The last decade was indeed an excellent one for the South African creative and media industries. Alongside a bounty of musical treasures, the nation’s film industry came out on top, films such as “District 9”, “Tsotsi” and “Invictus” garnering worldwide attention and attracting the consideration of the Academy Awards, among others. This decade is shaping up to be similar, though thanks to these initial trailblazers, South Africa’s cultural gems are firmly in the limelight. What does the future hold for the media industries of the country?
Niell Blomkamp, creator of the critically acclaimed “District 9” and “Elysium”, is one of South Africa’s top directors and screenwriters, and this year will be releasing his next feature, “Chappie”. The film, about an experimental robot built to learn and feel that is subsequently kidnapped by a gang and used within the criminal underworld, was filmed in and around Johannesburg features South African star Sharlto Copley and Hugh Jackman, and looks set to be a force at the box office.
Set in Cape Town, 2015 will see the release of “Momentum”, a South African film about crime and greed that is focused upon a heist gone wrong. The film, set to star Olga Kurylenko, Morgan Freeman and James Purefoy, looks set to revel in Cape Town’s particular appearance and atmosphere.
It’s not just films that are becoming South Africa’s primary cultural exports however, as the country’s music and gaming industries are similarly making their talents known. Yeboyescasino, an online gaming provider based in the country, has been offering customers a huge selection and variety of online casino games for years now, allowing those that love to game the opportunity to play their favourite games wherever they are. Naturally, the site is proving a hit with customers across the world.
In terms of music, singer Yoani Visser and rapper Ninja’s Die Antwoord group have been making waves worldwide with their own particular brand of rap rave music. The group shot to prominence in 2009 with the release of their first studio album “$O$”, and last year grew ever larger with the release of “Donker Mag”. The group is well known for their exaggerated performances, experimental sound and propensity for utilising outdated cultural elements from the past, performing in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. The group are currently back from a worldwide tour that included a number of dates in Europe, but look poised to grow huge worldwide in 2015.