Internationally acclaimed actor and playwright John Kani has been awarded an honorary doctorate in literature from the Witwatersrand University in recognition of his contribution to the arts and social justice.
The university described Kani as “one of the pioneers of contemporary theatre in South Africa whose legacy is embedded in performance cultures, theatres and learning spaces across the globe where it is studied, performed and archived for future generations. As an artist and social activist, Kani has used his work to interrogate complex sociopolitical matters and contributed, through his art, to the liberation of South Africa. Today, his voice remains as commanding, critical and forthright about our country’s current social circumstances as it was during the darkest days of the anti-apartheid movement.”

Kani said in his acceptance speech that it was the duty of all performers to use their voices to speak up about the many challenges facing South Africa. He also said,” action is needed more than just words. Now is the time for all of us artists, who have the luxury of a public platform, to campaign openly against what is wrong in our country — just as we did against apartheid — and hopefully contribute towards building a brighter and more promising future for all who live in this wonderful land of ours.”

“If we ever achieve that, we would have finally fulfilled Madiba’s dream for the land he was so committed to.”

Kani also spoke about the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa saying, “As a nation, we have still not come up with a radical and effective plan of action to address this dire situation. Unfortunately, until the perpetrators of this violence suffer immediate consequences for their actions, very little is going to change.”

Kani took to social media to express his heartfelt thanks at being honoured by the university writing,” What a great honour to receive a Doctorate of Literature- Honoris Causa, from the University of the Witwatersrand for my contribution to the Arts, Culture and Advancement of Literature. I am truly

When lockdown hit London in April of this year, John Kani’s new play Kunene and the King had just two weeks left of its run at the Ambassadors Theatre. Kani thought at the time that he might be stranded in London.

However, talking to Algoa FM’s Roland and Rochlé on The Drive  Show a couple of weeks ago, he said that he had been fortunate to have obtained a seat onboard the last British Airways flight allowed to bring South African citizens back home from England. While grateful to be home and currently staying safely in Johannesburg, he said he wishes he was in New Brighton because  “then I would really feel I am home”.

Congratulations Dr John Kani – we look forward to hosting you in the Algoa FM studio when all this is over and you are back home.

proud and humbled. Iyabulela ilali. Elder”

Actress Nomzamo Mbatha is proving that she is a force to be reckoned with – The beautiful lady took to social media to share that she has been signed to international artists agency CAA – The prestigious agency represents some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder Nomzamo Mbatha’s career has been soaring of late. Not only was the actress cast in the star-studded Coming to America 2 movie, she has also been signed to a massive international talent agency. Zamo took to social media to make the announcement. Nomzamo Mbatha has been flying the South African flag high in the States. The local beauty is not only winning in her global philanthropic work but also in her career.She took to Instagram to share a screenshot announcing that she was officially signed to artist agency CAA. Read Nomzamo is making money moves after inking an international deal. Source: Instagram Creative Artists Agency LLC, or CAA, is an American talent and sports agency based in Los Angeles, California. It is regarded as a dominant and influential company in the talent agency business and manages numerous clients. Some of these clients include Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder and Lil Wayne. Read more:

Gomora’s Sannah Mchunu has kept Mzansi hooked with her captivating acting skills on the Mzansi Magic hit telenovela.

Sana Mchunu plays the hilarious and bullheaded Zodwa Zondi who is an alcoholic and has a messy life. She could not take care of her son Teddy, therefore Gladys and Melusi took him in as their own.

She’ll stop at nothing to get him back and her determination is applauded by fans. Sana Mchunu has opened up about how much she relates to Zodwa as they have both endured the same difficulties and pain life brings.

The multi-talented actress has Mzansi laughing weekly and often quoting her hogwash statements. It is safe to say that Mzansi simply adores Zodwa and appreciate the woman behind the character even more.

The multi-talented actress has Mzansi laughing weekly and often quoting her hogwash statements. It is safe to say that Mzansi simply adores Zodwa and appreciate the woman behind the character even more.

“My children live with their father and that does not sit well with me. The way Zodwa is damaged makes me want to work hard to bring this character to life as I have gone through the exact ordeals as her,” she told Isolezwe.

Durban – Despite repeated warnings from all spheres of government to social distance and take heed to safety precautions amid the spike in Covid-19 cases, the crowd of mourners who gathered for Gqom star, Biggie’s funeral at the weekend, partied as though lockdown was a thing of the past.

In the videos, that have since gone viral on social media, people can be seen dancing, cheering and raising their glasses in celebration of Biggie’s life.Real name Njabulo Zondi, Biggie was buried at his home in Durban after dying of heart failure almost two weeks ago.

According to lockdown level 3 regulations, no more than 50 people can attend a funeral and night vigils are prohibited. The regulations further state that all health protocols must be observed including social distancing measures, in order to limit exposure of persons at the funeral to Covid-19.

On Thursday, 17 962 people in KZN have tested positive for Covid-19 with 12 208 being active cases. More than 5000 people have recovered with 249 having died from Covid-19-related illnesses.

The province contributed 14% of the new cases reported nationally and continues to be the fourth highest countrywide.The province continues to experience an upsurge of cases with Ethekwini and UMgungundlovu Districts recording 60% of the daily cases, according to the KZN Department of Health.

Mariah Carey has finished her memoir and admitted she found it “incredibly hard, humbling and healing” to write.

The 50-year-old singer revealed last November that she was set to put pen to paper to tell her life story, and now she has finished the tome, which she has described as “unfiltered”, and admitted she found it “incredibly hard, humbling and healing” to writeariah – who insisted she’s never been able to share her full story before – will set the record straight on many misconceptions about her personal and public life and explained that she delved “deep” into her childhood and “gave the scared little girl inside of me a big voice”.

The “We Belong Together” hitmaker also described herself as becoming a “betrayed woman” after being “abandoned” and she hopes her book will show others the “resilience of the human spirit”.a letter to herself on the back cover of the tome, she wrote: “It took me a lifetime to have the courage and the clarity to write my memoir. I want to tell the story of the moments – the ups and downs, the triumphs and traumas, the debacles and the dreams, that contributed to the person I am today.

“Though there have been countless stories about me throughout my career and very public personal life, it’s been impossible to communicate the complexities and depths of my experience in any single magazine article or a ten-minute television interview.

And even then, my words were filtered through someone else’s lens, largely satisfying someone else’s assignment to define me.

“This book is composed of my memories, my mishaps, my struggles, my survival and my songs. Unfiltered. I went deep into my childhood and gave the scared little girl inside of me a big voice. I let the abandoned and ambitious adolescent have her say, and the betrayed woman I became tell her side.

“Writing this memoir was incredibly hard, humbling and healing. My sincere hope is that you are moved to a new understanding, not only about me, but also about the resilience of the human spirit.”

Mariah – who has twins Moroccan and Monroe, eight, with ex-husband Nick Cannon – captioned a snap of the book on Instagram: “Delivered! “I have learned that beauty has to flourish in the light.”

The currently untitled memoir – which follows Mariah’s 2015 book ‘All I Want For Christmas’ – is expected to hit bookshelves later this year.

Publisher Henry Holt previously announced the memoir will be published by the firm’s Andy Cohen Books imprint.