Culture

Castle Stout launches Afrikaraoke to preserve South African traditional music

Published

4 months ago

August 24, 2024

Local South African beer brand, Castle Milk Stout, has launched a new initiative known as Afrikaraoke, a blend of karaoke with traditional music to reconnect South Africans with their cultural heritage.

According to Khwezi Vika, the marketing manager at Castle Milk Stout, the Afrikaraoke is coming in “an era where modern urban life often overshadows age-old customs, with many young South Africans losing touch with the traditional songs that once played a central role in their cultural practices.”

Speaking during the official launching of the initiative, Vika said traditional songs, rich in history and meaning, are at risk of being forgotten, noting that Afrikaraoke has been launched to blend the enjoyment of karaoke with a revival of these important cultural melodies.

“Afrikaraoke is an innovative campaign by Castle Milk Stout, which is designed to reconnect South Africans with their traditional songs and cultural heritage,” Vika said.

“Afrikaraoke is not just about singing, it is a cultural movement aimed at educating and engaging the younger generation. The project features a selection of traditional songs, curated with the help of professor Dr. Evans Ntshivhambe, an expert in African traditional songs.”

Also speaking at the launching, Dr. Ntshivhambe highlighted the importance of songs in connecting people with their heritage.

“The insight I can give you for those songs is that they are more about connecting our people. They make us celebrate who we are. We love singing.

“We sing when we have problems, we sing when we celebrate, and we celebrate through singing. I believe those songs have the power to connect our people, to glue our cultures together.”

The campaign will culminate on Heritage Day, September 24, with a special broadcast on one of South Africa’s major television channels with the event showcasing the traditional songs through a vibrant, modern lens, ensuring they reach a wide audience. Afrikaraoke episodes will also be available online.

“Traditional songs play an integral part in African culture. Whether at a wedding, coming of age ceremony or other significant occasions, our traditional songs, accompanied by ululations, are what anchors us during ceremonies,” said Vika.

He added that the Afrikaraoke was a platform that ensured we do not lose this important element that makes us who we are, and one that called for people to preserve their cultural songs.

“It is an opportunity for South Africans to immerse themselves in the songs that have defined our heritage.

“Afrikaraoke represents our latest effort to connect people with their cultural roots in a fresh and interactive way. The platform invites all South Africans, whether they know traditional songs well or are new to them, to celebrate their heritage.

‘By combining karaoke with traditional music, Afrikaraoke offers a fresh approach to rediscovering the songs that define South Africa’s cultural identity.”

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Culture

Moroccan doctors stage nationwide protest in ‘Week of Anger’

Published

8 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Moroccan doctors across the country on Tuesday staged a nationwide protests in what is known as “Week of Anger,” accusing the government of ignoring their calls for reform in public healthcare.

In a public announcement on Monday, the Independent Union of Public Sector Doctors (SIMSP) said the strike action would include more walkouts from December 30 to January 5.

The SIMSP said the nationwide strike would affect all public health facilities except emergency and intensive care units to ensure that some level of care remained available.

“During this time, doctors will not be at diagnostic centres and they will also boycott administrative tasks and refuse to issue medical certificates,” the SIMSP said.

The union added that a large march is planned for December 29 in Rabat, aimed at opposing laws on strikes and pensions.

The doctors’ union noted that their demands have been ignored by the Ministry of Health.

The union stated that their requests to government has remained unanswered. It also criticized a new framework for doctors, calling it scandalous as it threatens job security and opens the door to unfair dismissals.

The doctors’ demands include extra grades for doctors beyond the current scale, higher salaries, and an end to limits on promotions.

The union also wants the government to honour agreements made in 2011, 2023, and 2024.

According to the union, the doctors are also upset with the 2025 budget plan, which they say fails to address the health sector’s funding issues, expressing concerned about plans to shift salaries from central budgets to local health groups and warning that this could lead to instability.

The union added that doctors will continue to boycott school health programmes and what they call “improvised” surgical campaigns. They insist on maintaining high medical standards while pushing for change.

Culture

Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

Published

3 days ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.