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Published by tasch, 2019-11-28 06:57:39

KHULUMA December 2019

Keywords: Khuluma,Khuluma Mags,Travel,Travel Magazine,Kulula

PICASSO HEADLINE take me home please December 2019

Splash
with Kagiso Lediga
FOR THE MENU see pages 4 & 5

95







VIEW FROM THE TOP

I used to love going to the pool as a kid and splash about for the whole day, not a care in the world. My love of
water must have shaped the flow of my thoughts. Now my brain is like a fire-hydrant that can’t be turned off. My
thoughts are pools to jump into and splash around in. I used to throw rocks into the water to see them splash.
If I aligned it just right, I could even get the stone to skip across the pond. Now, with my age and wisdom,
I am happy to admire the calmness of the surface that reflects back to me what is. This month’s theme brings to
mind many familiar expressions like ‘making a splash,’ ‘causing a splash,’ and of course ‘splashing out.’

A quote by Steven Erikson from his book Midnight Tides captured my attention. It reads, ‘stones make no splash on a
frozen lake.’ This could mean that change can only take place when people are open and ready for something new. Our
sphere of influence is like a pebble dropped into a pond. You can choose to hold onto it or put it into your pocket. You
can drop your pebble into a small puddle and make a big splash, you can toss it into a large lake and make almost
no perceptible difference, or you can join with a few others and together toss your pebbles into the same place
and create ripples that affect anything on the surface and those areas on which the pebbles fall.

Seth Godin wrote about how albatrosses need to wait for the right conditions before they can take
off. In the water, an albatross will have to spend hours waiting for the right wind to come along. On
land, they're ungainly, but when they find the right conditions… they take off, and fly and fly and fly.
An albatross can fly for days or weeks with a heart rate similar to its resting heart rate. Google, often
referred to as an example of an albatross business, was first mentioned in the New York Times –
about a year after founding – as a simple aside, in a non-news column. Today, of course, it seems like
everything Google does is instant news. It’s easy to forget that just about every major online service:
eBay, Amazon, Paypal, Twitter, Facebook, launched in obscurity. Same with classic books, pop
musicians and political careers. The big splash might feel good, but it's not always necessary.

Ron Potter wrote about the incredible power of water in laminar flow, which can cut through steel.
When engineers start filtering and aligning and successfully pushing each water molecule in precisely
the same direction, that’s known as laminar flow. If it doesn’t quite achieve laminar flow, all it does
is splash off the surface because there’s no alignment. Within organisations, when we line up all the
‘molecules’ of our perceptions we begin to generate some real power. Without it, we will continue to
move in different directions, diluting, diffusing our energy and trust, and creating nothing more
than a splash.

Wrenelle Stander, Joint Chief Executive, Comair Ltd DECEMBER 2019 3
kulula.com









CONTENTS 152
DECEMBER 2019, THE BIG, SPLASHY, END-OF-YEAR ISSUE
59

9895

3 VIEW FROM THE TOP 67 THE HANGRY MERMAID’S 103 THE OCTOPUS & THE WHALE
Skipping stones and celebrating CULINARY GUIDE A pair of ocean treasures.
albatrosses with our captain. All that swimming makes
you ravenous. 115 DIVE IN
26 KAGISO & THE NETFLIX QUEEN Trying not to splash.
No downtime for this TV showrunner. 77 DOING THEIR BIT
Going off-grid is one way of doing it. 123 A FAMILY HOLIDAY
34 WATERWORLD SURVIVAL GUIDE
Here’s that future they warned us about. EXPLORE On a Greek island no one
can hear you scream. Or cry.
EXPERIENCE 82 ALL EYES ON MADRID Or sulk.
Here’s hoping COP25 will be more
40 TRIPWORTHY than another round of blah-blah. 133 THE BIG CHILL
Amanda Black’s future’s so bright, Why wait for the next Ice Age?
she’s wearing shades. 85 PARADISE FOUND
The Cape Peninsula in all her glory. 143 SURF’S UP
43 ON OUR RADAR Nicci Collier learns to commandeer
Make this your most entertaining 95 WEST COAST DAY DREAM the waves.
summer ever. A coastal trail with a link to
the ancients. 152 ADVENTURE ISLAND
50 SPLISH SPLASH I WAS And you thought Mauritius was just
TAKING A BATH 34 for tanning.
What happens when musicians are
exposed to water? 161 I THINK I’M A LONER NOW
Me-time all the time.
59 SUPER HERO GRAND SLAM
They’re marvellous, they’re live, and 171 THE BUTLER DID IT
they’re coming to Mzansi. Saving PE’s tuxedo-wearers.

8 DECEMBER 2019 kulula.com

By

INTRODUCING
SANDTON’S ULTIMATE

INNER-CITY RETREAT

Welcome to THE IVY Villa Hotel & Spa, an inner-city retreat
nestled in the heart of Sandton. With unsurpassed hospitality
and exceptional service from our butlers, our boutique hotel
redefines the meetings & events experience, offering the perfect
respite at the world-class Camelot Spa and a sublime culinary
experience at the renowned Reuben’s Restaurant & Bar. Pet
friendly and home to two resident Great Danes, we offer a truly

unique experience.

160 Helen Rd, Strathavon, Sandton, 2031

theivyvillahotel.co.za

179

179 MERFOLK TALES 199
All you need is a dream and a tail.

189 ARE WE THERE YET?
Children make the world go round.

DISCOVER

197 FUTURE SHOCK
Tokyo’s world of
tomorrow.

199 SHAMELESS
Ben Trovato
promises you
a beach body or
your money back.

203 BEACH PATROL
Oh, yes, please
save me!

211 THE INVISIBLES
Humans we ignore.

221 CELEBRATE?
It’s that time of year, so buckle up.

229 CONNECT & COLLECT
Spend it on something that matters.

241 THE GIFT OF TIME
Even if you can’t wrap it,
you can give it.

251 PLASTIC NOT
SO FANTASTIC
A festival dedicated
to our oceans.

10 DECEMBER 2019 252 kulula.com



EDITORIAL
Editor Keith Bain
Content Manager Raina Julies – [email protected]
Content Co-ordinator Vanessa Payne
Copy Editors Brenda Bryden, Nicci Collier

ART
Head of Design Studio Jayne Macé-Ferguson
Senior Designers Mfundo Archie Ndzo, Lesley-Ann van Schalkwyk

Advert Designer Bulelwa Sotashe
Production Editor Shamiela Brenner
Cover Photographer and Retouching Sven Kristian
Makeup Artist Colleen van Rensberg

SALES
Project Manager Richard White
khlassifieds Project Manager Steve Norval
Sales Consultants Stephen Crawford, Jay Deary, Bonnie Eksteen,
Randall Grace, Nazeem Hoosen, Nikita Moore, Gavin Payne,
Andre Potgieter, Roman Ross, Clint Smith, Zelda Stein
Advertising Co-ordinators Johan Labuschagne, Merle Baatjes

PRINTING
Novus Print

MANAGEMENT
Business Manager Lodewyk van der Walt – [email protected]

Management Accountant Deidre Musha
General Manager, Magazines Jocelyne Bayer

KULULA.COM
Joint Chief Executive Comair Ltd Wrenelle Stander
Joint Chief Executive Comair Ltd Glenn Orsmond

Head of Marketing, kulula.com Shaun Pozyn
Marketing Manager, kulula.com Bridgette Ramuluvhana
Brand Communications Manager, kulula.com Luane Lavery

COMAIR LIMITED
1 Marignane Drive, Bonaero Park, Kempton Park, 1619
Tel: 011 921 0111 | kulula.com contact centre: 0861 KULULA (585852)

To advertise in this magazine, please contact
Richard White (Sales Project Manager) at +27 21 469 2542

or email [email protected]
To advertise in the khlassifieds section, please contact
Steve Norval (khlassifieds Project Manager) at +27 21 469 2435

or email [email protected]

Copyright: No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publisher.
The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material. khuluma is published monthly by Picasso Headline. The
opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Picasso Headline, kulula or Arena Holdings. All advertisements/

advertorials and promotions have been paid for and therefore do not carry any endorsement
by the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents, neither kulula,
nor the publisher can be held responsible for any omissions or errors, or for any misfortune, injury or damages

that may arise therefrom. We reserve the right to edit interviews for layout purposes.























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kulula.com



y first-ever one-man show was called ability to do anything they set their minds to. The
Kagiso Lediga – In a Suit. Which just goes to story takes us on a journey of political power struggle,
show that we comedians can clean up quite romance, action and intrigue. Queen works as an
nicely. While half of Mzansi will be getting undercover spy at a South African agency devoted
out of their suits and flocking to the beach to protecting the people of Africa. She is complex,
to chill out and splash around for the summer break, confident and strong.
I’ll be grinding hard this month finishing off the final
touches on a new TV series I co-created for Netflix. The series has the look and feel of a high-quality
It’s called Queen Sono and will be dropping early in international production while being innately African.
2020. It’s a big moment for me, and exciting times for It’s shot in 37 locations across Joburg including
South Africa too, since it’s Netflix’s first fully the CBD, Park Station and Soweto, and we filmed
produced script-to-screen original African series. overlay in Nairobi and Lagos so it really looks and
So there is a huge sense of local pride. The series is feels Pan-African. The great thing about Netflix is
also made up of a strong all-star black cast, which that its people believe that great storytelling can
further enhances that pride. come from anywhere in the world and from many
The series came about when Pearl Thusi, who plays distinctive voices. Netflix is actively searching for
the lead in Queen Sono, approached me with an idea fresh, differentiated African stories and is focused on
to create an African version of Tomb Raider. bringing African stories to the world.
I thought it was a brilliant idea and after Pearl showed
me her training video for The Scorpion King, the Getting this new show ready for such a gigantic
concept came to life for me. We wanted to create global platform has been hugely time-intensive so I
a series that tackles African governments, while doubt I’ll be bobbing around in the ocean this summer.
showcasing strong-willed females who have the We’re polishing the show, getting it just right for its
release. But when Queen Sono drops, it’s going to
make one hell of a splash. I hope you’ll check it out.

26 DECEMBER 2019 kulula.com

KAGISO LEDIGA MEET

afgnwoLaFdlroHhrmocntsyraiowiiocoiscesnsthh-mtrolsochSepeeikhekdAiaeadrGaneoednhwBtiolttdpnistoaCeehlCnoiptuolatrcregrtsgnsancw,aheosodc2eo1wakzateeteCrd0w0tfhyderhaiim11,hathenosrWMmti9,cdtoacoontoCnhBtoihsStairoeavergceioi,asnnbelgtiwtheemeevCeactikeEneFrnliAanteBegaeomiuieengpnceydwrvtunldi’csr:nolmnsicn,KaaphosSuaaoeParnisridytanonlndnnoCreyyaugndaadetgsnddnoiceCws.isuPsFoenagdhmALohtacduhvnetiaawoBreieeLt,rdtrcdtwdlerlhaweOreisipsh.ne,tra1d’M.NazuedIadagt5iHsnotsgsinoPaitty,pnaendntea2atea’lhosat0epaNnpBtrem1t’trhrsodleeeh7osaelinw,Slyidnainhoehseuganged,otowceiwe.,iidndth Pictures: Sven Kristian

kulula.com DECEMBER 2019 27

WIN TICKETS TO MARVEL
UNIVERSE LIVE!
On page 59, you can read all about the
spectacular live action show that’s coming
to Sun Arena at Time Square, Menlyn Maine,
Tshwane next month. We’re giving away two
sets of family tickets for four people to see
the show on 24 January, so enter your name
for the draw.

WIN A GARMIN ACTIVITY TRACKER WIN A PAIR OF
We have one of these fitness- JELLY SANDALS
enhancing wearables from Garmin to give These Saint&Summer Lust ladies jelly
away. The slim, swim-friendly vívosmart 4 sandals pair with just about any sun-
activity tracker comes loaded with fitness inspired outfit. Made from PVC, they’re
and wellness features to help you make the easy to clean and easy to slip on and off,
most of a healthier, more active lifestyle. The whether you’re
device also monitors heart rate at the wrist and heading for
includes helpful tools such as all-day stress the beach or
tracking and a relaxation breathing timer. picnicking in
the park.
WIN A CHARCOAL BRAAI HAMPER We have
Manufacturer and supplier a pair for
of premium-quality charcoal Etosha uses two lucky
‘invader bush’ species in Namibia to produce readers –
triquettes, briquettes and charcoal. For the available in
festive season, when families and friends either black
across the country will be braaiing together, or nude.
Etosha has a hamper of products to give
away to one lucky reader.
The winner will get
24 bags containing 4kg
of Etosha triquettes
plus 12 packs of Etosha
Rhino firelighters.
That’s a whole lot
of happy memories
around the fire.

WIN A FURNITURE VOUCHER
Velvet Home & Living has over 20 years’ worth of experience
trading in upmarket, affordable home furniture and décor sourced from around
the world. With showrooms in George and Knysna, Velvet also has an online store
where all products can be viewed and purchased. Visit velvethomeandliving.com
to have a look at what’s available and enter the draw to win a R4 000 gift voucher
to use in-store or online as you please.

For a chance to win any of these prizes, visit khulumaonline.co.za and hit the competitions tab

FREE STUFF

WIN FREE ADVERTISING
AdzLok is a mobile digital advertising
company offering targeted adverts on mobile phone
lock-screens – they reach 400 million smartphone
users across Africa. For a chance to win free
advertising on their digital mobile platform, use the
QR code on their advert in this magazine or visit
adzlok.co.za and enter the code ADZDEC2019.

WIN A SUMMER BEACH HAMPER WIN A TWO-HOUR RIDE ON
Made in Brazil entirely from A HARLEY-DAVIDSON
recyclable material, Ipanema sandals and From Cape Corporate Tours, which
flip-flops are durable, comfortable and fun specialises in Harley-Davidson
to wear, whether you’re wearing them on the rentals, tours and chauffeur rides
beach or at a cocktail party. We have a hamper for large groups, we have a free
comprising a chair, umbrella, beach bag and Harley-Davidson chauffeur ride
a pair of Ipanema sandals to give away. to give away to one lucky reader.
The ride is two hours long and will
depart from Camps Bay. Enter the
draw on our website for a shot at the
free ride, or book a ride for R1 200 and get a 50% discount off your friend’s ride.
capecorporatetours.co.za

For a chance to win any of these prizes, visit khulumaonline.co.za and hit the competitions tab

WIN CAR COLOGNES AND AN
OVERNIGHT HOTEL STAY
South African car air freshener manufacturer Arrero
Car Cologne is giving away a hamper of goodies and
experiences, including gift-boxed colognes for your car,
an online perfume training voucher, a gift card, and an
overnight stay for two people at Soli Deo Gloria Boutique Hotel.

WIN A PAIR OF RUNNING SHOES WIN NOISE-CANCELLING WIN
From On, we have a pair HEADPHONES
of On CloudFlow running shoes to give From leading electronics stockists A CAR CARE HAMPER FROM AUTO-DNA
away. These new runners, available in Syntech, we have a pair of Importers and distributors of car care and detailing
extraordinary colours (such as these TaoTronics TT-BH046 products Auto-DNA sells everything you need to bring a
crimson midnight beauties), feature SoundSurge Plus professional shine to your vehicle. We have three Angelwax
responsive cushioning, explosive energy Hybrid Active gift sets to give away – each contains cleaning products and
return, a uniquely engineered mesh-weave Noise Cancelling waxes to beautify and protect your vehicle.
upper for support and breathability, and Bluetooth
added antimicrobial treatment for the 4.2 Over-Ear
feeling of long-lasting freshness. Headphones
to give away.

For a chance to win any of these prizes, visit khulumaonline.co.za and hit the competitions tab







THE BIG SPLASH WELCOME TO TOMORROW

Waterworld
Welcome to a watery future of our own making. A
cautionary tale by Tom Eaton

34 DECEMBER 2019 kulula.com

WELCOME TO TOMORROW THE BIG SPLASH

kulula.com DECEMBER 2019 35

The sign on the building in downtown Los Angeles but was that a good reason to stop going through the motions
still said ‘21st Century Fox’ but foxes had been of doing their job?
extinct for 50 years and nobody knew what it
meant. Every so often a family would row past Indeed, the futile creative process had become even
in their canoe on a scavenging expedition, and one of the more intensive since the end of the ice caps. Summer was
children would ask what a fox was, and their parents would now 10 months long, which meant McBain felt duty-bound
make up something – ‘It’s a flesh-eating disease, honey- to brainstorm enough summer blockbusters to fill those
bunny’ – but otherwise it was ignored by everyone except the months, even if they never got made.
movie executives who still lived and worked in its upper floors,
carefully rationing the last of the Caesar salad. Which is why, on this particular morning, as the sun
sparkled off the Great Pacific Water Mass, and a pair of
Meredith ‘The Hammer’ McBain, the last studio boss in the orcas playfully tossed a screaming actor between them, the
world, stood at her window and looked out at the drowned executives of 22nd Century Frog (for that was the company’s
world. Why did they go on, pitching movies that they were new name) were trooping into her office on the third floor
never going to make? The last feature film produced by above sea level to pitch their newest concepts.
a studio had been 2072’s sequel to the climate change
blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, an epic if slightly Naturally, everything was a reboot or a remake: there had
depressing film called We Told You All This the Day Before been no new stories since the late 1990s. In the early 2020s,
Yesterday about a group of scientists who, after being Disney had completed the last of its live-action remakes
ignored for half a century, say, ‘Ah screw it!’ and form a and then started remaking all those as animated reboots,
sex commune dedicated to extreme hedonism. which had, in turn, been rebooted as live-action remakes.
(There were now 24 almost identical versions of The Lion
Now, Hollywood produced nothing except tragic news King: the circle of life truly was an endless round.) After that,
reports. Young actors still flocked there, mostly on pieces of it became a free-for-all, peaking in 2032’s Spider-Man: The
driftwood, like Jack in Titanic, but very few made it to the Amazing Spider-Man: Spider!Man! Reloaded: Redux: Again:
half-submerged skyscrapers out in the bay. Orcas were Reborn: The Same but Different, which saw the franchise
harsh critics. reboot itself twice inside the first 15 minutes of the film.

Still, as the fossil fuel executives used to giggle as they More – and more frequent – reboots and remakes, however,
clinked their champagne glasses, old habits are hard to break. required audiences with shorter and shorter memories,
Yes, nobody watched movies anymore, what with all the which was why, in the 2030s, Hollywood had moved its focus
hunting, gathering, and cranking the handle of the urine filter, away from teenagers to preteens and finally to toddlers. The
2041 remake of The Lord of the Rings was strongly criticised

2T0h7e2’slasset qfueealtutoreDthafeyilmAclfpitrmeoadrtueTcoecmhdoarbnyrgoaewsbtluodcikobuhsatdebreTehne

36 DECEMBER 2019 kulula.com

WELCOME TO TOMORROW THE BIG SPLASH

In the 2030s, Hollywood had moved its focus away
from teenagers to preteens and finally to toddlers

by child welfare groups for its depiction of bloody combat ‘No more mermaids,’ growled McBain. ‘If people wanted to
between babies, although critics praised its compact running see a traumatised person who’s fish from the pelvis down,
time of 14 minutes. they can just look out the window. Damn. How do the orcas
know to come up from below like that? It’s not OK.’
Which is why, today, the executives nervously sitting down
across from ‘The Hammer’ were shuffling through less ‘How about another Pirates of the Caribbean?’ asked
controversial material. Dolores Impetigo, senior vice president of intellectual
property refurbishment.
‘OK,’ said Brad Bubo, senior vice president of plot recycling.
‘Back in the 1990s, there was a movie called Waterworld. ‘What’s a Caribbean?’ asked Brad Bubo.
‘You know the Great Western Water Mass?’ asked McBain.
‘Go on,’ grunted McBain through a cloud of cigar smoke. ‘Used to be separate little seas. They had islands and stuff
(There were no more cigars, but she had bought a canister of there with pirates and – ’
cigar smoke, preserved since the 2030s, which she sprayed on ‘Pirates?!’ screamed Bubo. ‘And our last copyright lawyer
herself every so often.) eaten just last week!’
A hand went up at the back of the room. ‘We could reboot
‘So, the ice caps have melted and the whole world Frozen,’ offered Monique Necrotising-Fasciitis, senior vice
is underwater.’ president of copying stuff. ‘Update it a little bit, maybe call it
Frozen for a Few Days a Year but Otherwise Basically Slush.’
‘Yes, but what’s the movie about?’ ‘Sounds like my first marriage,’ said McBain and sprayed
‘No, that’s it.’ another puff of smoke at her face. Everyone laughed at
‘So your average Tuesday. Next.’ her joke, as stipulated in their contracts. ‘You got any
Debby Goitre, senior vice president of content repurposing, showstopper songs in mind?’
stood up. ‘I think it’s time for another Little Mermaid.’ ‘Well,’ said Necrotising-Fasciitis, ‘I was thinking of a new
Everyone groaned. There were 18 versions of The Little version of “Let It Go”, all about trying to maintain personal
Mermaid, and the industry had agreed that the final straw had hygiene in the bacterial swamp that is planet earth.’
been 2045’s The Teensiest Widdle Mermonkey, a live-action ‘I like it!’ cried McBain, banging her fist on the table.
remake starring an 18-month-old baby who crawls out of her (Technically it was Steven Spielberg’s fist, embalmed and
paddling pool because she has fallen in love with a handsome reinforced with resin, but she had bought it at huge expense
slice of banana. for precisely this purpose, and everyone considered it an
‘This is different,’ persisted Goitre. ‘Ariel yearns to go up extension of her own authority.) ‘It’s upbeat,
on land and meet the dashing prince so that he can untangle
her from the fishing lines that are wound around her tail and
starting to rot it off.’

kulula.com DECEMBER 2019 37

THE BIG SPLASH WELCOME TO TOMORROW

feel-good, and best of all, nobody knows what snow looks like Well, she thought, it was no use dwelling on the past. You play Illustration: Patrick Latimer
so the art department can basically draw anything!’ the hand you’re dealt. Or you play with the hand you bought. She
looked at Spielberg’s fist. Back then, those guys knew what they
The executives cheered. The last time McBain had green- had to do. Reboot the whole damned planet. A global remake.
lit an animation reboot had been three years ago when she Keep the good parts, phase out a few of the crappier characters,
approved Finding Nemo in Your Lounge, a heartwarming story of sell the new version like hell. Maybe hire some experts to write
a child who befriends a lost clownfish after it swims through his the script, not just the usual hacks with their tired fairy tales.
upstairs window during a hurricane.
Then again, wasn’t that what people wanted? Fairy tales,
‘Good work, people,’ barked McBain. ‘If we still produced any where everyone lives happily ever after without having to
movies, this would be in development by… wait, what month is actually do anything themselves, and the baddies all go to jail?
it? They all look the same.’ Sure it was. Right now, everyone on the planet knew the names
of the top hundred polluters of the 21st century, but ask them to
‘July,’ said Goitre. ‘No. January? Something with a J.’ name a single person who’d kept buying their products, keeping
‘November,’ said Bubo. ‘Wait, what’s the rhyme? Thirty them in business, or kept voting for governments that had no
hurricanes hath December, April, June and November. All the intention of changing anything – crickets.
rest have flesh-eating diseases except for…’ He fell silent and
shook his head. ‘Sorry, I got nothing.’ Talk about fairy tales: billions of products made in thousands
McBain sat back in her armchair and sprayed a satisfying of factories owned by hundreds of baddies, all bought by…
cloud of smoke at herself. nobody. At least nobody who’d admit to it now.
It had been a good meeting. Almost like the old days,
when she’d been a fresh-faced intern down in the pumping ‘He’s going to make it!’ The executives were over at the
room, dreaming up hit movies as she walked on the treadmill window, cheering on an actor frantically rowing a log towards
that powered the waterwheel that kept the fourth floor them. She sighed and started counting down. Four, three, two…
above water. There was a splash and a damp scream.
Back then, the fourth floor had been home to the marketing
department. Now it was occupied by eels, bottom-feeders and ‘Damn,’ said Bubo. ‘I really thought he was going to make it.’
mutated sharks. So basically nothing had changed. So do most people, thought McBain. That’s our beautiful gift.
That’s our terrible flaw.

Wasn’t that what people wanted? Fairy tales, where
everyone lives happily ever after without having to

actually do anything themselves

38 DECEMBER 2019 kulula.com



MAKING A SPLASH Words: Keith Bain, Picture: Supplied

Her voice is sublime, but what really makes songstress Amanda Black stand out is her earnestness – the
heartfelt presence that comes across when she digs into her soul and lets deep emotion spill out.

Born in Mthatha and christened Amanda Benedicta Antony, the singer says she grew up resenting her dark skin
because of the way light complexions were celebrated in the media; today she adorns her face with umchokoza,

stipples of face paint that celebrate her Xhosa roots and proudly proclaim her identity.
The singer first appeared on the scene in Idols when she was just 16. Then she dropped her first album,
Amazulu, an Afro-soul masterpiece that blew everyone away, not least the judges of the South African Music
Awards, where she took home Album of the Year, Best Newcomer of the Year, Best Female Artist of the Year
and Best R&B Soul/Reggae Album. The album also achieved platinum status within three weeks of release.
In October this year she released her follow-up album, Power, which includes collaborations with Ami Faku,
Kush Mahleka, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Nigerian crooner Adekunle Gold and Grammy Award-winning singer
Anthony Hamilton. Owning the album is one thing, but you’d do well to catch her at the Nubian Music Festival
happening at Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West Province this month. Also on the bill are other golden-
voiced divas, including Lira, Thandiswa Mazwai and Judith Sephuma. Beloved duo Mafikizolo will perform
too, as will Mi Casa, Ringo Madlingozi, The Soil, and DJs Amon Mokoena, KB Molopyane and DJ Fresh. Other
festival activities include movies under the stars, a bonfire braai feast, zip lining, stand-up comedy, a dedicated
Kids Zone with magic shows, puppets, water sports and children’s rides, and there’s a boat cruise featuring The

House of BNG Bubbly Buffet Brunch.
Eagle Waters Wildlife Resort, 13–16 December, nubianmusicfestival.co.za

40 DECEMBER 2019 kulula.com

getWORTH TRAVELLING FOR EXPERIENCEut

TRIPWORTHY

out & abo

kulula.com DECEMBER 2019 41



SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE EXPERIENCE

SPLASHING OUT

ON OUR RADAR

EAST
LONDON
15 DECEMBER

A splash of Tsonga

Known as South Africa’s ‘Xitsonga Queen,’
Sho Madjozi never fails to make a splash with
her attention-grabbing outfits and her heart-
pulsing performances. The rapper-poetess
was born Maya Wegerif and grew up in a
mountain village in Limpopo province – today
she tours the world, tearing up dance floors
with her thundering blend of hip-hop and
gqom cut through with Tsonga lyrics. Having
grown up listening to such Pan-African stars
as Congolese musician Kanda Bongo Man,
Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo, she
has quickly emerged as one of the continent’s
superstars, sharing her love of traditional
Tsonga Xibelani dancing through her high-
energy performances. She’ll be working her
magic on multiple stages across Mzansi this
summer, including the one at East London’s
Buyel’Ekhaya Festival, happening at Buffalo
Park Cricket Stadium on 15 December. Also on
the bill are Zonke, Moonchild Sanelly, Busiswe,
Kwesta, Vusi ‘The Voice’ Mahlasela and many
more. buyelekhaya.co.za

kulula.com DECEMBER 2019 43

Finally there Fsepsitrivite

Thirteen might be unlucky for some, but December
having already done 12 one-man shows, Nik 07–08
Rabinowitz had no choice but to add another George Tens Rugby Festival.
notch to his belt. The world’s only isiXhosa- Beer tents, live music and chasing a
speaking Jewish comedian will be trying to ball at Outeniqua Park Rugby Stadium.
make sense of his latest DNA test results while webtickets.co.za
trying to make sense of life, the universe and
everything in his new show, Late Bloomer. 13–15 Cape Town Sevens.
In this latest attempt to make sense of his Cape Town Stadium hosts 16 of the best
own life and how he ended up in his current men’s teams and the 12 top women’s
situation – successful, happily married with teams as part of the HSBC World Rugby
three children and two pets and one mortgage Sevens Series. capetown7s.com
– he inadvertently stumbles upon a few truth
bombs. You can hear them explode at the 14 Bubbly and Gin Summer Festival,
Baxter Concert Hall, Cape Town, where he’s Melkbosstrand.
performing until 14 December. webtickets.co.za There’ll be music, MCC and crafted
spirits all day at the Atlantic Beach
The made man with a tan Country Club. We recommend Uber or a
sober friend to get you there and back.
Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is making a comeback. webtickets.co.za
A new South African production of the cult musical features
Craig Urbani as the kinky alien Dr Frank-N-Furter and Kate 14 Darling Summer Festival.
Normington as The Narrator. And rocking a pair of golden Eight breweries will be flogging their
Speedos is Jarryd Nurden who’ll be bringing his characteristic beers and ales along with some
good looks and dreamy smile to the role of Rocky, the tanned innovative food and live music by The
hunk that Frank-N-Furter creates to satisfy his cravings. You can World of Birds and Red Tape Riot.
catch the mind-bending, time-warping mischief at Cape Town’s webtickets.co.za
Artscape Opera House from 6 December until 12 January, after
which it moves to Joburg for a six-week run at Montecasino’s 19–22 Blissfest, Plettenberg Bay.
Teatro before embarking on a world tour. pietertoerien.co.za It’s all about breathing in and out at this
yoga festival happening on the Garden
Wlouhnagteh…appens in the Route over the Summer Solstice.
blissfest.co.za
If you’re heading for the Mother City this
month, don’t miss The Fugard Theatre’s
big-hearted crowd-pleasing musical,
Kinky Boots. It features a scorching-hot
performance by Earl Gregory as the leggy
Lola who has a penchant for eye-catching
high-heel boots. The show runs until
2 February, and for the month of December, audience members will also get
access to The Fugard’s Kinky Lounge where there’ll be a range of delectable
themed cocktails, selfie booths, chill-out areas and fabulous music – it’ll be
open before and after performances throughout the month. thefugard.com

44 DECEMBER 2019 kulula.com

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE EXPERIENCE

20–31 J-Bay Rocks, Jeffreys Bay. Music royalty
From Jeremy Loops to Spoegwolf and
Snotkop to Die Heuwels Fantasties, Award-winning UK instrumentalist musician Tom Misch
this is the kuier-by-the-beach party of will be in South Africa this month. The London-based
the year. jbayrocks.co.za music producer, known for fusing elements of jazz,
soul, hip-hop and funk to create a unique sound, has
27 Blues Rock & Roots Festival, collaborated with the likes of GoldLink, Loyle Carner,
Stanford. Michael Kiwanuka and De La Soul. His Beat Tape 2 has
Soul-seeping tunes from Albert Frost, been streamed over 200 million times and his subsequent
Matt Carstens, Gerald Clarke, and debut album Geography was a raging success. He’ll be
The Black Cat Bones. It’s happening on the bill alongside AKA, Black Coffee, Distruction Boyz,
at Stanford Hill Estate where there’ll Moonchild Sanelly, and Samthing Soweto at the Music
be drink and food stands and an all- is King festival, happening at Ticketpro Dome in Joburg
important shuttle service to Hermanus. on 14 December and at Kings Park Outer Fields in Durban on 15 December. He’ll also
webtickets.co.za be performing in Cape Town on 16 December at Paarden Eiland Park where he’ll be
supported by Sio, DWSON, MUZI, and Kid Fonque. musicisking.co.za
31–02 The Little Forest Festival, Greyton.
A psytrance collab between Vortex The Fisher King
Parallel Universe and Alien Safari, this
promises to be a truly hard-stomping Before finding his groove as an award-winning,
segue between the teens and the chart-topping house and techno producer, Australian
twenties. facebook.com/aliensafari Paul Nicholas Fisher was a pro surfer on the World
Qualifying Series. He was one-half of a DJ duo known
January as Cut Snake, together with fellow surfer Leigh ‘Sedz’
14 Sedley – the pair began spinning records together
L’Ormirins Queen’s Plate Racing while on tour. Now solo, FISHER has since earned a
Festival, Cape Town. Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording. He’ll
Whether you’re into horses or simply be performing at the Joburg iteration of the Corona
there for the bubbly, air-kissing and SunSets Festival, happening at Ground in Muldersdrift
fancy hats, this blue-and-white on 7 December. He's also performing at Shimmy
themed dress-up affair at Kenilworth Beach Club, Cape Town on 14 and 16 December.
Racecourse promises a galloping good corona.howler.co.za, shimmybeachclub.com
time. lqp.co.za
The final frontier
25–26 Festival of Rebels, Cape Town.
Harley-Davidson is powering this In space, nobody can hear you scream. You will, however, hear
motorcycle enthusiasts’ get-together shrieks, whoop-whoops and all kinds of sonic dissonance rolling
that’ll include live music and DJ-fuelled through the Franschhoek Valley as the build-up to midnight
fun – plus revving engines, tight leather sweeps up the crowd at the NYE edition of Kinky Summer.
pants, and food. It’s all happening at the The effervescent party has an outer space theme this year, with
Castle. howler.co.za lots of décor to evoke distant galaxies, real and imagined – most
revellers will probably be navigating multiple constellations, too.
Expect three stages of house, techno, disco and electronica, with
performances by Robosonic, Matthew Mole and a universe of
others, including Berlin-based electronic dance producer Till von
Sein (pictured) whose 2019 album, Ocean, includes the Cape Town-inspired tune, ‘Mission
Muizenberg’. facebook.com/KinkySummerNYE

kulula.com DECEMBER 2019 45

EXPERIENCE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Thinking in 3D

Moving art William Kentridge has you covered for not
one but two windy days in the Mother City
If you’re looking for a bit of culture in the midst this summer. His latest exhibition is so large
of all the summer spectacle and celebration, it’s being run concurrently at both Norval
head for Norval Foundation in Tokai, Cape Town, Foundation and Zeitz MOCAA. The show at
where you can catch New Zealand artist Lisa Norval is called Why Should I Hesitate:
Reihana’s immersive video artwork In Pursuit Sculpture and is all about the artist’s
of Venus [Infected]. A penetrating work with sculptural output – three-dimensional
lots to think about, it’s been hailed as a hi-tech objects created typically as part of his films
marvel – a 64-minute artwork projected on or operas and largely ignored as artworks in
a 22.5-metre wide screen and made up of themselves. There are also new sculptures
1 500 digital layers and over 3 trillion pixels. It made specifically for the exhibition. At
is the Māori First Nation artist’s most ambitious MOCAA, the focus is on his drawings, which
project, and took over 10 years to create. The are usually the basis of everything he does,
installation integrates hand-painted landscape since he considers putting charcoal to paper
with live action figures and a densely layered his thinking process. The twin exhibitions run
soundtrack and depicts a series of restaged until 23 March 2020. norvalfoundation.org,
historical events, both real and imagined, of the zeitzmocaa.museum
first contact between British and Pacific peoples.
Acclaimed by multiple critics as the best work kulula.com
at 2019’s Venice Biennale, the installation is
housed in Gallery 1 at Norval Foundation until
20 January. norvalfoundation.org

46 DECEMBER 2019




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