WeeklySA_AdminTHRONE: Even if I never set foot on stage again, I’m happy and content with what I’ve done – Tina Turner…
Tribute by Gugu Sibiya
What was an ordinary Wednesday quickly turned out to be a shocker when disturbing news of rock legend Tina Turner’s passing, at the ripe age of 83, spread across a stunned world.
A classic example of faith and determination moving mountains, leggy Turner silenced her detractors when she became an international star at the age of 42 in the 80s. Instantly transforming into a shining symbol of hope and motivation for all those people especially women, who had given up on their dreams because they felt that their time had come and gone.
It was not just her husky voice that made the world sit up and take notice. Driving men crazy, to the extent of going bananas whenever they saw them, were those lovely, long legs that were always elegantly clad in high heels. She’d kick them in tune with the beat on stage and the reaction from our male species was always predictable.
SEIZED HER THRONE, OWNED IT, WITH PANACHE!
Crazy!
Those figure-hugging, colourful, mini-dresses flaunted her assets to advantage. Not to mention the honey blonde wigs that she loved so much. It’s not surprising that her fan-base was hugely made up of men. Women loved her too, immensely empowered by her confidence and positive outlook towards life. There’s no denying that she was a package of dynamite.
Before she rocked the world, the Queen of Rock ’n Roll took a detour through R&B. A year later, she ruled the roost from the rock throne. A feat that’s largely attributed to her meeting with a singer called Ike Turner, who later became her husband. The ink had hardly dried up on their marriage certificate when the abusive monster in Ike started rearing its ugly head.
Whether he was jealous of Turner’s success, global adoration, killing it on a predominantly male and growing global fan-base or bringing the bacon home, time would tell later? Often being beaten to a pulp, Turner spent time covering black eyes, bruises and bearing pain, performed as if there’s no tomorrow. Mummy dearest insisted that she stick it out. When she left in the stealth of the night, she never looked back. Her decision to flee her abusive union would become a fortunate stroke of serendipity, as her solo career immediately thereafter shot into spectacular heights, living a great life, often seen on the arms of gorgeous, young studs.
Overcoming a few contractual glitches, she experienced a phenomenal career renaissance, soaring to even greater heights than she’d imagined. Her music was in demand all over the world. She was in demand for live shows, and, – to this day – her sing-along hits remain a mainstay of most parties, events and regularly make most radio station’s playlists.
Like most women, Turner went gone through a lot of trials and tribulations, but each time rose like a phoenix from the ashes. You’d think that after surviving dehumanising, abusive marriage, she’d live happily ever after. But, nay, in 2016 she was diagnosed with cancer. In 2017, she underwent a kidney transplant operation – and, thanks to her Swiss hubby Erwin Bach, who reportedly donated his kidney to her so she could have a second lease on life.
Good news came tumbling for the rock star when she was inducted in the Rock ’n Roll Wall of Fame as a solo artist in 2021. This was after she was first inducted into the Rock Hall in 1991 as part of Ike & Tina Turner duo. The world has over and over long affirmed her position as the best in rock, a fact attested to by 12 Grammy Awards. What’s Love Got To Do With It, The Best, Private Dancer, are some of the hits that come to mind from her greatest repertoire.
Two years ago, Turner and Bach – who were married in 2013 – paid R2,3 billion for the 10-building waterfront mansion, which they used as a “weekend retreat”, according to the news website news.com.au.
After moving to Europe in the ‘90s, Turner relinquished her US citizenship to become a Swiss resident around the time she married Bach, which allowed her to make the purchase. Swiss law requires prospective buyers to be residents of the country in order to invest in property in the area.
Their newly purchased estate in Switzerland also came just weeks before Turner made another big financial decision – agreeing to sell her extensive music catalogue to German music company BMG for a reported R1,3 billion, according to news.com.au.
Turner last toured with her final Tina! 50th Anniversary Tour in 2008, performing shows across Europe and North America, earning over R2,5 billion. She died with an estimated net worth of $380 million. She officially retired from performing in 2009.
The beautiful, sexy, alluring Tina once said in an interview about her life choices: “It can get better. I can make it better, I want better.”
May her soul rest in peace.
YOUNG ACTRESS TO SHOWCASE TALENT AT AFRICA MONOLOGUE CHALLENGE FINALE IN GHANA
GRAND: Model prepared to fly the South African flag high and showcase her skills on continental stage.
By Thuli Zungu
South African actress, Refilwe Maitisa is making South Africa proud once more. This time she is flying the South African flag in Ghana. Maitisa, who is also a singer and model has been selected to represent South Africa at the upcoming Africa Monologue Challenge (AMC) grand finale to be held in Accra, Ghana this weekend.
The model, who is prominent jazz musician, Don Laka’s niece, entered the AMC in May last year and was among the 50 finalists shortlisted from over 500 entries from African countries.
After a tough eight months of bi-weekly evictions and 14 monologues , she emerged as one of the 10 finalists to make it to the grand finale. Maitisa says 30% of the final score comes from votes from your country and she will bring in 70% from her performance of monologues at the weekend.
“As part of my performance at the finale, I have been asked to prepare a monologue on What Makes South Africa a great country.
I am energised by the opportunity to promote my country on stage at the National Theatre of Ghana.”
One of the prizes for the winner is for her or his country to host the next finale. “I am looking forward to representing my country in Ghana and flying the South African flag high and showcase my talent on the African stage.”
Maitisa says the Africa Monologue Challenge initiative is a collaboration of the African Chamber of Content Producers and the Ghanaian National Film Authority, which was launched on the 5th of April 2022.
“It is open to all Africans and Africans in the Diaspora to help promote talented actors and actresses and the film industry in Africa and globally”. The panel of judges will comprise top industry professionals from nine countries including South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Maitisa says during the eight months eviction period of the 50 actors and actresses from May until December 2022, she got the judges nod twice.
Last year she represented South Africa at the Top Awards in New York, USA – the top three acting schools in the world. She also graduated top of her class, summa cum laude from the prestigious New York University Tisch School of art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drama and in the Business of Entertainment, Media and Technology.
She was also awarded the Drama Banner Bearer Award for top Student in Leadership and Academics at Tisch Drama for being outstanding in studio award for the classical studio and for acting.
