Tag Archives: Johannesburg

20Nov/19

Internationally Acclaimed Production, Barber Shop Chronicles, Makes its New York Debut at BAM

November 20, 2019Culture, Lifestyle, TheatreAccra, BAM, Barber Shop Chronicles, Bijan Sheibani, Harare, Harvey Theatre, Inua Ellams, Johannesburg, Kampala, Lagos, London, new yorkTaji Mag

Following two sold-out runs at the National Theatre in London, a successful run at London’s Roundhouse, and a world tour, Nigerian-born playwright Inua Ellams’ acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles makes its New York and BAM debut December 3—8. The sold-out sensation explores the diversity of Black male identity via the intimate community of the barbershop, where men across the African diaspora have gathered for generations to discuss the world and their lives. Filled with passion, humor, and honesty, the celebrated work is inspired by Ellams’ own experiences as an immigrant.

Directed by Bijan Sheibani, Barber Shop Chronicles follows the conversations and concerns of a group of African men as they interact in six different barbershops in London, Lagos, Johannesburg, Accra, Kampala, and Harare. The all-male, 12-person cast riffs on topics both personal and political—from sports to race relations to views about fatherhood, identity, immigration, and masculinity. Music and dance knit together the individual episodes in this fast-paced production. A mastery of humor, pace, and wit, the story takes place over a single day as characters, jokes, and plotlines traverse continents and cultures.

Barber Shop Chronicles is presented in its New York premiere at Next Wave 2019—the first season under Artistic Director David Binder, in which all artists are making BAM debuts. The season runs through December 2019 and includes theater, dance, music, film, site-specific, and multi-genre work across BAM’s venues and off-site, as well as Holiday programming.

Harvey Theater at BAM Strong (651 Fulton St)
Dec 3—7 at 7:30pm; Dec 7 at 2pm; Dec 8 at 3pm
Tickets start at $35

About the Artists
Born in Nigeria in 1984, Inua Ellams is an internationally touring poet, playwright, performer, graphic artist, and designer. He is an ambassador for the Ministry of Stories and has published four books of poetry: Candy Coated Unicorns and Converse All Stars, Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales, The Wire-Headed Heathen, and #Afterhours. His first play, The 14th Tale, was awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival and his fourth, Barber Shop Chronicles, sold out its run at England’s National Theatre. He is currently touring An Evening with an Immigrant and recently premiered The Half God of Rainfall, a new play in verse at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Kiln Theatre, London. In graphic art and design, online, and in print, he tries to mix the old with the new, juxtaposing texture and pigment with flat shades of color and vector images. Ellams lives and works from London, where he founded the Midnight Run, a nocturnal urban excursion. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Bijan Sheibani was artistic director of the Actors Touring Company (2007—10) and associate director of the National Theatre (2010–15), where he directed A Taste of Honey, Emil and the Detectives, Romeo and Juliet, Damned by Despair, The Kitchen, War Horse (US tour), Greenland, and Our Class. His other theater credits include Dance Nation (Almeida); Circle Mirror Transformation (Home, Manchester); The Brothers Size and Eurydice (Young Vic/Actors Touring Company); Barber Shop Chronicles (National Theatre/Fuel/West Yorkshire Playhouse); and Romeo and Juliet (National Theatre). Opera credits include Nothing (Glyndebourne) and Tell Me the Truth About Love (Streetwise Opera).

Watch the Barber Shop Chronicles trailer here.

Barber Shop Chronicles
Fuel/National Theatre/Leeds Playhouse
By Inua Ellams
Directed by Bijan Sheibani

Design by Rae Smith
Lighting design by Jack Knowles
Movement direction by Aline David
Sound design by Gareth Fry
Casting direction by Louis Hammond CDG

16Feb/17

Lindi Roaming the Streets at the Social Yaruna

February 16, 2017Art & Design, Creative, Culture, Fashion, Music & PoetryAKA, and Mandoza, GRAYSCALE, Hector Pieterson, Hillbrow, jay_dundidit, Johannesburg, Kelly Khumalo, Kempton Park, Lindi Roaming the Streets, Lindi Roaming the Streets at the Social Yaruna, lindi tshitlho, Live Marimba Band, Midrand Social Squad, Sabata Sabo Mpholo, Sebokeng, Sio, Social Yaruna, South Africa, Steelpan, Tembisa, Thabang Modupo, Thabo Lovey Koloane, The Royal Vibrationz, The Shoe Cobbler, Thobile, Thobile Nhlapo, Tshepang Samson Ramoji, Vaal, YaRunaLindi Tshitlho

In this edition of Lindi Roaming the Streets, Lindi visits the Social Yaruna!

“CREATIVITY IS A WILD MIND AND A DISCIPLINED EYE”

Social YaRuna is an out of the box, diverse and artistic movement aimed at providing a platform to mold and nature future leaders of the entertainment world. “Ya Runa”, which means ours, aims at creating unity among the artists as well as unifying art lovers with those that chose to pursue a career in the world of entertainment. The idea of YaRuna is to draw in the masses and teach them knowledge of how broad the art/entertainment industry is by bringing in a diverse group of individuals under one roof who will each bring in their own element; ultimately giving a platform for emerging artists to grow as artists as well as make a living from their crafts.

YaRuna, established in September 2016, is hosted every first Saturday of the month and is co-owned by Thabang Modupo & Thobile Nhlapo.

These emerging events co-ordinators & stylist/image consultants are also qualified Business Analysts. Born and raised in the east of Johannesburg (born in Hillbrow, resided in Tembisa (tshepo extention) till the age of 7, then moved to Kempton Park in 1999.

They were also recently a Top 15 finalist in the global blogger style challenge, being the only African to have been a part of the competition.

“What defines me is my capability to adapt well to ever changing circumstances in my life, constantly transitioning from what society’s perception of what a young black man should look like as well as how a young entrepreneur like myself should dress or behave in order to be successful. I don’t conform to the norms of society hence I don’t want to restrict myself to just settling for the regular 9-5 lifestyle we as a black community have been trained since birth to take up, where we slave day in a day out only to make millions (daily) for someone else’s company only to earn peanuts only once a month.”

It’s not everyday that society is gifted with a radical youth, who is not afraid to dance to her own tune or help liberate the minds of other youth around her. This 23 year old photographer from Sebokeng, Vaal, began using her photography career three years ago, as a self-expressive art that she now wishes to share with the world. She describes her photography as a form of “Expressionism”- as most of her work carries subliminal meaning and weight from within!

Thobile has photographed South African stars, including AKA, Kelly Khumalo, and Mandoza. “I hope to be given an opportunity to further develop my skills and more importantly, to working with people I can learn from.”

“SPIRIT IS HER NAME”

“You can not use up creativity, the more you use, the more you have.”

“The shoe cobbler”

“The Shoe Cobbler” is a customization business that was founded by 3 young entrepreneurs, Tshepang Ramoji, Thabo Kholoane & Sabata Mpholo who identified and realized how the local trend where they’re from was so behind, so they re-introduced a forgotten street culture (sneaker customization) in the Vaal.

TSC basically gives all worn out sneakers a second chance by re-modifying them and giving them a brighter and better colour to match the look you’ve always had in mind.

•The vision of TSC is to be known and recognized internationally because of the creativity we all have to offer.

•Our mission is to provide high quality services that are trustworthy, join every well known markets that display art, and, most of all, enhance our entrepreneurial excellence.

IG-@the_shoe_cobbler

FACEBOOK – Tshepang Samson Ramoji

CELL no.- 0818790398

FACEBOOK – Thabo Lovey Koloane

CELL no-0603497163

FACEBOOK – Sabata Sabo Mpholo

CELL no.-0799882973

Hector Pieterson (1963 – 16 June 1976) became the subject of an iconic image of the 1976 Soweto uprising in South Africa when a news photograph by Sam Nzima of the dying Hector being carried by another student while his sister ran next to them, was published around the world. He was killed at the age of 13 when the police opened fire on protesting students. For years, 16 June stood as a symbol of resistance to the brutality of the apartheid government. Today, it is designated Youth Day — when South Africans honour young people and bring attention to their needs. #FEESMUSTFALL

Live painting

Soulful sounds by Sio

Live Body Painting

The Royal Vibrations is a marimba group that has a percussive musical combination of marimba, djembe, dance and vocals. The band comprises of ten Members who share common roots with different social and cultural orientations. The group represents the nicest melodies ever found in the musical history of mankind and is based in the heart of Johannesburg, Hillbrow (at the Hillbrow Theatre).

The Royal Vibrations fuses traditional music with western sound effects and a modernized interpretation of time, space and circumstance. The band plays a variety of musical styles that include Southern Africa traditional songs, Afro-fusion, jazz, house, gospel, afro-pop and classical sounds. Members of the band respectively are rich in experience of the entertainment industry and have performed on both local and international music festivals and concerts.

To date, the experience within the band blends into a unique acoustic feel with an essential rhythmic touch that refreshes, heals and gives an uplifting sensation that restores our sense of dignity and self-pride. The Royal Vibrationz works with a number of session musicians from all over South Africa, and has collaborated with international live bands on various occasions, including Melita Matsinhe based in Norway. The Royal Vibrations is currently the holders of the best marimba band in South Africa’s National Marimba Festival 2013 and the International Marimba & Steelpan Festival 2013. The great band has a live audio recording they did in 2013 titled “The Journey” That includes cover versions from the great African and international musicians and some of their own compositions. “We are here to give you the best marimba music at festivals, concerts, graduation ceremonies, corporate functions, parties and weddings.” They offer the following services:

Live Marimba Band (Afro-jazz, contemporary jazz, house, reggae, soul, afro-soul, RnB)

Take a chill pill and unwind with a game of Pack Man!!!

“Your attitude is like a box of crayons that colour your world. Constantly colour your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humour, and your picture begins to lighten up.”

Midrand Social Squad

PHOTO CRED:@jay_dundidit

GRAYSCALE

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15Apr/16

Lindi Roaming the Streets of Johannesburg, South Africa

April 15, 2016Cultureafrican culture, african fashion, Johannesburg, jozi, Lindi Roaming the Streets, Lindi Roaming the Streets of Johannesburg South Africa, lindi tshitlho, South AfricaLindi Tshitlho

In this edition of Lindi Roaming the Streets, Lindi explores South Africa Fashion Week in Hyde Park Corner of Johannesburg.

“Only those who go too far can possibly know how far they can go.”

This for me goes hand-in-glove with fashion; better yet “freedom”.A form of expression, driven by the act of fearlessness… To a point where ones’ story is told through their ageless soul of adventure, sparking the skills of simplicity, authenticity and serenity.

“As I strut my short long legs on the streets of JOZI.

”Happiness that derives from the hope that inner-peace as invincible as my imagination lives on. Nothing is more creative, nor destructive than a brilliant mind with a purpose.

That “misunderstood” old man, who wakes up in the morning just to play his keys on the corner of Juta and De Beer Street. Not because he wants anything from anyone, but because this misunderstood genius feels that he has more to offer, than the lads driving past him in big cars with flashy rims and a fat bank account.

I’m talking about “uMama” who wakes up with a smile knowing that the woodwork she sells at Braamfontein on a Saturday will be enough for a weeks’ meal. The same woman, that sold handmade spoons and dishes for her kid’s Varsity tuition. #FEESMUSTFALL

The term rétro has been in use since the 1970s to describe on the hand new artefacts that self-consciously refer to particular modes, motifs, techniques, and materials of the past. But on the other hand, some people (incorrectly) use the term to categorise styles that have been created in the past. Retro style refers to new things that display characteristics of the past. It is mostly the recent past retro seeks to recapitulate, focusing on the products, fashions and artistic styles produced since the Industrial Revolution, of Modernity. The word “retro” derives from the Latin prefix retro, meaning backwards, or in past times.

Well I would like to refer to this as the “New age Evolution”

“Imagination is the air in the mind”

Stepping out of the conformed definition of freedom is one of the most knotty challenges one can face, but for me this requires tact of some sort, merely because anyone who lives within their means, suffers from a lack of imagination.

“Live on Fashionista, Live on!!!”

Tag: Johannesburg

“Imagination is the air in the mind”