Be Manzini, takes over the What Happenin? pages talking us through the hottest arts and culture picks as we skid out of 2024. If you want to know What’s Happenin? check back here and look out for the section in the spring print edition of ALT A REVIEW.
ALT is excited to welcome Be on board taking the reigns of the What’s Happenin? pages. Hailing from London Be is a multidisciplinary artist, poet and performer making waves in the literary world and arts spaces. Here is a bite sized version of what to expect with a review of Mufasa: The Lion King, a quick chat with Jelani Blackman, and review of The Importance of Being Earnest….
CINEMA
Mufasa: The Lion King is the prequel to the previous Lion King musical animations. This time we follow the origin story of Mufusa, introducing his granddaughter Kiara, Nala and Simba’s daughter (voiced by Blue Ivy Carter, Beyoncé, and Donald Glover), as the wise Rafiki (John Kani), the film recounts the story of how #Mufusa became King of the Pride Lands. This is an epic hero’s journey as an orphaned young Mufasa grapples with belonging, identity, and purpose with a further sprinkling of existential questions on destiny and fate.
From director Barry Jenkins, whose first independent film was ‘Medicine for Melancholy’ to the Oscar-winning ‘Moonlight’ and the adaptation of James Baldwin’s ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’, he has earned his stripes as a director who tells love and familial stories with nuance and authenticity. So Jenkins’ task here was to place his flair as an auteur into the heritage and style of a Disney movie (that is indicated will become a cinematic universe). The directing, photorealism of the cinematography, and a well-chosen cast (that includes some British actors, namely Aaron Pierre, Thandiwe Newton, and Stella Atim) with a level of depth that will leave, as with any good family film, adults and children alike feeling moved. From the intergenerational audience reactions at a full house at the preview at Odeon Luxe in London’s Leicester Square (where we were treated to specially themed drinks, glitter stations, and multimedia booths), which ranged from shrieks of laughter to quiet contemplation, it seems that was achieved.
Mufasa: The Lion King is in cinemas now. Read interview Fọlákẹ́ Olówófôyekù HERE:
MUSIC
Oh, what a year Jelani Blackman has had, from his lyrics featuring in a documentary exploring the legendary Adidas Predator football boot (featuring stars of the game such as David Beckham) to supporting the notorious Belfast group KneeCap on their national tour. Last but certainly not least is the release of his new independent EP, ‘Let Me Talk To You,’ which was released last week.
Blackman’s debut album in 2023, ‘The Heart of It All,’ garnered acclaim with a launch to music and football lovers alike at Arsenal Football Club. Blackman is partial to a musical collaboration, having made tracks with rapper Kojey Radical, to a more contrasting pairing with indie Biig Piig.
L-R Eklipse & Jelani Blackman @mreklipse @jelaniblackman
At the EP launch, with enthusiasm, Blackman shared the stage with his most recent collaborator and long-time friend, Eklipse. They went back to back for over an hour, and it whizzed by: the most animated reaction from the crowd inspired four wheel-ups for their infectious track ‘Inside’.
‘Inside’ is a skippy old-skool drum and bass-drenched tune that had me forgetting my slightly dodgy foot. We were jumping up, skanking down, and having a blast to an infectious song with voices perfectly paired and synergised by the smoothness in their baritones—shout out to ace production by Niceboy.
I spoke briefly with an elated and sweat-drenched Blackman as he came off stage:
BM: “You and Eklipse are a powerful duo; you could literally see you at clubs, festivals, and all the stages in between!”
JB: “It was really fun, and this is the first time we have performed this track. It’s rare that two MCs allow each other to be great!’
That’s what we were all feeling in that room. Watch out for more from these two dynamic music makers and performers.
‘Let Me Talk To You’ is out now on all platforms.
Good news the brilliant marketing and unmissable bright pink-coloured posters across London town for ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the National Theatre are more than apt. The show is almost neon in its voltage of comedic timing, flamboyance, and merriment. The sad news is unless you’re very quick or very lucky, the show is close to being sold out, alas, even for the late January dates.
Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy is directed by Max Webster (Donmar’s Macbeth; Life of Pi) with a star-studded cast of stage and screen that includes Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; Doctor Who), Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education), and Hugh Skinner (W1A; Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) and Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo (Blues For An Alabama Sky, Been So Long).
The play is the story of two Victorian aristocrats: Algernon Moncrieff (Gatwa) and Jack Worthing (Skinner), who both assume the identity of a fictional man named Ernest. Living a double life inevitably led to things going very awry with their potential love lives. This is definitely an ensemble production with the main characters delightfully leading the charge. There isn’t a cast member who doesn’t lighten up the stage. Go catch them do so if you can!
The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Theatre until January 25th, 2025.
What’s Happenin? by @bemanzini
#BeAboutTown #WhatsHappenin? #ALTAREVIEW
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