Rihana, the American singer, is having a larger impact on SA girls than just getting them to sway their hips; after spotting the third girl in a week sporting her ultimate sign of emancipation – a very short crop, I was wondering exactly how Americanised we are? Heaven forbid, right? The world is an intricate tapestry of different cultures that makes it a vivid place to live in. It also makes it a dangerous place right now. Hindu’s are burning down Christian houses in India, Christians are forbidding Muslim headscarves in schools in France causing riots, ethnic cleansing sees innocents butchered and recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa has made this rainbow nation hang its head in shame. The global village simply doesn’t seem to be naturally inclined to celebrate differences. In view of the reality of a lack of tolerance for differences, it occurred to me that homogenization of the world could be the ultimate answer to world peace.

Multiculturalism in the normative sense is the endorsement of communal diversity. Those in favour cite the right of different communal groups to recognition and respect as well as the alleged benefits to the larger society of moral and cultural diversity. As an Afrikaans person – paradoxically perhaps – I love the colour of my culture and want it to be respected as I respect and welcome other cultures. I could not be a more fervent proponent of this train of thought if I invented it.

Still, let’s be practical – it just doesn’t seem to be working. What is a right unless it can be enforced? If anything has been learnt from our vaunted Constitution, it is that pretty words on paper that are not given force are not only patronizing – the beautiful sentiments expressed therein become virtually irrelevant in the face senseless violent crime. Critics of multiculturalism like Amartya Sen have gone further to say that not only are its sentiments empty words but by emphasizing differences instead of similarities one divides communities further.

The alternative is working towards homogeneity. The idea of a single human race is a bit depressing if you understand what you loose but take that beautiful sentiment and weigh it up against a life, what would you choose? Every day sons are murdered and daughters raped and murdered – what would you sacrifice for a peaceful future? Besides, don’t those guys look cool? (see pic taken at Maponya Mall) So, everyone repeat after me “I am not an individual”…No? Yeah it blows. Think I’ll leave world peace to the UN – they’ve been failing at it for decades, this was just my first try.

A hilarious, entertaining black female group with a message to deliver.

Queendom is the name of a live entertainment group from Norway which consists of five talented black women. They are first generation Norwegians, with mixed backgrounds, collectively representing Ethiopia, Uganda, Trinidad, Nigeria and Gambia. Being of mixed descent, living in Norway and having the passion for drama, drew these women together.

Having all met through African Youth in Norway, Queendom began in 1999, performing Queendom on the Rocks, a cabaret show which received good critical reviews. Since then they have collaborated and performed in many more shows, with artists like Louis Mhlanga from South Africa. Ten years later, they are still entertaining crowds whilst delivering the message, Be proud of your heritage and celebrate your culture.

Their style of music and entertainment is fresh and witty, with each member drawing on life experiences to create original content for their stage shows. You could expect blues and soul, highlife, soukouss, reggae, hip-hop sounds and slam poetry all in one show. Humour and satire are tools used to encourage dialogue based on their message of celebrating your heritage. All this combined have created an eclectic sound with a strong on stage presence that has cemented their popularity with the Norwegian crowd.

Their popularity is set to grow further as the group are preparing to tour a few European countries in 2009. With time comes evolution, and the group having previously performed in Norsk, have begun working on shows in English with the hope of reaching out to a wider audience. Cutting their teeth at Nobel Peace prize functions, many festivals and corporate gigs they are ready to take the world and save it from boredom, Queendom style. Having recently released their very own book, this dynamic group has their eyes set on conquering the world and uniting it through great entertainment, and an even greater message.

You can visit their website. Drop them a line on Facebook or join their group for details of shows.

A hilarious, entertaining black female group with a message to deliver.

Queendom is the name of a live entertainment group from Norway which consists of five talented black women. They are first generation Norwegians, with mixed backgrounds, collectively representing Ethiopia, Uganda, Trinidad, Nigeria and Gambia. Being of mixed descent, living in Norway and having the passion for drama, drew these women together.

Having all met through African Youth in Norway, Queendom began in 1999, performing Queendom on the Rocks, a cabaret show which received good critical reviews. Since then they have collaborated and performed in many more shows, with artists like Louis Mhlanga from South Africa. Ten years later, they are still entertaining crowds whilst delivering the message, Be proud of your heritage and celebrate your culture.

Their style of music and entertainment is fresh and witty, with each member drawing on life experiences to create original content for their stage shows. You could expect blues and soul, highlife, soukouss, reggae, hip-hop sounds and slam poetry all in one show. Humour and satire are tools used to encourage dialogue based on their message of celebrating your heritage. All this combined have created an eclectic sound with a strong on stage presence that has cemented their popularity with the Norwegian crowd.

Their popularity is set to grow further as the group are preparing to tour a few European countries in 2009. With time comes evolution, and the group having previously performed in Norsk, have begun working on shows in English with the hope of reaching out to a wider audience. Cutting their teeth at Nobel Peace prize functions, many festivals and corporate gigs they are ready to take the world and save it from boredom, Queendom style. Having recently released their very own book, this dynamic group has their eyes set on conquering the world and uniting it through great entertainment, and an even greater message.

You can visit their website. Drop them a line on Facebook or join their group for details of shows.

Written by Mzansi Madame

Check it out, they explain as follows :

You know how we love to experiment with online stuff so here is our early Christmas pressy to you for 2008.

Recently we have teamed up for a special promo with the guys from Barringtons Vines. Basically we are one of 5 high end South African farms to be listed with them for their unique vineyard leasing for 2008-2009 (You lease a vineyard block and you get a whole lot of unique wine – wine everyone else has heard of but can’t get – and this will be delivered to your door) .

(***Read this bit below if nothing else***)

Our cunning plan is to try see how fast and how far we can reach as many people as possible on multiple media platforms so we will be using Blogging, Twitter, Video Casting, Podcasting and Facebook. Basically the first 10 people anywhere in the world from each of the above mentioned platforms that link back to this post mentioning Barringtons or Stormhoek will receive the following via courier ( so you can have it in time for Christmas):

• Your own single vineyard reserve bottle of Stormhoek, labelled with your name and numbered just for you.
• An limited edition A5 print of the vineyard (like above) taken by Alain Proust, the world’s best vineyard photographer, signed by both Alain and the winemaker.
• Courier postage to anywhere in the world.

What the heck we will also send out a further 20 signed prints for those not lucky enough to get there first.

This offer will close at the end of the month and everyone who writes about the offer gets to be featured in a special follow up post that I will do  at the end of November.

P.S. You have to check out the founder of Barringtons other business, its crazy its a chewable disposable toothbrush !! so cool.

P.P.S If you would like to rather email me your fine work feel free to send them to christmas@stormhoek.co.za

Ok so to explain a little about my take on traditional social media marketing; well I just don’t care for it. However Stormhoek encourages offline conversation, seeding conversations about their marketing tactics with free samples at the 27dinners and furthermore enlisting the aid of the blogging community to ignite online conversation via viral marketing campaigns like the one above.

Interestingly the brand itself shuns the oft sterile wine labeling and instead communicates a brand experience upon their label rather than ramming home the qualities of the wine.

Legends : check out the link below to find out more!

http://www.stormhoek.co.za/christmas-coming-early/

Fantastic, below, as reported in the Pretoria News is evidence that our country’s youth are led by a moron!  His results suggest an average grasp of English, and more worrisome a poor grasp of Sepedi (first language). What I’m most proud of his is his fantastic H for mathematics which gives us an idea of what he might be like should he enter into a debate regarding economic affairs.

Fantastic. Julius Malema you are Moral Fibre’s dullard of the week and we salute your attempt to the first mentally ‘impaired’ special politician.

Plucked straight from :

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081024054110671C920927

So should you wish to attach a threatening letter, please go to the iol post and do so there. I don’t make up the news, I digest it and comment on it.