Amakhono We Sintu at home in the museum
ALEXANDRA – Music group helps curate Alex's music culture.
Alex music and cultural talent are being curated and placed in safe hands for posterity.
This through a partnership which aims to preserve and nurture the township’s influence in society from among others, late legendary Hugh Masekela and living counterpart Caiphus Semenya’s whose wailing trumpet and soothing melodic voice should remain etched in the nation’s collective memory.
The partnership is between the Alex museum and musical group Amakhono We Sintu which entertains tourists through music including marimba and plays. “We are the museum’s choir and band and will tour for the museum to expose our Afro and contemporary music, traditional, pantsula and other genres to visitors so that they can know what Alex is made of, ” said Themba Kubheka about the group he co-founded in 1997.
They also use the museum for after school and weekend dance lessons for children and the youth. “We use the platform to expose them to innate skills they should use as a profession for employment generation.”
They have footprints in Prague in Czech Republic, New York, Beijing in China, Hanoi in Viet Nam, New York, Italy, France, Switzerland, Australia and Zimbabwe. They have also done road shows in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Durban, Upington, Kimberley and Polokwane.
“This opportunity will see us re-grounding our roots, helping the township re-brand itself positively, create through positive messaging in plays, awareness on the dangers of nyaope, other drugs and crime linked to the youth.
“The museum is the best place for others to experience us by singing and dancing with us for them to gain experiential knowledge of our rich cultural heritage and, our spirit of ubuntu.”
Between overseas assignments, the group conducts local corporate gigs, entertain at charity events and, can be followed on Youtube. They also performed at the official opening of River Park Clinic, Alex Police Station, Alex Magistrates’ Court, Joburg Park Station, the inauguration of former state President Thabo Mbeki and at an Aber Day event.
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