Singing petrol attendant gets big music break
“One year,” Bantu said. “One year and I’ll stop being a petrol jockey.”
Like the actors in a petrol station advertisement on TV, a friendly petrol attendant welcomed the News with a song and rhythmic dance at a filling station in Noordheuwel.
At first glance, the attendant seemed to be in a mad state, but while dispensing petrol his song became louder and customers were highly impressed with his sultry voice.
With The Muffins as inspiration, his RnB style of singing put a smile on the customers’ faces as the steady stream of vehicles came and went.
It turns out that Bantu Roneli is more than just a chirpy petrol attendant. From an early age, his love for music has inspired him to become a producer. With his little production studio in his home in Kagiso, Bantu and local artists produce their own music.
“African music is under-appreciated even though it is the backbone of our culture,” Bantu said. “My dream is to uplift our music to remind the African continent what their culture is all about and in the process give exposure to talented African vocalists.”
Bantu says his job as a petrol attendant has helped him to save enough money to study music. He relocated from Port Elizabeth to Kagiso a few years ago, and recently began working as a petrol attendant.
“One year,” Bantu said. “One year and I’ll stop being a petrol jockey.”
Precisely a year after making this personal vow, a local university offered him a scholarship. “I was helping one of the Mrs Africa pageant finalists and suddenly she arranged a scholarship for me. Now I will finally be able to train people to understand and appreciate music.”
Bantu will start his student life in the next academic year when he will further his career as a producer.
“To me, the meaning of music lies deep inside one’s soul. With your voice you can touch a person’s soul. I have the need to teach people this fundamental characteristic of music and finally I have the opportunity to do so.”
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