Soweto Melodic

Voices

2016 International Young Performers Tour

The Award-Winning Performance Troupe From Teachers’ Guide

Each year, Creative Connections brings talented young performers from one of our partner countries to the USA to perform for schools and art centers in Connecticut and New York. The tour features the sharing of culture through music, song, and/or dance, an “Up Close and Personal” video where the performers take the audience back home, “hands-on” and “feet-on” workshops, and classroom visits. Our young audiences don’t just enjoy an exciting performance, but get to know and work with the performers. It is this person-to-person intercultural interaction that opens up hearts and minds.

1 6 Contents

Tour Objectives 3 Letter From Soweto Melodic Voices Director 4

The Performance The Rain Queen 5 201 SowetoMelodic Voices,

Our Songs 6 Our Dances 7 IYPT, The Company Soweto Melodic Voices 8 Getting to Know the Troupe 9

South Africa Where is South Africa and Soweto? 13 The Beauty We Call South Africa 14 Getting to Know Soweto 17

Resources Available Online 19

2 6 Tour Objectives

Our annual tour brings talented international youth performing troupes to area elementary, middle and high schools. Here the young performers meet with, perform for, and give workshops to school audiences during half or full day visits. Performances feature the youngsters sharing their culture through music, song, dance, and/or theatre. Since 1999, we have hosted 18 touring groups from Russia, China, India, Uganda, Colombia, Ireland, Cambodia, Nicaragua, Brazil, and South Africa. 201 SowetoMelodic Voices,

Tour Objectives

Our tours provide our student audiences with entertaining, authentic performances and IYPT, workshops given by talented young performers from around the world. The “creative” connections made between audience members and performers are what makes our tours special.

International Young Performers’ Tour Program Goals

Students will: • Expand their awareness, understanding and appreciation of the lives of peers living in another country • Gain a new perspective of their own culture by learning about the young performers’ culture and their similarities and differences • Discover the power of the performing arts to convey cultural norms and values and to use it as a form of expression • Build their cultural literacy skills and have a heightened interest in learning about other cultures around the world

3 6 A Letter from Soweto Melodic Voices, Director, Madikane Tselane Neira

What a joy! Soweto Melodic Voices is no ordinary choir; but a talented and inspiring group of young people who will fill you with emotion and wonder.

The group's motto is, "We sing when we're happy and we sing when we're sad”, and with that we take audiences on a beautiful 201 SowetoMelodic Voices,

journey through inspirational moments to raucous dance numbers. Our 14-20 year old performers’ love of music is clear

IYPT, from their smiles, their dancing, the passion of their voices and natural talent.

What I love most is that our members are able to access opportunities. The mission of Soweto Melodic Voices goes Madikane Tselane Neira beyond striving for excellence in music to giving our young members a chance to live meaningful lives, helping them with their education prospects. One of the choir members gained a complete scholarship to study with the University of Edinburgh in 2016, illustrating that we are indeed not an ordinary choir, but a vehicle transforming young people. It gives me great joy in knowing that lives are changing through song and dance, and academically enabling our young people to be the best. I can proudly sleep well knowing that my late husband and I have carried the element of Ubuntu “Humanity” across, of ensuring that we make a difference for our communities.

And for you, our audiences.

Soweto Melodic Voices has gained the love and support of local and international audiences and now we humbly appreciate being invited by Creative Connections to perform for schools in the United States of America.

We are so happy to be here, and we sincerely hope you will come away feeling the joy and pride we have in our country and its people.

Gratefully,

Madikane Tselane Neria

4 6 The Performance-The Rain Queen 201 SowetoMelodic Voices,

IYPT,

After the introductory video and a song, the core of the performance is based on the legend of the Rain Queen.

The Modjadji or Rain Queen is the hereditary Queen of Balobedu, a people of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The succession to the position of Rain Queen is matrilineal, meaning that the Queen’s eldest daughter is the heir, and that males are not entitled to inherit the throne at all. The Rain Queen is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control clouds and rainfall.

Our show demonstrates and celebrates an outstanding Queen with amazing powers to generate rain. People run to the Queen and complain about the devastating drought and how the destructive locusts spoil their wheat. With the audience’s help, the villagers also perform a welcome dance.

The Queen and her retinue sing and pray deeply for rain.

Once the rains arrive, the villagers give thanks and celebrate by performing dances from several South African tribes.

We hope that the spirit of this tale, illustrating that leadership is not just about dictatorship, but about extending a helping hand and providing for everyone in the village, is communicated to our audiences.

Today, Queen Modjadji is still regarded as the Mother of the Nation.

5 6 The Performance-Our Songs

Soweto Melodic Voices repertoire is expansive. Your performance will include a selection of the following songs:

Africa Hee - is about where we come Mamodjadji wee pula eana – is a from and how proud we are of our celebratory song sung to praise/thank roots. It unites us all as Africans. the Queen for “bringing” the rain 201 SowetoMelodic Voices, Tsie ke eo - is a cry sung by the Pula ya matlogonolo – is a song that people of Balubedu, a village in speaks about an everlasting rain full of IYPT, Limpopo. The song announces the blessings. Rain which will cleanse arrival of the destructive locust during away all wrong and relieve all the a critical drought. people

E le bowa - is sung in order to Sasol’kwana bothata bo teng – is a celebrate the arrival of the Rain traditional song sung during feasts Queen. Usually sung and danced to by when females come from the initiation females. schools.

Ithuba loku thandaza - is derived from Kgomo di kae – is a celebratory song the olden days. It is sung to thank the sung by the Tswana tribe, sung during Lord for giving them an opportunity to traditional rituals, and speaks of their pray and ask for blessings. late Kings.

Byale ke nako - also derives from the Mbube – is also known as “The Lion past that announces a time/ period of Sleeps Tonight,” “Wimba Way” or prayer specifically to request rain. “Awimbawe.” It was written in the 1920s by Solomon Linda, a South African singer of Zulu origin.

6 6 The Performance-Our Dances

Your performance will include a selection of the following dances:

Zulu Dance ‘Indlamu’ - a traditional dance established during the battle of Batswana Dance - originates from the Isandlwana, which was a war that took Khoisan also known as Cavemen. It place between the Zulu tribe and the stands heads and shoulders above 201 SowetoMelodic Voices, British. It was a dance that helped them most African traditional dances. It is gain sufficient courage before engaging unique, rhythmic and expressive; and IYPT, in any wars. at times is used for storytelling and healing. Xhosa Dance - is meant to also capture the different social roles. The Basotho Dance - or ‘Mokhibo’, is a women have their dance signifying women’s dance performed on their domestic and motherhood movements. knees, the body gently rising and falling They’ve also made their dancing as the head are swept upwards in the simultaneously signify the masculinity air. and authority of men. The Xhosa dance in essence has become a powerful tool Gumboot Dance - was established in transmitting traditional values to during the South African mining successive generations. revolution when the miners were tired of working without rhythm. To complete Pedi Dance - or Dinaka/Kiba dance, is used the dance you need to have miners’ during indigenous African ritual practices, to protective clothes such as sturdy celebrate traditional weddings and Wellingtons (rubber boots) and commemorations at cultural events of all helmets. types.

7 6 The Company: Soweto Melodic Voices

Singing in English and six other South African The choir has a large repertoire of music and languages, Soweto Melodic Voices are no dance to entertain audiences. But they also ordinary choir. Its members live in Soweto, produce shows that address social issues formerly one of the world’s toughest prevalent in their communities. Their latest townships, and many are the orphans of endeavor, “SMV Say No to Xenophobia” families decimated by HIV and AIDS. shone a spotlight on the disturbing trend to treat immigrants from other African countries The choir was co-founded by Leslie and with mistrust and contempt. 201 SowetoMelodic Voices,

Neria Madikane in May 2007 as an initiative to close an educational gap in the lives of local Because of their musical excellence and social children and the lack of learning opportunities mission, the choir was invited by The IYPT, in the area of music and traditional dances. University of Edinburgh (Scotland) Chaplaincy to perform at the “Just Festival” at the The youths were brought together with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013 and 2014. purpose of keeping them engaged; nurturing They were crowd favorites winning various them physically, educationally, mentally, awards, so it’s not surprising that have been spiritually and most of all encouraging their invited back next year. natural talent. This also provided an opportunity to educate them in life and Their debut album 'Harambee' was recorded develop coping skills in the area of HIV and on location in Soweto, South Africa in 2014 AIDS, teenage pregnancy and the impact and features the very best in traditional caused by excessive alcohol and drug usage. African, Chorale and Gospel music.

Their full choir is comprised of 38 youths aged 14-30. The group we have invited includes 12

of their most dedicated 14-20 year olds.

8 6 Getting to Know the Troupe

Kahla Siyabulela Nkosane I am a 16 year old boy. I love singing and performing on stage. I am very passionate about my school work and singing. I am in the pursuit of excellence by becoming a lawyer. 201 SowetoMelodic Voices,

IYPT,

Mabitle Ofentse

With my name meaning ‘the one who overcame’, I take pride in my roots. Given my challenging background and where it has landed me, my upbringing by a single mother has always encouraged me to become a better man.

Madikane Thamsanqa

I am a 14 years old teenage boy who is interested and aspires to become a general surgeon. I am very passionate about singing and performing arts.

9 6 Getting to Know the Troupe

Mahlanguzi Nonsikelelo

I love music and enjoy being on stage. I spend most of my time at school and use my spare time dancing, cooking and playing netball. I would one

201 SowetoMelodic Voices, day love to see myself as an historical scientist.

IYPT,

Matholengwe Sisanda Mahlatse

I find a lot of joy in playing hockey, reading, voluntary work as well as dancing. I aspire to nothing but to offer a helping hand to those in need, hence my future goal being to do missionary work as a medical doctor.

Mavhunga Mashudu

I am 15 years old, born on the 17th of September 2000. I want to be a civil engineer and study at the University of Witwatersrand. I love reading and being with family.

10 6 Getting to Know the Troupe

Moloi Gift Tebello

I am a young man of 17 and I am an academic achiever, immensely passionate about Aeronautics. However I aspire to one day become an airline 201 SowetoMelodic Voices, commercial pilot. Amongst other things, I enjoy rowing, cycling and weird enough, school. IYPT,

Mphuthi Mafole Mokone

I’m a 19 year old who loves reading and dancing, I’m really passionate about education. My future career goal is to study criminal law.

Nkosi Annastasia Zinhle

I’m 16 years old. I like reading articles and showbiz; when I finish my studies I would love to become a TV presenter.

11 6 Getting to Know the Troupe

Photolo Gugulethu Albert

I am a 16 year old teenager. I like reading, writing, and debating. I am very passionate about education

201 SowetoMelodic Voices, and love history. My future career goal is to be an

historian. IYPT,

Ramokgadi Thapelo

I am a young man who loves singing and soccer. I am also very passionate about my school work because my aim is to become a mechanical engineer.

Rampa Letlhogonolo

I was born in 1997 on the 5th of September. I am very much passionate about music and reading novels. My dream is to obtain a degree in Arts and Journalism and delve more into media.

12 6 Where is South Africa and Soweto? 201 SowetoMelodic Voices,

IYPT,

13 6 The Beauty We Call South Africa!!

South Africa, the only country in it’s continent named after where it’s situated, is the epitome of diversity. The diversity that we now know as being a rainbow nation. We embrace all our different cultures, traditions,

201 SowetoMelodic Voices, religions and languages,

making us the only country in the world to have eleven official IYPT, languages. But of course, for many of these differences to come about, we needed to start somewhere. The very first tribe, or as they used to call it, clan, to inhabit the soil of our nation was the Khoisan tribe, who were a combination of the Khoikhoi and the San. These people were cavemen and practiced a variety of symbolic rituals. They were predominantly found at the south-western coast of Africa, a place now known as Cape Town. This is where The Cape of Good Hope is found. The Cape of Good Hope, in 1652, was the point of arrival for the Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck, and his 90 men. There followed exploration and settlement by other Europeans. From then on, numerous divisions and immigration from Africans living in other parts of the continent occurred. For example the Xhosa, the Zulu and the Swati tribes migrated from the middle east of Africa to southern Africa. Some of Our Tribes The Zulu tribe is the largest ethnic group in South Africa, originating from the province of KwaZulu-Natal, on east coast of South Africa. The tribe had a powerful state in 1818 under the great King Shaka Zulu who ruled over the Zulu Kingdom. The Zulu people have an estimated 10-11 millions of people around Africa, spread amongst Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Their language, Zulu, is their main link language. South Africa has more tribes that earn their own part in the diversity of South Africa’s. They are also found in the north of South Africa. The Pedi tribe originates from the Sotho clan. However over the years they’ve developed their own way of living especially in the north of South Africa, the Limpopo province. This tribe is the very same tribe where the revered Modjadji Queens originates. They ruled over an area of Balobedu, famous right across Africa. The Xhosa tribe that lived in the south eastern coast of South Africa are of very colourful nature. The Xhosa tribe does however have differences in their linguistics, dances and rituals namely The Baca, The Bathembu, The Mpondo and various other clans. 14 6 South Africa Cont’d Their clothing is very creative. However men and women dress similarly to Europeans. Interesting to note though that the world icon, , was a highly respected individual in the Xhosa tribe, with his father having been a chief of the Bathembu clan. South Africa has a many more tribes that differ from one other. South Africans however support and celebrate their differences because that’s exactly what defines our diversity and what we call Rainbow Nation. Standing together and being the same despite our differences. 201 SowetoMelodic Voices, and Nelson Mandela To understand South Africa today, one needs to know about its recent past. IYPT, Challenging the pride of black South Africans in their rich tribal culture, was the institution of Apartheid which only ended in the country in 1992. Apartheid was a strict segregation, or separation, of the races in South Africa. Apartheid began as a program of the white Afrikaner government and was intended to oppress the black South Africans. The apartheid system denied equal rights in every aspect of life to black South Africans. (apartheid pronunciation: uh – pahrt – heyt). The meaning of apartheid was clear: whites led, blacks served.

Apartheid Facts • Apartheid meaning: strict separation of the races in South Africa during the Twentieth Century • Apartheid became official government policy under the Nationalist Government of Hendrick Frensch Vorwoerd in the 1950s • Apartheid separated South Africans into classifications such as White, Black and Colored based on physical characteristics • Apartheid laws used these classifications to grant special status to whites and restrict the freedom of non-whites • The end of Apartheid came through internal unrest and international condemnation • F.W. de Klerk became President of South Africa in 1989 and worked to end apartheid by repealing unjust laws and releasing ANC leader Nelson Mandela from prison 15 6 South Africa Cont’d

• F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their joint work to end apartheid • Nelson Mandela became the first black President of South Africa in 1994

The great Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela had an immense influence in the world. The work of ‘uTata’ as he was known, which means father, has brought about remarkable 201 SowetoMelodic Voices, change to South Africa and the whole globe. Many say he was a freedom fighter, others say he was the peace orchestrator but all agree that he was the father of the IYPT, nation. Having grown up in a large , his leadership excellence was groomed at a very early age. This would one day ensure that he became the best president South Africa has ever had. His quest for peace, freedom and democracy was his driving force in revolutionizing our previously disadvantaged society. Nelson Mandela embraced Africa and believed in nurturing the young people of the world and developing them. ‘The future is in your hands’ was what he believed in. Tata sadly left South Africa, dying on 5th of December 2013. Although the nation was devastated, we fortunately haven’t lost the drive that he had installed in us time and time again by the father of our nation. The nation chants timelessly to the heavens saying ‘Nelson Mandela there is no one like you ‘.

For a more comprehensive, very readable account to the Apartheid era in South Africa, go to http://nobullying.com/apartheid/ Today Although South Africa is still classified as a developing country, the growth and development of our country is surely accelerating towards providing better lives for its citizens. The diverse cultures, tribes and languages still ensure that we’re head and shoulders above the rest. We celebrate our various achievements occasionally but one really important day to the society especially the youth is Freedom Day, celebrated on the 27th of April annually. The unity we have in our diversity is exemplary and should always be celebrated because it takes a community to raise a child but a nation to raise phenomenal young leaders. 16 6 Getting to Know Soweto

Formerly, the largest community where the white South African government forced the black South Africans to live if they worked in and around Johannesburg, Soweto today is recognized as one of the places which helped change the political course of South Africa.

One can choose to see it as famous or notorious, but one thing for sure, the township is known for setting trends, whether in politics, fashion, music, dance and language. Sowetans have a real passion and optimism for their township. The principle of “it 201 SowetoMelodic Voices, takes a village to raise a child” still applies in Soweto. Residents will often stop to welcome you or to make a conversation, no matter what the color may be. IYPT, Its two colorful cooling towers are a symbolic sign of the modernization of Soweto. When they were finished in 1951, this was the first time Soweto had access to electricity.

At first glance, Soweto appears to be an endless jumble of houses and shacks, but once inside, parts of it have a village feel, especially if exploring on foot-unlike anywhere else in Johannesburg. Like any other place, one can see poverty and crime. But one can also see much more, like the cars that slowly make their way to Jo’burg City Centre into Soweto, ranging from beat-up old taxies (12 passenger vans) to the latest VW Polos to a handful of Mercedes-Benz and BMWs. On roadside, street vendors sell anything from fresh vegetables, flame-grilled meat and pap to furniture.

17 6 Soweto Cont’d

The taxies make a racket as they hoot, alerting passengers and school children walking back home from school of their services. All this can sum up a typical afternoon in Soweto these days.

201 SowetoMelodic Voices, Restaurants, night clubs, bed & breakfast, hotels and car dealers

IYPT, have sprung up to cater for the growing tourist trade. Some of the most recent infrastructure investments have been the multi- modal transit stations, accessing trains, buses, and taxies. Soweto is also home to one of the world’s biggest hospitals, Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital in Diepkloof and Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Jabulani.

Despite all, the community of Soweto manages to build a strong sense of unity where people live in peace and harmony.

18 6 Resources Available Online

Check: www.creativeconnections.org

To help prepare your classes, we urge you and your students to visit our website to find:

201 SowetoMelodic Voices, Student Created South African Art Work ̣

For several years, artist from South Africa have participated in our ArtLink IYPT, Program. You can view a collection of their art pieces and meet the artists on our online gallery. http://creativeconnections.org/art-collections/art-archive/?country=South+Africa

̣ Teacher Guidelines Booklet You can access an online printable version of the guidelines for printing and sharing with other teachers.

http://creativeconnections.org/creative-connections-programs/international-young- performers-tour/

̣ Soweto Melodic Voices posters for printing.

http://creativeconnections.org/creative-connections-programs/international-young- performers-tour/

19 For More Information about Our Programs and Offerings, please visit us at:

www.CreativeConnections.org

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