Raise The Bar offers youth a platform to show off their talent
This year, the campaign is expanding its reach even further, ensuring that no emerging talent is left behind by widening the entry points for young creators.
Sunlight has officially launched the Raise The Bar: NextGen Edition (RTB), moving into schools nationwide and enlisting cultural powerhouse Robot Boii to discover the next wave of hip-hop and amapiano talent.
This year, the campaign is expanding its reach even further, ensuring that no emerging talent is left behind by widening the entry points for young creators.
The platform is opening doors for even more undiscovered performers to shine, be seen, and elevate their craft on a national stage while giving back to their schools.
ALSO READ: Khula Unqobe Creative Arts celebrates young talent at Soweto year-end showcase
“RTB has always been about creativity and confidence rooted in real local culture. NextGen allows us to meet youth culture where it already exists- in movement, music, and shared expression and recognises the creative potential forming long before the spotlight arrives,’’ said Nono Makhanya, marketing manager: Southern Africa.
As a performer who rose from grassroots dance culture to become a mainstream viral sensation, Robot Boii’s involvement marks a natural evolution for the platform, shifting the spotlight directly to the source where creativity is first shaped.
The cultural powerhouse said, “I see so much raw talent at school level. Children who already have rhythm, confidence and their own style.’’
He shared that this platform is about showing those children that their starting point doesn’t limit where they can go, as he also started entertaining at school during fashion shows and fun days. Today, he is travelling the world as Robot Boii.
The school-focused chapter builds on the massive momentum of the previous year. Last year’s national winners, Fortunate ‘Nate Magic’ Mbele (hip-hop) and Luzuko ‘Ludopie’ Namba (amapiano dance), were ordinary South Africans who took a chance on their talent.
ALSO READ: Soweto’s Legendary OG empowers local hip-hop talent through independent label
Their journey led to them standing backstage with icons at Casper Nyovest’s Fill Up concert.To enter, teachers, parents or guardians must purchase two 500g Sunlight Laundry Green Bars and register via the dedicated WhatsApp platform using the till slip.
Learners then submit a 30-60 second hip-hop, rap or amapiano dance video, incorporating the Sunlight Laundry Bar. 10 winning schools will receive R1.35m.
More information can be found on: https://www. Sunlight.co.za/raise-the-bar-next-gen-edition.
