Mzansi Life & Style showcases the best that South Africa has to offer in terms of entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, culture, cuisine, travel, beauty and celebrity news. Subscribe to my website by adding your email address in the "follow" button below.
In a first for South Africa, Western Cape radio station Heart FM will be adding a new personality to its line-up tomorrow, an entirely Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated radio presenter.
Jay I, is Cape Town’s first AI on-air personality and will be presenting the country’s first fully AI-generated radio show which include an AI-generated playlist, content and features. The show will broadcast in the early hours of Saturday morning the 8th of April 2023 between 01h00 and 04h00. His intellect, personality and opinions are entirely artificially generated.
Jay I is also capable of evolving according to listener preferences, feedback, and other inputs. His voice is a representation of several professional voices tuned to deliver a great voice for radio.
This week I attended the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S23 Series at Artistry in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. unveiled the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23, marking a new era of Galaxy’s ultimate premium phone experience. Samsung Galaxy’s most epic camera gives users more freedom to explore their creativity, like capturing truly cinematic Nightography videos with transformative artificial intelligence (AI). The Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy unleashes a future-ready mobile gaming experience and powerfully sustained game play, supported by exclusive chipset enhancements made possible by Samsung’s close collaboration with Qualcomm. Galaxy S23 series’ new standard-setting innovations are housed within a striking design that advances Samsung’s sustainability commitment with the more recycled materials of any Galaxy smartphone.
“The most impactful technology is measured, not just by what it enables for people today, but also how it contributes to a better future,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy S23 Ultra and the entire Galaxy S series line-up are the new standard-bearers of a trustworthy premium smartphone experience that merges industry-leading innovation and future-forward sustainability.”
Last week, I attended the official launch of the award-winning, next generation, experiential department store called We Are EGG at the Zone in Rosebank, with over 650 esteemed guests.
Boasting a long list of the whose who of the fashion and entertainment world in attendance, including TV royalty Candice Modiselle, Angel Sithole, Thandy Matlaila, Cedric Fourie, Jason Willemse and Sipho Eric Ndlovu, media personalities Kim Jayde, Taryn Louch and Luthando ‘Lootz’ Shosha, artists Leanne Dlamini and Gigi Lamayne and many more.
Also in attendance was former Miss SA Shudufhadzo Musida and newly crowned Mrs South Africa Palesa Matjekane. Award winners Yaya Mavunda and Tumi ‘Itumeleng ‘Powerhouse’ Mokwwatlo delivered the fashion. We are EGG brand partners Amanda Du Pont of Lelive and Roxy Burger of The Piercery also attended the official opening. Fashion designers Paledi Segapo, Hangwani Nengovhela, Sello Medupe and Craig Jacobs also showed up to support the opening.
Guests were welcomed by retail pioneers, We are EGG ownersPaul Simon and Arie Fabian who handled formalities, followed by a night of colourful fashion, live entertainment and an endless flow of Patron Paloma cocktails and cold servings of Heineken. The Jagermeister Brass Cartel were a huge highlight of the evening, while various DJs entertained the guests. Guests got a taste of what to expect from Mamasamba, We are EGG’s Restaurant set to open next month, with delicious plates.
Having officially opened last month, the store not only offers the ultimate curated shopping experience under one roof, but really is more of a lifestyle destination, with a coffee shop and soon-to-open restaurant. Featuring some of the freshest fashion brands for men, women and kids, this beautifully curated fashion hub includes over 150 carefully selected brands, 85% of which are South African owned, with a significant percentage being female owned.
The carefully curated, multi-faceted department store operates from Monday – Wednesday 9am-6pm, Thursday to Saturday 9am-7pm and Sunday 9am-5pm.
TCL, one of the dominant players in the global TV industry and a leading consumer electronics brand, launched its latest line of Google LED TVs in a glittering event held at the Galleria Sandton. Adding to an already impressive range of televisions, TCL unveiled the feature packed C835, C735, C635, P735 and P635 products, with the brand quickly making headway into the South African market.
Global Outlook
Globally, TCL is now the No.2 ranked LCD TV brand and holds the top positions in many key markets. It also ranks as the No.1 Android TV brand in the world and its smart TVs rank in the top five in more than 20 countries and regions by sales volume, growing by over 52% YoY in European and over 38% in emerging markets respectively. It is also the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked LCD TV Brand in the US and France respectively in terms of Sales Volume in 2021.
With the brand growing at rapid pace globally, TCL announced its worldwide partnership with the Brazil football team, revealing their four football brand ambassadors – English midfielder Phil Foden, rising superstar and Spanish international Pedri, Brazilian winger Rodrygo and famed French defender Raphaël Varane to symbolize and reflect their brand motto – Inspire Greatness.
Ecological sustainability, women’s empowerment, inter brand collaboration and proudly local production investment are some of the dynamic developments that markSA Fashion Week’s 25th Spring/Summer Collections.
The SAFW’22 Spring Summer Collections will be showcased from 28 – 30 April, Parkade G5, Entrance 24 at Mall of Africa in Johannesburg.
Twenty iconic names including Ephraim Molingoana for Ephymol, Amanda Laird Cherry and Palesa Mokubung of Mantsho as well as cult Kasi brand, Loxion Kulca, now designed by Olé Ledimo, will launch their 2022 collections to the media, buyers, selected VIPs and a limited edition of public tickets through Quicket, alongside exciting new stars including 2021 New Talent winner Artho Eksteen as well as Fikile Zamagcino Sokhulu and Sipho Mbuto who both participated in the Fashion Bridges collaboration with Milan Fashion Week last year.
Hosted by SA’s favourite social personality, Maps Maponyane, the 24th New Talent Search will again open the event with a line-up of six of the most promising young designers to watch. This year’s contenders are:
Other highlights of the first day is the CRUZ COLLECTIVE featuring Sokhulu and Mbuto as well as another new generation notable, Michael Ludwig Studio.
Day two opens with TheOPPO COLLECTIONS which brings Artho Eksteen, Ezokhetho, the gender-neutral signature, The BAM Collective, and the much revered, Amanda Laird Cherry, together in a celebration of technology and perfection that will speak to OPPO’s Reno 5 mobile phone as the quintessential tool with which to capture the ethos of contemporary living as “the new spectator sport” which happens where everyone, everywhere engages, interacts, captivates and comments.
“We are excited to go into our second year of partnership with SA Fashion Week. This is an important partnership for OPPO, as it gives us the space to connect with our customers and it shows our commitment to empowering local talent through our technology to curate a line of sustainably resourced fashion that represents both the heartbeat and heritage of our country. We are looking forward to our second collection and what our designers will come up with this year. For us, it is all about the creative collaboration that translates South African culture into design, which is the essence of what the OPPO brand represents both locally and globally.” says Avashnee Moodley, Head of Marketing at Oppo South Africa.
This is followed by the high-profile trio of Cape Town-based Helon Melon who wowed audiences in 2021 with her all-white, sustainable collection, fashion forward Judith Atelier, an ardent supporter of South African mohair and perennial fashion week darling, Palesa Mokubung of Mantsho.
Africarare, Africa’s first metaverse is set to unlock African creativity and connect Africa to the global digital economy. At an event in Johannesburg on 28 February 2022, plans were announced for commercialisation of the 3D virtual reality experience, that is set in Ubuntuland, a virtual world that marries creativity, cryptocurrency and commerce.
Firstly, virtual land will soon be available to purchase and develop with MTN, Africa’s largest multinational mobile telecommunications company, joining Africarare with an upcoming 12×12 village (144 plots of real estate) secured in Ubuntuland. Additionally, M&C Saatchi Abelhave entered the metaverse as the first South African advertising agency to do so. There will only ever be 204 642 plots of land available, made up of different village sizes in various community hubs. The land is positioned and priced according to a tiered value system.
Landholders will be able to customize their 3-D land spaces, such as hosting shops, producing resources, renting virtual services and developing games or other applications. Designated spaces will serve the community for work, play and wellness purposes, including state of the art meeting rooms, online therapy rooms (with optional anonymity), concert stages, film festival spaces, meditation lounges and other dynamic interactive environments. And, there’s more to come, such as staking, DAO (decentralized autonomous organization) and blockchain play-to-earn gaming.
A true artist doesn’t just create art: they breathe their passion into their work and give it a life of its own. Now, Halls is creating a place where artists can breathe for their craft.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people turned to the things that they cared about most for comfort in the face of uncertainty – passions like food, music and art. Now, in a world that’s slowly returning to normal, people are looking to brands with the question, “What are you passionate about?” Halls – South Africa’s #1 boiled candy – exists to help people breathe better so that they can focus on the things that really matter. That’s why Halls is founding The Breathing Space: a dedicated hub in the centre of Johannesburg where up-and-coming artists and designers can breathe for their craft and bring their flavour to life in the freshest ways, under the guidance and mentorship of Mzansi’s creative queen, Karabo Poppy.
Huawei’s newest nova series raises the smartphone experience with a bold design, advanced camera capabilities and productivity-boosting features. The Huawei nova series specifically targets the African youth by bringing them not one but two spectacular devices that are price conscious, stylish and socially on-par with what is out there right now. These two devices are the HUAWEI nova 8 and HUAWEI nova Y60.
“Gen-Z pride themselves on being the most digitally connected generation that keeps getting better and better. They prefer bite-sized video content and are not about to start compromising now; that’s why Huawei has tailored two smartphones just for them that meet their needs,” says Justin Sun, General Manager of Huawei Consumer Business Group South Africa.
Huawei also announced its collaboration with sneaker brand Bathu and another exciting Huawei Joburg Day with 947 collab, for their event in October. “African youth are all about fashion and music, so these two collaborations are important for the nova series; we are very excited about the future,” explains Sun. “Bathu is uniquely African, and speaks to Gen Zers who value fashion and style, while Huawei Joburg Day with 947 has been entertaining this country’s youth with the best local musical talent for many years now.”
“Bathu is synonymous with the colourful South African spirit and has evolved beyond our imagined vision: cutting across ages, professions and places to resonate with any and everyone who appreciates innovation. We are thrilled to collaborate with the formidable Huawei nova 8 and Huawei nova Y60 series that heed the call to giving our consumers the ultimate style experience, in order to expand our reach as a brand,” says Theo Baloyi, the Founder and CEO of Bathu Sneakers.
“947 is home to the best music, top artists and the biggest personalities. For the second time this year, Huawei Joburg Day returns. It’s just fitting that HUAWEI nova inspires the October edition of Huawei Joburg Day as the event becomes more engrained in youth and lifestyle culture through a fusion of fashion, design and music. This edition of Huawei Joburg Day forms part of 947’s popular Big September campaign, so listen to 947 over the next couple of weeks as we announce the exciting new artist line-up and big giveaways inspired by HUAWEI nova,” says Thando Makhunga, 947 Station Manager.
Introducing the HUAWEI nova 8
The HUAWEI nova 8 comes in a spectacular Blush Gold colour. It features a thin and light body that weighs only 169 g. From the back, the universe-inspired Nebular Camera System sits elegantly on the exquisite glass panel, giving the device a unique and highly recognisable look.
HUAWEI nova 8
The display on the HUAWEI nova 8 can render up to 1.07 billion colours, which allows the display to show smoother gradients and more realistic content in vivid colours. So, if you’re going to be spending hours on end watching Youtube videos, streaming video content or playing games, you’re guaranteed the best time because the quality will enhance your viewing pleasure even more.
Capture all the best angles
The HUAWEI nova 8 is equipped with a 64MP high resolution rear camera that lets you take vividly sharp photos. Using incredible 4-in-1 light fusion technology, it can capture more detail in crystal-clear quality whether during the day or at night. When taking photos at night, HUAWEI nova 8 Super Night Mode makes sure that you still capture your best angles ever. It makes your photos sharp, bright, and ready to share thanks to AI technology and the 120° Ultra-Wide Angle Camera. The Main Camera and Ultra-Wide Angle Camera on the back of the HUAWEI nova 8 work together to enable Dual-View Video. And, if you love selfies, the 32MP front camera snaps hi-res selfies which will make you the talk of the town among your social circles, because who doesn’t love a good selfie?
Super charge battery
The 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge support saves users the trouble of charging the device frequently, especially during games and movies. It can be charged to 60% in just 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. In the time it takes to have a quick shower and breakfast, users can have the phone fully charged and ready to go.
And here is the HUAWEI nova Y60
Super smart cameras
If you are passionate about taking stunning pictures and sharing them on social media, then the HUAWEI nova Y60 will impress you. The HUAWEI nova Y60 comes with a solid AI Triple Camera, allowing users to capture clearer photos of everyday moments with ease. The 13MP Main Camera has an f/1.8 large aperture.
HUAWEI nova Y60
Even at night or in low-light conditions, the built-in noise reduction processes make photos look bright and clear. The 120° Ultra-Wide Angle Camera allows users to include more people in a group photo, while the Depth Camera creates a blurred background effect to make the subject stand out. The 8MP front camera and built-in AI Beauty algorithm offers customised beautifying effects, making the HUAWEI nova Y60 a great selfie phone. With a 6.6″ HUAWEI FullView Display, the new nova series gives users an immersive multimedia experience. Covered with a simple yet trendy hood, the HUAWEI nova Y60 is available in two classic colourways – Crush Green and Midnight Black.
More social media time thanks to longer battery life
Equipped with a 5000mAh large battery and Huawei’s power-saving AI Algorithms, the HUAWEI nova Y60 lets users explore as much of what they love on their phone throughout the day. Coupled with Ultra Power Saving mode, the smartphone can last longer even when the battery level is low, which is a welcome relief, especially if you’re on the go and rely heavily on your device.
Woolworths is taking its quality in-store shopping experience online with the launch of two new, innovative digital beauty experiences. A first of its kind from a South African based beauty retailer, the introduction of Woolworths’ virtual beauty offerings will see the retailer deliver an unmatched online customer experience, that will not only connect customers virtually to the store, but also offer an exciting, unique and differentiated shopping experience.
COVID-19 has accelerated the growth in online shopping, as customers have shifted to doing their shopping from the comfort and safety of their homes. Through the introduction of these new interactive digital platforms, Woolworths now offers customers the engagement and personalised service they want from Woolies, anytime, anywhere.
The new digital beauty experiences, Virtual Try On and Virtual Consultations, are designed to help consumers reinvent their beauty shopping experience at home and gain more confidence before making a purchase. Virtual Try On gives customers the opportunity to try on hundreds of shades of lipsticks, eye shadows, and mascaras. The feature creates realistic applications of these products through augmented reality that can be tested on any skin tone and allows customers to assess textures, colours and looks.
Based on this initial rollout, Woolworths will then look to extend the Virtual Try On offering into its stores, providing interactive screens for customers to trial beauty products.
Tatum Keshwar – The face of the Gateway Fashion Preview and Concert
Timeless, understated and classic are definitive descriptors when it comes to Africa’s Greatest Horseracing Event – the Vodacom Durban July,established in 1897, and Durban’s most stylish pre-race day fashion event is taking place at the Gateway Theatre of Shoppingon the 30th of June. Gateway’s Vodacom Durban July Preview Fashion Show and Concert is the ultimate pre-race day fashion event – not to be missed.
Leading up to this event, an immersive installation – The Style Stable – can be found at Gateway (opposite Circus Circus). The Style Stable will be open to patrons from 15 – 30 June to promote Gateway Theatre of Shopping as the ultimate fashion destination in Kwazulu-Natal, especially when it comes to race day fashion. The Style Stable will encapsulate the essence of all things equestrian.
Mzansi Life & Style by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem 