South African actress Natasha Thahane posted about losing her grandmother just after her uncle died, and the whole thing went down while her family was still trying to organize his funeral. She spent the afternoon with her grandma braiding her hair into simple cornrows, and they sat there talking and laughing like everything was normal, even though her grandmother apparently knew what was coming.
The older woman kept asking when certain family members would get back from the car wash, and once everyone showed up and the braids were done, she passed away right there with them. Thahane said her grandmother had been discussing her funeral plans while they were arranging the uncle's service, which caught everyone off guard. She thanked her...
Zimbabwe's energy watchdog laid out exactly what fuel importers need to do if they want to stay legal past New Year's Eve. ZERA made it super clear that dropping $15,000 on the application fee means nothing without backing it up with proof that your company actually moves product or runs gas stations.
Companies have to show receipts for bringing in at least 10 million liters of fuel sometime between last year and 2022, or they need to prove they either own or manage at least three retail locations through title deeds or lease agreements. Everything gets submitted through one specific email address in PDF format, and the regulator warned that anyone caught selling fuel without proper licensing will get hit with penalties under the...
Zimbabwe's energy regulator just dropped the rulebook for fuel companies trying to get licensed for next year, and they are not messing around with the requirements. ZERA made it clear that operators need to renew before their current permits expire at year's end, and just throwing money at them does not guarantee approval.
Companies chasing import licenses have to fork over $15,000 plus show they actually moved 10 million liters of fuel last year or owned at least three gas stations. The regulator set up a whole pricing tier for different license types, with wholesale permits running $9,200 while rural retail spots only cost $50.
Everything has to go through email in PDF format under 10MB, and ZERA warned that anyone operating...
K-pop giant HYBE just teamed up with Brandon Hixon and Colin Gayle, the duo managing Grammy-winning South African artist Tyla, to build out a full management operation targeting African talent for global markets. The partnership gives HYBE its first real foothold on the continent after the company already set up shop in Japan, the US, Latin America, China, and India over recent years.
Tyla becomes the flagship artist under this setup, and she keeps her existing managers while getting access to HYBE's touring infrastructure, marketing muscle, and brand partnership network. The deal lets them sign fresh acts and create what they are calling a pipeline for both emerging and established African musicians.
This move breaks from HYBE's...
SoundCloud linked up with Auracles, a digital identity thing created by Grammy winner Imogen Heap, to give artists better control over their stuff online. The deal was announced at Web Summit in Lisbon and lets musicians connect their SoundCloud accounts straight to Auracles so they can move projects back and forth between platforms. Artists get one spot to manage all their metadata, stems, press materials, bios, and contact info.
Heap has been working on artist ownership tools for over ten years, starting with her Mycelia research hub before building Auracles as what she calls a sovereign digital ID for creators. She thinks the partnership will kickstart a future marketplace where artists keep control of their work one song at a time...
Universal Music Group wants to offload Downtown's Curve royalty accounting operation to calm down European Commission regulators who are side-eyeing the $775 million Downtown Music Holdings buyout. UMG pitched a remedy plan that involves selling the entire Curve business as a standalone unit to some independent buyer, and the Commission already started reaching out to potential purchasers.
The main worry here is that UMG could peek at sensitive competitor data sitting in Curve's systems and use that intel to dominate rivals. The divestment package dumps everything about Curve, including almost all staff, customer deals, and the platform software itself. UMG gets to keep a sanitized duplicate copy with zero access to customer info from...
The Weeknd just locked down a deal with Lyric Capital Group that brings in outside cash but keeps him and his crew as shareholders with creative control over everything. Representatives confirmed the partnership covers his catalog from career start through this year, bringing in both publishing rights and master recordings, but future drops stay separate for potential individual deals later.
The structure reportedly involves around a billion dollars split between senior debt, junior debt, and equity. Unlike typical catalog sales, where investors grab full ownership, this one works as a joint venture where Abel Tesfaye keeps the freedom to execute his vision across all his rights. Lyric reps noted from their first sitdown that selling...
Bulilima Rural District Council is ditching its shared office setup in Plumtree and heading back to Ndiweni Centre within three years, according to CEO Billiat Mlauzi. The council is currently splitting workspace with Mangwe RDC, which apparently sucks for getting stuff done, and Ndiweni has better access to the district's wards anyway. Mlauzi said some buildings are already standing at the old site from when they operated there before amalgamation happened, and most of them just need basic fixes.
The council still needs budget approval before moving forward with the plan, and officials are defending their numbers to the ministry soon. Priorities are hitting social infrastructure like clinics and schools, along with rebuilding admin...
Vivian Viyo Siziba from Zapu told voters at Nkulumane Hall that people complaining about garbage services while skipping civic meetings are basically shooting themselves in the foot. The candidate dropped his warning during a debate set up by the Centre for Innovation and Technology alongside resident groups, saying empty school meetings and zero turnout at community gatherings kill any chance of getting stuff done.
Siziba went after the constitutional extension talk floating around Zanu PF that would stretch presidential terms until 2030, claiming that kind of power grab messes with everything from water projects to basic delivery. He pointed out how Matabeleland South Senator Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa fought against a sketchy second border...
