American jazz singer visits Tembisa
Well known Jazz musician gave guitar tips to the community of Tembisa.
Mr Gary Wittner, an American jazz musician, ran a music workshop with Tembisa residents where he shared his guitar skills with the community on October 6.
This was a cultural exchange programme involving music to foster mutual understanding between people of America and South Africa.
“Mr Gary Wittner ran similar programmes in Mhikeng and Mamelodi,” said the US embassy cultural specialist Ms Selaelo Maseko.
According to online information, Mr Wittner began playing a guitar at the age of nine and as a youth he had a deep attraction to the blues and was drawn to the music of Rural Blues artists such as Lightning Hopkins and Big Bill Broonzy.
The ward 7 councillor who organised the workshop, Clr Thabang Jiyane said they had a turnout of 40 people and the community benefited from Mr Wittner’s guitar workshop.
“It was fun. I met interesting people, some are musicians and some are not. This reminds me how all people are connected and in this case we showed that through music. We have more commonalities than differences,” said Mr Wittner.
He said what he took away from the visit is a beautiful experience of sharing music.
Asked what he loved about South Africa, he said it is the people.
“They are friendly and warm and I loved the land, I think it is gorgeous. I love playing jazz with local jazz musicians,” he said.
Mr Wittner had six gigs already between Pretoria and Johannesburg.
A member of the community, Mr Ndivhuwo Kutama, not a musician, said he learnt a lot about the importance of music.
“We can speak different languages but music has one common language,” said Mr Kutama.
Bertharry English Private School principal Mr Harry Kumwenda said they are proud as a school to host Mr Wittner’s guitar workshops.
“This is a motivation to the society. Getting together in learning one another’s cultural backgrounds,” said Mr Kumwenda.
He said Bertharry English Private School is positioned in the centre of Tembisa and therefore they are looking forward to hosting similar arts workshops to encourage young people to be involved in music and cultural practices.
