Leshie Lovesong is a Singing Performance Poet, based in Botswana. In 2006, she became Exodus Live Poetry’s Slam Champion, and became a member of the collective itself in 2007. As of November 2007, the young poetess has displayed her craft at every Infinite Word Festival in Gaborone. As an advocate for Environmental Sustainability, the poet has work shopped drama scripts which included her poetry in Angola, Luanda, and Namibia, Rundu, the focus being on the Okavango River.
Livingstone, Zambia
Joka is a compassionate and generous soul, and a proud resident of Livingstone’s ghettos. He built his own studio by hand over the course of three years, which he allowed us to use. He sat in with us and dropped a few lines in his distinctive gravelly voice, and told us stories of his troubled past and the hope he found in helping other people beat addiction and avoid hard drugs. A truly inspirational character.
“Music. It is the voice for my thoughts, experiences and faith in God. It speaks of my life. Not only through the lyrics I write or the melodies I sing, but also through the instruments that play. It is the most natural way for me to share who I am.”
“Natural” most definitely describes the musical talent of James Sakala. His melodic vocals and clean harmonies seem to flow so easily with the dynamic percussion and guitar sounds in his songs. One can only wonder where such a talent came from.
As a young boy in Mkushi, he grew up expressing himself through music and drama. “At a very young age, I started feeling music in me, and I became more convinced of my passion for it when I learnt to sing “Namusonda” by P.K. Chishala.” Soon after, he set out to hone his craft.
Over the years, James Sakala has nurtured his skills by working as a producer, session guitarist, and singer/songwriter at local recording studios in and around Lusaka. Now, he is focusing on recording his debut Afro-Jazz/Kalindula album.
Bringing a refreshing sound to Afro-Jazz by fusing it with the liveliness of Kalindula, James Sakala hopes to touch millions through his faith-driven music and “preserve a sound that has died here [in Zambia].”
HT-Tautona is a Motswana, born and raised in Maun. “I am doing hip hop music in my vernacular language, Setswana. All my songs are written in rich, pure and poetic Setswana. I took this initiative to do my music in my language because I master it and most people in Botswana understand. I incorporated hip hop beats with my lyrics written in Setswana, touching all aspects of life, from the social ills, culture and all other topics relevant to our day to day life. My songs carry valuable messages for the young, old, rich and poor, so everyone in every class could relate to the music.”
Her influences and inspiration include musical greats like Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley, India Arie, literary icon Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her very own father.
She is set to release her debut album titled “Freedom” soon. She worked with renowned artists & producer, Lawi and her brother, Manyanda in the composing and production of the 17- track album. The album recorded at Lawi Music Garage features one of the gospel hip-hop artists KBG and will be released under the new music label Brand Inc.
Kim plans on sharing her music journey and songs with the whole world. She is now in her 3rd year in University studying a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Born in Sabie, Mpumalanga (South Africa) and based in Pretoria, Haikuu is an Indie Rap Fusion artist who draws inspiration from hip hop and guitar music. At the core of his music is the idea of storytelling, which allows his raps to co-exists synergistically with his chosen guitar soundscapes.
As an individual who had to recover from a chronic, metabolic illness, he has determined to create music that is meaningful and impactful, while also being fun and engaging. He plays multiple instruments including rhythm and lead guitar, piano, bass guitar and drums.
In 2019, Haikuu formed a five-piece band called Haikuu & The 575s. They have performed at multiple venues across South Africa and have undertaken two national tours as well.
The Sotho Sounds are a dynamic traditional group from the small mountain village of Malealea, Lesotho. Fiery, positive energy grooves and shoulders flying during fantastic gumboot dancing are just a few things to look forward to during this Basotho crew’s unforgettable act. Using entirely upcycled instruments made from tin cans, old wire, and inner tubes, this dancing band has an inspiring story and a truly larger-than-life sound. Look for them in our Erosion production from Lesotho, “Ngope la Musi.”
Msafiri Zawose is one among the prominent contemporary Gogo musicians. His name is associated with his traditional Gogo style music, which relies heavily on the zeze and ilimba in combination with distinct lyrical harmonies.
Msafiri Zawose is the fifth child of Dr. Hukwe Zawose, The name Zawose is synonymous with Tanzanian music and tradition.
Surrounded by musicians and spending his days at the art college, Msafiri began learning music and picked up the ilimba at a young age. By his 13th birthday, he had already mastered all of the signature Gogo instruments and was already touring widely throughout the country. His international debut was a three-month tour to Japan singing, dancing, and playing ndono, ngoma, and marimba with his father’s group Chibite.
After his father’s untimely death in 2003, Msafiri resolved to pick up where his father left off.
Mosi Oa Tunya or simply referred to as MOT by its numerous followers both in Zambia and Kenya, was a band which walked in the path of ensembles like the once powerful Afro Rock giants, the Osibisa. Its demise towards the close of the 70s has not short-circuited its deep roots in the Zamrock bowels which still simmer with sounds that reveal the kind of music upon which this country thrived.
A singer and songwriter, songbird Tribute ‘Birdie’ Mboweni was born and raised in Mkhuhlu, Mpumalanga. Having serenaded audiences in Qatar and Dubai playing with a jazz band featuring one of South African’s great jazz pianists, Sylvester Mazinyane, performing at COP17 national awareness events, as well as performing at the Earth Fest in Zambia, the petite singer is working diligently to carve a path that ensures that she too, has a place in the music industry.
Locally, she has showcased at some of the hottest stages such as the Victory Theatre, Silverstar Casino, Niki’s Oasis in Newtown, Winnie’s Jazz Club in Sandton, as well as the Rendezvous stage at the South African State Theatre as part of the Jazz and African Music Nights. After successfully delivering a stellar performance at the South African State Theatre on April 25, Tribute went on to dazzle music lovers in a 2-hour long showcase presented by Yfm 99.2’s Live N ReYired series on the 12th of May, which she followed up with a performance at Johannesburg’s number one live music showcase platform, Up & Coming on the 28th of May. She went on to give 5 stellar performances at the 2014 Grahamstown National Arts Festival, receiving a great review for her soulful offering of her own music and music that celebrates South African legends. She recently gave another stellar performance, opening for The Soil on the last leg of their nation-wide Reflections Tour at the Lyric Theater.
Tribute has made strides having come first place at the Born To Be Famous Academy’s Born To Sing Showcase, judged by lead talent scout and Native Rhythms Productions Founder Sipho Sithole and Mandisa Bardill-Kwebulana, Executive Producer at Imbumba Stage Productions. She has also participated in a couple of historical musical productions having featured in one of the two Radio 2000 Nelson Mandela celebratory songs, All About Love, as well as the International Organisation of Migrations’ I Am a Migrant Too campaign song and video.
A Boundless Southern Africa Ambassador, off the stage she is an Environment and Conservation Ambassador, working committedly and tirelessly making a difference across the country through Projekt 23 – The Green Movement, a community and schools-based environmental education, treeplanting and social upliftment non-profit organisation she co-founded in March 2009.