NEWS
Tesla’s low-cost renewable battery could revolutionise Africa’s energy supply
Batteries that can store renewable energy for longer and at half the current cost have been hailed as an energy revolution that could transform Africa’s power supply.
Launched by California-based tech company Tesla, the battery can hold enough energy to power a home for up to five hours.
Tesla boss Elon Musk said the company had Africa in mind when it developed the wall-mounted energy source. Just like the mobile phone allowed the continent to surge ahead in internet connectivity, so a battery pack that can power a home or business could allow Africans to leapfrog the limits of the grid.
The company has promised to release the technology into the public domain, encouraging others to develop their own models using the open source data.
Africa is the world’s most energy-scarce continent. Sub-Saharan Africa has an installed capacity equivalent to that of Spain, and half of it is in South Africa alone.
But perhaps more importantly, Africa could become the global centre for green energy. Thanks to the expansive Sahara desert, strong winds along its coasts and its flat, arid interior, and geothermal reserves all along the Rift Valley, the continent has the world’s highest reserves of renewable energy resources.
FASHION
Sandton’s Diamond Walk: The fashion gateway of Africa
Diamond Walk is set to become the fashion gateway of Africa as the new hub for international global brands. It will be home to the likes of Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Billionaire Italian Couture and Burberry among other equally big names.
Thabo Dloti, CEO of Liberty Group – which is 75 per cent part-owner of Sandton City, said when they conceived the idea they were bearing in mind that this mall attracts international visitors seeking “an international experience”, so they had to put brands in place that reflected that.
MUSIC
2015 Sizzled Summer Music Festival in Cape Town
Unleash your inner carnivore at this Sunday fiesta where braai, beer and deep house collide
Inyama, vleis or just good ol’ meat – it doesn’t matter what you call it, this braai-tastic, beat-spastic Cape Town event has the carnivore and music lover in mind. Chill out to deep house tunes and dig into prime cuts at the monthly Sizzled Summer Music Festival at aMadoda Braai on Sunday, 31 May 2015.
Founded in 2012 and deemed one of ‘the original Sunday music fests’ by organisers, this extravaganza returns after a short hiatus to bring weekend warriors the freshest, spiciest beats on the block. The chefs? Some of the Mother City’s up-and-coming deck-wreckers. Need us to spell it out for you a little bit more? The griddle and line-up will be red-hot with hip hop aficionado DJ Azhul, deep house guru TerraSoul and others bringing mad tunes that’ll guarantee a perfect Sunday funday.
Line-up for the 2015 Sizzled Summer Music Festival: DJ Azhul, TerraSoul, Leighton Moody, Centafield, Keenan Williams, Charlie Baker, Byron Alcock, DJ Phil, Mikhael Snayer, Robbie B, Grimehouse, Dubmasta China, Soul Cougar, Gene Loww, Jeanpierre Jul, John Slingers, Matthew Mini and Lastborn with more to be announced.
Date: 31 May 2015
Venue: Amadoda Braai
Location: 1-4 Strand Street Woodstock
ART
Africa Month Lecture Series with the African Arts Campus
Join the African Arts Campus for a series of enlightening talks on politics, economics and culture in contemporary Africa. Africa Month is a time for the continent to reflect on its immense complexity, beauty and diversity. From ancient primeval forests to flurried cities and skyscrapers, it is a place of exquisite contradictions. The African Arts Institute’s African Arts Campus (AAC) is celebrating Mother Africa by hosting a series of evening and afternoon short courses, mini-lecture series and stand-alone talks on development, arts and culture in our contemporary nation. The talks will take place in central locations around the Cape Town CBD from Monday, 4 May until Monday, 25 May 2015 (with some events falling on Friday, 29 May).
The lecture series will also be enhanced by its historic locations as talks will be staged in places such as the District Six Museum and Cape Town City Library.
The African Arts Institute is a Cape Town-based NGO on a mission to promote participatory democracy, respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms and equitable social and human development in African countries through cultural development affirmation. It was founded in 2009 and aims to highlight African content and arts internationally as well as locally.
CONSERVATION
Record number of rhinos to be airlifted
In the face of ever more devastating poaching statistics there is a story of hope. The largest airlift of rhinos ever undertaken has begun. On the 28th April, the first group of rhinos was released into Botswana.
These rhinos will form part of a seed population that will have a chance to expand in number and gene diversity, whilst being protected by the latest technology and a specialised anti-poaching unit. This initiative will be moving at least 100 rhinos to Botswana as part of the Rhinos Without Borders initiative in partnership with andBeyond, and they are already moving steadily towards being able to get the next group to safety.
WHAT’S ON………
Cape Town Good Food & Wine Show – 21 – 24 May, CTICC
DHL Stormers vs Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby – 23 May, Newlands
Park Acoustics Music Fest – 24 May, Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria
Classic Movie Sundays – 24 May, Bioscope Independent Cinema, Maboneng
Electronics & Gaming Expo – 29 – 31 May, CTICC
Seven Sounds Music Festival – 30 May, Common Ground, Maboneng
UK & Ireland
Russia
