Julius Malema meets Bush

World On Press


Ian Jindela








Photo by Gery Van Dyk


The G’town Jazz fest hosted by Standard Bank hits a high note. South Africa’s leading jazz and revolutionary Opera vocalist Sibongile khumalo along the Grammy Award winner and pianist Danilo Perez cross cultural performance last night kept the jazz lovers warm. The all five musicians piece consummate professionals with great international reputation. South Africa’s great instrumentalists Shannon Mowday on Saxophone, Victor Masondo on Bass guitar and on drums Clement Benny. Sibongile Khumalo ‘s interpretation of “The Prayer” by Perez introduced the show and saw her gifted spiritual voice from a soft tone to a high note, the audience set back and beleaguered. Her introductory lines could not be measured by the vocal giant opening tune.


Sibongile brings her charisma again in the song titled “Inner Peace” with Shannon Mowday on Saxophone. The improvisation mid tempo tunes with Victor Masondo on Bass guitar later kept the audience swinging heads on. Her essence of love on vocals came out in honor of the late Princess Magogo DiniZulu who was the great only female composer of all times. She interpreted the words in song titled “Ngibambe, Ngibambe” Hold me. Her spirituality comes up again as she steps out into a realm of soulfull deep vocal jazz with her instrumental vivid voice. A cry for the new beginning, Sibongile Khumalo’s voice sounds up on the African mountain. She elects her tone in a song with a flow of peace and harmony. The audience witnessed Perez bringing back Moses Taiwa Molelekwa’s composition “Mountain Shade” with his unique poly cadenced sample. The humbled Perez crosses borders with Sibongile Khumalo on a political journey song titled-Kobia with the sound of army. In the song Julias Malema meets with Sir George Bush on the musical keys highly lifted by Sibongile’s vocals. If jazz music is ceaselessly, it will keep you jovial all the time. The G’town Jazz Fest runs until 03 July.

Bafana Bafana final bow

World On Press
Ian Jindela

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Bafana Bafa player takes final bow




South African National team- Bafana Bafana winning game of 2-1 against France at Bloemfontein was a final bow at this year’s World Cup tournament. It has been thus far the green and yellow boy’s played a winning 12 games prior to the tournament. Last night Mangaung stadium Bloemfonetin seats were in full swing all over green and yellow in support of Bafana Bafana. South Africa won the match but it was not enough for the host nation to progress past the group stage of the tournament. The game was attended by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Zuma who congratulated the players for their gallant effort. “You have made our country proud and the Nation is proud of your achievement. The existing carnival atmosphere in the country is because you have represented all of us with pride, winning against France in an official competition is an achievement you should be proud off. In tournaments like this, sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. You gave it your best; and now it’s time to enjoy the World Cup. We have built a solid foundation for future tournaments, and you can count on the country’s support all the way”.

SAFA president salutes Bafana Bafana for their great work done. “The South African Football Association on behalf of the continent therefore express its profound gratitude for all the hard work that the team in placing Africa on the map. It is one of the few moments in sport when we can justifiable see victory in defeat when taking stock of the bigger picture of your contribution” said SAFA President, Mr Kirsten Nematandani. SAFA invested heavily in this world cup. It is an investment well spent considering the positives outcomes that have already started pouring to our country and continent. Magnificent football facilities, a state of the art transport networks, security, and tourism opportunities will be a lasting legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup for generations to come. “Development projects such as Football for Hope and 1Goal project that FIFA has introduced to South Africa and the rest of the continent will ensure that the African football improves and more children enjoy the right to education”added Nematandani.

“Yes they did not make it past the group stage but they did what the country asked of them – they played with pride, passion, skill and commitment, they gave their best. They did the national team jersey and every single South African proud and we want to thank them for what they’ve done for this country,” said 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) CEO Dr Danny Jordaan.

The dream of South Africa winning the tournament is over. South Africans are urged to raise their flags high in support of South Africa as the host country. The World cup is still on until 11 July. Support for the tournament to date has met all expectations with a total of 1 570 447 people attending the first 32 matches (an average of 49,076). More than a million people have watched the matches at the ten FIFA Fan Fests in South Africa and hundreds of thousands more have watched the games in public viewing areas around the country, with World Cup matches also shattering television audience records in the country.Durban has proved to be the most popular FIFA Fan Fest with 238,546 visitors from the start of the tournament until 20 June. Well done Bafana Bafana.

National Arts Festival takes Football route

World On Press
Ian Jindela

The 36th annual Grahamstown National Arts Festival kicks off in Football style. Minster of Arts and Culture Ms. Lulu Xingwana officially declared the Grahamstown National Arts festival open, at the prestigious ceremony held in Grahamstown Settlers Monument on June 20. The minister also handed over the hand crafted soccer ball with colorful Ndebele beads to the festiva in support of the rural development projects. Minister Xingwana, Eastern Cape Premier Nomvula Kiviet and the festival Chairman blow their Vuvuzelas in support of Bafana Bafana during the opening ceremony.

Take a U turn to the Eastern Cape and experience live entertainment- whilst zooming out from the soccer fever. This year’s G’town fest runs until July 04 and promises to be the great and with the heavy line up of craft, music, comedy drama, theatre, jazz and exhibitions to keep festival goers warm this winter. National Arts Festival takes Football route. Football Football on its world premiere a multi-country co-production which uses dance, theatre, video, music and digital technology to celebrate the art of football, (pictured above). The Football Diaries- a one man show that gives an insight into an athlete’s experience of space, time and emotion. In celebrating soccer in Africa, the street theatre will host the Giant Match.

Still celebrating the World Cup, Sibikwa Dance and Music Company have a lineup of colorful 48 cast members of dance, music and drama productions spiced with the sounds of Mozambique. Sibikwa offers proudly South African experience in music, dance and drama. Visitors can also experience traditional food tasting. Shows opens from 20 to 23 June at the Recreation centre the home of Sibikwa at Grahamstown. The Johannesburg east based Sibikwa last night took the G'town Festival by storm with their contemporary dance production “ The Eye of the Storm” from the cast the cast young devoted Thapelo Kotlolo from east of Johannesburg who is at the G’town festival for the first time described his performance as exciting extra ordinary and a festival for all. Grahamstown National Arts festival has a lot to offer in colorful African melting pot of arts. Visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za for more information.