On creative ownership, cultural capital and the people building South Africa's next generation of fashion houses. There is something worth paying attention to when South African designers enter rooms where finance, business, art and culture converge. Not simply because their work is being seen, but because of what that visibility makes possible. Kay Kay Ribane & Nadia Omar The ASI Sapphire Gala Dinner, celebrating ASI Financial Services' 18th anniversary, offered one such mom

Chantal Stanfield’s new play runs in the Mannie Manim Theatre until 8 November, and Pride Month is the right time to see it. The first thing SHOCKWAVE does is make you feel welcome. When I took my seat, the set had the lived-in warmth of someone’s actual home, the kind of room where you expect to be offered tea before you have even taken your shoes off. The play follows Larry, played by Trevor Lynch, a closeted young librarian on the Cape Flats in the 1980s. He is a Coloured

Some launches introduce a collection. Others create a moment.The unveiling of the Daliwonga x Diesel capsule collection was always destined to be bigger than fashion. From the moment the collaboration was revealed at the newly reimagined Diesel Sandton City store, there was a sense that something special was unfolding. But it was only later, when the lights dimmed and the city migrated to Carfax, that the night truly found its heartbeat. What followed wasn't simply an after p

I believe everyone should, at least once in their lifetime, experience design beyond its aesthetic appeal, discovering the personal perception, nostalgia and emotion that give the objects around us their meaning. Design Week South Africa 2026 offered a perfect reminder of this, particularly through The Things We Love, an exhibition curated by Simone Schultz, which invited guests into the intimate worlds of South African creatives. Nwabisa Ntlokwana (Sculptor) More than a show

There are artists who make music, and then there are artists who seem to carry a whole world with them when they step onto a stage. Zawadi YaMungu is somewhere in between. Born Nkosingiphile Mpanza and hailing from eMandeni, KwaZulu-Natal, Zawadi YaMunguhas carved out a space for herself as an indigenous musician, vocalist, composer and instrumentalist. Zawadi YaMungu. Her music feels deeply rooted, but never stuck in the past. There is an understanding of where she comes fro

Twenty years into its journey, Back to the City remains a meeting point for South African hip-hop, international influence and street culture. At its anniversary edition in Newtown, the festival brought together memorable performances, visual art and the energy of a community that continues to grow. Photography by @blacqtokyo There is something special about watching a culture make room for its past and present in the same space. On 10 October 2026, Back to the City returned

In the city... without trying to state the obvious or paint some elaborate visual scene, there are only a handful of concerts I’ve attended in my life that have left me content, speechless, and genuinely in awe. Photography by Phemelo Sui Moipolai The third of October was one of them. At Ostrich Farm in Cape Town, Sprite & Steyn Entertainment brought together an evening that somehow managed to feel both incredibly considered and completely effortless. The experience launched

From Fill Up to Scorpion Kings Live, South African music is building its own stadium tradition. Nine years later, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small return to the big stage with a different generation, a different sound and a movement that had grown from clubs, townships and local scenes into one of South Africa’s most influential contemporary music phenomena. FNB Scorpion Kings On 19 September 2026, more than 74,000 people gathered for Scorpion Kings Live. With over 70 artists

Lizzie Borden, portrayed by Christina Ricci, and Aileen Wuornos, portrayed by Sarah Paulson, through more than violence. Although their lives are separated by centuries, both women are searching for freedom in lives shaped by trauma, emotional neglect and male control. Lizzie becomes a reflection of what Aileen wants most: to be loved, understood & free. At the centre of Lizzie’s story is her relationship with her father, Andrew Borden, portrayed by Nick Searcy. He is physi

From 28 to 30 August, the BOS Studio at Rosebank Mall became less of an installation and more of a canvas in progress. Photo Cred: Farmer Black We were invited to step into the space for the weekend, but the invitation extended beyond simply coming through to paint. It was an open call to make something, add something, and leave a mark For us, there was something familiar about being back at Rosebank Mall. We’re regulars in the space, so getting to paint there again felt less

There is something strange about reaching a century. You spend so much time creating the next thing that you rarely stop to appreciate what the tally really means. One story becomes another. An interview becomes a relationship. A photograph becomes a record. A conversation becomes an archive. Then, somewhere along the way, the numbers begin to mean something. The Stagazine is infinite; yet 100 is not simply a milestone. It is a reflection of everything that happened between

On Sunday, 26 July 2026, Pantone Sundays embraced Tangerine, transforming Braamfontein's The Playground into a citrus-esque celebration of contemporary culture and the curation that connects. photo credit: @andy_creationssa There are few things more inviting than stepping into a space that knows exactly what it wants to be, and Pantone Sundays delivered that feeling from the very first moment. Bathed in its signature orange hues, guests were welcomed by a striking orange carp

It is quite fascinating to read the story of an author you somewhat know well, have worked with, consider a peer, and call a friend. As I began reading "Really Listening" - Song Lyrics That Made Me Feel Seen as a Creative Entrepreneur; I was reminded why I bought the book in the first place. Not simply from a place of support, but from a place of respect, admiration, and aspiration. The first thing that has to be acknowledged is the design. Forever intentional. Forever consis

A modern chicken-and-egg dilemma: Do creators shape consumers, or do consumers shape creators? And when attention becomes currency, does production still create culture—or simply feed consumption? Open Forum Discussion If creators respond to demand while consumers increasingly influence what is created through their attention, purchasing power, and digital engagement, where does the creative process truly begin? Have the roles of creator and consumer become so intertwined tha

Understanding the Nnuaunced World of the Nnetwork (& Mav). Before the philosophy, before the definitions, before the questions there is the world itself. The Nnetwork is not just an idea; it is an evolving ecosystem. A space where culture is not only experienced, but documented, distributed, and developed. What began as a response to isolation has grown into a structured platform for connection, collaboration, and creative progression. Founded by Mav, 'Eric Maphagela', in 20

Nigerian musician and political activist Fela Kuti once said, “Music is a spiritual thing…it must be well used for the gift of humanity” — a thoughtful line that captures a universal truth: music is far bigger than entertainment. For Fela, music was sacred. A force capable of awakening people, healing people, uniting people, and fighting oppression. This sentiment lies at the heart of The AfroDiaspora Connection. Photo Credit: MANOR (Media Partner) The AfroDiaspora Connection

There are moments in an artist's journey that feel less like milestones and more like confirmations. For South African singer-songwriter lordkez, her latest collaboration with Levi’s® and COLORSxSTUDIOS arrives as one of those moments. Announced as the South African representative in EMERGENT, the global music discovery platform created by Levi’s® and COLORSxSTUDIOS, lordkez joins a select group of artists being spotlighted at pivotal stages of their careers. Her debut A COLO

It’s Lit is a deeply reflective South African short film that confronts the emotional realities facing a generation caught between promise and disappointment. Through poetry, striking visual symbolism, and immersive sound, the film explores themes of youth, identity, inequality, and hope; asking the urgent question: where are the children headed? Rather than offering answers, the film invites audiences into a shared reflection on the state of modern South Africa and the futur

There are some Sundays that pass quietly. And then there are the ones that change the temperature of a city. This past weekend, in the heart of Marshalltown, Main Street Sundays did something rare. It didn’t just gather people — it rearranged how they existed around each other. Part of a growing inner-city movement led by Jozi My Jozi , the initiative is rooted in reimagining Johannesburg not just as a place to pass through, but as a place to experience. Through storytelling

In the evolving catalogue of Kila G , vulnerability has always been present but this latest body of work leans into it with striking honesty. Through what feels like carefully woven sonic fabric, the project tells the reflective and intimate tale of Thandekile Maboee-banzi , exploring love, courage, and emotional disclosure through contemporary R&B textures. A distinct visual and emotional motif appears early: green . More than just a colourscape, it becomes a symbolic lens f