Curse of the Coal Train

February 8th, 2010 by Andy Davis
Mahala > Art, Culture, Music

Curse of the Coal Train

“The coal train is a motherfucker,” says Hugh Masekela in Songs of Migration, in his build up to performing the classic song “Stimela”.
“There are no happy songs about trains in Africa.” The train is a symbol of dislocation, forced removals, the leaving of loved ones, insecurity and upheaval. And then he begins to blow that flugelhorn read more…



Storming the Bandwagon

February 8th, 2010 by Oom Onderbaadjie
Mahala > Culture, Music

Storming the Bandwagon

It had to happen. On the back of Fokofpolisiekar’s assault on South African pop culture and the subsequent explosion of the Belville rock scene and pop Afrikaans music in general, it was only a matter of time before someone came up with an aKing parody band. Mahala sent our most interesting correspondent, Oom Onderbaadjie, to get the scoop. read more…



Decapitate a Hater

February 6th, 2010 by Petra Mason
Mahala > Culture, Music

Decapitate a Hater

In the 4th world, the web, the mysterious domain of the viral misdaad, South African rave rock rappers Ninja, Yo-Landi, Leon Botha + DJ Hi-Tek of Die Antwoord are not just hot sluts of the week, they have made South African pop culture history. read more…



Fear of a Vanilla City

February 5th, 2010 by Gustav Preller
Mahala > Culture, Leisure
Don't fear, it's just gentrification

Don't fear, it's just gentrification

Eastwards: “Luxury cars and toilet paper for everyone.”
It was a December night and I was in a Volksküche – a sort of wannabe soup kitchen for cultivated ascetics – off the Frankfurter Allee in Friedrichshain. I was there on ratty sofas with two girls who worked for the department of economic development and collaboration – a government department that gives German tax money to third world countries read more…



Sick City

February 5th, 2010 by Sean O'Toole
Mahala > Art

Sick City

Infecting the City is the rather charmless name for a public arts festival held in Cape Town each year. Last year’s event caused a bit of stir when the logo for the programme was unveiled – it featured an icon of Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave, the “burning man” from the 2008 xenophobic attacks. read more…



Get on your Bike

February 5th, 2010 by Sean O'Toole
Mahala > Culture, Sport

Get on your Bike

On the last Friday of every month, a bunch of luddites – we like to call ourselves cyclists – meet in Cape Town for an early morning cycle through town. Nothing special. Either you meet at the Baxter Theatre, where the ride originates, or pick up with the peloton at the Convention Centre. From there, well, I’ll get to that in a bit. read more…



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