Arts and culture

Know your copyrights

It is every artists dream to make a living out of their music. But the process of getting paid royalties can be a challenge for some. Artists and producers are often left asking: how do I register? how do I get paid? GroundUp went looking for answers.

Dumisani Dabadini

News | 20 March 2014

A traumatic revenge: an extract from Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho’s collection of short stories

In the vein of Can Themba’s short stories about Sophiatown, Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho writes about life in the townships today.

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho

News | 19 March 2014

DJ Blanka shares his knowledge with aspirant artists

Music producer and DJ Banzi “Blanka” Mazimela was born in Butterworth and grew up in Dutywa with two brothers. He moved to Cape Town in 1993 to further his studies. In the last 20 years, he has worked himself to Head of Music Production at Soul Candi Institute.

Dumisani Dabadini

News | 18 March 2014

Gugulethu chess rising

Once the playing begins, all that's to be heard is the clanging of pieces and the thumping of clocks signalling that it's "your move". Today, chess took centre stage at the Gugulethu Sports Centre.

Nathan Geffen

News | 15 March 2014

How to succeed in the music business

In a business as tough as the entertainment industry, artist management can be crucial, but the role and importance of an artist manager is often misunderstood.

Dumisani Dabidini

News | 12 March 2014

Childish Gambino ““ Because the Internet

As Donald Glover delivers his second studio album, although not the most exquisite, it definitely shows the comedian-meets-rapper growing mic skills.

Zethu Gqola

News | 12 March 2014

Rumours: an extract from Mongane Wally Serote’s latest novel

Prolific and acclaimed South African poet and writer Mongane Wally Serote, one of only two African writers (the other being Leopold Sedar Senghor) to be honoured with the Golden Wreath Award for a lifetime achievement in poetry, focuses his attention on 21st century South Africa in his latest novel, Rumours.

Mongane Wally Serote

News | 12 March 2014

Connecting youth through music

Kinky Disco brought together youth from in and around Cape Town and hosted a one-of-a-kind electronic dance music party in Langa Township.

Zethu Gqola

News | 11 March 2014

Protest at Cape Town Pride

Not everyone in Cape Town celebrated Gay Pride in the same spirit.

Pharie Sefali

News | 10 March 2014

Kwaito duo Ruffest keep innovating

Starting off in 2004 as Kasi Vibes, kwaito duo Sello Mangwana (29) and Andile “Max” Stemela (31) reinvented themselves as Ruffest in 2007. It was the beginning of the rise of two musicians from Nyanga.

Dumisane Dabadini

News | 10 March 2014

The Khoi blues: Interview with Colin Meyer

“I am not a Coloured, I am Khoi,” says Colin Meyer. “The apartheid era imposed the identity of being Coloured on us, but that is an invention.”

Fergus Turner

News | 7 March 2014

Categories of Persons: Rethinking Ourselves and Others

This slim volume, containing nine essays, is at once ambitious and humble. In their introduction, editors Megan Jones and Jacob Dlamini explain that they tried to capture a variety of deeply personal lived experiences.

Joshua Maserow

News | 5 March 2014

Ugandans in South Africa unhappy with anti-gay law

Uganda’s brutal new anti-gay law puts Dembe Ainebyona (not her real name) in a difficult situation because she may never see her country of birth again.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 4 March 2014

Where is Reason?

After dropping Audio 3D in June 2012, ‘boom bap’ rapper Sizwe ‘Reason’ Moeketsi simply disappeared from the game.

Zethu Gqola

News | 28 February 2014

Is Cape Town Pride serious about gay rights?

Cape Town Pride 2014 (CTP) takes place from 21 February to 1 March. The annual festival aims to celebrate gay rights in South Africa. This year’s theme is “uniting cultures in Cape Town”. However, people from communities around Cape Town have said that they feel CTP excludes them and the serious issues affecting them as gay people.

Jonathan Dockney and GroundUp Staff

News | 27 February 2014

Masello Motana and the politics of personality

A year ago, Masello Motana introduced us to Cyrilina Ramaposer, a rich diva with political and business ambitions. Now she is back as Julia Malema, a lady with a liking for pink dresses, flaxen weaves and pseudo-revolutionary talk.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 20 February 2014