Sunday, 25 May 2003, is AFRICA DAY and Shivava Café in Johannesburg’s Newtown Cultural Precinct will be the place to be for all Africanists! Ethno-urban hiphop-soul-poetry collective Soul 2 Mouth has linked up with Guidance to jointly host an event that will prove to be more than just a jamming session but rather a stimulant for the evolution of African urban cultures and peoples.

From 16h00 on the Day, this collective of young talented African sons and daughters hailing from South Africa, Malawi, Ethiopia, USA and other regions, together with friends of Africa, will celebrate their rich and diverse cultures, heritage, history and ancestry. 

The event, aptly themed “Africa In Motion (A.I.M)”, boasts a line-up of Africa’s and Mzansi’s tightest and finest young poets, vocalists and hiphop emcees who, with other ministers of sound, will celebrate the conscious movement of the African society through universal skies. The time has come for African creators to activate on-the-ground participation in the African cultural revival. 

“For years, the celebration of Africa (Africa Day) has been almost impossible amidst the political, social, cultural, economical and spiritual upheaval of African nations,” says Malawian-born hiphop emcee and poet Chigo Gondwe (a.k.a. Chi) of Soul 2 Mouth.

“It is important for us as talented young artists to proactively enthuse the peoples by way of a cultural reclamation event that not only proves our loyalty to Mama Africa but displays the unity among us. After all, we are being groomed by love to one day become others’ ancestors!” she adds.

In a broad context, this African cultural revival demands the creative and artistic reorganisation of African ethics and ethnic groups into a system of cooperation that embodies all that Africans represent – essentially, what it means to be African and proud! The revival further demands the establishment of artistic platforms that will help curb xenophobia, tribalism and racism on the continent being achieved through the delivery of consciousness-filled expressions that make our ancestors turn with excitement and pride in their graves. 

Through this event Soul 2 Mouth and Guidance hope to integrate and engage Johannesburg’s African communities, particularly youth, in a delicious concoction of soulful music, poetry, fashion and dance. The event will also be a platform for Mama Africa’s lovers to creatively pledge their determination to elevate the social status of the common man and common woman of Africa.

Members of the Soul 2 Mouth collective are Chigo Gondwe (a.k.a. Chi), Khethukubonga Ntshangase (a.k.a. Khethi), Thabiso Mohare (a.k.a. Afurakan), Thabo Mokale (a.k.a. Flo), Maakomele Manaka (a.k.a. Mac) and Mzansi’s own young female hiphop DJ Tumi. The Guidance Collective is made up of artists MXO and Sliq of Roots 2000, percussionist Lebo, and USA duo Santiago and Shaka of Hairdoo.

All revolutionary soldiers of art are advised to dress warmly for an evening of thanksgiving under the African skies at Shivava Café in Newtown Cultural Precinct (opposite Horror Café / next door to Electric Workshop) on Africa Day, Sunday 25 May 2003. Your contribution towards keeping Africa in motion: R30 before 19h00 and R40 after 19h00.

WHY WE CELEBRATE AFRICA DAY:

-To honour those who have played an important role in positively uplifting African youth in arts.
– To portray the positive attributes of young Africa.
-To tell our African stories as seen through our eyes, felt by our hearts and shaped by our hands and minds.
-To proactively and artistically contribute to the implementation of the African Renaissance;
-To encourage the reclamation of the African cultural heritage among youth through arts.

For more information, please contact Soul 2 Mouth at email africainmotion@ananzi.co.za. This is Africa!

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