayal, polygamy, and jealousy, through the lens of characters viewers will be able to relate to – there will be those you root for and those you love to hate.

Catch the show every weekday at 9pm only on Mzansi Magic.

South African babies of Tik Tok that made our ovaries scream in 2022

Entertainment, Fused, Humour, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / December 28, 2022

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

If you don’t have any children, these babies probably made you consider starting a family of your own, or if you have older children, these babies might’ve made you think of adding just one more. Either way, they’re the cutest little munchkins you’ll see on South African Tik Tok.

  1. If you’re a regular on Tik Tok, you must have come across mischevious little baby Una who is strong and always up to something!
@ammy_4una

18months and we still at it 😩, #fyp #motherhood #babiesoftiktok

♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune

2. Baby Daniel, or “Danxaza” as his nanny affectionately calls him, takes no days off! Even in his Christmas hat, Danxaza will always have a broom in hand, ready to clean up a storm!

@anellevoyi101

♬ original sound – anellevoyi101

3. Lulu’s love for her dad and food can’t go unnoticed! She’s the sweetest, cutest little baby girl. How she demolishes her parents’ food is hilarious!

@kwamatokazi

Inyama ncaaaa emntaneni wa #kwamatokazi emgidini wakwa Bangiso ekhaya

♬ original sound – KwaMatokazi
  1. No baby is as unphased about anything like baby Mohumi – his mother might suffer here and there because of his….curiosity, though!
@brandcupid

Replying to @serriggs It feels like within 5 seconds🙄🧐😄 What is he chanting🧐🧐#40millionbaby #40millionconversationswithkids #tatatata

♬ original sound – Brand Cupid
5. Baby Cyus is so adorable, and his cousin is hilarious!
@lala_d2

😅😂😅🫶🏻#BoostYourRadiance #AnythingForTheTaste #babyCyus #nephew #son

♬ original sound – Lala_d2
Image: Instagram

South African soprano, Pretty Yende is flying the country’s flag high

Entertainment, Fused, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / December 20, 2022

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Her voice has been dubbed a voice that can reach the stars by the Washington Post, and it seems South African operatic soprano Pretty Yende is aiming even higher.

In October 2022, Pretty was awarded a Ceremonial Badge of Honour for her contribution to the arts and letters in France and worldwide after just 12 years of making her professional operatic debut at the Latvian National Theatre in Riga, Latvia, as Micaela in Carmen in 2010. From the small town of Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, to the world!

Pretty was bestowed an Order of Arts and Letters award by France’s Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak.

“The Order of Arts and Letters, established in 1957 by the French Minister of Culture, rewards those who, through their ongoing engagement and creativity, have helped develop the arts and literature in France and throughout the world,” according to the Medailles Officielles website.

“I feel extremely honoured and humbled by such a prestigious Decoration,” Pretty wrote as she shared a video of the moment on Twitter.

Other prestigious awards include an award from the South African government ‘The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver’ for her excellent achievement and international acclaim in the field of world of opera and for serving as a role model to aspiring young musicians.

And more recently being a recipient of the Italian Knighthood, Ordine Stella d’Italia for her work in building extraordinary relations between Italy and other countries, making her the youngest South African ever awarded this accolade.

The sky is definitely not the limit for Pretty, and we can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!

Image: Instagram

The Joy from Kwa-Zulu Natal is spreading joy across the globe through their musical talent

Entertainment, Fused, Lifestyle, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / December 13, 2022

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

When these five young men started their music group in 2018 while still in high school, they had no idea how far it was going to take them. Now, just four years later, they find themselves entertaining global audiences, and sharing a stage with the legendary American singer and actress, Jennifer Hudson.

@thejoyofficialmus

All we’re saying is tune into NBC on Tuesday 06.12! Thank you Jennifer Hudson for the experience.We love you! ❤️🌻

♬ original sound – thejoyofficialmusic

The quintet first started posting videos of their beautiful harmonies on YouTube, while in their school classrooms – the videos blew up as they grew more popular and started releasing more singing videos.

A few years later, The Joy now boasts over 400 thousand followers on Tik Tok, with a recent video even reaching over 4 million views.

@thejoyofficialmus

🤣Been a while !!!

♬ original sound – thejoyofficialmusic

Over the past few weeks, The Joy have released a brand-new single that showcases a deeper, richer side to their sound and appeared on one of the most iconic UK music television shows of the past three decades.

Titled “Egoli” their new single maintains the quintet’s roots in traditional Zulu music and modern acapella, but the Tiago Correia Paulo-produced track brings in Maskandi-influenced guitarwork and delicate production flourishes to create a truly wonderful listening experience.

On November 12th The Joy appeared on the iconic UK music show Later…with Jools Holland; it was for a one-off live recorded specially for Jool’s 30th Birthday Bash filmed at London’s Eventim Apollo.

They performed their debut single “Isencane Lengane” on an episode of the show that also featured Michael Kiwanuka, Mercury Prize winner, Benjamin Clementine, and Swedish sisters, First Aid Kit.

Just as their slogan says, life made them friends, music made them brothers – we can’t help but be inspired by their talent, hard work, and tenacity! They are Fuse Favorites, hands down!

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