RSA-Overseas - The Expat Portal: Weekly Magazine

New York - In a recording studio in Manhattan, two blocks from Times Square, South Africa's favourite alternative band, the Springbok Nude Girls, was mixing songs for their up-and-coming album.

Next door to the Nude Girls, real XXX-rated all nude superstars had their bodies draped around metal poles in the hottest strip club in Manhattan, Legs & Diamonds.

The ironies and magic of NYC, where you could watch strippers do the splits in ala show girl style, or sit in the heart of Manhattan and listen to our own Nude Girls tunes in the famous Hit Factory studio. Probably the most spot-on understatement of the new millennium, is lead vocalist Arno Carstens' view of New York.

"It is a beautiful, friendly city with lots to do all the time," Carstens said just before the Nude Girls left New York for London.

Carstens, trumpeter Adriaan Brand and guitarist Theo Crous recently spent ten days in Manhattan in early September. They flew out to the States to do the post-production work on their forthcoming album with the big name international producer Kevin Shirley.

Shirley produced their 1999 release, "Surpass the Powers", which was named Best Rock Album at the 2000 FNB South African Music Awards.

"The Springbok Nude Girls are of the same caliber as bands like Silverchair, the Stone Temple Pilots, or even a Pearl Jam," Shirley said about last year's release.

The new album, still untitled, will be released in December. The Nude Girls and Shirley have mixed down 15 new songs which were recorded in the SABC studios earlier this year.

The new album is "powerful" according to Carstens - a rather mild adjective which could easily be spiced up with a few swear words. The album skop gat, to say the least.

Anyone who has experienced the umph of a superb Nude Girls gig, will know it intuitively: This is it, their identity captured.

It has it all, those floaty phrases on the trumpet, the raw, contained power of the rhythm section; beautifully blending backing vocals, and their infamously eclectic mix of experimental songs.

Crous goes completely bananas on his guitar in most of the loud 'alternative' songs, while he also performs a range of memorable maneuvers that reflects his genius.

He is very happy with the album, and reckons it is representative of the Nude Girls sound.

Carstens said the forthcoming album definitely marks their progression to a more "mature sound."

In comparison to last years "Surpass the powers", the new album is less smooth and less clean-cut.

The "multi-layered voice," - how Carstens' vocals was described in the Rolling Stone magazine - just seem to get better. He toys on this album, exploring his range and contorting his voice into various pitches and styles.

From distorted vocal screams to a very sexy, warm lower range with depth; he drives each and every song towards its sought after climax.

The beauty of the forthcoming album, is that all the various layers are clear to the ear, but well blended, without losing the energy which characterises their live gigs together.

Various intricate phrases, delicious variations on those phrases, and ingenious orchestration by Brand on the synthesizer, make for interesting, complex music.

Yet the Nudies do not lose that vitally catchy element without which a load of bands degenerate into infinite obscurity.

Brand said working with Shirley was a lot more informal and interactive than with the production of their previous album.

The band is presently very satisfied about the result. Rather than a down the line product targeted at the commercial market, the Nudies have maintained the integrity and reputation that has earned them so much respect. They never settle for easy options, always pushing the boundaries of composition within the pop/alternative rock paradigm.

The Nudies also got themselves a real taste of what New York had to offer. In Greenwich village, the home of fringe art, Carstens and Crous experienced the heart of America in tiny, sweaty dark jazz joints. A diva in a black hat with a huge husky voice had to beg the crowd for a break; an accordion was swinging through the hazes of smoke, everywhere the crowds cheered, people danced, no matter how unknown the band was, they gave action and got reaction.

Brand encountered the new beats of Queens, New York, at a trendy underground event in a modern art warehouse, where he came across the South African William Kentridge's installation on a staircase.

Trippy vocals, revamped jazz phrases, mixed with infectious beat sequences gave also Brand many ideas to take home to the band to experiment with.

The Springbok Nude Girls, whose name by implication aligns them with the transvestites, incidentally missed Wigstock 2000, the annual transvestite parade - despite Brand and Carstens' pre-planned outfits.

The Springbok Nude Girls are scheduled to play at Shepherd's Bush in London with Just Jinger, Karma and Sugardrive.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Katie Koekblik Column
Ilda Jacobs

Washington D.C. - As die muis dik is, is die koring bitter. Hierdie week bevind ek myself in die kloue van die blues hier in die land van kitskos en vinnige ondergrondse treine genaamd metros.

Ek mis die Berg. Ek mis die Oppikoppi musiekfees. Ek mis my studente-lewe, ek droom selfs van hoërskool.

My nuwe werk as joernalis is veeleisend, alles rondom my beweeg teen 'n pas, heelwat vinniger as die "Afrika-tyd waaraan ek gewoond is.

Die eerste adrenalien vlae het ook bedaar, alles is nie meer so nuut en nie en ek voel ook nie meer asof ek in 'n rolprent is nie.

Ek is al gewoond aan die boustyl van die Amerikaanse speelgoedhuisies rondom my, en ek dink as ek terug gaan na Suid-Afrika sal ek aan die verkeerde kant van die stuurwiel inklim.

Selfs die ongelooflike groen bome in Washington D.C., begin al hoe meer dieselfde vorm aanneem as die lanings in Constantia waarby jy sou ry, sonder om dit werklik raak te sien.

Ewe skielik besef ek, waar ek ookal bly gaan alles die een of ander tyd normaal lyk en voel, en vreeslike "daily en mundane" besluite druk swaar op my gemoed.

Op die oomblik moet ek besluit oor blyplek vir die volgende jaar. My keuse is tussen my eie badkamer en 'n enkel kamer in 'n woonhuis by 'n norse vrou wat glo nie elke dag bad nie, maar die voordeel is dat ek na my werk kan stap. Ek is ook omring deur verskeie Indiese, Thai en Italiaanse eetplekkies, en ek voel asof ek in die hart van die Noordelike voorstede van Washington bly.

Die ander opsie is hierdie obskure dakkamer ("attic") saam met die coolste twee surfers en 'n tuinier. Die dak is op sommige plekke 'n bietjie te laag om regop te staan, en 'n stel klein spiraal trappies en 'n tou moet op- en afgeklim word om in my kamer te kom. Ten minste sal ek 'n sosiale lewe kan hê in 'n huis saam met jong mense.

Dit is natuurlik die rede hoekom hierdie Eva hierdie naweek deur die Groot Appel getempteer wil word. Ek hol weg van Belangrike Besluite.

Ek vermy die realiteit wat my nou vinnig terug bring na hierdie Amerikaanse kontinent toe.

Ek soek nou 'n nuwe golf van opwinding, ek ervaar nie meer daardie koue rillings as ek verby die Wit Huis ry nie.

Selfs daardie magtige gevoel dat 'n swaar geskiedenis en al die mag van die wêreld die Capitol City omring, het al verdwyn. Washington D.C. kon net sowel Grahamstad of Meyerton of Hermanus gewees het.

Daarom is dit "New York, New York" hierdie naweek, en hopelik gaan ek net nog 'n tipiese blinkoog toeris uit SA wees by die Statue of Liberty. Ek wil ontsnap van die Afrikaanse meisie wat haarself alreeds in 'n doodgewone voorstedelike leefstyl in Washington D.C. bevind.

Ek skryf natuurlik met vreeslike selfvertroue oor hoe ek Amerika alreeds bemeester het en dit is nie die volle waarheid nie. Nou die dag kla ek oor die simpele Amerikaanse posseëls wat nie wil plak as jy hulle natlek nie. Kiepie het nie besef selfs posseëls is so ontwikkel hier in die Verenigde State, dat hulle plakkers is nie.wat 'n blinde ontdekking.

Kytie K.

Kytie Koekblik would like you to respond to her tongue-in-cheek running commentary on suburban life in America in this editorial. Fresh off the boat, she is ready to explore and experiment with American bath plugs and to drive on the other side of the road.

You can contact her here.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Dutch film about black pro SA soccer star
Ilda Jacobs

Washington D.C The Dutch have made a film about South Africa's first black professional soccer player, Dr Steve Mokone.

Mokone

The film entitled "De Zwarte Metoor" will premier in Holland in December. "The movie is about a black man who brings two countries together" said Mokone from his home in Washington.

Mokone went into exile during the fifties. He lobbied extensively for the exclusion of South Africa from the Olympics.

"The Dutch could not understand why their great great grand children in South Africa implemented apartheid," he said.

The film provides a Dutch perspective on apartheid. It is an adaptation of Mokone's biography, written by Tom Egbers and also titled "De Zwarte Meteoor."

It covers the period from the arrival of the 17 year old soccer player in Europe, until the end of his career when Mokone was in his early thirties in 1968.

The film is produced by Sigma films, and a black South African from the Cape, Jack Novuko, stars as Mokone.

Mokone said he merely acted as a consultant, a "small player", in the production of the film.

The preliminary script was sent to him and with his school knowledge of Afrikaans, Mokone read and caught the just of the Dutch script.

Mokone was born in Johannesburg in 1938, and just like every other kid, he played soccer. He played for the Bush Bucks in Durban when the talent scouts spotted him at the age of seventeen.

"It took me by surprise - I never knew I was good. Although I knew I was better than a number of kids," the modest soccer legend said.

He regards his success as a God-given talent, and said he played soccer "by instinct."

The film depicts his success as the first black professional soccer player, and the first South African to be included in the Commonwealth Hall of Fame.

During his years spent in Italy, Holland and France, Mokone became a legendary soccer star.

"I could hardly walk in the streets back then," Mokone said. 'I was a well respected man, I even met Grace Kelly and queen Juliana of Holland."

The script deals with his fame and success as a black man who earned the respect and love of people in a foreign country.

Mokone was in Europe until his soccer career ended at the end of 1967.

He then left Europe for the United States, where he studied towards his Bachelors Degree at Rochester University.

He completed his doctorate in psychology at the Columbia Pacific University.

Throughout his forty years in exile, Mokone only saw his mother once in 1975.

He never saw his father again after he left as a 17 year old. Mokone obtained a South African passport before the 1994 elections. His mother died during the same year without him being able to see her.

In 1995 he returned to South Africa for the first time since he left the country.

The South Africa that the 17 year old had left behind, was very different from the one that the 59 year old encountered. He had no immediately family left in South Africa, because his two sisters had also died.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

SA activist to start up African ministry in US
Ilda Jacobs

Washington DC - A vision of a ministry with a social and spiritual consciousness, has inspired the struggle activist Rev Dr Mankekolo Mahlangu-Ngcobo to start a church for the African- born in the United States.

The Kalafong African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Mission Church will cater for the approximately 200,000 Africans in the Baltimore - Washington, D.C. area on the U.S. east coast.

Mahlangu is a former struggle activist and South African born exile who has ministered for twelve years. She is the first black South African woman to receive doctor of Ministry degree, and also a founding member of the Azanian People's Organisation.

Her prophetic vision is to establish a church that can become a strong God-centric political force with enough weight to affect foreign policy making in the U.S.

"I do not understand how it is possible that Africa in the 21st century could be a continent without progress" Mahlangu said.

"God has given the continent diamonds, oil, gold and human resources, I am wrestling with God about that. That is what this ministry is about," she said. Her vision is to create a social and political African awareness within the African community. The focus will also be on the ministry as a place of spiritual healing.

Kalafong is a word in Sesotho, Sepedi and Setswana which means a "healing place."

The former political and economic situation of immigrant Africans have impacted largely on the families, and on several issues within themselves, Mahlangu explained.

Her vision is to bring healing for them personally, within their community and eventually in their motherland.

"The African-born do not relate well to the ministries in America, because of who they are and their context" Mahlangu said.

Mahlangu explained that most Africans in the United States are in the country either because they are victims of war, exiles and refugees, or because of economic reasons. Other Africans are mostly students or part of the diplomatic community.

"The church is about how we can sing the Lord's song in a strange country, because this is not our home" Mahlangu said.

She reckons economic problems in developing countries are largely based on greed, especially from those in power.

"Looking at Africa, I see the extremely rich and the extremely poor" Mahlangu said.

Mahlangu feels it is greed which fuels the rich, who in return exclude the poor in the developing countries.

"If you leave the poor out, you plant the seeds for a coup d'etat" Mahlangu said.

Her vision for Africa is different from the Pan-Africanist or African Renaissance vision which focus on the African continent at large. Her vision is Christocentric.

"Through God we can heal our continent, that is our ultimate goal." Mahlangu explained that she battled with the idea of religion as the white man's religion, but she has witnessed how it can impact and transform society if it is vision-orientated and God-centered.

Her ministry will attempt to become more active and to affect the lives of people.

Values of selfishless, the release of the ego's hold on the individual and righteousness will be emphasised.

The church will play an active role in issues of immigration, employment and education, while focusing on ways to help Africa in what she refers to as a "church orientated pro-Africa" role for the ministry in the United States. "If we organise Africans, we can become political force."

Mahlangu has made it clear that she sees herself as a facilitator and a vessel, and not as a leader in the traditional sense.

"We put all our faith in personalities" Mahlangu said. "The church will bring healing as opposed to be a controlling or manipulating force."

Mahlangu is disillusioned about personalities within the church who align themselves with the powers that be. She will avoid party politics.

About the transition and her role in the struggle, Mahlangu said that there is a difference between party politics and a liberation movement.

"The difference is that party politics is pure politics" she said. "As a liberation movement we had a vision."

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Event for SA disabled athletes
Ilda Jacobs

Washington DC - The worldwide Achilles Track Club for the disabled has taken the initiative to help both South African athletes and the South African community.

Achilles has sponsored an event to fund raise for the disabled South African athletes who will compete in the annual New York City Marathon. Achilles is a worldwide, non-profit organisation that encourages people with all kinds of disabilities to participate in running with the general public.

Every year, the Achilles Track Club organises over 250 of their athletes from across the world to come together in New York City where they compete in the New York City Marathon.

The Achilles club was founded in 1983 and it has 43 chapters in the United States, and over one hundred and ten chapters in 36 countries. Three of their chapters are in South Africa - in Cape Town, Durban and Soweto. According to Achilles organizer Adrienne Cooney, the expense of sending a team of disabled athletes to New York is extraordinarily difficult for their chapters various countries.

In order to support the South African team financially, the Achilles New York have proposed to organise an event at the South African Consulate in New York.

A cocktail reception featuring South African wines and Hors D-oeuvres, would introduce South Africans living in New York to the disabled South African Achilles Team. At the same time, an amount of money will be raised through a reasonable door charge and a raffle.

The funds will go directly to the team, which finds itself in the same dire financial position every year.

Cooney says if they cannot help the South African athletes, they run the risk of losing their participation.

Over 200 people would attend the event, where the nine time Comrades Ultra Marathon winner Bruce Fordyce would be a guest speaker.

Fordyce is a supporter of Achilles South Africa and is running the New York City Marathon as a "Runner's Guide for Geoff Hilton Barber. Hilton Barber will be the second guest speaker. He will speak of his experiences as a blind marathon runner who has traveled the world to participate in numerous marathons.

Hilton Barber is the first and only blind person to have successfully sailed a yacht from South African to Australia solo. He recently made the news when he was one of three other blind people who climbed up Mount Kilimanjaro with several guides. He has also run a marathon through the Sahara desert.

The athletes who form part of the South African team, will be introduced to the guests. Other than Barber, the South African team includes Simphiwe Mbhele, a young athlete with cerebral palsy from Durban, Bhekumusa Shezi, another young Durban athlete with visual impairment, as well as an amputee athlete from Durban, and two blind athletes from Cape Town and Soweto.

Achilles Track Club is in the process of finding sponsors for the event. The organization has taken responsibility for all the event costs and management, such as staff, food, drink and incidentals.

During May this year, the Achilles New York team teamed up with the British Airways' "Cargo For Good", and delivered over 50 computers and software programs to the Ethembeni School for the Blind and Physically Disabled in South Africa.

The school maintains an Achilles Kids Chapter. About 320 students from rural disadvantaged communities attends this school outside Durban. Ethembeni means 'Place of Hope.'

The Principal of Ethembeni, Braam Mouton, met Cooney last November when Mouton accompanied two of his blind student runners to the Achilles Marathon.

Cooney then implemented and directed a 6-month fundraising project with the assistance of a dedicated team of volunteers and sponsors.

© RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ]

Cyril Coetzee, Mandela's portraitist, in Washington, D.C
Ilda Jacobs

Washington DC - Cyril Coetzee, aka Mandela's portraitist, was in Washington, D.C. to complete his portrait of well known American concert pianist, Marcia Daft. He was commissioned to paint her after they met during an exhibition of South African art in July this year.

Features & Briefs

OPPENHEIMER DIES
Mr Harry Oppenheimer, SA's equivalent to the Rockefellers of America or the Rothschilds of Europe and who held leadership roles at Anglo American and De Beers died recently.

SALT OF THE EARTH
A ground breaking ceremony for the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) was held in Sutherland in the Northern Cape today.

The ceremony was attended by local guests and representatives of South Africa's seven international partners, including Germany, Poland, the USA, the UK and New Zealand.

SALT is a 10-m class telescope for optical/ infrared astronomy. It will be based on the design of the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET), recently completed at McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas.

SALT will give South Africa and partners access to the single most powerful optical/infrared telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. The scientific scope of SALT will extend from searching for planets around neighbouring stars to the study of the most distant objects in the Universe.

This multi-million rand project is expected to be completed within the next five years.

Thanks to www.eep.co.za

TERROR IN CAPE TOWN
The shadowy spectre of South Africa's National Intelligence Agency has entered the debacle over slain Cape Town regional magistrate Pieter Theron.

The development came as yet another car bomb exploded, this time outside the Obz Cafe in Observatory, Cape Town, on Friday night. There were no injuries.

Justice minister Penuell Maduna said earlier on Friday that the NIA claimed it had tipped off the elitist police agency, the Scorpions, that an attack on a justice functionary by the People Against Gangsterism and Drugs was imminent.

But the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Bulelani Ngcuka, who has line responsibility over the Scorpions, denied they had received such a tip-off. He had been unable to contact Maduna.

Thanks to www.eep.co.za

JOHN ROBBIE AND THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
Robbie's interview with Tshabalala-Msimang on Tuesday evening over a controversial Aids document ended in a furious row, with Robbie telling the minister off.

"Go away. I cannot take that rubbish any longer. Can you believe it ... I have never in my life heard such rubbish," Robbie said at the termination of the interview with Tshabalala-Msimang, in which she refused to spell out whether she believed the HI virus causes Aids.

The grilling by Robbie began with him asking the minister about a document outlining an "Aids conspiracy".

The 702 Talk Radio host has since taken a few days off work to "mull over a few things in his head".

Thanks to www.eep.co.za

FREE BILTONG!
Get a free pound of biltong, USA only, when you subscribe to the JULUKA newsletter for two years. Go to the JULUKA Website for more details. Please mention the FREE BILTONG ad.

Matheson Communications, U.S. Representatives for Africa Eye News Service, recruited Ilda Jacobs as part of their continuing commitment to provide opportunity for young journalists in South Africa to gain valuable experience abroad.

Ilda graduated from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, in November 1999 with an honors degree in Arts Journalism, Drama and Afrikaans-Dutch.

We want our readers to be the eyes and ears for Ilda as she fulfills their commitment to provide news coverage to South African newspapers, magazines and various news services.

Please don't hesitate to email us leads, story ideas and assistance.

Ilda is interested in a broad spectrum of stories, ranging from hard news to Africa or South African related information.