World Unplugged: November 2014

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

BOMGO MAFFIN (revitalising both the body and the spirit)

Everybody and anybody that knows me knows that my favourite band in South Africa is:
BONGO MAFFIN.

I was introduced to this band back in the day when I was in primary school, and now years later I'm still digging and jamming to their authentic sounds and messages. I have had the privilege to meet Thandiswa, Stoan and Speedy... I'm still waiting to meet the unique sounding and rough-rugged-and-raw, Jah Seed! Don't ask me to choose who my favourite band member and favourite song is, cos that is something I could never do...simply cos I can't. I love Thandi's lyrics and melodic voice that just laces any track like honey on your tongue! I love her unique being and just how she is not afraid to go where some artists might question or might be scared to explore because they are afraid what society says, reacts and how they would "judge"...she's pure artist!! Stoan is just stylish, smart and darn right talented...he has a gift of delivering vernacular speech like only a king could. Speedy is talented to the core and brings a cool urban vibe to the roots of what Bongo is! Jah Seed...well...he can bring a major flow to climax with a simple verse and just keep doing it over and over again!! These guys and this sexy lady speak of the heritage, the history and the future of our Motherland, Africa. In their last studio offering, New Construction, there's a joint they did called Third World War (A Fight Dem A Fight), where they express the suffering that Africa experiences while we as mankind stand by and do nothing. Then they flip the script in the track, Mankind where Jah Seed's infamous flow let's us know that we live together, share the same space and should support each other as mankind.

This quartet of talent will give you something to think about...believe me. They have the bragging rights of being the first African band performing at the Coliseum; having dinner with Michael Jackson and Nelson Mandela at the same table and meeting cool ass artists such as Snoop Lion and just being so cool at what they do. They have a class about them that only exudes and drips in everything that they do. They are business minded, artistically (and totally so) inclined and have a reputation of dropping some bonified classics such as That'isigubhu, which still blazes on our airwaves til today (they even have a dope remix to it).

Bongo Maffin are like the leaders of Africanism. They proved that you don't have to abandon the present to prove your heritage and your roots... you don't have to turn your back on your true self and who YOU are, but find the Africanism within you by awakening the senses and the truth about your being [African]. They teach, but not preach. The lead, but not propaganda their message. They are, and will always be...the sons and daughter of the soil... leading the urban school with their authentic sound: BONGO MAFFIN.

Left to right: Jah Seed, Thandiswa, Stoan and Speedy (Bongo Maffin)

Bongo Maffin bringing us The Bongo Maffin Sound

The cool kids

Left to right: Speedy, Jah Seed, Thandiswa and Stoan

This is when I met Stoan at a club opening

A young #selfie with me and Speedy at the same club opening

#selfie

Monday, 10 November 2014

#STRCRD2014

If you want high fashion, you can go to Paris
If you want the hottest Pizza, you can find it in Italy
If you're into the illest urban culture that just says edgy to the core, your best bet is probably New York City, baby!!

However, if you're looking for all of these wrapped in one, your best choice would be Johannesburg!! In Johannesburg you can wrap your head around the best culture and the coolest beatz, the most interesting happy juice that you could ever find. Basically, you can wrap your head with the illest material about anything.

We have innovative bands such as Bongo Maffin; courageous actors such as Thapelo Mokoena; we have dope characters (if you will) like Jerry The Blogger who has the biggest blog following in South Africa. Our culture is absolutely rich, our people definitely friendly and our weather can give you goose bumps just enjoying it as a mandate.

Our youth is vibrant, creative, not afraid to "take it there and bring it back", and down right totally gutsy!! We have a spirit of growth and embracing change in such a fashion that is questioned by the world all over and still they wonder how we keep smiling through the adversity that we had to endure in the past and sometimes, in our present lives. All these trials and tribulations lead us to a higher level that brings us to a platitude that even wings could not reach...it makes us soar, it makes us grow and it keeps our minds curious and open to great change and keeps us hungry to express and to change what we don't like. Some could even call us rebellious...but this is South Africa, and we can do whatever we like!!

A place that you will definitely see all of these qualities displayed in their full mind, body and soul, is at a fashion movement that is called: #STRCRD (this is an abbreviation of Street Cred). It is held every year around October and November for three days running and it is one that one does not ever wanna miss! It is of international standard, as it is also held in countries such as Los Angeles and New York City. #STRCRD is dope because it showcases new fashion, regular fashion and old school fashion which when fused just makes a kick ass fashion "outlet". A ticket for this event will set you back R150 per person. You might be gasping for air right now thinking if it's worth the adventure...but trust and believe me when I say it definitely does. There are other artists, such as a bioscope festival that plays hour movies for free (and they give you free pop corn...heeeeeey.....), there are skater bois that do their stunts and biker bois that ride around at the skater park...this keeps you entertained as you see all of their facial reactions as they miss a landing on that skating slope!! There are hip hop DJ's that murder the sound for dayzz as you're chilling there sippin on your drink that just makes the sound so much smoother. Don't take my word for it...go paint a picture of the reality of what it's like for yourself next time that the show comes to town...you will LOOOOVE it. It is normally held at Braamfontein at Constitution Hill and it is definitely worth every single cent.

I was rolling VIP style this year (again) at the Jameson section (did I just hear a horn...?), which was totally dope. I enjoyed it to the max, and did not wanna leave.

Take a dip in the culture, you will definitely enjoy it, and will never look back!!

Here are some of the pics I took there