Next Thursday the Alliance Française will host a tribute to the legendary South African musician, Miriam Makeba. Popularly referred to as ‘Mama Africa’, Makeba spent a good deal of her musical career living in exile in England and North America, and later in Guinea, West Africa. Makeba left South Africa in 1959 as a result of run-ins with […]
As Women’s Month draws to a close in South Africa, we look at the documentary, Strike a Rock, the name of which references the famous apartheid resistance song that has become synonomous with the1956 women’s march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Harking back to the days of apartheid, the saying ‘Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo‘ (you strike […]
Anyone who’s been lucky enough to attend one of the fabulous Saturday afternoon Rainbow sessions will know the power of the Rainbow train! There’s nothing quite like dancing through the aisles of the restaurant to the rhythmic beats of African drums – the place literally heaves! The restaurant, which has a very important place in […]
As we celebrate 23 years since South Africa’s first democratic elections, it’s important to recognise that freedom in South Africa was achieved through the work of many groups, and individuals, not just those involved in politics. While we would certainly not be where we are today without our many freedom fighters, often it was artists, and […]
This past Sunday marked the 105th anniversary of the founding of the ANC. Originally called the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), the political organisation was formed on the 8th January 1912, in response, in part, to the Natives Land Act which once passed into law would create separate reserves for black people, and prohibit […]
Youth Allison Wessels George Champion was born the 4th December 1893 at Sans Souci School, Lower Tugela, Natal. His father whose native surname was Patiya Mhlongo, had been adopted by an American Board Missionary and given the surname of Champion. The young Champion attended school at Amanzimtoti Training Institute, where he became known as a […]
