Kwa-Thema – Acclaimed visual artist Nico Phooko, widely known as the “Music Painter,” is leading a bold creative initiative that proves art and music can still unite humanity.

Phooko has announced the launch of We Rise Together, a collaborative art and music workshop project that will culminate in a public exhibition and live performance on February 21 at the Kasillery Creative Hub in Kwa-Thema.

Under the direction of Gino Sogcwayi and his visionary team, the Kasillery Creative Hub has grown into a vital centre for artistic excellence, collaboration, and community development.

The We Rise Together project brings together emerging young creatives and seasoned professionals, using jazz improvisation and live visual art as tools to promote dialogue, healing, and global peace.

Through interactive workshops and jam sessions, participants explore how the universal languages of sound and colour can transcend borders, conflict, and differences.

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Phooko is internationally recognised for his ability to “paint music,” producing large-scale visual artworks live on stage in real time alongside musicians.

For We Rise Together, he draws inspiration from celebrated jazz trumpeter and educator Lesedi Ntsane, whose musical leadership forms the rhythmic backbone of the project.

While Phooko mentors participants in visual expression, Ntsane leads the musical journey, creating a seamless dialogue between brushstroke and melody, where every note informs the canvas and every colour echoes sound.

“Art and music are not just entertainment; they are tools for healing. Through this collaboration with Lesedi Ntsane and Kasillery, we are empowering the next generation to use their voices and their brushes to imagine and demand a more peaceful world,” says Phooko.

The public is invited to experience the outcome of this creative journey.

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