Lucky seven get pass to fest stage
Emerging artists given platform at Buyel’Ekhaya
SEVEN emerging artists were this week selected to be a part of the line-up of Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival taking place later in the year.
The festival opened applications to local artists at the beginning of this month and close to 400 musicians applied from all over the province. Out of the 396, only 82 were selected to attend a music development workshop this week.
The workshop, which took place on Tuesday at the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre, featured speakers such as Nduduzo Makhathini, Sharif Baker and Vusi Nova.
The speakers gave the artists information about the music industry – from writing to public relations/marketing and how to conduct themselves.
Baker then chose the top 22 to audition for a spot on the main programme of the annual festival. The lucky seven were: Overcomers, Siyasanga Zwakala, Pam Jokwa, Lush ByTheWay, Andascore, DJ Natti and DJ Masta Lona.
They will be the opening acts when the Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival takes place in December at the Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium.
Ncerha gospel duo Overcomers said they were honoured to have been among the few selected to entertain the Buyel’Ekhaya masses.
The duo’s Luthando Mahonono said they made their music debut in 2016 and have one album out.
“Last year we got to perform at the carnival and now we got this opportunity of a lifetime. We cannot even explain how we feel, this is big,” he said.
Since they received the news this week, Mahonono said they had already started thinking about their set for the big day.
“Such opportunities don’t come often and we want to make sure we leave a mark.”
Mdantsane rapper Lush ByTheWay said it would be his first time performing on the Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival stage.
“I am proud to have made it as the auditions were tough. Everyone who was there brought their A-game.
“I am happy that I will make my debut on the Buyel’Ekhaya stage this year. This confirms that I am on the right path in my music,” the rapper said.
He added the artist development workshop was an eyeopener for him.
“A lot was said about the music industry and as artists we can only grow from there. It was a great initiative from the organisers,” he said.
Buyel’Ekhaya Music Festival founder Hlubi Mazwai said the development workshop and auditions were aimed at empowering Eastern Cape artists and taking their craft to the next level.
The full line-up of the festival is expected to be released later in the year.
The Eastern Cape’s own Dumza Maswana, who recently recorded his first live DVD at the Guild Theatre, is among some of the big names in the line-up. —