Mafikizolo's Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza with the Foundation’s Sello Hatang and some of the local youngsters who benefited from their visit Hayden Wright (11), Jijbez Vosloo (14), Sade Mokwena (10) and Zadrick Naidoo (9). The children also received copies of South Africa’s constitution and “Nelson Mandela the Authorised Comic”. Yolanda van der Stoep/NMF
Nelson Mandela once said that artists reach areas far beyond the reach of politicians.
“Art, especially entertainment and music, is understood by everybody and it lifts the spirits and the morale of those who hear it,” he said.
Indeed, when 10-year old Sade Mokwena's voice rose in song to meet the rhythm of 10-year old drummer Justin Arendse and his young band, Free Born, at the Tshwane School of Music in Eersterust, in front of superstars Mafikizolo, the crowd gathered in the small school hall knew something special was happening.
In the audience with Mafikizolo were Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture Rejoice Mabudafhasi and Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang.
The event, held on Thursday 12 March, was part of the NMF’s national youth dialogues. The dialogues were held together with Mafikizolo’s Reunited SA Tour 2015 to get young people talking about the issues they face.
“We are here because Madiba cared about young people,” Hatang told the crowd of parents and pupils.
Hatang said 21 years into democracy, and 25 years after Madiba’s release from prison, the country is looking for freedom in areas beyond politics. Recalling Madiba’s historic speech after his release from prison, in which he declared that he stood as a servant before the people of South Africa, Hatang urged South Africans to continue to strive to achieve what the iconic leader worked toward: a better future for South Africa’s children.
“We have to ask ourselves, are we living up to that?” Hatang said.
Mafikizolo’s Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza praised the rousing performances by the youngsters from the Tshwane School of Music. The school, which is a year old, aims to become the first primary school of the arts in South Africa, offering a curriculum that merges academic disciplines with intensive training in music.
Kgosinkwe told their young fans about their humble beginnings. “We used to rehearse in a garage. Music was our passion. But we have never forgotten that we are where we are because of our parents. Talent is not enough. You have to honour and respect your parents.
“In high school, all we wanted to do was sing. But our parents said, ‘No. Education first.’ They told us we could do music after we finished high school and even then they wanted us to learn how to read music.”
Mafikizolo's Theo Kgosinkwe and Nhlanhla Nciza with the Foundation’s Sello Hatang along with youngsters, Alicia Kamfer (13), Jonathan Jansen (12), Jamilla Vanrooi (10) and Sade Mokwena (10).
According to Kgosinkwe every musician needs an education. “The music industry is a business. You have to know how to read contracts and to build up your brand. There are many talented people who have gotten ripped off by record companies because they didn’t understand their contracts. They just wanted fame.”
This sentiment was echoed by Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture Rejoice Mabudafhasi, who said her focus is on getting support for arts education.
“Artists live a life of struggle. They are at the coalface of social movements. Their paintings, music and story telling capture the aspirations and agonies of a society, but they also struggle to survive. It can’t be right that every time an artist dies, we have to collect money to bury them.”
Mabudafhasi believes it is critical that young artists are taught about the business side of their industry and learn how to handle their money wisely.
The youth dialogue itself focused on the issues of violence and substance abuse. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development shared an alarming fact: most of the cases of harassment currently sitting in the Pretoria Magistrate’s court were brought by children.
A further challenge lies in the fact that in most cases violence perpetrated against children were happening within homes and victims were dissuaded from reporting the perpetrators to the police.
“There is also the well-known phenomenon of young people being exploited for sexual favours,” said the department’s Emily Dlamini.
The department then led a dialogue in which the youngsters were encouraged to share the knowledge they’ve gleaned about drug abuse in their community and their thoughts on the effect substance abuse could have on their lives and their futures.
A mother from Eersterust, Liefie Robby, says she appreciated the session. “It is so good to see local artists like Mafikizolo taking the time to interact with children who really look up to them.”
Robby, whose 11-year old daughter is learning music at the school, said she has particular appreciation for the music school. “It keeps them busy and off the streets.”
The school’s founder, Freddy Arendse, said the arts in general, and the school in particular, can play a vital role in focusing the energies of young people positively.
“We teach more than music,” he said. “These children are taught that they are more than their gift. Their lives have value. And it gives them a deep sense of purpose.”
Subscribing to what he describes as an “indigenous philosophy”, Arendse said the school takes the approach of maximising the strengths of the learners. “It’s called a strength-based approach. So they’re focused on mastering their strengths, which comes with a sense of belonging. We teach them that independence comes with mastery, and once you have reached that level, you have to give back.”
By the sounds of it, the young members of Free Born are certainly living up to the school’s philosophy. They are set to open for Mafikizolo when they perform at Morula Sun in Mabopane on Saturday 14 March.