From magnificent garden parties to dinner with the president, raised platforms for Kevin Hart and a knock-out wait for Floyd Mayweather, Craig Jacobs looks backs at events that capivated us in 2023.
A Royal affair
A garden party in a magnificent setting, Quoin Rock wine estate in Stellenbosch, at which ladies in sumptuous gowns and men in tailcoat suits were regaled by an orchestra led by feted female black conductor Oftentse Pitse? This was the cinematic shindig to mark the launch of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, the prequel to the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, in April.
And what an impressive ton showed up, led by British actress Golda Rosheuvel, who plays the titular character, and Arséma Thomas (the younger Lady Danbury in the period drama), joined by Nigerian actress Sharon Ooja, Kenyan comedian Mammito Eunice and Tanzanian actor Idris Sultan (all specially flown in by the streaming service).
The local crowd, all in their finest African inspired take on the Regency era, included Basetsana Kumalo and her vivacious sister Johanna Makgalemele, designer Gavin Rajah, model Blue Mbombo, actresses Thembi Seete and Rami Chuene (who seems to be a Netflix events fixture) and Dineo Langa with her dashing husband Solo.
Under canopied loungers, we were offered canapes such as carrot spring rolls served out of cigar boxes and dry aged salmon with garlic milk gel and pickled mustard seeds (a visual delight but a little messy to eat) while a banquet table featured melt-in-your-mouth beef skewers, bowls of jollof rice and braised beef shin on pomme puree.
I even cracked an impromptu audience with the “queen” herself (Golda wondered if I was the “the Lady Whistledown of your column”) although I couldn’t help but wonder if designer Victoria Ongansie had repurposed her granny’s duvet for the skirt which formed part of the veteran actress’ ensemble.
Sheer joy
Thuso Mbedu twirling in a pink ballgown in front of a replica of the Eiffel Tower at the Sandton Convention Centre in August was hands-down the most joyful moment to witness this year.
The Pietermaritzburg-born Hollywood based actress was in town to celebrate being named the L’Oréal Paris ambassador for Sub-Saharan Africa at an event attended by 700 guests asked to follow the “strictly black, Parisian chic black” dress code.
The star of The Woman King and The Underground Railroad follows in the footsteps of ground-breaking model Kgomotso Primrose Moloantoa, the French beauty brand’s first face for Africa in 2001.
Who wore it best?
There was something familiar about model du jour Ponahalo Mojapelo when I met the Dazed magazine cover star at the 2024 SA Style Awards winners dinner in November.
The blazer which next year’s recipient of the Most Stylish Model trophy was wearing looked identical to the dripping-in-bling black Mr Allofit jacket which rapper Nomuzi Mabena had worn a week earlier at the Kwesta/Bisquit & Dubouché listening session.
Clearly the two Mzansi “It” girls have a similar taste when it comes to threads…
Din dins with the Prez
We all recognise that President Ramaphosa has a lot on his plate, so it must have been a welcome change for Number One to spend time away from his bumbling cabinet in the company of folk who know a thing or two about running successful operations.
On a Thursday evening in October, uncle Cy was the keynote speaker at the annual Hall of Femme awards, put on by the South African chapter of the International Women’s Forum to acknowledge “the excellence of extraordinary women”.
The organisation, founded by former First Lady Zanele Mbeki, is helmed by business leaders like telecoms giant Irene Charnley and Anglo American SA’s board chair Nolitha Fakude.
The night, officiated by Basetsana Kumalo and Charmaine Houvet, saw Ugandan activist Winnie Byanyima, advocate Mojanku Gumbi (who in January was appointed a UN special adviser) and former IEC chair Brigalia Bam honoured.
No short cut
While the late musical genius Prince famously wore heels to elevate his 5 foot 2 inch frame, the organisers of a movie premier in February came up with a more sweeping solution for their main attraction, the Hollywood star only half an inch taller than the singer of Purple Rain.
A platform was purposefully built to raise the black carpet at the screening of Die Hart at the Nu Metro cinemas at Montecasino in Fourways, so that Kevin Hart, arguably the world’s most bankable comedian, could chat to the media on eye-level.
Kev, however, who has embraced Mpho, the name given to him by a fan the last time he was in the country, towers when it comes to charisma and confidence.
Asked if the movie — in which he plays a fictionalised version of himself on a quest to become an action star — was a pitch to prove that he can pull off a physical role, Kevin/Mpho revealed the plot was “all fun, done light-hearted”.
“I am fine where I am but, if I wanted to, I could ... The concept of wanting to be an action star gives us the grounds for us to build. You need a foundation and a good story, that’s what it is,” explained the man who in 2019 was listed by Forbes magazine as the world’s highest paid stand-up, with annual earnings of $59m.
Influencer overload
This year event organisers went into overdrive to accommodate social media influencers’ hunger for Instagrammable moments.
Yes, it’s good to document memorable experiences but are we missing out on life in the quest to take the perfect pic?
At the launch of hair straightening brand GHD’s new range of products in November, I was struck by the realisation that the pressure to post is taking away from our true appreciation of special moments.
Everywhere you turned a content creator was snapping selfies or posing for personal photographers as they pouted in photo booths, sipped non-alcoholic cocktails and checked out the brand’s swag.
No Knockout
Imagine forking out thousands to hang out with Floyd Mayweather — and then having to wait more than three hours for him to pitch because one of the world’s greatest boxing champs chose to fit in a bout of shopping at Sandton City’s swish Diamond Walk before coming to dinner.
That was the case for those poor sods who bought tickets to attend the 46-year-old American’s black tie dinner honouring South African boxing legends at the Sandton Convention Centre in July.
The undefeated champ made the stop in Joburg on his private jet after being hosted in Zimbabwe by deep-pocketed Zanu PF politician Scott Sakupwanya for what a PR stunt to sing the praises of the regime next door.
This was a lavishly decorated affair with top-notch entertainment, but with less than half the seats filled, more staff than guests were in the ballroom where the event was held.
Bonang revs it up
TV personality and champopo queen Bonang Matheba has perfected the art of traffic stopping entrances.
Take her arrival on the back seat of a red Pontiac in October to mark the reveal of the Bonang Matheba Steve Madden New York Holiday designed collection at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.
Engines roared, flashbulbs flared and the lady of the hour, pretty in pink, giggled and smiled as guests took out their cellphones to capture it all.
The year’s most heart-warming moment as Lira shares that she sees her stroke as a blessing
A moment which will stay with me long after this year was listening to songbird Lira open up about how the stroke she suffered in 2022 proved to be an unexpected gift.
She was one of the speakers at the Mancosa Jacaranda FM business breakfast at the Maslow Times Square hotel in Pretoria on a Friday in October.
This was the first time I had seen the Feel Good singer since she was struck by what turned out to be aphasia — a brain disorder leading to difficulty speaking, reading or writing — while on a tour in Germany.
“I struggled to sleep last night because I am excited. I am here to share my stroke recovery story,” she told the audience to rapturous applause. “When you have not been able to talk, and now you can talk… I talk until the cows come home.”
During her talk, over more than 30 minutes, Lira recounted the details of what happened that afternoon when “a sensation hit me” while strolling alone through the streets of Frankfurt.
Her acceptance of what ensued, and how she has come to accept the stroke as “a blessing” struck a chord. “I needed a break. The stroke was how I got a break. It didn’t affect me physically, but it affected my voice, and my ability to read and write. I’m a singer songwriter, so it took away my job, and gave me a life ... that I had time ... to appreciate my relationships, and to appreciate my [own personal] time. It caused me to exist in the moment.”
John Kani gets his flowers
The cream of the theatrical crop, political heavies and art lovers gathered at Joburg’s Market Theatre on a Wednesday evening in September to celebrate the 80th birthday of one of the greatest actors to have trod its boards.
Many will know Bonisile John Kani for his turn as T’Chaka in Marvel’s Black Panther or as the man who voiced Rafiki in The Lion King. But long before the Hollywood lights this New Brighton-born thespian’s performances in Sizwe Bansi is Dead and The Island drew international acclaim. Dr John (he holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Town) was honoured by the department of sport, arts & culture at the fifth edition of the Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series.
At the occasion, attended by an impressive crowd including theatre luminary Abigail Kubeka, struggle vets Max and Elinor Sisulu, former prez Thabo Mbeki and his wife Zanele, Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi, arts minister Zizi Kodwa and John’s good friend Barney Pityana, the Nothing but the Truth playwright and multi-award winning actor expressed gratitude “for this great tribute so that this beautiful family now know when I am not at home, where I am and what I have been doing”.
