Arts and culture

Yew Street Market gets its permit back

Saturday will see the park in Salt River buzzing with excitement when stall owners reopen for business, after the Yew Street Market was re-issued with its permit by the City of Cape Town.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 23 June 2015

Tattoos - township style

Since the age of 16, Peter Webb from Mfuleni has had an obsession with tattoos after seeing many movie stars with bodies splashed with ink designs. Finally with his first salary, he managed to buy a tattoo machine and started his own business in the township.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 18 June 2015

Cape Town’s all blind gospel group

After struggling for 14 years to get a recording deal, three blind performers from Cape Town will finally launch their CD next month.The three call themselves Treasured Voices. They sing gospel jazz. They say when they sing, people forget that they are blind.

Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

News | 8 June 2015

From Masiphumelele to the Waterfront

Ndileka Biyo, owner of Rockasa Design in Masiphumelele, has set her sights on a place in the affluent Waterfront.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 25 May 2015

Mfuleni dancers quickstep into top spots

A group of young ballroom dancers from the Mfuleni Dance School are well on their way to waltzing into the Western Cape's top junior ranks this year.

Text by Barbara Maregele. Photo by Masixole Feni.

Feature | 7 May 2015

Skaters love their park

The Mill Street Skate Park is "the best Park in Cape Town" according to Bradley Bourne, a skateboarder from Mitchell’s Plain. It is also the City’s first public skate park in the CBD, located adjacent the MyCiti bus stop in Gardens. The Park opened in August 2014, winning the Building Trust International PLAYscapes design competition, and now attracts skateboarders, rollerbladers, and BMXers from around Cape Town and beyond.

Ben Stanwix

News | 24 April 2015

Cape Town Zimbabwe Excellence Awards to be held on 4 April

The Cape Town Zimbabwe Excellence Awards seek to recognise Zimbabweans who have excelled in making a positive contribution to the Cape Town community in various ways, including sports, the media, academic prowess, business acumen and in the entertainment world. The awards will be announced at the Cape Town International Conference Centre on 4 April 2015.

Tariro Washinyira

Brief | 3 April 2015

De Lille and Ehrenreich to tango

Mayor Patricia De Lille and her arch-enemy Tony Ehrenreich, the leader of the ANC in the City Council, have made a shock joint announcement. The two will put aside their differences to compete in the next season of the popular reality television show Strictly Come Dancing.

Sipho Merengue

News | 1 April 2015

Langa’s open streets brings people together from across city

Rubusana Avenue, Jungle Walk and Washington Street, in Langa, were packed on Sunday as scores of people came out to participate in the Open Streets project.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 30 March 2015

Langa’s new king of electronic dance music

Born and raised in Langa township, Makonwabe Bekwa aka AudioJerk is a dance floor magnet with his unique electronic, techno and dubstep sound. He is also fast becoming one of the Mother City's most sought after DJs.

Zethu Gqola

News | 24 March 2015

Free speech vs copyright: Battle over Bushman legacy on steps of Labia

An old dispute over representing the family legacy of Khomani San leader Dawid Kruiper has resurfaced in a public furore between writer Patricia Glyn and filmmaker Richard Wicksteed.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 17 March 2015

Treachery and the quest for truth: review of Jacob Dlamini’s Askari

Not wishing to sound derivative I was left grasping for fresh superlatives when I finished reading Askari. Earlier reviewers had already hailed this latest offering by Jacob Dlamini in terms with which I wholly agreed.

Terry Bell

News | 16 March 2015

Meet Rabelani Madula aka Rabs Vhafuwi

With a firm belief that some of the greatest music talent in our country lies within the townships, Rabs Vhafuwi has made it his mission to tap into that market. Seemingly, whatever he touches turns to gold. GroundUp interviewed the producer on his inspirations, how he got into music and how he is changing the game.

Zethu Gqola

News | 26 February 2015

Making music stars at Mzoli’s

Out of 50 performers, 15 managed to sail through the first stage of ‘Make you a star’ music auditions held at Mzolis, Gugulethu.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 23 February 2015

Dibana neqembu le-rap yesiXhosa yakwaLanga naseLwandle

Sandisile 'Skillz' Ntleki noSilindokuhle 'Slie' Baka benza iqembu le-rap ebizwa Xhosa Tribe. Lamachule engoma wakwaLanga naseLwandle ngentlonipho nabo banomhluzi womelana no-iFani, bangenza kwano Khuli Chana atsho ukubila.

Zethu Gqola

News | 23 February 2015

Fifty Shades of Grey: it makes On Golden Pond look erotic

I bring you an announcement of national, no, international import: I have watched 50 Shades so that you don’t have to. Sensitive souls and family members must stop reading this now.

Francois Venter

News | 19 February 2015