Young band members ‘all stars’
KHAYELITSHA teen Busiswa Zingitwa, 17, blew away an excited crowd of more than 500 people during a performance with the Chris Hani Senior Secondary School at the Music and Career Live Performance at the Artscape Theatre.
The Chris Hani Senior Secondary was among nine schools from across the province participating in the development programme, which included the All Star Band formed from all the schools.
They included Bergvliet High School, Khayelitsha IMAD Music School, Chris Hani Music Academy, Mitchells Plain Music Academy, Kronendal Music Academy, South Peninsula High School, Parel Vallei High School, Eersterivier Secondary School and the Jazz Yard Academy.
The Settlers High School pupils were chosen to perform on Day 2 of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) on Saturday.
The young Zingitwa said she had lost her father in 2002. However, the encouragement from her siblings and single mother had moulded her dreams.
Zingitwa said music had opened many opportunities for her, including an all-expenses paid trip to the World’s Children’s Prize Awards in Sweden a few years ago.
Chris Hani Secondary School educator Nomsa Mpofu said the band was a combination of hard-working young pupils, with the majority coming out of Khayelitsha.
Mpofu said it had been a pleasure to be a part of the jazz programme for the past five years, and they were hoping for more performances in future years.
Organised by EspAfrica, the organisers of the CTIJF, in collaboration with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and Independent Media, this was one of the legacy programmes by the festival.
The chief executive at EspAfrica, Billy Domingo, said: “Very few people realise what it takes to put this together.”
He said the pupils from all the schools worked hard together, with the help of the facilitators of the programme – Camillo Lombard and Donveno Prins – and the assistance from the music educators at the respective schools.
“I’d like to take a moment to thank you all for giving these kids this opportunity. It takes a village to raise a child. These children have been a part of our team,” said Domingo.
The chief executive at Artscape Theatre, Marlene le Roux, said she was passionate about young people as they are the “pillars of our generation”.
“The history of jazz is to talk to our souls and what we want for that nature,” said Le Roux.
The deputy director-general for curriculum and teacher development at the WCED, Peter Beets, said: “Every learner in every school will get the best education. We are serious about the education of each child.
‘“We can be a part of this holy work to sacrifice ourselves for the development of our future leaders.
“What we experience today is the product of our God-given talent. Music activates, stimulates and uses the entire brain. Learners who take music perform better and actively and parents need to be a part of this.”
The music educator at Bergvliet High School, Lynn Hannibal, said: “It was an amazing opportunity for them to play on such a big stage. It’s for their (pupils) development. I am excited and impressed by all the schools.
“I’m also very proud to have two of our members, Khosi Nakana (baritone saxophone) and Joshua Wheatley (keyboard), in the All Star Band.”
Young drummer Asenathi Lepotso, 15, from Site B in Khayelitsha, said she did not have a female drum player as a role model in the music industry.
However, she said she wants to inspire young girls in her community to become musicians. “I like to play the drums. A lot of the times it’s guys that play the drums. I wanted to change that. I want to show that girls can do it, too,” said Lepotso.
The CTIJF’s Free Community Concert takes place today at the Green Market Square at 4.30pm, and will include artists such as Roeshdien Jaz in the line-up.
The CTIJF is on Friday and Saturday at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
Tickets range from R30 for the Rosies section, and R750 for a day pass, available at Computicket and Shoprite/ Checkers stores. The weekend passes are sold out. For more info, visit www.capetownjazzfest.com