Beating of drums herald a new day for Eldos after protests (video included)
“This is amazing, let him show our youngsters that there is more to Eldos than destructive behaviour.”
After three turbulent days of protesting in the Greater Eldorado Park area, residents were greeted by the sound of drumming at the vandalised BP garage in Extension Three.
Renowned local drummer and musician Joshua Zacheus, also known as JStar, was drumming up a storm.
Zacheus explained how, after a night of tossing and turning, he awoke at 4:30 am on Friday and cleaned his studio.
While busy with this task, the thought of providing uplifting music to usher in some peace, came to him and he loaded his drum kit into his car and set up at the BP garage.
Residents on their way to work stopped and listened as he played the drums with the looted and vandalised BP Express Shop as the backdrop.
A few days earlier, youths armed with rocks had broken the windows and stripped the store of virtually anything that could be carried away.
WATCH:
Their rampage left only a shell and empty shelving, but the drumming had residents stopping to appreciate the effort the musician had gone to and the violence visited upon the community was forgotten in that moment.
One resident, waiting on her lift club, remarked, “This is amazing, let him show our youngsters that there is more to Eldos than destructive behaviour.
Maybe this act will be an example to other youngsters and give them something else to focus on.”
Zacheus said, “I wanted to end the week differently for people. It’s been a tough week, we started it on a low note but I want to end it on a high note and nothing makes people dance like drums.
“As a musician, I was affected by the strike because I couldn’t go anywhere. I miss the BP and I can’t believe they did this to our BP. I’m doing it so that the BP doesn’t get taken away and rebuilt elsewhere. I’m doing it so that things can get better from here.”
Zacheus is from a musically talented family and has made his mark on the music scene, playing the drums for famous local and international acts and his skills need no introduction to Eldorado Park residents.
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