Taking a ten hour trip to cape town from Port Elizabeth I had to share my experience on the urban voices festival that took place in cape town on the 29 of July 2002.what happened at that venue was absolutely amazing, a lot of laughs was shared but it also a very thought provoking show. Where do I start? I think it will have to be by me having to lie to get off from work saying that my grandma’s will is being read out. Ha ha hey mrs boss this is a big middle finger to you for not wanting me to witness this amazing show. I guess in a way it was also a fact finding mission for me. 

Having e-mailed Saul Williams and Sarah Jones in February and them telling me they coming to South Africa later in the year it was to my amazement that I heard bout the poetry festival that’s coming up. My mind was already made up i’m going as I know artist always seems to be avoiding P.E. !!!!!!! poetry and hip hop what does it have in common? 

Well both comes from the spoken word category, and both are the voices of people that has been oppressed for so long. Well for me it started out with public enemy and by coincidence Saul was saying how wack hip hop has become and groups that inspired him like public enemy is no longer on the popularity list giving way for a new breed of mcee that’s just in this art for the money. Well the show started of with local poets giving us there stories, I have to admit I felt like my ancestors the khoi and san sitting around the fire doing there pieces, stories that so important to keep our knowledge of our history intact. Local hip hop group Goddessa started off by doing a heart wrenching piece on so many feelings that thousands of woman experience on places like the cape flats and and all the hundreds of townships that’s to be found across our beautiful country called South Africa. Next to follow the line up was local students who gave a vivid expression of what’s on there hearts. The show was stopped for a 15 minute interval where everybody had the chance to meditate on the poems they just heard. 

What I witnessed when I stepped outside was scores of people waiting outside trying to get a piece of the show which they only could witness on a small screen television. Well the fifteen minutes seemed like hours and it was time to step back in the theatre or as gangstarr would say step in the arena. It was time to see why people was ranting about Sarah Jones, on stepped this old lady telling us her story of living on the streets and people overlooking her because she is poor and black! I was struck by Sarah’s beauty and by her stage presence yes miss Jones is the shit. 

Well guess what your revolution will not happen between these thighs a statement that I hoped would become a motto for my sisters in South Africa!!! The track that was banned by the FCC because “it contained obscene lyrics “! hey MR FCC yes the same FCC that wont let me be let my people express what’s on their hearts. Her next piece called blood reminded me of our own struggle in South Africa and the whole piece made me feel like one of the people in Soweto during the uprisings cos no longer could we allow the oppression! 

-All the spirits you extinguished and never batted one blue eye Yet your vulture's on our culture like white on brown rice Bleach our blood and sell it back, special price on this blood that races through the African veins of the child on his way to the mall, in White Plains to catch a confused, lost, land-stealing Columbus Day sale on a Fila jogging suit, for his brother in jail That blood, is your blood, it's my blood, it's our blood It's the, thickest blood on this planet -

blood of the lyricist lounge volume one

After rounds of applauses that brought tears to Sarah’s eyes we were ready to move on to the next round of poetry by non other than Mr amethyst rock star Saul Williams! One stage, one man one well I was ready for him. Saul started of his show with a lot of energy that’s seems to be flowing through his veins. He gave the audience a display of lyricism and after a brief discussion of hip hop and politics in a spell that showed his passion for the revolution he veered away from the discussion and went back to the poetry:  

cancel the apocalypse cartons of the milky way with pictures of a missing planet, in search of an American dream. This fool actually thinks he could drive his hummer on the moon blasting dmx off the soundtrack of a south park cartoon. Nigga’s used to buy their families out of slavery. Now we buy chains and links, smokes and drinks and they’re paying me to record this, even more if you hear it. Somebody tell me what I should do with the money? Yes dread, tell me what you think I should do with the money? Exactly how much is it gonna cost to free Mumia? What’s he gonna do with his freedom? Talk on the radio? Radio programming is just that. A brain washed and cleaned of purpose, to be honest, some freedom of speech makes me nervous. And you looking for a martyr in the form of a man, hair like a mane with an outstretched hand in a word of harsh thoughts, reactionary defensiveness, and counter intelligence, what exactly is innocence? Fuck it, I do believe in the existence of police brutality. Who do I make checks payable to? How bout I pay you in prayers?

-penny for a thought 

Slam poetry at its best! Well Saul Williams was what I expected and even more, go check the movie out i enjoyed it and i think you would aswell!

Rastafari we about to turn Cape Town on fire although the weather was rainy and chilly Jamaican dub poet Mutabaruka followed after the saulstress entering the hall from the front entrance where he was hanging out with the hordes of Rasta’s that was standing outside hoping to catch a glimpse of Muta. Well this dread was funny hella funny I should put it. Well mutabaruka started of his attack at Bush yeah the same bush that’s oppressing so many people, well muta’s next attack was on the egotistical people running the lives of thousands or should I put it millions of people lives aka the politicians. His set was a comedic and enlightening at the same time from attacking the white bald gentleman to questioning what part of a chicken is called a nugget (the question going out to K.F.C) I really liked his show after all the serious talks of Saul and Sarah we needed something lighter. Well as they say all good things come to a end the three joined on stage to say thanks to the Cape Town community and I got to meet Saul Williams in person. I am hoping that we will have more shows like this in the near future featuring such poets as Ursula Rucker and Jessica Care Moore who I contacted recently. Saul Williams also told me that he is eagerly waiting to return lets hope he makes Port Elizabeth one of his next stops. Well it was past one in the morning and I had to catch a flight back to P.E. all I can do now is reflect on the past and hope for more 

from Rugged Man

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