The South African music industry has lost another legend as the award-winning jazz musician, Jonas Gwangwa was announced dead on Saturday.

It’s saddening that his passing falls on the third anniversary of Hugh Masekela’s death and the third anniversary of Oliver Mtukudzi’s death.

The renowned trombone player who dies at age 83 has been an important figure in SA jazz for over 40 years.

In a tribute to Gwangwa, President Cyril Ramaphosa says: “Jonas Gwanga ascends to our great orchestra of musical ancestors whose creative genius & dedication to the freedom of all South Africans inspired millions in our country & mobilised the international community against the apartheid system.”

A giant of our revolutionary cultural movement and our democratic creative industries has been called to rest; the trombone that boomed with boldness and bravery, and equally warmed our hearts with mellow melody has lost its life force.#RIPJonasGwangwa pic.twitter.com/hlg4PyKQl4

— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) January 23, 2021

Lungile Radu, the very popular and famous TV personality, has just been in the entertainment industry only a short while, but yet, has managed to capture the hearts of the people of South Africa.

Lungile Radu first arrived on the entertainment scene and into the hearts and lives of Africans as part of the Channel O team, giving him the nickname “Lungsta”. He then went on to appear on It’s For Life and took over from Taps Mokoena as the host of Fear Factor South Africa for the second season, which aired in 2007.

Radu became quite famous on the acting arena when in 2007, he starred in Rhythm City as Sibusiso Vilakazi, “a rich boy role.” He planned, starred, produced, and directed the reality show known as Forever Young in 2012. In 2013, problems in his workplace led to him leaving Rhythm City. In 2014, he hosted M-Net reality competition referred to as Big Brother Mzansi, The Voice of South Africa.

As he celebrates his 46th birthday, let’s take a look at what the young and charismatic Lungsta has been up to.In the movie Love Lives Here, a world-weary romantic (played by Thando Thabethe) falls in love with a man (played by Lungile Radu) who doesn’t believe in marriage. A love-making scene in the movie has set tongues wagging as the steamy scene between Thando Thabethe and her yummy co-actor Lungile Radu had fans wondering how good their acting was.

The scene was so racy that even Prince Kaybee commented on the tweets. The musician said that he would not date an actress exactly for these reasons. His tweet alludes to the fact that if your partner is looking like they are enjoying the scene, then it is more than acting.

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A fan recently shared a snap from 2014 of her and Sizwe Dhlomo and tweeps couldn’t help but notice what appears to be Sizwe’s manhood. Marvelling at the size thereof, Sizwe quickly rubbished those thoughts and informed them that he could’ve had something in his pocket at the time. However, his ambiguous response isn’t enough to put the matter to rest.We all knew that Bonang was gearing up for another magical year right? Now that her well-deserved vacay is over, it’s back to business as usual meaning she is ready to work hard again to secure the bag, and possibly close off 2021 on a good note.Whenever Bonang disappears from social media her legions of fans are often worried about her whereabouts and one fan recently asked her about what she was up to during her break, and she simply responded by saying she was busy enjoying life and resting.

This afternoon, 22 January 2020, Bonang left her fans hanging. This is after she tweeted emojis of wide eyes and tagged Sizwe Dhlomo, and fans are still waiting for her to spill the tea on what is happening between them and if they might be working together on a new project soon.

The tweet has set tongues wagging with some even assuming that they might be the latest couple in ZAlebville or Bonang is trying to shoot her shot at the outspoken media personality. A fan tweeted a picture of a woman sitting on top of a bed with her legs opened widely and said Bonang probably wants to shoot her shot at Sizwe Dlhomo. Queen B caught wind of the tweet and she was quick to reply to the fan and said she would have texted him if she was trying to hit on him and she wouldn’t involve us, yass queen.!

‘Sup pic.twitter.com/LY3hhxaOVg

— Sizwe Dhlomo (@SizweDhlomo) January 23, 2021

Born on 23 January 1980, Simphiwe Dana is a Xhosa singer, songwriter and record producer. Dana’s father was a preacher and her religious background exposed her to music in both choral and gospel forms.

Regarded as the “new Miriam Makeba,” Simphiwe Dana’s inimitable combination of Jazz, Afro-soul, Rap and Traditional music, has made her a major star on the music scene.

Back in 2002, she began her career by singing in small clubs in Johannesburg, where she drew huge crowds.

Dana is also popular for her innovative social commentary and crusading through music as a political art form.

Simphiwe Dana’s Zandisile album was a mega hit in South Africa when it released in 2004. The album sold exceptionally well and garnered several awards, including the South African Music Award (SAMA) in 2005. The worldwide release of Simphiwe Dana’s Zandisile hit the Billboard charts and she won an AVO Session Basel Award.
Simphiwe Dana took the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa to task recently saying he is ineffective as a minister. Dana said that artists are fraught to make ends meet since lockdown was declared.

Minister Nathi proclaimed that he would be apportioning R150 million to the entertainment industry towards relief. Many artists who applied for the COVID-19 relief fund did not get approved and were forced to resort to alternatives to survive.
Not one to shy away from endorsing her opinion, Simphiwe said:

“I’m finally understanding we have a useless minister of arts and culture! I tried, because I love him, and I love you! But I owe you the truth. I know what this means for me in government. I still wish they will be kind.”

Read the full story here

Simphiwe Dana excited about being vaccinated for Covid-19

The excitement over the COVID-19 was dampened when Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in a viral video of him praying on the vaccine had South African in a bind.

The Chief Justice prayed that he will only welcome the vaccine ‘if it does not contain the spirit of the devil in it.’

Our favorite candid entertainer, Simphiwe Dana made it clear that if there is one thing she will not allow is for the vaccine to miss her. She took to social media to express her disapproval of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng:

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The young and charismatic DJ Junior De Rocka turns 29 today. Junior De Rocka whose real name is Junior Mzizi rose to fame rather quickly. At 16, he was one of the youngest DJs to play in clubs professionally.

As he steps into his 29th year, let us look at how life played out for him last yearn the latter half of 2020, Junior De Rocka’s friend Mluleki Wiseman Mbewana was shot at point blank range at a parking lot outside Rich Durban. He was allegedly killed by Manqoba George AKA Big Bucks. The crowd present at the time of the incident said that Manqoba verbally abused him before he shot Mlooh, execution-style.

On Instagram, Junior De Rocka updated his fans and everyone who is on the lookout for justice for Mlooh saying:

“#JusticeForMlooh Today I can confirm that the suspect in the murder of Mlooh has been arrested. I’m at the police station right now as we speak.

Following lots of confusion and how this whole thing has spiraled out of control with people saying things they know nothing about.

1) On the day of the shooting I was not there.

2) Police don’t take statements from anyone. Just because you’re Mlooh’s friend does not mean you qualify to write statements.

3) Those who were there did avail themselves to the police and this has been confirmed.
4) The police have a way of doing investigations. They collect all data from the crime scene and they do follow ups according to how they structure their investigation. They take numbers of those who were there and call you in for questioning and a statement.

5) The suspect was brought in by his lawyer and is in custody and that’s the most important thing right now.

 

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