The people of Xolani now know they can rely on Grahamstown’s musos to have a good jam in the name of good cause.
The people of Xolani now know they can rely on Grahamstown’s musos to have a good jam in the name of good cause.
The Masincedane soup kitchen hosted a Singing for Soup concert on Saturday night at Café Blanca.
Over 150 people parted with some money in order to support the soup kitchen, but also enjoyed some music and poetry in the chilly spring night air.
The soup kitchen was started in 2005, and supports up to a hundred poor residents in the Xolani district of Grahamstown’s township.
"It’s a fantastic cause, and I’m thinking of joining the society next year," said Nicholas Mulgrew, guitarist for the band, Life of Riley. Indy folk band Life of Riley was proceeded by Stones & Luke, who performed a series of well-played cover songs from Jet’s Big Black Boots to Aking’s Safe as houses, as well as local rock band The Liberators of Cheese.
Several performers were anxious to get on stage and do their bit. "I’m so excitapated!" said Cathleen O’Grady, a vocalist for folk band Two Cats and a Fiddle, before performing in the closing set. "It means extra excited. It’s a wonderful cause, and it’s very cool that lots of people pitched," she said. The musos’ performances were interspersed by the poetry readings of environmental poet, Bruce Heyns. Heyns read some of his poetry written in protest of consumer culture and the oppression and depression of farmers and the poor around the country.
Traditional Xhosa beer, umgomboti, was also on sale at the event, brewed by Cynthia [last name], who also prepares the soup for the Masincedane soup kitchen. Some seemed to enjoy the thick beer, while others described it as "licking a whole game farm," including veld and dams.
Emily Jones, chairperson of Masincedane society, was satisfied with the turnout. "We’ve managed to make our running costs for the soup kitchen and more," she said. "We will definitely be having more events like this."
