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Mail & Guardian

Friday

After 13 years, Skyjack is still surprising itself

‘Gliding Through The Gallery’: Mpumi Mayisa's mission to democratise art

Gliding Through The Gallery, founded by Mpumi Mayisa, is transforming the art scene in Johannesburg by making galleries accessible and…

For the next generation: Derived from the isiXhosa word for “seed”, iMbewu gathers together works produced between 2016 and 2026, alongside three new sculptures. Photos: Supplied

Mthatha-born artist’s exhibition opens in New York this Friday

Mthatha-born ceramic artist Zizipho Poswa is set to open her major survey exhibition, iMbewu (The Seed), at Southern Guild New York. The exhibition traces a decade of her…

Timeless: The epic quality of the reimagining matches the themes of the ancient
play produced in 405 BC and how they speak to Africa. Photos: Lauge Sorensen

Mthuthuzeli November reimagines ‘The Bacchae’ as an African choral ballet

South African dance phenom Mthuthuzeli November commands the rehearsal room with gentle authority. The choreographic language he’s created melds the controlled structure of…

Profoundly unsettling: One of the most striking works, titled Entrance, depicts a doorway marked “Staff Only”, guarded by Blackjack officers saluting white officials entering the building.

Augmenting apartheid memory through art and exhibition

Elias Ditaba Sewape, at nearly 80, presents his first museum solo exhibition, "Ditaba – 80 Albert Street," at the William Humphreys Art Gallery in Kimberley. Through painting and…

Gig Guide: The Joy release Precious, One Night with NdufromtheClan and Vimbs Mavimbs debut Late Bloomer

The Joy usher in a new era with a single and show

‘Maternal Instinct’ exposes the deadly cost of living a lie

This review delves into 'Maternal Instinct', one of Netflix's most disturbing true-crime documentaries, exposing how unchecked deception can lead to unimaginable violence. It…

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‘The Polygamist’ is top-tier trash TV that burns itself out

Dive into a no-holds-barred review of 'The Polygamist', the 22-episode telenovela that promises shock and awe but ultimately leaves viewers emotionally drained. Discover why this…

Musical genius: Abdullah Ibrahim at CTIJF 2026. Photo: Laura McCullagh
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Abdullah Ibrahim didn't want you to request ‘Mannenberg’

A poignant reflection on the life and legacy of jazz maestro Abdullah Ibrahim, delving into his complex personality, his resistance to being defined by 'Mannenberg', and his…

Unabashedly sassy: Nkoli is a vogue-opera that blends opera singing with a live orchestra, rapping, lip-syncing and voguing. Photo: Supplied

‘You strike a queer, you strike a rock’: How ‘Nkoli’ revives the legacy of Simon Nkoli

A vibrant vogue-opera celebrates anti-apartheid and LGBTQ+ activist Simon Nkoli, blending history, spectacle and political resistance with dazzling theatrical flair. The…

Sophie Joans in Play Things.

They Didn't Wait for an Invitation. They Built the Table Themselves.

Sophie Joans and Mxolisi Masilela, both recipients of the Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans recognition, are theatre-makers who built their own spaces in the…

Santu Mofokeng Stories: Concert/1988 ©Santu Mofokeng Foundation.

Santu Mofokeng and the dignity of everyday life

Santu Mofokeng's photographs invite viewers to slow down and recognise the humanity of people beyond their circumstances. His work, which challenged conventional struggle…

How Soweto and Lesotho inspired Thandi Moagi’s breakout debut

Thandi Moagi's debut novel, Wisani and the Bafokeng Brothers, draws inspiration from the vibrant streets of Soweto and the mountainous landscapes of Lesotho. This compelling…

Comedy-drama: The film, featuring S’thandiwe Kgoroge, is inspired by the Drum Magazine agony aunt column. Photo: Supplied

Gig Guide: Drum’s Dear Sis Dolly to open at Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro cinemas, Somi releases What Does It Take to Bloom and Rorisang Sechele drops Mama

Get ready for a dose of local entertainment! 'Dear Sis Dolly' brings heart and humour to South African cinemas, while jazz vocalists Rorisang Sechele and Somi release their…

Nduduzo Makhathini brings new album to Cape Town this Friday

South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini will perform music from his new album, The Myth We Choose, in Cape Town this Friday ahead of its release on Blue Note…

From left to right: Sthandiwe Kgoroge, S'dumo Mtshali, and Gugu Gumede

Inside ‘The Polygamist’: The cast unpack betrayal, desire and emotional survival

The cast of Sue Nyathi's viral Netflix adaptation, 'The Polygamist', delve into the series' intense themes of betrayal, desire, and emotional survival, reflecting on how the show…

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Abdullah Ibrahim, jazz icon, dies at 91

South Africa has lost a musical giant. Pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim, the towering figure of Cape Jazz and one of the most influential voices in international jazz, has…

Based on Sue Nyathi's novel, Netflix's ‘The Polygamist’ turns a familiar story of love, betrayal and power into one of the most talked-about South African dramas of the year

The Polygamist: Familiar themes, powerful performances

The new Netflix series, The Polygamist, based on Sue Nyathi's novel, has become a major talking point. This 22-episode drama features a strong cast led by Gugu Gumede as Joyce…

Non-racial: Market Theatre co-founders Mannie Manim and Barney Simon in 1976. Photo: Gisèle Wulfsohn

Nearly 50 years on, the Market Theatre is still holding up a mirror to South Africa

Three days after the historic Soweto Uprising in 1976, the Market Theatre opened its doors in Johannesburg, becoming a vital space for artistic expression and resistance against…

Umzulu Phaqa champions accessible live music with upcoming Johannesburg show

Singer-songwriter Umzulu Phaqa is set to host a multi-genre live show, "For You & Everybody," in Newtown, Johannesburg, on July 4. The event aims to make live music more…