Providing children with a chance
“I was given a chance by people who did not know me that much. Those are people who molded my talent."
An entrepreneur, musician, performer, businesswoman and a social activist. This is what Malvern resident, Ms Gugu “Gezephi” Sibisi is known for.
The winner of the Malverian of the Year 2011 award, Geziphi as she is known in most circles, was born in KwaMashu in Durban, where her musical and performing talents blossomed.
She is the last winner of the award.
She sang with different gospel groups in Durban while growing up.
That is where she competed in different competitions and met and worked with world-acclaimed music legends like Mr Joseph Shabalala of Amambazo and Mr Mbongeni Ngema of Sarafina.
She said being part of Mr Shabalala’s musical drama, King Cetshwayo, announced to the community that she had arrived in the music industry.
“Just being picked up and dropped off by an Amambazo branded vehicle was an achievement on its own,” said Gezephi.
She became a lead singer of that play.
“It was about the life of people in the rural areas. I played Gezephi’s character so well in the play that people forgot my real name. I had to accept that was going to be my other name from then,” she said.
After she finished her matric, she came to Johannesburg with the hope of studying to become a social worker. But due to financial constrains, she did not.
She then fell back on to her talent.
She became a backing artist for many Zulu traditional artists, like Khansela band and Mfiliseni Magubane.
She also founded a non governmental organisation (NGO) called Restoration Welfare and Development, which was based in Malvern.
The NGO homed abandoned and orphaned children. It also gave food to children who did not have enough at their homes. The NGO has since been moved to KZN.
Gezephi is also the co-founder of Umndeni Radio. The station is broadcasting on the internet currently and is based in Malvern.
“I always wanted to give a platform to people. Radio can be used by the whole community, like artists and local businesses, to sell themselves directly to their clients. It can also be used as the source of information for everyone. It gives information to the community and allows it to say what it wants,” she said.
Gezephi is also heading a youth group in Malvern called Geza Entertainment.
She said this platform teaches children everything about performing art.
She said she is encouraging children to tell their stores in different ways.
“We all have our stories. I tell my stories better when I am on stage singing and acting. Some children want to talk. What we do here is identify their strong points and help nurture them,” she said.
She said this helps the children become better people for the future.
“I was given a chance by people who did not know me that much. Those are people who molded my talent. That is what I am doing here. I am giving the children a chance,” said Gezephi.
Gezephi has recorded two albums.
She said the recent album, Unembeza, is doing well in the market.
“The album was mostly informed by my experience with the children I work with. The stories they tell. The way some of them are being treated by the people closest to them. I am calling people to have a conscience towards dealing with other people,” she said.
She urged the youth to work together to better their communities.
“I am one of those people who are willing to work and learn from anyone who wants to work with me. In the sectors I am involved in, I learn all the time,” she said.
