The Soundz of the South (SOS) Cultural Youth Movement hosted
a Let’s NOT Vote – They are all CORRUPT
Session in Makhaza Wetland Park on the 2nd of February 2014. The
Session was hosted by Khusta. The weather was favourable and people came in
numbers from neighbouring Townships to converge in the immaculate Makhaza
Wetland Park. There are ghetto youth from 44thSection in Makhaza who
are ensuring that the park maintains its quality and that it is a safe park for
kids and adults to utilize. There is also a gym equipment within the park.
Prior to the official commencement of the session, we had a fifteen
minute walk around the park and basked on its majestic appearance. The theme of
the session was “Let’s not vote.”
There was a minor debate on whether the youth should vote or not. Many artists
performed but others could not perform because there was not enough time for
everyone to perform. There were too many artists (from painters to poets) and
activists.
We witnessed the likes of Zealot, Mawethu, Thabiso, Luvo,
Karl Mics a.k.a Sarhili, Avo, Aboo-Spitter, Jah Side, Sistah Emma, Samora,
Innocent, Jah Leader, Sistah Anela, Zimbini, Acumen, Cubic, West Side, Ras Judah,
Jah Fire, Freedom Warriors, Masoja and others. SOS will host more sessions at Makhaza Wetland
Park.
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/soundzofthesouth?fref=ts
In a space of about two days after the session, I invaded
Khusta’s (Mkhululi Sijora) inbox on
Facebook and we had a little chat about SOS.
Hereunder is how our little chat went down:
What is SOS? Who came
up with the idea? And what influenced the idea?
SOS is the collective of cultural activists that are against
all forms of oppression and domination. We use poetry and hip hop to fight all
the injustices we are faced with; and we try to raise political consciousness
in order to emancipate us all.
It was formed by a group of artists who saw a need to create
a counter-culture to the dominant one of music and the media that is used to
mislead, misinform and brainwash the society to believe that everything is
fine. And that people must simply have fun (party, drink, smoke and
promiscuity).
We are also against consumerism, and dependency on bosses
and government to help us (instead of organising ourselves). I am one of those
artists. We are self-dependent and non-funded, because we believe that we are
the ones who will free ourselves. Not some God out there, or a political party,
or some magic; but us, united as one voice – we can conquer whatever that is
stumbling in order for us to get freedom.
Is it strictly a
Pan-Afrikanist Rebel Art Movement?
We are not only Pan-Afrikanist my brother. We fight all
forms of domination and all forms of exploitation; against all hierarchies, and
believe in equality freedom and direct democracy, where people are directly
involved in every decision about their lives.
So, all in all, SOS
is not strictly about the cause of the black man. It fights all forms of
domination (either black or white), exploitation and so forth. And in essence,
you can work alongside Caucasians; as long as they align themselves with the
cause of SOS?
