SCAM hits 5FM

By Pierre Potgieter

After much anticipation and lots of excitement, Rhodes rapper SCAM (a.k.a. Matthew Callcott-Stevens) will hit 5FM with his hip-hop music, soon to be played on both Gareth Cliff and DJ Fresh’s shows.  Although he defines his style as hip-hop, there are strong elements of rap in it, with witty lyrics laid over the unique beats of DJ Abstrakt’s mixes.

A good time, in and around G’town

By Samkelisiwe Dlalisa

After the hectic Intervarsity weekend, it seems people are looking forward to upcoming, calmer weekends. As promised I will be giving you the best ways to have a “lekker jol” in and around Grahamstown in many different ways without having to get drunk.

Book Review: The Interpretation of Murder

By Maya Sapieka

Set in 1909, in the midst of the flourishing industrial revolution in New York, The Interpretation of Murder is a fast-pace thriller about a the hunt for a terrifying serial killer. The novel takes you through various plots and is gripping from the very beginning.

SAMA 2009!

By Mpho Hlapolosa

The 15^th annual South African Music Awards show was staged on the 2^nd of May at its traditional home, the Sun City Super Bowl. From the celebs walking on the yellow carpet to fans screaming their lungs out in support of their favourite artists, this was an event not to be missed. The spectacular showing of South African talent and entertainment rocked the Super Bowl and has left many South Africans eagerly anticipating next year’s offering.

Keeping the audience entertained as the host for this year was comedian and television host Mr. “oh so handsome” Trevor Noah, who kept the crowds in stitches.

Pop-Splat – The Renaissance of Shakespeare

By Tafadzwa  Mlambo

Corruption, politics, revenge, murder and the all-important shock factor; Ian Martin’s new book Pop-splat has it all. A story set in South Africa and, better yet, Grahamstown specifically, injects new life into dreary Shakespearean literature in the form of the ‘disgusting life of Matt Dreyer, Hamlet of the 21^st century.’

The author explores a sick South African psyche and tells a story that is filled with cruelty, violence, perverted sex, mad revenge and bitter despair. But it is a story told in the form of an over-the-top, zany black comedy.

Listening to the rain, while listening to the soul

By Jamaine Chiwaye

“People get to see themselves on stage. They relate to each and every character on one level or another. They laugh, cry, sigh and breathe because of such a bond that could only have been created by Minghella.” So said Christine Balt, who acts in one of the scenes of Listening to the Rain: A Tribute to Anthony Minghella which recemtly ran at the Rhodes Theatre.

Zebra and Giraffe top of the food chain

By Jane Rosen & Kirsty Hoggons

Pic by: Marcus Maschwitz

With influences like Marilyn Manson, Bloc Party and Muse, it is no wonder that Greg Carlin, the lead singer and only member of Zebra and Giraffe, would describe his sound as “Dark Pop”. Despite the fact that we are yet to understand the origins of this bizarre band’s name, this man is taking South African music to a whole other level.

Pirates steals Grahamstown’s booty

By Yashen Moodley

Pic by: Jonathan Terry

Okay, picture this: pre- drinks, then a night out on the town until about two in the morning, followed by a quick sneaky snack before you hit the sack. Now, picture this all at one venue! Pirates Pizza has finally received its liquor license. From a small kitchen with one bench, to a brand new sit-down restaurant and bar on 49 African Street, Pirates’ House of Pizza is the new place to get your drink on.

Journos live on air

By Kate Bishop

Look out for the Journalism and Media Studies second year (JMS 2) radio show this swot week, where two shows will be aired every day, midmorning on RMR 89.7 FM. The shows will range from a wide variety of topics, some of the titles being “Skins Unpeeled”, “Wedlocked”, “Breaking the bank”, to “Daddy’s rich kids”, “Classy colours” and “Extra size me” and several others.

The radio shows will consist of interviews with Rhodes students, which means that what will be aired will be the voices of your fellow students. Each show will have a variety guests, including experts commenting on what is being said and perhaps being able to analyse and explain some issues on and around campus. Some of the issues that will be mentioned concern what it is like being Afrikaans at Rhodes, the body-building mania, homophobia, and the class issues within race.

Japan & I… took over Grahamstown

By Lauren Granger

Pic by: Simone Armer

When Japan & I are on stage, don’t stand too close to the speakers. Your hearing won’t be back in time for your Monday dawnie. That’s how hard these three girls from Jo’burg rock.

Dancing with the staff

By Chris McCallum

Rhodes Ballroom and Latin Dancing Society hosted the ‘Dancing with the Staff’ ball on Wednesday, 20 May 2009. The show, which was modelled on the TV show, Strictly Come Dancing, saw Six Rhodes University staff members paired with six advanced student dancers had to perform one dance in either the Ballroom or Latin section. The event was part of the Dean of Student’s Alcohol-Awareness Campaign.

Twitter and Gaydar

By Marina Maema

In the past two years social networks such as MySpace and Facebook have become extremely popular. MySpace has 253,145,404 registered users and Facebook has over 200 million registered viewers as well. They are ranked ninth and fourth respectively in terms if the website popularity in the world.

However there are two new social networks that are taking the world by storm. The first is Twitter. This is extremely popular in America and celebrities such as SouljaBoyTellem, Diddy and Fall Out Boy to mention a few are registered users. Unlike Facebook, you don’t have friends but you have “follower” and the aim is to let people know what you’re doing all the time and chat to your followers. It is straight forward and not too complicated.

Culture of Poi

By Sarah Kobal

Every Friday afternoon at the Botanical Gardens, students meet up to sing, play the African drums, and sometimes dance with fire. When it gets dark, the fire dancers whip out their poi and perform fire dancing while people watch. Students sit with their groups of friends – some drinking wine, others sitting in silence – in awe of the fire.

Speaking with energy and moving his hands to help with his explanations, Martin Bentley, who’s been a fire dancer for three years, explains how fire dancing is an art, how one loses themselves completely through the movement of fire dancing. “Fire dancing is very interesting because it relaxes you and is very mesmerising,” says Saba Marzban, a member of the Drum society.

Die Bannelinge

By Chanel Pallent

The end of April saw the last three performances of Rhodes University’s latest talent: the cast and crew of Die Bannelinge. Written by Bauke Snyman and directed by drama lecturer Heike Gehring, Die Bannelinge made Rhodents proud when they performed Rhodes University’s debut entry at the ABSA Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KNKK) which took place from 4 to 11 April.

Despite this being the first time Rhodes has entered this all-Afrikaans festival, Gehring and her cast walked away with the majority of the awards in their category. Die Bannelinge won the prize for Best Production, with both Gehring and Snyman winning the awards for director and script writer. The Drama Department’s own Shaun Acker won the prize for the festival’s Best Actor.

Spot of the Week: Rat & Parrot

By Lauren Timmer

A spot of the week on the Rat and Parrot? That’s right people, there are a few things about Rhodes students’ favourite haunt that you might not know.

The Rat is widening its appeal with specials on basically every night. Tuesdays will test how well you hold your drink with 1.7L draught towers selling for R35, Thursdays is ‘Something for the Ladies’ night with 20% off all meals and Archers Aqua going for R10 from 5pm onwards. And if that wasn?t enough, Fridays offer cocktails between 5 and 10pm, and Happy Hour runs from 8-9pm.

X the local terrorist

By Jonathan Booysen

Pic by : Jonathan Booysen

To many, the name X-Nasty refers to the man who so effortlessly captured the audience at the recent Linton Kwesi Johnson concert. But how many have met X-Nasty the playwright, who wrote the drama Ndiyindoda! I am a man! and performed it at past National Arts Festivals? Or X-Nasty the social activist, who has helped build schools and educate young minds in the heart of the Fingo Village township in Grahamstown?For all these accomplishments, however, Xolile Madinda (otherwise known as X-Nasty or X) is taken aback when he learns that the interview is solely directed at him, because he believes that he is one with the people of his community. Born in 1979, Madinda tells of his days as a young boy growing up in Fingo Village, the township in which the basis of his community work lies today. He was raised in a home built on the foundations of Black Consciousness, laid down by Steve Biko, where love for your fellow man and acknowledgment of your own limitations were core values. “I reflect that philosophy through Hip-Hop,” says the passionate MC, who has been writing poetry for over a decade.

Hip hop sensation to hit Grahamstown

By Kabelo Mosate

Graphics supplied

Vakele Genu has been in the music scene for over a decade now. He might not be well known in the commercial zone just yet, but he is setting the underground scene on fire. ‘Pureful Artistic Ginger’, as most people might know him by, is a 21-year-old rapper from Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth.

Genu is a second year BA student, majoring in drama, music and journalism and media studies. In 2001, he started recording his own songs in studio. Genu sent his demo to Chaka Chaka records in 2004 and got good reviews, but when he was told to change his style, Genu refused the offer. As an underground rapper, he says he wanted to keep true to himself and not be influenced by commercial fads. “I do my own music and don’t want other people to interfere with that process, as they will dilute the meaning behind me and the music that I do”. Also, in 2004, Genu entered the Rap Olympics which were held in Cape Town and came in second out of 44 contestants.

The Lounge Around

By Geraldine McMeekin

The usual walk to the Rat, stumble to EQ and crawl to Friar’s has been interrupted by a new kid on the block – Lounge Around. A buzz has surrounded this new hotspot on New Street, a relaxed jazz lounge for those fond of really good cocktails and even better music.

Lounge Around opened with a bang in the last week of April. The sleek modern style of Lounge Around follows a red and black colour palette, which highlights its sophistication. The interior conjures images of fashionable Sex and the City types draping themselves over the tall chairs and casually ordering up cocktails. Manager, Sven Tozer, describes it as his “home away from home”, indicating his dedication to creating a relaxed and refined party experience.

Review on Gus Van Sant’s Milk

By Maya Sapieka

Rating (four popcorns out of five)

Pic Supplied

Directed by Gus Van Sant, whose other works include Good Will Hunting and Elephant, Oscar-nominated Milk tells the riveting story of hailed American gay activist, Harvey Milk. The film is honest, brutal and speaks to all audiences whether gay or straight.

The dream team Cabinet: South Africa’s top officers, chosen by Rhodents

By Jamaine Chiwaye & Tatum Holloway

It is said that, when it comes to selecting a party to vote for, it isn’t about choosing the ripest tomato, but rather the least rotten in the basket. In an effort to dilute our minds, inundated with politics, campaigns, cronyism and corruption, Activate provides an opportunity for students to choose from a panel of seven top cabinet positions. Those nominees they believe fit the bill best – those figures who they see as paramount to South Africa’s political structuring and ultimately capable of leading the country. The principles that you want to see this beautiful nation of ours governed by should be embodied by the person whose name you tick on the ballot, as long as you believe in what they do and stand for. The leadership of this country should transcend the boundaries forced on by past generations, regardless of race and gender differences. In our search for the ultimate cabinet, Activate has been around campus, scouring lecture venues for people’s opinions on who should run the country and why