Thembisa creative Joel Chabalala on culture, music and community

My name is Joel Chabalala, also known as Chabzin. I am 28 years old, born and raised in Thembisa, Leboeng Ext. 5.

I am a creative cultural native who believes in art, theatre, and youth development. I believe creativity can be used to uplift the community of Thembisa and change lives.

I have lived in Thembisa my entire life and I hope to travel the world through music and art, sharing my passion and doing it for the culture.

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One of my favourite memories is gathering with other artists at the multi-purpose community centre, where we would perform music, act, draw and dance.

Those moments inspired what later became part of Thembisan arts and creative expression in the township.

What I love most about Thembisa is its unity and the sense of human dignity and human rights shared by its people. It is a community that uplifts one another.

My go-to spots for food and relaxation are Motsoeli’s Top Blomas, which I enjoy for its flavourful township meals, and The Hang Awt 1632, where I spend time connecting with people.

My journey as an artist changed after I performed at Boomerang Restaurant during a two-hour DJ set.

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Seeing people dance, connect and heal through music motivated me and deepened my passion for what I do.

One of the challenges we face as artists is the lack of accessible creative spaces. The multi-purpose centre, in particular, needs to be reopened. As performers, we have limited spaces to rehearse, create and showcase our work.

I believe that if government could engage with us on how to improve these spaces, it could help restore opportunity for young creatives. I would like to see a day dedicated to art in Thembisa, a day that brings back hope for young artists.

I draw inspiration from Shimza (Ashley Raphala), especially his creativity, humility, and the way he gives back to Thembisa, including supporting orphanages by providing school shoes.

To me, Thembisa is a place of love, unity and peace. It brings people from different backgrounds and provinces together.

I am passionate about music production and DJing. I produce Afro-Tech and 3-Step music, which I believe reconnects people through rhythm, energy and emotion. Music, to me, is a universal language of love and frequency.

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A stranger once told me to believe in my mission, because it is part of the dream I was born to fulfil.
I would like more people to discover my work and follow my journey through my social media platforms, which can be found by searching my name online.

If I could bring one positive change to Thembisa, it would be the reopening of the multi-purpose centre to help young people realise their creative dreams.

To me, home is a place where you are grounded spiritually and physically, where people understand emotions and share what they have, even if it is just bread and soup.

Thembisa reflects that sense of community. Despite challenges such as unemployment and substance abuse among youth, moments like the recent community marches show that people are still coming together in unity and hope.