Artist Aura Msimang (68) is a mother to the Yeoville community, the artistic fraternity and the local street children.
She has travelled across the globe and throughout Africa and came back home to give back what she has learnt over the years.
“When I came to Yeoville, I knew this was home. I walked around and it was familiar to me. It is a diverse place with people from everywhere. I like that kind of space. I’m much more relaxed here,” said Ma’Aura.
After coming home, seeing how things have changed and how the youth has lost moral values, she felt it was her duty to focus her energy on dealing with issues that affect the youth, young artists and women.
In 2010 she hosted the first Africa Week as she believes it is important for Africa to be celebrated in Yeoville as it is the “urban Pan-African neighbourhood”.
“With all the different cultures here, we had all we needed to embrace and celebrate what Africa is about. We are all connected and we need to learn and understand our cultures,” said Ma’Aura.
After hosting Africa Week she automatically become involved with the youth of Yeoville and found herself helping out with the outreach programmes.
Due to the high number of street children and how women have lost pride in wearing their traditional regalia, Ma’Aura feels that the country has lost its way. “It’s sad how we don’t take care of our own. We don’t even take our traditional clothes seriously anymore. Young women today don’t even own one traditional outfit,” said Ma’Aura.
Since she’s been back she has not being performing but when she finds time she still writes.
Ma’Aura is currently focusing on starting panel discussions, identifying platforms to help upcoming artists and working on a documentary. This is also the reason why she works with the youth and artists of Yeoville.
“I love working with young people even though the music is done differently. Back in our days we worked with a live band and now producers make beats, which is different. I love to feel the beat and the flow of the music,” said Ma’Aura.
Her album “Afrikan child” was inspired by a conversation with young artists which helped her understand the challenges young men face.
“After having a conversation with a group of young artists, about one of them going to be a father, he kept on saying I’m a father figure and when he explained himself he said his father was never there for him and he wants to be there for his children. That made me understand why young men are confused and doing ill things. Most men didn’t grow up with father figures,” said Ma’Aura.
Sitting in one of Yeoville’s restaurants on the famous Rocky Street, Ma’Aura speaks about how Yeoville has a reputation as one of the most dangerous places in Joburg.
“Yeoville is a safe community. Yeoville represents Africa and you see it when you work the streets, we have all this diversity and learning opportunities to get to know each other,” said Ma’Aura.
The Mother of Yeoville is the true definition of diversity and born of a black mother and coloured father, mix culture has always been part of her life. “We are all connected and we must embrace our differences and be willing to learn from one another.”
