KILLED FOR FIGHTING FOR ABETTER LIFE

Must there always be a strike or blood shed before the peole of South Africa get paid?





MOTIONLESS: Mine workers killed for fighing for a better life.
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On August the 16, 2012, more than 30 mine workers laid motionless on the grounds of the Marikana in Rusternburg, North of Johannesburg. This comes after the police opened fire in self defence against armed stiking mine workers who had had enough of being paid peanuts read more.... This day became the bloodiest day in post apartheid.

Mining companies make millions if not billions a year and yet they fail to pay their workers a decent salary. The Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine is one of the richest mines in the world, situated in one of the most poorest commuities of all read more.... Can you really blame the workers for downing their tools in a quest for a better life for their families? I don't think so.

The mine workers are undermined and looked down on, forgetting that these people are the ones risking their lives for companies such as the Lonmin's mine to make big bucks and give our economy a boost.

We portray ourselves as a rainbow nation, and that all that happend in the apartheid era is forgiven and forgotten. but the sad truth is that we are not yet uhuru (not yet free) from all the oppression. Within a blink of an eye the apartheid regime came back to life, one would swear that it was the Sharpville Massacre that took place in the 1960s.

South African Mines should take a bow of embarrassement for the show they've put on. It is time mine workers get paid decent salaries that will enable them to live in decent houses just like their bosses.

I am W.O.M.A.N

FLYING HIGH: She is SUPERWOMAN!SOURCE:

I am Wonderful, Obedient, Magnificent, Able, Nurturing. I am W.O.M.A.N!

In the olden days it was instilled in a girl’s mind that a woman’s job is within the household. Her job is to stay at home, give birth, look after the children, cook and clean because it is within her nature to multitask, she is simply a woman.

Times have changed and roles have shifted. Women hold high-power careers while some men stay at home and do what is known to be “a woman’s job”.

For some women, sitting behind the computer and constructing a Public Relations Plan rather than slaving away behind the stove cooking has become a norm. But they stand to be criticised by older "wiser" women who believe that if you can’t cook then you will not make a “good wife”.

Will a man always be expected to know how to fix the light bulb, fix leaking pipes and change the tyre? Does this make him a "real man"?

This is the 21^st century, and there is no rule that says a female cannot handle both roles, even though some men might regard her as unattractive for taking on the masculine role, but if she feels she can do it and  do it better than a man then I see nothing wrong with it. After all she is  simply a WOMAN, she is SUPER W.O.M.A.N

A debate then arises. Will gender roles always be the way of life?

MBALULA DOES THE BOOTY HOP WHILE BEYONCE SINGS ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK

So I log on to my Facebook account about a few weeks ago and I find people raging and raving about the sports and recreation Minister Fikile “Razzmatazz” Mbalula.

Driven by curiosity I visit the oh so popular search engine Google to find out what the outrage was all about, and there it was, the minister’s killer statement “...now we’re going for Beyonce man, Beyonce!”.read more... 

WANTED: RnB star Beyonce doing what she is known to do,

perform.

Razzmatazz announced in an interview with a commercial radio station that he wants the international superstar to be the headline act at the second annual South African Sports Awards taking place later this year, clearly our local artists aren’t extravagant enough for him. I would’ve found it much more relevant to have David Beckham or Serena Williams at the awards rather than Beyonce.

Beyonce is set to make an appearance for a mere hour, there after she will be singing all the way to the bank with a balance of R17 million to her name. read more...  Can somebody please show me the gold medal in that scenario? Many of our sports teams are in need of financial support take the national mens hockey team for instance or under developed local communities. Don’t they deserve a share of the R17 million? By investing in such people, a Return on Investment would be guaranteed because the money would be shaping the future of South Africans for the better.

CHEESE BOY: "Razzmatazz" Mbalula lives an extravagant life.

Heaven knows how much was spent last year on RnB star Brandy Norwood, actress Vivica Fox and Regina King. My guess is that the entire event will have a total opposite effect than that it is intended to have. 

A SPADE IS A SPADE! The minister is just simply fulfilling his personal interests and fantasies portrayed as national programmes at the expense of the state.

He should consider quitting his job as Mbalula the minister and become Razzmatazz the music promoter because clearly that’s where his interests lie, in music.

WE'VE LOST FOCUS

LIGHTS, CAMERA AND FASHION!This was what the South African Music Awards we’re all about last week.

In case you’ve forgotten, let me remind you. The purpose of this event is to celebrate and acknowledge our local musical icons for their roles in the music industry.

Yes, it is a prestigious carpet event and one has to look the part, but the focus has changed a bit. The samas are now all about who is wearing what? Designed by whom? And where the shoes are imported from? This automatically creates publicity for the designers at hand, which is a great way for them to get their names out there.



TALK OF THE NIGHT: Tv and radio personality Minnie Dlamini

 at the samas.SOURCE

TV and radio personality, Minenhle

Dlamini was the talk of the night, not because she presented a certain category at the event, but purely because of the dress she wore that night designed by DFC.

This is a musical event after all, and surely the focus should be on music, but brands have made this a platform to sell everything from fragrance to shoes, LINK. Can somebody please point out the melody in that?

There is a reason why it is called the South African Music Awards and not the South African Fashion Awards, although it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to put the two together. In fact it would be a great business partnership between the music industry and the fashion industry because clearly the two go hand in hand, the people have spoken.

Imagine this, “ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 1^st annual MTN SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AND FASHION AWARDS” (samfa), hosted by yours truly and dressed by …….

Wouldn’t that be something?

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

With the SAMA season upon us, all roads lead to the city of the sun this long weekend for the event of all events, the 18th annual MTN South African Music Awards. We await with anxiety and curiosity to see who is the MUSO AMONGST MUSOS.

The preparations for this prestigious yellow carpet event have reached its final stages. Organising an event of such high magnitude has its fair share of challenges that can make the event to be a complete failure. Last year’s event was held at Monte Casino in Johannesburg, it wasn't very impressive and was ranked as being poorly organised, boring and disappointing.

Members of the public and the artists voiced out their complaints on social networks such as the SAMAs Facebook page and Twitter after artists’ accommodation arrangements were mixed up, the sound system was low and the tickets were not available on time, the delegates had to stand in a queue to pick up their tickets despite the confirmation e-mails the organisers had sent assuring them that tickets will be available to them at a particular time, but that was not the case. About 20 people were robbed of their wallets, cameras and cellphones due to poor security measures which were not in order, LINK.

With lessons learnt from last year and the organisers wanting to restore their name, this year’s event is expected to be bigger and better than before.

RICHLY GIFTED BUT POORLY PAID







WHOSE TELLING THE TRUTH?TS Records co-owner

Thembinkosi Nciza, Songbird Zahara and her parents

Mr and Mrs Mkutukana at a media

conference at Ragent Hotel in East London. source



It is said that one shouldn’t believe everything they read in the newspapers because it isn’t always true. Clearly Zahara agrees with this statement, which is why she tweeted as follows, “papers may write whatever they want but I know I have been a great kid to my family and TS too has been good to me and my family”. link

This comes after an article which was published in the tabloid newspaper, Sunday World on 15 April 2012, claiming that TS records is milking and exploiting the songbird link.This story had the star’s fans expressing their rage on social media.

The multi award nominee is now on a quest to do damage control using a crisis management plan to restore her record label’s tainted name. She was on radio stations such as Metro FM and Umhlobo Wenene and recently appeared on the front cover of Move Magazine defending TS Records and reassuring her fans that she isn't being exploited.

If these accusations are indeed true then it is obvious that the co-owners of TS Records, Thembinkosi Nciza and Sibusiso Leope do not know the importance of a positive corporate image.

In this industry of music you can never be guaranteed of where and when your next meal will come from, which is why TS records should cross their fingers and pray that their fans will not stop visiting music stores to buy any TS productions due to this unfortunate setback.

It’s time that our musicians learnt the importance of business skills and financial management to avoid situations like these.

DO IT YOURSELF

Unless you have a massive record label tailing you and are able to afford a PRP to head up your media relations, then I suggest you read this because “we”, PRPs don’t come cheap.

Self-promoting or marketing your own music is an important skill not everybody possesses, but luckily for you, I have a few tips to help you get started. PR is an on-going process that won’thappen overnight but it will be worth it.

IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS-                 Have a clear mind on what you want to promote and why, it can be a concert, a tour or your latest single. Just do one thing at a time or else you will be biting off more than you can chew.

TARGET THE RIGHT AUDIENCE-      Emphasis on the word RIGHT. There is nothing more boring and embarrassing than performing to an audience that doesn’t find your music entertaining and fun because it’s not their style. That is just a NO NO! Don’t perform for a random audience because your desperate to get yourself out there, it will be of no use.

MAKE STATEMENT-    Try to stand out amongst other musicians, be appetising. Do not bore people because the sad truth is that there are other good music hopefuls who might be better than you.

BE ENTICING-                Truth be told, we all love freebies. So use the old fashioned way to get what you want, BRIBE, but do it in a subtle manner! It’s unethical but it will do the trick. Give free tickets to your show or give free drink passes to all industry personnel who come to check you out on your show.

BRANDING-     Do what you need to do to get your name out there, just as long as it’s legal. Have stickers or badges made, have t-shirts printed, everything and anything that has your brand on it.

DO NOT LOOSE YOUR CONTACTS-  Plain and simple, keep in regular contact with your contacts in the industry, you NEED these people.

HOW ESSENTIAL IS PR IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?



SOURCE



As a musician apart from entertaining people, your main objective is to sell as many albums as possible. But how will people buy your albums if they’ve never even heard of you?



There is no point in recording the greatest album of all time if no one even knows about you, you might as well have not even bothered recording. WHAT A WASTE!

Musicians are on the hunt for publicity and it’s nearly impossible and hard for the “not so famous” musicians to get attention from the media. Luckily for them, there are professionals known as Public Relations Practitioners or Publicists who know how to work with the media. Given the task on time, PRP’s and publicists can work wonders on a musician’s career within a blink of an eye. After all, these people are the binding rope between the musicians and the media. 

Whether famous or not, or no matter how bad of a singer you are, the fact that people know you is HIGH PRIORITY and these professionals will make sure that you get media exposure at all times.

Take Lira for instance, she was originally known as a kwaito artist, she then changed to soul music and she became huge in the industry. Her PRP made sure that she got all the media exposure she could get in order to make people aware of Lira's new image.

When she finally made it in the soul music genre, you heard her songs on every radio station, she was on TV doing interviews, if it wasn’t interviews she was performing or involved in anti-piracy campaigns or just simply attending social events that had absolutely nothing to do with music.

Social media has affected the music industry in a positive way, as it has made the publicists job much more easier. Everybody was talking about her on facebook, twitter you name it, she was the talk of the town and she still is,because her prp or publicist is awake. Her  publicists made sure that she was everywhere at all times building an image and acquainting herself with the public and the media.

Ask your mom if she knows who Lira is and I bet you she won’t hesitate to say "yes I do", all thanks to her  publicist who did an extraordinary job in getting people to eat, drink and sleep Lira.

MUSIC WITH MEANING

From the day you heard your very first lullaby sung to you as an infant, that was the day music provided the “soundtrack” of your life. You hear but you don’t listen to the soundtrack playing in the background of your favourite movie, not realising the power music has upon your life.

 source

Music flows through every single part of our lives, whether its religion, education or recreation, music is who we are. It is part of our victories and defeats, visions and missions. Music is part of our heritage, and what better way to justify my thoughts than the heart-warming unofficial anthem “SHOSHOLOZA”.

Though it might remain a mystery about the original author of the song, according to , “Shosholoza is a traditional miner’s song, originally sung by groups of men from the Ndebele ethnic group that traveled by steam train from their homes in Zimbabwe to work in South Africa and gold mines.” This is why the “sho” sound in Shosholoza is important because it pays tribute to the sound made by the steam trains.

The song is sung in different contexts in South Africa to show solidarity in sporting events and other national events to portray a message of support to the players, just like the unforgettable year of 1995 when a newly born nation had just shrugged of the shackles of apartheid hosted the Rugby world cup and took victory upon its competitors and made history. That monumental day turned Shosholoza the anthem of the Springbok team made up of white South Africans.


This song has been sung in so many different ways and flavours, which makes it quite interesting and appealling to the new generation, which shows that the music industry needs to continuously update themeselves and keep up with the latest trends in order to keep the old loyal fans of the song and still attract new fans who were born into democracy. This will not only teach the young and upcoming musicians the value of good music, but it will keep the song alive and kicking, good thing social sites like YouTube for instance does allow talented people to showcase their music, whether new or old as long as it will be out there.

Mandela and Pienaar, share a moment of victory

Who would’ve thought that  this song of heartache and sorrow would one day be a song of high magnitude influencing Hollywood director and Oscar winner, Clint Eastwood to use it as his main track in his 2009 film, Invictus, portraying Nelson Mandela’s role in the 1995 Rugby triumph.

In a country of diversity like Mzansi, where most of the time values, cultures and languages clash, Shosholoza has broken the barriers and united people of different backgrounds. 

This poses a question of curiosity about our generation, do we really understand the value of music or are we just ignorant because we didn’t live in the apartheid era long enough to feel the pain our ancestors felt? Is it possible to forget this song, unless its got flavour which you like, then you wont hesitate to listen to it?

lyrics and video of Shosholoza: Link

BLACK MUSIC, WHITE MUSIC-RAINBOW NATION

With South Africa's celebrated versatile musicians such as Johnny Clegg, Sibongile Khumalo and Mi Casa, just to name a few, it is very stereotyped to still assume that black people listen to " THIS" music and white people listen to "THAT" music and for that reason, South Africa is still a long walk away from the "Rainbow Nation". This artists have been in the public eye for quite some time and have lived the rainbow life they sing about.


 

Zulu boy,Johnny Clegg

Johnny Clegg has broken the unbreakable barriers with his blend of African zulu and Western pop rhythms which have crossed over on an international level. This legendary white man has won awards both locally and internationally and has captured the hearts of both black and white audiences who live in the rainbow nation he has called home for over 4 decades.



Sibongile Khumalo singing some of her sweet melodies



 With classical music known to be for the wealthy white snobs, SibongileKhumalo has been the one to change that perception. Khumalo is a vibrant soulful black jazz and classical musician that has enchanted a diverse audience with her graceful voice. She sings a variety of musical genres ranging from traditional South African sounds to European sounds, not forgetting the jazzy melodies and classical music she sings to the rest of the world with a taste of South African flavour.

New kid on the block, Micasa

The dynamic mixed racial trio Mi Casa “my house”, is the newest soulful house collective that has taken the music scene by storm with their debute album titled “These streets”. The group consists of two black men, Mo-T that plays the trumpet, club dj and producer Dr Duda and the super duper white vocalist and guitarist J’something who seems to be the main attraction because of his skin colour in a genre thtat is prone to be for blacks. Having one of Mi Casa’s songs being sung fluently in zulu by a white man that dances like a township man has certainly caught the attention of and white music lovers who were never fans of house music but seem to have grown a liking for it.

With legends like Johnny Clegg and Sibongile Khumalo, is there still a need for them to continue building a name for themselves or have they already left a mark on the hall of fame? Whereas Micasa is still fresh and needs to continue building a brand for themselves and delivering the goods to all races and continue the rainbow legacy?

we all need to make a living of some sort in order to survive



source 



Unemployed people in South Africa have resorted to piracy as a way of living, despite the fact that it is considered to be an illegal activity. Piracy has become such a norm in South Africa, so much so that consumers have forgotten what the inside of a music store looks like. Argument being, why should one spend R100 on an original album when you can get an exact copy on the street for R10 with a massive saving of R90 which you can use to put food on the table?  



Selling like "hot bread" on the streets.source

Local artists such as Rebecca Malope, Joyous Celebration, and Zahara just to name a few, are said to be the most pirated artists. According to (google), South African artists lose an estimated R500 million each year due to piracy. This has made recording for these artists very unpleasant because they do not reap the benefits of their own fruits.

The Department of Trade and Industry has taken a stand along with artists in an effort to fight piracy. The campaign aims to create public awareness on how buying pirated Compact Discs (cd) affects the economy and how it has led the artists well into poverty. To combat the situation, artists have taken to the streets of Johannesburg led by poet and chairperson of the Anti-piracy campaign titled “Shoot the Pirate”, Mzwakhe Mbuli, to confront the street vendors and confiscate the fake CDs. Mzwakhe said that “enough is enough and that they will fight violence with violence” to stop piracy.

Street vendors need to understand that this action is not to take food away from them, but to save the country`s economy which in the long run will be beneficial to them. It will assist in the creation of jobs and decrease the rate of retrenchments.

Could this be the end of our music industry or is it simply a call for government to create more jobs?