G-MAG ARCHIVE*
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“These Are the Musical Stylings Of…”: In conversation with the Lerato Orchestral Collective* 1 Dec 2025 · Lerato Botha The moment you sit down with members of the Lerato Orchestral Collective*, you understand that their music is only one expression of a much bigger, living organism. Their chemistry is immediate—equal parts chaotic, tender, and creatively charged—and the way they speak over and through one another mirrors the layered, evolving sound of Lerato La Rona. What began as Lesedi’s impulsive Instagram call for bandmates quickly transformed into a space where each person’s individuality sharpened the others’, where disagreements mattered as much as breakthroughs, and where simply showing up—whether with a guitar, a drum kit, or a DSLR—became an act of devotion to a shared vision. In conversation, they are disarmingly open and disarmingly human, weaving between politics, humanity, craft, community and love, revealing a collective bound not just by music, but by a genuine commitment to growing together. Read more → -
A secert third thing: exploring the haunting and the haunted of johannesburg 19 Jun 2025 · Kiara Braum A CITY OF HAUNTED FACES, A PLACE TO WORK, TO LIVE, TO HUSTLE, TO PRAY, TO HOPE AND HOPE AND HOPE. JOHANNESBURG WILL KEEP YOU AROUND AS LONG AS YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO IT. BEWARE: IF YOU GROW TIRED, IT MAY JUST CHEW YOU UP AND SPIT YOU OUT. JOBURG IS LIKE THAT. OR PERHAPS, IT WILL CRADLE YOU UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR FOOTING, IT WILL SHOW YOU THE PEOPLE WHO YOU WILL ONE DAY CLING TO AS THE CITY RAGES AROUND YOU. JOHANNESBURG WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE WITH IT’S CONSTANT RENEWAL OF ENERGY, PEOPLE, OPPORTUNITIES AND LOVE. JOBURG IS LIKE THAT. WHICH JOBURG, DEAR READER, DO YOU KNOW? WHICH JOBURG SHOWS ITSELF TO YOU? WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS GREAT TEMPERAMENTAL CHILD OF A CITY? THE EXHIBITION “A SECRET THIRD THING” CURATED BY AZA MBOVANE, MBAKO MOEMISE, MOSA NALELI, ZOLEKA MOTLHASEDI AND DENZO NYATHI WAS ANOTHER NOBLE ATTEMPT AT UNDERSTANDING THIS PLACE SO MANY OF US CALL HOME. Read more → -
Why are South Africans not watching South African movies? 9 Feb 2023 · Mandla Mhlambi It cannot be denied that South Africa has brought forth several amazing films and productions. From Tsotsi to Jerusalema, South African films have shook the big screen and have been engraved in our minds. With that being said, why is it that we are not watching South African films and movies anymore? Read more → -
Nollywood: An Unexpected Cultural Phenomenon 8 Feb 2023 · Lerato Botha Whether we have paid conscious attention to it or not, Nollywood cinema and its influence on popular culture in the current digital age has been a long-in-the-works phenomenon, which has only very recently received its global due diligence. Read more → -
Mitchell Messina’s Orderly Chaos 8 Feb 2023 · Michael Jarrold Mitchell Gilbert Messina, an experimental South African artist, has an intuition for blending satisfactory design with intentional artistry. He recently added co-founder of the artist-run Under Projects gallery space to his list of constantly growing roles. Read more → -
Home Studios : The Bedroom Revolution 7 Feb 2023 · Tiya Mthombeni Not so long ago, attaining genuine artistry as a musician was a privilege reserved for nepo-babies, industry giants or those talented enough to be chosen and sponsored by capital corporations – today, music is an art form that is currently being revolutionized and we owe a large part of that ubiquity to the bedroom studio. Read more → -
We have never been closer: The Importance of Film Festivals in South Africa 7 Feb 2023 · Nthatile Mavuso Once a month, Marvel fans and Twilight fans gather on Twitter to reiterate the impact of watching the Avengers assemble against Thanos and the Cullens face off against the Volturi respectively, live in the theatre. Although the age of streaming has long taken over, we are still a generation that craves to make a connection with what they consume beyond watching. Read more → -
Raves, Cyberspace, Sex Tapes and "The Good Old Days": A Retrospective on Y2K & McBling. 6 Feb 2023 · Ntokozo Mdaki At 7:32 pm on the 25th of December 1991, the revolutionary red flag of the Soviet Union was lowered from atop the Council of Ministers building in the Kremlin. At 7:45 it was replaced by the Russian tricolor flag above the illuminated dome, as chimes from the Spassky Tower clock rang to mark the momentous occasion. Read more → -
To un-inside what is uniquely yours: A deep dive into Lukhanyo Mdingi’s exhibition, The provenance, part 1 6 Feb 2023 · Phiwokuhle Mtana LUKHANYO MDINGI’S MOST RECENT CREATIVE ENDEAVOUR, THE PROVENANCE, PART 1 WAS AN EXHIBITION AT THE FOURTH CO-CURATED BY MORNE VIASGIE AND THE FOURTH, BASED ON THEIR AW22 COLLECTION: BURKINA. Read more → -
GUSHER MEETS*: SKYLARK 25 Nov 2022 · Peter Matlowa AN INTERVIEW WITH ARTIST SSSKYLARKKK, ABOUT HIS LATEST RELEASE SKYPARK. ACCOMPANIED BY SOME SMALL TOWN CHITCHAT Read more → -
I Thought We Said #ACAB: The Purpose of Policing 20 Oct 2022 · Ntokozo Mdaki In 2000, a Special Assignment program was aired that exposed the vicious dog training techniques used by the North East Rand dog unit.In the program we are shown a video captured by the officers themselves, one that the dog unit took so much pride in that they would screen the footage for their fellow policemen and friends at a braai. The footage itself is from 1998 and portrays 6 policemen who wanted to train 2 young police dogs to be vicious and aggressive. 2 older dogs were to be used to teach the new dogs how to attack and bring down a human target. Those human targets were 3 immigrants that had been picked up, without any charges, for the sole purpose of this dog training Read more → -
Postmodernism: The interpretation of culture to give meaning to reality 20 Oct 2022 · Mandla Mhlambi Hyperreality refers to the condition of being unable to distinguish and differentiate between reality and simulations thereof. This is exemplified more intensively by social media. At the genesis of the 21st century, hyperreality was perpetuated primarily by basic modern media. TVs, magazines and movies were the primary advocates of hyperreality. Unrealistic standards of existence were illustrated through these forms of media. In today’s atmosphere, the primary advocate of hyperreality is social media. It heavily blurs the lines separating reality and simulations portraying reality. 58,4% of the world’s population is active on social media. This implies that the advancement of hyperreality is perceived by over half of the world’s population. No wonder we hate ourselves so bad. Read more → -
Love Jones: A Pioneer In Cinematic Representations of the Black Experience 20 Oct 2022 · Lerato Botha Black cinema has historically been oversaturated with depictions of struggle and suffering, and although I can recognise the importance of such representations, I find portrayals of blackness wherein black people occupy typically white spaces, through depictions of the ordinary, to be a more powerful resistance to the restrictions of white cinema. Read more → -
LONELINESS IN THE BIG CITY: THE BRILLIANCE OF WONG KAR WAI FILMS 18 Oct 2022 · Nthatile Mavuso Wong Kar-wai is a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter and producer who is often lauded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time for his atmospheric and non-linear narrative films. But what separates his work from the rest of the artsy films that have beautiful images of sunsets but lackluster stories? The pure and raw emotion. Read more → -
The Age of Digital Peeping Toms. 18 Oct 2022 · Bryony McDonough THE ACT OF WATCHING OTHERS ENGAGING IN SEXUAL OR NUDE ACTIVITY HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE DAWN OF FUCKING. Read more → -
CAN AI BE INTEGRATED INTO TRADITIONAL ARTISTIC MEDIUMS? 29 Sept 2022 · Michael Jarrold The recent developments around AI generated imagery/artwork has brought up a lot of discussion around how it can be integrated into the current artistic ecosystem and what that could mean for artists. Read more → -
DRONE GRAFFITII HITS THE DIGITAL STREETS : THE META CANVAS BY KATSU 22 Sept 2022 · Musa Mnguni Katsu is a graffiti artist most know for his innovative tech-driven style within the digital space. The narrative around his work has evolved through out the past years, a lot of his artworks speak on consumerism, social action and commentary on the social space; internet. Read more → -
The tattooed mouths of Ainu women 20 Sept 2022 · Kiara Braum TATTOOS HAVE EXISTED ALMOST AS LONG AS THE HUMAN RACE, HAVING BECOME SO POPULARISED IN RECENT YEARS, IT IS EASY TO FORGET THE LONG AND OFTEN SPIRITUAL REASON BEHIND TATTOOING IN MANY CULTURES. Read more → -
The Line: between smoke and mirrors 20 Sept 2022 · Kiara Braum A city: 170km long, 200 metres wide, completely encased in mirrors and built in the Saudi desert. Although it may seem like the description of a fictional post-apocalyptic city, the plan is real and the vision of His Royal Highness Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Read more → -
The African Film Industry Is Not Dead 1 Sept 2022 · Lerato Botha OVER RECENT YEARS, FILMS IN AFRICA, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN FILM MARKET, HAVE BEEN DISCREDITED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR ATTEMPTS TO MIMIC TRIED AND TRUE HOLLYWOOD FILM TECHNIQUES, INSTEAD OF DEPICTING STORIES UNIQUE TO THE AFRICAN LANDSCAPE. I HAVE, HOWEVER, RECENTLY COME TO UNCOVER A GOLDMINE OF INDEPENDENT AND CINEMATICALLY IMPRESSIVE, UNIQUE AFRICAN FILMS IN A SPACE THAT I WOULD HAVE LEAST EXPECTED TO. Read more → -
DREAMING AS A CREATIVE FOUNDATION 30 Aug 2022 · Michael Jarrold In the 21st Century, the majority of the creative projects being released are generated by looking at pre-existing work and previous ideologies. I think that the process of finding original ideas by simply looking inwards is a concept that could be explored further. Read more → -
Is attraction the only true sexual orientation? 25 Aug 2022 · Mandla Mhlambi GENDERFLUIDITY HAS BECOME A CHARACTERISTIC ASPECT OF SEXUALITY AS WE KNOW IT. RETROSPECTIVE VIEWS AND PRINCIPLES ON GENDER ROLES AND SEXUALITY ARE SLOWLY PHASING OUT. “BOYS DON’T CRY” AND “GIRLS LIKE PRINCESSES” ARE STATEMENTS THAT CAN GARNER A LOT OF BACKLASH TODAY. Read more → -
The death of slapstick comedy 23 Aug 2022 · Lerato Botha The Slapstick comedy genre arose alongside the growing silent-film industry of early Hollywood, with Chaplin-esque films garnering great popularity. Yet, despite the genre continuing to be reproduced over the decades, its relevance and reach have slowly fizzled out. Read more → -
An examination into the subvertant nature of social media on trauma and abrasion 18 Aug 2022 · Mandla Mhlambi Social media is a haven of the 21 st century. It has made the world a smaller and more connected place. Read more → -
Gen-z vs. Accusations of narcissism: Is our generation self-obsessed or in fact, passionately empathetic? 16 Aug 2022 · Lerato Botha For generation to generation, a peculiar period during which the preceding generation dissects and often ridicules the choices and ideals of the succeeding generation, and vice versa, has come to be expected. Read more → -
EVOLUTION OF PUNK : WHAT BIENG BLACK AND PUNK MEANS IN THE 21ST CENTURY 20 May 2022 · Musa Mnguni Before hip hop, punk was the most popular genre of music among young people of certain demographics. At the time, common black folk never really had the chance to explore their interests to really form a huge presence on the imagery in punk, they had much bigger and pressing matters to care and not care about. Read more → -
Profit over Passion: Hollywood’s Lazy Obsession With Film And Series Reboots 10 May 2022 · Lerato Botha BY-LINE: HOLLYWOOD’S TROUBLING OBSESSION WITH REMAKING BELOVED FILMS AND SERIES IN OFTEN LESS-THAN-IMPRESSIVE WAYS BRINGS TO QUESTION THE TRUE INTENTIONS OF MAJOR FILM PRODUCTION COMPANIES WHO TREAD THE LINE BETWEEN PRODUCING BASED ON ARTISTIC INTEGRITY, OR FOR A QUICK PAYDAY. Read more → -
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO BRUTILISM. 27 Apr 2022 · Lunathi Kondlo disclaimer: i know nothing about architecture, just another thing i’m into. Read more → -
The beautiful missing perspective: Venus figurines and female self-representation 26 Apr 2022 · Kiara Braum How do you see yourself? What do you look like? Can you represent yourself? The Venus figurines are small figures made from stone, ivory, bone or clay. They all portray round women with heavy breasts and full thighs and bellies. Most come from the Grattavian period, that's about 25,000 years ago. They are considered by most historians as some of the first prehistoric art. Read more → -
Souls of Mischief: Hip Hop’s Most Underappreciated Rap Group 25 Apr 2022 · Lerato Botha THE SOULS OF MISCHIEF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR INSTRUMENTALS COMING OUT OF THE LATE-20TH CENTURY INTO THE 21ST-CENTURY, YET THE GROUP GOES LARGELY UNNOTICED IN THE GREATER SCHEME OF 90S HIP HOP TODAY. Read more → -
“Everything you see, I owe to Spaghetti!” 21 Apr 2022 · Kiara Braum Picture this: you’re hungry, You’ve been busy all day and haven’t had the chance to eat. as you finally step foot into your house after all your stress, there’s a hot, freshly made bowl of spaghetti waiting for you. When one is hungry like that and presented with food, there is a brief moment of such profound, primal relief. Satisfaction, nutrition and pleasure! All because of a delicious bowl of pasta presented at just the right time. Read more → -
Reddit: The App That Encompasses Everything Right...And Wrong With Social Media 20 Apr 2022 · Lerato Botha Social Media has never had a more potent presence in people’s everyday lives as it does in our current age. Read more → -
Aesthetic identity in ever-changing creative scenes. 19 Apr 2022 · Mandla Mhlambi Anyone who cares or at least follows any school of art, whether be it music, visual arts, carpentry, sculpting and etc has noticed an aesthetic identity for particular artists. Some artists take it even further and make eras of specific aesthetics. Read more → -
THE DEATH OF VJS ; It’s Coming 18 Apr 2022 · Musa Mnguni The general practice of playing music videos on television, termed as vjing, might just be coming to an end. Read more → -
Michael Alig: The ‘Club Kid’ Ringleader Turned Killer 14 Apr 2022 · Lerato Botha MUCH OF OUR CURRENT DAY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE 1980S CAN BE SUMMED UP IN OUR MODERN AFFINITY FOR NOSTALGIA. Read more → -
nigerian born, uk based artist, olaoluslawn’s underground Fight club. 13 Apr 2022 · Adedayo Adewole At first glance whatever's going on here doesn't seem to be organized in any sense but this was only the beginning of recurring Battle Royals for the prize of an art piece by the orchestrator himself. Read more → -
VIRGIL’S digital treasure PIECE : OFFKAT (GAME) 12 Apr 2022 · Musa Mnguni OFFKAT, THE OFF-WHITE COLLECTION IS ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC COLLABORATIVE FASHION PROJECTS TO TAKE PLACE IN 2021, DIRECTED BY VIRGIL ABLOH & KATSU. Read more → -
Duval Timothy: Carrying Colour 11 Apr 2022 · Lunathi Kondlo Every Duval Timothy record feels like it has a very specific palette to it. like the room and the clothes worn shared a tone. somehow the colours are translated into sound. all the album covers match the sounds. Read more → -
IF LIFE WAS A VIDEOGAME, FAMOUS PEOPLE WOULD BE PLAYER 1'S AND THE REST OF US, JUST NON-PLAYABLE CHARACTERS. 7 Apr 2022 · Musa Mnguni Thing is, if you're famous, you're more likely to make money—that's just the fact of the matter. but now for the modern times we're living in, this reality starts to stretch and there's this exclusive batch of jobs that you can't really get unless you're famous. Read more → -
Why is character development is worth writing about? 6 Apr 2022 · Mandla Mhlambi Countering The Argument That The Quality Of Music Has Deteriorated In The Modern Era Read more → -
Are we the Last Men? : a brief look into the predictions of Fredrich Nietzsche. 5 Apr 2022 · Kiara Braum THE SUPERMAN IS THE ULTIMATE PERSON, SOMEONE WHO HAS TRANSCENDED THE PREJUDICES AND RESTRICTIONS OF THEIR SOCIETY AND CREATED THEIR OWN VALUES AND BELIEFS. THEY ARE CREATIVE, DISCONTENT, FLEXIBLE, SELF-CONFIDENT, CHEERFUL AND COURAGEOUS. THEY DEFY NIHILISM BY FINDING MEANING AND PURPOSE ON EARTH Read more → -
Provocative Music Is Nothing New 4 Apr 2022 · Lerato Botha Countering The Argument That The Quality Of Music Has Deteriorated In The Modern Era Read more → -
GUSHER MEETS: PHENYO WAZE 1 Apr 2022 · GUSHER THIS MONTH GUSHER MEETS* PHENYO WAZE, A YOUNG CREATIVE WHO HAS QUITE A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO. TWO MUSICAL PROJECTS, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A SHORT-FILM NAMED CHILDHOOD’S END (DIRECTED BY SCOTT PATON-LEVIN & CHAEL DAE) AND RECENTLY FOUNDED A JOHANNESBURG BASED BRAND NAMED “SUGARWOOD”. PHENYO’S CLEARLY SOMEOME WITH HIS EYE BEYOND THE SKY.TO CHECK OUT PHENYO WAZE’S WORK, CLICK HERE. Read more → -
Apartheid Underground Nightclubs: A Spot For Inclusivity Amid A Period Of Racial Inequality 25 Mar 2022 · Lerato Botha Many should know by now that the reign of the Apartheid regime from 1948-1994 saw one of the most concerning practices of racial injustice and infringements on basic human rights to date, with the anti-Apartheid movement even having garned worldwide support in its time. Read more → -
Maman: the mother of all spiders 25 Mar 2022 · Kiara Braum Maman is the name given to the 30ft high, marble, bronze and stainless steel sculpture of a spider. Read more → -
Story.mfg : All things sustainability with UK based Brand 25 Mar 2022 · Peter Matlowa STORY.MFG IS AN UK,EAST LONDON BASED ETHICAL BRAND WITH AN INTENSE FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY AND A SLOWER PRODUCT DESIGN PROCESS, SPEARHEADED BY HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO; KATY AND SAEED AL-RUBEYI. Read more → -
Zamrock! The Zambian Rock Revolution. 25 Mar 2022 · Mandla Mhlambi ZAMROCK IS A ZAMBIAN GENRE OF MUSIC THAT INCORPORATES TRADITIONAL AFRICAN MUSIC WITH PSYCHEDELIC ROCK, HARD ROCK, BLUES AND FOLK MUSIC. Read more → -
Existential nuggets amid the chaos of yesterday and tomorrow. 25 Mar 2022 · Lesedi-Atang Litheko To say that existence is something that is quite difficult to get through is an understatement while still being relative to how life goes for the individual that is experiencing it at that specific period in time. Read more → -
LIQUID SILK STOCKINGS! GIVES BARE LEGS THE ELEGANCE OF SHEEN SILK. (SUFFICIENT FOR 24 APPLICATIONS) 25 Mar 2022 · Selihamashango Kutame LEGLINER? THE SUPPRESSED SUPPLY OF NYLON STOCKINGS (BECAUSE, WAR) LEAD TO WOMEN MIMICKING STOCKINGS BY DRAWING THEM ONTO THEIR LEGS WITH… EYELINER. Read more → -
Huge influx of information and the direct influence it has in our lives on and offline, can we keep up? 25 Mar 2022 · Musa Mnguni Ever heard the saying " We live in an era of information " , probably...but what does this statement really entail , hasn't information been around for centuries and centuries? Read more → -
HOW IN THE WORLD DID CROCS MAKE IT INTO MAINSTREAM FASHION? 25 Mar 2022 · Lunathi Kondlo RANDOM DISCLAIMER: I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT FASHION. Read more → -
GUSHER MEETS: JARRY PITBOI 25 Mar 2022 · GUSHER CAPE TOWN NATIVE JARRY PITBOI IS NO NEW FACE TO THE GUSHER COMMUNITY, COMMING INTO THE MIX IN THE EARLIER STAGES HE BECAME A FAMILIAR NAME ON THE G STREETS WITH HIS CONSISTENT DROPS AND UNIQUE DELIVERY. FIRST POPPING UP DURING THE GUSHER FRIDAYS (A MONTH WHERE WE RELEASED A BUNCH OF MUSIC BY EMERGING ARTISTS EVERY FRIDAY) JARRY’S DON’T TALK QUICKLY BECAME A FAVOURITE AMONGST THE COMMUNITY. SINCE THEN HE HAS PUT OUT AN ARRAY OF SINGLES, EPS AND COLLABRATIVE PROJECTS. IT ONLY FELT APPROPRIATE TO START OFF GUSHER MEETS WITH ONE OF OUR OLDEST FRIENDS. MEET JARRY PITBOI. Read more →