Minnie Dlamini is still the sweet golden girl that South Africans adore, the only difference now is that she’s married and has not only a ring, but a docu-series to prove it. 

The 27-year old on-air personality, actress and model tied the knot to her long-time beau, Quinton Jones last month, in a lavish white wedding in Somerset West in the Western Cape - almost a month later, they ready to share their special moments with the rest of South Africa on #BecomingMrsJones. 

The three part docu-series which aired on Friday, October 13, on Vuzu Amp, takes viewers on a journey into Dlamini’s Paris bridal show, her traditional Zulu wedding and her perfect elegant white wedding which has since been dubbed the wedding of the year. 

Trevor Noah trades 'African mom' stories with Yvonne Orji

“Becoming Mrs Jones is a deeply personal, beautifully crafted and authentic documentary series where you will see my journey through my eyes and the eyes of my loved ones. We wanted to ensure you can be part of the celebration, ride the wave of emotions with us and for the first time, hear my story told by me – in my own words.”

The show came about when Dlamini and Jones saw the overwhelming public interest when news broke about her engagement to him. 

South Africans keenly followed the wedding festivities through photo-sharing sites – making the hashtag one of the top trending topics. One thing was clear – there was a yearning to see more. 

“There was so much love and well wishes and people wanting to know more about the engagement and wedding plans, so I wanted  to get the people what they wanted,” she said. 

The docu-series, made by Dlamini’s production company, is said to be a melting pot of tears, excitement, humour, every colour of emotion imaginable, and ultimately, the beautiful joining of two families as we follow Dlamini and Jones through the process of planning their wedding.

“I’m so proud of this series. From being the executive producer, to the high-quality resources we invested in the production and the incredibly talented creatives and crew we collaborated with. The result is this exquisite body of work that is an honest and visual representation of my heart during the most beautiful and intimate time of my life and I’m so thrilled to be able to share it with you,” said Dlamini.

#IdolsSA: Christo bows out, Paxton keeps slaying!

In the first episode, viewers will got the opportunity to get to know Dlamini through the eyes of those closest to her and it will include the process behind planning the wedding and preparations for the traditional and western ceremonies. 

The following episode will show Dlamini as she enjoys her lavish bachelorette party in Paris with her beautiful bridesmaids. 

Bisous 😘 #BacheloretteParty #InParis #BecomingMrsJones 💎🇫🇷🍾❤️

A post shared by Minnie (@minniedlamini) on Sep 7, 2017 at 4:05pm PDT

Viewers will also witness her dazzling traditional wedding, with a deeper look into how her Zulu culture celebrates marriage.

The final episode will feature the couple’s elegant western wedding set in the opulent backdrop of Somerset West 
in the Western Cape. 

This episode is the epitome of perfection and is the episode closest to Dlamini’s heart as she ends her journey to #BecomingMrsJones and embraces #BeingMrsJones. 

Episode 1 #BecomingMrsJones ❤️Friday 13 October 19:30pm Exclusively on #VuzuAmp @vuzutv 💎🎉 SA’s First Wedding Documentary Special!

A post shared by Minnie (@minniedlamini) on Sep 28, 2017 at 3:52am PDT

SA’s golden girl, Minnie Dlamini wears many caps, but her docu-series is the one she’s most proud of. 

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Kim Kardashian West thinks selfies are over.

The 36-year-old 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' star - who released a book of selfies called 'Selfish', endorsed a selfie phone case and even gave masterclasses on how to take the perfect selfie - claimed the photo trend was a "few years ago" now.

While playing a game of 'Would You Rather...' with her sister Khloe, the reality TV star was asked the tough question whether she would rather never be able to post a selfie or never use Snapchat again?

#BeingMrsJones: Minnie's deeply personal doccie

In a clip posted on the 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' official Twitter account, Kim replied: "I would rather never be able to post a selfie again. Yeah. I kinda feel like, I dunno, selfies are kind of a few years ago."

Pre photo shoot fittings

A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Jul 7, 2016 at 1:17pm PDT

In the latest episode of the TV series, Kim - who has children North, four,  and Saint, 22 months,  with husband Kanye West - spoke about the body shamers and hate she receives when she posts a new picture on her social media accounts.

Trevor Noah trades 'African mom' stories with Yvonne Orji

She said: "When will they stop with this story? You definitely get a thick skin once you have been through it a lot, but pictures just keep coming up every day and they just won't let it go.

"I know I can handle anything and everything, and if I can't handle it... who can?
"I just am in the house so much that I get so freaked out if anyone like, looks at me. It's a full phobia - I freak out about everything.
"Why do I subject myself to being seen? Why don't I just stay at home?"

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Hollywood star Gabrielle Union has warned sexual harassment can happen to anyone.

The 44-year-old actress was raped when she was working at her part-time job at a Payless Store in 1992 and in a series of messages on Twitter, Gabrielle has tried to clarify some of the myths surrounding assault cases.

READ: Thousands join the #MeToo movement

Gabrielle - who was speaking in light of the sexual harassment allegations regarding Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein -

wrote: "Sexual violence & harassment can happen to anyone at anytime anywhere.

Reminder. I got raped at work at a Payless shoe store. I had on a long tunic & leggings so miss me w/ "dress modestly" shit.

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 15, 2017

"Ppl remain silent 4 many different very personal reasons. Judgment, victim shaming/blaming, loss of job/$, fear of violence, retaliation.

"Folks are also very open and obvious about what kind of victim should be prioritized & believed. To think otherwise is to be willfully dim.

"In Hollywood meetings in homes, hotel lobbies/restaurants/suites, private isolated office space is the norm. NO ONE "ASKED FOR IT!!"

"Sexual or physical violence, harassment, demeaning language is NOT the price one should pay for seeking or maintaining employment. Period. (sic)"

Gabrielle was raped at gunpoint when she was 19 and she's pointed out that each case is different.

But the Hollywood star insisted her own experience of being sexually assaulted is proof that what a woman wears has no bearing on their personal safety.

Gabrielle - who has been married to basketball star Dwyane Wade since 2014 - explained on Twitter: "Reminder. I got raped at work at a Payless shoe store. I had on a long tunic & leggings so miss me w/ "dress modestly" s**t.

"Though I was raped by a stranger who raped me at gunpoint after robbing the store, I was still asked by a female "friend" what I had worn.

"Look around, u can EASILY see whose pain is "real/valid" & must be addressed & whose pain is tolerable, unimportant & systematically ignored. (sic)"

What started as a social media challenge has led to actress, singer and author Rami Chuene playing a character that you either love or hate on one of the country's biggest telenovela’s, 'The Queen'. 

Chuene plays Gracious Mabuza, a street savvy business women whose over the top lifestyle, gun wielding chases, quick one liners and love for all things fabulous has captured audiences. 

Known for her work on 'Scandal' and 'Muvhango', she got the job after she received 10 000 retweets for a tweet in which she asked to be cast. 

'Queen of selfies' Kim K says selfies are OVER!

Let’s talk about The Queen, it all started with a social media challenge, was it at all a joke at first? 

I really enjoyed watching the show, from the very first episode and I honestly never missed an episode of it. When they started speaking about a second season that’s when I told myself that I wanted to be apart of this production, but as what was a different story. 

So one day while watching it I noticed that the character Brutus was out of order, he needed a wife. So that’s when I just decided to see what would happen if I put it out on Twitter that I actually want to play Brutus’ wife on the show. There was very much a real intention to be on the show. 

Did you actually expect to be on the show after fans rallied and supported you? 

I honestly did not expect it at all. People on social media already knew I was a fan of the show because I always tweeted about it so having their support was really amazing and getting a job via Twitter was actually an enjoyable experience. 

#TheQueenMzansiS2 where is @ramichuene crib i have something that belongs to her😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/cezHHAenP1

— Pro and 10 others (@Gentleman_343) October 10, 2017

Okay so you get cast, what made you say yes to the actual character? 

It wasn't even about the character, I would have said yes to anything just to be on the show. I said yes because I had gelled with the team before I even started working with them. As a viewer, you can tell when the environment offscreen is just as good as it is on screen, I realised that the people on this show were my type of crowd and that’s why I said yes. 

Viewers love Gracious, what do you not like about her? 

She has a huge personality, she is actually very exhausting, I would not want to be her friend to be honest. 

There is absolutely nothing gracious about her, as far as she is concerned she is the boss and everyone else needs to rally around her and she is always answering a question with a question, it’s so bizarre how she likes complicating things. However I love how hardworking she is, she is a hustler. 

How much of her one liners are from the script and how much are from Rami?

Hahaha….we have amazing writers on the show and I do read my script, people think what Gracious says is all me but it isn’t. The writers already know what the characters are going to say that all I have to do is add my own spice to the script. 

You also play Lindiwe on 'Harvest' - the season is almost up, will it be back at all? 

I would love for it to come back for a second season, I love playing Lindiwe and the entire premise of the show is something I have enjoyed. There isn’t any word yet but I do hope we get another season. 

Of all the characters you have played, which have you enjoyed the most? 

That’s a very difficult question to answer, all of the characters have been so diverse and I have enjoyed playing all of them. Thato from Scandal and Khomotjo from Muvhango were really great characters but i have to say that playing Gracious is putting me in my element. 
 
With a career that spans over a decade, what has been a highlight? 

When you are consistent in your career I think that everything becomes a highlight. For me though my self published book is a highlight, a serious accomplishment in fact and so was my debut album because I am an independent artist. 

What lessons have you learnt about yourself with your work in the entertainment industry?

Definitely the art of patience and keeping my cool. Also, I have learnt that we can all win in this industry, it isn't a competition, if it was a competition we would all look, sound and speak the same. 

You are a huge advocate for local productions, it might sound strange, but why? 

I just think that the local scene has grown and it doing fantastic work. We are telling authentic South African stories, we are owning them and that’s a beautiful thing. I want our shows to air in Germany the way American shows air here. 

You have spoken out on a number of issue in SA, one being homosexuality, as a person of influence, is speaking out important to you and when is the right time? 

Any time is the right time to speak up, I am not someone who needs any sort of validation from people so I will always speak about issues I am passionate about. I think I have said things in the past that probably didn’t get me a certain job or endorsement and that’s fine, I didn’t start in this industry on the back of endorsements, I did with my talent. I think people who are influence need to realise and understand their power and use it to help others. 

* Catch Rami on The Queen, on Mzansi Magic, Monday to Friday at 9pm.

@LiamKarabo

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Tom Petty was laid to rest on Monday, October 16.

The family and friends of the late 'I Won't Back Down' hitmaker gathered at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, California to celebrate the life of the famous musician, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 66.

His daughter Anna Kim Violette shared a picture of a black and white photograph of her late father on display during the service and captioned it: 

"The dark of the sun we will stand together."

Tom petty and daughter Anna Kim Violette. Picture: Instagram

Tom's sad death - which was a result of cardiac arrest - was announced by his manager in a statement.

He said at the time: "On behalf of the Tom Petty family we are devastated to announce the untimely death of our father, husband, brother, leader and friend Tom Petty. 

He suffered cardiac arrest at his home in Malibu in the early hours of this morning and was taken to UCLA Medical Center but could not be revived. He died peacefully at 8:40 p.m. PT surrounded by family, his bandmates and friends."

When Petty's passing was announced, celebrities flooded social media with tribute messages for the singer.

Taylor Swift said: "To me, Tom Petty represented a kind of songwriting I idolised: complex simplicity. It said so much in the lyrics, the concepts, the stories, the message, the nuances … but always brought you back to a hook that got stuck in everyone’s head. He motivated thousands of guitarists to learn to play just because they wanted to be able to play ‘Free Fallin’. Count me as one of them."

Whilst Meat Loaf added on his own page: "More sad news today with Passing another great Rocker Tom Petty , Great Writer with classic songs that marked a time in many peoples lives , loving fans who he also loved . 

The world lost a great one today . He still lives with us in his music . As his daughter said earlier today a normal guy who loved what he did . Our prayers go out to Tom and his family ... Gone too soon !! Tom lives on with the memories he left us, and the love he gave . Prayers to Tom and his family (sic)"

Last week, it was reported that Tom's official cause of death is still yet to be confirmed.

Bang Showbiz

The Clearing, an American production written by Jake Jeppson, is your everyday kitchen sink drama. 

After an appearance on Broadway, the production will have a run at the Joburg Theatre, starting this week. 

The production is being staged by the Performing Artists’ Theatre Organisation (Pato), an independent theatre group with performers who, while being trained thespians, are not full-time actors. The organisation was established initially in 1980 by director Johan van Rooyen. 

According to Van Rooyen, the company keeps various casts of people who specifically have a passion for the arts, even though it may not be the source of their livelihood. In this particular production, some of the cast members have been with Pato for more than  five years. 

Rami Chuene’s Gracious success

Pato has staged a number of award winning productions, including: ’n Seder Val in Waterkloof, Op deurreis na, Speelgoed van Glas and Dis nie my Bybie nie.

“This production company is like the old travelling companies we know. It’s a company of people who I try to work with for a period of five years. There’s always a leading lady in the group. I tend to use different genres and styles to develop them.

“It’s all qualified and professional people when it comes to theatre, but it’s not their 9-5, so they rehearse on weekends. For instance, one of my cast members is a lawyer. We do it this way to give individuals, with a love for the stage, a chance to perform,” he said. 

The production is the story of the Ellis family that has been bound for over 18 years by a secret they’re hiding. The family is said to be in many ways a typical family, with an intense relationship that forces them to be a tight, close-knit family.

When a handsome stranger inserts himself into this tight-knit circle, mother and sons are forced to discover if they have the courage to shatter the bond that has kept them unmoving for two decades and risk the unknown. 

“I have kept it American, it’s not transformed to a South African feel. But it’s a kitchen sink drama, that’s placed in a domestic household setting so it can be American or South African. It tells a story about families,” Van Rooyen said. 

He describes himself as a “picture director” and cites his ability to visualise things as the primary determinant of how he selects a production. 

What attracted him to this particular production is an image he saw of the Broadway production. 

“I saw one little image, so rich in emotion and dramatic tension, and that did it for me.”

The Pato production will star Brad Nowikow, Darren Meltz, Dirk Jonker and Avrill Cameron. 

For audiences who want to experience The Clearing, Van Rooyen said: “They must just think of the play’s title. The Clearing is not just the opening [an open space], it’s where you clear the emotional baggage you have with you. 

“The one thing you have that’s overshadowing you. That’s the clearing. To clean up, to let go and it’s an emotional trip I’m looking forward to sharing with everyone,” he said. 

* The Clearing will be showing at the Joburg Theatre fringe from October 19 to 22. Tickets are available at Webtickets or at the theatre. 

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Seventeen-year-old Mbulelo Mtselu and his friends hang out in Braamfontein often. Last month, when one of his friends suggested that they visit DipStreet, a premium sneaker and streetwear store in the heart of Braamfontein, it seemed like just another day out with his boys.

But when they got to the store, they found rapper Riky Rick shopping with a few of his friends. Big fans of the rapper, they approached him and asked to take some pics with him, Mtselu explains.

While they were doing so, Riky, who’s known for his bold sense of style, spotted Mtselu’s shoes - a pair of Balenciaga’s (Balenciaga is a Spanish luxury fashion house which is very popular in the hip hop culture).

“He looked at me, then he looked at my shoes. Then I was like, ‘At least I’m trying’. Then he was like, ‘Don’t let me start bro’. Then he goes to his friends and he’s like, ‘Tell your boy that his Balenciaga’s ain’t working.’ And they all started laughing and I just tried to keep my cool, but it was hard.”

With his friends around and everyone staring at him, Mtshelu says he felt deeply humiliated and didn’t know what to do.

Riky then turned to one of his friends and asked him to start recording. On the recording, which has since gone viral, Riky can be seen protesting, “You do not rock this sh**, we’re gonna burn this sh**."

Rashaad Jattiem was just 18 years old when he and his family moved from District Six to live in Athlone. It took more than 40 years to pen his memories of the neighbourhood where he was born in 1942. 

In all those years, they never faded and his vivid descriptions of growing up in the area which just a few years later saw one of the worst examples of  forced removals under the notorious Group Areas  Act, are compellingly colourful and real, as painted in his self-published book.

As a young man Jattiem moved to Port Elizabeth from where his wife hailed. A chance encounter with his landlord provided the impetus to write a book on his
childhood stomping ground.

"I was invited for tea and we started talking about District Six and my host, Boeta Allie Shaboodien, asked if I had ever written my memoirs. When I answered no, he
responded, 'it may be lost to future generations'," says Jattiem.

He recalls that while he often thought and mulled over converting his memories into the written word, the seed remained a seed until 2004, when he retired and started
having more time at his disposal. Slowly, but surely, with intensive research, chatting to former residents and recreating memories with his family, he started putting down his many stories of the place which was more than just a home. 

Jattiem grew up in Chatham Street, the part of District Six commonly referred to as the Dry Docks - about 100 metres from De Waal Drive, which in those days was known as die nuwe pad (new road).

Jattiem describes how close to Devil's Peak was the home he shared with his brothers and sisters and Mommy and Buya (his father).  

"From our bedroom window, we had a clear view of the mountain range comprising Devil's Peak and the internationally recognisable and justifiably famous Table Mountain," he writes, adding, "for us boys, the mountains were more than just natural beauties. Indeed they were our playgrounds, providing us with exciting and challenging opportunities for adventure and enjoyment."

With urban sprawl still a thing of the future, the author and his friends spent hours out in the midst of nature, exploring disused quarries and mountain caves, hiking during school holidays and cooling off in the clear mountain streams.

The late 1940s and the early fifties  were the heyday of the Union Castle liners and Jattiem fondly reminisces how, as guests of his auntie and cousin setting sail on the
Athlone Castle ship bound for Mecca, "we ... enjoyed exploring the many decks and gangways and the crew members did not seem to mind our romping around on the ship".

In a characteristically humble yet charming style, Jattiem writes that as he grew older, there were many things around him that he and his cronies began to take for granted... because they were there. To this end he writes it was almost as if Table Mountain "ceased to exist" as they grew used to its majestic presence, even though it
overshadowed the neighbourhoods down below.

In the days he grew up, a large open field was used for the grazing of his father's horses and the grocery shop diagonally across the road from his home was used to get daily supplies — a "sixpence worth of butter"  and, for a tickey, one could get four Marie biscuits. Jattiem poignantly remembers how in days gone by teachers were an
integral part of the community and maintained a close relationship with pupils where even for "bright boys" like the young Jattiem, the rod was not spared when he was
out of line.

The closeness and support of neighbours and friends — across the colour bar and religions is repeatedly alluded to. A melting pot of cultures and sub-cultures existed and interdependence between clients and self-made entrepreneurs and small time businessmen was the rule of the day. 

Muslims, Christians and Jews, say Jattiem, all co-existed - the family doctor was one Joel Tobias and an offer for the family's property was made by then property mogul Louis Fine of R60 000 for four plots with seven houses (a considerable amount in 1961) but, as Jattiem recalls, the sale was blocked by the Group Areas Board as they were poised to re-zone the land.

When we chat, and as evidenced in the book, there is a remarkable lack of bitterness on Jattiem's side about the terrible events that displaced and dispersed people and changed the face of the area forever as houses were bulldozed and veteran residents were shunted off to places which had nothing much more than sand and wind . His is
overall a gentle and charming book made up of largely happy memories even in the face of hard economic times. 

For example, Jattiem's father couldn't work as a builder as he had planned,  as he was afraid of heights, so he worked in the docks and then as a hawker selling fruit and vegetables. One room accommodated all his brothers and sisters and while the skollies |(gangsters) were not the gangsters they are today, there were dangerous times when he
and his teenage friends ran home to safety when the skollies were on the prowl late at night. But it seems there was always food on the table and plenty of it, shared and
shared alike. And always, a little money set aside for the movies. 

In a chapter dedicated entirely to the "bioscopes" (movie) of the day, Jattiem describes frequent visits to the Avalon, where Boeta Noor was in charge — an imposing man with a towering build who would subdue the trouble makers and, in a separate chapter on the skollies, he describes how Noor didn't allow the audience out on the streets one early evening in order to protect them from a threatening crowd of rampaging gangsters just outside.

There are also fascinating chapters on the peddlers and hawkers including Jattiem's own father; on the minstrel troupes; home remedies and koesiesters for Sunday
breakfast — a tradition that is still fastidiously adhered to in the nearby Bo-Kaap. They all make for fascinating reading, evoking the nostalgia of a bygone and forcibly lost
era and neighbourhood.

Over the years there have been many books published about District Six — Jattiem's fresh new evocation is a very valid and worthy addition.

Johannesburg - Kwaito star Sipho Ndlovu, popularly known as Brickz, was sentenced to 15 years behind bars at the Roodepoort Magistrate's court today.

Brickz was arrested in November 2013, after he was accused of raping a then 16-year-old at his home in Ruimsig, west of Johannesburg. 

The 'Sweety My Baby' hitmaker was convicted of rape in July.

Brickz's wife, Nqobile Ndlovu, was reportedly instrumental in assisting the victim in opening the case.

In his judgement, Magistrate John Baloyi said Brickz had betrayed the trust of close family members when he raped the victim.

Ntsiki Mazwai: I was also raped by Brickz #BreakTheSilence

The star's lawyer indicated that he intended to appeal the conviction.

Here's some of the Twitter reactions following the sentencing:

#Brickz 15yrs is not a victory. He's still going to get out of prison anyway, even qualify for an appeal before that 10yrs. pic.twitter.com/khyLG0zcI8

— 20 Years Young. (@TMdemka) October 17, 2017

😹😹😹😹😹😹😹
Y'all, don't mind me I'm just laughing at the facial expression of the rapist after hearing he'll be serving 15 years.#brickz pic.twitter.com/EsmSbCOvgE

— Sarcasm is my friend (@Palesa_RSA) October 17, 2017

Glad some sort of justice was served for the young lady who was sexually assaulted by #brickz

— Pam Ndaba (@Pam_News) October 17, 2017

America Ferrera has revealed she was sexually assaulted aged nine and had to see the perpetrator on a daily basis afterwards for "years to come".

The 33-year-old actress has recalled a horrific incident during her younger years and admits she "lived with the shame and guilt" and had to see perpetrator everyday afterwards "for years to come".

In a statement posted to Twitter, she wrote: "First time I can remember being sexually assaulted I was 9-years-old. I told no one and lived with the shame and guilt thinking all along that I, a 9-year-old child, was somehow responsible for the actions of a grown man. I had to see this man on a daily basis for years to come. He would smile at me and wave, and I would hurry past him, my blood running cold, my guts carrying the burden of what only he & I knew -- that he expected me to shut my mouth and smile back.

"Ladies, let's break the silence to the next generation of girls won't have to live with this b******t (sic)"

#MeToo pic.twitter.com/JQRASxZ92R

— America Ferrera (@AmericaFerrera) October 17, 2017

America simply captioned her post "me too", joining a social media campaign to encourage women to speak up about sexual harassment.

At first, America tweeted that she had also been a victim, writing: "Me too. #MeToo (sic)"

But five hours later she shared her experiences with the world by posting the statement. 

Alyssa Milano launched the social media campaign to implore anyone who has ever been sexually harassed or assaulted to write the words "me too". 

She tweeted: "If you've been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet."

Read: Thousands join the #MeToo movement

Under her own post, a screenshot read: "Me too.

"Suggested by a friend: "If all the women who have been sexually harrassed or assaulted wrote 'Me too.' as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.(sic)"

Several stars have responded to the campaign, including Lady Gaga, Gabrielle Union and Evan Rachel Wood. 

Gabrielle Union: Sexual harassment can happen to anyone

Evan wrote: "Being raped once made it easier to be raped again. I instinctually shut down. My body remembered, so it protected me. I disappeared. #metoo 

Being raped once made it easier to be raped again. I instinctually shut down. My body remembered, so it protected me.
I disappeared. #metoo

— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) October 16, 2017

"Because I was shamed and considered a "party girl" I felt I deserved it. I shouldnt have been there, I shouldn't have been "bad" #metoo

"Now I know that no matter how much I partied, got wild, or inebriated myself, I never raped anyone. So that should never be an excuse #metoo (sic)"

Alyssa's decision to launch the campaign came shortly after she spoke out against Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexually harassing women for decades.

He has been sacked from his own Weinstein Company and his wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, has left him following the allegations.

Now in its third year, the esp YoungLegends 2018 online competition has racked up an impressive array of entries. 

With the winner performing at Africa’s Grandest Gathering – the 19th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), taking place on 23 & 24 March 2018 – this is one prize worth competing for.  

Esp Young Legends is a unique online competition that takes place annually brought to you by espAfrika (Pty) Ltd and Cape Town International Jazz Festival. After a fantastic debut year with winner Lana Crowster, and second annual winner VuDu, it’s time to begin the search for the next unsigned jazz-inspired band to perform at #CTIJF2018! The goal is to find an outstanding, talented band of 2 – 6 members. The winner will perform at #CTIJF2018. They are looking for undiscovered gems with raw talent and the full package to join the line-up and rub shoulders with musical heavyweights.

Today, esp Afrika, the company behind the CTIJF, announced the Top 10 finalists that will go through to compete for the grandnprize.

The finalists in alphabetical order are:

1.            Asanda Mqiki 
2.            Astrafunk and The Space Cats
3.            Jarrad Ricketts
4.            Just 6 
5.            Legato SA
6.            Major 7 SA
7.            Simthandile Mtolo
8.            Sylvester Aklamavo & Miton Fusion Band 
9.            Ulagh Williams & the TwoTone Band
10.          Youthphemism

Cher has joined the cast of 'Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again' and hinted she will be performing ABBA hit 'Fernando' in the motion picture.

The singing sensation revealed on her Twitter account that she has joined the cast of the movie - a sequel to 2008 musical motion picture 'Mamma Mia!' - and hinted she could be singing ABBA's 1976 hit song 'Fernando' in the film after tweeting some of the tune's lyrics. 

She wrote: "FERNANDO. 

"I Remember Long ago another Stary Night Like This (sic)"

I Remember Long ago another Stary✨🌟✨Night Like This

— Cher (@cher) October 16, 2017

Cher admitted she has already started rehearsing for the motion picture, and praised the rest of the cast. 

She tweeted: "Just went through two dance numbers, Everyone's Great (sic)"

But the 'Believe' hitmaker has remained tight-lipped on whether she will be singing a duet with Meryl Streep. 

When asked the question by one fan, she merely replied: "Hhmmm (sic)"

She was also pressed for more details about her part but tweeted back: "No more info... (sic)"

Director Ol Parker - who will also write the script - confirmed Cher's involvement in the movie, which is based on the ABBA-inspired musical of the same name. 

He wrote: "This is exciting. @cher has come to play. And rule. (sic)"

Dominic Cooper recently confirmed the original cast, which includes Meryl, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan, will all return for the sequel. 

Speaking to BANG Showbiz, he said: "'Mamma Mia 2' is in the works. We are all dancing.

"All the original cast are returning. We are all there. We are all a bit baggy around the jewels and we are all a bit more sunburnt."

Music legend Cher previously won a Best Actress Academy Award and a Golden Globe award for her part of Loretta Castorini in 1987 romantic comedy 'Moonstruck', and also picked up a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe for 1983's 'Silkwood'. 

What's more, Cher has appeared as herself in a number of films, including 2003's 'Stuck on You' opposite Matt Damon, and 1992's 'The Player' alongside Tim Robbins.