In 2022, South Africa’s favourite little girl, Lethukthula Bhengu was only 2 years old when she made the news for being able to read and write. A year later and she has now won the 2023 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Favourite African Kidfluencer at the tender age of 3.
The little girl’s mother, Ntombikayise Bhengu, took to social media to thank everyone who voted and has been supporting her daughter, “Thank you guys. Saving this for Lethu to see how good God is, how supportive you guys are and how capable kids are. Kids can be kids and still learn mathematics, learn how to read and a lot more. If they can dance to a Mapiano Song, they can certainly do more than we credit them for!” she wrote.
The annual award ceremony celebrates children’s top choices in entertainment media, and the kids vote on the winners in each category. Hosted live from the Microsoft Theatre by Nate Burleson and Charli D’Amelio, while Lerai Rakoditsoe hosted the KCA Africa Special, the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2023 was filled with extreme logic-defying stunts, illusions and tricks.
The 2023 KCA Kidfluencer nominees were: YouTuber Alakhe Mdoda, young prodigy Lethukuthula Bhengu, dancer, singer, and social media influencer Rethabile Mokgatla, social media sensation Siba Bogopa, multiple-award-winning and officially The World’s Youngest DJ, DJ Arch JNR, and Nigeria’s favourite Unidentical Duo twin models Olianna and Olivia, who were being recognized for having gained a considerable online following by creating child-centric content on social media.
Very few things have the ability to unite a diverse people like music, and with this thought in mind, Limpopo artist, Papany has released a body of work, Vun’we (Unity) that is like nothing you’ve heard before – quite electrifying and sounds like home, whatever that means to you.
Nhlamulo Sithole, who is widely recognized by his stage name “Papany,” is a highly talented South African music producer, instrumentalist, DJ, and singer-songwriter from Giyani in Limpopo. As a musician, he received his early grooming from the church, which instilled in him a deep appreciation for a combination of traditional and contemporary musical styles.
“Church music influenced my overall outlook in music. I started playing drums as a kid, I may not recall the exact age, but I would play standing cause the chair was tall. I consume a lot of music and genres on a daily, and I allow myself to learn from the art, the interpretations and melodies. I’m from the north, in Limpopo, Giyani and I listen to Maskandi music, for example.
This has helped me with my identity in music. My mom also played a huge role. I had drums in the house and would play almost every day, and she would never complain. Not even once did she say I’m making noise. People also helped me, friends who believed in my sounds when I was doubting, who always reassured me and helped me become confident with my offering. I am a product of all my musical influences and life’s experiences,” he tells The Fuse.
Papany’s ultimate vision is to make a meaningful and global impact on people’s lives through his music, captivating the audience’s souls while inspiring a positive and vibrant energy. He also aims to convey his personality and identity through his music, leaving a lasting impression on his listeners.
“I want to explore more with sounds, express my journey the best way I can. Be as authentic as I can to the art. That will always ensure that the music makes a difference in people’s lives. I will be collaborating more with creatives to also build a platform for musicians to express themselves fully,” he adds.
The EP features a lineup of exceptional talents such as Bukeka, Kekelingo, and Nkateko. With this EP, Papany aims to showcase his incredible skills as a music producer, songwriter, and musician while collaborating with some of the industry’s finest talents.
Vun’we is a unique and innovative body of work, featuring a fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds that showcase Papany’s talent and versatility. As an artist committed to creating music that inspires positive energy and leaves a lasting impression on his listeners, the EP exceeds expectations and is already cementing Papany’s place as one of the most exciting new talents in the South African music industry.
“Memeza” featuring Bukeka, is the first song that ushers the listener into a beautiful musical journey that leaves you begging for more. “Memeza – serves as a reminder to always call unto God. In Bukeka’s words, do not be silent, call on Him and he will do just what he said He would do,” Papany says.
It’s not every day that a South African artist is awarded the opportunity to showcase their art on a global platform, but Anita Hlazo, a fashion designer based in Delft, Cape Town has been shortlisted Africa Fashion Week in London to be held in October 2023.
Anita is the designer behind Afrogrunge – a brand creating culture through street style by celebrating POC who venture into aesthetics outside the generally believed to be correct ones. Afrogrunge might have been shortlisted for this amazing opportunity, but it needs your help to get there.
Anita explains, “Afrogrunge was inspired by my personal experience of what it felt like to be a black girl in the locations of Cape Town who strongly identified with a lifestyle less travelled.
I experimented with my identity by fashioning my body infusing black culture with my interests in the Caucasian-established subculture Grunge within my community, Gugulethu at the time.
Due to the lack of acceptance, representation and understanding of how I chose to express myself through clothing, body modification, and the genre of music I listened to. I was driven by need to fit in somehow, or at least see individuals like me on the internet.
This lack in representation offline and online as well as the lack of accessibility to this style in stores around my area, lead me to try and fulfil those gaps. First I created a ‘box’ I could fit into and labeled it Afrogrunge. Once I completed high school, in 2013 , I perused Fashion Design. I studied it at the Cape Peninsula University of Cape Town, graduating with a Degree in Fashion in 2017 and I officially started a Fashion Design Business in 2018, I transformed Afrogrunge to a company that would be accessible to P.O.C who loved the alternative-grunge aesthetic within our black communities like I did when growing up.
Since then, I have showcased at South African Fashion Week, as an emerging creative in collaboration with artists Bu Kihang in 2018. I dressed influencer Abongwe Qobeka for Afropunk Joburg 2018 and the outfit was captured by photograpeher Trevour Sturmaan and the image landed on VogueUK [image 32]. Later that year I was featured on an editorial called Kids from Joburg now found in Vougue Italia [image 13].
I have also worked with artist Moonchild Sanelly on a collaborative outfit found in her songs’ music video Yebo Teacher [pink ensamble]. Recently I have been dressing musician Thandeka Mfinyongo and her band on her project Ingoduko. One of my biggest achievements late last year 2022 and early this year is having been blessed to work with streetwear giants who focused on women in the creative space namely Nike Woman and Redbat Posse.
I would love to reach an international audience physically. It will be an eye-opening experience and honestly mind-blowing to have dreamt of creating Afrogrunge as a need to fit in and now have it presented on a global stage.
I applied to showcase at Africa Fashion Week in London and have been shortlisted to showcase there in October 2023. I need assistance with raising fund to secure this opportunity through a package they offer us designers valued at 1000 pounds. I also will need to cover return flights to from South Africa to London, and traveling expenses to while in the city for fittings and rehearsals .
I have fortunately secured free accommodation from Ntandokazi Qwabe, who is willing to host me for a period of a week. I will also need to cover visa costs, and other costs that may happening during this planning process, that I may not know as of yet as this will my first time ever flying internationally.
I am in the process of applying for funding for this trip and will hold various fund raising events throughout the months I have before October.
Imagine inheriting all the wealth in the world, having power and influence in the palm of your hands, only to have it all stripped away from you by your own family. This story tells a tale of what it means to be “hood rich” following the lives of the Radebe family witnessing the rise and fall of a family empire based in the surrounds of Diepkloof Extension, Pimville and Orlando, Soweto.
This April e.tv brings to viewers an all-new local drama produced by industry titans Parental Advisory Productions, executive produced by Thomas Gumede and Lungile Radu as they take over the 6.30PM slot on the channel.
“Exciting times are ahead of us, as a channel we fell in love with this story concept because it also follows the lives of the youth, we’ve explored all possible dilemma’s that this market would go through and translated them to screen-giving viewers a product that they’ll resonate with, night in, night out” said Mark Madai, e.tv Executive Producer.
A story concept by Thomas Gumede, the Producer who also directed the first block of the show had this to say, “We’re pulling all stops with this show, splitting shoots between studio and location this will result in nonstop and back to back dramatic scenes for the audience”
Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 responsibly sourced commodities that advance everyday life, and to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March, Glencore’s Coal division officially launched its Khululeka Sanitary Towel Drive Campaign, which seeks to fight against the lack of access to menstrual products for young girls in local schools in the Mpumalanga province.
The name ‘Khululeka’ refers to both the freedom and comfort of girls and aims to encourage young girls to not let any circumstances deter them from working towards a brighter future.
“We’re so excited to be here today because every time we do anything to support the youth and in particular young girls, we know that we are starting a revolution. For us at Glencore Coal, this project is about changing the way periods are viewed and stigmatised, but most importantly, this project is about ensuring the uninterrupted education of young girls in our schools. By making sure that you all have sufficient sanitary pads for that time of the month, we are saying to you KHULULEKA, be free, be comfortable and don’t worry. Yours is to work hard and never stop reaching for your dreams,” said Noel Pillay, General Manager of Community & Regulatory Affairs.
Image: Supplied
The launch event of the campaign was held at Makause Combined School in Phola, which is also one of the beneficiaries of the sanitary towel drive. The event was attended by Glencore Coal management team and staff, advocate for menstrual health awareness and founder of the Pink Touch Foundation, Ayanda Masuku, as well as local community leaders and local Radio Presenter, Mpumi Mbete who was the mc on the day.
Glencore Coal Saniarty Towel donation to Makause Combined School
Through the project, Glencore Coal will provide a year’s supply of sanitary pads which will be given to all the girls in Grade 7 – Grade 12, starting with five local schools namely:
⦁ Lehlaka Combined School – 689 girls ⦁ Makause Combined School – 450 girls ⦁ Ogies Combined School – 171 girls ⦁ Mehlwana Combined School – 650 girls ⦁ Mabande Combined School – 572 girls
Keynote speaker, Ayanda Masuku encouraged girls on the day to be comfortable in their skin and understand that menstruation is nothing to be ashamed of.
“Each and every one of us is unique, and the most precious part of us is that we are women. We need to be proud of the fact that we can experience menstruation, the most special and natural part of womanhood.” We need to be encouraged to have more conversations that break away the stigma from periods because the negativity creates embarrassment and fear, which should not happen to most of us. Embrace your periods with pride and be bold, because what starts from within shines on the outside, which makes everyone else’s light shine,” said Masuku.
On the day, the students participated in a series of games aimed at educating them on menstrual health to debunk myths and stereotypes around periods. The games involved both boys and girls, to create an environment where both parties are comfortable with tackling the subject and its taboos.
“Thank you, Glencore, for making such an incredible donation to our school. It is not the amount that matters to us but rather the meaning behind such a contribution, for it has the ability to impact our confidence and comfort. We can walk away from today with our heads held high because we are encouraged to understand our bodies better and have honest and open conversations,” said Makause Combined School learner Innocentia Sefawu.
Through the Khululeka Sanitary Towel Drive, Glencore Coal aims to reach more young girls by the end of 2023. The mining company remains steadfast in its resolve to adequately respond to the social-economic challenges faced by their communities to create sustainable progress for all.
Lusanda Mbane is a South African actress, radio personality, speaker and entrepreneur. She is best known for the roles in the television serials Scandal!, Muvhango ,Imbewu and Generations. Lusanda is loved by many for her talent and hard work – especially by young, upcoming entertainers. In light of this fact, the legendary actress took to her social media to share a few tips with budding actors.
“In this age of social media, things and people are becoming more accessible to us. There is room for creativity in finding ways to stand out, be noticed and to reach your goals. In Acting, specifically, the barriers to entry are relatively low, but because acting is a talent, it can be a tough career to crack if you don’t have the talent, don’t invest time and effort in your craft or you are not willing to stretch yourself even beyond your own imagination to tell a story. Acting is ruthlessly competitive,” she wrote.
“Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but the general rule in this industry is that you must get yourself an agent (casting / talent agency) that will represent you and inform you about opportunities in the industry. These agencies are the people who get contacted when there are auditions taking place and they then send the talent that they have in their books, based on suitability. In order to know about auditions, you must therefore be in their books / pool of talent.
They usually get a detailed brief from the casting directors eg. The role, age group, the preferred look, languages, performance ability, etc. They will also have the script that you need to prepare for your audition. So, you need to have a CREDIBLE agent. The trick is to find the one that seems to specialize in your area of interest (eg. Acting / Presenting / Modeling etc). You need to do your own research on each agency to find out who specializes in what. Find an agency that already boasts a lot of “stars”. Beware of “fly-by-nights”. If there are no familiar faces in their books, alarm bells should ring (if they haven’t made any stars before, chances are they’re not going to start with you).
These people (agencies) usually don’t charge anything UPFRONT. Sometimes they do have a joining fee, but if they are as good as they say, they should be able to deduct it off your first job. Again, beware of fly-by-night agencies which go around collecting money from people who they have no intention of finding work for. If they say, for example: “You must pay R750 / R800 and you will go for an audition at Generations”. THIS IS A SCAM!!! When you join an agency, it’s not to audition for a specific production, it’s for the agency to represent you on all opportunities that come up in the future. As a rule nje, if the money is a pre-requisite and they won’t even send you until you have paid and they keep following up… IT’S A SCAM!
Without an agent, you will only get to know about open auditions (open to all) which may be advertised on social media. Of course you could get your break this way, but the odds against you when competing with hundreds of unsolicited hopefuls, will be much higher.
Producers are also on social media, but they usually are inundated with messages from people who want to get into the industry. As a result, they don’t read them. Contacting the Producer usually works for already established Actors who have already made a name for themselves and whose work is known and speaks for itself.
So, if you know you have a talent and you want to pursue TV, I would definitely advise you to get an agent. Find one that you can relate to. There are lots of agencies, but unfortunately most are in Jo’burg. There are a number of them in Cape Town, a few have entered the scene in Durban over the past few years. Gqeberha is also making its way onto the industry map.
Oh, and before I list them, let me remind you that rejection comes standard in this industry. You will hear a lot of “NO”. Don’t dwell on it. When I taught you that life is a numbers game, it was from first-hand experience in this industry. Every “NO” brings you a step closer to your “YES”. Keep it moving. Next one!!!” she concluded before sharing a few credible agencies.
Tebello (played by Litlhonolofatso Litlhakanyane) has experienced all types of lifestyles. He has moved from an abusive environment in a shack, to a hotel in Newtown, and now lives with his grandfather in Soweto. Through all this, he still growing, and he finally finds true love. He meets a girl in the taxi rank and decides that he cannot let her go, as this is the first time he finds a love like this. Is this love at first sight?
The new character Zekhethelo Zondi is a Miss JNR SA Finalist 2023, and she will be playing Nqobile – Tibi’s newfound love.
Zekhethelo Zondi is a rising force in the acting industry, and this is not her first role on television. The young actress won viewers’ hearts with her role in the hit Mzansi Magic series Isifiso where she played the oldest of Sbonelo’s kids.
Zekhethelo began acting at 11 when she joined a talent agency that started representing her. She is famously known for her role in the series Shadow, also her debut acting role that started her growing career. In early 2022, she landed the most significant role of her career in the hit Netflix movie Collision on an International platform.
The Ultimate Book Show is a new television series for Literature. A typical episode is a 46-minute encounter between the host, Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni, and one guest author in a setting that provides room for intelligent, insightful interviews with interesting subjects that go beyond standard talk-show conversation.
For positively impacting the world through storytelling in Film & Literature, living an indelible mark for generations, the show’s host and director, Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni was recently listed on Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans (2022). She holds two master’s degrees from the University of Cape Town and Peking University in Beijing (Summa Cum Laude).
Her creative endeavor began as a single story of Wanda and has since become a serialized storybook with international honors: Skipping Stones Honor Awards (Oregon, 2021), for promoting an understanding of cultures, cultivating cooperation and encouraging a deeper awareness of diversity; Best Children’s Book of the Year (2022) selected by the Bank Street College of Education (New York City, 2022), for its literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the emotional impact on young readers.
Final dress rehearsal for WANDA the musical. The tour begins tonight with a preview in PTA, then Durban, then CPT, then JHB at the end of MARCH.
Sihle-isipho is the inspiring force behind The Ultimate Book Show, operating as the Head of Production of this pioneering documentary series that lifts the place of Literature in society. In just one year, Sihle-isipho has hosted the show in Cape Town and Qonce, Edinburgh International Book Festival and Festival de Cannes, and presented it in California at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival and MIPCOM in October 2022.
Liz Letsoalo is a South African entrepreneur and founder of Masodi Organics, she started the business in 2018 with the intention of providing various quality thoughtfully made products. This is because she felt that there aren’t many options of products in the market for black woman.
Liz gives credit to her mother for inspiring her through her leadership skills – she even named the company after her mother, as she is the most influential woman in her life.
Masodi Organics’ Hair & Skin Care products are thoughtfully made to be kind on one’s body and reduce impact on the environment. All its products contain key ingredients from nature and are Free from Parabens, Sulfates and Mineral oils.
The company also has a platform that is aimed at creating a safe space to walk the beauty journey with kindness and helpful tips. The platform is also for some engaging content on the socio-political elements of beauty, and how people are determined to shift them positively. Liz Letsoalo is one of the winners of the Momentum #BudgetSpeech2021.
Local actress, casting director and content creator, Lesedi Matsunyane is set to be one of the guest speakers at actress Omuhle Gela’s Moms’ Day off event.
Lesedi’s rise to fame came when she played debuted on The Queen. She also played the role of Davina Moore on etv’s Rhythm City and has previously been on the Vuselela Series that aired on Soweto TV back in 2011 till 2013. She played the young Ruby Dikobe in Generations back in 2012, and also appeared in the Lewis commercials alongside her mother Connie and stepdad Shona Ferguson in 2011.
Lesedi is the mother of a beautiful, bubbly 8-year-old boy who is already such a character. On social media, if little Rowena, or “Ro” as he is fondly referred to, isn’t dancing with his aunt, hitting the gym with his grandmother, he is a prayer warrior – a true testament of how amazing of a mother Lesedi is.
“Our gorgeous speaker is Actress and Casting Director. Lesedi Matsunyane – Ferguson who is a yummy mommy. We can’t wait for her to share how she juggles being a mom and her hectic work schedule,” Omuhle said about Lesedi.
