“In music, there is no colour or creed; it is a
place where all people can connect with each other.”
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aving been inspired through travel and gaining
experience throughout the years as a session guitarist, band principal, Lerato
Lichaba founded the band Urban Village.
The band is made up of young, self-taught and experiential artists from Soweto,
Johannesburg. It is a musical motion of sound fused by urban and rural
influences based on society’s daily survival, struggles and joys.
It has received overwhelming reception amongst its
local supporters and throughout the African continent. Having performed in
Northam, Amsterdam, Malawi, Spain, Holland and Tanzania to mention the least, Urban Village has proven that being
distinct, unique and proud of one’s cultural background can just be as
effectives as being a commercial performer.
“In music, there is no colour or creed; it is a
place where all people can connect with each other,’’ says Lerato who says he
is inspired by life and how people relate.
The band says Urban
Village music encourages and motivates, entertains, and awakens cultural
and traditional consciousness. Their music content encapsulates day-to-day
personal and societal experiences echoed with teachings by the elderly.
The independent band has recently released its
sought after six-track EP, Bantu Art,
in April of this year which features popular favourites Ubaba and Makolo.
THE
BAND
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ubatsi Mpho Moloi has been part of the band since
its inception; the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist performer plays the Flute
and Rhythm guitar. He has been part of the world renowned musical production, Umoja, where he was an actor and a
dancer.
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ojalefa Mofokeng began his career as a drummer and
percussionist playing the Djembe and Conga. He says his style of playing stems
from his spiritual gift which explains the dreams he’s always had of playing
the Djembe and Conga.
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olani “ Cush” Mtshali started playing drums in 2008
where he learnt at a local church. He says what inspired him to play drums was
when he was really moved by rhythms and how they would make sense to him before
he even knew how to hold drum sticks.
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imangaliso “smash” Dlamini began his career as a
Disc Jockey in 2005 and developed his skills in music production, sound design
and music business at the Soul Candi institute of Music. He went on to pursue
his passion for the bass guitar and also studied music theory, performance,
arranging and composing.
These creatives express their art in their attire just
as much as they express themselves in their music. Adorned in tribal colours
and funky hairdo’s; their sound influences cultural origin, traditional roots, evoking
home-coming sentiments, pride and joy in one’s cultural origin.
