Death Sessions is ready and set to rock Grahamstown during the Fest. Sponsored by Rhodes University’s Poetry Society, Bua and Big Al Entertainment, under the leadership of organisers and artists Phelo Mthembu, Sinethemba Mzwali and Tsego Masoba, Death Sessions have had great success in providing creative platforms for local hip-hop artists and poets to gain both exposure and experience in performing live.
Death Sessions is ready and set to rock Grahamstown during the Fest. Sponsored by Rhodes University’s Poetry Society, Bua and Big Al Entertainment, under the leadership of organisers and artists Phelo Mthembu, Sinethemba Mzwali and Tsego Masoba, Death Sessions have had great success in providing creative platforms for local hip-hop artists and poets to gain both exposure and experience in performing live.
A number of local artists such as Hype magazine nominee Epic (Nangamso Mtyingizane), Dopeless Narcotics, Macabre of Elements Himself, Johnny-B and Andile Nayika aka Ecalpar together with rapper/ MC Scam from Pietermaritzburg and East London’s Abongile Silonga have had the chance to strut their stuff in previous Death Sessions.
A mixtape featuring some of these local artists and some well-known artists from other towns will later be compiled as another record of the crew’s efforts to develop local arts.
The group believes in giving a voice to the many local artists who are voiceless but ooze with talent. Stretching its branches to other art disciplines, the crew will be introducing an art gallery where visual artists will be welcomed to be displayed at no cost, while emcees and poets will provide uncut lyricism in the form of freestyle sessions.
The gallery is situated at seven Dundas Street and will be open for the whole duration of the Festival. According to the crew the use of the word ‘death’ should not be wrongly interpreted but rather seen in a positive light.
“As emcees and street-poets use words like ‘ill’ and ‘sick’ to describe their lyrical genius so too we have reached a level of ‘death’, meaning we are much more genius!” says Mzwali.
The group is also involved in a Community Outreach Programme, “where we plan to donate five boxes of second-hand hand books which we have collected to local schools.” says Mzwali.
“We are evolving into something else which is more than just art but something bigger on a plan to spread ubuntu,” he declares. For more details contact Mzwali on 074 496 1107 or follow the group on Facebook and Twitter.
