An indigenous instrument player from East London who has toured the world with the Sibikwa Africa Indigenous Orchestra is set to stage his first solo musical show next weekend.
Siyabulela Sifatyi, 28, said his African Dawn music show was about illustrating mornings through songs, rhythms and sounds.
He plays the African bow and string, the kalimba, kudu horns, a variety of drums like the congas, djembe and other small percussion instruments like the shakers and the mbira.
The show has been accepted for the Grahamstown National Arts festival.
“This show is foremost a fundraiser for the trip to Grahamstown but most importantly I want to introduce indigenous music to those who might not be familiar with it and acquaint people with the beauty of the sound,” said Sifatyi.
He said he joined the Sibikwa Arts Academy in 2009 where he received training in African indigenous music, drama and poetry.
In that time, the academy’s orchestra has toured to Sri Lanka, Germany, Holland and the UK.
Sifatyi said family responsibility brought him back to East London last year, and he now teaches the marimba and other African instruments at Clarendon Girls’ High school.
“I could have learnt how to play ‘normal’ instruments like the piano or the violin but as a poet at heart, I found that I connected more with music through these instruments.”
He said he has seen an eagerness from young people to learn and play. “It is important to preserve authentic African sounds, especially for the future generations,” he said.
Sifatyi said indigenous music is not as popular in the Eastern Cape as it is in Gauteng.
“Audiences there are used to this sound and love it. Here people do not really understand the sound but eventually they do warm up to it,” said Sifatyi.
lThe African Dawn music show, which will be held at the TACC Moth Hall in Southernwood on February 27, starts at 6pm and tickets are available at R30 for children and R50 for adults. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
VIDEO: African music maestro to play solo
Siyabulela Sifatyi, 28, said his African Dawn music show was about illustrating mornings through songs, rhythms and sounds.
He plays the African bow and string, the kalimba, kudu horns, a variety of drums like the congas, djembe and other small percussion instruments like the shakers and the mbira.
The show has been accepted for the Grahamstown National Arts festival.
“This show is foremost a fundraiser for the trip to Grahamstown but most importantly I want to introduce indigenous music to those who might not be familiar with it and acquaint people with the beauty of the sound,” said Sifatyi.
He said he joined the Sibikwa Arts Academy in 2009 where he received training in African indigenous music, drama and poetry.
In that time, the academy’s orchestra has toured to Sri Lanka, Germany, Holland and the UK.
Sifatyi said family responsibility brought him back to East London last year, and he now teaches the marimba and other African instruments at Clarendon Girls’ High school.
“I could have learnt how to play ‘normal’ instruments like the piano or the violin but as a poet at heart, I found that I connected more with music through these instruments.”
He said he has seen an eagerness from young people to learn and play. “It is important to preserve authentic African sounds, especially for the future generations,” he said.
Sifatyi said indigenous music is not as popular in the Eastern Cape as it is in Gauteng.
“Audiences there are used to this sound and love it. Here people do not really understand the sound but eventually they do warm up to it,” said Sifatyi.
lThe African Dawn music show, which will be held at the TACC Moth Hall in Southernwood on February 27, starts at 6pm and tickets are available at R30 for children and R50 for adults. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos