While watching & listening to Ilizwi, I appreciated Mzansi's musical voice(s)

After a successful couple of days of the SHAPE Africa conference, various Global Shapers attended a jazz musical concert at the Nedbank Auditorium in Cape Town. I was hoping to see a famous South African musician perform. Yvonne Chaka Chaka was there. No, she didn't perform, she was in the audience like us. She's also a member of the World Economic Forum. We were all attending Ilizwi, a musical. South Africans are such great singers and I always said that I wanted to find myself singing in the streets of Soweto with people one day. I'd be dancing the gumboot dance in addition.

Ilizwi is a musical production by the Casterbridge Music Development Academy. It's directed by Vuyo Jack and Ingrid Wylde. Learn more about Ilizwi here. Ilizwi means "voice" in Xhosa. The musical told a great story and found a way to incorporate many popular South African classic (songs). Here are a few tweets I posted to capture what was happening

At a jazz musical called Ilizwi in Cape Town. South Africans are 'always' singing. Sthandwa sam. :-) #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

The cast just sang the late Miriam Makeba's Qongqothwane. Ilizwi is a musical production by Ingrid Wylde & Vuyo Jack. #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

"It was a place I knew where my dreams came true. Until they broke it down, Sophia town". Gotto find out who sang this. #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

"There is a train that comes from... Zimbabwe, Swaziland... they dig deep deep down in the earth". A Hugh Masekela classic. #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

Here comes Pata Pata. Another rendition of a Miriam Makeba classic. A song that has traveled far n wide. Not so much the dance. #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

It would be so cool if at some point in this musical, the performers did some #azonto. Lekker neh? New school. #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

Here is a #gumboot dance. Miss those from my MIT days. Such a fun dance. All the MIT Africans got into it. Connected. #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

"As I fetched water,he herded cattle. We were going to meet at the river". Cue the Emlanjeni rendition. Classic by Mafikizolo. #museke
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

Gauteng, moving music made by Malaika, given perspective by this Ilizwi singer. Song is about HIV-AIDS. Gauteng is the region Joburg is in.
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

I've been listening to a lot of Lira & Loyiso music recently but the Ilizwi performances make me miss South African music. #mzansi #magic
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

"If I was married to u, I'd be your wife everyday, but no, I'm your weekend special". Cue a rendition of a Brenda Fassie track. Mabrrr!
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 7, 2013

When Ilizwi was done n the cast was dancing n the audience had to join, it was time to break out some #azonto while tweeting:-) #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 8, 2013

When you ask the cast what they've learnt in this #Ilizwi project, they say commitment, focus, patience, hard work. Lekker! #shapeafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 8, 2013

I met Yvonne Chaka Chaka briefly and had some conversations with her. I met her later at the World Economic Forum and we had a great conversation. I have a special blog post dedicated to her coming. There was a young girl who played a character of an older woman and her musical range was phenomenal. When most of us in the audience discovered she was under 18, we couldn't believe it. Many of the singers will be like Yvonne Chaka Chaka one day. South African just seems to churn them out all the time.