In this edition of Lindi Roaming the Streets, Lindi highlights South African Band “African Rhythm.”
Celebrating our Youth…
“When you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note that makes it good or bad.”
Miles Davis.
African Rhythm is a percussion band that performs a combination of Afro Soul and Tribal House music. This young band chose to make a good note…
“We are from Krugersdorp, South Africa and a fresh approach to the healing properties of African Music”
They find this very appropriate as their main aim is to Unite and Heal through music. This team has been friends for 10 years, and decided at some point to start a group that fused music, fashion and dance. “Music was not always readily available, so we started playing African instruments to make our own rhythms to dance to. This led to the formation of our band.”
“Music unites”
*Bongane “Bongs” Vuso
*Thabang “Nikki Nak” Motsoahae (Shakers)
*Kamogelo “Youngman” Tshabangu (Percussionist)
*Tebogo “T.B.Z” Mabe (Percussionist)
*Katlego “K.Tee” Mathakeng (Xylophone)
* Vusi “Mavara” Mathule (Percussionist)
*Letlhogonolo “Mafa” Motshetshedi (Percussionist)
*Nthabiseng ”Nthabie” Sentso(Vocalist)
*Kutlwano ”Kaytee” Lubeko(Dj&Fashion
*Tshepo “Jozi” Mokgosi (Percussionist, Leader)
Their achievements include being featured in big music festivals such as:
- Go West Festival in the Westrand
- Jazz on the Lake at Zoo Lake
- 99% Local Music in Randfontein
- Donaldson Dam Annual Picnic Explosion in Westonaria
“We spent Earth Hour 2016 performing for the mayor of Pretoria, Kgosientso Ramokgopa and various other dignitaries.
We have also been featured on “Skyroom Live” on SABC1 and won Brenda Fassie’s 10year Legacy Competition in 2014.
Thus far our biggest highlight has been performing at Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital in Krugersdorp, for World AIDS Day in 2014 and 2015. These performances solidified our belief in the healing power of our music as even the bedridden patients at the hospital got up to dance.
We have always believed in our talent but this became more apparent when our Facebook video went viral on 3 April 2016. Having achieved more than 900,000 views in 1 week, we have decided to dedicate the next few months to satisfying the overwhelming local demand for our live performances.
We are currently based in Pretoria and have been booked for events in Gauteng and the surrounding provinces, namely North West, Free State and Limpopo (MP, we are ready for you).”
“In the future, we want to elevate South African music by touring abroad and establishing fashion, music, and dance schools in under privileged areas in South Africa.”
This man is a living testament of what a father is.
“When I met African Rhythm they had been staying with Katlego’s Uncle for about 2 weeks.
About a week later they called that they needed to see me. Jozi, Nik Nak and Katlego came to see me and explained that their families were not too happy about them leaving home. Their Uncle approved and was willing to continue accommodating them but they didn’t want to be the cause of a rift between the Uncle and the rest of the families. So they asked if they could stay with me.
It was nearly month end and I thought we would be able to find a place for them before the end of the month but that proved to be a very difficult task.
No agency would allow 10 people to move into one place so we had to find a place being rented directly by the owner. We eventually managed to find a place 2 months later.
Finances come from multiple sources:
– Some of their parents send them a little money monthly.
– The money they get from performing and sometimes busking (when things get really bad)
– I handle the shortfalls
“I have an agreement with them to get a certain percentage of their performance fees but I haven’t taken a single cent yet. They just can’t afford it. Feeding, housing, and transporting 11 people is very costly.
What we need to resolve this is more gigs. They have been getting a lot of publicity and requests but very few gigs (averaging a gig a week).”
To book them or for more information visit @african_rhythm!
Brooklyn-based indie-soul/rock band Meridian Lights has been on the scene for about 3 years, constantly playing gigs around the U.S. Meridian Lights is the song writing team consisting of vocalist Bradley Valentin and guitarist Yohimbe Sampson. They have recently completed their “self titled” second release.
New York, NY:
Acute Inflections
The Twenty-First Century has indeed been full of trying times. Despite tons of intentional division and propaganda imagery, there has also been a banding together and a notion that we, as a people, must foster our own growth and progression. It is said that in the midst of turmoil, the air is ripe for the likes of a prophet; one who can ingest the struggle and obstacles of the time, and in return paint a portrait of a prosperous future. It is no easy task to be able to rise from police brutality, genocide and institutionalized racism, while still being able to see Nirvana and rouse others to do so as well. Insert: Messiah Ramkissoon.