According to The Art Newspaper, a unique historical relic was stolen from the Musée du Pays Châtillonnais – Trésor de Vix museum, located in the town of Châtillon-sur-Seine, France.
According to The Art Newspaper, a unique historical relic was stolen from the Musée du Pays Châtillonnais – Trésor de Vix museum, located in the town of Châtillon-sur-Seine, France.
Two masked individuals smashed a display case in front of other visitors and stole the valuable pearl. This item, found in the tomb of a Celtic queen known as 'Dame de Vix,' was discovered in 1953 and is approximately 2500 years old.
This gold pearl, weighing between 450 and 480 grams, is considered one of the rarest archaeological finds related to Celtic culture. The criminals also stole other valuable items from the museum.
Law enforcement agencies are currently investigating this crime.
The 'Best Collaboration' category at the 32nd South African Music Awards (SAMA32) showcases the strength of teamwork in the amapiano and Afro-house genres. This category recognizes partnerships that shape contemporary South African music, as well as outstanding individual talents.
A SAMA representative, Unathi Gwida, noted that many significant compositions are born from the union of exceptional artists who share ideas, blend styles, and create something greater than the sum of its parts. The SAMA32 'Homecoming Edition' will take place on August 15th at the Sun City Superbowl in the North West province.
The awards honor not only stars but also the alliances that continue to influence South African music. Tickets for the event are available through Ticketpro. Gwida emphasized that this edition celebrates both outstanding individual abilities and the spirit of collaboration that fosters artistic innovation and musical excellence, while also strengthening the status of the North West province as a hub for music, culture, and entertainment in South Africa.
The nominees in this category demonstrate the power of joint work. They include tracks such as 'Abantwana Bakho' by DJ Maphorisa and XDuppy featuring Kabza De Small, Thatohatsi, Young Stunna, and Nkosazana Daughter; 'Dlala Ka Yona' by DJ Maphorisa and XDuppy with Enny Man Da Guitar, Focalistic, Ricky Lenyora, Uncool MC, Mellow, and Sleazy; 'Shela' by Sam Deep, Nia Pearl, Boohle, and Mano; 'Thandaza' by Sam Deep and Thatohatsi; and 'Tobetsa 3.0' by Myztro, Leehleza, Shaunmusiq, and Ftears.
The composition 'Abantwana Bakho' quickly gained popularity among amapiano fans, surpassing over 10 million streams on Spotify in a few months, cementing the positions of DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small as some of the country's most streamed artists. The track 'Dlala Ka Yona' became a hit in dance clubs and social media, garnering millions of views thanks to its video and audio release, and going viral through dance challenges on TikTok.
The song 'Shela' set a record by becoming the most streamed song in a single day on Spotify South Africa, accumulating over 455,000 streams on New Year's Eve. This multilingual track explores romance to the rhythms of amapiano, and its music video garnered over 10 million views on YouTube just a few months after its release.
The track 'Thandaza' offered a different approach, combining spiritual motifs with club beats. Released as a single from Sam Deep's album 'Who I Am', it reached the top spot on the Apple Music charts, and the album itself climbed into the top weekly Spotify charts. Its message of hope and faith resonated with listeners across the country. 'Tobetsa 3.0' continued the success of a series of songs that became a favorite at parties and festivals after months of announcements on social media.
The 'Best Collaboration' category recognizes not only commercial success but also the creative spark that arises from the joint work of artists from different styles and backgrounds. Such partnerships often bring new talents to a wider audience, inspire fresh sounds, and lead to songs that dominate playlists and dance floors. Whether a track is a club anthem, a love ballad, or an inspiring hymn of hope, the brightest musical moments of South Africa often arise from the combined efforts of artists.
Hollywood producer Quan Phung shared his knowledge of global storytelling with creative specialists in Cape Town, specifically in the Philippi area.
According to the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, the event aimed to bridge the gap between Cape Town's developing creative industry and Hollywood. This process was led by television industry award winner and global media strategist Quan Phung, who visited Cape Town this week as part of the American Film Showcase (AFS) program.
Phung brought over two decades of experience from the international film and television industry to the South African creatives. The event, organized jointly with the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, included workshops and discussions on global storytelling, content development, and the future of the screen industry, involving animators, cinematographers, and emerging storytellers.
During his stay, Phung met with aspiring filmmakers across Cape Town, including those at Philippi Village on Tuesday. He noted that his trip to South Africa confirms the immense talent and growth observed on the continent. 'I feel like the world is sleeping on Africa and its creative community here,' he stated. He added that the 21st century will be a period of rapid growth opportunities for Africa to showcase its cultural potential to the world. Phung shared impressions from meeting various filmmakers, both those with international experience and local newcomers, highlighting the value of learning from them and the opportunity to discuss the industry's development trajectory.
Zephaniah Ntshekisa, Brand and Communications Manager at Philippi Village, emphasized that inviting Phung aligned with the organization's mission to achieve narrative justice. Ntshekisa explained that at Philippi Village, they believe everyone deserves the right to tell their story. He noted that the narrative about Philippi often reduces to violence and crime, although this is only part of their essence. In his words, the daily work of young creatives, entrepreneurs, activists, and community leaders deserves to be told. Bringing international leaders into their community creates significant opportunities for idea exchange and recognizing the global value of local stories.
As Senior Vice President of Original Series at Topic Studios/First Look Media, Phung was responsible for building the company's television division and overseeing the sale of series to platforms such as Apple TV+, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Disney/Freeform. His creative contributions include acclaimed television projects like 'How I Met Your Mother,' 'House,' and 'Arrested Development.' Sam Werberg, Public Relations Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, expressed satisfaction with developments in film, animation, and short filmmaking. He noted that the presence of such an experienced American like Quan Phung, who has worked in Hollywood for 20 years, to share expertise with South African colleagues is an excellent event.
Various events took place in Cape Town during the week: a masterclass for local creatives, a discussion with emerging filmmakers at American Corner, and a workshop at Philippi Village aimed at providing novice creators with practical skills and understanding of the global industry. Phung concluded that through such exchanges, like AFS and the African Creative TV (ACTV) initiative, gaps in understanding between the West and Africa can be narrowed. He expressed confidence that Africa's youth will define the future of storytelling and content creation in the 21st century.
Phung's visit to Cape Town is part of his tour of the continent. After returning from Ghana, he plans to attend workshops in Durban, Johannesburg, and Mbombela.
Tyla has added to her list of achievements by receiving three new certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Among these successes is a new milestone for her global hit 'Water' in the United States.
The certification for 'Water' was obtained on July 29 and has now reached 4x Platinum status in the US after selling over four million copies. Additionally, the single 'Push 2 Start' received a Platinum certification, and the composition 'ART' was awarded a Gold certification.
This success is significant for 'Push 2 Start,' which previously reached Gold status in 2025 and has now advanced to Platinum. These latest milestones occurred just a few days after the release of Tyla's second album, 'A*POP,' strengthening her position in one of the world's largest music markets.
According to RIAA data, Gold certification is awarded for the sale of 500,000 units, while Platinum status is achieved with the sale of one million units. The Diamond certification is presented for 10 million sold copies.
These certifications fall during a period of high activity for the South African star. Following the release of the album 'A*POP,' Tyla released the music video for 'That Girl,' one of the fan-favorite tracks from the album. This visual piece, directed by Mila Royszn and Olivia Dodge, immerses viewers in the colorful world of 'A*POP,' blending live action with retro-style animation.
The video features Tyla and an animated tiger in a fantastical setting filled with luxury, playful confidence, and the bold aesthetic that has become the album's signature.
The new awards complement an already outstanding year for the Grammy-winning singer. In recent weeks, she announced the 'A*POP World Tour'—a three-week global tour concluding with two performances in South Africa in January 2027. The Grammy laureate will perform in Cape Town on January 4, and the tour finale will be in Johannesburg on January 9.
This tour also represents Tyla's largest performance in North America to date, including numerous stops in the United States and Canada before trips to Lagos and returning home. Furthermore, the singer performed at the WNBA All-Star Game, became a new global ambassador for Kate Spade New York, and continued promoting the album through performances and fan events across the United States.
