Issue 108 | The Journalist

Graduates’ exhibition interrogates what it means to be human

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Art | 335

Slavery, sangomas and sexuality

“Graduates”, an exhibition by final year students from the Department of Fine Arts at the University of the Free State, recently opened at the university’s Johannes Stegman Gallery. Precious Mamotingoe Lesupi reports on the pieces set to interrogate the broader concept of what it means to be human.

Final year students from the Department of Fine Arts showcased various artwork which depict their unique experiences of what it means to be human.

Dr Nadine Lake, lecturer in Gender Studies at the UFS, described pieces of the exhibition as ones which “remind us of the importance of rethinking familiar concepts”.

How young filmmakers are protecting artistic freedom in Kenya

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Art | 4

Artistic freedom was always tenuous in Kenya, but it’s become even less so since Uhuru Kenyatta became president in 2013. The political pendulum has swung against political dissenters, intellectuals and a handful of media institutions that still believed in objective journalism.

Progressive gains made under the previous administration of President Mwai Kibaki (2002-2013), such as the freedom of press and speech, have disintegrated

cultural landscape, have rolled back artistic freedom by banning films that attempted to expand identity or interpreted it differently. The most prominent example is Rafiki, a recent Kenyan film that was banned for “promoting lesbianism”.

Safa must level the playing field for women

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Spotlight | 70

It’s no secret that women’s football is the poor cousin in South Africa. It’s not looked after...

Ramaphosa’s new dawn in rands and cents

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Kau Kauru Voices | 203

Mboweni’s budget speech brings some relief, but not near enough

The minister highlighted six fundamental prescripts on which the budget was built. They provide a framework on how the President and his executive plan to achieve a higher rate of economic growth, how they plan to increase tax collection, how they plan to reduce expenditure and reduce South Africa’s debt, how they plan to reconfigure state-owned enterprises and how they plan to manage the public sector wage bill.

Vangile Gantsho’s Riot

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Books | 1736

With her second collection Red Cotton, the enigmatic poet is raising new hairs

South African poetry has historically existed on the margins, often considered too radical to have a mainstream audience. But things are changing, there’s a generation of local poets dragging the artform back into the spotlight and one of those poets is Vangile Gantsho.In 2012, she stormed her way to poetic relevance with the publication of her poem I expect more from you, which is about the intimate cost of freedom and what those who had to pay it are holding out for. Gantsho captures the internal scars of dispossession so succinctly:

Angela Davis, Palestinian rights and anti-Semitism

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Spotlight | 2496

Ignorance whitewashes the historical trajectory of the Palestinian experiences of injustice

Standing up for Khashoggi is standing up for safety of journalists globally

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | The Craft | 1831

“Accountability for these crimes is non-negotiable”

Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi wasn’t the only journalist killed in 2018. Worldwide, UNESCO recorded the horrific total of 96 other murders for last year. That is: ninety-six lives that are no more, simply because the people involved were doing journalism.Yet, in this death list, the Khashoggi killing was one of the most brazen.

Hilary Teague (1802 – 1853): Father of Liberia’s independence

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Pioneers | 2922

Businessman, minister, owner and editor of the Liberia’s first newspaper

Hilary Teague’s struggle for Liberia’s independence from the American Colonisation Society (ACS) is one that may have fallen through the cracks of history, but like his resilience it has emerged from the shadows over time.Hilary Teague’s contribution is being celebrated in contemporary times as the Father of Liberia’s independence and the foremost pioneer of Liberia’s media. His legacy has also become an interest in scholarly…

Reflections through Sebabatso Naledi Thulo’s glasses

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Books | 3378

Short stories examine life through the lens of a black South African woman

Reflections Through My Glasses is a collection of short stories by Sebabatso Naledi Thulo which looks at life through the lens of a young, black South African woman. It looks at her upbringing in boarding school and the women who have helped her become the woman she is.Sebabatso Naledi Thulo reflects on her life experiences, organising her stories around themes of love, responsibility, passion, nature, survival and God – among others.

Human Settlements: Budget delays basic human rights

by journalist | Feb 26, 2019 | Spotlight | 189

Failure by government to eradicate title deeds backlogs continues to deprive residents of security of tenure

Explainer: why South Africa’s energy generator is in so much trouble

by journalist | Feb 19, 2019 | Spotlight | 207

“State capture” (patronage networks), corruption and poor management have led to over staffing and neglected maintenance, resulting in constant breakdowns