-
WST
- How did
you first
become introduced
to the steelpan
instrument?
Kefilwe
- It was
through
a friend
called Dimakatso,
she was
a dancer
in the same
organization
that had
a steelpan
band.
-
WST
- What pan
do you play?
Kefilwe ‘Sweets’ Morutimang performing at TV recording in Soweto |
Kefilwe
- I play
tenors,
and double
tenors.
-
WST
- What does
your family
think about
your involvement
in pan playing,
and do any
others play?
Kefilwe
- To this
day my mum
only knows
that I play
music but
still can’t
figure out
these tins
(pans) that
have sound
when banged
with sticks,
I am the
only one
playing
pans or
doing music.
-
WST
- Tell us
about the
Soweto Marimba
Kidz Band.
Kefilwe
- I started
playing
with Soweto
Marimba
Kids for
4 years
and I moved
to The Soweto
Marimba
youth League
(SMYLe).
The Soweto
Marimba
Youth League
(SMYLe)
project
is a musical
outreach
programme
that seeks
to offer
under-privileged
children
living in
the Dobsonville
area of
Soweto an
opportunity
to overcome
adversity,
work towards
a common
goal, and
to reach
the pinnacle
of the success
they choose
for themselves.
The initial
intention
of the project
was to create
a music
programme
in an area
where schools
are either
ill-equipped
or technically
unable to
provide
learners
with an
opportunity
to study
music as
part of
their academic
growth.
Even today,
the SMYLe
project
is one of
very few
music programmes
for school
learners
in Dobsonville,
with the
SMYLe team
representing
5 of the
7 area high
schools,
of which
only P.J.
Simelane
has a music
programme.
Kefilwe teaches students about the steelpan in Soweto
|
Without
a formal
music teacher
in the area,
the job
of teaching
the learners
how to play
their music
fell onto
the shoulders
of the multi-talented
Johnny Hlaba:
the gardener
of a primary
school.
Johnny works
with the
band on
a daily
basis, teaching
the learners
how to play
each of
the instruments
using his
ability
to translate
the songs
he hears
into his
own ‘African’
versions.
More importantly,
Johnny has
taught ‘how
to teach’
to many
of the older
members
of our band,
such that
he can now
call on
many of
the senior
members
of the project
to help
teach new
learners.
The hope
has always
been that
the youth
of Dobsonville
to avoid
the daily
hazards
of drugs,
crime and
teenage
pregnancy,
while acting
as an assertive
reminder
that ‘Education
is the Only
Solution.’
-
WST
- Are there
many steelbands
in South
Africa?
Kefilwe
- Yes there
are bands
that play
pans but
you normally
find that
it’s a marimba
band featuring
steel pans
[playing]
a few songs
- unlike
us; we are
a steel
pan band
we feature
marimbas
and other
instruments.
-
WST
- You’ve
made a remarkable
journey
from Soweto
- what role
did the
steelpan
instrument
play, if
any, in
you entering
University?
Kefilwe
- We went
on a tour
form Soweto
to Canada
in 2006
and I was
in my matric
year (last
year of
high school).
I worked
hard in
school but
I had no
means to
study further.
While on
our tour
I had to
study for
my mid-term
exams so
every day
after a
performance
I would
study while
everyone
on tour
had fun.
A lady called
Joanne Jones
in Canada
from
Mind
Recreations,
noticed.
I went back
home and
after some
few weeks
they wrote
me a letter
asking if
they sponsored
me to study
further
would I
like to,
and I said
yes “I would
love to
go to University.”
Steel pans
have been
my way of
life, I
have learned
that if
you work
hard and
most importantly
doing what
you love
and just
loving and
enjoying
music, you
will reach
you goals.
-
WST
- And what
University
are you
attending,
and what
is your
field of
study?
Kefilwe
- University
of South
Africa,
I am doing
third year
BCom Accounting
with a dream
of becoming
a CA one
day.
-
WST
-
Are there
many female
pan players
in Johannesburg?
Kefilwe
- Yes, there
are, particularly
in my band.
We have
had our
numbers
increase
from the
original
four who
started
with me,
to twelve
females
now playing
pans.
-
WST
- And what
is next
for Kefilwe
‘Sweets’
Morutimang?
Kefilwe
- Playing
more pan
and teaching
as many
as possible,
and qualifying
as a CA
four years
from now.
We are going
to play
in the UK
and Germany
- departing
on the 17th
of April
2010.
We plan
and hope
to be doing
something
for the
World Cup
as it’s
in our country.
We just
recorded
2 CDs, and
we have
a tour to
Canada in
September
this year.
contact
Kefilwe
‘Sweets’
Morutimang
-
http://whensteeltalks.ning.com/profile/KefilweSweetsMorutimang
-
Their Story, Their Voice, Their Life,
Their Dreams -
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A Celebration
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