The ultimate Michael Jackson tribute show

 

Kenny Wizz as Michael Jackson

 

Michael Jackson’s trademark ‘woo-hoo’ pierces through the darkness of the theatre and the crowd erupts as the beat of Jackson’s 1983 hit Wanna Be Starting Something, kicks off the musical biography HIStory ll.

I’d seen pictures of MJ impersonator Kenny Wizz but was still a bit sceptical about how much he would resemble the King of Pop and if he would live up to the rave reviews. As the stage lights focussed on the star of the show my scepticism vanished, replaced by awe as the soft spoken Kenny Wizz, on stage in front of me, was Michael Jackson incarnate!

While he belted out the first few songs I wondered if it was him singing but as the show progressed it became quite obvious that he was actually singing (unlike some lip-synching, American anthem singing divas-recently in the news).

 

Slash in HIStory ll

 

Yeah he is one of many Michael Jackson impersonators but there was something so authentic about Wizz's portrayal- it left us totally captivated and there were times when, with just the right moves and in just the right light, it felt like Michael was right there with us at the Joburg Theatre.

 

From ABC, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Thriller to Billie Jean and many more fan favourites the show delivered non-stop entertainment. HIStoryll will have you questioning reality and remind you why the musical genius that was Michael Jackson will never die.

The encore was magical, the crowd chanted out ‘Michael, Michael…’ and collectively cried out for, arguably Jackson’s greatest hit, Billie Jean.  

Through song, dance and with Wizz’s live band and talented dancers you will be transported to the era of Michael Jackson, an age as timeless as his music.

 

Getting to meet the man himself

RATED: Lookalike- 9/10, Dancing- 7.5/10, Singing- 6.5/10, Overall entertainment value- 10/10
 

Catch HIStory ll at the Joburg Theatre on until 10 February 2013.

 

At the launch of 3SIXTY Liquid Lounge

Walking the cobbled paths of Montecasino in high heels is always an arduous undertaking but it was a walk worth the risk, as across the cobblestone bridge within the confines of the casino floor lies the spectacular new entertainment venue 3SIXTY^oLiquid Lounge.

 

We were greeted by hot girls with painted on skin and a delicious drink that I could have done with a boot load of (Champagne I think).

 

The modern, chic interior boasts a restaurant and bistro, cigar & cognac lounge, cheese & wine room and frost-top bar. From the bar you can get; candy floss shooters served in test tubes, Black Forest shooters, Tequila with berries and the BullMeister where Jagermeister magically floats on Red Bull, to name but a few.

The menu is world-class with design it yourself options to boot and we got to try a few tantalising samples.  For entrees I tried; lamb fettuccine with snow peas, roast plum cherry tomatoes and parmesan shavings and the aged Karan beef fillet with shimiji mushroom, carrot puree and beef jus. Both of which I thought were simply delicious however I have to admit to testing the drinks before the food so my judgement may have been slightly impaired, as my companions were not as impressed by the fillet and thought it lacked seasoning. 

But by far the best treat, and on this we were unanimous, was the chocolate mousse in phyllo pastry. One bite of this decadently divine dessert (the beauty lay in its simplicity)and a week of effort at the gym would be undone-I had to try this cone-shaped wonder twice just to make sure the first one wasn’t a fluke of course. The star of this dessert that literally and deliciously held it all together was the phyllo pastry- delicate sheets of sheer delight- if you need just one reason to visit 3Sixty then this is it.
 

 

As beautiful as it may be, beware of the cobbled paths! Make sure you have a sturdy shoulder to help you over the cobbled walkways, after a night of over-indulging and one too many’s falling off one’s high-heels is a very real possibility.

 

For further info on 3SIXTY^oLiquid Lounge or for bookings: 011-510-7341

 

The legacy of Liliesleaf Farm

On a breezy afternoon I explored South African heritage through a guided tour of Liliesleaf Farm. Nestled in the heart of Rivonia, the farm nurtures the memory and legacy of South Africa’s struggle heroes.

The tour began with a 12-minute, black and white video depicting the historical events that shaped the country’s future. The guide, Zain Khumalo then led us through corridors, were the walls seemed to teem with nostalgia, across green lawns and to the Manor house.

Khumalo explained the significance of the house. “Arthur Goldreich, a member of the Communist Party, and his family, fronted as the white owners of the farm, to keep up the façade of that time.”

Nelson Mandela moved in under the guise of a caretaker and took the alias David Motsamayi, the name of one of his former clients. “He wore a simple blue overall that was considered the uniform of the black male servant.”

But the farm was actually the meeting place for prominent leaders who fought against apartheid, until that fateful cold day in July 1963 when it was raided and ANC leaders were arrested. However it was through that injustice that the world’s attention focused on the tyrannical government in South Africa.

While 60 percent of the original brickwork was kept during renovation and maintain a semblance to the decades gone by, the technology that unfolds that past is a true testament to the innovation of our present technological era.

At the Manor House history is retold via a 3D interactive table of video, images, audio, and text.

Emerging at the back entrance of the house we were shown the coal shed where Madiba’s documents were discovered which ultimately led to his 27-year imprisonment. As we passed the outbuildings I was in awe of the rich history that just this one place held, we have certainly come a long way since the days of the ‘dom pas’ but there’s still a long journey ahead on our democratic path.

Building Midrand's Nizamiye Masjid

Natashia Bearam

The Nizamiye Masjid (mosque) opened in February following more than two years of construction. Inspired by Ottoman culture, the mosque has brought a little piece of Turkey to Midrand.

 

 

How it all started

Turkish property developer Ali Katircioglu, affectionately known as Uncle Ali, fulfilled his dream “to replicate Ottoman architectural style in a place where it did not exist” on South African soil in October 2009 when work on the Nizamiye Masjid began. Katircioglu initially planned to build the mosque in the United States, however, when a suitable location could not be found and at the suggestion of his friend Fethullah Gulen, he brought the ground-breaking project to SA changing the Midrand skyline forever. Katircioglu has overseen the entire project and will remain in the country until its completion.

Design and architecture

Occupying about two-thirds of a hectare, the mosque is a focal point between Johannesburg and Pretoria. According to project manager Orhan Celik, the masjid is a scaled down (20 percent smaller) replica of the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, Turkey. The Selimiye was built in the 16^th century by architect Mimar Sinan and is considered to be his greatest design and the apogee of Islamic architecture. “For Ottomans, among other art forms, architecture was one of the main ways to explore and express the beauty and spirituality of Islam,” said Celik.

The plans for the Midrand mosque were drawn up in Turkey and a local architect was tasked with adapting the drawings to local standards and regulations. It took thousands of man-hours to meticulously piece together the mosque and a team of Turkish builders was brought in to ensure its success. While it has been widely touted as the biggest mosque in the southern hemisphere Celik said he could not confirm that.

No costs were spared on its construction but according to Celik, media reports claiming the mosque cost upward of R1 billion were exaggerated. “All the amounts published so far have been estimates of other people,” said Celik. “Uncle Ali does not want an amount attached to the project but we can say that it is much less than the amounts published.”

Exploring the Nizamiye Masjid

The three-tiered grand mosque makes for a striking silhouette with its massive hand-painted dome bordered by four identical 55m high minarets. Stepping inside the masjid one is immediately awestruck by its seamless symmetry and beauty.  The harmonious architectural design transports you to a time when sultans ruled and empires dominated. Turkish Iznik tiles, which were handcrafted and imported from Turkey, adorn the walls and ceilings of the masjid.  Several ornate stained-glass windows create an extraordinary illuminated interior, drawing the eye upward toward the spectacular dome and highlighting the marbled pillars decorated with hand-painted golden leaves.

The central men’s prayer area and the upstairs women’s gallery, accommodate up to 3 000 people per service. But for Katircioglu the mosque is much more than a place of worship. Celik said, “Uncle Ali feels that a building is just metal and concrete and only becomes meaningful when it serves people. Hence he added other features to it like a clinic, school, cemetery, conference hall and shops, so it will serve as a community centre not just a place of worship.”

Stats a fact

• 200 workers were used in the Nizamiye’s construction.
• The dome is 31m high and 24m wide.
• It has four half domes and 21 smaller domes.
• There are 232 stained-glass windows.
• There are seven entrances.
• The dome was covered with 48 tons of lead.
• The minarets are 55m high with stairs going up three platforms. One minaret has two staircases.
• The name Nizamiye was inspired by the 11th century AD Nizamiye Madrasah (educational facility) in Baghdad.
•  All of the Islamic artworks were hand-painted by calligraphers.
•  The prayer hall has a mehrab (a niche in the wall indicating the direction of prayer toward Mecca), mimbar (pulpit atop a flight of stairs) and kursu (podium). 
•   Including one in the courtyard there are five wudhu facilities (Muslims use this to wash  before prayers).
•  On special occasions the mosque is lit up in luminescent green and purple at night.
•   The carpet in the main prayer area was specifically designed for the mosque and the hand- painted dome above it is a mirror image of its design.

NB: This story is referenced in a Wikipedia article about the Nizamiye Masjid.