Two Eastern Cape hip-hop artists will get to share the stage with some of the country’s biggest names at this year’s Back To The City (BTTC) Youth Festival.
The festival which features various artistic expressions from around the country takes place every year on Freedom Day in Johannesburg.
Some of the art forms include live music, street art, break-dancing, art installation, skateboarding, film, street fashion, gaming, speakers and panel discussions.
In the live music category, there are two stages – the main stage for seasoned performers and the Red Bull Challenge for upcoming artists competing for R5000.
Rappers Gqala and Tsviel The Prince will get to perform alongside award winning hip hop artists.
Big names expected to perform on the main stage include Proverb, AKA, Reason, Cassper Nyovest, Khuli Chana, Kwesta, Ricky Rick and Sean Pages. Skwatta Kamp will do a tribute performance for the late member of the group, Flabba.
Gqala, whose real name is Sicelo Tika, made it to the main line-up through a competition run by Grass Roots Movement in Port Elizabeth.
Yahkeem Ben Israel, who was behind the competition, said the winner had been chosen based on the number of votes they each received.
Israel, the current holder of the Hip Hop Awards King of the East title, said the competition was aimed at helping local artists perform alongside the industry’s best.
Tika said he was thrilled to have made it to the main line-up at this year’s festival. “I can’t explain how I feel. This is a big deal for me. It will be the first time that I perform for more than 21000 people,” he said.
The 27-year-old rapper said he did not think he would get the most votes. “I am honoured by the support from the public. I really did not think something like this would happen,” he said.
Tsviel The Prince, whose real name is Zuko Madikane, said it would also be his first time performing at the festival. Unlike Tika, Madikane was approached by the festival’s organisers to perform. “These guys must have seen my work and that means we don’t have to move to Johannesburg to be seen. As Eastern Cape artists, we must trust our art,” he said.
In its first year, BTTC Youth Festival attracted more than 3500 people and over the years the number has escalated to more than 15000.
BTTC Youth Festival takes place next Monday in Newton. Tickets for the festival range from R100 to R300. Visit the website www.backtothefestival.com for details on how to book. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
Hip-hop talent to rock national stage
The festival which features various artistic expressions from around the country takes place every year on Freedom Day in Johannesburg.
Some of the art forms include live music, street art, break-dancing, art installation, skateboarding, film, street fashion, gaming, speakers and panel discussions.
In the live music category, there are two stages – the main stage for seasoned performers and the Red Bull Challenge for upcoming artists competing for R5000.
Rappers Gqala and Tsviel The Prince will get to perform alongside award winning hip hop artists.
Big names expected to perform on the main stage include Proverb, AKA, Reason, Cassper Nyovest, Khuli Chana, Kwesta, Ricky Rick and Sean Pages. Skwatta Kamp will do a tribute performance for the late member of the group, Flabba.
Gqala, whose real name is Sicelo Tika, made it to the main line-up through a competition run by Grass Roots Movement in Port Elizabeth.
Yahkeem Ben Israel, who was behind the competition, said the winner had been chosen based on the number of votes they each received.
Israel, the current holder of the Hip Hop Awards King of the East title, said the competition was aimed at helping local artists perform alongside the industry’s best.
Tika said he was thrilled to have made it to the main line-up at this year’s festival. “I can’t explain how I feel. This is a big deal for me. It will be the first time that I perform for more than 21000 people,” he said.
The 27-year-old rapper said he did not think he would get the most votes. “I am honoured by the support from the public. I really did not think something like this would happen,” he said.
Tsviel The Prince, whose real name is Zuko Madikane, said it would also be his first time performing at the festival. Unlike Tika, Madikane was approached by the festival’s organisers to perform. “These guys must have seen my work and that means we don’t have to move to Johannesburg to be seen. As Eastern Cape artists, we must trust our art,” he said.
In its first year, BTTC Youth Festival attracted more than 3500 people and over the years the number has escalated to more than 15000.
BTTC Youth Festival takes place next Monday in Newton. Tickets for the festival range from R100 to R300. Visit the website www.backtothefestival.com for details on how to book. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
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