Celebrating Rain Queens
Sat Dec 2, 14:00 - Sat Dec 2, 18:00
Glory
ABOUT
Please join us in a cross generational authentic Indigenous African Music experience, with the double album launch by Kgomotso le Roux and her mentor Rosy Morero Bulane aka Neno.
The long-awaited releases of UNOYIWAWA by Kgomotso le Roux and HA MOJELA by Neno, present an amalgam of musical elements influenced by Jazz, Soul, Tshivenda Rhythms, Mbaqanga Sesotho traditional music and spiritual music.
The bond between Kgomotso and Neno has a long history, stemming from Kgomotso’s academic study at WITS University in ethnomusicology in 2006. As part of her academic study Kgomotso le Roux was on a quest to unearth the rich musical history of our indigenous communities by documenting the narratives of its key custodians. This journey eventually led her to Neno, a music icon since the 1970’s with a specific focus on indigenous music. Even though Neno successfully launched an album with Gallo in the 1970’s she had long since given up on her music, and her career in the music industry. What remained were her magnificent compositions. Her last album was in the 1970’s and she also continued a career in television which gave her another channel of expression. Kgomotso engaged her in a series of interviews and with the transference of knowledge came resonance, mutual respect and love towards a common goal.
“If it wasn’t for Neno and Mme Seipati Bulane Hopa, I would have never given our music a chance,” Kgomotso le Roux
NENO, at 78 years old, is finally launching her compositions in the Ha Mojela album with the formidable support of Khwela Factory and of Kgomotso to begin the journey of having her works performed.
Kgomotso’s compositions are in isiZulu, Tshivenda, Sesotho, French, English and Shona influenced primarily by Tshivenda Traditional Rhythms. Kgomotso began composing at the tender age of 9. She has gone on to work with some of South Africa’s distinguished including but not limited to Mpumi Dlamini, RJ Benjamin, Ifani, Letoya Makhene, Blondie Makhene, Tlale Makhene, Yonela Manana, Theo Nhlengethwa and Tresor. She has also produced albums for a number of independent musicians. In September 2017 Kgomotso performed at Dr. Sello Galane’s Pula Festival at the State Theatre in Pretoria.
UNOYIWAWA is Kgomotso le Roux’s debut album after 14 years in the music industry having started as a backing vocalist in 2003. The album is aptly named after UNOYIWAWA, a Mythical African Super Hero, who is the “Strong One who does not Fall who protects communities from natural disasters.” Unoyiwawa is daughter to Nomkhubulwane the Zulu deity of nature, fertility and rain.
To ensure that this unique experience is extended to a wide audience of music appreciators the launch will take place at two venues across Johannesburg – EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub on Saturday the 2nd of December and at Glory on Sunday the 3rd of December 2017.
The launch event at EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub coincides with the birthday of the late great Reverend Motlalepula Chabaku, feminist, humanitarian mother of the nation and art activist and will form part of the annual birthday celebrations which was launched by the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation in 2014. To find out more about EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub go to:
https://www.facebook.com/EST1912/
EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub is an art center developed by the Taukobong family in partnership with Reverend Motlalepula Chabaku before her passing, to foster artistic and creative development in the community of Soweto. It is the headquarters of the Arts, Heritage and Culture portfolio of the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation. Since 2013 when it officially opened EST1912 has facilitated the development of the creative community through workshops, art programs exhibitions and showcases by the local art community. It is at this location that the Foundation also exposes the local community to the value of the arts.
“Arts heritage and culture is one of our biggest portfolios at the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation as Mme Chabaku used the arts to transform communities particularly to empower youth. The launch by Khwela Factory presented a great opportunity for the Foundation to celebrate Rev Chabaku who believed in the arts” – Tuska Matlejoane Chairperson of the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation.
This special occasion will also be graced by an address by Dr. Donato Francisco Mattera will present a lecture to encourage young people towards their greater selves, in memory of Reverend Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation. Dr. Don Mattera has been celebrated as a journalist, editor, writer and poet. He is also acknowledged as one of the foremost activists in the struggle for a democratic South Africa and helped found both the Union of Black Journalist and the Congress of South African Writers. He is a patron and supporter of the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation.
In addition to live performances, audiences will enjoy a multi-disciplinary showcase of fashion, through the Premier of the Khwela Factory clothing brand, bespoke visual art from the EST1912 Art collective, literature and retail items from the community.
Apart from answering her calling as a musician, Kgomotso le Roux is the CEO of Khwela Factory. Khwela Factory specializes in project management, manufacturing uniforms and custom-made clothing. The musical gems will be dressed by Kwela Factory and backed by an amazing ensemble which includes, Nhlanhla Nevile Radebe on the double bass, Yonela Mnana on keys, Mabeleng Moholo on percussions, Kgomotso on mbira/vocals, Vumile Mchunu and Musa Nkosi on vocals.
Much like Reverend Chabaku, Kgomotso le Roux uses her talents to enable youth development in Soweto by facilitating a music and performance program at Funda Centre in partnership with the Home of Hope Community Centre. Some of the special guests of the event include her current students, who will receive gifts in the form of literature from the Steve Biko Foundation.
The Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation is a Section 21 non-profit organisation dedicated to continuing the work of and preserving the memory of Reverend Motlalepula Chabaku. The Foundation oversees a number of portfolios these include but are not limited to Education, Youth, Arts Heritage and Culture, Activism, Spiritual Development, the Elderly and the Environment and Urban Greening. This is primarily to achieve through collaborative efforts and peer to peer partnering with various stakeholders, who were engaged, influenced and supported by Motlalepula Chabaku in her lifetime. To learn more about the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation please visit:
http://motlalepulachabakufoundation.strikingly.com/
A percentage of the proceeds for the launch will be donated to the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation towards developmental projects in the arts.
Event Program for launch event at EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub is:
The long-awaited releases of UNOYIWAWA by Kgomotso le Roux and HA MOJELA by Neno, present an amalgam of musical elements influenced by Jazz, Soul, Tshivenda Rhythms, Mbaqanga Sesotho traditional music and spiritual music.
The bond between Kgomotso and Neno has a long history, stemming from Kgomotso’s academic study at WITS University in ethnomusicology in 2006. As part of her academic study Kgomotso le Roux was on a quest to unearth the rich musical history of our indigenous communities by documenting the narratives of its key custodians. This journey eventually led her to Neno, a music icon since the 1970’s with a specific focus on indigenous music. Even though Neno successfully launched an album with Gallo in the 1970’s she had long since given up on her music, and her career in the music industry. What remained were her magnificent compositions. Her last album was in the 1970’s and she also continued a career in television which gave her another channel of expression. Kgomotso engaged her in a series of interviews and with the transference of knowledge came resonance, mutual respect and love towards a common goal.
“If it wasn’t for Neno and Mme Seipati Bulane Hopa, I would have never given our music a chance,” Kgomotso le Roux
NENO, at 78 years old, is finally launching her compositions in the Ha Mojela album with the formidable support of Khwela Factory and of Kgomotso to begin the journey of having her works performed.
Kgomotso’s compositions are in isiZulu, Tshivenda, Sesotho, French, English and Shona influenced primarily by Tshivenda Traditional Rhythms. Kgomotso began composing at the tender age of 9. She has gone on to work with some of South Africa’s distinguished including but not limited to Mpumi Dlamini, RJ Benjamin, Ifani, Letoya Makhene, Blondie Makhene, Tlale Makhene, Yonela Manana, Theo Nhlengethwa and Tresor. She has also produced albums for a number of independent musicians. In September 2017 Kgomotso performed at Dr. Sello Galane’s Pula Festival at the State Theatre in Pretoria.
UNOYIWAWA is Kgomotso le Roux’s debut album after 14 years in the music industry having started as a backing vocalist in 2003. The album is aptly named after UNOYIWAWA, a Mythical African Super Hero, who is the “Strong One who does not Fall who protects communities from natural disasters.” Unoyiwawa is daughter to Nomkhubulwane the Zulu deity of nature, fertility and rain.
To ensure that this unique experience is extended to a wide audience of music appreciators the launch will take place at two venues across Johannesburg – EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub on Saturday the 2nd of December and at Glory on Sunday the 3rd of December 2017.
The launch event at EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub coincides with the birthday of the late great Reverend Motlalepula Chabaku, feminist, humanitarian mother of the nation and art activist and will form part of the annual birthday celebrations which was launched by the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation in 2014. To find out more about EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub go to:
https://www.facebook.com/EST1912/
EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub is an art center developed by the Taukobong family in partnership with Reverend Motlalepula Chabaku before her passing, to foster artistic and creative development in the community of Soweto. It is the headquarters of the Arts, Heritage and Culture portfolio of the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation. Since 2013 when it officially opened EST1912 has facilitated the development of the creative community through workshops, art programs exhibitions and showcases by the local art community. It is at this location that the Foundation also exposes the local community to the value of the arts.
“Arts heritage and culture is one of our biggest portfolios at the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation as Mme Chabaku used the arts to transform communities particularly to empower youth. The launch by Khwela Factory presented a great opportunity for the Foundation to celebrate Rev Chabaku who believed in the arts” – Tuska Matlejoane Chairperson of the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation.
This special occasion will also be graced by an address by Dr. Donato Francisco Mattera will present a lecture to encourage young people towards their greater selves, in memory of Reverend Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation. Dr. Don Mattera has been celebrated as a journalist, editor, writer and poet. He is also acknowledged as one of the foremost activists in the struggle for a democratic South Africa and helped found both the Union of Black Journalist and the Congress of South African Writers. He is a patron and supporter of the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation.
In addition to live performances, audiences will enjoy a multi-disciplinary showcase of fashion, through the Premier of the Khwela Factory clothing brand, bespoke visual art from the EST1912 Art collective, literature and retail items from the community.
Apart from answering her calling as a musician, Kgomotso le Roux is the CEO of Khwela Factory. Khwela Factory specializes in project management, manufacturing uniforms and custom-made clothing. The musical gems will be dressed by Kwela Factory and backed by an amazing ensemble which includes, Nhlanhla Nevile Radebe on the double bass, Yonela Mnana on keys, Mabeleng Moholo on percussions, Kgomotso on mbira/vocals, Vumile Mchunu and Musa Nkosi on vocals.
Much like Reverend Chabaku, Kgomotso le Roux uses her talents to enable youth development in Soweto by facilitating a music and performance program at Funda Centre in partnership with the Home of Hope Community Centre. Some of the special guests of the event include her current students, who will receive gifts in the form of literature from the Steve Biko Foundation.
The Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation is a Section 21 non-profit organisation dedicated to continuing the work of and preserving the memory of Reverend Motlalepula Chabaku. The Foundation oversees a number of portfolios these include but are not limited to Education, Youth, Arts Heritage and Culture, Activism, Spiritual Development, the Elderly and the Environment and Urban Greening. This is primarily to achieve through collaborative efforts and peer to peer partnering with various stakeholders, who were engaged, influenced and supported by Motlalepula Chabaku in her lifetime. To learn more about the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation please visit:
http://motlalepulachabakufoundation.strikingly.com/
A percentage of the proceeds for the launch will be donated to the Motlalepula Chabaku Foundation towards developmental projects in the arts.
Event Program for launch event at EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub is:
- Guests arrive at 2pm and network
- Key note address by Dr. Don Mattera at 3pm
- Performance starts at 3:45pm
- Event ends at 6:00pm