Residents at Golden Acres enjoy a musical

Golden Acres in Sandringham was the place to be as musical Africa in my Turf was presented to residents.

July 14, 2023

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Phindile 'Phindy' Sibiya, Sintu Ndzube, Sonnyboy Mashale and Mjalelefa ‘MJ’ Mogagabe take over the stage.

In efforts to bridge the racial divide through music, an African Jazz band entertained an audience in a musical.

The musical, Africa in my Turf, was founded and directed by Desiree Levin, a senior citizen who has been on global stages as a dancer, teacher and entrepreneur. The concert took place on June 25 at the Golden Acres in Sandringham and was performed for members and visitors of Second Innings, a programme of entertainment organised twice monthly for mature adults.

Levin said the band members hailed from all parts of Johannesburg and did online rehearsals until the last week before the show. She said they were putting a show together as a trial for a theatre appearance.

Musical narrator Mjalelefa ‘MJ’ Mogagabe said, “Africa in my Turf is a musical by musicians who cross the race, age, gender and social standings of the world. Paying homage to the great African songbook, bringing musical genius and humour for everyone.”

Bass guitar player Sonnyboy Mashale is ecstatic to be part of this musical.

He added the band was led by Sonnyboy Mashale, a bass guitar player who has toured the world with his previous band The View. Mashale has graced stages such as Macufe, DSTV Delicious and a world tour in Sri Lanka, Germany and other European states. Locally he has worked with Joe Nina (Mr. Maria Podesta), Blondie Makhene, Sliq Angel, The Muffinz and more.

Band member Sintu Ndzube is a female saxophonist who qualified as a music teacher in 2012 and is currently a composer and master’s fellow at the University of Pretoria. Ndzube has graced global productions such as Africa Umoja and One Square Mile and has worked with Tu Nokwe, Khaya Mahlangu, Babsy Mlangeni and other great talented musicians in South Africa. Her most memorable moment was when she collaborated with the United Nations Arts ambassador in Norway.

Phindi Sibiya leads the voluntary participatory elderly audience.

Thulas Emmanuel Zondi is a self-taught musician who plays keys in the musical. Zondi is a creative entrepreneur who specialises in technical equipment hire for music and theatre productions. He is a session musician for SA Jazz greats such as Selaelo Selota, Tlale Makhene and more. Zondi was the first musician to get contracted to serve the band on SABC 2’s It’s Gospel Time under the presentation of Dr Rebecca Malope.

The lead vocalist is Phindile Phindy Sibiya who is a singer and women’s rights activist. Sibiya released a single in 2020, Don’t Kill Women. She has shared stages with Joe Nina and Mercy Phakela just to name a few.

Singer Phindi Sibiya sings Thula Mtwana.

“Africa in my Turf is the unified take on our current social and racial divides. We aim to reach an audience of various classes, races, social and economic diversity,” Mogagabe concluded.