Pink Loerie Festival & Mr Gay South Africa co-founder passes away

Thanks to tough measures that included overnight curfews and restricted travel between provinces, health authorities were hopeful that African countries could avoid the worst of the coronavirus outbreaks that have ravaged Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. As of May 28, Nigeria and South Africa — two of the continent’s largest music economies — had

Growing up in Ramsbottom journalism ran in the blood for Alison Towner.

By Tom Grater

Def Jam is going international. A little more than a half a year after launching Def Jam South East Asia, Universal Music Group announced Def Jam Africa, a new division based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria, that will focus on "hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa" and report to Universal Music Sub-Saharan Africa & South Africa managing director Sipho Dlamini.

Today, Universal Music Group announced that it is launching Def Jam Africa, a new label division that operates within the continent to represent the best hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa. To start, the label will be based in Johannesburg and Lagos; the entirety of its starting roster comes from either South Africa and Nigeria.

It’s an exciting day in the local music industry today as record giant Universal Music South Africa announces that they have developed a local division of the world-famous Def Jam Recordings imprint – and it’s set to be a game-changer for African music.

By Jem Aswad

Def Jam is going international. A little more than a half a year after launching Def Jam South East Asia, Universal Music Group today announced Def Jam Africa, a new division based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria, that will focus on "hip-hop, Afrobeats and trap talent in Africa" and report to Universal Music Sub-Saharan Africa & South Africa Managing Director Sipho Dlamini.

< 1 min read South Africa’s Government is facing criticism from human rights groups for excluding LGBT+ refugees and asylum seekers from crucial coronavirus relief packages.

Monday night’s episode of Our Perfect Wedding has left South Africans heartbroken after Stella Malebye’s passing.

By Jem Aswad

Downtown Music Holdings announced its acquisition of South Africa-based independent music publisher Sheer Music on Monday (May 18), expanding the company's footprint on the continent and providing Sheer’s African artists with new access to global markets.Under the deal, which builds on a longstanding relationship between Sheer and Downtown’s publishing division, Sheer will continue to operate as a standalone business within Downtown’s portfolio, maintaining its independent royalty platform to

Ndlovu Youth Choir keeps flying the South African flag high. After wowing audiences around the globe with their proudly South African interpretations of some of the world’s biggest hits on America’s Got Talent, the Ndlovu Youth Choir have released a new album with even more amazing renditions. The choir ha become a symbol of hope and pride for South Africans and we get up close and personal with Ralf Schmitt, the choir’s artistic director, as we celebrate their massive impact.

Nina Dobrev recently got nostalgic about the good old days when she could step out of her house and take a trip to South Africa without a care in the world. The Vampire Diaries actress, who is currently practicing social distancing amid the Coronavirus pandemic, took to Instagram to share a series of throwback posts from her chill getaway. She posted a couple of pictures and a video in which she can be seen having the time of her life.   

South Africa’s largest city Johannesburg has been chosen to host two editions of Mr Gay World – the posponed 2020 and the 2021 events. The double bill event will be held from March 21  to March 28, 2021.

Former Irish TV personality Grainne Seoige is speaking out about the harsh restrictions during the lockdown in South Africa.

By Christopher Vourlias