Author

 
Charles Leonard

Charles Leonard

Charles Leonard was news editor at the Mail & Guardian for four years before joining The Conversation Africa. As a reporter, producer, news editor and executive producer with 29 years of experience, he has worked at a variety of South African publications and broadcasters including Business Day, the SABC TV, SAfm, Vrye Weekblad and the Sunday Times. He has also worked for the UK's Channel Four News. He has written extensively on arts, culture, politics and sport.
Reflecting on Brenda Fassie’s ‘Black President’
Reflecting on Brenda Fassie’s ‘Black President’
Arts and Culture |
It was an amazing coincidence, but it felt more like magic.
McFerrin steps out of the shadow
McFerrin steps out of the shadow
Friday |
A shadow the shape of a superstar — that’s the one soul/jazz/electronic musician Taylor McFerrin (35) grew up in. The person casting that...
​Coldcut x SA musicians in unique collaborative project
​Coldcut x SA musicians in unique collaborative project
Music |
Musical innovators Coldcut — the duo of Matt Black and Jonathan More — are in Johannesburg for the first time. It’s an overcast late...
The 10 baddest albums of 2015
The 10 baddest albums of 2015
Music |
I realised yet again that this was another year when I had too few ears and too little time to cope with my ever-expanding obsession with fine...
Fred Wesley keen to funk up SA again
Fred Wesley keen to funk up SA again
Music |
It was a first date for two friends on November 29 last year – they attended the only show Fred Wesley (72), who played trombone in James...
Coming to SA: UK DJ Charles Webster on not playing bad music
Coming to SA: UK DJ Charles Webster on not playing bad music
Music |
Legendary UK producer/musician/DJ Charles Webster (50) is headlining Churn mini-festival at the Tweefontein Melkery, Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg....
Boudoir beatmakers: Music that creeps out from behind the curtains
Boudoir beatmakers: Music that creeps out from behind the curtains
Music |
Despite racial and gender divides that persist in South Africa and its music industry, a number of young musicians are creating...
All aboard the Soul Train
All aboard the Soul Train
Music |
“Wat ’n gekerm waarna ons moet luister – asseblief man! [What a whining we have to listen to – please man!]” read one SMS to the...
Rising star Leon Bridges brings the soul back
Rising star Leon Bridges brings the soul back
Music |
The Future of Soul Music is being connected by phone from Rome, where he is on a European concert tour.
TV face-off could resurrect public political debate tradition
TV face-off could resurrect public political debate tradition
National |
Refusing make-up ahead of his televised presidential debate with John F Kennedy in November 1960 was one of Richard Nixon's many mistakes (for his...
‘It’s really, really great being Maceo Parker’
‘It’s really, really great being Maceo Parker’
Music |
For legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker (72) at least two-thirds of the year is like Christmas. The former James Brown sideman, prominent soloist...
Egalitarian beats for the streets
Egalitarian beats for the streets
Music |
It was certainly a first: being interviewed by an interviewee after finishing the interview with him. Chilean-German DJ Matias Aguayo is not your...