Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble celebrates two decades

THE Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble celebrate 20 years this year. What started as a small project to equip youngsters from Soweto with knowledge on how to play string instruments has turned into a successful ensemble that has travelled the world.

Lesego Mokonoto has been part of the project since he was 10 years old.

“My friends would come to the community centre and one day I tagged along. The violin was the instrument that was available and I wanted to play what my friends were playing.”

From then on, he honed his skill and moved on to playing the viola. Now Mokonoto teaches both instruments to a new generation of children.

“One of my highlights in the past 20 years was performing for Nelson Mandela and of some of the tours we have done; New Zealand was a particularly great experience.”

The term buskaid is a combination of the words “busk” and “in their own aid”.

The ensemble currently has 125 members.

“Almost every day we get children who want to come and join, but because of space, resources and instruments, we can only manage to take in a group of people at the beginning of the year.

“When space does open up as the year continues, we let more students join,” said Mokonoto.

Based in Diepkloof, the school was built for 35 students and two teachers, but is now sitting at 12 teachers and more than 100 students.

“We do group sessions and individual lessons to accommodate everyone. Sometimes we will have students practising outside under the trees.”

He said the ensemble continued to grow from strength to strength because of people’s interest in music.

“Students are eager to learn how to play instruments, parents want their children to join. It’s that sense of knowing their children are doing something that gets them off the streets.

“Most actually come all by themselves and the parents only find out that they have joined us when we send them an acceptance letter.”

He said being part of the process was part of the appeal.

“It’s doing something different and learning music. They realise it’s hard work and they also get taught social skills. You become a parent to them.”

The surprise concert on November 24 will see the ensemble draw a younger crowd.

“Luckily the Linder Auditorium at the Wits Education Campus offered us their space. We already had our 20th anniversary concert in September, and the response was so positive.

“This time, the set will be a light concert with classical music. Our theme is Movies & More, and we’ll be playing music from series like Game of Thrones, among others.”

Tickets cost R200 and R120 (groups and concessions).