On The Couch

Flamboyant Prince of Spice, Reza Oh My! Some interesting questions here My moment with Reza Mahammad Reza Mahammad The Spice Prince by Yashika Ramautar YR: Where did your passion for cooking and food begin? RM: In many ways it began from staying with family in India, learning to make jams and all sort of stuffs. I used to help my mum make samoosas by filling it up and so on. Then with the restaurant business, my father passed away when I was 15, so I did a Hotel Management course, and then went straight into the business. I do love it, its fun but a lot of hard work too, and I tend to bring the fun out of it more than anything else! When you enjoy what you do, its like art or music where you can be expressive, and I love that. YR: Is there any part of being in the kitchen that you don't like, and why? RM: IThe thing is that,if you are doing something, then you've got to do it at the end of the day. For me every aspect is as important, from ...

Courtney "Scott" Smith, is a local street dancer from Wentworth, who dreams of one day  opening  dance academies all over the country. He believes that teaching youngsters the raw cultures of street dancing, will take away many of the negative perceptions many people have about street dancing. Southern Star caught up with  The Scott, just to find out a little bit more about what he wishes to achieve in the future. SS: When did your dance journey begin? CS: Well, everything began when I was about twelve years old. I used to dance with my cousins, doing small imitations of Michael Jackson for our family. When we started getting a bit better at it, we were given the chance to do proper performances at weddings and stuff like that. I did that kind of stuff for a while. When I was in my Matric year of High School, I formed a duo with another aspiring dancer in my area and not long after that, we were both recruited to one of the Bluffs best crews Prime Effect. Since the...

Kagiso Ledgia is well-known in comedy circles. Having been on shows like The Pure Monate, often featuring on comedy DVDs and so forth, Lediga has finally opted to do his one-man show. The Weekly Gazette-Glenwood's Se-Anne Koopman caught up with Lediga while he was promoting his film last week and got to find out just a little more about the raspy-voiced funny man. SK : Who is Kagiso Lediga? KL : I don't know where to start… I was born about 33 years ago in Pretoria. I am a comedian. I make movies and television programmes and I am funny! SK : Where did you spend most of your childhood? KL : In Pretoria SK : When you began comedy, it was during your studies. What did you study and did you finish? KL : Yeah, I was studying Drama at UCT. I was also involved in comedy, even at University and it just continued from there SK : What inspired your love for comedy? KL : I guess comedians… Other comedians. When I was a kid I used to watch Woody Allen movies and thought this ...

For a decade now Freshly Ground has been bringing a fresh, eclectic sound to both local and international audiences alike.  They will be headlining the Old Mutual Music at the Lake concert this Sunday and, ahead of the show, Zolani Mahola chatted to the Weekly Gazette - Glenwood about the incredible journey that's made freshly Ground into the seven-player masterpiece that it is today. BW:  How did you all get together and get to know one another and, from there, how did you all come to decide to form a band? ZM:  We all met in cape Town, very randomly and not with the intention of forming a band. We started jamming and just found that we really enjoyed making music together. That was towards 2002. BW:  How has your music evolved over time? ZM:  We've grown a lot musically but, more than that, as people. When you spend over a decade with a group of other people you learn so much about them and about yourself. It's a really unique experience. BW:...

By Janine Moodley DNN: Beyrick, tell us a little bit about who you are? BDV: I'm 19 years old, I live in Umhlanga Rocks and went to school at Atholton Primary School (best school ever).  It was at Atholton where I met my friend Devin Lane who first got me into surfing. DNN: Tell us about your surfing career so far? BDV: Well, I started surfing and did my first contest when I was 11 years old.  I was very surprised when I came third in the u12 division at SA Champs and that is when the bug bit and I got really keen on contest surfing. DNN: You have recently been granted a Wildcard entry into the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito, how do you feel about that? BDV: Ecstatic, relieved, liberated.  In order to qualify for these events you have to have an international point rating.  It is quite difficult for the SA Surfers because they are up against International surfers who have a lot more events to surf overseas than we do here.  And every even...

Meet Umhlanga born singer/ songwriter, Farryl Purkiss, a worldwide super talent who captivates music lovers with his soothing yet strong vocals. Durban North News caught up with the SAMA nominee to find out what he is all about...  DNN : Tell us a little about who you are? FP : My name is Farryl David Purkiss, born and raised in Umhlanga Rocks and now living in Cape Town with my wife. I am a struggling musician and a cook. DNN : What was it like growing up in Umhlanga? FP : Humbling. If it wasn't the ocean that was giving me a beat down it was the older crew in my group who would dish out some punishment. DNN :  So, what are you up to at the moment? FP : Currently in the Ukraine with my wife on holiday. Just finished a tour in the States and the UK, so this is a bit of a wind down for me. DNN : Do you think your music is recognised more internationally or just within South Africa? FP : South Africa is a tiny place in comparison to the other territories I travel to....

By Yashika Ramautar YR: Describe your typical morning from the time you get up. JN: I’m not really a morning person, but my TV shoots often start quite early, so my mornings are invariably rushed, with me literally flying around the house trying to get ready on time.  Brush my teeth, shower, hair, make-up, dress up, (I often change clothes a couple of times before I’m completely satisfied). Breakfast is a bowl of cereal with some yoghurt, a cup of green or rooibos tea and a banana. And then I'm off! YR: How long does it take you to get dressed, from after your shower to looking all glam? JN: About an hour and a half...although I've learnt to do it in about an hour if I have to. YR: What are some of your favourite Indian dishes that you can prepare yourself? Can you make Woorunde or any sweetmeats? JN: I’m better at cooking than baking. I make a great curry. Although, as far as Indian sweetmeats are concerned, I make the best Chana Magaj. Got the recipe fr...