writer

Whose tradition is it anyway?

I love those moments, even in the now not-so-new South Africa, when I picture the architect of apartheid, that evil old pig-dog Hendrik Verwoerd, turning in his grave, writes Bridget Hilton-Barber.

South African innovation to be seen through the eyes of top bloggers

South Africa is alive with possibility, but whose word are you going to take for it? Ours? We hope so, but let’s be candid. It really helps to hear first-hand from balanced and independent voices telling their own stories.

SA remembers Es’kia Mphahlele

The South African literary fraternity is in mourning following the death of world-renowned writer Professor Es’kia Mphahlele at his hometown in the Limpopo province on 27 October 2008.

Facing the music at Moshito

The 2008 Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition offers an exhilarating blend of discussion, live music and exhibitions, all focused on the South African music industry. This year the event partners for the first time with Womex, the premier global platform for world music.

Woyzech: puppets for grownups

Tragedy told by puppets ... That's what's on offer at Johannesburg's Market Theatre as the award-winning and well-travelled Woyzeck on the Highveld , designed by William Kentridge, makes a nostalgic return to the space it premiered 15 years ago.

Marlene Dumas comes home

The highest-paid living female artist in the world is South African, and she is back in her country of birth with an exhibition cataloguing her life's work.

Dreamfields come to Gopane

It's Saturday morning in a village 10km from South Africa's border with Botswana, and the locals are gathering for soccer. Today's games will be different, however. The field where the donkeys graze has been graded, and the kids will be playing with proper kit, big-name branded boots, shin pads and balls. The Dreamfields Project has come to town.

The abundant Nguni herds

South Africa's indigenous Nguni cattle are possibly the most beautiful cattle in the world, with their variously patterned and multicoloured hides everywhere in demand. Their beauty, and the lore and terminology associated with them, is celebrated in the coffee table book The Abundant Herds.

Stars who shone in 2003

Last year was no vintage for South African sports stars in the big three sports of cricket, rugby and soccer, although the national women’s soccer team Banyana Banyana did themselves proud. Who shone in other sports, though? Here’s SouthAfrica.info writer Brad Morgan's best of 2003.

DV8: putting SA films on the map

Film producers Jeremy Nathan and Joel Phiri formed the company DV8 to develop, produce and market 12 genuinely South African digital feature films over the next three years. DV8's second film is in production, the third has been selected - and the search is still on for exciting South African writers and filmmakers for the nine remaining movies.