AN EAST London music producer has offered a Flagstaff-born poet the opportunity to record an extended mixtape (EP) after hearing of the 19-year-old’s passion for poetry.
Poet Momelezi Mkonjwa comes from a family of four which relies on child-support grants to survive. Producer, Thembelani Batala heard about Mkonjwa’s story through a friend after he was discovered by an NGO that visited his rural school this week.
Batala said he was moved by the teenager’s determination to make something of himself despite coming from a disadvantaged background. Mkonjwa is a Grade 11 pupil at Nongeke Senior Secondary School in Bizana.
This week he performed at the school’s career expo and a recording of him was made by Hlumani Rural Development NPO’s Bomikazi Majeke.
The recording was then sent to Batala who was in Johannesburg at the time.
“I heard that this boy wants to make money and help further his studies after high school and that for me was the motivation,” he said, adding that making music now could help finance his studies.
Arrangements have been made for Mkonjwa to perform today at a music workshop hosted by award-winning producer Sipho Sithole at the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre (ECAVC).
Mkonjwa said his passion for poetry was inspired by a teacher who wrote a poem for him and encouraged him to perform it at a school event.
“I’ve never written a poem in my life, I just speak what is in my heart at that moment,” he said, adding that he was inspired by poets like Zolani Mkhiva.
He said after high school he would like to study medicine.
“I want to be a doctor because of the shortage of doctors in the province. I don’t only want to change the situation for my family but for the whole community at large.”
Today’s performance will be his first outside school premises.
“I am nervous but I know it is normal. I am happy I will be doing this and I know that in everything I do, God goes before me,” he said.
Batala said he would be taking Mkonjwa to Johannesburg on Sunday to perform on SABC1’s kids show YoTV. All artists and record companies are invited to the free workshop taking place today at ECVAC at 2pm. —poliswap@dispatch.co.za
Aspiring poet gets record deal
Poet Momelezi Mkonjwa comes from a family of four which relies on child-support grants to survive. Producer, Thembelani Batala heard about Mkonjwa’s story through a friend after he was discovered by an NGO that visited his rural school this week.
Batala said he was moved by the teenager’s determination to make something of himself despite coming from a disadvantaged background. Mkonjwa is a Grade 11 pupil at Nongeke Senior Secondary School in Bizana.
This week he performed at the school’s career expo and a recording of him was made by Hlumani Rural Development NPO’s Bomikazi Majeke.
The recording was then sent to Batala who was in Johannesburg at the time.
“I heard that this boy wants to make money and help further his studies after high school and that for me was the motivation,” he said, adding that making music now could help finance his studies.
Arrangements have been made for Mkonjwa to perform today at a music workshop hosted by award-winning producer Sipho Sithole at the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre (ECAVC).
Mkonjwa said his passion for poetry was inspired by a teacher who wrote a poem for him and encouraged him to perform it at a school event.
“I’ve never written a poem in my life, I just speak what is in my heart at that moment,” he said, adding that he was inspired by poets like Zolani Mkhiva.
He said after high school he would like to study medicine.
“I want to be a doctor because of the shortage of doctors in the province. I don’t only want to change the situation for my family but for the whole community at large.”
Today’s performance will be his first outside school premises.
“I am nervous but I know it is normal. I am happy I will be doing this and I know that in everything I do, God goes before me,” he said.
Batala said he would be taking Mkonjwa to Johannesburg on Sunday to perform on SABC1’s kids show YoTV. All artists and record companies are invited to the free workshop taking place today at ECVAC at 2pm. —poliswap@dispatch.co.za
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