Pretty Yende

The opera star, who started out in small-town Piet Retief and is now singing on international stages throughout the world, talks to The Big Issue from backstage in Paris.

Paris, Milan, New York, London ... you name it, she’s probably sung there. You can hear her on her first CD, A Journey, just released by Sony. Read their interview with the star as she discusses perfecting her coloratura technique for Lucia di Lammermoor at the Opera National de Paris, and lets on that she does not have sleepless nights before going on stage. 

UB40 brings ‘healing music”

UB40 talks to The Big Issue about their upcoming tour of South Africa,  and the two rival versions of the band. Lead vocalist Ali Campbell talks about Madiba, being an “old hippie” distressed by the racial conflict he sees today, the power of music to heal, and parenting, among other things.

Oceans of life and National Geographic Nature Photographer of the year

Six pages of magnificent photographs, Oceans of Life, highlighting an important and beautiful exhibition at the Iziko Museum, and the National Geographic spread displaying international pictures.

How we are soiling the sea

Every day millions of litres of sewage are pumped into the ocean around Cape Town. But the problem goes deeper than that, it’s also about the chemicals that get flushed into the ocean, from household cleaners to medicines. The debate rages around building land-based sewage plants and preserving our oceans, and fixing existing plants that need urgent attention. 

No-Meat millennials

There’s a trend towards eliminating meat and going vegetarian among the millennials. And that’s because they’re worried about the fate of our planet. Study after study has shown that growing plant food is far less wasteful of water and grain resources than raising livestock for the abattoir. Some countries are following the logic: China has recommended a 50% reduction in meat-eating. Read their interviews with Capetonians who’ve made the transition, and are loving it.

Agents of Change: Literacy from the ground up

Fundza, a Muizenberg-based organisation, focuses on one thing and one thing only: getting youngsters to read. They do this by employing young people to write short novellas. They reach more than 60 000 people per month on their mobile site. 

Little Issue

Our new 4-page pull-out section for children. Aiming to encourage and develop scientific curiosity, it offers puzzles, discusses common questions that arise, and this time it shows children how to make a solid liquid.

Don’t miss…

China Dyantyi, Vendor of the month.

Selling The Big Issue enabled Dyantyi to buy an RDP house. It also taught him about customer relations and with that knowledge he started a small business selling chicken and sausages, with the help of his brother and son. And for him, the education of his son is the most important thing in the world.

Thuliswa Mthembu, Vendor to Visit

Brought up by her grandmother, Thuliswa’s life has taken her to three provinces and through many transient jobs for the sake of survival. Having left school at 14, despite being two standards ahead at one stage, she’s at a disadvantage, but she’s happy at The Big Issue, making sales and learning to sew bags at one of the workshops.

Making a real difference

Nicky Asher-Pedro is The Big Issue’s social worker, always around to help vendors with anything from family counselling , marriage advice, applying for jobs, organising meaningful workshops and looking for training, as well as writing up reports and sourcing donations. Her main purpose, she says, is “move people back into the mainstream.” She finds she needs both empathy and toughness to do her job. But there’s nothing that satisfies her more than seeing someone fulfill their dreams.

The Big Issue #247 is on sale from vendors in Cape Town from Tuesday, 25 October to Thursday, 24 November. Anyone outside of Cape Town can buy the magazine here.

You can also buy The Big Issue with your smartphone. Click here for a step-by-step guide.

For more information, visit www.bigissue.org.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.