The City of Johannesburg recently hosted the Clash of the Regions auditions at Chuma Mall in the heart of Diepsloot. It forms part of the regional activation programmes associated with the Arts Alive International Arts Festival, and auditions have also taken place at Alexandra and Orange Farm. For those who were unable to attend the previous auditions, there is still time to register for the auditions taking place this Saturday, 3 December 2022, at Maponya Mall in Soweto.
The sun shone brilliantly on Chuma Mall with contestants showing off what they had under their sleeves.
Clash of the Regions is an artist development programme that promotes musical art forms such as kwaito/amapiano and hip-hop music, as well as poetry and stand-up comedy.
Designed for talent identification, it is presented in all the regions of the City of Johannesburg.
“Growing up in Diepsloot, singing and playing the guitar were as natural as breathing.
Programmes like these are great for up-and-coming artists like myself because I was not only empowered with a platform to showcase my craft, but I also learned how young and emerging artists like myself can better monetise and protect their intellectual property,” said Thabo “Zeat Nangempela”, one of the budding artists.
“As a musician, I aspire to perform, to enchant listeners with every exquisite pattern and carefully placed chord, this platform allows me to present my craft to a bigger audience, which is tremendously exciting and gratifying,” he said.
Throughout the past 30 years, the Arts Alive International Arts Festival, which is supported by the City of Johannesburg, has continuously presented arts and cultural programmes for the citizens of Johannesburg.
The annual festival celebrates the City’s diverse tapestry of arts and culture by providing visual arts, theatre, music, poetry, comedy, dance, masterclasses and workshops.
The Clash of the Regions competition, according to programme manager Kaiser Kubheka, aims to impact the youth in a variety of ways.
“We aspire to drive and promote the development of the youth, taking cognisance of the detrimental impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on the arts sector, as many did not have a reliable livelihood.
“As a City, we seek to reach out to areas that may typically be on the periphery and we seek out talent that can be nurtured so that it can be transitioned from the periphery to the mainstream of the creative economy; up-and-coming artists are encouraged to register for the forthcoming Maponya mall auditions, which will take place on December 3, 2022, from 10:00 to 14:00, attendance is free and open to the public.”
For more information on the registration process, candidates may visit the Joburg Culture Facebook page.
Written by Ntombifuthi Junerose Nkosi
29/11/2022