Wednesday, August 18 2010
Blues Room
Village Walk, Sandton, Cnr Rivonia &Maude Street
These poets are writing themselves into South African literary and performance history: From the late 1990s they began carving spoken word poetry that is hauntingly honest about everyday life, love and sociopolitical conditions (particularly of black people and women).
This month the Blues Room brings you soothing urban blues and poetry from some of South Africa’s most talented and acclaimed spoken word poets. Four of South Africa’s wordsmiths, Myesha Jenkins is cofounder of Feela Sistah poetry collective and author of Breaking the Surface, Ntsiki Mazwai also cofounding member of the acclaimed collective has released Mamiya (poetry on house/hiphop and soul background music), has recently launched her poetry collection Wena. Khethi is former member of poetry and music collective Soul 2 Mouth is fast becoming one of South Africa’s most sought out Afro soul and jazz voices, while Natalia Molebatsi has worked with the likes of Lemmy Special Mabaso and the legendary George Lee, while she has also published Sardo Dance, her debut collection of poetry in 2009..
These women are powerful within the poetry scene and have been riding the highway of words on local and international stages, they have each raised and moulded unique poetic voices that to speak to elements close to society’s crux. Urban Blues: Word and Melody Now combines the unusual but equally entertaining forms of classical jazz instrument with the urban flow and fascinating sounds of beatboxing. The poetry reveals layers of story in a laid back, jazzy and many times humourous way.
The high standard and quality of the performing artists are evidence to the rich texture and variety of the best of South African poetry today. This stage work is dedicated to the usually marginal voice of female poetry and blues singing and places women at the centre stage of celebrating life with its crazy, but jazzy scene. The acclaimed author of Breaking the Surface, Myesha Jenkins says of the work:, “I have long been fascinated with trying to capture the feeling of a jazz piece in words. That music takes me to places I never knew about. places I love to be. Interestingly, I haven’t read my jazz poems very often so I’m looking forward to this show.”
While songstress Khethi states that: “
These poets bring you fresh info-taining poetry laid on the unusual fusion of Vuyo… ‘s double bass and Blast’s beatboxing extraordinaire. Poet and entertainer Flo Mokale will also add some melodic flavor to the urban (beatbox) blues (double bass) effect with his “jewish harp”, while the poetry lulls your blues awayThe poetry will be interlude by the fresh and urban sounds played by DJ Herbal Tea.
ONE SHOW ONLY, Wednesday, 18 August, starting at 7pm, at R50.00 on the internationally acclaimed Blues Room Stage
Additional information on the Urban Blues: Word and Melody Now! Can be accessed on www.bluesroom.co.za.
