News Bulletin of 28 April 2025, 8am

Johannesburg is the most culturally vibrant city in Africa. This is acccording to the Creative Vibrancy Index for Africa that ranks how 12 African cities support and enable the arts, culture, and creative industries. The index provides a comprehensive overview of the environment for artists and creative entrepreneurs. Johannesburg has the highest overall ranking score for creating the most enabling environment for creativity, followed by Cairo and Lagos.The cities were ranked based on availability and access to cultural venues and facilities; cultural policies that support the arts, and the cities’ capacity to promote culture.

Fine artist Malebogo Molokoane has described her first three months in the US as an exhilarating experience. The 34-year-old from Rustenburg, scored a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when she was named as a recipient of the Chrysler Museum of Art Student Assistantship programme in Norfik, Virginia. Molokoane’s glass artworks were noticed when she was named the 2022 Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award recipient. Part of her prize was a three-month art residency in Paris and a solo exhibition at the Absa Gallery in Johannesburg. SOUND

China has introduced a groundbreaking flexible, lightweight solar panel with a higher power output than most rooftop systems. This innovation makes solar energy more accessible and efficient. Positioning itself as a global leader in renewable energy, China’s latest development promises a more sustainable future. Experts highlight its potential to accelerate clean energy adoption worldwide.