Charity begins at home for African princess of music
● Cama Gwini joins with Kuyasa Cultural Group to remind fans of their roots at Gqeberha performance
Dubbed an African princess of music, Gqeberha-born musician Cama Gwini will return to her hometown on a quest to remind fans of their roots through music.
The singer is collaborating with popular Motherwell ensemble Kuyasa Cultural Group to treat listeners to a night of revival through Xhosa music and traditional food at the Music Kitchen on May 21.
Cama Gwini, real name Siphokazi Buti, said this was her way of offering healing to people whose spirits had been dampened by the coronavirus pandemic.
“As people we tend to look at things according to our beliefs. For me, this is how I remind people of who they are, where they come from and how important our cultural beliefs are.
“Connecting with who we are and following in the footsteps of those who lived before us can help us through a lot of things,” she said.
Gwini said her hometown was the best place to debut the event as “charity begins at home”.
“Though I grew up in the township and not a rural village, [Gqeberha] is where I learnt much of what I know about my roots, so it’s only fitting that I start at home,” she said.
She and the Kuyasa Cultural Group will perform a combination their music.
She said she had learnt of Kuyasa Cultural Group during a festival in 2016 and they were recently connected through Bay filmmaker Nomakhomazi Dewavrin, who is organising the event.
“I have selected songs from all my albums that will speak to the theme of the event and exchanged with the group for some of theirs so we can rehearse.
“We will be performing some of my music and some of the Xhosa cultural music,” she said.
Her performance will include music from her comeback album Zanemvulakazi, released in 2019.
She released the album after she returned from a five-year hiatus.
The singer decided to take a break from the limelight to “live a normal life” following the birth of her first child in 2013.
Upon her return, she said she had grown and had a better understanding of what it meant to be a songwriter.
She marked her return with the release of the single Dubai, warning women against the habit of depending on men to finance their lavish lifestyle.
The official music video for the single was shot in the Bay.
The Music Kitchen event is Cama Gwini’s first time performing in the Bay after the music video shoot.
Kuyasa Cultural Group founder Nontembeko Madlebe said it had been the group’s dream to collaborate with Cama Gwini.
Madlebe said they always welcomed an opportunity to work with artists who embraced Xhosa culture.
The multi-award-winning group was founded in 1997 with only eight members but has now grown to 56.
Madlebe said she started the group as a method of protecting the youth from crime.
“I decided to focus on teaching them the Xhosa culture because it’s what I know best and I saw that there wasn’t enough knowledge of it around.
“I started teaching Xhosa music and dance, respect and how to carry oneself as a proud Xhosa person,” she said.
The nationally recognised group also performs covers of songs by famous artists.
Tickets for the event range from R100 to R200. Doors open at 6pm.