By Bulelwa Basse
We come into the world bearing gifts with which to offer our unique sense of self … And with these gifts, we serve a higher purpose – to touch lives and change the environments in which we live.
Music and the Spoken Word have – in my experience – been the pillars of social change, igniters of dreams of those who dared believe would one day come true, and the key to unlocking a higher consciousness.
Jazz music has been one of those instruments which opened the minds of many township youth – not only across Africa but the entire world, where Africa was able to connect with a global community.
And this youth emerged from Langa, Gugulethu, New Brighton Port Elizabeth, and Soweto, to name but a few.
Sylvia Mdunyelwa graced Langa township with not only her astounding beauty, but also her unforgettable voice. Affectionately known as “Mama Kaap”, she has made her name prominent beyond South Africa’s borders.
Although she holds many accolades in the arts and culture fraternity, many do not know her humble beginnings as a receptionist at the Space Theatre in the ’70s. She often jokes that even a diva needs to learn to read and write.
“Many young people just want to be famous, but don’t want to go to school. They forget that to become a famous actor you need to be able to read a script and pay your dues.”
She pursued acting roles in productions such as Born to Win and Freedom Road. But her turning point was when she became part of Victor Ntoni’s Sextet in the ’70s and immersed herself in collaborations with music legends such as the late Duke and Ezra Ngcukana and Winston Mankunku.
Collaboration of creatives appeals to me as an artist, through intergenerational and intercultural exchange which has developed my outlook on life and which I constantly seek to recreate in my youth programmes.
And a point of resonance is that mam’ Sylvia Mdunyelwa once led a youth group to Canada, something she has always been passionate about and continues to pursue in South Africa.
In 1990 she performed at the Berlin Jazz Festival, while back home she performed numerous times at the International Jazz Festival.
She has enjoyed being invited to perform in Tokyo, Japan, with the late Ezra Ngcukana and phenomenal Feya Faku. Mam’ Sylvia Mdunyelwa has mesmerised audiences at the North Sea Jazz festival, as she popularised iconic African songs.
For all these reasons I am proud to have had the opportunity to honour her at her Honouring Sylvia Mdunyelwa concert at the Artscape Opera House on Saturday, October 22.
It was a two-night celebration which began on Friday, October 21, and opened by recent Cultural Affairs Awards Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, saxophonist McCoy Mrubata, accompanied on stage by Hlubi Twiin and Dumza Maswana.
The Honouring Sylvia Mdunyelwa concert was elevated by a strong audience turnout and an engaging hosting of the night’s proceedings by yours truly, as I introduced the legendary musicians who honoured “Mama Kaap”. It was a reunion of a jazz family of artists – young and old – with Feya Faku joining George Werner and the Little Giants, who are celebrating 23 years of music development.
Titi Luzipo added her feminine prowess, and D’Louw – former Prophets of the City group member – serenaded the audience until it was weak in the knees in honour of “Mama Kaap”.
It was an evening of remembrance, historical education, cultural inculcation, and linguistic offerings through my Spoken Word which I had carefully etched to speak of the legacy that is mam’ Sylvia Mdunyelwa.
These words of honour began to flow from my heart’s consciousness, as the night progressed …
I fed off the energy of the artists and audience alike, who threw all sorts of compliments at me, and I began to blush with love. It felt like a homecoming to a family gathering.
As I was sitting backstage with “Mama Kaap”, I could see how much music means to her. She shared with me how much joy singing brings her, even when performing to only a handful of people – as long as her voice could offer healing and transformation.
A hilarious moment was when I kept updating her on when she’d perform, as she could not wait to sing for her enthusiastic audience. She asked me to check if her scarf complemented her outfit, and I found myself giggling when she jokingly said: “Hey, bazathi ndigugile nyani ngoku…”
All I was trying to do was to focus on the task at hand as host of the legendary event, but Magaba’s engaging spirit gave me the courage to tap into my own sense of humour in honouring her legacy.
My wish is that we aspire towards the preservation of the history of our legends, in the same way we seek to preserve indigenous knowledge systems, for their legacy is our heritage.
My hope is that the newly formed Sylvia Mdunyelwa Legacy Foundation will fulfil this.
I honoured a legend on that stage because I was armed with her history, and the power of the Word in me …
Life would not be worth living if we did not use our God-given gifts for a purpose. In sickness and in health, we rise to the occasion because we know a calling is meant to be answered…
I’m proud to have honoured the legend that is mam’ Sylvia Mdunyelwa. I watched her backstage, having an out-of-body experience, in witnessing how great she is. “Zange nday’ bon’ int’ enje,’’ she mused.
At times she was like a young girl, presented with a long-awaited gift. And am so blessed to have been privy to her intimate moments of joy.
This voice of mine shall continue to elevate legends of our time.
Basse is the founder of Beyond Talent SA and Legends of Our Time Foundation. She is a social commentator, thought leader, entrepreneur, community developer and content producer. She is a multiple award winner as a writer and nationbuilder. Basse is also the founder of Lyrical Base Project and Sisters In Solidarity SA.
* Bulelwa Basse is the founder of Beyond Talent South Africa and Legends of Our Time Foundation.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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