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Vuse Inspired Live: A Festival of Inspiration
A non-stop stop journey of inspiration with Vuse
What inspires South African creatives to share their work with the world? During the month of June, we streamed a unique, four-partseries that aimed to answer this question: Vuse Inspired Live.
12 Artists Every Week. 1 Platform. Endless Inspiration.
Hosted by Siya Metane (Slikour), Nina Hastie, Scoop Makhathini and Smash Afrika, this one-of-a-kind platform features 40 exclusive interviews, performances and collaborations from our country’s most talented artists – including Kwesta, Courtnaè Paul, Austin Malema and more – in the unique Cubes of Inspiration, where they’ll be challenged to create ground-breaking, never-before-seen content that charges your creativity with new ideas.
Vuse Inspired Live is free to watch on any device until the 31 July 2021, and you don’t want to miss out on the hours of incredible content waiting to be explored. Here are the artists who showcased their inspiration on Vuse Inspired Live – click the YouTube links below their bios to watch a snippet of their stream:
Vuse Inspired Live #4 aired: 30 June 2021
Stylist, fashionista and blogger Lerato Kgamanyane is the founder of online social and e-commerce platform HellenRose, which curates creative and social content around fashion, culture and lifestyle for South African women.
Instagram: @lerato_kgamanyane
Zimbabwean-born model Kim Jayde, who has previously done stints as an MTV Base presenter, recently launched her own YouTube channel, Kickin’ It With Kim Jade, in which she shares her passion for all things sneakers, from the latest styles to the culture surrounding kicks.
Instagram: @kimjayde
That Damn Vandal is a multi-disciplinary urban artist, based out of Durban. His bold, clean work has made him one of the most renowned graffiti artists in SA.
Instagram: @thatdamnvandal
Thabang "Bangyisdead" Rabothata is a fashion designer and founder of local lifestyle brand, Dead. - which is very much alive on the local scene, delivering premium streetwear garments for influential faces on the forefront of SA culture.
Instagram: @bangyisdead
Zoë Modiga is a compelling singer-songwriter with a jazz and classical background, whose 2020 album Inganekwane hit #1 on the Apple Music SA World Charts.
Instagram: @zoemodiga
Rapper Malusi Ndlovu – Beast to his fans – will be collaborating with fellow Durban-based hip hop duo Dreamteam, who dropped new content throughout lockdown. Beast and Dreamteam will be joining forces inside the Vuse Cube of Inspiration to entertain hip hop fans.
Instagram: @beast_rsa @dreamteamdbn
Courtnaè is a dancer, choreographer and DJ with international acclaim. After taking 1st place at the Red Bull BC One South African B-Girl final, she’s set to become the first African B-Girl to represent SA at the world final in Poland.
Instagram: @courtnae_paul
A former taxi driver, KZN-born Siyabonga Nene made waves in the music industry when he burst onto the scene with his own, unique genre of hip hop, dubbed Inkabi Rap, influenced by the culture of the taxi industry.
Instagram: @bigzulu_sa
Nicodimas Sekheta Mogashoa, the DJ and producer popularly known as Da Capo, started his music career when he was barely old enough to get into the clubs he was playing at, and he hasn’t slowed down since. He’s played venues all over the world and recently signed with Toronto-based DNH Records.
Instagram: @dacaposa
What doesn’t Eddie Vilakazi (AKA Urban Eddie) do? He’s a digital content creator, he travels the world, has his own Instagram food blog and is the owner of his very own clothing brand, Urbane Eddie Clothing.
Instagram: @urbaneeddie
Austin is an internationally acclaimed photographer, who has been lucky enough to snap some of the biggest celebs in the Mzansi and the world, from David Beckham to Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Malema also moonlights as a video editor in the South African television industry.
Instagram: @aust_malemaVuse Inspired Live #3 aired: 23 June 2021
The globetrotting DJ and producer, blaqkongo – whose musical influences include everything from 90s Deep House to Central & West African Music – will be collaborating with award-winning visual artist and creator Inka Kendzia. The Cube of Inspiration will be their playground and we can’t wait to see what they come up with.
Instagram: @blaqkongo @inkakendzia
After blasting her way to the finals of SA’s Got Talent, the vivacious and vibrant drag queen Manilla von Teez hasn’t slowed down for a second. Aside from the taking the title of Miss Black Pride, Miss Cape Town Pride, Miss Cape Peninsula and Miss Loerie, she has become an influential voice in South Africa's LGBTQI+ scene, all while continuing to dazzle audiences with her feisty theatrics.
Instagram: @manilavonteez
An established member of SA’s club elite culture over the last 20 years joining forces with a House songbird – what’s not to love? As a label manager at Soul Candi Records, kidFonque knows how to get the best out of an artist: how will he and Sio – the multi-disciplinary House artist with a host of collaborations under her belt – combine in the Cube of Inspiration?
Instagram: @kidfonque @iam_sio
Afrobeat hitmaker Manu WorldStar has gone from strength to strength since cracking the top 10 on the hip hop talent search, Vuzu Hustle. Having grown under the tutelage of K.O, Culoe de Song and DJ Speedsta (another artist that has graced the Cube of Inspiration), Manu has gone from ‘one-to-watch' to a fully-fledged star.
Instagram: @manu_worldstar
After more than a decade of success in the South African music industry, at this point identical twins Andrew and Brian Chaplin may as well be royalty in the electronic and hip-hop scenes. They might be the great-grandsons of comedy legend Charlie Chaplin – a bizarre revelation from a few years ago – but these Chaplin’s are no joke, and neither is their music.
Instagram: @locnville
Meet the First Lady of Gqom, TDK – short for Thandeka – Mkhwanazi. With a background as a dancer, TDK is renowned for her hypnotic energy on stage and in the studio.
Instagram: @tdkmacassette
Boogy Maboi is a style icon in SA, and has styled some of the biggest names in the business. She’s in a constant state of reinvention, discovering new ways to inspire her fans week in and week out.
Instagram: @boogy_maboi
Seth Pimentel – better known as African Ginger – is an emerging young artist whose illustrative style brings his homeground of Jozi to life in surreal and unexpected ways. His honest, current and cut-through style has led to some mind-blowing collaborations... the latest of which can be seen on the next installment of Vuse Inspired Live.
Instagram: @african_ginger
The last 12 months have been a whirlwind year for Ami Faku: after scooping Female Artist of the Year at last year’s SAMAs, this Afro-Soul siren even had one of her songs, Uwrongo, named in Time Magazine’s 10 Best Songs of 2020. Tune in to Vuse Inspired Live to listen to this songstress give it her all in the Cube of Inspiration.
Instagram: @Ami_FakuVuse Inspired Live #2 aired: 9 June 2021
Tumelo' Maero' Nedondwe and Tumelo' Force' Mabe make up the dynamic duo known as MFR Souls. South Africans first woke up to their unique take on Amapiano in 2019, when they released their chart-topping debut album, The Beginning – which included their hit song Love You Tonight, feat. household names Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa.
Instagram: @realmfrsouls
Model, reality TV star, businesswoman, creative... and drop-dead gorgeous human being. It's almost impossible to sum up Blue Mbombo, but if we had to do it – those would be the words we’d pick. With her own fashion line and aspirations to take her talents to the big screen, the sky is the limit for this superstar.
Instagram: @blue_mbombo
A true icon of the airwaves, Phestus ‘Fistaz Mixwell’ Matshediso has been spinning fire for more than 2 decades. From dropping gold-status solo albums to DJing the hottest clubs around the world, Fistaz’s ambitions lead to him heading up some of SA’s biggest entertainment brands.
Instagram: @fistazmixwell
There’s a reason that Rhulani Anthony Bila goes by the moniker, ‘The Expressionist’: this globally-recognised photographer is a master of storytelling through visual mediums, and his work has been exhibited and awarded as far afield as New York, Dublin and Tokyo – even gracing the pages of Vogue Italia.
Instagram: @theexpressionist
Radio host and hip-hop hitmaker, DJ Speedsta is a household name around South Africa known for his outspoken opinions and pumping playlists.
Instagram: @speedstabro
This former member of YouTube sensation, Microwave Boys, is a digital content creator and Creative Director at Muchindu Media.
Instagram: @siphosnaps
Mkhize is the award-winning fashion designer and head of the fashion label House of Saint Luke. His designs are bold and peppered with influences from cultures across Mzansi.
Instagram: @mxolisiluke
As the son of The Princess of Africa, world-renowned figure Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Mfumu has had a lot to live up to... but he’s made mom proud with his entrepreneurial spirit.
Instagram: @shilungwa_mhinga
Rightfully recognised as a legend within the House and Deep House scene, Kat La Kat has produced chart-topping tracks and remixes for the better part of a decade.
Instagram: @katlakat
Johannesburg-based artist and interior designer Itumeleng Makgaka – otherwise known as Terracotta Cells – is a self-confessed fineliner addict and up-and-coming illustrator whose stunning black-and-white portraits capture the hearts and souls of her subjects.
Instagram: @terra_cottacells
A musical pedigree passed down from his father, years of honing his talents on an assortment of instruments and a natural creative flair that defies convention, Benny Afro’s music combines contemporary influence with timeless style.
Instagram: @bennyafroe
This graphic designer, make-up artist and all-round super-creative is the co-founder of production company Fuata Moyo, where Martine’s custom designs transcend fashion and art to create one-of-a-kind sneakers, jackets and more.
Instagram: @miss_tina15Vuse Inspired Live #1 aired: 2 June 2021
Hair is a hugely important medium for self-expression in South Africa, and Dlova’s inspiring headpieces and creative braided hairstyles bring new depth to the hair game. Her work has graced the cover of Glamour and the head of glamour icon Megan Markle.
Instagram: @nix_indamix
Breaking it down with Lil Wayne, choreographing for the queen of SA hip-hop Sho Madjozi and releasing her own single are all part of a day’s work for this creative hurricane. Will the Cube of Inspiration be strong enough to contain her fierce energy?
Instagram: @courtnae_paul
After a roller-coaster journey on last year’s season of The Bachelor SA, Bridget started her own travel agency, TravelB.
Instagram: @bridge5m
Reach into your pocket and pull out a R2 coin. See the illustration? Well, it might just be one of Neo ‘Nene’ Mahlangu’s. Nene is the youngest artist to design for the South African Mint, and her emotive illustrations have been exhibited at sold-out shows around the world.
Instagram: @nenemahlangu
As a rapper, producer and record-label founder, there’s nothing that Kwesta can’t do. This multi-SAMA winning artist is the golden boy of South African hip hop – need we say more?
Instagram: @KwestaDaKARThis graphic designer, make-up artist and all-round super-creative is the co-founder of production company Fuata Moyo, where Martine’s custom designs transcend fashion and art to create one-of-a-kind sneakers, jackets and more.
Instagram: @miss_tina15
One of the founders of Until Until – the events agency taking the Jozi party scene by storm – this young matriarch is set to provide insights into the world of fashion and street culture.
Instagram: @jaxx_amahle
Travelling Africa, learning new customs and empowering local tourism sounds like a dream, right? For Katchie, ‘The Solo Wandera’, it’s a dream come true. Hear all she’s learned travelling our vibrant continent at Inspired Live.
Instagram: @thesolowandera
This DJ, producer and all-round powerhouse’s masterpieces infuse hip-hop and electronic with Afrobeat, kwaito and more, and his futuristic visions of South Africa have seen him influence the local fashion and culture scene, too.
Instagram: @mvziou
A hit debut album and a style that belies his age, Pierre’s fresh take on electronic music has seen him perform on the country’s biggest stages. Watch him take his next step into the stratosphere at Vuse Inspired Live.
Instagram: @pierrejohnsondj
The latest inspiring artist born from South Africa’s rich storytelling heritage, Abrahams’s illustration studio Yay Abe blends contemporary illustration with gritty street art for an experience unlike any other.
Instagram: @ohrussellabrahams
A breakout stint on SA Idols, several chart-topping singles and a cabinet with silverware. That’s Shekhinah in a nutshell. Let this Durban-born R&B vocalist’s smooth vocals wash over you from one of the unique Cube of Inspiration at Vuse Inspired Live.
Instagram: @shekhinahd
Grab your ticket to exclusive deals, prizes and more
The events are free-to-stream, you just need to be over 18 to register at VuseInspiredLive.com and stream the content. Once you’ve registered, check into VuseInspiredLive.com for event updates and follow @vuse.za for behind-the-scenes content and more.
The journey doesn’t end there
Explore your own creativity, thanks to an extra 15% discount on your next purchase on vuse.com, just for registering on VuseInspiredLive.com. You can use your discount to stock up on your favourite flavours or to grab the hottest new vaping device, the new Vuse ePod.
Register now to take your next step towards inspiration.
