Author: Sinethemba Witi

He calls himself NKOSIIKING. Writer, Producer, Rapper, Mix Engineer, Social Commentator and all round multitalented. The Pietermaritzburg-born artist drops his debut album, and boy is it something to check out as Sinethemba Witi found out.   For many of us there is nothing more inspiring than our mothers. Nkosiiking did what many South Africans do during trying times:  we let the adversity inspire us. Instead of collapsing when his mother died, he wrote this inspiring album.  “‘Beautiful Child’ is inspired by my mother and grandmother,” he said,  “they always referred to me as a beautiful child and this is not…

Everything Evan du Preez knows about cars, he’s learnt hands-on in an 18-year journey that’s seen him go from workshop apprentice to the owner of a brand new car service business that will open its doors on Wednesday 1 November 2017. Located in Albany Street, EC’s Fit & Go in Albany Road will offer wheel alignment, checking and fixing suspension  and tyre fitment. It will also sell tyres, batteries and suspension parts. The 31-year-old was born in Port Elizabeth but grew up in Grahamstown and started working at the age of 18, serving beers at a local tavern. At 21 he…

There was overwhelming enthusiasm among Rhodes University students for the SRC DayMare Ubuntu fundraising party last Saturday at 37 on New. Students who attended said they felt good about the fact that they were helping needy fellow students while having a good time. The mostly student audience paid an entry fee and artists – mostly students – performed for no fee. The doors opened at 2pm and students thronged at the door, where most bought their tickets. Speaking ahead of the show, outgoing SRC President and co-organiser Rolihlahla Mabaso was optimistic. “I am definitely expecting a large crowd – primarily…

The good news for schoolchildren taught by Rhodes graduates is they’re likely to get a rounded education that includes the skills and sensibilities offered by African music. Thanks to a new African Ensemble course at the University’s Department of Music and Musicology, dozens of students are getting the opportunity to learn, practice and teach music, dancing and storytelling from this continent. Members of the public had a glimpse of what goes on behind the classroom doors at a lively outdoor concert last Friday at the International library for African Music amphitheatre. The performances also served as an examination for Bachelor of…

By Sinethemba Witi A mega party in New Street on Saturday 14 October is a step in the Rhodes SRC’s target to raise R50 000 for needy students. The Ubuntu fund, launched in August this year, aims to lend a helping hand to students at Rhodes who can’t afford basics such as toiletries, food and bus fare. Dubbed ‘The DayMare’, the event on Saturday 14 October will be hosted at Club 37 on New. The first such event to be hosted by the SRC, outgoing President, Rolihlahla Mabaso hopes it will be an annual event. Mabaso said the SRC had been approached…

You wouldn’t think of a rapper as shy – but Rhodes student Paige tells Sinethemba Witi it’s his way with words and music that’s allowed him to come out of his shell. On Friday 30 September, as part of promoting his mixtape, Confession Booth, Ndzingeko Mabuza AKA Paige hosted a hip-hop show at the Rhodes Theatre. Attendance wasn’t as good as he’d anticipated, but he felt he’d got an opportunity to showcase his talent. “I’m so happy that everything worked out. Everything I said should happen, happened. That’s why I feel like it was a success,” said Paige. Born and raised…

By Sinethemba Witi Eastern Cape underground rapper Yonela Faba, AKA Yosh, broke boundaries on Saturday 23 September, hosting a show with a live band at Slipstream Sports Bar in Grahamstown. The show took Faba three weeks to prepare and was a career highlight. In performance with Yosh were other artists from Rhodes University. The rapper is a Postgraduate Certificate in Education student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology under his belt. He is currently based in Grahamstown. Born in Mdantsane, Yosh was raised in Bhisho, where he spent his teenage life. He started singing at the age of…