DEBUT: Muso excited his brand new reality show to air on SABC 1 next month…

By Gugu Sibiya

Hit maker and sing-along king Vusi Nova has just joined the league of celebrities who are raking it with their “air it all if you can” TV reality shows.

With excitement at fever pitch now that the flamboyant fashionista singer is finally taking to the silver screen his highly anticipated Vusi Nova Unplugged reality show. It airs on SABC1, from March 6, at 9pm. Already on the merry-go-round, Nova had a chat to Weekly SA Mirror from the airport, revealing that several channels had been talking to him about coming on board with his reality show for a long time.

“Contrary to popular belief, the show was not a spur-of-the-moment decision on my part. Different channels had been beating a path to my door for a couple of years now, trying to convince me to do it. I was reluctant because I’m a private person. Last year, however, I thought why not? What they say is so true that everything happens in God’s time.  

“I’m excited but scared at the same time. People know my stage persona and now they’ll experience me up close and personal off stage. Question is, will they like what they will see. They could be shocked at some of my favourite choice words,” he states, reflecting on the journey he’s embarked on.

“I’ll be living in a fish bowl, but I don’t intend to wilt like a violet. Nothing’s scripted, it’s all happening organically. People already know a lot about me, so now and then we’ll take a foray into the past. For now, our season consists of 13-episodes,” says a chaffed Vusi who’s confident that this experience is right up his alley.

“It is, what it is”.

On dazzling TVlanders with his glad rags, the Eastern Cape star confides: “I don’t know how to dress normally. I dress way over the top. You should see me now. I’m bringing that pizzaz to the screen. Just keep on watching.”

Pausing for a dramatic effect, he announces: “Today I’m dropping my brand new CD Full Circle. On my debut offering I was on the R&B soul tip. With follow-up projects I took a stroll into jazz, then soft rock.

“With Full Circle, I’m back where it started and it’s dripping with the contagious melodies of R&B soul that made people fall in love with me in the first place. It’s the original me. The only difference is that this is the mature version.” 

A talented artist who burst onto the entertainment scene and made his presence felt, Nova is a highly sought-after performer. Anthemic hits like Inhliziyo, Ndikuthandile, Yibanathi, Thandiwe and Asiphelelanga come to mind at the mere mention of his name.

Playing his cards close to his chest, the multi-award winning muso cautions wistfully: “I don’t want to give away a lot for now. My wish is for people to watch the show, get to know me better – off stage and enjoy themselves. I hope they really love my new album”.

Khuma Film Festival kicks off

MEDIUM: The event aims – among other things – to provide a platform for filmmakers to share their work, connect with audiences as well as to encourage the youth to aspire for careers in the film industry…

By Priscilla Malinga

The opening night of the inaugural Khuma Film Festival, which is taking place at Hoerskool Stilfontein in North West over four days since Wednesday, drew high flyers from the nationwide film entertainment industry.

Among the distinguished guests were the North West Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation MEC Kenwetsi Mosenogi, local mayor James Ntsulela and former Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang.

Hatang, who is founder of Hatang Mmoho, urged young people to follow their dreams in spite of the obstacles standing in their way. As an example of resilience, he made a reference to a near tragic personal and family experience, which almost resulted in his death and that of his children, from which he had risen to pick up the pieces. He told the young hopefuls to always trust in the Lord and he would take care of their troubles.

“Never forget where you are going,” said Hatang. “The road might be full of hurdles as you try to establish yourselves,” Hatang added. The opening night of the festival was also attended by personalities such as Robert Mpisi, Didintle Khunou, Thembile Botman from Khuma. Israel Matseke-Zulu also graced the occasion, along with  Tjovitjo filmmaker Vincent Moloi, all of whom will during the course of the film festival facilitate various film industry talks, workshops and engagements sessions, to inspire young people to imagine themselves as future stars, directors.

Participants will also learn about all the other aspects of filmmaking. Ntsulela also shared words of encouragement with the filmmaking hopefuls, thanking all the principals who have committed to supporting the film festival and allow their learners to attend workshops earmarked for their benefit. “It is inspiring to see successful film makers plough back to their communities and offer words of encouragement, assuring the youth who dream to be part of the filming industry that it can be done and that they are also worthy; and that it doesn’t matter where they come from and what their background is,” Ntsulela said.

Mosenogi vowed to stand behind the festival, saying it was one of the industries with a huge potential to create jobs for the youth of South Africa.

“Our local film industry is our own Hollywood and we can use it to create opportunities,” said Mosenogi. “The Nigerian industry is doing it, and, if we work together, we can create more jobs as this is a very diverse industry,” he added. The festival founder and Sebabatso Media director Ms Naomi Mokhele urged young people to use their phones wisely to create meaningful and socially constructive content in order to create opportunities for themselves. 

“Documentaries are a great way to start,” she said. “Our objective is to create jobs and grow the industry through workshops and interactive sessions which will help young people with enough information about how to enter the industry”.

The festival is supported by the National Film and Video Foundation through the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme. It is organised under the banner “Inaugural Khuma Film Festival: Nurturing Talent, Fostering Community Growth”. The four-day event started Wednesday and ends tomorrow. A diverse range of films from both emerging and established filmmakers will be shown in a bid to celebrate the art of storytelling through the medium of film.

The first night climaxed with the screening of the hilarious comedy festival feature Who’s my daddy which stars David Kau, Nomsa Buthelezi, Alfred Ntombela, Dr Victor and many more.