Culture

South Africa mourns late literary icon James Matthews

Published

6 days ago

September 12, 2024

South Africa and indeed the whole of Africa is mourning the passing of iconic writer, poet and publisher, James Matthews, who died in his sleep at his Cape Town home at the age of 95.

The renowned ‘Struggle” poet whose poetry was banned by the apartheid government leading to frequent harassment, police detention, and the censorship of his work, was famous for writing about the struggles, challenges, and experiences of Cape Town’s working-class communities and townships, and through his poetry, he became a prominent voice for the black consciousness movement.

In 1972, he founded South Africa’s first black-owned art gallery, Gallery Afrique and, in 1974, he launched BLAC (Black Literature Arts and Culture), the country’s first black-owned publishing house, which was forced to close in 1991 due to persistent government harassment before setting up another publishing house, Realities, in 2000.

The South African Parliament has also paid tributes to Mathews as the Presiding Officers including the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms. Thoko Didiza, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms. Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, have expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the renowned writer.

While speaking on the floor of the House, Didiza said:

“Mr. Matthews was a powerful voice in the fight against apartheid who wielding his pen, challenged the oppressive regime. He gave a voice to the voiceless and stood resolute for truth and justice during one of the darkest chapters in our country’s history.

“In recognition of his unwavering commitment to a non-racial South Africa and his significant contributions to literature and journalism, he was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in 2004.

“Mr. Matthews’ dedication to the struggle for freedom cannot be overstated. South Africa owes him a profound debt of gratitude for his role in liberating our people through his art and activism. He belonged to a generation that selflessly dedicated their lives to the emancipation of the oppressed, expecting no reward.

“Mr. Matthews’ passing leaves an immense void not only in the arts community but also in the broader struggle for justice and equality. We extend our deepest condolences to the Matthews family, friends, comrades, and the people of South Africa. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

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Culture

Janet Jackson pulls out of ‘DStv Delicious Festival’ after brother’s death

Published

6 hours ago

September 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

African-American popstar, Janet Jackson, has announced pulling out of the much-anticipated “DStv Delicious Festival” which will hold on Saturday, September 21, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to her management team, Jackson will no longer be performing at the festival following the death of her brother, Tito.

The organizers of the ‘DStv Delicious Festival” have also confirmed that ‘Janet Jackson will no longer be able to perform at the food and music festival this Saturday.”

Janet’s management team shared the following with the festival’s organisers:

“Janet’s brother Tito passed away this past Sunday. For obvious reasons, Janet has to cancel her performance at the DStv Delicious Festival to be with family.

“Management is making plans to come back next year. Janet also wishes to thank all of her South African fans for the warm and heart-felt support she’s receiving at this difficult time.”

The DStv Delicious organisers in the statement said they are sending their “deepest condolences and support to Janet and her family during this time of mourning.”

The organisers also expressed they are working on securing an international replacement for Janet Jackson, and have offered ticket holders the opportunity to exchange their tickets for Sunday, if they wish to.

“We understand that many fans were excited to see Janet Jackson perform, and the Festival’s Management Team is actively working on securing a suitable international replacement headliner to ensure an unforgettable experience.

“We appreciate the understanding and support of our festival community during this time of change, and we look forward to a memorable celebration of music, culture, and unity at DStv Delicious Festival Powered by Lottostar.”

Culture

Zimbabwe to kill 200 elephants for drought-ravaged communities

Published

1 day ago

September 17, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to wildlife officials on Tuesday, Zimbabwe intends to slaughter 200 elephants in order to feed populations who are very hungry following the worst drought in 40 years.

Over 68 million people in southern Africa have been affected by the drought brought on by El Nino, which also caused food shortages throughout the region.

“We can confirm that we are planning to cull about 200 elephants across the country. We are working on modalities on how we are going to do it,” Tinashe Farawo, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson, told journalists.

He declared that the drought-affected villages in Zimbabwe will receive the elephant meatballs. Hence, the districts of Hwange, Mbire, Tsholotsho, and Chiredzi will host the nation’s first cull since 1988.

Zimbabwe decision comes after bordering Namibia decided to slaughter 83 elephants last month and give meat to those affected by the drought.

One of the greatest elephant populations in the world is found in the southern African countries of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Namibia, where over 200,000 elephants are thought to reside in a protection area.

According to Farawo, the culling is a component of the nation’s efforts to reduce the number of elephants in its parks, which can only hold 55,000 of them. There are more than 84,000 elephants in Zimbabwe.

“It’s an effort to decongest the parks in the face of drought. The numbers are just a drop in the ocean because we are talking of 200 (elephants) and we are sitting on plus 84,000, which is big,” he said.

Conflicts between people and wildlife can worsen during a drought this bad because supplies become more scarce. 50 people died in Zimbabwe from elephant attacks last year.

The nation has been urging the United Nations’ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to restore trade in ivory and live elephants. It is praised for its conservation efforts and increasing elephant population.

Zimbabwe, which has one of the biggest populations of elephants, possesses stqqqockpiles of ivory worth over $600,000 that it is unable to sell.