Arts and culture

Dancers rally to support Christopher Kindo

South Africa’s dance community has come together to support prize-winning Cape Town choreographer and dancer Christopher Kindo who is battling cancer.

Lea Bork

News | 29 October 2014

Putting bread - and chicken - on the table

Nosisa Bhomela is one of 12 Khayelitsha women who slaughter, pluck and clean chickens in exchange for chicken heads and feet to sell and take home for their meals.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 28 October 2014

Mfuleni’s homemade beer brewer

Bukelwa Qebeyi moved to Mfuleni from the Eastern Cape in 1994 hoping to find a job, but like many others she never found one. So she decided to make a living from what she knew best—brewing traditional African beer.

Joyce Xi

News | 27 October 2014

Dookoom: screaming about injustice

Daars a nuwe hond in die omgewing en hy raas soos ‘n baas! Kak gevaarlik and here to claim back the throne as the original Afrikaans gangsters, Dookoom have dropped a 4-track EP, A Gangster Called Big Times, and with the controversy caused by the debut single ‘Larney Jou Poes’, there are no sorry’s here.

Zethu Gqola

Opinion | 15 October 2014

The boy from Masiphumelele who rapped for Obama

For some teenagers hip hop music means money, cars and fame, but for others, it has a much deeper meaning.

Zintle Swana

News | 25 September 2014

Swag is the new “˜ish’ in the townships

Many youngsters in the township are taking Swag style to a new level. GroundUp spoke to several young people in the township about the meaning of Swag and how they relate to it.

Pharie Sefali

News | 25 September 2014

Big week for Bridges for Music

Bridges for Music has announced plans to build a music school in Langa.

Zethu Gqola

News | 25 September 2014

A Heritage Day celebration with Pollsmoor prison staff

‘My culture, your culture, our culture, one nation’ was the banner for Heritage Day in Pollsmoor under which prison employees, who come from many cultural backgrounds, celebrated South Africa’s heritage.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 24 September 2014

National tshisa nyama day

For many township residents, Heritage Day means a good braai, and there is no shortage of popular braai spots in Khayelitsha and Nyanga, a GroundUp team found.

Joyce Xi and Pharie Sefali

News | 23 September 2014

Heritage Day: is it a cultural event or just a chance to have fun?

Should we spend Heritage Day celebrating our culture or is it okay just to have fun? Young people interviewed by GroundUp had different views on the subject.

Pharie Sefali

Opinion | 23 September 2014

Celebrate Global Female Condom Day

As we celebrate the second Global Female Condom Day on 16 September 2014, I join the celebrations with a wide smile and confidence, writes Nokhwezi Hoboyi.

Nokhwezi Hoboyi

News | 16 September 2014

Young dancer gets scholarship but has no funds to stay in US

Local dancer Aviwe November will soon be heading to the United States where he has been awarded a two-year scholarship with the Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco.

Barbara Maregele

News | 12 September 2014

The Greatmore Long Walk Project empowers young artists

Established in 1998, and located in Woodstock, Greatmore Studios is a dynamic environment in which South African artists and international visitors co-exist. The studios have played an essential role in the career development of many highly successful South African artists.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 11 September 2014

Mannenberg duo teach more than music

In a classroom at Phoenix Secondary School in Mannenberg, GroundUp spoke to Zakie Johnson and Aziza Davids. They are skilled participants working for the Community Work Programme, a poverty relief government initiative that provides a job safety net for the unemployed. The average daily rate is R63,18.

Katy Scott

News | 10 September 2014

Things look up for township DJs

More DJs are being recruited from our local townships to showcase their talents on international stages, thanks to organisations such as Bridges for Music and Redbull. However, it seems as though Cape Town itself is not so accommodating.

Zethu Gqola

News | 8 September 2014

The Warongx of Khayelitsha

Despite the positive role Khayelitsha band Warongx and their Khayelitsha Music Academy play in the community, official and formal support for them is largely absent.

Nicholas Ashby

News | 4 September 2014