182 quotes found
"Pop music is probably the only art form that is totally dependent for its success on the general public. The more people buy a record, the more successful it is - not only commercially but artistically."
"We’ve always believed that our platforms are bigger than us. “Influence” comes with responsibility.... As couples, we need to create healthy environments within our homes to start having these hard conversations honestly. Change can only come when we face this head-on"
"We dated for about two years before we got married. When we started dating we both felt that we needed to give our relationship a fair chance. Building a new relationship is hard, and when it's done in the public eye it's 10 times harder."
"Women have not really had opportunities to be in the [production] space, even for myself as an executive producer it is shocking that I was the first female executive producer of the Miss South Africa pageant."
"If we are going to do something for women, and it’s supposed to be an empowerment platform then let it be done by women"
"I was teaching myself how to write music but I also took a break from engaging in cultural activities around tenth grade because I was working on my confidence."
"Then when I got to the University here in Johannesburg, that’s when I really started taking the music seriously"
"It really is about your faith and your work ethic."
"Well, I’ve been singing since I was 6 years old. I was in the choir at that time. I was in the choir basically my whole life and that life really set the foundation for my music, but when I got to high school I became a bit more independent. I wanted to take my love for music a step further and that’s when I decided to leave the choir. I was 16 years old at that time. I was teaching myself how to write music but I also took a break from engaging in cultural activities around tenth grade because I was working on my confidence. Then when I got to the University here in Johannesburg. That’s when I really started taking the music seriously."
"It was the moment I got to the University. I was trying to make all the music I can with my allowance. I would literally not eat and use the money I would get from my parents to book studio sessions and buy beats instead. I was busy sourcing people that could help me work on my project at the time and I could definitely say Pretoria fueled my love for music, which I said in the beginning. Although it’s a quiet place, when I make music there’s so much color, life, and entertainment. That’s all I wanted to do."
"I think it was just to represent who I am. I wanted it to get to the point and to get my message across. The EP was the right introduction for me into the music industry. It's not too much but at the same time it's not too little, it's just enough and that's exactly why I wanted to get the right amount of songs out there for people to relate to."
"I'm a very, very lowkey and private person [in everyday life] so I use social media and that's actually how I met all of the people I worked with on this project."
"I feel social media was important in creating this ecosystem of people that I possibly wouldn't have had access to. We all work together in our community to create despite coming from different cultures and from different backgrounds. And what connects is our passion for music, our work ethic, our drive and our morals."
"Gospel music is big all over the world. There is no genre that is bigger than gospel. If you go to Malawi or Congo, you’ll find another Rebecca Malope."
"When I am on stage something takes over. I become that excited little girl again, who is happy to see people singing and jumping, saying “Oh, they love me,” and at least someone loves me. That child in me comes out and the stage for me is a very nice playground that heals my heart while praising God."
"I don’t have friends unfortunately. My friends are my family because I believe those are the safest friends."
"My purpose is to teach people where I come from. It’s been a lesson to me that I had to reach out and tell people that it’s not over until God says so..."
"Knowing very well what you want and why you are here, why you doing what you doing, the purpose ... Humble yourself and give God the glory and let him lead you until you reach your destination, that is how I kept myself (disciplined)."
"I am growing up on stage and I’m just in the faces of people, I can’t do anything else like any other young girl my age, it was very challenging but I got used to it."
"Firstly, I am showing that it's possible to every poor, unappreciated and broken young girl out there in our country. It's possible to dream and chase after your dreams, it's possible to be heard, it's possible to achieve and break the mould and be something"
"[A] few years as a struggling artist in Mahikeng and seeing people that are half talented being given a chance and messing it up while I was overlooked or being boxed in as just a female wannabe rapper. That is painful beyond words. Thank God I never even thought of giving up, not even for a day"
"There is a lot of pressure (in society) to be more than what you are and, in the process, we are not having conversations that matter"
"My grandmother was able to raise 11 kids, providing for them while also holding down different jobs (as a domestic worker and in a shop)"
"I think subconsciously seeing my grandmother work so tirelessly and being a happy woman influenced me to think that I can do a bunch of things and demand more out of life for myself"
"The conversations are set under the covering theme of Love, Loss and Life, because these are broad topics. Guests get to share their experiences with loss, life and what they have learnt"
"I hope each question I ask my guests, viewers can ask themselves so they can stop and think and consider their own journeys"
"I talk to the person (guest) behind the art. Not about what you do, but who you are. And I think some of these women have been longing for a space where people can be interested in who they are outside of the drama of fame"
"It was more about the different cultures rather than about colour but we have managed to work through that and we are still learning"
"Soul music is memories, it’s everyday life, it’s easy to consume. I think it’s that the soul, the spirit, resides in Africa so soul music here could also mean the beating of a drum because that’s how we invoke our soul."
"The processes are different for every album. Nothing is ever deliberate. Making art for me is one step in front of the next. You don’t begin with a full art work, you begin with one stroke and then you go. And you ask what else can I do until it’s a full picture."
"A love for the people, a love for country, and a love for justice. They form the basis for what the production is about using audio visual elements to stimulate imagination and explore history while moulding a new world."
"I always knew that there were people who sang better than me, I never thought I would make it to this level."
"All I noticed was that something would happen to people when I sang, I found that people noticed me more when I sang."
"People associate my work with their traditions and culture and maybe there isn't enough of that in the music industry. The music industry does sometimes become a little poppy and more about the accumulation of things. My work is about memories and identity"
"You cannot want to live in other people's expectations Your only intention should be to tell your story and tell it authentically. That is the only culture an artist should have. I don't have a desire for popularity or a desire for anything that people think identify you as a successful person. My success comes from finishing my work. So, as soon as I finish my work, I feel like I have succeeded. Anything that happens after that is out of my hands"
"I have a lot of band configurations. I have a jazz band. I have the band I have been playing with for 20 years"
"I saw army tanks while walking to school ensuring us natives were ‘well behaved.’ It was impossible to miss those things"
"I was interested in something different and followed radical pathways to making art"
"Music gave me a natural medium to express myself and all I was seeing"
"Struggle didn’t need to be a bad thing, so long as we knew what we were pushing towards"
"Having grown up so un-free, there was a euphoria hearing Nelson Mandela was being freed and that we could get an ID and be a true South African with the rights of any other citizen"
"We were kind of swept away by this idea of freedom"
"In spite of having a Black-led government, we quickly realized we still needed to struggle, protest, and fight"
"We were trying to wrap our minds around neocolonialism and the way power corrupts"
"Even as I sing in my own language about a South African experience,she says, I also see it as pan-Africanist music that speaks to the Diaspora as well. I create work that is interested in connecting us and bridging gaps"
"Money draws people in and takes away agency"
"Learn when to say no to the money, because it comes with so many complications and people who feel entitled to steering your career"
"I have a sort of thought process I go through. And what I normally do with my accompanist is that we will talk through the whole show beforehand. You go through every song and we say, oe be careful of that part, and that part and remember to do that there and so on. You get all those things out of the way and it’s filed in your brain, so by the time you walk on stage you actually do it for the second time"
"And after that I always tried to do that with every show and every album, there are no throw-away songs and they must all stand strong"
"I am not thinking of a cut-off point yet"
"Terribly! Yes, yes, yes, and also, it’s quite important for me to be nervous, because if I’m not then it feels like it doesn’t matter enough"
"It depends on what crosses my path, rather than me initiating it. And sometimes the chemistry between you and a musician is just perfect and then you just go with it"
"A lot of people think that I am a new kid on the block because of this big role I got....it took me ten years to get that (her role on Isidingo)"
"I had to give up the hustle and live (at) home for three years. My father would sometimes spend weeks and months in the hospital. Then he would be better and laugh‚ then the next thing he had dementia or couldn't walk. If it wasn't diabetes‚ epilepsy‚ kidney failure‚ hypertension or blood clots in the brain‚ it was something else. One day his body couldn't take it anymore and it shut down"
"There is nothing I regret‚ about anything that has happened in my past... I would do it all over again... That is what I needed. So‚ now when people try to mess you around‚ you are like: 'Oh‚ is that the best you can do? I have been dealing with things like this for a very long time"
"Losing someone you love is never easy‚ but I believe that when God takes‚ he also gives"
"The hardest scene to do in the movie was when I had to swim across the Orange River about 5 times, then run up a hill of beach sand at speed, get to the top, and then do a really emotional scene"
"Study the craft of acting, at a reputable institution, first of all. This business means you need to work at your craft, long hours, preparation, professionalism, dedication is what is needed."
"I want my kids on TV” and I said you know what, wait for them to grow up, there’s enough time for them to be on television but get them some training as well and I know that it’s not always affordable for everyone; that’s always a major hassle but there are programmes where…I know that there’s the Market Theatre lab, that I mean there is a fee involved, but I do believe that they give…and go to free courses, go and learn something. Watch Videos, watch movies, watch people perform and learn. Keep learning and don’t think you know, don’t let your ego get in the way of what this job really is. It’s also just a job, you know, a job we’re passionate about, but it’s a job, be professional and work hard"
"I've been praying. I've been wanting to leave that place. It was something I had really been praying about, so when it finally happened, it really felt like God was removing me from the toxic environment"
"I probably would have killed myself. There was a 90% chance. That's how toxic that place was"
"This is absolutely wild, it's insane. This is for the little black girl sitting at home needing their dreams to be validated. This is it, this is our moment, this is our time! I’m eternally grateful. Little me is happy to have fulfilled my childhood dream"
"It is so hard because I literally put in so much work. I put in so much work for that story. But now it seems that my head is overlooking my work. You guys are not focused on my craft. You guys are more focused on my physicality and my head. I literally work so hard, but you know"
"all the way out to always find something wrong with someone and use that to bring them down"
"When I visited my psychiatrist he told me that he wanted me to book myself into hospital the next day. I was hesitant. I kept thinking, 'Dr. I need to get back to work tomorrow'. I was also scared that people wouldn’t understand and that I would be away with no support"
"I felt like I was drowning and felt like with every breath I was waging a war against myself"
"I didn’t really listen to what people were saying or worried what they thought of me but I did get judged"
"She asked me why I had the bands (admission bands) and I told her I was in hospital for depression, bipolar and anxiety. She started judging me and suggested that I was too young to be struggling with such problems. It shook me but I just shrugged it off"
"I want people to know that there is hope. You have to take it one day at a time and believe that it will get better. I still struggle some days and I have to talk to myself and let myself know that it will be alright, even if I don’t feel like it in the moment"
"I am in a much better space. Some days are better than others but I am doing better because I have learnt to make myself be present in the moment. I allow my feelings to overwhelm me if they have to. If I am sad, I will be sad. If I am happy, I will be happy. I stay true to myself now"
"My DMs are filled with people sharing their struggles and challenges. It is humbling to think that I can make a difference in their lives. I think it is really important that we start talking about depression, especially in black families. Depression is something that is not talked about, it is the devil, and because we don't talk about it, it affects us more. Talking about it helps"
"The joy and wisdom of getting older is the knowledge that it’s not about you. Yes, you have to work hard and be the best you can, but what’s more important is the story, what value you bring to it."
"I just verbalised some thoughts, and believe where your mind goes energy flows. And its time to focus on hope and peace and a better tomorrow. We know we as a country deserve more"
"Maybe this is the time, when we the women of South Africa, who love this country so much, and know we have to protect it, need to find a time, 5 minutes or half an hour, standing side by side holding hands, the length and breadth of SA, creating a circle around the country, linking our common belief, without saying one word, and collectively show ourselves and the world, peacefully, silently and powerfully, that we and our country deserve more"
"How can we make this happen? Who can make this happen? This time more than ever, we need to stand together. Surely? I ache inside"
"We laugh a lot. The three of us have worked together for many years. We understand each other, so there is a lot of give and take. As soon as we see pressure on one of us, the other two step in and shift the focus. We balance each other out. And then laugh some more. We are highly professional, but have a huge amount of fun, because we love what we do."
"Theatre needs you to go to a vulnerable place to find authenticity and truth"
"I believe so strongly in following my intuition. I have learned to trust it as I have got older"
"I grew up knowing that the straighter or gladder (smoother) your hair was, the better. I didn’t really know much else because that was just the general ‘coloured’ idea, I didn’t ever really question it. Every hair salon, everybody else who looked like me had that straight hair so I just assumed growing up that it was ‘natural’, not realising that everybody was probably also doing the relaxer/ straightener thing to get it."
"I decided I wasn’t going to conform anymore and have my self-worth defined by straight hair."
"One of the best things is that I never had any pressure from family to re-conform to the straightness."
"I think it’s a fantastic revival of what the 70’s and 80’s did for natural hair. It’s a difficult transition to make though because I see how hair politics really permeates my fellow women of colour – so many think they would look ugly, suddenly appear stupid or be less sought-after without the weave, without the bi-weekly salon trips, without the ghd."
"I want to empower other women struggling with weight to see their health in a whole new light. I want them to embrace non-scale victories and understand their bodies inside and out. That’s where the real transformation happens — nourishing not only our bodies, but our minds and souls too."
"This campaign is about putting our bodies where our minds are at."
"I don't think it ever truly affected my self-esteem, but I have never been in a body I enjoy, and I sincerely hope to change that."
"The industry is still struggling to see plus size actors as romantic leads, or deep intricate story bearers who aren't there for just comic relief."
"Fat-erasure is still a very tense conversation in casting rooms, and I believe that until we can all have the seemingly difficult conversations, and make bold choices that truly represent South Africa, we will continue to raise a society filled with unnecessary shame, a warped understanding of beauty and the striving for unrealistic aesthetic standards."
"The conversation is bigger than just fat people on screen, the conversation is bigger, deeper, and definitely political."
"I’ve always understood that we’re on this earth to do something and I’ve known that mine is to do with acting. I am constantly inspired by my love for the craft and the ability to tell beautiful stories through my work. Even though some characters are fictional, the stories I tell are not."
"It’s empowering to give a voice to the voiceless."
"Understanding that my talent can take me to places that my pocket cannot."
"I have been exposed to phenomenal opportunities and I’m not restricted to the confines of any geographic space. My talent is my passport throughout the world. My work fuels me and my purpose and I can channel the influence I gain into what I call spirit work, that’s an amazing thing to me."
"The joys: you can do what you love. I’m able to live my dream, which I know is a luxury. I know I’ve risen above so much history and I’m able to dream, that’s a beautiful thing."
"I’d love to be known as somebody who used her influence for the betterment of her people. I want to be remembered as somebody who fought for dignity for all, showed people love, a great mother and a wonderful partner."
"And for the first time, I saw how my own music had the power to connect with different races. In those spaces it didn't matter that I was black. It didn't matter that I was young. It didn't matter that I was female. It was just beautiful music. And it gave me a taste and the possibility of freedom, I think."
"We need to own our space. We need to own our career. We need to own our creativity. We need to know that it's possible."
"If you don't invest in yourself, who do you expect to do that?"
"I do believe in love—as a verb. Not as some airy-fairy feeling. As a verb. As something you do, you think and you speak."
"Accept your situation; that way, you can figure out how to navigate it from an empowered space."
"Make small goals – ones that you can see yourself attaining – and celebrate each step of the way. You’re alive. Life wants you to be, and that’s got to count for something. Appreciate life."
"Overcoming is not a one step process."
"Our world is changing. The old stories have worn thin. We're telling new stories now. We're creating new realities: ones which inspire and give us true power."
"I've got a new story. A new chapter - deliberately created. In this part I show respect for myself and my world."
"I also just think that in general about life, whatever you experience feeds into whatever you end up doing."
"So, nature is a very big influence for me and conservation is close to my heart."
"Too often, we like to think of ourselves as somehow being separate from nature when the truth is we belong to nature."
"As a human being, your priorities change, naturally, when you have kids, if you are consciously parenting. Things change. By definition, your identity changes as well, particularly if you’re a mother."
"I think that this thing of men being the leaders and women having to follow is going to go away. In many parts of the world, it’s the rule of law that men and women should take the lead even though it’s very difficult in societies to find it that way. But in our band, we see each other as equals and my role in the band is my role in the band, so one can’t argue about that simply because I am a woman."
"We are all different and the most successful artists are those who come up with something unique."
"My mom died when I was six. My fondest memory of her was colouring in. She taught me to colour in the lines. I felt so safe, like I was infinitely loved. When she died, I struggled to find a new way to colour in the lines."
"Going on that inward journey has led me to this point where I feel I need to share my story for the benefit of others. To explore my individual voice apart from the collective."
"What’s yours is yours, regardless of age."
"I try not to conform and prefer to stay in my own world. I spend a lot of time alone, which allows me to hear my own voice more clearly and avoid getting caught up in industry noise. I’m still learning about this industry and don’t know it deeply, but I’ve realised it’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing."
"I see people comparing themselves constantly. I remind myself, this is my journey and I need to honour it."
"Maybe it’s wise, maybe it’s not. Sometimes you do really need to secure the bag, but if there’s one thing I want to keep, it’s my integrity."
"However, I also realise that sometimes you do have to take on projects that don’t perfectly align with your values. In those cases, I think it’s important to find my “why”. I need to find a way to connect with it somehow. This helps me maintain a sense of purpose and integrity, even in situations where I have to compromise."
"When I’m working, I stay centred by meditating and prioritising breathing – breath is life."
"I often hear questions about opportunities for women and whether there’s equality. I feel these questions should also be directed at the men in the industry who are in charge of allocating opportunities. It would be interesting to hear their perspectives and how they think we can move forward towards equality."
"Realistically, men have held many of these influential positions for years, which can limit access for women. I don’t like that reality; but given the current climate, it’s crucial for women to support each other and create our own opportunities."
"Women need to rely on each other more and be open to being relied on, as we are the best advocates for our own success."
"The future, I am just happy to take one step at a time. I’ve learnt to be patient with myself and trust my journey. So wherever God is going to place me next is where I will be next."
"Because of social media, everything is so available."
"My heart is filled with so much gratitude. Farewell Shoki! Thank you so much to everyone who has embraced and loved Shoki over the years. It’s because of this character that I’ve become a household name and got my start in this industry."
"One thing I will do is appreciate every milestone in my career ... I'm grateful for this talent and more for the recognition for it. To going bigger and celebrating more."
"It is through your direction that Mhlengi is now a household name. I am speechless, but truly grateful to God for his divine blessings ... and congrats to my fellow nominees,” he wrote."
"There was a time in my life when I was working in retail because I thought showbiz wasn’t happening for me and I had invested so much. I worked for like, a year, before I was hired at Gagasi FM. Folding clothes in retail is not easy, but all of that builds you"
"She believed in me so much and could see that being in the public eye was something I enjoyed. From singing to dancing and doing drama, I was always that kid"
"It was a beautiful story about being lesbian in an African community like KwaMashu. I enjoyed playing that character and it was out of my comfort zone,"
"Noxolo and I had coaching lessons and counselling. It helped a lot having to understand that these are people’s lives and they sometimes get killed based on whom they choose to love. Portraying those characters was serious for us."
"This time, I wanted to bring even more: more emotion and more of that powerful connection we feel when we experience the music together, live and in the moment,"
"Even during the toughest of times, when I am on stage and the flow and exchange of light and energy is happening between me and the crowd, everything inside and all around catches fire; a bright burning fire. That’s what keeps me going. That is what I do it for"
"As an artist, performing the music I create to a live audience is very important to me. It's a different skill to create music in the studio, and it keeps me connected to the people."
"I thought to myself that one day I’d like to venture into business, but I didn’t know what kind of business, so for many years I carried on singing and acting while figuring it out."
"It was worth the experience. It was so nice to see South Africa taking an interest in boxing. And I posted afterwards that this man (Nyovest) got the whole continent watching boxing"
"We aren’t friends, but there is no need to disrespect each other, we’re cool,"
"I love controversy; it’s what makes good stories and good characters. Peter O’Toole was once asked what made a good actor and he said good characters."
"one of the best gospel artists that the country has ever produced;President Jacob Zuma"
"He had energy on stage and he was very powerful;His manager Tshepo Nzimande"
"It was a massive shock to me. I could not believe it at first but I was grateful that I could pray for him and bring him closer to the Lord;pastor Paseka "Mboro" Motsoeneng"
"Lundi used some of his earnings, but he was still able to save some of his money"
"Our artists have been dying paupers, but we would not allow this to happen to Lund"
"We were praying for his recovery, but God had His [different] plan. He is at peace wherever he is"
"Lundi requested me to bring his younger brother, Siyabonga, to Johannesburg. They were very close"
"He even came to Johannesburg to look for Rebecca in 1996. At some point, he became Rebecca’s backing vocalist and stayed with her for two years"
"Ukufa akujwayeleki! [One cannot get used to death]"
"These are the two superstars who healed people with their music, and their music gave hope to the hopeless"
"Maybe God is saying something to us as musicians"
"He told me that he did not want to die before recording a new song with me. He was a happy soul. He loved people and everywhere he went, people would feel his presence"
"Let us leave his mistakes [behind] and look at the better person he was"
"I spent his last days with him in hospital. I used to bathe him and give him his medication. He did not want me to leave. He would hold my hand tightly"
"Lundi connected his life with God in his last days"
"People are still writing about his unfortunate past [when Tyamara binged on booze and drugs], but he was a changed man. I do not care about how he started his life, I am interested in how he ended it"
"The media never caught him red-handed drinking alcohol, but it is he who decided to come out publicly about his drink and drug problems, and his sexuality,"
"he owed his success to his fans"
"This year I said no to five soapies or drama series. Because you ask me, ‘Can you speak Zulu’? My brother, if you can’t speak Zulu, be prepared to starve. Tell me one soapie without Zulus, I will give you a million (rand). In SA, if you can’t speak Zulu you are as good as scrambled eggs. It’s a big thing."
"You have to go through a process of giving your best and competing with the best in the industry"
"I needed a point of reference. I wanted to know where I’m seeking this character from."
"I think it's just luck and favour, and the audience deciding, okay, we're gonna keep you around. We like what you do, we're gonna keep you around"
"Songs are more valuable now than they were before. It used to be entire projects. If you have a really good song, you're good for at least six months"
"If you make music that people like, they'll remember you,"
"Even before I made money, I was an artist. As an artist, I've always done art, and I do as much as I can. But when my daughter was born, I had to make money. Then I started being a commercial artist, someone who would make money from the art."
"if you can't fly, you run; if you can't run, you walk; if you can't walk, you crawl; if you can't crawl, you roll. You do something"
"Through this platform, countless lives have been touched, worship has been elevated, and the message of Christ has reached multitudes both locally and globally"
"However, as seasons change, so do assignments Rev.Dube believes that the time has come to focus fully on the next phase of his calling, which includes expanding his personal ministry, mentoring the next generation of gospel artists, and pursuing projects aligned with the unique mandate God has placed on his life."
"Things are interesting here in SA. You’re only at the top of your game if people see you acting on national broadcast channels"
"If people don’t see you acting on traditional shows like Generation, Muvhango or Uzalo, it seems as though you’re not doing anything"
"I must admit this whole thing is a journey that I’ve been on for quite some time"
"I’m one of those people who have been fortunate enough to run back to the theatre when I felt like doing so."
"It’s also refreshing to step away from the small screen and hone my acting skills on stage."
"They [producers] told me they wanted me to embody the role of a successful man who is battling a lot of demons and challenges that have taken him from glory to a bad place. This storyline is prevalent to many men in SA and as we keep peeling off the layers of detective Zakhele, we realise how important it is to highlight the issues he’s facing."
"More than anything, this is God’s timing. This role came at a great time in my life. It’s as if whatever I’ve been through and experienced, I can translate those emotions on TV through this character. I’m glad to be playing the role of someone real that people can resonate with."
"Without any conscious intent, I have found that sometimes, when trying to bring a character to life, an instinct in me would force me to withdraw from the world of the set"
"Generally speaking, a movie set is a wonderful place for an actor to be"
"I’m often described as “the crazy actor who camps in the bush”, but becoming an outsider has been a deliberate decision on my part"
"I’ve always wanted to remain something of a stranger on set and to the other actors, since this has enabled me to choose how to interact and joust with the movie set – actors and crew – as an entity that I am part of, but, at the same time, apart from."
"I’ve always known that I am an outsider, and I believe every actor has to arrive at that magical island where it’s okay to be different and set up shop on the beach"
"Google can teach you many different things, but certain acting tricks can only be learnt through experience."
"...letting go of someone that you love and shared your life with is not an easy road to travel. Everyday feels like the journey just began and will not end."
"No amount of alcohol, late nights out and different girls can make the feeling of emptiness."
"To live life with a person who is constantly by your corner, supporting you and just loving you is amazing"
"If I knew marriage life was so great I would have married as soon as I found my other half"
"I love that you can experience all that beauty and relax without leaving the country."