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Some support for the Art

The State Theatre hosted a Fela Mzantsi Festival this past week incorporating music, drama, poetry and comedy. Judging by the numbers in the three shows I attended, this was a successful exercise. Ringo and Thandiswa were sold out, HHP and Rhythmic Elements and Sammy Fever pulled good audience. On the same night that Ringo was performing a group of youngsters from Soshanguve, Afro Percent was given space to showcase their talent. After seeing those boys I was reassured that at least we still have talent in abundance this country. The very same boys were playing for the Rhythmic Elements. Rhythmic Elements are a talented bunch of guys with a unique sound – putting unusual vocal style on top of what sound like house rhythms. This is Kwaito in a different slant.

Meanwhile the comedy scene has grown with leaps and bounds among Blacks acts at least. I remember in 1999 at the Grahamstown Festival, the only Black comedian there was David Kau. All the other acts were White, eg., Mel Miller, Barry Hilton, Al Prodges etc,. Now our Black guys easily fill venues. But South Africans are notorious for not supporting and punting our own stuff. Look at music, our radio is an embarrassment. Foreign material is promoted with fervent glee. 

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