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☆ South Africa's 'Vogue Opera' honours life of gay anti-apartheid activist Nkoli
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Vogue Opera" - a mix of classical music, hip-hop, protest songs and dance - tells the story of Nkoli, whose activism helped to enshrine gay rights in South Africa's constitution - the first country on the continent to do so. Nkoli faced prejudice even from fellow anti-apartheid activists while serving a four-year prison sentence on treason charges when he revealed his sexuality. The opera reveals not only Nkoli's struggles but also the happiness he brought to others. "If there isn't social buy-in, we're not done," the show's co-writer and rapper S'bo Gyre said. Reporting by Catherine Schenck, Thando Hlophe and Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Simon Nkoli, Africa's, Nkoli, Philip Miller, William Kentridge's, London's, Miller, Abiah, Lishivha, Gay, we're, S'bo Gyre, Catherine Schenck, Thando, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Market, London's Tate, Theatre, International Lesbian, Thomson Locations: South Africa, Johannesburg, JOHANNESBURG, South Africa's, New, Harlem

☆ South African violist tackles legacy of alcohol payments to labourers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Thando Hlophe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

South African violist, Lynn "Daphne" Rudolph, who uses music and art to explore the painful legacy of how labourers at wineries in the Western Cape province were for centuries given wine as part of their payment, looks on during a rehearsal at an arts venue in Johannesburg, South Africa, October 13, 2023. Rudolph created and performed in a show called "Dop is my Taal", which means "Alcohol is my Language" in Afrikaans, at an arts venue in Johannesburg. The show involved Daphne playing music she had composed, interspersed with excerpts from the South African national anthem, while another musician performed using beer bottles, domino pieces and thimbles -- objects associated with the daily lives of farm labourers. Audience members at the performance of "Dop is my Taal" said the work had articulated uncomfortable truths and given expression to a part of South African society that sometimes feels marginalised. "I love the fact that she's taking upon herself to do a work that speaks for so many other voices."

Persons: Lynn, Daphne, Rudolph, Lynn Rudolph, Kelly, Eve Koopman, Julia Zenzie Burnham, Thando Hlophe, Tannur Anders, Estelle Shirbon, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, South African, Thomson Locations: Western Cape, Johannesburg, South Africa, JOHANNESBURG

A few years ago, the charity ran out of money and quietly stopped operating, so the building began filling up with drug users and desperately poor migrants, residents said. Spokespeople for the City of Johannesburg and police did not respond to requests for comment about the residents' accounts. But Johannesburg city manager Floyd Brink said there was a plan to get hijacked buildings back under control. But human rights groups took them to court, said Annie Michaels, an activist from the Johannesburg Migrants Advisory Panel, which has been supporting migrants in the building. Shocked at the state of the building, Jack urged her brother Dube to move, but he never did.

Persons: Sihle Dube, didn't, Dube, Bertha Gxowa, Angela Rivers, Kabelo Gwamanda, Floyd Brink, Cyril Ramaphosa, Ramaphosa, contemptuously, Thando, Ethel Jack, Jack, I've, Chinte Mustafa, Annie Michaels, Michaels, he'd, Tim Cocks, Alexandra Zavis, Ros Russell Organizations: Association, City, Bertha, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg Fire, JOHANNESBURG, Johannesburg, Germiston, Johannesburg's, South, South Africa, Africa, Utrecht, Malawi

☆ South Africa's Women's World Cup success highlights unequal pay issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Thando Hlophe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Africa's women's team, known as "Banyana Banyana", reached the last 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earlier this month -- the first time either the men's or women's team had achieved the feat. In a 2022 investigation into the bonus structure for Banyana Banyana, South Africa's Commision for Gender Equity found that "players are not remunerated on the same scale (as) ... their male counterparts". For instance, South Africa's women's players received only a 55,000 rand ($2,885) bonus for reaching the final of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which they went on to win. "We're coming from very disadvantaged homes, we become breadwinners," Portia Modise, former Banyana Banyana captain, told Reuters after playing a friendly in the township of Soweto. That figure compared with $440 million for the men's tournament in Qatar.

Persons: Dhlamini, Carl Recine, SAFA, Portia Modise, Linda Zwane, Thando, Tannur Anders, Tim Cocks, Toby Davis Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, Sydney Football Stadium, REUTERS, Rights, Africa's, South African Football Association, Gender Equity, Africa, of Nations, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Netherlands, South Africa, Sydney, Australia, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Qatar, Soweto

☆ South Africa's recognition of sign language signals new hope for the deaf
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Thando Hlophe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"Before it was an official language... there was absolutely no access" to communicating with other people, he signed. Still, South Africa only has about 40 deaf schools and one tertiary institution that is fully accessible to deaf people, meaning there is still work to be done to improve that access. "It is a very rich, beautiful language but we need people who are going to be equipped enough to develop it even more," said Andiswa Gebashe, a South African Sign Language activist and former interpreter for Ramaphosa. World Atlas, an online site that studies demographics, says only 41 countries recognise sign language as an official language, just four of them in Africa - Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. "Now that it's an official language, I know that I can go to university and I can make my dreams come true," he said in sign.

Persons: Cyril Ramaphosa, Manana, Andiswa Gebashe, Wilma Newhoudt, Thando, Tannur Anders, Alexander Winning, Nick Macfie Organizations: inclusivity, Sizwile School, Thomson Locations: Pretoria, Read, JOHANNESBURG, Johannesburg, Dobsonville, Soweto, South Africa, Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe

☆ Johannesburg residents stunned by once-in-a-decade snowfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Children play in the snow at Laerskool Orion, a school located in Brackenhurst, a suburb south of Johannesburg in South Africa, July 10, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe SibekoJOHANNESBURG, July 10 (Reuters) - Residents of South Africa's biggest city Johannesburg were stunned by the first snowfall in over a decade on Monday, with some children seeing snow for the first time. While parts of South Africa regularly receive snowfall over the southern hemisphere winter months around June to August, Johannesburg last saw snow in August 2012. South of the city in Brackenhurst, a Reuters photographer saw children making snowballs and snow angels in a school's grounds. But for others, like delivery driver Chenjerai Murape whose motorbike would not start, the snow made life difficult.

Persons: Jennifer Banda, Chenjerai, Snow, Tannur Anders, Thando Hlophe, Catherine Schenck, Shafiek, Alexander Winning Organizations: REUTERS, Nelson, Reuters, African Weather Service, Thomson Locations: Brackenhurst, Johannesburg, South Africa, Siphiwe, JOHANNESBURG, South Africa's, Gauteng, Pretoria, Mpumalanga province

[1/6] Members of a local dance group 'Via Katlehong' perform 'Pantsula', a dance known for its syncopated, quick-stepping, low to the ground format at the Joburg Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 1, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File PhotoJOHANNESBURG, July 7 (Reuters) - Thato Qofela first performed 'pantsula', a symbol of Black South African culture and resistance to the apartheid regime, in his childhood backyard. Now, he is helping to revive the dance style and take it on to the global stage. It later enjoyed popularity among South Africans of different races, but waned somewhat as modern dance styles gained prominence. Now, Qofela's dance troupe, Via Katlehong, wants to drive a revival of the style, and has taken the dance to the global stage with shows in France, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Persons: Siphiwe, Qofela, pantsula, Lethabo, Sisipho Skweyiya, Tannur Anders, Olivia Kumwenda, Emma Rumney Organizations: Katlehong, Joburg Theatre, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, JOHANNESBURG, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Katlehong

☆ South Africans call for UK to return diamonds set in crown jewels
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The diamond, which weighs 530 carats, was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and presented to the British monarchy by the colonial government in the country, which was then under British rule. "The diamond needs to come to South Africa. Officially known as Cullinan I, the diamond in the sceptre was cut from the Cullinan diamond, a 3,100 carat stone that was mined near Pretoria. A smaller diamond cut from the same stone, known as Cullinan II, is set in the Imperial State Crown which is worn by British monarchs on ceremonial occasions. A replica of the whole Cullinan diamond, which is about the size of a man's fist, is displayed at the Cape Town Diamond Museum.

☆ South African designer revives family history in new collection
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JOHANNESBURG, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Thando Ntuli, a young designer who just unveiled her new collection at South African Fashion Week, hopes her clothes will convey a sense of home. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe designer dedicated her Autumn/Winter 2023 collection to her mother and explored different roles women play in society. "I looked into the five personas that my mum represents: she's basically a giver, a nurturer, a lover, a fighter, and a leader," Ntuli told Reuters. This multitude of roles is reflected in different silhouettes and colours the designer used in her collection, which includes a dress with an image of Ntuli's mother printed on the front. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Catherine Schenk; Editing by Anait Miridzhanian and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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