Author: antakalipa

Belinda Davids

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Belinda Davids

Day 3 at the Joburg Theatre to watch the Whitney Houston tribute show. Whitney Houston is Sharon Spiegel-Wagner’s favorite artist of all time. Sharon is also born in August. Happy Birthday great man, long live antakalipa, live long!

Sam and Stew have watched this four times and they don’t rule out a fifth. Best birthday ever, I can’t conceive of anything better. I never saw Whitney, however she taught me the greatest love of all. I have made up my mind, Belinda Davids is my favorite performer of all time. Belinda Davids is Whitney Houston maybe even better, sacrilegious, I know, I don’t know what to say after watching something like that. She is truly amazing!

After the show, I followed Belinda on all her socials because I want her to stay with me forever. So in love with Belinda Davids, that voice, the technique. She is so beautiful. She is perfect. I’ve never experienced anything like that, couldn’t stop singing and clapping. The audience didn’t want the show to stop, Belinda escaped. The greatest tribute show of all time, Showtime Australia the culprits.

It was an absolutely great show, some might say the greatest tribute show of all time. Yes, she sings Whitney songs but that’s Belinda Davids! Maybe even better, sacrilegious, but she’s transcended. Belinda Davids is so amazing. Perfection. She sings for the love and not because of fame or a fleeting experience. She is simply technical excellence.

Full house, the audience enthused and excited. Some of the songs performed are: Saving all my love for you, Greatest love of all, I have nothing, I will always love you, One moment in time, My love is your love, I am every woman, So emotional, I wanna dance with somebody and other timeless classics.

This has been the best birthday of my life. Thank you to God for the 30 years. SamSays on the credits. Whitney Houston is Sharon Spiegel-Wagner’s favorite artist of all time. Sharon is also born in August.

Congratulations Showtime Australia and the whole team for a great show and a deserved standing ovation.

📷: SamSays

Father and I

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Father and I

Day 2 at the Market Theatre to watch this poignant and emotionally charged play “Father and I”. A play that delves into interpersonal relationships between fathers and their offspring. It explores what it means to be a father. To have someone teach you the intracies of life, someone who inspires you and hones skills in you so you can live life with purpose and deliberately. To instill good values, to be dependable, honest and trustworthy. Care and support your family. Someone to teach you stick-fighting and being an honorable man. The stories are told in the first person, making them subjective and personal. The stories evoke nostalgia and have the performers reminiscing about simpler times. Tata taking us to Spur every month and buying me ice-cream after school. He used to be a good guy when he was younger but now we are estranged, yes, he has children all over but still. We see one of the performers regress to a childlike state recounting and reliving her memories swinging on a swing. One of the performers recounts his father’s encouragement after he had a bad night at one of his show. He is distraught and inconsolable believing his dreams are over, he even cries on stage, lines are blurred, it doesn’t feel like he is acting, it’s too real. Nido baby formula, sunlight bar and R10 is a heavy fixture in the show, something the father’s did for a while, then gone boys.

‘Father & I’ uses personal stories, dance, song and music to explore the relationships between South African fathers and their children. As an interdisciplinary work, it combines song, dance, music and personal testimony to create a theatrical experience aimed at acknowledging the complexity and beauty of fatherly relationships, with all its imperfections.

Great show, meaningful, executed with care and attention. The performers inhabit the stories they tell, they have personality and charisma. They have hopes and dreams. They have an understanding for life.

Sunnyboy Motau provides the choreography
Music by Bongile Lecoge–Zulu and Matthew MacFarlane.

The actors/performers
Lesego Dihemo
Sbusiso Gumede
Wesley Hlongwane
Afrikamabiyase Ziqubu
Lucracia Magoro
Lumka Dumezweni
Thabang Chauke
Sindisiwe Mjali
Xhamla Samsam
Wenziweyinkosi Myeni

Congratulations Greg Homann and the whole team for a great show and a deserved standing ovation.

La Bella

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La Bella

Day 1 of my birthday weekend at The Cirk to watch “La Bella – I am a woman”. Big weekend, you have to start strong!

I can’t imagine anything better than The Cirk to kick-start the festivities. It didn’t disappoint. All female cast, so many beautiful, literally perfect ladies on the stage. God’s glory, perfect bodies, beauty incomprehensible. The show beams sexuality. It is sultry, passionate and sexy – to reference Beyonce, oh so bootylicious. Costumes: underwear, lingerie and poles to dance for you.

The female form is a thing of beauty, it is art. When it stretches and bends like elastic, it is awe-inspiring. It stimulates your imagination, it’s suggestive, it makes you day-dream with your eyes wide awake. It’s so difficult to keep your eyes off the ladies on the stage, they are captivating and embody the spirit of femininity. Nothing exists besides them, beauty and talent like that doesn’t negotiate. They are liberated and embrace their sexuality. There’s singing, dancing and a violinist who is absolutely mezmarrizing. Silks, splits, cages that hover in the air and aerialists doing the impossible are a given. They spin in the air like tops, stretch and hang by their legs in the air in a manner that makes your heart drop. Done with a smile to indicate it’s all in a days work. Typical Cirk at their typical best.

I usually have reservations about calling August ladies month because I was born in August and I am a serious man, but after a show like that, sure you can have it. I have no problem with you ladies, it’s your month. I took a picture with the all female cast after the show and you can see the happiness on my face. I’ve never been that happy, ever!

Congratulations to The Cirk for a great show and a deserved standing ovation.

Spring Awakening

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smart

Spring Awakening

Best show ever! Honestly, it’s better than great. It is amazing story-telling. Everything tells a story, from the lights, to the sound and the effects. You don’t even have time to be bored, your mind doesn’t wander, you just hooked from the first moment the actors get on stage. Masterful story-telling, the details, the tone, everything was deliberate and meant to contribute or convey something to the story, it’s content on another level, an example of world-class theatre. It’s Sylvaine Strike, she’s the common denominator, she’s the one with the magic wand, the conductor, I got the same feeling after watching “The Promise”, the feeling of this is the greatest day of my life. Wow! That was a great show! I enjoyed every moment. Ah, It’s beautiful to be young even in Germany, I didn’t think you could do that on the stage, clears throat – Coitus, it was certainly saucy, that moment certainly got my full attention. Thoroughly satisfied, happy there was an interval for a little breather, happy with the overall length of the show, happy with everything, I am in love with theatre. The show is captivating, your eyes are locked to the stage, everything disappears, you get immersed in the story, it’s an experience. She’s the best director in the world. The actors on the stage were amazing, so talented, so in love with their craft. The singing was amazing and the cheography perfect. Everything was perfect. Again, the lighting and sound effects! Everything was on cue. The hours and practice it must have took to create that! They worked hard. It’s amazing, they created magic on the stage with a minimal set. The actors made use of the stage to perfection. It’s Sylvaine Strike, she’s the common denominator, she makes great art, a master storyteller, a theatre world champion, the greatest of all time. A deserved standing ovation and congratulations on the whole team for creating a masterpiece. Thank you Sam for yet another great pass ♥️. SamSays on the credits.

STAR LINE

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STAR LINE

Chance the Rapper is back! Thank you for coming back to us Lil Chano. Sometimes you lose your best just so you can come back even stronger. A heck of a redemption arc, you were phenomenal since #10 Day, Acid Rap, Surf and Coloring Book but then the big day came and you flopped spectacularly. Awful album, “I love my wife, I love my wife”, you became corny, you became a meme. The big day became ironic and somehow spoiled your previous work. You spiraled out of control and your wife divorced you. You receded into the darkness, you were never heard off again. A lot of fans were disappointed in the big day but I never lost faith, you still won 3 Grammy’s independent, talent like that doesn’t just fall into obscurity. So what she left? Move forward, life goes on, some of us have been here since #10 Day.

Having Chance the Rapper at 30 is such a blessing. No one in the mainstream raps anymore, he was never mainstream, he fills the gap. Whitney Houston just came into my life and taught me the greatest love of all. Sometimes you lose your best just so you can come back even stronger.

Words and poetry are the foundation, they are everything; structure, cadence, rhymes, metaphors, similies, puns and punchlines. The beats, melodies, choir and general production serve as supporting cast members. They enhance and make better the poetry. The album is cohesive and structured, undoubtedly Chance at his best. Still unattached, unsigned and the “3” on his head. STAR LINE, when the hero comes back after adversity to redeem himself. No controversy, shock value, disrespect and tasteless clout – just words and beautiful poetry. Some of the contributors are Joey Badass, Jay Electronica and Lil Wayne. My favorite song is “High and the Lows”. It was released in 2022. I loved it back then too. That’s when I believed in Chance’s redemption arc. When I saw the tracklist, I was elated. Fantastic visuals, art, boats, words, poetry, infectious beat, spellbinding hook, the “3” on Chance’s head and Joey Badass. STAR LINE, Thank you for coming back to us Lil Chano. Sometimes you lose your best just so you can come back even stronger.

curb your enthusiasm

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Curb Your Enthusiasm

Best show ever! I swear I laughed in every episode, the only show that has ever had that effect on me. Seinfeld was great, I am a fan but I didn’t trust Larry David after the finale. The audience deserved more especially after investing so much in the show and the characters, 9 years is a long time. I didn’t want to see the gang go to jail. It left me with a negative cognitive effect. It looked like Curb was heading in the same direction but it was a mistrial and Larry walked. Oh, Thank God! They really should have ended Seinfeld like that! The last scene is beautiful as we see all the friends together in the plane heading home after the trial doing what they always do – bickering. Much better, great finale Larry. Curb Your Enthusiasm the greatest sitcom of all time. Shout-out Ted Danson, a favorite of mine and JB Smoove is funny as hell. Great cast, great fictionalized characters, funny is an understatement. Larry David is a genius. I am happy with the finale, I am happy with the whole show. I doubt it will ever be surpassed.

I choose antakalipa

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I choose antakalipa

I know aligning and associating with me is difficult. I represent everything repressed and unconscious. I am vulgar, explicit and at times offensive. My words have a lot of salt and can cut deep. It’s my sense of humor, it’s all wrong and I put bad guys on a pedestal. I understand why the industry recoils, I understand why anybody would  recoil. I challenge and dare you to look! I represent humanity’s darkside and repressions. Let’s be real, if I had a prominent seat I’d probably get cancelled. Oh yes, I am the cancelled type. Regardless, it’s my perspective and these are the stories I want to tell. I don’t want to be cool, I don’t want to be anyone’s role model, I just want to be. For me being the consciousness of culture entails telling stories in my own voice even if it makes people uncomfortable, angry or otherwise. So I am at a crossroads, try to appease the industry and hope they will accept me despite the fact that I am a long shot or carry on being the controversial, undesirable “antakalipa”. I really like “antakalipa”. I am going to choose “antakalipa” – consciously. It’s okay, the industry can turn their backs on me, I understand. Maybe I won’t be rich, maybe I won’t collaborate with industry greats, maybe I won’t get the resources, maybe I will be shunned, maybe I won’t amount to much, but I will tell my stories, I will share my perspective. I choose me and my controversial take. I choose antakalipa. I am already a long shot, I am already an underdog, I came this far, I have to carry on, I bet on myself despite everything, even if it prolongs the journey, even if I don’t succeed, I choose antakalipa. Love me or leave me alone, I am not changing for anybody. Don’t do me any favors, you can leave if you want to. I choose antakalipa.

My favorite Broadway

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Jonathan Roxmouth

At the Teatro for the Jonathan Roxmouth My favorite Broadway show. Seats so good, you stay seated when someone ahead of you is on their feet. Literally eyeball-to-eyeball with Jonathan and you can see the Maestro’s shoes. Thank you Belinda Howard and as always SamSays on the credits.

Charisma, presence, composure, calm, warmth are adjectives to describe Roxmouth. He keeps you engaged, he is captivating and the delivery masterful. Last time I was at the Teatro, I was watching “Swinging Las Vegas” – high octane show with hits galore! Came back for the Maestro and Jonathan Roxmouth for new memories. It’s ridiculous how good Jonathan is, he commands the stage, has comedic timing and spellbinding on the mic. Songs about love and a couple of ABBA classics – thank you for the music! He sings with passion, love and attention for his craft. You are at his mercy, the world stops for him. His voice melts on the pan like butter. It is soothing like a lullaby and keeps you awake like Redbull – energizing, you can listen to him the whole day. You get lost in his voice, he has the capability of making you daydream but you are lucid so you applaud after the song.

Roxmouth is joined by Maestro Adam Howard and the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra who are too great to encapsulate with words. I need to update my music vocabulary and acclimatize myself to the jargon, then maybe I’ll have a better chance of expressing myself. Then again, you play music, it was never meant to be serious. The stage has the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra concentrated in the middle and they spread to the sides. Behind the Orchestra are screens, one in the middle and one on either side. The screens provide a backdrop and themes of the songs performed. Jonathan Roxmouth changes costumes three times, different colored suits with sequins. The part where he tap-dances with the other Jonathan’s on the screen is awesome, humorous, I enjoyed that there was female representation, perfect choreography and completely in sync. Maestro Adam Howard expertly leads procedures. He is in charge, present, perfect, there is no show without him. I am with Momo, he has Maestro Adam Howard by his side, but I do recognize Kabza’s greatness.

Great show, a privilege to behold Roxmouth’s mastery on the stage. Chicago is up next!

Congratulations Jonathan Roxmouth and the whole team for a great show and a deserved standing ovation.

📷: Crowther Fourie

📷: Elena Samuels

Expelled II

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Expelled II

Charmaine Weir-Smith stopped being my friend on Instagram. Goddammit! My life was perfect just a week ago and I had to involve Mia Khalifa! A woman who was disowned by her parents and her home country of Lebanon for her despicable acts in pornography. I should have never posted those videos, I think it’s the “XXX” video that did it, could have been the “Strap-on”, it’s far too explicit, but it’s just words and it’s meant to be humorous. Sigh. But I understand, I deserve the expulsion, it’s warranted, the shock value is too high and it’s far too dirty. It’s ironic how I elevated myself above the boy in her play who got expelled for simulating rape in a video that went viral. I sat in my seat while watching the stage and called him an idiot. I even celebrated while his life was crumbling as he lost his beautiful girlfriend. I didn’t empathize with him, I felt what was happening to him was justified. Funny how life works because now I am that idiot son on the stage. That’s how you know the story on the stage was a good one because it mirrors life. Social media is the Devils playground.

Goddammit Mia Khalifa! My life was perfect just a week ago, I had my favorite actress following me on Instagram and now I am expelled like the idiot son in her play! Oh well, life goes on for the “Consciousness of culture”. These are the stories I want to tell. “Expelled” was a classic. Charmaine could never totally expel me because we are forever linked but sure, I’ll give her her space. I still love her and her work. This is the sequel to “Expelled” and I play the idiot son!

Superstar 🌟

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Superstar 🌟

A million views but you had to get naked in front of a camera.
Prostitution,
the world’s oldest profession.

How much for your soul?

Attention in the 21st century is the hottest commodity.
Eyeballs validate and give you an evaluation.

A million views – WOW!
You are a superstar!

Prostitution,
still the world’s oldest and most lucrative profession.
Now everybody is doing it.