Red Devils make nation proud
Pantsula group from Tembisa give world a taste of what SA has to offer in France’s ‘Got Talent’ show
THERE is a group from Tembisa that is flying the South African flag high in Paris.
The Red Devils, whose name stems from the popular Manchester United nickname, represented the country in the current reality TV competition. France’s Got Talent.
The 15 members flexed their Pantsula skills for the world to see with the help of Tv Yabantu.
Tv Yabantu is a cultural TV channel on YouTube that empowers African cultural artists to educate, restore and promote African culture in the world.
The group initially started in 2000 with eight members until four pulled out.
The remaining four registered the group and became a solid crew in 2005.
“The streets of Tembisa are not safe sometimes, we come from poor background families. Life here is so quick.
“We wanted to do something different as boys. We have faced a lot of challenges in this life and finally received some help in the form of financial and spiritual support from Pastor Bushiri and Tv Yabantu who helped us to get passports and visas,” said the group’s leader, Solly Phahlamohlaka.
The crew ranges from six to 32 years of age.
It was a video of their dancing that they recorded that had them recognised as the best among 200 Pantsula groups, and sent their entries through.
“We are the first group from South Africa that has been called to do France’s Got Talent. We went all the way through to the semifinals and made it to the Top 6 in the final.”
For the head dancer, making it that far was the most important goal for the crew.
“In life you can’t just be chasing money, otherwise you will run into problems. You must work hard and that hard work will show your worth. Our group has now been exposed to bigger opportunities for us to perform at carnivals, state shows, and the like, which is the main thing we wanted.”
The French show was the first major international one that they have performed in for international audiences.
Back home in 2018, the group won a major title for their Pantsula dance at the Arnold Classic Africa Multisport Festival.
They have also featured in a spread for a magazine in New York.
“My hope for the group is to see Tembisa change for the better. We see our brothers lying on the streets high on nyaope and other drugs all the time.
“I just want to see change in my community – people using their talents and get the help they need to pursue their dreams. Right now, all we see is drugs and abuse. Hopefully they can learn from us, and we can help them with their skills and connect them to others who may be able to help and change their lives.”
They are open to expanding their team. “People are welcome, as long as they are patient and confident in their skill.
“Our time on the show was great. We weren’t even nervous. We went to Paris to show them Pantsula dance, something that originates from South Africa. They were not going to get it anywhere else. So, when they need anything Pantsula related, workshops or entertainment, they will contact us. These international talent shows only get to see the same type of acts, singers, magicians, hip hop dancers and musicians.
“We came with a different flavour altogether that we are proud of because it belongs to us as South Africans.”
France’s Got Talent is currently on episode three.