Idols contestant does good in Tembisa
TEMBISA - Musa Mashiane, a contestant in this year's Idols South Africa, teaches underprivileged children of Tembisa to play the guitar.
“I started working with children in 2012 because children get easily hooked on drugs and crime in most townships. I also believe that knowing to play an instrument is a good stimulant to the mind,” he said.
Mashiane, who made an impression on the Idols judges with his guitar skills and his voice, realised that only one out of eight of his pupils has watched his journey on DsTV’s MNet.
“Most of them don’t watch Idols because they don’t have access to satellite television in their homes. Only one [pupil] saw it and she was excited and happy for me.”
He is also quite concerned about the safety of his pupils. “I also give private lessons at their homes mostly because they are scattered[all over the township] and walking to the centre sometimes is a hassle for them, so one-on-ones work better because I can always go to their homes.”
Although he said that imparting his knowledge to others so they can pay-it-forward is a great achievement, Mashiane admitted that creating music is his first love.
He aspires to follow the footsteps of the great Hugh Masekela, who, like him, was also born in Witbank, Mpumalanga.
He added, “I’m a full-time musician. I love being on stage and performing for people, teaching comes second [to that]. I’m not ready to do teaching full time , I still want to nurture my craft as a solo musician, make records, go on tours and be known through my music. Only afterwards, can I consider being a full- time teacher. I owe it to myself to make it big in the music scene.”
