We are ready for 2010

Well, last Sunday saw the Confederations Cup curtain close. The Samba boys are the champs. Sorry US, but you really tried. President Obama should be proud of you. And while at that it was a pleasure recently to chat to business colleagues from the US who actually watched the Confed Cup, and not the NBA or NHL!

Staging the Confederations Cup was an eye-opener for me, I must say. We did a good job - thanks LOC, SAPS, transport people and everybody else, particularly FIFA. Sepp Blatter has always been a friend of SA. And seeing we're in a name-changing mood, we might as well name a street or even a stadium after him.

But to say our preparations were perfect, would not be correct!

Transport
As many have already said, we need to sort out our stadium transport system. I have no problem riding local taxis, my problem is when I have to join a long queue. I don't have much talent for queues!

And to make supporters, and foreign ones for that matter, join long queues was just not on. The Confed Cup was a pilot - I hope we learnt valuable improvement lessons.

Empty Rustenburg stadium
Then comes the issue of the empty Rustenburg stadium. No offence to my loved North West people, but they disappointed us a bit. At least they should have made stadiums to be half-full.

If the LOC is planning to use that stadium again (I bet they'll use it), then they should make sure they market the games well. Otherwise what else would move the Bafokeng brothers and sisters if Fernando Torres, David Villa, Kaka and Robinho don't move them?

Ellis Park was messed up!

No offence, Ellis Park is a beautiful stadium, but to use it in winter along Rugby games was not a good decision. It looked bad on TV to see the gravel behind the goalposts. Let's hope the Gauteng Lions won't be using it anymore beyond March next year.

The glory of the Vuvuzelas

Whoever came up with that loud, lousy, unbearably noisy genius is a phenomenon. Vuvuzela's are so loud and sometimes annoying they're fascinating! I love them though, and I dare say every South African who can afford one, should buy one for 2010.

It was very amusing to read some of international online media reviews: Vuvuzelas were really irritating a number of overseas folks. Of course most of the criticism is purely a snobbish, what-do-those-monkey-Africans-think-they-are attitude!

Let's just do our thing come 2010: let's blow the vuvuzelas so loud that if there's nothing we can be remembered of, we are remembered for bringing noise and vibe to the games.

And last...Bafana's performance

Against Iraq, we were sluggish and we possessed the ball without much purpose. Against New Zealand, we were average against an average team. Against Spain, well....I missed that one as I was travelling, but I was told it was a much more improved performance.

Against Brazil, we played the second best game of the tournament after the Egyptians when they lost 4-3 to the Brazilians. Our match against Brazil was played with zeal, determination, hunger, skill and discipline.

I was really impressed to see the boys holding their own. Tshabalala was the Tshabalala I know, Teko eventually came to the party, Schillo showed why he is so rated at Everton, and Khune, well, you go boy!

So all in all, we are basically ready for 2010, but we still need to improve, as FIFA correctly pointed out. I'm confident Bafana Bafana will make it to the 2nd round, assuming the SA craziness of firing coaches before tournaments won't raise its ugly head again.

Come 2010!

Lira snatched by an international label

Well, I've just read Lira, one of SA's most promising musicians, has of this week signed for an Italian music label called New Music International. Wow! Things are beginning to happen for this songbird. She must be really "feeling good" as her popular track claims she is. Big up to her!

One certainly hopes, though, she'll be able to make most of this chance. A number of SA artists in the receent years have signed international deals, but it wasn't clear what success they made of it. I'm reminded of Loyiso Bala, for example, a talented brother, whom I thought would take the world by storm. But it wasn't to be. Others might have included the late TK Mhinga, such a talented singer who died so young!

So I hope Lira has her own business plan in addition to what NMI have put on the table. Otherwise we may be left wondering few years down the line.

For now one should really let Lira flow with her current success & enjoy it. I certainly think she can make it last for more years to come.

Tribute to the fallen Virginia Tech students

Well, from time to time, you hear sad news you can't ignore. Hearing about the Virginia Tech massacre yesterday made me think of the lost souls, and how their families, relatives, friends & neighbours are dealing with such shock.

Of course, nobody deserves to die the way they died. As a prospective parent, I certainly wouldn't have anticipated my child dying at a place of discovering knowledge & wisdom. Campus life is a dynamic life, an opportunity for young ones to discover more about life & themselves, and to make mistake and learn from mistakes.

My heart goes out to all of the lost souls. I believe God has already strengthened all the families who've lost their loved ones, and may He continue to uphold them all as they go through this sad, trying time.

Proteas in the semis!

Ok, so it was last night! The Proteas, SA’s cricket team, finally came good. We beat England hands down. I should say it’s a bit unfair to the English that we tend to meet them in these tournaments & beat them.

I thought Kevin Pietersen will be back to his best for England & will give us a really rough time with a point to prove. But it was not to be. Worse he was caught by Smith, the Protea’s captain off a Hall’s ball. Brilliant stuff! Andrew Hall really had a great game, I should say, getting 5 wickets. It was good to see Charl Langeveldt & Andre Nel coming to the party as well.

Now going forward, I just hope we keep up the great performance in the semis. The Aussies still seem formidable, but hey, let them the last year 438 & beware. New Zealand beat us few days ago, but I still can’t see them doing it twice in a row. Sri Lanka look at their best with Murali & Malinga, but we’ve already beaten them in this tournament.

We still got Gibbs & Kallis, and if Kemp also comes to the party, while Smith, AB, Prince & Boucher play their stabilizing roles well, we look set to finally get the silverware that has so much eluded us since our readmission to international sports! And Pollock and Makhaya better lift up their bowling standard!

All the way, Proteas, we’re behind you!

SA music celebrated

So, the SA Music Awards finally took place this weekend. What an event it was watching it on TV!

Well, there were some big winners and deserved winners. I should say most, if not all, of the winners were deserving. SA music is really growing. Last week I provided an overview of some of the SA artists, including Mafikizolo, Lira and Bouga Luv. Boy, am I glad these were mentioned among the winners last Saturday night!

But let me give a brief lowdown on some of the major winners.

Simphiwe Dana

Man, this lady rocks! She won both the prestigious “Best Female Artist” and “Album of the Year” awards! Her well-renowned “The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street” album also won her the SAMA for “Best Contemporary Jazz Album” and “Best Vocal Jazz Album”.

I should say she deserved them all. This woman from the Eastern Cape (although now much Joburgised) is made of powerful stuff. Her voice is powerful! I remember the first time I heard her sing that song in Yizo Yizo 2 (or was it 3?) soundtrack & I thought “wow, who’s voice is that?” She since came to the fore so well.

Her debut album, “Zandisile”, came out & it earned her a SAMA for “Best Newcomer” in 2005. I was so impressed with the “Ndi Ready” (I’m Ready) track in that album. But now she’s flying higher with the “One Love Movement” album. Forget the long album title, the music is mature & exposes her maturity quite well. I hope to write more about in the near future. For now, it’s “congratulations, Sista! Keep up that great work!”

Mafikizolo

My favourite duo won the “Best Duo/Group Album” and the new SAMA “Best Compilation DVD” for “Mafikizolo: The Hits”. I like this group – their image, their voices & their dance. They make me feel comfortable being a Black brotha from SA. They remind you the old apartheid South Africa still had Blacks who had style & who knew how to get around. They bring Sophiatown back to the present.

In their “O Tswa Kae” track, they do “izinyokanyoka” dance so well. They’ve really re-emerged & seem to have left Malaika & others behind them. I hope Malaika & Guffy (their producer) will come back stronger. Not that I advocate an unhealthy, pride-driven competition between the 2 acts, but they are leaders in the African pop category. Competition should make them better, but I still tip Mafikizolo to grow even further. Big up you “twins”!

Bouga Luv

Well, well, well, he’s the last Kwaito man standing & he outran my homeboy L’vovo Derango! Kabelo (Bouga Luv’s real name) has been at the helm of Kwaito since the mid-90s and I’m yet to see another Kwaito star unseat him. His “Exodus” album won him the “Best Kwaito Album” SAMA. That “Dubula” track has really won the hearts of Kwaito fanatics. Strange because I really thought it was just a nice track – nothing more (see my update of 13 April). But I’ve been proven wrong & I’m happy still. I’m a Kwaito fan & I believe this genre is yet to grow even further, contrary to the popular belief that it will soon die.

Plus Bouga Luv was the host of the SAMAs this time, and did very well. His live performance with L’vovo & Thebe (another Kwaito stalwart) was something! Man, I felt “this is Kwaito as I used to know it”! It reminded me of the great Kwaito combination of Spikiri, Oskido, Mandoza, Tokollo and Stoan in “Vat en Sit” – the best Kwaito combination I’ve ever seen. Can’t wait to hear Bouga Luv’ 2007 summer album!

Siphokazi

This girl from KwaXhosa is another one for the future if she keeps dishing the stuff similar to the one in her debut “Ubuntu Bam” album. The debut album won her 2 SAMAs. First it was the “Best Newcomer Award” beating off fierce competition from Maduvha, RAE and Lesego, amongst others. She also won the “Best Adult Contemporary Album: African” at the Friday ceremony. I’m yet to listen to all the tracks in her album but Siphokazi has a great voice.

With voices like hers and those of Zamajobe, Lira, Swazi Dlamini, Simphiwe Dana and Thandiswa Mazwai, South Africa has a reason to smile & hope for a brighter music future. I just hope Siphokazi sees a reason to remain humble & avoid the temptation of becoming too lofty & unreachable because of success, something many a local artist has done to their detriment & fall. May God help her!

Vusi Mahlasela

One of the veterans of SA music re-emerged to beat Bouga Luv, Paul Hanmer, Bheki Khoza and Musa Manzini for the “Best Solo Male” award. Vusi has been around and is an internationally acclaimed act. His producer and engineer, Lloyd Ross, went on to win the “Best Engineer” award to show this album has so much quality in it.

Vusi is one of those who are some sort of guiding light for the younger musicians of our beloved country. He’s close friends with his guitar & I’m convinced as long as his fingers can still click the stringed instrument, we’ll continue to hear more good sounds.

DJ Sbu

Ok, he’s a handful, energetic, charismatic & even controversial for some, but DJ Sbu is on it. The former YFM DJ has been raking in awards left, right and centre as “Mzekezeke”, and now that his mask is now off, he’s taking them in purely as “DJ Sbu”. I liked “Remember When It Rained” dance track but I thought it wouldn’t beat DJ Cleo’s “Eskhaleni” and others. But, well, he won the "Most Popular Song of the Year" category. The young ones really take to Sbu, whether he presents “Friends Like These” on SABC1 or “The Breakfast Show” on Ukhozi FM. Big up mfan’ omdala (old boy) but just keep your feet to the ground & you’ll reach even higher!

Well, that’s just some of the SA artist. Our music is on the rise & the world is beginning to take notice. I will continue profiling other artists mainly in the popular Kwaito, Pop, R&B and Gospel categories over the next weeks. For now, this just beautiful South Africa!

Celebrating SA music

Googling “South African Music Awards” I came across a simple Wikipedia definition:

The South African Music Awards is an annual celebration of the best of South
Africa’s eclectic music industry”.

Celebrating the best of SA’s music is what SAMAs have become in the past few years. I should admit although I’ve always liked the SAMA concept, I always was unhappy with the way things were done. Controversies were really abounding. There was the issue of sidelining White & Afrikaans music. Then the issue of certain artists nominated on unclear merit. Then there was the confusion about the difference between Afro Jazz and Afro Pop (I still insist, Bra Hugh Masekela is not a Jazz artist, please!).

But the SAMAs have really matured now. More categories have been added, and other genres have been accommodated: Afrikaans music is getting some recognition, too. I just hope we’ll see less & less of the same faces winning the same awards.

This brings me to what I think about SA music in general, and my beloved Kwaito in particular. In general, SA music is getting better & better, even the local R&B. These artists need particular mention:

Lira

When Lira joined 999 & I heard her sing, I thought here’s one voice which can go really far, if properly nurtured. She then sort of disappeared for a while until recently. Her “Feel Good” track is nice (if I remember well, it’s a re-do of a another song?). I also like the other video I saw on One (SABC 1) recently. She’s really coming off age, but still has to put in lot more into her music. Now that she’s with Sony/BMG, she should mature more.

She should avoid the temptation of trying to be like someone else e.g. Brandy. She’s good on her own natural voice. She should also avoid the fall of doing pure American R&B. Many before her tried that & they made no impact. E’smile, the late TK & others didn’t succeed so much, although I should say that TK’s last album sounds like something really massive!

Kabelo – Bouga Luv

Bouga Luv needs no mention in SA music. From the days of TKZee until now, he keeps pumping hot Kwaito stuff. I’m one of those who predicted doom for him when TKZee split. I really thought Tokollo would be the one take Kwaito higher, but I was wrong! Kabelo has really taken my loved genre to higher hights. I thought he couldn’t outdo himself after “Pantsula for Life”, but I was wrong again!

He came back even hotter with “It’s My House”, my best song from him. It really rivals my greatest Kwaito track ever: “Dlala MaPantsula” done by TKZee in the mid-90s. But his recent 2006 “Dubula” release doesn’t seem to tick me as his previous albums. Could it be he’s finally reached the ceiling?

My take is “yes”. He’s been at the forefront of Kwaito for the past 10 years & he really deserve the title of “King of Kwaito” if it were to be given! But the genre now needs new blood. I’ve seen L’Vovo Derango & I think he’s one man who can grow Kwaito from Kabelo, but it’s just too early to tell. All I can say is: I wish him a SAMA award on his debut album.

Mafikizolo

Well, I’m one man standing & watching in appreciation the unending Mafikizolo run! When Malaika came through, many people seemed to think Mafikizolo was gone. I also was quite concerned. But, hey, they are still here! Have you heard their “Six Mabone” album! It’s alive. And I like their dancing, too. They even dance “izinyokanyoka” to my appreciation!

But they still are facing a dilemma. How can they grow from here? Can they do any better than “Bhuti Ngihambe Nawe” and “Emlanjeni”? When you listen to their different albums for the past 6 years, it seems they cannot grow anymore. But I beg to differ! They can still grow & I think they won’t achieve anything if they go on solo efforts.

They should still keep the Afro Pop flair & mix it with a bit Afro Soul, if you know what I mean.

Zamajobe

Zamajobe is really good in what she does. “Magic” & “Ndawo Yami” deserved all the accolades they received. The woman from Vosloo is really talented & can grow even stronger. I like the laid back kind of music she plays & I can feel her previous “training” by Pastor Benjamin Dube.

The nice thing with Zamajobe’s music is: she can let her album to run for at least 2 years before she has to run back to the studio. She doesn’t have the dilemma facing commercial acts like Bouga Luv & Mafikizolo. But her next album better be good.

I suggest she tries & gives at least 3 groovy songs to avoid the trap of sounding too sleepy. And judging from what she gave us the first time, she won’t disappoint.

Freshly Ground

If there’s any group in SA that has the best chance of reaching heights as high as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Freshly Ground is! Their “Doo Be Doo Be” track got them international & they really flew SA’s flag. In Zolani, their lead singer, they have a really dynamic voice. I like the little roughness in her voice & she really moves smoothly when she dances.

The rest of the band also come to the party. The drummer is something of his own. So are the violinist woman & fluteist. I don’t have much to say about this group except: just keep on keeping on, you beautiful SAs.

I can go on & on about the best of SA music & what can be done to make it better, but I’ll stop for now. Let’s wait for the 2007 SAMAs tomorrow & I can then comment.