By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Inside
South Africans are notorious for knowing how to have a good time, the social culture in South Africa’s most popular cities most notably, Johannesburg and Cape Town, is pulsating with exuberant youth who are molded together by one thing, music. Whether it be that they spend their Friday and Saturday nights looking for various events that host either live music, DJs or general musical performances, there’s always something to keep your hand on the pulse.
The significant history music has played in South Africa cannot be downplayed as some of the country’s most revered legends have given a positive name to South Africa around the globe. Music has even played a significant role during the Apartheid-era, where black musicians sang songs of liberation and gave the disadvantaged black people at the time a glimmer of hope and pride that they could hold onto. Musicians and bands such as Miriam Makeba, Harare, Hugh Masekela, LadySmith Black Mambazo, Letta Mbuli and many other prominent names have shaped the sound of South Africa’s musical landscape for many other generations to find their voice in a democratic South Africa. These prominent legends have paved a way for countless generations of artists and musicians to come through the fray such as Thandiswa Mazwai, Brenda Fassie, Andile Yenana, Freshly Ground, Mafikizolo, The Brother Moves On, Thandi Ntuli, Zoe Modiga and so on. South Africa has a huge plethora of different spaces which give spaces to artists trying to make a name for themselves or find their voice. In this new age, new bands and artists are now taking the mantle and carving a brighter and bolder musical landscape with emerging acts such as Muneyi, Kozo Zwane, Kujenga, Operation Khatazah, Crunchy Sweater, Amongst The People I Know, Babble Hume and the Lerato Orchestral Collective*.
South Africa’s music landscape continues to grow with a variety of different genres coming into the fold which gives South Africa a broader sound ranging from Hip-hop/Rap music to Punk/Post Punk, with a variety of vibrant acts that are giving South Africa a beautiful sonic footprint with Hip-Hop acts such as Shoka SunFlower, ByLwansta and Umntungwambulazi who are giving a new voice to South African alternative music and making a statement for more artists to be more bold in how they express their music. In the Punk/post punk Johannesburg based bands such as TwentyOne Children, Aura Electric, Dynasty House, Zondo Commission, Necklace and Lefokolodi or Cape Town based bands such Moskitos and Suenos are introducing a new and eccentric sonic footprint to the youth of South Africa. Every weekend this collection of extraordinary talent always manages to find a stage where they can unleash their artistic prowess. Even emerging solo artists are making a massive contribution to alternative music scenes in Johannesburg with acts such as Sei Siren who occasionally perform with the elaborate FrlknFondlers, Lee Soulae, Roho, Kyabo and Nu-Bam and his live band.
In this current generation there is an amalgamation of vibrant musical talent who grace a variety of different events that take place in and around Johannesburg or Cape Town. Here are some various events that will be happening over the course of the month, where you can find some of these local emerging talents.
Events in Johannesburg
- Your Weekly Touch Up (Every Wednesday) at 5 De Beer, Braamfontein
- Moskitos and Special Guests- 13 June at “The Irish Club” in Linden
- Kids Love Jazz- 14 June at “The PlayGround” in Braamfontein
- Youth Day Party- 15 June at “Smoking Kill” in Melville
- That Winter Fest- 28 June at “Sognage” in Randburg
Events in Cape Town
- Soulquarian Silver Jubilee- 07 June at Selective Live (189 Buitengracht st)
- Andile Yenana Live- 07 June at The Commons (Muizenberg)
- OCCUPY!- 13 June at Armchair on 135 Lower Main
- Everybody Loves Sundays- 15 June at Grand Daddy Hotel Rooftop
- Radio 2000 iYouth Endla- 28 June at Cabo Beach Cape Town