MTV (DStv channel 130) has revealed that Diamond Platnumz is the winner of the 2015 MTV EMAs Best African Act. Scores of music fans visited mtvema.com to vote for Diamond Platnumz, who beat incredible competition from AKA, Yemi Alade, Davido, and DJ Arafat. Continue reading
Month: October 2015
Massive boost for 2016 Performing Arts Scholarships Programme
Along with funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), the Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) will allocate an additional fourteen performing arts scholarships in 2016. Continue reading
Ed Sheeran concert film headed to NuMetro cinemas
Ed Sheeran makes his concert film debut, Jumpers for Goalposts, on cinema screens globally on the same day. In South Africa the film will be screened at select Nu Metro cineplexes on Thursday, October 22 at 8 pm. Continue reading
Soprano, Pretty Yende, signs deal with Sony Classical
Sony Classical has inked a long-term agreement with Pretty Yende, the sensational young South African soprano whose career has risen to the top of the opera world with unparalleled speed within the past few years. Continue reading
Local history authors shine at Ramsgate Literary Festival

Bongi Malishe, author of You are Wired to Win, was one of several speakers at the inaugural Ramsgate Literary Festival. She has written books in both English and isiZulu and is in demand as a motivational speaker. Malishe told festival-goers: “You are what you say you are; circumstances happen to equip you with the skills you need to reach your goal. So remember, whatever you go through in life will make you stronger.”
LOCAL history authors, writing, for the most part, about the people and places of the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, dominated the inaugural Ramsgate Literary Festival.
Sponsored by UGU South Coast Tourism, the festival took place on September 24 and 25 at the Whale Deck overlooking beautiful Ramsgate beach. In addition to talks by authors, visitors were able to view art exhibitions, visit quirky museums, taste fine wines and indulge in tasty food. Continue reading
Evening of choral delights in Pietermaritzburg
MORE than 250 choral singers will be performing in Let The People Sing!, a special festival of popular hymns and inspiration songs, in the Pietermaritzburg City Hall at 7 pm on Thursday, October 22. Continue reading
R2.6 million for a chest of drawers
A chest of drawers sold for close on R2 600 000 at Strauss & Co’s auction in Cape Town drawing gasps from the packed saleroom. This important 18th century chest of drawers, which was formerly part of the collection of Vergelegen, was hotly contested between two international buyers on the telephone. Continue reading
Don’t miss Blood Lions doccie at Maritzburg College
MARITZBURG College, in collaboration with Wildlands Conversation Trust and the film’s producers, is hosting a screening of the internationally acclaimed documentary, Blood Lions, which exposes the canned lion hunting industry in South Africa. The screening will take place at 5.30 pm on Ocrober 19 in the Alan Paton Memorial Hall.
There will also be a screening of the doccie on Thursday, October 15 at 6.30 pm at Ster-Kinekor, Musgrave, Durban. Continue reading
NEA Young Performer Showcase season
Supported by the National Lotteries Commission, the National Eisteddfod Academy (NEA) creates opportunities for youth development in the arts.
These opportunities include the annual National Eisteddfod of South Africa, the NEA Indigenous Arts Development Project, the annual NEA Awards Competition and the NEA Young Performer Showcase.
The NEA Showcase concerts have grown in popularity over the past few years and have become a cultural highlight as illustrated by sold-out performances and the high standard of performances.
These events will feature some of the best young performers in drama, music dance and indigenous arts as identified in the various regions of the National Eisteddfod as well as the NEA Indigenous Arts Development Project. The eisteddfod top achievers will also be acknowledged and awarded at these events.
The dates for Showcase 2015, to be presented at the Roodepoort Theatre, are as follows: October 16 (Western Gauteng), October 20 – 21, 23 (Randburg), October 27 (Johannesburg), and October 29 and 30 (Sandton).
The Showcase for Limpopo and Northern Gauteng will take place at the Atterbury Theatre on November 9, while Mpumalanga is scheduled for October 24 at the Nelspruit Theatre.
All shows start at 7 pm and booking is at Smartfan (Roodepoort Theatre) and Computicket (Atterbury Theatre) or at the door. Tickets range from R60 – R115.
All recipients of diploma awards in the eisteddfod can look forward to entering the NEA Awards Competition in March and May 2016. This competition provides the next level of participation where the best young performers from various regions in the country can compete for prize money of about R50 000.
For more information contact the NEA Office at 011 886 6005 or email info@eisteddfod.co.za or log onto http://www.eisteddfod.co.za.
About the National Eisteddfod Academy (NEA)
- The National Eisteddfod Academy provides various opportunities where young performers can develop and showcase their talents across the full spectrum of artistic and cultural diversity and experience the magic of the performing arts. These opportunities include the NEA Young Performers Showcases and the annual NEA Young Performer Awards competition.
- Previous eisteddfod top achievers include Andile Ndlovu and Camille Bracher, both top achievers in the International Ballet Competition held in Cape Town in 2007; Ndlovu was also a finalists in Dance, Dance, Dance presented by KykNet and he recently performed in Don Quixote at the Lyric Theatre. In 2009 the dance group, Death Rattle was invited to perform for the title shoot of a TV programme. Carmen Pretorius, another Eisteddfod top achiever, performed as Sophie in Mama Mia and as Cinderella in Cinderella. The winner of the Silver Medal in the NEA Awards Competition 2015 Henno William, is currently a semi-finalist in E-TV’s SA’s got Talent.
- The Young Performer Showcase concerts feature some of the best young performers in drama, music and dance as identified in various regions at the annual Eisteddfod, presented by the NEA. These concerts have grown in popularity over the past few years and have become a cultural highlight as illustrated by sold-out performances and the high standard of performances. They showcase learners from all communities and promote awareness of our South African multi-cultural diversity.Gauteng South Africa
Tribute to the sultans of swing
If you’re a fan of Dire Straits, then make sure you don’t miss the one-night-only performance of Sultans Of Swing at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway in Umhlanga on Saturday, October 17, sandwiched between two Rugby World Cup quarter-finals! Continue reading







