The Creative Arts Alive

The Creative Arts Alive has brought Simbone (one of the most popular artists in East Cape) to the Mother City. They had been touring around the ghettos and slums of Cape Town since the beginning of the month (November). Simbone is promoting his new album “Uzulibambe Lingatshoni Reloaded.” I had a privilege of witnessing him live at Blue Hall in Site C, Khayelitsha on the 9^th of November 2013.

He was flanked by local artists such as Anele Kose, Mnqobi The Zulu Poet, Mr P, G.O.T, Black Scientist (The Lab), Ndlulamthi and Zanzolo. In the mix, there was Qalazive (also one of the most popular artists in East Cape). One of his songs “If You Feel Me” was featured on HYPE Sessions Vol. 39. It was an honour to see him performing live.

There was a little bit of drama in the beginning where the Hall was hit by power outage for a period spanning nearly ten minutes but that did not deter our spirits. The show went on very well with electrifying sounds of words and beats. These artists are very talented.


Hereunder are some of the pictures taken at the event by Amalahle Ashushu.

EloHIP Session - Art Beyond Limit

Like a rose that grows through the concrete and blossom to produce the edible food that feeds the souls with eternal wisdom that immortalize their spirits to profit the coming generation when adversity prevails. It is through adversity and harsh upbringing that tales, legends, wisdom and wise beings emanate. These tales and legends had been narrated orally for years up until the ancient Egyptians started civilization which incorporated the culture of reading and writing. Civilization heralded the art of story telling, not only orally, but also in writing through Heart, Ink and Paper. The conscious artists are avid readers but if you go to any ghetto or slum, you can always find vast amount of artists who had been made conscious by the daily harsh realities that comes with living in those vicinities. Harsh reality which includes but not limited to starvation, deprivation, hate and dejection. Every now and then, when their HEART is touched by their living experiences, they sometimes take a pen and regurgitate INK on the PAPER to generate Poems, Spoken Word verses, Songs, Paints and anything art to express their feelings.

Zealot (the Rastafari artist extraordinaire and brain behind EloHIP Session – Art Beyond Limit) and his team had once again organized an EloHIP Session which was hosted by Khusta, just adjacent to Mabhabhela Fruit Stall (opposite Makhaza Centre and Desmond Mpilo Tutu Hall) in Makhaza on Saturday, November 02. The session gave platform to different artists and activists who were spitting their wisdom, frustration and pain. Artists such as Zealot himself, Acumen, Sarhili, Omen, Brother Shapiro, Spaza Enforcement, Sapta, Zukiswa, Jah Fire, Big D, Mawethu, Ras Judah, Ashur, Master P, Khusta et cet-era.

There is too much talent in Khayelitsha. I could not film all the performances because I feared that my second hand digital camera’s batteries might lose power. However, I made an effort to at least film Master P’s performance. I won’t say anything about it, just view this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIwYYD5PeuE&feature=youtu.be.

Zealot bestowed me with a precious gift. The painting that he painted by himself with the “Heart, Ink & Paper” logo. People are beginning to recognize and appreciate my works. I feel honoured. The next session will be on the 30th of November 2013.

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/182286005172053/

Hereunder are some of the session pics, courtesy of Amalahle Ashushu.

HEADS & RAPS SESSION HOSTED THE LEARNERSHIP TOUR IN PHILIPPI

The Learnership Tour had hit Cape Town again. This time around, it was hosted by Heads & Raps Session outside Phillipi Library in Phillipi on Saturday, 19th of October 2013. The Session was packed to capacity by Heads & Hip Hop fans from neighbouring townships. The weather was favourable too. The Session was schedule to start at 13:00 PM but it delayed for nearly three hours. It started just before 16:00 PM. I arrived just before 15:00 PM deliberately, knowing that it won’t start exactly at 13:00 PM. You know us; we don’t compromise on African time. I guess that’s one segment that makes us African.

There were many Cats who registered to perform. To name few, it was: Sira and Madasa, Password, Mxi, K-4,Kaotic, Ikapa Crew, Sino Side, Ciza, Iimbongi Zemveli, Luhla, One Movement, Qhawe, Bora and Zanzolo. In the midst of the Session, we were surprised by the appearance of Kritsi and TOP. Kritsi was drunk. He was rapping about genitals and breasts in front of children. Before we knew it, he was battling with the Cat called Ntsikana (if I got his name correctly). The battle was entertaining. Initially it was supposed to be between a certain young Cat and TOP, but Kritsi took the mic away from the hands of that Cat whilst he was battling and he told him that he cannot battle. The battle incorporated TOP’s performance. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-VKoRzRiSM

Kritsi and TOP disappeared immediately after their appearance. They are some of the Gug's finest. It wasn’t long before Tsviel The Prince (The Headline Emcee) killed his first set. That man is not just an emcee, or dope rapper, or what-so-ever! For he is the Teacher, a Philosopher and a Prophet. When you talk about conscious emcees, you just cannot leave his name behind. That man is wise. Peep this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyvjSiWY8Ys  

My second hand digital camera’s batteries went flat whilst I was filming Zanzolo, so I couldn’t film Tsviel’s second set but it was dope as the first one. Here is the link to Zanzolo’s performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gekuRxYYMN0

Hereunder are some of the Session’s pictures, courtesy of Amalahle Ashushu