Isizwe Music Museum aims to empower

BRACKENDOWNS-based Isizwe Music Museum, founded by the daughter of the late musician Blues Ntaka, was built with the purpose of inspiring and empowering South African musicians.

Founder Noni Ntaka shared all with the CHRONICLE on November 29.

Everyone welcome

This museum, properly known as the Isizwe Pan-African Hall of Fame and Music Museum, exhibits South African music and instruments and focuses on the distinctly South African sound. Here, one may experience a journey from the past to the future of South African music.

The museum offers a wide range of activities, including exhibitions, a recording studio, music lessons, live music, workshops and an outdoor area with a stage and bonfire to enjoy.

“Isizwe Museum is aimed to be a means of education, to help preserve our South African heritage and salvage our legacy before it goes lost in the new age,” said Noni.

However, one can also visit the museum on a light note to simply enjoy a day out with friends and/or family. Anyone is welcome to pay a visit – it’s not just restricted to Africans or adults.

Honour a legend

Noni says this museum was established in honour of her late father (who passed away in 2003) and Africa’s own Nat King Cole, Blues Ntaka.

Blues was his daughter’s biggest inspiration. He was a legend in the South African music industry and was in his prime in the 1950s. He was likened to blues and jazz legends like Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles. Of course, these were Blues’ biggest inspirations, even though he listened to all kinds of music.

“The most amazing thing my father could do was to make music with his mouth – he could make any sound an instrument could make and he made it look so easy,” said Noni when asked what her father’s trademark was.

“He conveyed messages of education and unity through his music,” added Noni. “He saw all humans on the same level as each other and treated no one differently.”

Noni says she only met her father when she was 20, which was back in 1999. This is because Blues had been in exile and moved all over the world for so many years. Noni thus grew up under the guidance of her late mother, Gertrude, who is described as the “queen of Noni’s heart”.

After meeting her dad, they immediately hit it off well and Noni found herself accompanying her father to every show he played.

“My father and I adored each other,” she said. “He was so affectionate and he had the best sense of humour. He also loved my mother very much – this led me to look for a husband who was just like him.”

Learn something new

The museum will be hosting a big tribute to Blues until March 31, 2018. If you are interested in learning something new and interesting, feel free to pay a visit to the museum, which is located at 11 Koedoe Street, Brackenhurst Extension Two.

Admission fees are R250 per person and operating hours are from 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Thursdays and 1pm to 9pm on Fridays to Sundays.

Booking the venue for a special event is also possible – simply call 081 532 7019 to make arrangements.

Noni reaches out to the community: “We need Albertonians to please also donate anything to do with music that you don’t use anymore. Of course, credit will be given to you if you donate. Help us to be great and we will do great things together.”

For any queries about the museum or information from this article, feel free to contact 062 599 2600.

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