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8 Lil Miquela, The CGI Influencer Discussing Lil Miquela, The world’s first Computer Generated Influencer.
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23 Top 10 Anime A list of the top 10 Anime shows for you anime otaku based on demand and hype around the anime.
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28 Save Rock & Roll A list of 10 great rock bands and artists, and some of their greatest hits
CONTENT 3 Editorial 6 URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT 8 Lil Miquela, The CGI Influencer 9 Decorate Yourself 10 Is Getting Married Really Worth It? 12 Uku Phahla (A Prayer) 13 Beware and Take Care 14 Funny Pages 18 Top 10 Film Trilogies You Must Watch 21 Top 5 South African Throwback Films 23 Top 10 Anime 28 Save Rock & Roll 31 14 Biggest Albums This Week 32 Poetry 35 Photography
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This Month’s Writers: Nigel Wurayayi / Emmanuel Naicker / Musandiwa Khumalo / Lehlohonolo Makgele / Zoleka Mannie / Princess Sigidi / Bonolo Pule / McCoy Thabiso Baji / Christina M. Ward
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EDITORIAL N
ovember. A very interesting month indeed...The month between Halloween and Christmas, the month of giving thanks, and the month that tells us to push just a little more before we can finally rest after this tiring year. However, this month is also an indication that we are REALLY close to the end of the year, so, if you still have some outstanding resolutions you made at the beginning of the year, make sure you get them done so you don’t carry old commit-
ments into the new year. Let’s finish this year with a bang!
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URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT Okay, so maybe I was exaggerating with the whole “Urgent Announcement” heading, but now that I have your attention, I do have a bit of important news to share with you. We are taking a break. “What does this mean?”, you may be asking. Well, as you may or may not know, our team of writers is made up of amazing people who volunteer their time and energy each month to write an article for this magazine. However, as many of you are aware, we are in the middle of exam season right now. A time of anxiety, stress, and a lot of tests, assignments, and well... exams. So, to make sure that we do not distract our writers from their studies, we will be putting the magazine on hold for the next two months. Yes, yes...I feel your sadness, it’s been a great journey we have been on every month since June, and we have come a long way since (a special thank you to everyone who has been reading the magazine since the very first issue). Don’t worry though. We will be back in February. This will give everyone time to study and work hard at school, college, or university, as well as time to rest and spend time with family. It has been an extremely difficult and stressful year, make sure you live these final 2 months to their fullest. Even though the magazine will be put on hold for a bit, we will still be uploading content onto our YouTube channels and Social Media pages, as well as putting up a Website/Blog later on this month, so make sure you follow us on Social Media (Heart of Alpha Entertainment on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook), so you don’t miss a thing. Thank you for reading through this. Enjoy the rest of your day, and enjoy reading through the magazine. See you in the New Year - Nigel Wurayayi | Alpha
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Lil Miquela, The CGI Influencer November 2020 | 7
Lil Miquela, The CGI Influencer By: Musandiwa Khumalo
“Change seeking robot with the drip” is an actual quote in Miquela’s Instagram bio, but make no mistake, she isn’t joking. Who is this mysterious Lil Miquela? Why is she the topic of this article? Well, the answers to those questions will not only intrigue you, but be the main dialogue for the next 5 - 10 years of human advancement. Miquela Sousa, otherwise known as Lil Miquela, is a model, music artist and social media influencer. Yet what really makes her stand out from the pack is the fact that she is, to use her own words, a robot. The love-child and dedicated project of McFedries a director, producer and manager, as well as Sara DeCou who is the cofounder of Brud, an amazing tech start-up that introduced to the world the first AI generated CGI (Computergenerated imagery) influencer and many more Lil Miquela was introduced to Instagram in 2016 and her profile now sits on 2.8 million followers, including major celebrities and brands that hire Miquela to model for their clothing brands. Major labels such as Calvin Klein, Prada, Vans and more have sought out this amazing social phenomenon of a being to further the reach of their brands, but why is Miquela taking the world by storm? It’s because she is the first major AI CGI influencer and one of the first of many. This is relevant as AI has been making headway in the advancement of technology, being the main premise and theme of major Marvel movies and series such as Black Mirror, due to their controversy. Due to older projections of robots and artificial intelligence in movies and media, AI has been mainly shown in a negative light and with the possible future of AI replacing human labor due to their efficiency, AI hasn’t been able to adjust or change the negative representation it has. That’s up until Miquela of course, who is slowly but surely changing the face of AI representation and she’s not the only one. With many CGI influencers being promoted and produced by the tech startup Brud. Which raises the question, are we getting close to human level interaction in terms of artificial intelligence? This question comes up as Google makes jumps leaps and bounds with chat bot AIs, going as far as testing them with people and seeing if they could tell if they were chatting with 8 | Alpha Magazine
an AI. 85% of those tested couldn’t tell they were communicating with an AI, it’s nothing like the movie “ Her” where Scarlett Johansson voices an emotionally intelligent AI that can connect with its user on an emotional and intellectual level, but as we slowly approach that level of advancement, what measures will be put in place to regulate such interactions? Will we ever reach a point where humanity deems AI sentient, especially with the rise of robots getting legalized citizenship in major countries. Such as Sophia, an AI run robot, who managed to gain legalized citizenship in Saudi Arabia in 2017. The fear that AI will replace human labor still remains ever present with job losses to AI standing at about 400 000 with economists predicting that 42% of them are lost forever as well as 2 million job losses pending. Yet the opportunity to open up a whole new range of employment gets created with employers looking for coders and data analysts that are able to program AIs for their businesses. It’s true what they say the work we have today won’t even exist in the next 10 years but there will still be work that has to be done by flesh and blood people, maybe even on other planets. The fact remains that AI isn’t where it needs to be to completely replace human labor yet, and it is estimated it won’t be that way for a while. So as for the future of AI, one can only wonder whether it will be a bright one or one of devastation. We as humanity will be the deciding factor of that future. A future hopefully where we have a new man-made species that lives in harmony amongst us and not against us.
Decorate Yourself By: Zoleka Mannie
In ancient tribes or nations, different types of ornaments were not only used for aesthetic appeal or traditional value, but were also a way of spiritually merging the human condition with the spirit. It was only natural that the abundance of symbols from nature were embodied, and then architectural principles would be contemplated on the human body as a form of everlasting search for perfection and cosmic unity as creation is quite an intelligence. The voice heals the body, which is something I understood as how we are all born with treasures inside ourselves to heal ourselves but I would like to celebrate the physical essence of jewelry and how it relates to our spiritual path. Jewelry has been a form of celebrating the body as well as a way of transcending into the real essence of the cosmos, or rather how we connect with the universe. These ornaments have been used to activate and assist the individual in their spiritual path to either heal or remove unwanted visitors which could be disguised as black energy. When the negative energies try to attack, they first attack the jewelry that we wear before affecting us directly. Therefore, it is used a protective sheath. Furthermore, it has been known that this spiritual distress can be described as acupressure therapy wherein certain pressure is applied on the body part to specifically allow the free flow of energy into the body. Think of it this way, the longer you have possessed something, the more it takes or feeds off your energy. The discovery of these particular ornaments does not only enhance beauty, but they have also been a symbol of protection, elegance, divinity and spiritual significance. Not many understand that jewelry is an awakening practice. However, jewelry without direct connection to the human nature and metaphysical symbols is hollow and meaningless. The design of jewelry can either emit positive or negative vibrations, and the shape and metal used in a jewelry piece also contributes to its spiritual purity. Crazy right? You might be intrigued enough to even know that planetary afflictions can be associated to such a practice. The atmosphere in which the jewelry is worn emits a particular speed and frequency. Before buying the jewelry, some individuals chant a prayer as a means of achieving concentration and receiving an answer to maintain good health. For example, gems
like diamond protect the mental body and the ruby protects the physical body. Similar to metals, gems are also associated with the 5 cosmic principles of earth, water, air, fire and the ether. However, it is said that as one’s spiritual practice increases, the necessity of wearing jewelry decreases as one can attain purity and spiritual energy from one’s own spiritual practice. To the wearer, the physical and mental bodies can only connect with the help of the spirit. When you buy your next piece of jewelry, I think it would be refreshing to know this.
Ornaments worn on the ears induce pressure on the earlobes, resulting in spiritual remedy taking place through acupressure. Earrings create a protective sheath of Chaitanya around the ears and protect them from negative energies attacking through the medium of sound waves. Movement of some ear ornaments generate a subtle sound and bring about spiritual remedies on the eardrum and its inner anatomy, thus reducing distress due to negative energy. When a necklace is worn around the neck, the area from the neck to the abdomen, which includes the Vishuddha, Anahat and Swadhistan chakras, is protected and able to function properly. Due to the weight of the necklace, a woman tends to bend her neck just a little. This helps to develop humility within her. The necklace thus helps to reduce her ego. Anklets on the other hand, protect the feet from attacks of negative energies (ghosts, devils, demons etc.) as they create a protective sheath around the woman’s body. Acupressure therapy is administered on the feet due to the touch of the anklet. When a lady walks with the tinkling of the anklet bells, the atmosphere is purified by the pure sound waves from the anklet’s bells. It is part of spirituality for a woman to adorn herself and I believe this will inspire some of her intuition by tapping into the energy points and being aware of them in her body. Beads are also a form of jewelry. If it is one thing this pandemic has taught me, is how jewelry can be made out of anything, even with organic or indigenous materials. Whether it is bottle caps, wool, string, wood or plastic. Nature is still forever connected, just untouched. November 2020 | 9
Is Getting Married Really Worth It? By: Lehlohonolo Makgele
Methods to help improve the quality of your marriage. As is commonly known, getting married is a good decision, but only if you have clear understanding of the types of obstacles you are to face and how difficult they can get, and if you know what you want and how your partner’s individuality is constructed. It is important to understand that your partner is their own person and that you will not both agree on everything and that is where the patience lies and is needed. Referring to the most recent divorce statistics, one questions themselves as to whether getting married is really worth it or not. Well it is, under the right conditions, and here are lists of marriage builders and breakers to bear in mind before I brief on what most foundations for divorces are. The builders being: spending time with your partner, thoughtfulness, sex (being affectionate), communication, forgiveness, FAITHFULNESS, generosity, and trust. The breakers being: having unhealthy friendships, being secretive, dishonesty, debt, selfishness, insults, cheating/ infidelity, having little to no boundaries with the opposite sex, and disrespect. Those are the most common determining factors for the success of a marriage. They are perceived as the most basic factors. A successful marriage also rides on having certain essentials that maintain a mature relationship and they are: sharing leadership, communicating effectively, doing personal healing work, supporting each other’s happiness, listening to each other’s perspective, telling each other when you’re feeling down, having your own interests and friends, and making clear commitments to each other. With that, here are also a few things that make a relationship easier: having space to be your own person, having less control and more trust, calm communication and selfless listening. Although I have named the Do’s, I’ll provide the Don’ts, which are 5 relationship mistakes, and what to do instead. You prefer being right rather than happy, instead of going on the attack, state 10 | Alpha Magazine
how you feel, what you imagine is going on, and what you need. You expect a ‘sorry’ to make things better, instead you could give your partner some time and make it clear that you understand why they were hurt. You get mad at your partner for getting mad at you, try curiosity rather than defensiveness and make sure you know what the problem is before you respond. You’d rather fight than ask for what you want, instead of waiting to explode, open up and be clear and up front about your wants and expectations. Lastly, you are not listening to your partner’s words, rather don’t assume that doing the bare minimum to respond to them is enough. Make sure that you and your partner have good grounds for opening up, venting and admission. No one is perfect, we all learn through our mishappening. The least one deserves is a relationship that feels like a safe heaven, not a battlefield, the world is already hard enough. Be patient with your loved one, even if being selfish looks like the best option for whichever reason, understand that each individual’s mental health makes up a good part of the relationship and its influences. It therefore requires as much attention as the other departments. Without trying to base everything on marriage itself since it comes at a later stage of the union, provided here are ways to keep a relationship, and possibly create a healthy foundation for a potential marriage. These methods include: talking about the good and the bad, building trust, having your partners back, leaving the past to the past (including ex’s), knowing that having differences is normal and that you won’t always be happy, not expecting change, appreciating each other, flaws and all. Lastly, becoming your partner’s best friend and learning to give unconditional love. I could go on about the basics but if I don’t touch on this then it would be rather incompetent. Sex plays a good role in a union and it’s one of the main causes of infidelity. Listed below are some
sex power foods that I am familiar with and later I will provide a few simple methods to keep things fresh. For better sex energies you can use bell peppers, watermelon, celery, walnuts, garlic, beetroot, apples, chilli peppers, and blueberries. If you are consistent with the following methods, your sex life will remain interesting even if the days are different. Firstly, and most importantly, make sure the important stuff is clean, ladies no using soap down there unless it is specialized, and since the vagina cleans itself, stay away from a lot of red meat, and drink natural fruit juices for better results, you are what you eat. Don’t focus on your insecurities, your partner does not care about your imperfections, they want YOU. More on the methods... ask if you are doing everything right, verbal consent is very sexy. It is very exciting to hear your partner confirm that they care about your pleasure. If she tells you to keep doing what you’re doing, do exactly that. I know you get excited by your partner, but listen, they know what feels good. Don’t be afraid to do a little research no matter how old you are, it’s ok to learn more about what would make your partner happy, not everything has to have routine. Try to add a little panache to your performance even if means learning that new technique or buying accessories, it beats boring your partner any day. As intense as you feel for your partner, you still have to maintain the boundaries between the two of you. If you have trust issues, work on them or you might find yourself ruining something good. Don’t be that person, leave their private/personal/ social life to them. They are old enough and they know what they’re doing. Like I’ve mentioned in one of the previous articles, if ever you have a problem, solve it or leave it, don’t live with it.
Another far-fetched method that could assist in the process of understanding your partner as a whole is learning about their star/zodiac sign, the type of energies they reciprocate to the universe, and their type of character. It could make things easier for you by helping you realize what you are tolerant of, and what you are willing to adjust to and for. To prevent a lot from going downhill, give yourself time, get to know yourself and your partner separately, then collectively. Don’t rush to get married, it’s just a LABEL, not magic dust, it won’t enchant your relationship, it only gives it a sense of permanence. Working hard for something you don’t care about is called stress, working hard for something we love is called a passion. Love your relationship as if it were your dream job and you’ll wake up with better determination and go to bed with better satisfaction. Sometimes when it seems hard, just remember that challenges are meant to be overcomed. Avoid resorting to cheating, as hard as it may be, focus on saving your relationship. When a light bulb in your house does not work anymore, do you change the light bulb or buy a new house? Exactly. When it gets difficult, you change your game plan, not the actual game. At the end of the day, a trying man is everything because not all are willing to do so. Appreciate your partner’s efforts, no matter how small they may be. Remember that only one soul is programmed to be your spirit spouse, DON’T take them for granted, the rest are there to give you lessons and consciousness.
VERY IMPORTANT: Know your priorities and keep them straight. Poor prioritizing kills a lot of chemistry and may lead to separation, as even the strongest feelings can die if left neglected. Focus on what is important rather than what is urgent and you will breed better production. Make sure you plan well financially because if not, it can put strain on both individuals and the couple collectively, causing stress, and creating potential grounds for coping mechanisms, some of them being unhealthy, which will resultantly create and grow toxicity in the relationship.
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Uku Phahla (A Prayer) By: Zoleka Mannie
My late grandmother, Elizabeth Nkosi, was a traditional healer/shaman or a herbalist, as some would say. I am a profound believer in indigenous knowledge and respect natures secret government. In some Sub-Saharan African traditions, there are ritual practices that allow one to communicate with the ancestors. Some traditions still present the stigma that it is only men who hold the position to such rituals, as the man is often known to be the head of the house. In my case for example, my grandfather passed away when my mother was very young, and being married, my grandmother had to take on the responsibility of communicating to the ancestors, to communicate to the deceased for healing purposes, or have certain requests like guidance or protection. Questions have been raised, if whether these prayers go unanswered, but these rituals cannot happen without the burning of impepho (incense). Impepho, known as an indigenous African Plant which is burnt during a prayer, is used in various ceremonies, as well as in traditional feasts, funerals, and when chickens, goats or cows are offered to the ancestors as a form of sacrifice or to show gratitude for the protection from one’s ancestors. The ritual practice has to begin with the calling of the ancestors and acknowledging them, and has to be done in sacred corner. As a child, I was very sick and when I would cough uncontrollably due to my broncho pneumonia, my grandmother would burn the incense by her sacred corner in the bedroom, known as umsamo (for the performance of ritual ceremonies), and I would inhale it and sleep peacefully like nothing ever happened. The same would happen for my siblings when they were troubled in some way. This corner is so sacred that it requires peace and it is not just anyone that can enter the space, as a gesture of respect. No stranger is allowed at all. The ritual is accompanied by a candle or candles (different colours for different reasons, and in 12 | Alpha Magazine
these instances, white was predominantly used). In my observation, it is believed that the smoke of the burning incense symbolizes the presence of God, like a symbol of the prayers rising to heaven to the living spirits, which means that it is a good sign to see the smoke rise upright instead of all over the place. It is preferable to use a metal dish or calabash with newspaper and placing the paper underneath the incense to burn longer as it is quite a thick herb and burns out quickly. I do not speak for many but in some traditions, there has to be smoke, or else the sacrifice or offering was not heard or accepted. It is important that we visit the parts of history that help us find our inner truth so that we are easily guided, more attuned to listen and more opened to medicines that are healthy for our wellbeing.
Beware and Take Care By: Princess Sigidi
For those of you who don’t know what abductions are, here is the definition: “To be removed or seized by force.” It’s disgusting to see what is happening in our country. We should be standing together as one instead of just sitting back and watching the inhumane things people are doing. Even if you as an individual have an idea on how to stop the abductions, then come forward, because it only takes one person to make a difference. The safety of one comes first in life, so it’s important that we do everything in our power to make sure that we don’t jeopardize our safety and the safety of others around us. Abductions are a very serious thing happening all over the country; therefore, we need to try and stop them from happening. The top 7 hotspots where the abductions take place are Kempton Park, Tembisa, Inanda, Randfontein, JHB central, Delmas and Kwamashu E, and a majority are located in Gauteng. Everyone should be careful, especially women, who get abducted to be sex slaves and the children are sold to those who do not have kids and some unfortunately get sold into the sex trade. I urge the community that when around the hotspot zones, one should be extra vigilant and not go out with people they do not know to places they are not certain about. Some of the safety measures that can help ensure safety are when you use Bolt, are that you must make sure you share the car and driver details with someone, and also, when you go out, make sure to share your location. It’s a MUST that at least 1 person knows your whereabouts. Another thing is that schoolchildren should walk in groups rather than alone to lower the risk. It’s sad to see what our world has come to, a world where you can never be sure, like you leave your house and next thing you are gone just like that, or you leave your house and wonder “am I next?” We’ve got to unite and stand as one nation if we want to make a difference.
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funny pages 614 | Alpha Magazine
Waiting in Line A guy asks a girl to go to a dance. She agrees, and he decides to rent a suit. The rental has a long line, so he waits and waits, and finally he gets his suit.
Three Men In A Desert Three men are in the middle of a desert when their car breaks down. For their hike to town, they each decide to take one thing with them.
He decides to buy flowers, so he goes to the flower shop. The flower shop has a long line, so he waits and waits, until he finally buys flowers.
One man takes a jug of water. The second man takes a sandwich. The last man takes one of the car doors.
He picks up the girl and they go to the dance. There is a long line into the dance, so they wait and wait. Finally, they get into the dance, and the guy offers to get the girl a drink. She asks for punch, so he goes to the drink table, and there is no punch line Submitted by Matthew V.
The first man says to the last man: “I’m bringing the water because if I get thirsty, I can take a drink. And it makes sense to bring a sandwich in case we get hungry, but why bring a car door?” The last man replies, “If I get hot, I can just roll down the window.” Submitted by Karabo W.
Sick Chihuahua A man takes his sick Chihuahua to the veterinarian. They’re immediately taken to a room. Soon, a Labrador walks in, sniffs the Chihuahua for 10 minutes and leaves. Then a cat comes in, stares at the Chihuahua for 10 minutes and leaves. Finally, the doctor comes in, prescribes some medicine and hands the man a $250 bill. “This must be a mistake,” the man says. “I’ve been here only 20 minutes!” “No mistake,” the doctor says. “It’s $100 for the lab test, $100 for the cat scan and $50 for the medicine.” Submitted by Sizwe N.
The Genie A kid finds a magical lamp. He rubs the lamp, and a genie appears and says, “What is your first wish?” The kid says, “I wish I were rich!” The genie replies, “It is done! What is your second wish, Rich?” Submitted by Thando C.
A Prince Under A Spell A prince was put under a spell so that he could speak only one word each year. If he didn’t speak for two years, the following year he could speak two words and so on. One day, he fell in love with a beautiful lady. He refrained from speaking for two whole years so he could call her “my darling.” But then he wanted to tell her he loved her, so he waited three more years. At the end of these five years, he wanted to ask her to marry him, so he waited another four years.
The Crazy Bearded Man A cruise ship passes by a remote island, and all the passengers see a bearded man running around and waving his arms wildly.
Finally, as the ninth year of silence ended, he led the lady to the most romantic place in the kingdom and said, “My darling, I love you! Will you marry me?”
“Captain,” one passenger asks, “who is that man over there?”
And the lady said, “Pardon?” Submitted by Nigel W.
“I have no idea,” the captain says, “but he goes nuts every year when we pass him.” Submitted be Buhle K. Submit your jokes to heartofalpha@gmail.com and stand a chance to be featured in the next issue
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FILM 16 | Alpha Magazine
CONTENTS 18. Top 10 Film Trilogies You Must Watch 21. Top 5 South African Throwback Films 23. Top 10 Anime
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Top 10 Film Trilogies You Must Watch By: Emmanuel Naicker
The Majority of films are one and done deals, however for some films, sequels are made that continues the journey of the characters and also introduce us to new characters and offer us deeper levels of closure. A trilogy carries a special weight to it, 3 is the Magic Number after all, having 3 films that chronicle the experiences of a character or a group provides us with much more character development as we spend time with the characters. They are also excellent content for binge watchers and film lovers. I am only going to recommend the trilogies that I have seen. Let me recommend to you some of the must watch Film Trilogies out there. PS: This list is in no particular order.
The Godfather Trilogy It is not a surprise that one of the most highly regarded and respected films ever made would be on this list. The Godfather Trilogy is an operatic character drama about the rise and fall of Mob Boss Michael Corleone and his Family. The first film shows us the journey Michael, played by Al Pacino, undertakes to become the Don, after his father Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, is put out of action. The second film is far more powerful as we see Michael continue to grow and live his life as The Don while being intercut with flashbacks of his father in his youth as we witness him found and grow his crime empire from the ground up. The third instalment shows us Michael in his older years with him grappling with his past demons and haunting memories of the choices he’s made.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy It is a no brainer that Peter Jackson’s three-part epic, adapted from Tolkien’s beloved novel, is on this list. Pretty much everyone and their grandma knows about these absolute masterpieces. The Fellowship sets out to destroy the one ring and prevent the dark lord Sauron and his immense forces from rising up to conquer middle-earth once more.
The Back to the Future Trilogy The beloved 1980s Time Travel classics just HAD to be on this list. The iconic story of a teenager from the 1980s who travels through time to the 1950s, the mid 2010’s and the old west with the help of an eccentric scientist.
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The Star Wars Prequel Trilogy Now, the only reason I put the prequels above the original trilogy is purely due to love and nostalgia. When I hear “Star Wars” I think of the Prequels and The Clone Wars Era. This trilogy introduces us to Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and we witness the events that lead to his fall to the Dark Side, turning him into Darth Vader, as well as the origins of the Galactic Empire.
The Star Wars Original Trilogy The OT blew the minds of viewers in the 70s and 80s as these films pioneered what visual effects could do on the big screen, and it kicked off what would become one of the most beloved as well as one of the most heavily divisive franchises of all time. We see the exploits of Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance in their desperate fight to take down the tyrannical Galactic Empire.
The Dark Knight Trilogy Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale revitalised the Batman Film IQ with their thoughtful masterfully crafted realistic interpretation of the DC Comics Icon. Christian Bale’s performance is most certainly a What If scenario if someone in our real world decided to be the Batman. The Iconic Villains, especially Heath Ledger’s Joker, and Liam Neeson’s Ra’s Al Ghul, heighten the trilogy to even higher esteem with their inclusions. The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy The Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy films are not sequels to each other; however, it is a trilogy that is unifying by having Edgar Wright as Director and Co-Writer while starring Nick Frost and Simon Pegg as best friends throughout. Each film has different characters and vastly different storylines from each other. Shaun of the Dead is a Horror-Comedy and Spoof of the Zombie Genre. Hot Fuzz is an Action-Comedy Buddy-Cop film, and The Worlds End is Apocalyptically Good as a group of 5 high school friends reunite for a night out for a Pub Crawl. November 2020 | 19
The Blade Trilogy Wesley Snipes as the Daywalker, delivered this glorious gorryous R Rated trilogy. It was a gift that arrived before the golden age of superheroes we find ourselves in today and shepherded in by the Marvel Cinematic Universe and indulges in the source material by going all in on the violence and language, a time before PG13 and bloodless violence became the norm for comic book adaptations
The Captain America Trilogy Captain America hands down has THE Best films in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. The films are heroic and action packed as well as tense and cinematic. I appreciate this trilogy because of its willingness to let serious moments and situations carry more weight and that they don’t constantly rely on forced misplaces jokes.
The Austin Powers Trilogy It’s Austin Powers, I don’t need to explain why this is on the list xD. There, List Over.
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Top 5 South African Throwback Films By: Bonolo Pule
The South African film industry has come a long way since it started, and there have been some amazing films that have been produced here. This list of top 5 throwback films is to acknowledge a few of those films that might have changed the game in their own way and added to the progression of films in SA. You can only imagine how hard it was having to pick just five.
1. Tsotsi (2005) This film definitely has to be one of South Africa’s crowd favourite of all time. Tsotsi even did well in international film festivals, so this one was definitely one for the books. The film follows the story of a young thief who finds himself in a very tricky situation that might change him for the better. Well, if you have not watched this film please go do yourself a favour and do the most. Tsotsi is now even available on Netflix so you have no excuse.
2. Liefling (2010) This film was the first Afrikaans musical to come out of South Africa in 30 years! Liefling has 24 exciting songs that help move the narrative forward. Liefling is a classical musical love story that follows a young beautiful adventurous girl who falls in love with someone she meets. Sometimes falling in love comes with its own set of troubles whether it be things or people. Some people used to call it the Mamma Mia of South Africa because of how it’s moved forward by music and dance.
3. District 9 (2009) Many people argue that this film is probably the best movie to come out of South Africa and if you haven’t watched it, you should probably should and decide for yourself. District 9 is a movie about aliens who find themselves in South Africa and, they are put in an area called District 9. Unexpected events take place that challenge not only the humans but some of the aliens as well. This was definitely a beautiful spin to the stories that we have seen come out of South Africa. It also did well internationally. What intrigued me was the fact that they said that it is kind of based of something that really existed! I know, shocking. November 2020 | 21
4. Gangsters Paradise: Jerusalema (2008) This film was a fresh film that took place in the New South Africa and its premise explored exactly that, including the different dynamics between the different races in our new South Africa. Jerusalema follows the story of a young black man who takes over an area in Hillbrow in his own criminal ways. He is called the Robin Hood and we follow his personal life too, where we see the kind of relationships he forms with different races in the new South Africa. It definitely dealt with some things that were once a taboo in the time it got released, which made it an interesting film for sure.
5. Sarafina! (1992) Last but not least is South Africa’s classical musical, known quite famously, especially in Black households. For most, it became a tradition to watch this particular film every year on the 16th of June, which is Youth day in South Africa where we commemorate the youth that fought in the struggle against the education system during apartheid. I think it also became a tradition to watch it because the broadcasters like playing it on that specific day and they probably still do. In a nutshell, this story follows Sarafina, particularly navigating her way through her and her peers fighting against the education system of the time. We just see the challenges they face and that is all aided by song and dance. Definitely a good historical lesson to learn from the film if you haven’t seen it.
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Top 10 Anime By: McCoy Thabiso Baji
Hello to my fellow anime otaku. If you are reading this then I believe you wish to see what anime has made the top 10. Now this list is not here to imply that your taste in anime is bad but suggest a few new things to try. How the anime was chosen was based purely on demand and hype around the anime. The order is at random as well, to not get on one’s bad side.
The Rising Of The Shield Hero @10 we have Tate No Yuusha or (The Rising Of The Shield Hero). We follow the story of Nafoumi Iwatani. A 20-year-old who gets teleported to a new world with 3 other characters. We learn that they were brought to the other world as it was on the brink of destruction. Legend said that only they can stop this from happening. After he loses it all and is charged for a crime he didn’t commit. We watch how our hero starts his way from the bottom to protect what’s precious to him from the world trying to kill him, to running from the military. First season ends with 25 episodes, satisfying, but open for a second season.
The Promised Neverland @9, Yakusoku no Neverland (The Promised Neverland). The story is very different for your usual anime. We begin in an orphanage, nothing unusual there. The home is run by a kind-hearted mother sent by the heavens to raise and care for three children. Our protagonists Emma, Ray and Norman learn the sad truth about the one so perfect orphanage they used to call home. It’s a game of chess, a game that could cost them they lives if they make one wrong move, with their “loving mother” watching they every move.
Demon Slayer @8, Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer). Ahh, where do I begin with this anime. Tanjiro returns home to find his family massacred by a demon. Nezuko, his younger sister, turned into a demon. After an encounter with a demon slayer, Tanjiro decides to become a demon slayer to avenge his family and turn his little sister back to human. Now, what makes the anime good is not just the adorable little moments with Nezuko, or his unwilling to give up in the face of danger, but how he struggles and still carries on to move forward.
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Made in Abyss @7 Meido in Abisu (Made in Abyss). The story follows Riko, a little girl who finds a mysterious humanoid while digging into the abyss. The abyss is a deep cavern in which not much is known about it. Riko and her new found companion venture into the abyss to go find Riko’s mother who went missing a long time ago. The characters are young but nothing like an orphan trying to find their mother to glorify some child labor (bad joke).
Steins;Gate 0 @6 Shutainzu Gēto Zero (Steins;Gate 0). Before I carry on, this is here purely because it’s a good sequel to the first one. This is a trip of an anime. Picking up where Stein’s Gate “ended” the first time, Rintaro, our beloved mad scientist decides to stay in the beta world where Kurisu dies. Months after her death and suffering from PTSD due to the Stein’s Reader, Rintaro stops working on the time machine. He meets an old acquaintance of Kurisu and learns that someone has learnt about their time machine and is willing to do anything to get they hands on it. With time not his side, the mad scientist and the lab members do everything they can to make sure that the future and everything they worked hard to protect doesn’t get taken from them.
Mob Psycho 100 @5 Mobu Saiko Hyaku (Mob Psycho 100) (Season 2). The boy Mob and his sensei have returned for a second season. In this season we see Mob learn more about himself and what type of person he wants to be one day. With the guidance and assistance from his master, we see him grow and slowly implode once we see him hit 100% in his rage.
Dororo @4 Dororo (Dororo). This is a straight forward name. Dororo follow the story of Hyakkimaru, a son of a lord who has been sacrificed for the prosperity of land. Having eaten on skin, eyes and intrenal organs, Hyakkimaru sets off to fight demons and get his body parts back.
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One Punch Man @3 Wanpanman (One Punch Man) (Season 2). Saitima and Genos are back in season 2 with more characters around. As our protagonist still yearning for a fighter who can make him want to go all out. Monsters appear more frequently and it’s up to Saitima and his friends to save the day.
Attack on Titan @2 Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan) (Season 3, Part 2). AHHH, this is a masterpiece right here. If you don’t know, now you do. After all they’ve been through, we see Aron and the gang finally making it to Aron’s old house. What they discover there is an unexpected plot twist that went against everything they thought they knew. We learn more about the titans, where they come from, and why they’re the way they are. The ending of it is guaranteed to make you wait for the 4th season.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime @1 Tensei Shitara Suraimu Datta Ken (That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime). This is a very good anime. Protagonist dies and is reincarnated as a slime in a different world. He becomes friends with a dragon. He becomes the leader of the goblins and direwolves after ending a feud between them. He builds a life for himself and his friends. The village slowly begins growing and more people are curious about the slime. What I loved here was the storyline. Character Development was good, and who could forget about Gabiru and Gobta. I know that they aren’t the main characters but damn are they memorable.
Honorable Mentions • • • • •
Nanatsu no Taizai (The Seven Deadly Sins) Boku no Hīrō Akademia (My Hero Academia) En’en no Shōbōtai (Fire Force) Burakku Kurōbā (Black Clover) Purandara (Plunderer)
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MUSIC 26 | Alpha Magazine
CONTENTS 28. Save Rock & Roll 31. 14 Biggest Albums This Week
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Save Rock & Roll By: Emmanuel Naicker
On the 6th of October 2020, Rock Legend and Icon, Eddie Van Halen, unfortunately passed away after a battle with Cancer. This came as a real shock to me.”How could 2020 get any worse?” I thought. Then I started to reflect on rock and roll and its popularity today, as I did not see nearly as many Rest In Peace or In Memoriam posts for Van Halen compared to that of the modern day rapper. I started to remember that Rock and Roll is not nearly as celebrated and beloved as it once was. Can we please stop this gross misconception that Rock and Roll is nothing but noisy screaming and devil worship, because it’s not, death metal may be, but that’s not really my thing. In this list, let me recommend to you 10 Rock Bands/ Rock Artists and at least 3 of their songs, in an attempt to help Save Rock and Roll.
Metallica
One of, if not, THE greatest American Rock Band of All Time in my opinion. Metallica was formed in 1981 in LA, California, by guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has risen to such popularity that the name is known by people who have never even heard a single rock song in their lives. Some Recommendations are Enter Sandman, Sanitarium, and The Day That Never Comes. A small Honorable Mention would be their song, Kenny Goes To Hell from the film South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut.
Aerosmith:
They were one of the biggest arena rock attractions of the 1970s. The band was formed in 1970 in Boston and are still active to this day. Aerosmith MADE IT RAIN! Making it Rain! Even to this day, they are the best-selling American rock band of all time, who have sold more than 70 million albums in the United States alone and about 150 million worldwide. Some Recommendations are Dream On, I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing, Livin On The Edge.
AC/DC An Australian band that was formed in Sydney in December of 1973. They are considered as invaluable pioneers of the rock and roll genre. Songs to listen to are Thunderstruck, Highway To Hell and You Shook Me All Night Long.
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Linkin Park
We Miss you Chester Bennington. Linkin Park was the shining light of Hope for the rock genre during the 2000s and early to mid 2010s, and now the world of music is just not the same without Chester. The songs we all know and love are Numb, In The End, What I’ve Done and Castle of Glass.
Elvis Presley
There is absolutely 0 chance that I would make this list and Not Include the name of The King. The Godfather of Rock and Roll Himself, need I say More? No I Don’t Have To. Song Recommendations are Burning Love, Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock
Cream
One of the best from the 60’s. Cream were a British band that came from London in 1966. The group was a three-man band consisting of guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce, who was also the groups primary singer and songwriter, and Ginger Baker on drums. You Need to listen to White Room, Sunshine Of Your Love and Crossroads
The White Stripes / Jack White
I understand that it may be cheating having 2 in 1 slot but hear me out. The White Stripes was a 2 Person Band consisting of married couple Jack and Meg White. Jack sang and played guitar while Meg was on drums. They had a thriving career through the late 90s and the 2000s and the duo had a unique recognizable aesthetic of Red White and Black, colours that would Always feature greatly in their music videos and cover art, and it complemented well with their striking Alternative Rock style. Tragically the duo split up in February of 2011 after 13 years and 6 studio albums put out. After the break up Jack White decided to go solo and keep creating music, shifting the musical style to more of a Blues or Jazz infused type of Rock and Roll, to complement this he abandoned the old color scheme of Red, White, and Black and adopted the new aesthetic of Blue White and Black. The Songs you have to listen to are Seven Nation Army, Over and Over and Over, Icky Thump and Sixteen Saltines. November 2020 | 29
Foo Fighters
The band was founded by drummer Dave Grohl, now guitarist and vocalist, who was the former drummer for the grunge band, Nirvana, opposite the late great Kurt Cobain. It originated as a one-man passion project following the breakup of Nirvana after the tragic suicide of Kurt Cobain. Songs you should check out are The Pretender, L0ong Road To Ruin, and Run.
The Rolling Stones
They are a British band that was formed in 1962. The band drew on Chicago blues stylings to craft a unique vision of the dark side of post1960s counterculture. Songs to listen to are Paint It Black, Satisfaction, and She’s A Rainbow.
The Animals
They were an English rhythm and blues and rock band, that originated in Newcastle in the early 1960s and rose to fame in 1964 after moving to London. They balanced tough, rock-edged pop singles against rhythm and blues-orientated album material. The songs you need to listen to are House of the Rising Sun, Inside Looking Out, and Baby Let Me Take You Home.
Rock and Roll is about more than just loud screams and long guitar riffs. It’s about making music with soul and passion. Some of the best rock bands I listed above are from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, a time when music was still being made with love. In my opinion, hearing a band of a few people working together in perfect harmony is a very special and unique thing. It feels special when thinking that you need multiple people to execute a song properly on stage instead of it all being done from 1 turntable and 1 DJ, music brings people together but Rock and Roll brings Artists Together. Please lets Save Rock And Roll.
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14 Biggest Albums This Week By: Nigel Wurayayi Number: 1
Number: 8
Album: Folklore
Album: Hamilton: An American Musical
Artists: Taylor Swift
Artists: Original Broadway Cast
Number: 2
Number: 9
Album: Shoot For The Stars Aim For The Moon
Album: Tickets To My Downfall
Artists: Pop Smoke
Artists: Machine Gun Kelly
Number: 3
Number: 10
Album: Savage Mode II
Album: The Album
Artists: 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
Artists: BLACKPINK
Number: 4
Number: 11
Album: Legends Never Die
Album: Top
Artists: Juice WRLD
Artists: YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Number: 5
Number: 12
Album: Wildflowers
Album: Skool Luv Affair
Artists: Tom Petty
Artists: BTS
Number: 6
Number: 13
Album: Resonance, Pt. 1
Album: Hollywood’s Bleeding
Artists: NCT
Artists: Post Malone
Number: 7
Number: 14
Album: My Turn
Album: BLAME IT ON BABY
Artists: Lil Baby
Artists: DaBaby November 2020 | 31
How many Crowns By: Zoleka Mannie
If I had collected my hair I wonder how many crowns I’d own. The soul inside craves for a better ritual. To find the indigenous dinner table until my skin is home-grown until I can teach myself how to sit around it, with my people and appreciate the medicine of my Black opinion because I understand why it lives for my creation.
poetry 32 | Alpha Magazine
What is the Meaning of This... This ‘Poetry’? By: Christina M. Ward It is well-understood that poetry can be a very subjective genre. It is also a bit of an acquired taste. But we poets know something a lot of people don’t know — reading poetry is good for you. It broadens your emotional connections with the world around you, expands your mind, improves your linguistic capabilities. Teaching poetry to children makes them smarter! The benefits of reading poetry are numerous, but still, it is a bit of an acquired taste, as I mentioned before. But, I encourage you to not be intimidated by reading poetry. There are enough types and styles out there — surely there is something for everyone! Think of it as exercise for your brain and get to it! A fellow poet and I were recently discussing the variance of perception when it comes to what “makes” a poem, what makes “good poetry” and what this means to us as poets when we are crafting. Her writing style and mine with regards to poetry are very different — yet, we are both great poets and have loyal fans. We also have our critics. Those who read our work and for one reason or another, are not impressed. I have never been told my poetry was “not poetry” but I also tend to write a bit more of what you may think of as “classic”-style, poetry that is easily recognizable. I have also been known to use lofty language from time to time. I use metaphor and often use motifs such as nature themes or things with wings to represent a larger meaning. But there is also spoken word poetry. Stream-ofconsciousness poetry. Poetry that screams out for justice. Poetry that makes a deep connection emotionally, expressing the author’s feelings. There is poetry written in form and poetry written in odd shapes. There are all different types and styles of poetry and who am I or anyone else to say that one person’s poetry is more qualified than another’s to be called poetry? Given the variables that go into writing poetry, including writing style, vocabulary choices, and the poet’s knowledge and use of literary devices, you will find a huge variance in what you may consider “quality” poetry.
message than imagery, or more conversational-style poetry. Grammatical disasters aside — poetry is an art that gets its reputation for quality both in the creation by the writer and in the reception by the reader. In other words, the reader gets a say-so. If a reader has been with me and is still reading up to this point — did you read the definitions above? And my commentary? Because you may not recognize a poem is a poem. If a writer says — this is a poem, then it is a poem. Even if you think it totally sucks, it is a poem by birthright of the creator. If you don’t care for the poetry of a certain poet, I encourage you to do 3 things: Find other poetry you like better. 2. Leave the poet to their poetry. You are not going to convince them that their work “is not poetry” or “is not poetic,” unless you have been hired by them to edit them — you are only going to cause damage to them personally and that is just pointless. 3. If you bought their book and don’t care for their work — leave thoughtful, useful, and helpful feedback for them in the form of a review. Don’t be mean. That is pointless. What does it mean to be “poetic”? Again, even though this is widely and loosely defined as “of or pertaining to poetry” there is also an emotional reaction to something that is considered “poetic” that is quite different. Flowers can be poetic. Words can be poetic. Blood can be poetic — who am I to discredit this as poetic if it inspires you? Personally, I’d define it as something inspirational, beautiful in some way, that generates an emotional response that encourages the viewer / reader to absorb it / experience it in a deeper way. How we get to our sense of poetry-in-life is a different path for everyone. But, the path — do take. It is this journey that touches us, moves us, inspires us, teaches us, and gives us a deeper human experience. Isn’t that worth the time? Find a poet’s work that moves you and explore their work more deeply. Support them. Encourage them. Thank them for enriching your life.
While my work may appeal more to classic poetry readers and folks who appreciate poetic language and imagery — another person may write equally as effective poetry with more simple language, more November 2020 | 33
photography
Photographer: Thato Maleka IG: @thato_click
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photographer: Terricks Noah
heartofalpha@gmail.com
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Model: Melody Jacobs IG: @melodyjacob1
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photographer: Roger Lagesse
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photographer: Arthur Brognoli IG: @arthurbrognoli
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photographer: Taryn Elliott IG: @ tea_for_taryn
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Lebohang Lephatsoana @Iamlebohang_
photographer: Artem Beliaikin IG: @belart84
heartofalpha@gmail.com November 2020 | 41
Photographer: Thato Maleka IG: @thato_click
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photographer: Taryn Elliott IG: @tea_for_taryn
heartofalpha@gmail.com November 2020 | 43