Saturday Star 2026-03-21

Singer and media personality Nandi Madida has ventured into her most personal project to date, The Motherhood Network. Recently recognised as one of Apple Podcasts’ Best of 2025, the platform has rapidly transformed from a podcast into a vital sanctuary for parents across the continent. At its core, the podcast is built on the idea that for a society to thrive, its mothers must first be healed. The inception of the podcast was born from a quiet observation of a loud need. Madida found that her private interactions with other women were often defined by shared questions and a search for guidance. “It was imperative for mothers to be seen,” says Madida. “I noticed a lot of mothers would come up to me with questions, and I am in no…

TODAY is Human Rights Day in South Africa, honouring the nation’s commitment to justice and equality. South African literature has significantly contributed to the struggle for human rights, fostering awareness and influencing the ideologies that drove the anti-apartheid movement. A number of books are particularly notable for their impact on both the South African and international conversations surrounding human rights. I Write What I Like by Steve Biko This is a collection of writings that laid the foundation of the Black Consciousness Movement. Biko’s work helped unite Black South Africans to reject psychological oppression and fight for self-liberation. First published in 1978, a year after Biko died in police detention, the book gathers his columns, letters and speeches written between 1969 and 1972. The book continues to be a reference…

For decades, the “Cry It Out” method has been the go-to for exhausted parents. Whether it’s leaving the room entirely or checking in at timed intervals (the Ferber Method), the goal was always the same: teach the baby to self-soothe. But in Denmark, often ranked as one of the world’s happiest countries, a major shift is happening. Health authorities and over 700 psychologists have officially pushed back against these methods, citing concerns that they may actually harm a baby’s developing brain. This isn’t about new laws or parenting police. It’s a change in expert advice. The new consensus? Babies don’t actually have the brainpower to self-soothe yet, so they need you to help regulate their emotions. The science: What happens when babies cry alone? When a baby cries and isn’t…

While many aspire to be rich and famous, American rapper and music producer André 3000, above, has admitted to disliking the limelight. In a recent clip that surfaced on social media, the 50-year-old musician openly stated, “fame sucks”. “Being famous really sucks. It’s so un-human. There was this classical pianist who said, ‘It’s actually unnatural and detrimental to a human to have that much admiration because it actually changes the way you think. It changes the way you move,” André explained. André has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over 30 years, beginning his career with OutKast in 1992. He achieved mainstream success with the group in the mid-1990s and has continued to work as a feature artist and musician, most recently releasing a solo flute album…

Grammy Award winner and internationally acclaimed composer Lebo M has initiated a $20 million lawsuit against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka. The legal action, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, arises from alleged damaging misrepresentations, defamatory conduct, and unlawful commercial exploitation related to the renowned Royal Praise Chant, Nants’ Ingonyama. The controversy began when Mwanyenyeka, in a viral social media video, made claims about the chant while appearing on a talk show. During the segment, he stated that Nants' Ingonyama translates to “Look, there is a lion, oh my God!” This interpretation has been met with significant backlash, with Lebo M asserting that it diminishes the cultural and spiritual significance of the chant, which is deeply rooted in Zulu and Xhosa traditions. Lebo M’s…

Tumi Mogorosi will take to the stage at the 23rd Cape Town International Jazz Festival as part of a tribute project that honours the legacy of jazz pioneer Kippie Moeketsi. The performance, titled Revolutionary with a Reed, places Mogorosi at the centre of an ensemble that reflects on Moeketsi’s influence while reworking his music through a contemporary lens. The set is scheduled for the Rosies Stage, where Mogorosi will be joined by Muhammad Dawjee on saxophone and Nhlanhla Neville Radebe on bass. Mogorosi’s work has long drawn from improvisation, spirituality and political thought, and these elements continue to shape his approach to this tribute. He explained that the performance is grounded in both memory and reinterpretation. “The themes that are shaping the music I am bringing are about thinking through…