Gab Post SA

Siba Mtongana to feature on CNN. PICTURE: MARIE CLAIRE FOOD Network celebrity chef Siba Mtongana  will feature in a CNN International documentary interview that will air today. The documentary showcases young African pioneers and captures Mtongana’s rise as a global influencer in the food industry and her ambassadorship role as Global Impact Ambassador for Rise Against Hunger . With  Siba’s Table  on Food Network DStv Channel 175, the chef who hails from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape and now based in Cape Town, has captured the hearts and following of millions of viewers in over 130 countries.  Her relatable personality and her ‘Sibalicious” recipes have sparked the commissioning by Food Network of an exciting fourth season which invites fans to submit their recipes for  Siba’s Table: Sibalicious  #MakeItSibalicious. The show will be aired in 2018. An excited Mtongana’s says her vision has always been to be a good ambassador of the continent and a global player w

Phelo Bala to release new music tomorrow. PICTURE: SUPPLIED HE'S been exposed to music for most of his life and now singer Phelo Bala is finally launching his second solo project tomorrow. The album titled,   Ndim’lo   is authentically composed and inspired by Bala’s journey to self-discovery. “My dream has always been to establish myself as a music industry executive and producer while I continue growing as a performer and composer. This album for me is a breakthrough and I can’t wait to share it with the rest of the world,” said Bala. Like many great singers, he began singing in his church choir at an early age, and it was instantly clear that he’d inherited the unique musical gift from his beloved mother, and brothers Zwai and Loyiso, who Phelo would eventually form the globally acclaimed Bala Brothers with, when he was only 14 years old. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Phelo joined the prestigious Drakensberg Boys Choir in KwaZulu Natal, where he rose to b

Scene from film Kalushi actors Jafta Mamabolo, Thabo Malema and Wandile Nzuza. PICTURE: SUPPLIED. THIS week marked a celebration for movie Kalushi which on Human Rights’s Day made R254 452 at Box Office which grossed a total of R1 614 773 with 28 755 attendances within 12 days of hitting local cinemas. The film directed by Mandla Dube, is a biopic of the life of struggle activist Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu which has taken nearly nine years to complete and tells the story of Kalushi  (played by Thabo Rametsi) whose life was ended at the age of 23 by execution during the height of apartheid. Actor Thabo Rametsi as Kalushi. Within seven days at the cinema it had made R783 877, as it’s actors Rametsi, Thabo Malema, Pearl Thusi and more have been campaigning on social media rallying locals to go watch the film, and although it’s working the film could find itself being removed at several cinemas if it doesn’t make the top five highest grossing films by the end of this week. An

Blk Jks to rock Soweto. PICTURE: WEB ROCK group BLK JKS take to the stage this month at the Soweto Theatre as part of the Sounds of Soweto. With a wrecking crew rhythm section, debonair vocals, and guitar concoction of one part shred and two parts soul, BLK JKS shoot an African music sensibility through the tenets of rock. The band's fresh, forward rhythm, layered harmony and elliptical guitar vernacular reveal the urban Zulu blues of Mbaqanga that is the centre of BLK JKS songwriting. Teaching themselves guitar on the same block where they both grew up, childhood friends Linda Buthelezi and Mpumi Mcata formed the band in 2000, and early BLK JKS shows garnered attention for their stacks of guitar drone and head-nodding beats. After the band's current line-up took shape with the addition of bassist Molefi Makananise and drummer Tshepang Ramoba, both of Soweto, they embarked on a heavy touring schedule throughout South Africa that earned them a national following.

The Road production team and some of it's cast took the four awards. PICTURES: Jurgen Marx JUST because the production has the highest viewership numbers or trends on social media every time they are broadcast, this doesn’t guarantee them awards. And this weekend, this theory was proved at the 11th South African Film and Television Awards where some of the local favourite shows were left empty handed when 181 judging panelists opted for "quality over quantity”. According to legendary actor and playwright Dr John Kani, who is one of the overall head judges of the awards alongside actor Jerry Mofokeng and film producer Firdoze Bulbulia, said when picking the nominees for this year’s awards they dealt with “honesty in pursuit of excellence”. “It’s very difficult for us to pick who will be the deserving winner so we had to leave it to the auditors. The process was honest, creative and these judges had a passion for the industry of South Africa ,” said Kani. And the

 Anele's talkshow moves to prime time slot. PICTURE: Jurgen Marx AFTER clinching a South African Film and Television Award as Best Talkshow Host last weekend, it’s clear SABC3 is waking up to Anele Mdoda’s talkshow’s popularity as they push it to prime time slot. The show, Real Talk with Anele which premiered on 21st July 2016, is a daytime variety talk show that sees 32-year-old Mdoda featuring social commentary on current, cultural and lifestyle topics, as well as entertaining interviews with some of SA and international celebs, entertainers and sporting figures including Minnie Dlamini, Robert Marawa, Fikile Mbalula and Trevor Noah. Broadcast from Monday to Friday 16:00 – 17:00 on SABC 3, the show’s producers Cheeky Media’s Yusuf Stevens last week confirmed that the show will be moved to 5pm slot starting from April 3, meaning Mdoda’s show will swap with Afternoon Express which will occupy the 4pm slot from next month.  And Real Talk with Anele will also hav

David Tlale, Bonang Matheba and Tbo Touch toast to their new deal. PICTURES:CSA WHAT does David Tlale ,   Bonang Matheba   and   Tbo Touch  have in common? Despite being some of South Africa's big names in their respective industries fashion, television and radio, the have joined forces with   exclusive luxury cognac brand ,   Courvoisier , to celebrate successful moments in the 21 st   century. Managing Director of ABV Brands,  Daniel Hawkins said  “together, these extraordinary self-made achievers illuminate the aspirant and refined nature of the brand and embody the style and the spirit of   Paris’ Golden Age , its glamour, optimism and decadence.  "We welcome them to this chapter of Courvoisier and are excited to celebrate today’s moments with them,” he said. Many may remember Tlale and Matheba being brand ambassadors for premium vodka brand Ciroc, alongside musician Da Les and DJ Dimplez since 2014. But word is that they are no longer tied to the bran

Parlotones band member Kahn Morbee has joined forces with fellow The Voice SA judge Karen Zoid. PICTURE: SUPPLIED One big name on a hit single is great, but when you bring two superstar voices together you get something special. When people talk Kahn Morbee or Karen Zoid, the first thing that comes to mind is successful musicians that have been providing fans with memorable music for close on two decades. But something that many people may never have envisaged has happened - these two icons of South African music have teamed up to create their first collaboration masterpiece with the release of We Could Be Divine . Written backstage on-set of The Voice SA between rehearsals and recorded in the now iconic Bellville Studios under the creative guidance of Theo Crous, Kahn and Karen have created a track that they feel embellishes beauty in a world of chaos that they hope many people can associate with. "Teaming up with Karen has been an awesome experience and the son

WHEN the first guitar chords of the mbaqanga ballad Wangala strummed during the opening sequence of Mzansi Magic’s telenovela turned soapie, Isibaya , South African television was transformed forever.  Five years later, the lovelorn melody, Wangala has become synonymous with one of the best television soapie to ever come out of the country. And t his year, it celebrates 1000 episodes and countless moments of action, family feuds, rivalry, love, murder and magic. Managing Director at The Bomb Shelter,  Desiree Markgraaff said,  w hen they launched Isibaya five years ago, they were "very excited about creating a show for Mzansi Magic viewers that had juicy villains, beautiful people, the rolling hills of Thukela and an inspiring hero whose enemies constantly schemed his downfall". "In the middle of this, there were two young lovers fated to be together. We wanted to bring a world full of drama, colourful characters, vicious battles over taxi routes and

LOCAL content channel Mzansi Magic is serious about raking in more audiences this year. This comes after the channel yesterday launched news of getting three more new local reality shows, a remedy that has seen the channel raking in thousands of viewers each month. They've also revealed that some of their hit dramas such as Lockdown , Igazi and Isithunzi will be returning for second seasons. Next month wills see the return of Igazi , a drama based on a Xhosa royal family in conflict over the throne produced by Ferguson Films, after ending in a cliffhanger in July last year.   In May, the channel will be serving love in the form of new relationship and dating reality show under the working title of Kheth'omthandayo (Choose the one you love). The sequence of the show will take one bachelor or bachelorette, add four suitors who match their requirements and eliminate the unwanted love matches so the contestant will remain with two suitors that they'd choose

IT IS safe to say local reality shows The Ranakas and Papa Penny Ahee are successful. Apart from their proven good ratings from The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa that has seen both shows sit in eighth and ninth spot of viewership figures, popular channel Mzansi Magic has commissioned them for a second season. The news came after the channel held a showcase of their upcoming shows at the DSTV showcase taking place at the Mount Grace Hotel and Spa in Magaliesburg - where they announced that both shows would be returning in October for their second seasons. The Ranaka's which is based on the family of Generations actress Manaka Ranaka after it was commissioned as the spin-off to radio personality Dineo Ranaka's own show Dineo's Diary - which ran for five seasons. The show first aired in January this year and has seen it grow in viewership figures currently sitting at the eighth most watched DStv show with 531802 viewers. Tsonga musician Pap

Beatenberg goes international. PICTURE: BEATENBERG.net LOCAL hitmaking band Beatenberg has signed to Island Records. The band which is comprised of Matthew Field, Robin Brink and Ross Dorkin -  announced the news in January through their social media platforms, meaning they will be joining the roster of some of the world’s most popular artists such as Elton John, Bon Jovi, Fall Out Boy, Nick Jonas, Sean Paul and Shawn Mendes. This comes after the trio's successful showcases on two standout international television performances on  The Tonight Show s tarring Jimmy Fallon and  Later  with Jools Holland. They also  opened for Mumford & Sons on a number of the UK band’s American dates and joined them at their British Summer Time Festival appearance in London’s Hyde Park in July. Black Major founder  Sevi Spanoudi said, they were  thrilled that Island Records has recognised Beatenberg’s singular music. “Since first surfacing in 2012, the band’s music has been cele

Resident judges of the show DJs Naves and Sphectacula. PICTURE: WEB THE PUBLIC broadcaster is once again opening the auditions for their hit DJ talent search show, 1's and 2's, where they search for the country's next big DJ.  The show brought to screens by DJ Mshega, Prince KB and DJ SK, is set to start airing in May with auditions expected to happen this month in hopes to find unsigned talent under the watchful eye of variety of celebrity judges who'll be supervised by MetroFM The Pre-Party radio show hosts DJs Sphectacula and Naves.  "This is a search for a deejay, a producer and personality. We are lookign for the wow factor," said Naves. Aspiring DJs can enter the show online are encouraged to have their verified local ID, a track they have produced themselves and over 18-years of age without existing contracts with any stable. If they come out tops, they stand a chance to be crowned with the 2017 Master of Spin while also bagging pro