IN PICTURES: Musos busk in the city
The warm sounds of a saxophone echo through Joburg’s bustling streets. A guitarist plucks the only three strings he has at a rain-drenched busy Sandton intersection.
The Azuri Street Symphony, made up of, from left, Jermaine Burts, Teboho Ngakane and Hloni Kutu, perform outside Market On Main, in the Maboneng precinct, 12 March 2017. The group performs here every Sunday earning R300 to R400 per day. They perform in various parts of Johannesburg including at taxi ranks and outside the Johannesburg Library. Picture: Michel Bega
A cheerful vocal harmony is heard amid the shisa nyama smoke-filled air of Vilakazi Street. These are the musicians that take to the streets of Joburg, some to make a living from their talents and some simply to share their music with passers-by. Photographer Michel Bega documents some of Joburg’s buskers.
Fumi Shumane plays the saxophone as part of the group Chosen Fruit, outside the Market On Main, in the Maboneng precinct, 12 March 2017. The group is made up of five members who are full-time musicians and often plays at music festivals, and with well known artists too. Picture: Michel Bega
Kegorogile Makgatle plays the trumpet as part of the group Chosen Fruit, outside the Market On Main, in the Maboneng precinct, 12 March 2017. Chosen Fruit play every Sunday from 11am to 4pm outside Market On Main and collect about R1 000 for the day’s efforts. Picture: Michel Bega
Gore Bi Goula Bienvenu, from the Ivory Coast, plays drums outside Market On Main, in the Maboneng precinct, 12 March 2017. He is part of the group Ahenfu Cultural Edutainments. The group is available for conferences, team building events, weddings and birthday parties. Every Sunday four of them perform collecting R400 from busking, but use the platform to market themselves for the private functions. Picture: Michel Bega
The Azuri Street Symphony, made up of, from left, Jermaine Burts, Teboho Ngakane and Hloni Kutu, perform outside Market On Main, in the Maboneng precinct, 12 March 2017. The group performs here every Sunday earning R300 to R400 per day. They perform in various parts of Johannesburg including at taxi ranks and outside the Johannesburg Library. Picture: Michel Bega
Jojo Rugube, originally from Zimbabwe, poses for a picture in a side street, in the Maboneng precinct, 12 March 2017. Jojo is part of a group known as Jojo Unplugged, and they perform on the streets in Maboneng to promote their music. They don’t ask for money, but do accept donations. According to Jojo performing to people in the streets is more about promoting the group. Picture: Michel Bega
Oliver Mushavire from Zimbabwe, performs along Main Street in the Johannesburg CBD, 28 September 2017. Mushavire came to South Africa in search of a better life. Now he is a full time busker playing the guitar and singing. He performs everyday in various locations. He makes approximately R150 per day. On Thursdays he performs as part of a group of buskers known as Busking Joburg Inc, who share space along Main Street. Picture: Michel Bega
Gift Nkomo performs the saxophone on Main Street near the Chamber of Mines in the Johannesburg CBD, 28 September 2017. He is a professional musician performing with an internationally acclaimed group called BLK JKS. Busking is not about the money or exposure for him. “I get to rehearse in a public space, and share my music, and hopefully bring some joy to the passers-by. I’m sharing the gift.” Picture: Michel Bega
Singer Thando Mtshantsha, right, and guitarist Sabelo Motha, both from Emdeni South in Soweto, pose for a picture, 21 March 2017, on Vilakazi Street in Orlando West. The duo perform on Vilakazi Street Wednesdays to Fridays, and occasionally over the weekends depending on availability. They make about R400 per day, but say performing on the street is more about self-promotions. They also perform at venues and functions. Picture: Michel Bega
Abna Mncwabe, originally from Durban, now staying in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, performs at the China World Mall at the Hillfox Centre in Roodepoort, 16 December 2016. Mncwabe is a self taught musician who sings, and plays the guitar and the pan pipes. He made his own guitar with materials easily available at a hardware store. Mnwabe plays at the centre every Sunday making about R130 for the day. He also teaches music. Picture: Michel Bega
Patrick Ntsedi plays the guitar and sings at an intersection in Sandton, 9 March 2016. Ntsedi, from Lesotho, is a self-taught musician and has been playing at this intersection for two years earning around R70 per day. He started playing the guitar at 9-years-old. He is currently only using three strings on his classical guitar as he can not afford new strings. Picture: Michel Bega
