Women rock jazz music in Margate
Andile Yenana is a music lecturer at the Esayidi TVET College, Gamalakhe Campus.
In closing Women’s Month, Umngqungqo Wabantu project held a Women in Jazz and Poetry Concert on Sunday at Senzi’s in Margate.
The concert featured Johannesburg trombone player Lebogang ‘Mizzbone’ Pangwa and vocalists such as Noncedo Disane, Nozibusiso Vezi, Nelz Words Shibe, and Onke Qwane.
According to Zanele Luhabe, project manager at Umngqungqo Wabantu, the concert was a success.
She said the founder of Umngqungqo Wabantu project, Andile Yenana is a music lecturer at the Esayidi TVET College, Gamalakhe Campus.
Luhabe said Yenana generally invites one jazz artist from Johannesburg to do workshops at the Gamalakhe Campus for his students and then on Saturday, a live performance is held before the artist leaves the South Coast.
She said this is aimed at giving students real exposure and real stage experience.
“Andile Yenana is a master pianist. He is originally from King Williams Town. He has been in the music industry for over 20 years. He is internationally renowned. The organisation hosts jazz sessions and live music events at the Margate Art Museum every second or third month. It was at the museum where Yenana built a relationship with museum manager, Siya Sotsu. Sotsu also helps Yenana with finding venues for these jazz sessions,” she said.
She added that Yenana mostly brings legendary people who have been in the industry for long, saying that for August, they decided to change the tune and bring a woman.
Luhabe said: “Since it is Women’s Month, we wanted a woman who will not only teach students but who will also inspire them to use instruments. We looked around, it was a difficult search because there are only a few women who play instruments. We found Lebogang ‘Mizzbone’ Pangwa. Yenana has realised that the South Coast is rich with different talents, he wants to nurture that talent and give his students a chance to develop their craft within their space without having to go to Johannesburg to gain exposure. He is trying to bring Johanessburg feels to the South Coast.”
She said although people did not come in big numbers, they appreciate those who came adding that the Women’s Month concert was a start of great things to come.
“We are hoping that next time we will have an all-women band and we want to make the All Women’s Concert an annual thing, with the hope that it grows,” she said.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Fever’s Facebook page
