A group of young people are slowly making a name for themselves within the music industry with their sweet sounds.
Coming from a distance you’d swear it’s a professional adult band playing, but not even close. It’s just young boys and a girl, who call themselves Unique Souls (US).
Based in Kalambazo Section, these youngsters came together in 2017 after realising that they all preferred accapella as opposed to the kasi’s clap and tap music.
“Our style is different from most children bands. Not only do we perform accapella, but also jazz, and more. Most children’s bands are gospel with the clap and tap as their main focus,” said the band leader, Lifa Mosikili.
“We actually realised that we all love this genre shortly after we had just joined the school choir. We were easily bored and turned off by the clap and tap style. We decided to come together and that was the beginning of this band,” he said.
The band is made up of passionate young artists such as Sibusiso Shabalala who plays guitar and jemba (African drum), Ndixolile Mfundisi who plays piano and is a vocalist, Tapelo Mabogoane, a vocalist and beat boxer, Thembinkosi Sibeko and Chantelle Maponya, both vocalists, and Bokamoso Ratema, a drummer.
“Our dream is to make it to the country’s mainstream music industry and record hit albums and music videos. It is, after all, every musicians’ dreams to turn professional and see their crafts played on national radio and television stations. All that we need is a stage to perform,” said Mosikili.
These youngsters’ passion has caught the attention of a local community worker, Nomvula Giyose, who, after seeing them practice in the streets and without musical equipment, adopted them and helped applied for funding from the National Lotteries Commission.
“I loved what they were doing and I was touched by the fact that they were willing to dissociate themselves from the bad crowd. You know young people needs to be looked after, so I took them in and applied for sponsorship. Luckily we got funding from the National Lotteries Commission who gave us money to buy the musical instruments that these children needed. With the money we also bought uniforms and all they need now is a stage to showcase their talents,” said Giyose.
To book these youngsters to play at your party, gig or wedding, please call Giyose on 081 475 1121.
