David Shapshak Satire – apart, of course, from chicken – is Nando’s speciality. Its advertising has always piggy-backed on current issues and ridiculed or satirised them. Humour, you see, is their secret ingredient. It has arguably sold them more chickens than their famous Portuguese sauces. Remember the just-recognisable grey- haired global leader with a predilection […]
Stephen Gray recently attended a conference in Botswana in honour of South African writer Bessie Head, who settled there Gaborone, June 17-18 Few remember the first round of this event. In April 1976, when she was still alive and with only half her work done, Bessie Head was invited here to the University of Botswana. […]
Robert Kirby: Loose Cannon With what in the way of a gaudy extravaganza is South Africa planning to celebrate the arrival of the new millennium? There are only about 530 days left before the delight of living in the 20th century will become a thing of the past. As one of those who feels he […]
James Ambrose Brown Just when we thought we could safely forget the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)and the perpetrators could merge into their murky backgrounds … Just when we thought that words must fail to keep it all before our consciences, comes a fresh insight. You might say that it needed an […]
Karl Vick in Lagos Behind all the talk of returning democracy to Nigeria looms the burned wreckage of the Paki Trading and Transport company. As word spread last week that Moshood Abiola, the man Nigerians five years ago thought they had elected president, had died just as he was to be released from prison, the […]
Philippe Dagen On show in France The 200th anniversary of the birth of the French painter Eugne Delacroix (1798-1863) is being celebrated by a series of exhibitions in France, each devoted to a different aspect of his work. The bicentenary exhibitions set a challenge: since Delacroix is being served up in pieces, why not try […]
Andy Capostagno Golf The Scots have a saying: “If there’s nae wind there’s nae golf.” Think about that when the cream of the world’s players are struggling through the links of Royal Birkdale this week. You will hear many seasoned professionals complain that it makes the game a lottery. Nick Price said during practice: “It […]
European stock exchanges as we know them are about to be completely transformed thanks to London and Frankfurt. Europe’s two largest markets last week announced they would end decades of heated rivalry and form an alliance to develop a pan-European market in the hope that soon all European exchanges would take part. While some people […]
designer Sir Norman Foster is the architect who’s come closest to establishing a universal style for the age. His latest project, Hong Kong airport, opened last week. Liz Jobey reports Sir Norman Foster rang back. “Sorry, we got cut off as I walked into the Savoy,” he said. “I was on my way to a […]
Beninese diva Angelique Kidjo has taken African pop global. Her new album crosses all boundaries, writes Phillip Kakaza Even under the best circumstances the chances of becoming an international star in the world of entertainment are slim. But for a woman to launch a musical career from the highly religious African country of Benin – […]