This is the first of a two-part blog post titled Black on Both Sides. I’m sure the Hip-Hop aficionados remember and probably still play Black on Both Sides, Mos Def’s classic break out album, right? Mos Def or should I say Yasiin Bey now, as he changed his name recently hasn’t been bringing the classics lately but his shit was hot fire when [...]
The Black Hugh Grant
Posted in Guest Posts,Wabona on April 18th, 2013 By wabona
There are a couple of actors that I do not particularly care for, and Hugh Grant is one of them. Nothing against him as a person I should add - after all, I don’t know the man individually as I have never met him. The only bit of semi personal knowledge I have is that he was once somehow fortunate enough to date model-slash-actress Elizabeth Hurley and managed to mess that one up royally.
No, the reason I don’t particularly care for Grant is because I think the title of ‘actor’ is one which you can apply in its loosest possible sense. Take a look at some of his filmography and you will see he plays the same role (bumbling, likeable British idiot) in pretty much every film he’s ever made: Four weddings and a what-what - check. Nine Months - check. Notting Hill - check. About a Boy - check. Love Actually - check. There’s no acting required there - Grant just turns up and completes the same ‘performance’ each time.
This minded me to think of another actor who has come to define the dictionary definition of ‘typecast’. Ladies and gentleman, I give you Mr Morris Chestnut (aka the black Hugh Grant).
Are you looking for the handsome, well-built, charming and successful black lead for your romantic comedy? Will the film co-star Gabrielle Union? Will the role call for a nicely trimmed goatee? If the answer to these questions was yes, then I present to you………….Morris Chestnut! Look at some of the films he has done: The Best Man - check. The Brothers - check. Two Can Play That Game - check. Think Like A Man - check.
Alright, enough playing around. I make fun of Chestnut but I think that it must be a struggle for some actors to get out of stereotyped roles. Film executives invariably want to ensure a box office hit and when trying to do that, one tries to not reinvent the wheel. If it ain’t broke, then don’t try to fix it. Why change a winning formula? You get the picture. So unless your name Is Denzel or George or Brad, don’t come around here trying to break out of your guaranteed slot - go trim your goatee, work out in the gym and work that sex appeal to get the bums on the seats.
But don’t get it twisted, that still won’t make me change my mind about Hugh ‘the fake actor’ Grant.
-Ticha (@tichakp)
So who is Ticha? When he is not blogging about or watching sport, Ticha can be found watching re-runs of “that night in Istanbul” when Liverpool FC won their last European Cup. If there is no sport on TV, Ticha defaults to watching cult films and memorising useless quotes. The film he has watched more than any other is Pulp Fiction (“say ‘what’ one more time! I dare ya!”) and he believes the greatest TV show of all time is Voltron (“form arms and torso”). The first TV show he remembers watching was the cult children’s TV show ‘Rainbow’.
Check out Ticha’s blog: www.goalmouthmelee.wordpress.
More posts
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Black on Both Sides Part 1
Posted in Guest Posts,Wabona on April 18th, 2013 By wabona
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Nigeria-Carving A Place Amongst The Stars
Posted in Guest Posts,Wabona on April 17th, 2013 By wabona
This story does my heart good. As a proud Nigerian-American hearing news about the homeland that doesn’t involve a Nigerian prince asking for money via email, makes me a little giddy. A few years ago, Nigeria launched 2 satellites in to space. According to the BBC these satellites are now being used to keep tabs on [...]
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Mafuta Vibes-Are We Allowed to Be Fat?
Posted in Guest Posts,Wabona on April 17th, 2013 By wabona
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Amasoja in the Hood Part 1
Posted in Guest Posts,Wabona on April 16th, 2013 By wabona
This is Part 1 of a two-part blog on “Hood” Movies in South Africa. Right now I am hungry for a brothers in-the-hood movie, completely gangster. With Impala 64’s and slow moving drive-by assassinations, “chicken-head” women chattering all over the place and smack talking. Scenarios where the kid on a BMX is selling crack, under-aged [...]
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Anime & Africa
Posted in Guest Posts,Wabona on April 16th, 2013 By wabona
At some point in your life you have heard the names One Piece, Naruto, or Bleach if not then definitely these Digimon, Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z. Growing up some of us didn’t know these cartoons were a subculture of Anime. I’ll approach this post on the chances that the majority of our community are [...]
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Some Good Old Comedy
Posted in Wabona,What's on Wabona on April 15th, 2013 By wabona
The 90′s were famous for their many comedies whether black, white or homegrown. When I think of the comedies that I enjoyed as a young girl my mind goes to Friends, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Martin I loved those comedies. They just used to make laugh so much. I love the lightness and sometimes [...]
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Wabona launches Subscription Service
Posted in Simba Says,Wabona on April 13th, 2013 By admin
Today we are proud to announce that we are launching a subscription service for all our users. For US$5.99 per month you will get unlimited access to all our TV shows and films. We have redesigned the Wabona website and we are launching this new service with some new West African films on Wabona. We want to make [...]
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Noluntu: The Evil Daughter
Posted in Guest Posts,What's going On on April 3rd, 2013 By wabona
Since we had such amazing feedback on our soap opera post, I thought it would be good to speak about Generations new villainess or b*tch. Her name is Noluntu Mamela, played so well by rising star Zenande Mfenyana and she is ruthless, cold, charming and scary.
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Back in the Day Soapies
Posted in Wabona,What's going On on April 2nd, 2013 By wabona
As a young girl, I was a big soapie lover. I loved all the soap operas from Days of Our Lives to Backstage. I must admit that in the 1990′s and early 2000′s my favourite soap operas were the South African ones. I just could not miss an episode of Generations and Isidingo. The backstabbing [...]
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Simba on Game of Thrones
Posted in Wabona on March 27th, 2013 By wabona
Game of Thrones Season 3 is about to start and here is Wabona CEO, Simbarashe telling you why he loves it.