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Mail & Guardian
Kibo Ngowi

Creator

Kibo Ngowi

That terrible day: Rise ‘76: The Story of June 16th at the Market Theatre is at the Mannie Manim Theatre until 28 June. Photos: Supplied

Fifty years on, ‘Rise '76’ asks what we still owe the generation of June 16th

Running at the Market Theatre, 'Rise '76: The Story of June 16th' explores the profound impact of the Soweto Uprising through the lens of playwright Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni.…

The book foregrounds “the experiences, the ideas and the reflections of people who were actual participants in 1976, both leading figures but also young people who, on the morning of June 16th, did not see themselves as political activists,” says the author. Photo: Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand South Africa.

The uprising they turned into a party: What Youth Day keeps getting wrong

Every June 16th, South Africa celebrates Youth Day with music and speeches, often reposting the iconic image of Hector Pieterson. But historian Noor Nieftagodien argues these…

As living costs rise, art buyers are becoming more cautious, forcing galleries and artists to adapt to a changing market

South Africa's art market is slowing down but collectors aren't walking away

The South African art market is in an interesting place. On the one hand, some of the country's most important art fairs continue to draw large crowds. FNB Art Joburg remains a…

In the Grey feels like the sort of anonymous streaming-era action thriller that would quietly appear on Netflix one Friday afternoon and be forgotten by Monday morning.

Guy Ritchie’s ‘In The Grey’ is all plan and no personality

The legendary director’s latest thriller boasts a strong cast and explosive finale but lacks the colourful characters and charm that defined his best work

Through interviews and behind-the-scenes discussions, Spotlight Theatre Talk explores the people and processes that bring productions to life

Joburg Theatre launches podcast to take audiences behind the curtain

Through interviews and behind-the-scenes discussions, Spotlight Theatre Talk explores the people and processes that bring productions to life

Long-time coming: More than a decade into both their careers, Tellaman and Nasty C are releasing a joint album. Photos: Supplied

Nasty C and Tellaman have terms and conditions

On fame, friendship and a long-overdue joint album, Nasty C and Tellaman are exactly where they want to be

Psychological terror: Michael Johnston and Inde Navarette in Obsession. Photos: Supplied

Could these twenty-something YouTubers be the future of cinema?

A wave of YouTuber-turned box-office-record-breaking horror auteurs have Hollywood nervous and rethinking the filmmaking playbook

Young South African designers are invited to create a signature lighting piece for Nando’s restaurants worldwide and accelerate their careers

Youth Day deadline set for Nando’s Hot Young Designer 2026 competition

Young South African designers are invited to create a signature lighting piece for Nando’s restaurants worldwide and accelerate their careers

Nduduzo Makhathini
is not playing alone

Nduduzo Makhathini is not playing alone

From John Coltrane’s centenary to the O2 Arena with Black Coffee, Nduduzo Makhathini’s recent world tour was a masterclass in the cyclical, intergenerational nature of black music

There will not be another Maria McCloy

Those who loved her remember a woman who gave everything — to her art, to her city, and to every person lucky enough to have her in their corner

Becoming: Bongeziwe Mabandla’s Ndingubani has been gestating for years, waiting for the courage to come into being. Photo: Christopher Saunders

Bongeziwe Mabandla is ready to be fully present

With a new album on the horizon and sold-out shows across the globe, Bongeziwe Mabandla is stepping into the artist he was always becoming

The Cape Town theatre complex celebrates its 55th anniversary by reflecting on transformation, accessibility and the evolving role of public cultural institutions

Artscape celebrates 55 years by opening its doors wider than ever

The Cape Town theatre complex celebrates its 55th anniversary by reflecting on transformation, accessibility and the evolving role of public cultural institutions

Poet-activist: Vusi Mahlasela came of age in a community defined by oppression and extraordinary creative resilience. Photo: Gallo Record Company

Vusi Mahlasela has never stopped singing for change

South Africa’s most beloved troubadour on new music, staying rooted in Mamelodi and why peace is worth singing about

Intentional: Billy Monama quotes Nelson Mandela on the power of
music to elevate and liberate, to unite people in a shared voice.

Billy Monama is staging a revival of memory

The Rebirth of Ubuntu returns with a focus on legacy, as Billy Monama pushes for music that remembers, questions and resonates beyond the stage

Buried in trauma: Yahya Abdul-Mateen’s performance exists within a story that has a long and varied history
in Man on Fire. Photos: Supplied

Netflix’s ‘Man on Fire’ has no heat

A bloated, cliché-ridden adaptation buries Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s charisma under a meandering plot that never ignites

Legendary Beninese musician Angélique Kidjo will be among the headliners of the 27th Standard Bank Joy of Jazz music festival. Photo: File

Standard Bank Joy of Jazz reveals 2026 line-up as festival leans into legacy

From Angélique Kidjo to Thandiswa Mazwai, this year’s Joy of Jazz programme connects legacy acts with emerging voices across four curated stages

Angélique Kidjo is still unstoppable at 65

Angélique Kidjo is still moving the world

The Beninese legend discusses the inspiration behind her latest album HOPE!!, honouring her mother while continuing a decades-long journey of musical exploration and connection

Upward trajectory: Nanette Sphesihle Nobethu Mbili Jolobe has come a long way from Durban where she was born and grew up listening to the R&B legends that would come to influence her later sound. Photo: Supplied

Nanette is going to keep showing up

With a deluxe edition of her latest album on the way and a milestone performance only days away, Nanette is ready to step into the next stage of her ascendancy

King of Pop: The highly anticipated Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, arrives in theatres this week covering roughly 22 years of his life from performing as part of the Jackson 5 to touring to promote the album Bad.

‘Michael’ plays the hits but avoids the hard questions

The long-awaited ‘Michael’ biopic dazzles with iconic recreations and a star-making performance but struggles to uncover the man behind the legend

Cynthia Shange, trailblazing actress and beauty queen, dies at 76

From Miss World contestant to celebrated actress, Cynthia Shange’s life traced the evolution of South African entertainment across generations