Makhosonke Buthelezi

02/02/2026

Miss World 1972: Two South African contestants, on left, Miss Africa South Cynthia Shange and, on right, Miss South Africa Stephanie Elizabeth Reinecke, pictured together in Grosvenor Square, London on 22nd November 1972 prior to competing in the Miss World 1972 beauty pageant. (Photo by Rolls Press/Popperfoto)

02/02/2026

28/01/2026

At a jazz show, Orlando Stadium, Soweto, c 1960. Photo by Alf Kumalo

28/01/2026

Artist, Singer and Thespian - Sam Mabaso Williams (1928 - 2007). Williams was a composer, stage, television and film actor, director, singer and dancer. As a musician, he founded an acappella band called the Boston Brothers in the 1960s. He directed Phiri, The Question, A Matter of Convenience (1975) and Children of the Twilight. He played for Benjy Francis in Fugard’s The Blood Knot and Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. He starred in Barney Simon’s production of Cincinatti – Scenes from City Life together with Marcel van Heerden, Danny Keogh, Lesley Nott, Barrie Shah, Thoko Ntshinga, Bo Petersen, Vanessa Cooke and Robin Smith for The Company at the Market Theatre, Upstairs at the Market, the Baxter Theatre and the Brooke Theatre in 1979. Sam was most famous for playing Bra Da**ie in the television series Velaphi. He also appeared in the feature film Game for Vultures. Source: esat. Image Source: Drum Social Histories

28/01/2026

Winston Ntshona, right, and John Kani at a lunch for Tony nominees in New York in 1975; they went on to share the Best Actor award. Photo Credit: NYTNS/Redux/Eyevine

28/01/2026

Kingston-born Sly Dunbar, reggae legend and one half of the Jamaican rhythm section duo Sly & Robbie, has died aged 73.

Sly Dunbar was one of the most prolific drummers in the reggae scene, famously working alongside late bassist Robbie Shakespeare as part of the production duo Sly & Robbie.

Together, the pair helped to propel the pioneering sounds of reggae, dancehall, and dub through the 1970s, recording several albums together and working on productions for the likes of Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, and Paul McCartney.

In his solo career, Dunbar also performed drums on tracks for artists like Bob Marley and The Rolling Stones, and was nominated for 13 GRAMMY Awards during his five-decade-long career.

28/01/2026

28/01/2026

Several French nightclubs have been shuttered as a result of sweeping fire inspections in the wake of a deadly blaze at a Swiss venue on New Year's Eve.

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fire, which ripped through Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana - which sits just 30 miles from the French border - during the early hours of January 1, killing 40 people and injuring a further 100.

The venue's owners, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, were arrested on January 9 under suspicion of "negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and causing a fire by negligence". Jessica was placed under house arrest while Jacques was initially held in custody, but he has since been released on bail.

According to The Connexion, there has been an increase in audits across France since mid-January, following the Interior Ministry's urging of prefectures to ensure nightclubs and late-night bars comply with fire safety regulations.

In Rennes, Brittany, five venues were inspected between January 17 - 18 by prefecture officials and fire services, with four ordered to close for violations like "blocked exits and inadequate safety equipment," including Ty Koz — a cocktail bar located within a 16th-century timber building in the city centre.

Lyon's Javoo was issued with an emergency closure order after a surprise inspection found “numerous serious failings,” including the unauthorised use of sh**ha pipes within the venue, and flammable materials being stored close to electric equipment. The city's mayor has claimed that the inspection was not connected to the Crans-Montana tragedy, and was planned beforehand.

A number of bars across France have also pledged to ban sparklers.

28/01/2026

26/11/2025