From the streets to the Samas

A SAMA award nomination was the furthest thing from their minds when two Khayelitsha musicians busked at taxi ranks and train stations in the city.

The Afrocoustic duo, Soul Kulture, have been nominated in three categories: best African pop album, best duo or group and best new artist.

Afeletse Manamathela, 20, is the vocalist and Msekeli Velaphi, 22, plays the guitar. Their hit song Ngeliny’langa (which means “some day” in Xhosa), about escaping the deprivation of life in informal settlements struck a chord with fans.

The pair were forced to drop out of school and busk to help provide for their families. Their manager, Lionel Jamela, said their music is about their hardships and hope for a decent living.

The two met while busking on the streets of Idutywa, Eastern Cape four years ago. Manamathela, whose mother died last year, said: “I was just walking in town when I heard this amazing sound, it was Msekeli playing his guitar. I stopped and listened, I was blown away... our friendship, which has now grown into a partnership, started.”

They decided to move to Cape Town later that year to complete their secondary education. But they had not realised that their situation at home would deteriorate.

“The situation was really bad. The only solution we had was to use our talents to make some money for our families,” Manamathela said.

With both his parents dead, Manamathela lives with his uncle, aunt and their three children. Only his uncle works and he felt he had to make a contribution. Velaphi lives with his parents and siblings, who are all in primary school.

They were discovered by Jamela in late 2015 and by the end of the first quarter last year, Soul Kulture were on their way to recording their first album, Ngeliny’ilanga.

“With this nomination, I feel... my talent is being recognised. This will open doors for us,” Velaphi said.