Newtown Junction was blessed with performances by jazz legends Pops Mohamed and Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse.
Marketing manager for Newtown Junction Isabel Tapfumaneyi said that they wanted to give something back to their shoppers.
“We want to create a friendly atmosphere and to encourage more patrons to visit Newtown Junction,”she said.
Mohamed said listening to Bra Zakes Nkosi and Abdul Abrahim when he was still a little boy inspired him to become a musician.
“I later changed my music sound because I wanted to contribute to the struggle that was happening in South Africa around 1976, I was politically conscious and wanted my music to reflect that,” he said.
With over thirty years as a musician Mohamed said he learned how to play indigenous instruments across the cultures of South Africa.
“I was greatly touched by the Bushmen and their culture and spent time with them in the Kalahari,” he said.
Mohamed said meeting famous people like Quincy Jones, Mirriam Makeba, Hugh Masikela, Dolly Radebe and Sipho Gumede helped him to polish and shape his music to what it is today.
He said he plans on relaunching his career and his albums that are not known by the youth.
Mohamed said that even though he grew up poor, music was something that affected him and he remembered sitting outside the steps of the Davie Social Centre so that when artists would arrive for their performances, he would carry their bags in order to gain an entrance.
“With my music I have travelled the world over and have shared stages with the likes of Johnny Clegg
His music partner Mabuse a South African legend is widely known across the country for his soulful jazz style.
Mabuse said that he was honoured to share a stage with a great legend like Pops Mohamed.
“Mohamed’s instruments are so different and he creates a different feel with his music,” Mabuse added.
He said that he was currently recording a new album that at the moment did not have a title.
“Fans must wait for the title which incorporates all kinds of music as an art form,” Mabuse concluded.
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