April 23, 2003
By Bongani Majola
THE not-so-good news is that Joburgers are yet to get used to a show that has stand-up comedy, dub poetry and music all at once, judging by the mild audience appreciation at the launch of the Jozi Shocase at Kilimanjaro, Melrose Arch on Tuesday night.
The good news is that the sessions will become a regular feature at Kilimanjaro, for the purposes of unearthing and showcasing South Africa's own poets, artists and lesser-known musicians.
Popularised by working class US poets, with strong influences from the African diaspora, in particular the Caribbean islands of Haiti and Jamaica, the art of fusing poetic words with usually serene sounds is gaining momentum here.
"And Jozi Shocase intends tapping those creative energies," said Kilimanjaro's public relations manager, Bev Basson, on the inaugural evening. "The idea is to showcase typically South African comedy, music and poetry. All MCs, poets and singers are invited to partake," she said.
Musicians on the night were dance group Amajika, contemporary African jazz band Kwacha and Rastafari-inspired Rasta Zweli & the Ambassadors, the six-member band that began the audience's steady warm-up.
Anchored by Gauteng youth radio station Y-fm DJ and funny man Ashifa Shabba, the show's comedy came from Macleen Mahanyele, who read mock news with a fake BBC accent, and Prince Shapiro, who showered the audience with a continuum of steady Xhosa words.
Jozi Shocase takes place every Tuesday at 19h00. Entrance is R50 at the door. Artists who wish to participate can contact Kilimanjaro at (011) 214 4300.
