Bay jazz artist in online festival
JAZZ artist Asanda Mqiki will fly the Nelson Mandela Bay flag high tomorrow when she performs at the Lovebusk online music festival in Cape Town.
Mqiki is the only South African artist who will perform at this prestigious international event.
She has been selected to perform on the main stage of the inaugural online Lovebusk festival alongside a handpicked group of top artists from countries including Australia, Argentina and Singapore.
She will share her music with listeners and viewers who will tune in from around the globe to watch her live stream from the roof of the Fugard Theatre.
Multi-award-winner Mqiki has been making waves in the music scene and has shared the stage with the likes of Sibongile Khumalo, The Soil, Phu2ma, Khaya Mhlangu and many others.
“This will be my first online festival and it is an amazing feeling to showcase my music to an international audience,” she said.
“I was called by Nikki Froneman from the Cape Town French Festival to be part of this festival. It is something new to me, but I am looking forward to it,” Mqiki said.
She is no stranger to performing on international stages. In 2014 and last year she travelled to Sweden, where she performed at the World Culture Music Club.
Mqiki and the other artists will busk live wherever they are in the world. As with real-life buskers, the audience will give tips and the tips earned by the artists will go to their particular chosen charity.
Mqiki has chosen the Eastern Cape Gay & Lesbian Association as her charity and 50% of all tipping dollars she earns will go to it.
“I have seen their work and I like how they work with communities, providing support groups for people living with HIV/Aids,” she said.
“They also work with other organisations that work in advocacy, health transformation, and public education, including homophobia workshops.”
The festival will stream live tomorrow from 8am local time.
Mqiki will perform from 10.15am and people need to log in to www.lovebusk.com and purchase Lovebusk tip dollars.
The minimum amount is AU$5, which is about R60.
For the first time, fans will be able to live-chat to the performers, making it a unique interactive experience.