Pretoria News Weekend 2022-08-27

For almost two decades, no one has occupied and thrived in more diverse spaces in the local music industry than Zakhele Madida, the artist popularly known as Zakes Bantwini. He’s helmed the A&R department of a major label, he’s unearthed and propelled various award-winning artists through his own independent label, and he’s picked up the microphone to occupy the position of superstar artist when called upon. Now, at 42, with the KwaZulu-Natal native at the height of his career and enjoying the acclaim afforded one of dance music’s most enduring voices, he recently announced that he’s decided to call it quits. He doesn’t want to call it retirement, though, and prefers to say he’s taking a back seat. “I’m not gonna be putting up music under my name. “I’m still…

The first episode of Archetypes features Serena Williams, who recently announced her plans to retire from pro tennis, talking with Meghan Markle about the double standards women face when they are labelled “ambitious”. The Duchess of Sussex’s weekly podcast is available on Spotify worldwide. Archetypes is the first series to land on Spotify under the streaming service’s exclusive deal with Markle and Prince Harry’s Archewell Audio. In the series, Markle will have “uncensored conversations” with guests, uncover the origin of stereotypes about women and how they shape narratives in the culture. Markle revealed to Williams a horrifying incident during her and Prince Harry’s official visit to South Africa. A blaze occurred in 2019 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Nyanga township for an official talk while Archie,…

Kim Kardashian is reportedly wishing to date “someone older” after her split from Pete Davidson. The 41-year-old Skims founder had a 13-year age gap between her and the Bodies Bodies Bodies star – who she dated for nine months until this month – and it’s claimed she is ready to get back on the dating scene and would like to find a man older than her. An insider told E! News: “Kim’s expressed she’s ready to date someone older but it has to be the right person who understands her life. She isn’t compromising her freedom right now.” They added: “She enjoys dating and is definitely open to putting herself out there again.” Meanwhile, the Kardashians star is said to be “very supportive” of Davidson’s decision to attend therapy. Following…

Game of Thrones trumpeted its continental scope at the start of every episode with its roving opening credits. Ever-stirring, no matter how uninspired or unsatisfying the medieval fantasy drama could get, they swept across a mechanical miniature of the Seven Kingdoms and the lands beyond, evincing the loose federation’s tenuousness and grandeur, as well as the ingenuity and care required to keep the realm from entropy and collapse. Three years after that series’ (widely derided) finale, Westeros, the Europe-like landmass on which the Seven Kingdoms sit, returns in a reduced new form. Created by book author George RR Martin and Ryan Condal, House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the original show and is comparatively diminutive in scale. Based on parts of Martin’s Fire & Blood novel, the…

People have recently started to pay more attention to the cosmetics they choose to use on their skin. Everyone’s perception of beauty is and always will be subjective. Brands are raising their standards in response to the changing demands of their customers as the cosmetics business experiences a rise in recent years. Choosing personal care and wellness goods has become a top priority for modern beauty consumers, and this trend towards clean beauty is evidence of this. Consumers nowadays will choose products that are “natural”, “eco-friendly”, “toxin-free”, and “clean” over those that are packed with chemicals. The tide has undoubtedly shifted in favour of sustainable beauty. Nearly half of the 1 000 women surveyed by the prestigious Harper’s Bazaar have already included clean, ingredient-focused selections in their regimen, and more…

Joan Erikson said: “A good life is like a weaving. Energy is created in the tension. The struggle, the pull and tug are everything.” While this article might not be about life lessons, the balance between tension, pulling and tugging is what makes the art of weaving not only a fascinating flow of movement which will have you mesmerised for hours but a craft that produces the most exquisite textiles with patterns ranging from simple to intricate. While watching Vikings, a Netflix series set in the 8th century following the life and conquests of legendary Viking chief Ragnar Lothbrok, I was transported to a time when everyday items that we take for granted were carefully crafted by hand. From the goblets from which they sipped their wine to the wooden…