These twins are no minor act
The Major League DJZ talk to Helen Herimbi about expanding their brand and sound
FOR YEARS now, twin brothers Bandile and Banele Mbere, have put on the Major League Gardens Social Festival. A full-day event that sees a plethora of South Africa’s most well-known artists share a stage, the Gardens have become a big brand for the brothers who are known as the Major League DJZ.
On September 15, the likes of Nasty C, Sho Madjozi, Kwesta, Busiswa, Da L.E.S, Cassper Nyovest, Nadia Nakai and many others will perform. “The Canvas actually approached us this time,” says Bandile Mbere. “This time, it’s a spring affair, and after a very cold winter, we just want to celebrate spring. It’s also going to be a more intimate Gardens, and the vibe will be great.”
The Gardens have often brought out major acts from around the continent. Who can forget Davido getting the crowd lit last year? Mbere says: “There is definitely going to be a surprise African act coming on. It’s easy to choose the artists who perform at the Gardens. You just have to be relevant and hot.”
The DJZ do not leave themselves out of the line-up. After all, the pair have put out a few songs under the new age kwaito banner. Recently, they released 19Tobetsa featuring Focalistic.
“Our sound incorporates elements of kwaito,” Mbere says of the Major League Djz’s evolution. “People think kwaito has one sound, and it doesn’t. Mandoza didn’t do the same kwaito as Zola or Brown Dash. We just add different elements. 19Tobetsa was more of that Pretoria sound, and we sampled DJ Mujava and put on a kid who is from Pretoria.”
The song relies on nostalgia to hook people as Focalistic brings up some hits of yesteryear. I ask Mbere if he believes South Africans don’t pay homage enough to their musical past. “I think times have changed,” he admits.
“The music industry has evolved, and a lot of the new artists don’t know the old artists. And that’s not their fault. Radio doesn’t play the old jams enough. We eat our music and spit it out very quickly. That’s our culture.”
Major League DJZ have just put out another new song. Called Family, the rap joint features Kwesta and Kid X. “We were thinking of doing a song for the core South Africans through the element of hip-hop,” he says. “A lot of people relate to this song, and the music touches a lot of people. Kid X is one of the best vernac rappers in the country, and this collaboration with Kwesta is one we couldn’t doubt.”
Family is not just the title of a song. It’s the foundation of the Major League Djz’s brand. Now, the Mbere brothers have started a foundation that seeks to serve the underprivileged in communities that need music the most. They aim to give sound advice and even shoot music videos for kids with potential.