TokisoM Writes

SBF Frank Talk: Dear Steve Biko : Thank you. Thank you for dedicating your life, short as it was, to standing firm for what you believed in. Because of you, I’m proud to ...

I’m an action and thriller type of girl. I love guns, blood and a whole lot of ass-whipping. So I get irritated when a movie promises all these things but gives me scene after scene of softness. Alex Cross features the king of soft, Tyler Perry BUT this is not one of his Madea movies – he didn't write or direct this flick. I was left bored and wishing I’d waited for it to get to DVD. I’ll be fair, this was his first action role and he performed….okay.  The movie starts with a not so fit Alex Cross (Perry) huffing and puffing after a criminal, gun in hand. He is wearing a long trench coat which tells you that Cross is a top cop. He is very fatherly in how he leads his team.  He has a family; a beautiful wife, two adorable children and his mother stays with them. And his mother is played by one of those grand-mothers from his Madea movies.  Anyway, somewhere past the soppy stuff, in comes the villain played by Matthew Fox. He is my favourite...

I’m an emotional creature; my moods dictate my activities for days and nights – when I’m not being paid. Most of the time, regardless of my mood – I’d rather be on my own.  That being said, I’m working on breaking this habit and forcing myself to “go out there” even when I’d rather lie on my bed and read a book. I was in such a horrid mood when I dragged myself to go watch Moliere’s The Miser at the Market Theatre recently.  To meet my moods half way I didn't invite a friend and so I was still alone but yet with people. The play, originally written when French monarchs ruled in 1668, is relevant to our times.  The main character, Harpagon, is a wealthy loan shark whose love for money is as powerful as his stingy ways. He has two children; daughter and son who don’t understand his way. Harpagon played by Lionel Newton    Pictures by:  Ruphin Coudyzer  They know that they are wealthy and that their father ...

Word n Sound Poetry and Music Series is a perfect example of “if you have an idea – run with it”. We've seen movements come and go but Word n Sound has proved its staying power.  The three minds behind WnS, Qhakaza Mbali Mthembu, Thabiso “Afurakan” Mohare and Mduduzi "Dj Duce" Mvemve have not only done their bit to keep the poetry scene in Johannesburg alive but they've made it interesting.  One member down and a couple of venues later the festival is celebrating its second year. New faces have braved the competitive space and the fight for the number one spot has been amazing to watch.  WnS has grown since its days of an audience of less than ten and the open-mic session was a painful experience. I had a short and sweet chat with Qhakaza; the rose among thorns and also called ‘mother’ by some artists. Planning WnS Festival 2013 was … interesting because since this is our second year there were things we thought ...

I love LeratoMogoatlhe . I love her because she doesn't just dream but she lives her dreams. And I love her for not just saying she is proudly African but for stepping out of her comfort zone to experience her continent. She inspires me. Image stolen from her Facebook page :-) When was the last time you journeyed our continent intensely? It was in 2010, and I was at it for 6 months. I was in East Africa; Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania. I didn't go to my other planned destinations which were; Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. I came back home because I ran out of steam and cash. What discouraged me the most was that when I wanted to go to Ethiopia, I could only get a visa if I flew to Nairobi. The only other ways to get the visa was if I was Kenyan, Eastern African or had a residential permit in East Africa. It’s really crushing when you want to go to a place and you are forced to take the privileged route when you don’t have the privilege. ...

He is that guy that everybody thinks is great and you are the evil in the relationship. If and when you tell your friends and family about his shenanigans they say, “but he is such a nice guy!” He has everybody wrapped around his little finger. He helps out at family gatherings, is a father to your child and remembers your parents birthdays…he is the nice guy. He will help you set up your best friends surprise party, talk soccer with your brothers and help your friends out when they are in a jam…he is the nice guy. When you are together, you look like a match made in heaven. At appearance level you guys can’t go wrong; he holds your hand in public…he is such a nice guy. He probably introduce you to his whole family, you go on shopping trips with his sister and share jokes with his brothers…he is such a nice guy. He doesn’t smoke and IF he drinks, it’s wine and he doesn’t get drunk. But what the world doesn’t know about Mr Nice guy is that when you are ...

I appreciate good music and have a soft spot for live performances. Anthony Hamilton ’s performance in Johannesburg, 16 August 2012, at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena , gave me goose bumps!  I've loved this man’s music for as long as I can remember and some of his hits are soundtracks to major relationship break downs and romantic moments. So when at the last minute I was invited to go to the concert I grabbed some tissues and gave myself a good talking too about crying in public and controlling the urge to call an ex (Yes his music does that to me). But when Anthony Hamilton and his band gave an explosive performance I ended up with new memories and forgot about the past.  The sold out venue was jam packed with well dressed Jozi folks ready for a good time. Anthony had grown men belting his tunes and raising their hands like we were in Church. The energy he had with his band on stage filled the whole arena. When they performed his hit song Pray For Me...