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| Words by Entle Simon Pule |
Edited by Nathi X. |
Pictures by Unathi Nopece | All the AGS pictures have now been loaded on our facebook group |
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Wherever artists gather and you find yourself in their midst,
the only humidity you will be subjected to will be divine, despite your point of reference.
This year’s 2nd Annual GoldenMic Sessions which were held on the 6th of December 2009 at the Miriam Makeba Centre for the Arts in East London gave one just that, in fact it was beyond anything I heard even expected, considering since moving down here I had seen very few events or performers of this caliber in one place for that matter, more especially if you were clueless as to what to expect from these weird and wonderful characters that made up the cornucopia of faces that were soon to grace the stage.
The organizers and sponsors deserve more than a mere word of thanks and a firm handshake, however at times all we have to offer is just that, a simple yet deep running thank you.
I speak for many when I say that we cannot wait another two years for the 3rd AGS again, (hopefully, it will come in no more than 12 months – as the “annual” might suggest) bigger and better too.
The indecisive weather did little to dampen the high spirits of the artists as they waited, with bated breath, outside the auditorium doors just so they could show off their mettle and blow the 2nd AGS and shape it up to what was clearly beyond even the hopes of the organizers.
"the end result was breathtaking and fiery from start to finish"
Having a line up of over thirty performing acts in a single serving is more than ample to feed one’s appetite from the golden plate, but also having a wide variation of artistic genres on one platter from Poetry to Hip Hop to Break-Dancing to Truth Music to Live Bands to African Soul and Hebrew Dance moves the like of which I’ve never witnessed does more than fulfill the panging hunger I have had having been here for about a year, as I am also pretty certain that others had their fill as well.
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The performers came from all over the Eastern Cape countryside.
From Port Elizabeth; PoeticSoul (Lelethu Mahambehlala), Bryan Ford, Siya the 13th Disciple, DJ Sebz, Qalazive, Nqanqa, Khanya, Josh, H.I.M., Ras Loui, Omnyama and Bantu Mtshiselwa. From eDutwa; Bizo Luviwe Bomela. From eGcuwa; Daughters of Ts’ion, Highway to Heav’n Alive and The Divine Dancers. From Alice; ManChild and Unathi. From Grahamstown; MbuzoBuciko and From East London; Alpha the Alpinist, Def Trinity, Sista Kwalo, Sanctified Flow, Iintloko Zeenyoka, 340 Hustle, Jaaga, Hoshea, Capital Effect, Simbone, Mightymatics, Vuyo, Royal Swagg, Anitah and East London’s Pride; WiseFools (Siseko Phame & Sipho Mtsatse). I’m convinced that there were more artists than I mentioned though, but I think I have covered most of them.
"over thirty performing acts in a single serving is more than ample to feed one’s appetite"
The actual show kicked off on a high note with the conscious hip hop crew Def Trinity with an immaculate performance that captured the very essence of the whole event. One would question as to what more could we possibly expect from anyone that followed, and none disappointed – I dare not do anyone any favours by saying that, but it’s true. Everyone seemed to be bringing forward their best performances ever, from poetry that got you on the edge of your seat, to hip hop that pumped us all right off our chairs cheering and singing along to the dance moves that I saw many mimicking long after the show drew to a close.
It is clear to me now that it takes more than just a stage and an audience to put something like this together, the sound quality at the centre was spot on, the level of comfort was unquestionable and the end result was breathtaking and fiery from start to finish.
Massive props go to FreeRiddim and all that helped make it possible.
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FreeRiddim would also like to Thank the following people for making the 2nd Annual GoldenMic Sessions the success it was:
Daks EVOLUTION's Taahir, Umar, Kanneshri and the entire crew (for supporting us through thick and thicker times), 2SPOONS Events Management's Unathi Kupa (for taking a concept and making it real), TryIT's Richard Woods (just because they keep on keeping on), Chess International & Keith Ngesi Audio Productions (for boldly saying yes when they could have said no), The Miriam Makeba Centre for The Arts (for hosting us on the day), Our Supporters (for giving us the willpower to keep on burning) and all The Performers (who never asked a question, but jumped on board).
Once more, we thank you all.
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© FreeRiddim Annual GoldenMic Sessions |
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