The president of South Africa Jacob Zuma has been framed again in another painting on show in Cape Town at AVA gallery. In the painting Zuma is dressed in traditional wear with his privates exposed. The artist, Ayanda Mabulu, titled the painting Umshini Wam (Weapon of Mass Destruction). To him it’s dedicated to the miners who died. It intends to strip Zuma of his suit and tie and bring him to the level of ordinary people who suffer daily according to the report in The Star. The artist claims that the painting did not show a lack of respect for Zuma saying:

“He is not naked; I did not paint him with an uncircumcised penis. This is a metaphor that shows he is not a boy; he is a man, an elder, a father, a leader … Through this painting, I respectfully, as one of his children, ask my father why he is starving us. Why he is negating his duties to his children, the citizens of South Africa.”

Dudu Manhenga … “Rites of Passage”

Venue: Reps Theatre
Dates: Friday 24 August
Time: 1900hrs
$6, $12, $15 (dependent on seat chosen)

Saturday 25 August
Time: 1430hrs
$6, $10, $12 (dependent on seat chosen)

Rite of Passage emphasizes an acknowledged crossing over. It speaks of the journeys, challenges and victories, which deserve recognition and must be celebrated. Join us in celebrating the Rites of Passage of our very own African Princess, Dudu Manhenga. This event is set to promote, inspire and give insight, by showcasing the young, dynamic, sister, wife, storyteller, artist and African who has transitioned to new stages of her career and ultimately life.

Guest performance by the COOL CROONERS, dancers. Award winning McIntosh Jerahuni,2010 nominee Maylene Chenjerai, Poet Batsi Chigama and Uza

Bookings at the Spotlight, Reps Theatre, for more information call Blessing on 0772 327 366

Photo: The Guardian

On the Guardian today, a reminder that revolutions often start in culture.

The art of reading starts with a habit and every habit has a trigger. Reading helps people understand life and it teaches you how to write. Most great writers were inspired to write through reading. For writers, reading is one of the most important tools.

Writing is a skill, which one masters through practice. It gets better through writing a lot and reading widely. During a Food for Thought session at the US Public Affairs Section in Harare visiting award-winning authors from America shared some reading and writing experiences with young and upcoming writers in Zimbabwe. In order to encourage young writers to read, the visiting authors urged young authors to be broad minded. The authors from University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (IWP) are in the country to facilitate writing and capacity-building seminars with Zimbabwean writers.

It’s a big congratulations to Star FM for making it into Zimbabwean history for being the first private radio station after 32 years of independence. But I still feel nothing goes further than passing a congratulatory message at this stage because the station seems to be an extension of the existing state owned broadcaster. The radio station, which was officially launched yesterday, is owned by Zimpapers, which is state run. Initially the radio station got the license under the name Zimbabwe Talk Radio and no explanations have been given on the change of name.

Nhalnhla Ngwenya who heads Misa-Zimbabwe said, “So while it is good for Zimbabwe that we now have another player in the broadcasting industry, we doubt that its content will translate to an alternative platform form of communication. It would have been good if new player was going to bring diversity.”

A French designer Maxime Pécourt has created a series of movie posters, using the cult object of each movie.  Click here for the other super cool posters