remarkable news from Joburg that I like to share with you. Regulars of Soul Safari will be familiar with kwela and pennywhistle player Lemmy “Special” Mabaso.
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In a corner of a Joburg restaurant where this year’s Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition was being launched, sat an unlikely pair; hip hop pioneer Emile YX and pennywhistle player Lemmy “Special” Mabaso.
The pair, it turned out, were the faces of this year’s conference, which takes place on September 10th and 11th 2015.
Aptly titled “From Kwela to Hop; the Great South African Songbook”, Moshito aims to trace the tracks of early South African music, right up to the hip hop we hear on our radios right now.
Mabaso, who was a giant of kwela music told me: ‘I haven’t got a recording studio to record my own kwela music, but I want to bring the penny whistle back to music’. He’ll get to do just that through the Moshito Music Festival which will celebrate the wrapping up of the conference on September 12 at Newton Park.
Here, he will perform alongside Kwela Tebza-the nephews of Mabaso’s colleague Jack Lerole -while the likes of Simphiwe Dana and Birdie Tribute Mboweni also perform.
The theme “From Kwela to Hop; the Great South African Songbook” forms part of the three new concerts and festivals taking place at the Market Theatre and the inaugural annual Moshito Music Festival in Newtown Park.
But before the formalities take place, the event will kick off with an opening concert at the SABC’s M1 Studios on 9 September.
On the opening night, singer Judith Sephuma will entertain music lovers with her music. She will be accompanied by Maru Tarang featuring Indwe, Maya Kamaty and Tribute “Birdie” Mboweni.
The Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition takes place at SABC Radio Park Auditorium in Auckland Park, Joburg on September 10 and 11. To view the full program and details, attend or register visit http://www.moshito.co.za/
report by Helen Herimbi /The Herald
Soul Safari 