Zolani Mahola aka The One Who Sings

Zolani Mahola is a South African Storyteller – she is a singer, an actress, an Inspiration Speaker and an agent for social change.

Born in Port Elizabeth in 1981, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town where she met musicians with whom she would later form pan-African multi-cultural multi-genre band Freshly Ground in 2002.
17 years and 7 albums later Freshly Ground has gone on to become a household name in South Africa and is one of Africa’s most acclaimed and successful bands. They have captured the heart of the continent and have also claimed global recognition. One highlight of their near two decade career was a collaboration with pop superstar Shakira with whom they recorded the official song for the FIFA World Cup 2010 and performed it at the opening and closing ceremony for a global audience of over a billion people. The band has to date opened stages for and collaborated with such artists as Stevie Wonder, BB King, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Robbie Williams, Oliver Mtukudzi, Vusi Mahlasela and Busi Mhlongo to name but a few.

Zolani Mahola is well loved and respected by South Africans for unifying the country through music and bridging social, racial and cultural divides. As an artist, she explores themes of identity and belonging and she shares a message of individual agency and responsibility. She firmly believes that though we are all connected and have much in common, “our individual stories are unique; we must be curious about them, to find the reason we were put on this planet and to realise our full expression.”

As part of her solo work, Zolani has staged a tribute show to Ella Fitzgerald (2004). She is recognized for her lead role as Boniswa in the inspirational SABC drama series Tsha Tsha (2003 – 2005) and her starring role in the feature film Cold Harbour (2014). She has been a judge on the acapella show The Sing-Off (2009) and guest judge on Idols (2010) and The Voice (2016), encouraging uniqueness and a good work ethic in the contestants. She sang the lead in a new South African musical “Calling Me Home” (2017) at Joburg Theatre. She has recently collaborated with Zip Zap Circus School, for whom she is an ambassador and board member, and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra at Joburg Theatre in the boundary breaking production“ Journey Beyond” (2019).

Zolani is passionate about sharing her experience for the good of her community and has expanded her portfolio to include what she terms Inspiration Talks. In these talks she shares intimately about her life story, challenges and wins … encouraging others to investigate their own stories and to share them too. She believes that this sharing and listening leads to empathy and will lead to healing pain caused by division in our societies globally.
Zolani is currently recording her debut solo material with Grammy nominated producer JB Arthur who, together with acclaimed bass player Victor Sibusiso Masondo produced Freshly Ground’s biggest selling album to date. She will release the material in the latter part of 2019. The artist is also currently developing a theatrical production called “The One Who Sings” which will see its debut release staged at the Baxter theatre in Cape Town in November 2019. 2020 will find Zolani staging the production all over the country as well as globally.

The next phase of Zolani Mahola’s career will see her staging her musical productions in concert halls, auditoriums, concert spaces and theatres the world over as the world joyfully discovers The Next Chapter of this global icon.

Happy 31st birthday to Singer,Voice Over Artist,MC,Television Presenter and Actress Dineo Langa. She has appeared in shows like Scandal,Mrs Right Guy and The Queen…All the best to her🎊🎉🎁🎂❤

Popular TV presenter and actress Dineo Langa (nee Moeketsi) has been dumped from The Queen, allegedly after asking for a three-month break to shoot a movie. The actress, who has been with the Mzansi Magic soapie since its inception four years ago, was allegedly sent a letter by Ferguson Films informing her that she should not bother to report for duty after the lockdown. “She is distraught. She thought the Fergusons are family.

More than just the loss of  her job, she feels a sense of betrayal because when she asked for the time off, they agreed. Then, boom, the letter of severance arrived during the lockdown,” said a well-placed source. The Queen is owned and produced by veteran actors Connie Ferguson and her husband Shona. According to sources close to the production, Cindy Mahlangu, who plays the character of Siyanda, and Zenande Mfenyane, who plays Goodness Mabuza, are also on their way out for various reasons. But insiders said it was Langa’s exit that was going to ruffle feathers because she was leaving under controversial circumstances.

The Queen’s show runner, Lauren Nell, confirmed that Langa was released to shoot a movie. Nell said that scripts had to be rewritten to accommodate her request. “She was scheduled to return in April, but due to the lockdown everything has changed. All cast and crew contracts end at the end of May,” she said in an SMS response. But sources close to the production said the producers changed their mind after giving Langa the green light to shoot her movie, and they instead ordered her not to come back after the lockdown.

T hey said Langa interpreted the letter to mean that she was no longer part of the soapie as a result of the three m o n t h break she was granted. “How do you do that to an actress who simply wanted to expand her portfolio with a role in a movie? What should other actors do when offered roles? “Do you see what this is? “The Fergusons go up and down in their expensive cars – and we wish them well – but why can’t an actor succeed outside their fold? I don’t understand this,” said another source.

In a leaked letter last week, the Fergusons asked actors if they could work for free as part of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nell said Mfenyane was shooting with The Queen before lockdown, but had decided to take some time off work until further notice “due to personal reasons”. Sunday World reported last month that Mfenyane was on her way out because she was allegedly pregnant.

The actress denied the pregnancy and that she was leaving the soapie. About Mahlangu’s future at the Mzansi Magic  soapie, Nell said: “The character of Siyanda comes in and out to serve specific story arcs. She was still shooting with The Queen before lockdown, and will return to complete her arc.” However, Nell could not confirm that all the three actors will be part of the soapie’s new season, which is to be confirmed after contract negotiations between the Fergusons

Somizi and Mohale‘s latest snaps are giving many of us major chest pains as they show off their riches.The famous couple posted a picture of themselves headed out to Zimbali in style, of course, in a private jet for comfort.Somizi and Mohale were both dressed in matching blue Rich Mnisi sweaters and of course, had their Louis Vuitton luggage in hand. Let’s go, home baby… off to work and play in zimbali,” captioned Somizi.The Rich Mnisi Classic Jumper has been causing a huge stir on the fashion streets, with several personalities spotted wearing the polo neck in one of its various colours.The media personality has been missing his Zimbali property, especially following the passing of his legendary actress mother Mary Twala and seems to have found a way to travel to Durban.
Both Somizi and Mohale’s posts were filled with people commenting on the luxury items in the picture and the fact that the couple is quite privileged to get a private jet to fly them out to Durban

Dineo Langa is the perfect illustration of those that have managed to follow in their parents’ footsteps. She is the daughter of the iconic radio presenter, KG Moeketsiwho has rocked the entertainment industry for decades and established her own brand. Dineo saw herself topping the headlines again, but it wasn’t because of her career, it was her lavish wedding wedding to Solo that had everyone talking.

Dineo Langa Fired

As the country comes to grips with the increase in coronavirus cases in Mzansi, social distancing and now a 21-day lockdown, rapper Riky Rick said that something good will come of this difficult time.As most of the country is social distancing in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, Riky thinks people needed to use this time to organise their lives and re-evaluate their lifestyles. The “Boss Zonke” hitmaker said on Twitter, “This will most probably be the most difficult year for most of us, but something tells me goods things will come if we use these times to organise our lives and re-evaluate our lifestyles. Financially and spiritually … a lot of work to do.”