A DUTYWA poet, who started singing praises while herding his father’s cattle, is in line to win a South African Traditional Music Award (Satma) for best praise singer.
Sijadu, real name Sibongile Potelwa, started at the age of 11 and has over the years performed at various community events.
“Praise singing is something I fell in love with from a young age but when I got older, it had to take a step back during my high school years,” he said.
The 30-year-old said it was during his years at the University of Free State that he sharpened his skills.
Potelwa recites his renditions in Xhosa, Zulu, English and a bit of Sesotho.
He said the nomination confirmed there was room for vernacular poets in a fast evolving society.
“My work is being recognised, people can see my talent and believe in what I do,” he said.
Potelwa has been nominated alongside his mentor, Jessica Mbangeni, who hails from Nqamakwe.
“She has played a crucial role in my career and it is because of her that I am what I am today. She has paved the way for all aspiring poets,” he said.
Potelwa is also a recording artists and has an album out titled Ndim lo. He said his album was recorded at the beginning of this year.
“My genre of music is Afro-frican fusion. It is made up of Afro-pop fused into African traditional elements,” he said.
“People were complaining that they only hear me at functions and I decided to record some of my work with unique elements to it”.
He has also written eight poems about the life of the late, former president Nelson Mandela.
“My poems are included in a book that has a collection of such work and will be published by Cape Town-based publishers. The book is a tribute to tata Mandela,” he said.
The two-day Satma event takes place at the University of Fort Hare’s Alice campus on October 17 and 18. The first day will see an indigenous comedy show with the main event the following day.
The university will be celebrating its 100 years of existence in 2015 and the Satma is celebrating its 10th year.
To view the nominees and find out how to vote, visit www.satmaawards.co.za. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
Praise singer set for award
Sijadu, real name Sibongile Potelwa, started at the age of 11 and has over the years performed at various community events.
“Praise singing is something I fell in love with from a young age but when I got older, it had to take a step back during my high school years,” he said.
The 30-year-old said it was during his years at the University of Free State that he sharpened his skills.
Potelwa recites his renditions in Xhosa, Zulu, English and a bit of Sesotho.
He said the nomination confirmed there was room for vernacular poets in a fast evolving society.
“My work is being recognised, people can see my talent and believe in what I do,” he said.
Potelwa has been nominated alongside his mentor, Jessica Mbangeni, who hails from Nqamakwe.
“She has played a crucial role in my career and it is because of her that I am what I am today. She has paved the way for all aspiring poets,” he said.
Potelwa is also a recording artists and has an album out titled Ndim lo. He said his album was recorded at the beginning of this year.
“My genre of music is Afro-frican fusion. It is made up of Afro-pop fused into African traditional elements,” he said.
“People were complaining that they only hear me at functions and I decided to record some of my work with unique elements to it”.
He has also written eight poems about the life of the late, former president Nelson Mandela.
“My poems are included in a book that has a collection of such work and will be published by Cape Town-based publishers. The book is a tribute to tata Mandela,” he said.
The two-day Satma event takes place at the University of Fort Hare’s Alice campus on October 17 and 18. The first day will see an indigenous comedy show with the main event the following day.
The university will be celebrating its 100 years of existence in 2015 and the Satma is celebrating its 10th year.
To view the nominees and find out how to vote, visit www.satmaawards.co.za. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
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