SABC1 will bring to its viewers a six-part documentary series called, 'Vuma - A Music Revolution', starting on Tuesday, 1 December at 21:00. The series captures the South African dance music genre, Kwaito, creating an in-depth understanding of its beginning and influence in the early 1990s.
The series tells the untold story of a South African youth with all its dynamics, through music. It profiles Kwaito legends Oskido; Mandla Spikiri; Thebe; Bruce 'Dope' Sebitlo; Mjokes; and numerous other groups like Trompies; Boom Shaka; Alaska; Chakaroski; Mafikizolo; Bongo Maffin; and many other dancers; producers; and club DJs that were at the centre of Kwaito. It is a preservation of a South African heritage that was underground but has now become mainstream.
“Kwaito music represents one of the most popular Mzansi’s youth cultures. And, no other television channel can tell this authentic Mzansi story better than SABC1. We invite all our kwaito fans and music lovers in general to join us for a remarkable six-week session of the best kwaito history and music to date,” says Vukile Madlala, SABC1 Publicity Manager.
The individual experiences of owners of the successful, black-owned production company, Kalawa Jazmee, form part of this collage of stories. These are individuals who were at the forefront of pioneering this lucrative, independent music industry, which has grown into an avenue for self-expression for many young people.
'Vuma – A Music Revolution' is the brainchild of two award-winning South African filmmakers: Vincent Moloi and Norman Maake, who have joined forces to form Glowstars, a production company that focuses on telling the stories of urban youth culture. Both Moloi and Maake have worked as directors across genres in the local and international film industry. This is their first film project as co-directors.
“Norman and I are both avid lovers of film and Kwaito, and after years of talking about a project we could do together, Kwaito was a natural choice. We know that iKasi will love this series and we hope the general South African audiences will enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it. This has been two years of labour of love,” says Moloi.
“Kwaito is an important part of us as young South Africans and as film practitioners it is our patriotic duty to capture such history the best way we know how,” adds Maake.
'Vuma – A Music Revolution' – the documentary series, will be broadcast on the South African television channel SABC1 during the festive season beginning on 1 December until mid January 2010.