Boys In Thee Hood

In this podcast episode, we discuss the ongoing energy crisis in South Africa. Loadshedding is a measure implemented by the state-owned power company, Eskom, to prevent a total blackout of the national grid. Due to a lack of maintenance and inadequate investment in new power generation, Eskom has been unable to meet the country's growing energy demand, leading to regular and prolonged power outages.

We also discuss the recent excitement and anxiety around the use of large language models and applications like ChatGPT. While these models have the potential to revolutionize industries such as customer service and content creation, there are also concerns about their impact on job displacement and privacy. Some experts believe that the responsible deployment of these models can mitigate these risks and bring significant benefits to society.

Overall, the energy crisis in South Africa highlights the importance of investing in sustainable and reliable sources of power. At the same time, the advent of large language models like ChatGPT serves as a reminder of the need for careful consideration of the ethical and societal implications of new technologies.

Amapiano, Afrobeats, Gqom, Kwaito & Jazz are some of the genres that African musicians have gotten international acclaim for over the years. Legendary artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Oliver Mtukudzi, Salif Keita have graced the radios in the past. Recently we have had viral hits from the likes of Sho Madjozi, Burna Boy and Wizkid. Now many artists want to call themselves “international” but we dissect what that actually means to be “international”. Do African artists today have staying power on the global scene beyond a one hit wonder and if so, how many of them have achieved that? How can the next big “African Global Superstar” arise?

Crime.. crime.. crime. A topic that often comes up in the beautiful nation of South Africa. This colourful country has been going through the growing pains of the post-Apartheid era. Some might say that while that era has passed that there are legacy effects that still permeate through the country. Broken families, jagged economic opportunities, corruption of values and unprepared law enforcement creates an environment where seedy characters of society come out to play in such a brazen manner. Those with the means create their own alternative reality while those without often have to have the vigilance to stay out of trouble. How does one take back the streets and lessen that urge to move to Australia?

October is the Mental Health Awareness Month. Listen to the boys talk about the challenges of mental health in Africa. Unravel the fact that there might be a form of mental health care that already exists outside of the walls of therapy sessions. Listen for laughs and serious analysis about the challenges that plague our minds.

It's no secret that many African nations are in tough political or economic situations. South Africa is a popular destination for many African migrants looking for better opportunities for themselves. That influx of immigrants has brought about debates about service delivery overload, legality and competition in the labour market. We look to address this topic from both sides of the fence. We also look at how our outlook and conduct should be shaped as African people amidst the current climate.