Guguletu’s Sports Complex came alive today with both musical and sports celebrations as part of honouring Human Rights Day in South Africa, 21 March. It wasn’t just local communities who performed with their bands – visiting and international musicians turned up as well, all hyped up to see and hear each others’ youth jazz and pop bands. Sponsored by the Amy Biehl Foundation each year, to respect the reconciliation process going on between communities divided and angered by their social and economic situations, youth are brought together to witness each other’s creative growth and talents, primarily in music, dance, and drama.
And did this Sports venue rock! Various ensembles of the Amy Biehl Foundation music projects demonstrated their instrumental and vocal , ranging from the brass band to the marimbas and saxophones. Primary school dancers with painted faces entertained with skillful twists and twirls. And several music professors from USA cast their ‘thumbs up’ at the delightful soulful performances. Popular Gugs jazz singer, Sandile Gontsana, scatted his way with bassist Benjamin Jafta’s “Tribes of Benjamin” with lots of swing and original tunes.
Then came on stage a jazz orchestra from the Milton Academy in Massachusetts, USA, under the direction of Bob Sinicrope, who is also a Board member of the Jazz Education Network, based in USA. His troupe surprised Guguletans with Cape and South African jazz pieces of Abdullah Ibrahim and the late great Winston Mankunku. These teenagers seemed a bit timid and shy, but I would too if playing my host community’s songs in front of local maestros!! In the audience was sitting the 40-strong CAFCA members (Committed Artists for Community Advancement) from Mamelodi, young musicians learning the art of jazz, who performed recently at the SAJE mini jazz festival (South African Association for Jazz Education) at the UCT School of Music. Pity there wasn’t time to include their mbaqanga jazz in this multi-cultural gathering.
Linda Biehl, mother of the slain Amy Biehl, and co-founder of the Foundation with her now late husband, received gifts brought from the Milton Academy as the latter traditionally do when they travel to less resourced hosts. Gifts included instructional materials and CDs. The Foundation also receives musical instruments from time to time
What impressions did the American musicians have of these festivities? I didn’t have an opportunity to find out. But John Baboian from the famed jazz college, Berkelee School of Music, here in Cape Town to audition South African young artists for scholarships to the School, has plenty of challenge when he and his committee listen to the wizard talents of young musos and try to choose who will win!
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