Soweto Street Culture Arts Festival

In this edition of Lindi Roaming the Streets, Lindi explores South Africa’s Soweto Street Culture Arts Festival.

#AfricaMonth

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but, if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” ‘

Maya A.

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SOWETO STREET CULTURE ARTS FEST

The Soweto Street Culture Arts Festival #SSCAFest2016 is proudly South African with authentic local street culture, live Contemporary Jazz & Hip Hop music, Literature, Art & Independent Film screenings.

Here, visitors can experience authentic street culture, fashion, music, stalls, gourmet, colour festival and so much more! The perfect way to experience Soweto and socialize with all of the artists.

VILAKAZI STREET in Soweto, South Africa is well-known for its rich history, particularly for its place in the struggle against apartheid. Given this, it is one of the main tourist attractions in Joburg, and the country.

‘Talent Over Everything Sessions’

‘TOES’ is a hip hop based duo consisting of musicians Thabiso Thabethe and Prodigenius. The band blends alternative folk music with rap to create a unique hip hop sound and style. Their music is influenced by artists such as HHP, Freshly Ground, and The Parlotones.

The band originated in Winterveld (Sgandi), South Africa in 2014, when this dynamic team started off by performing concerts in Prodigenius’ father’s backyard. This developed into door to door music sessions, music mobs on the streets, performing on trains in Winterveld, and around Pretoria. TOES is currently performing music from Thabiso Thabethe’s 9 track EP tiled “SHEBAH” and The Genius Touch’s 10 track EP titled “Kastom Kult,” both released in 2016 independently through hard copies and Soundcloud.

‘Zimbabwe Showing Flames’

LYNOL BROWN

This multi-talented young man born in Gweru Zimbabwe was named after legend Lionel Richie. He is an Afro Contemporary artist with a mixture of Pop and Afrisoul.

“Copying denies collaboration as it is a trade amongst artist. It also affects musicians and lead to them forgetting they are the product.” When he arrived in SA, he realised that he’s going to represent his identity and culture. His main aim was to send a clear, outspoken message understood by all.

“Copying kills the potency in the art.”

Ringo Madlingozi and Oliver Mtukuzi better watch out for the tremor approaching!!!

“You’ll never go anywhere nor be recognised if you do not want to learn. Team effort is success, and with our different skills the world is just an oyster. Learn to stand your ground and take yourself seriously in order for people to. Believe in your craft and be unapologetic about it, and most importantly give and receive.” His advice to people is to wait for your time, stick to what you do best and let it manifest as our fruits have different seasons.

“Happiness is what keeps me going.”

Many thanks to the @THEBOXSHOP for hosting this prestigious event…

DEAR AFRICA…

‘MY SCARS’

“The more difficult the process to become whole again;

The pain may fade but scars serve as a reminder of our suffering, and make the bearer all the more resolved and never to be wounded again.

So as time moves along, we get lost in distractions, act out in frustration, and react with aggression giving into anger and all the while we plot and plan as we wait to grow stronger, and before we know it, the time passes. We are healed, ready to begin a new…”

‘MAMA AFRICA’

BY MANTALA NKOATSE

A seed like myself only needs to develop into roots

Feel the breath of Mother Earth in my Habitat; give a Shelter to Bugs or Sparrows.

I need to feel Mother Earths tears in my habitat, Let her Sunshine nurture my lungs.

I need to grow, I need to be an example of strength, I need to be a firm stem.

I need to be like Green Leaves Clothed in Mamas Favourite Green dress, I need to be Chlorophyll.

I need to gain beauty from my petals, I the seed; want to become a Flower!

I want to make butterflies smile as I take my duties of Brightening the World.

For the World needs to be mothered before it turns an orphan.

Dear mama Africa; I need my Great Gran Children to Enjoy the Pleasures of your beauty like my ancestors did before they died.

I don’t want to fear War that will leave my habitat in draught, I don’t want to see my Petals wither, chasing butterflies away.

I don’t want to fear the Sparrows that will be left homeless. I don’t want to fear anything.

I want to be in nature, I want your picture to inspire me to emancipate my mind. I want to relish on your ground after I’ve turned an ancestor.

Mama Africa, I want your beauty to remain timeless

Now, Dear Mother! Hear my cry when I call upon your name. Forgive my sins for I have polluted your breath with smoke and I let the World disturb your music, created by birds and the Ocean.

Forgive me for I have demolished some of the habitats to gain the pleasures of my material self, I have realized that the World is not as Important as you are because you gave birth to the World.

Mother, without you there’s no more me, or birds or butterflies or trees or the ocean

Dear Mother Africa. Stay Strong and quench my strength with your mountains, inspire my beauty with all that you are, provoke my emotions with your ocean. Mama Africa, please keep clean for the sake of your legacy.