Joburg meets Lagos in an AfroExchange cultural takeover
Industry leaders such as Amahle Jaxa, Omashola Oburoh and Ayanda Mhlongo participated in panel discussions.
A concert featuring Afrobeats artists BNXN and DJ Maphorisa showcased the growing influence of African music and culture.
@citypressza
Johnnie Walker brought South Africa and Nigeria together for a cool event called AfroExchange. The two countries united through music, art, food and fashion at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand. #afroexchange #djmaphorisa #southafrica #nigeria
♬ original sound - City Press
We may beef on social media and have other issues with each other, but SA and Nigeria will always have the sibling love/hate relationship.
This was proven by the launch of the AfroExchange Creative Summit last month held in Rosebank and the AfroExchange event that took place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit recently
Supplied
AfroExchange was introduced to celebrate Africa's creative spirit through creating a vibrant platform designed to explore, champion and connect African creativity. As Africa's influential countries, Nigeria and SA are brought together by art, fashion, food and music.
The intimate summit, hosted by musician and businessperson Siya 'Slikour' Metane, had a panel discussion led by content creator and businesswoman Amahle Jaxa. Omashola Oburoh, Ayanda 'Aya' Mhlongo and Austin Malema were also part of the dialogue
Mhlongo said that she worked for a global brand for a few years and added that the only way Africans could own their stories on the global stage was by participating on the global stage.
We can't expect someone sitting in an office in Sweden to tell an authentic African story compared to what an Aya would do.
Ayanda Mhlongo
'We should start focusing on the global stage because not only are we better, but we are also honest. African art transcends anything across the globe because what we do is honest and relatable everywhere,' she said.
Business owner, model and musician Oburoh said when he was growing up in Nigeria, people did not want to listen to Nigerian music, but preferred American hip-hop. However, times have changed and American artists want to feature African musicians and creatives.
'Those are people we never thought in our lifetime would ever do Afrobeats music. When you talked about African music, no one cared, but now they are more into Afrobeats,' he said.
Having lived in Lagos and Johannesburg, Oburoh said both cities had distinct vibes. He added that it made him happy to see people in SA clubs looking forward to hearing Afrobeats during a DJ set.
The artists were part of the Johnnie Walker AfroExchange event at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit hosted by Nomuzi 'Moozlie' Mabena. Bringing electrifying energy on stage were artists such as Nigerian singer BNXN, Tito M and Yuppe, Shakes and Les, Professor, Dlala Thukzin, Banquesz and Veno, with DJ Maphorisa headlining the event.
Also featured was SA and Nigerian food, bridging the gap between the two countries, arts and merchants such as Galxboy, Xavier Zulu, Dirty Natives and Saga while others enjoyed a fashion show, whisky tasting and pairing.
Supplied
Ifeoma Agu, the group head of culture, influencer and advocacy at Diageo South, West and Central Africa, said the two countries met on four expressive pillars that shaped culture and how the world sees us – food, music, art and fashion.
As a brand deeply embedded in promoting African culture. Johnnie Walker is proud to walk alongside this generation of visionary creatives who are turning Afro creativity into global influence. AfroExchange is more than a platform; it is a celebration of cultural dialogue.
Ifeoma Agu
The date for the Lagos leg of the event is yet to be announce but Johnnie Walker's commitment to creativity will be amplified.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
2 hours ago
- News24
Conrad Koch brings the ‘Puppet Power' with hilarious new show
In the queue to one of Conrad Koch's sold-out shows at the National Arts Festival were audience members, young and old. With his new show, Puppet Power, the comedian and puppeteer's routine walks a fine line between mature political commentary and rapid-fire puns. While the adults in the audience might get big laughs from Koch's main puppet, Chester Missing's political riffs, the younger people might have more appreciation for characters like Gunter the mosquito or Hilton the ostrich (who's also a bit of a bully). There's basically something for everyone in the show, and Koch makes sure the audience feels involved by making the show interactive. In this high-energy show, Koch's first puppet segment is with Chester Missing. He hilariously unpacks Cyril Ramaphosa and company's visit to the White House earlier this year and the SA 'refugees' who went to the US upon Donald Trump's invitation. He also goes into the GNU with jokes for several of SA's political parties. The overall point in the first segment is that 'everyone is a puppet,' especially those in power. Everyone is being influenced in some way or bending to someone else's will. After that, the show pivots into more silly territory, with an open mic set by Gunter the mosquito, who delivers puns about being an insect. Koch fires off the jokes almost at a blink-and-you'll-miss-it rate. He also brings out his other beloved character, the Afrikaans teacher Mr Dixon, who is one of the show's highlights. Towards the end, Koch has a funny segment with DJ Hoodie, where all the punchlines are excerpts from various pop songs. He ends the show by calling up a member of the audience and putting a dinosaur costume on them, turning them into a puppet, too. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Conrad Koch (@theconradkoch) Puppet Power provides a solid hour of entertainment and genuine laughs, mostly hitting all the right notes. Koch says that with Puppet Power, he is aiming for a particular type of tone. 'What I mean by that is that it's fun, it's family accessible, it's politically progressive, but not shouty about it. So, everyone can come and enjoy the show, but there's a particular politics coming out of it,' he says. 'The core factor is having fun and creating a shared space where South Africans can laugh together,' Koch adds. 'The concept of Puppet Power is that we have the power to push back against the fact that we are being controlled by the media, by social media influencers, etc.' In terms of making the show more fun for families, Koch says: 'I want parents to be able to bring their 12-year-old to the show. They won't get the political jokes, some will, but they generally won't, but they'll enjoy the rest of the show.' 'There are dad jokes, there are characters, someone's parent is going to become a dinosaur. Creating that fun environment is something I am aiming to do.'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
David Beckham's Silent Hospital Stay Has Fans Asking Questions
David Beckham's Silent Hospital Stay Has Fans Asking Questions originally appeared on Men's Fitness. David Beckham was recently hospitalized. His wife, Victoria Beckham, shared a photo to her Instagram story of David on June 27. She wrote "Get well soon daddy" over the photo, accompanied by a heart emoji. In the photo, David is wearing a hospital gown and hooked up to wires, flashing a soft smile at the camera. His right arm is in a blue sling. The following story on Victoria's Instagram was a photo of David holding a beaded friendship bracelet that spelled out "get well soon." The picture looked like it was taken outside the hospital, possibly alluding that he was has not publicly addressed his hospitalization, nor has Victoria provided additional details of what landed him there. But, some speculate that it may have to do with an old injury from his soccer-playing days. Beckham recently underwent surgery to fix a wrist fracture he originally suffered 22 years ago during a 2003 international friendly against South Africa. The cast Beckham wore right after the injury even ended up being included on his wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong back in 2003, Sports Illustratedshared. But new X-ray revealed that a screw from the initial operation had remained lodged in his forearm and hadn't dissolved as intended, as the New York Postreported. David has been open about the injuries he dealt with throughout his playing career, admitting he regrets taking multiple painkilling injections—including three in his ankle—just to make it through his final game for Real Madrid in Beckham's Silent Hospital Stay Has Fans Asking Questions first appeared on Men's Fitness on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Men's Fitness on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
News24
16 hours ago
- News24
DJ Black Coffee shows off opulent lifestyle and happy family moments with Victoria Gonzalez
Grammy Award-winning DJ Black Coffee shared intimate social media moments featuring girlfriend Victoria Gonzalez, his children and mother celebrating Father's Day and a family birthday together. The post revealed glimpses of Black Coffee's luxurious lifestyle, including his Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz G-class, and opulent properties, as well as family moments. Black Coffee included footage from his recent Ibiza performance with producer Fka Mash, demonstrating his continued international music success. Grammy Award-winning South African DJ Black Coffee has given fans a rare glimpse into his personal life. In a heartfelt social media post, he showcased quality time with his blended family. The internationally acclaimed DJ took to his timeline on Wednesday to showcase his recent life, which has been filled with happiness and family celebrations. In the post, Black Coffee featured his inner circle, including his girlfriend, Venezuelan model Victoria Gonzalez, his children, and his mother, spending quality time together celebrating Father's Day and a family birthday. The Grammy award winner also showcased glimpses of his opulent lifestyle, including his sleek Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz G-class, and luxurious properties. Black Coffee's relationship with Gonzalez first sparked public interest in 2023 when photos of the couple together on a South African safari began circulating on social media. Their relationship was further confirmed through affectionate social media interactions, including Victoria posting pictures from South Africa captioned 'From Africa with love,' to which Black Coffee replied warmly in Spanish. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Black Coffee (@realblackcoffee) Since becoming public knowledge, the relationship has progressed significantly, with Victoria increasingly integrated into Black Coffee's family life. Recent social media posts have shown her bonding with Black Coffee's mother and helping his daughter with activities like roller skating, demonstrating the serious nature of their relationship. Despite initially expressing that he did not want to remarry following his divorce, Black Coffee appears to be moving forward seriously with Victoria, as evidenced by her integration into his family unit and their public displays of affection. The social media update also included professional highlights, featuring a snippet from Black Coffee's recent performance in Ibiza alongside producer and Fka Mash. This demonstrates his continued international success in the electronic music scene, maintaining his status as one of South Africa's most successful musical exports.
