A 12-year-old who never let go of her dream and is now a household name.
After two decades of chasing news, Chriselda Lewis is back in the classroom, now chasing assignment deadlines. Wits University was always her dream institution, but her parents could not afford to pay for the fees, so now she is paying her own way.
Born and bred in Mthata, Eastern Cape, where opportunities are scarce, Lewis was fortunate that her primary school came to her rescue.
“I was told that I was a shy kid; however, at the age of 12 years old there was a television scout that came to my school. My teacher selected me to become a children’s show presenter on Transkei Broadcasting Corporation.”
The moment she stood in front of the camera, she knew exactly what she wanted to be: “I liked the lights, I liked the camera, and I thought this is exactly what I’m going to become.”
Chriselda at the Drum Room, Wits Department. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Lewis completed her undergraduate studies in 2002 at Border Technikon, now known as Walter Sisulu University. After completing her studies, she began her career as an intern at The Sowetan in 2003.
“Working at The Sowetan was very challenging, as it was where I applied everything I had learned in tertiary education. It was also exciting because I had the opportunity to work with veteran journalists who had worked during the apartheid era, such as John Dludlu,” she said.
‘While I may not remember the first story I worked on at The Sowetan, I do remember cracking my first big story in 2004. One of them was the kidnapping and murder of university student Leigh Matthews,” she says.
As her career progressed from The Sowetan, she went on to work at the South African Press Association, followed by Talk Radio 702, then the SABC, where she made her first television appearance on SABC Africa.
In 2023, Lewis won the Journalist of the Year award in the Television: In-Depth/ Features/ Interviews category. Other career highlights include her coverage of the fall of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, the Oscar Pistorius trial and reporting on the earthquake in Türkiye-Syria.
Lewis always wanted to return to school, but never got the opportunity because her work life is demanding:
“As I speak to you, I’m in Bloemfontein to cover the memorial service of the police officers whose bodies were found in the Hennops River. Due to workload and insane working hours, I just never thought I’d find the opportunity to go back to school”.
Lewis says despite having 22 years of experience in her field, it doesn’t hurt to equip herself with better skills so that one day she can be a leader in the newsroom, and to do so, she must equip herself with the necessary qualifications.
But being back in the classroom hasn’t been easy. “If you give me a report I can do it for you, if you want me on TV, I can do it. I’ve moved into a different terrain doing academic writings which is a scary process,” she says.
When asked to share wisdom for aspiring journalists, Chriselda says, “This is not child’s play! Journalism is hard work; it is long hours. You are not going to survive if you don’t love this job. You have to love what you do!”
FEATURED IMAGE: Chriselda Lewis standing outside of the Wits Centre for Journalism. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Legendary storytelling through soothing melodies, a journey you don’t want to miss
If you’re an old soul like me, you will appreciate Ringo Madlingozi’s new album, Ikhwelo, a musical feast for the ears, with rich instrumentals and soulful vocals that speak directly to the heart.
I must admit, it took some time to get used to the new style. Some tracks feel a bit too different from Ringo’s original sounds.
The very first song, uQamata is quite peculiar, with beats and underpinning riffs. Ringo shows off his vocals with a subtle vibrato pitch, adding warmth and expressiveness. I listened to more and appreciated the nuances.
For every song the instruments are given so much room to shine, creating a soundscape that’s both soothing and thought-provoking.
The song Hello Bhabha starts with a catchy whistle (ikhwelo) and follows to a chorus “Hello baby, hello dali, hello lovey, hello sthandwa sam, kudala ndilindile” that adds a touch of charm. I was taken aback and reminded of his earlier hit, Into Yam featuring Oliver Mtukudzi,which explores the perks of a sweet, innocent relationship.
Although this new album is more laid back and mature, we still find elements of melodies, instruments that shine with delicate guitar work, subtle percussion that adds depth to music and breath-taking harmonies in the background.
You might expect a more upbeat and energetic sound, however with Ikhwelo, settle in and indulge into a more mellow vibe, the perfect antidote to a busy world.
Vuvu rating 8/10
FEATURED IMAGE: Ringo Madlingozi’s new album cover image. Photo: Ringo Madlingozi’s Instagram
When power stops fearing protest, silence wins. This is a wake-up call on how South Africa’s loudest weapon is being disarmed.
Democratic South Africa was born through struggle. Its foundations were laid not in conference rooms, but in the streets carved out by those who refused to be silent. From the 1976 protest against the government’s policy of using Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools for Black students to the 1994 apartheid conquerors who got the first taste of freedom, the story of this nation has always been written in protest.
We protested against apartheid. We protested against economic exclusion. We protested for transformation in our schools and our institutions. In each case, protest was the only language those in power could not ignore.
We are a people who know those in power only listen when they are threatened, often violently. And it has been the history of our country’s leaders who respond not to the polite murmur of petitions but to the thunder of marching feet and tires burning.
But what happens when even that language starts to lose its meaning?
Protests have become more frequent and more urgent, yet they are ignored. Communities rise to demand water, electricity, housing and dignity, and yet these demands are met with the same routine: a visit from officials, a statement to the media, and a fake promise of “investigations”. Then, silence.
These issues persist, the cycle continues, and people begin to feel that speaking out changes nothing.
We can all remember the protest of 1976 when young people confronted the might of the apartheid state with nothing but conviction and clarity. They stood together because they believed in the power of their collective voice.
More recently, #FeesMustFall reminded us that protesting could still unsettle the powerful, but even then, the demand for free, decolonised education was diluted, redirected, and largely ignored.
I think the problem today is that the protest itself is being neutralised. Institutions have learnt to co-opt movements, to divide people, and offer symbolic gestures while preserving the status quo by either suspending, expelling or even criminalising protest action. A meeting here and there, tools to manage dissent without ever dealing with the problem.
Along with the above, the rise of individualism has made people easier to divide. In the age of likes, followers, and branded activism, the collective power that once drove our revolutions is fast fading.
We are now in a period where movements become moments and action becomes content. And real transformation is replaced by representation without change.
Institutions, both political and academic, have learnt to exploit this. They divide and conquer, selecting a few voices to ‘engage’, elevating individuals while ignoring the masses. In doing so, they extinguish the flame of the collective, turning urgent demands into manageable noise.
This is how protest dies, not with suppression, but with performance. Not with silence, but with strategic listening.
The tragedy is that we are living in a time when protest is needed more than ever. Economic inequality continues unabated. Corruption is a daily headline. Basic services have collapsed in many communities. And yet, when people rise, their voices bounce off a system trained to survive outrage.
We must remember that protest is not a problem. It is a pulse. It tells us when a democracy is in distress. To dismiss or defang a protest is to allow injustice to deepen in silence.
The choice is simple: either we rebuild the collective strength that once brought down giants, or we continue to shout into the wind while power pretends to listen.
University students in South Africa, like their counterparts globally, experience substantial mental health issues characterised by high levels of psychological distress and limited access to professional help.
A nurse allegedly dismissed a student experiencing depression, advising that more sleep would resolve her condition.
A student having an anxiety attack was allegedly scolded by a nurse while seeking help.
The Centre scheduled additional sessions for the student to resolve the matter, but she never showed up.
The student raised serious concerns about the quality of mental health support provided by Wits Campus Health and Wellness Centre.
“Sister Simangele Sitoe told me I was lazy and dismissed me with sleeping pills and antidepressants,” the student said.
Only after filing a complaint with a former intern named Karabo Molefe, was psychiatric assistance made available.
However, the issue continued in 2025. During an anxiety attack, the student returned to the Centre, only to be scolded by another nurse, Sister Ntombi Dantjie. “She shouted that she’s been a psychiatric nurse longer than I’ve been alive and that I was wasting her time”, the student alleged.
Wits’ Campus Health And Wellness Centre – Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Wits Vuvuzela reached out to both psychiatric nurses. Dantjie was unavailable for comment.
However, Sitoe denied the allegations, “I only interacted with the student once, after the first session, she decided that she does not want to interact with me ever again. After we referred her to another doctor here at the centre, the student would not avail herself and she did not come to collect her medication.”
In response, former intern, Molefe said, “The student came to me and complained about Sister Sitoe. I proceeded to book her multiple times to get assistance and sort out her issues with the nurse, but she never came.”
The head of department is currently not in the country to comment, standing in for him Mr. Brian Jele, the Primary Health Care Nurse at the Centre said: “There is a suggestion box available to all our patients here at the Centre, if any student has an issue, they have a right to voice out their matters, write everything down and put it in a box and everything will be investigated”.
Mr. Jele added, “When Mr. Ntshabele returns on Monday, I will report the matter to him and proper investigation will be conducted from there.”
FEATURED IMAGE: The Campus Health and Wellness Centre’s working hours. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana agrees to a court order to suspend his decision to increase VAT and this means economic relief to many
VAT increase suspension leave students with a sense of relief
Increased VAT rate was met with resistance from various political parties
Reversal comes with a R75 billion shortfall for the government revenue
Wits University students expressed relief as Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, announced reversal of the 0.5% VAT increase on April 23, 2025 after the DA challenged the legality of the parliamentary process that passed the increase.
The initial proposal to increase the VAT rate by 0.5 percentage points was met with resistance from various political parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
For many South Africans, the suspension has provided much-needed relief, including Wits students. As consumers, particularly from lower-income households, funded by bursaries, the VAT increase would have been a big blow.
Shaunice van Wyk, 3rd year student said: “The VAT increase would have forced me to stop buying the basic products that I am used to buying, so the suspension comes with a relief”.
Another third-year student, Patience Msiza, echoed similar sentiments, “As a student I am already struggling to make ends meet, so the increase of VAT rate was going to make things even worse.”
Although the suspension comes with relief, it will result in a R75 billion shortfall in government revenue, prompting the National Treasury to revisit its budget.
Professor Imraan Valodia, an economist at University of Witwatersrand, who previously written in support of the VAT increase, expressed concerns about the long-term implications.
“We’ll have to see what comes in the revised budget, but I think government will have to cut expenditure, which means we’ve missed the opportunity to address the social and economic infrastructure backlogs, which are important for shifting the economy onto a growth trajectory to address unemployment and growing levels of poverty.”
FEATURED IMAGE: Black wallet Photo: Abena Mahlahlane
Institutions of higher learning collect millions in non-refundable application fees while thousands of hopefuls are rejected.
As South Africa’s university application season gets underway, the issue of application fees rears its head again, as many wonder why some institutions of higher learning continue to profit while access remains deeply unequal.
Every year, thousands of hopeful students submit university applications, dreaming of a better future. For many, higher education is a way out of generational poverty, a shot at stability, or simply the next step in their growth. But beyond the administrative process of applications lies an overlooked yet significant source of revenue for institutions: non-refundable application fees.
Take the University of the Witwatersrand as a case study. According to Wits news, the university received around 85 000 undergraduate applications for the 2025 academic year. Yet, only about 6 000 first-year students could be registered. This means the vast majority of applicants paid the fees and were ultimately not admitted.
The undergraduate application fee at Wits is R100 for South African citizens and a steep R700 for international students. Postgraduate applicants are charged R200 per application. Multiply those numbers across tens of thousands of applicants, and the revenue becomes significant, even before a single student sets foot on campus.
Wits is not the only institution profiting from this model. The University of Pretoria (UP) and Sefako Makgatho University (SMU) each charge R300 – a hefty amount for many South African families.
This issue has also sparked national debate and caught the attention of Parliament, according to IOL. In a media statement, the Portfolio Committee on higher Education said the practice of collecting fees regardless of whether a student is admitted is concerning.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Public Servants Association (PSA) has called for the “abolishment of unjustifiable application fees.” The PSA argued that these fees result in universities making massive profits even when applications are rejected. “One university reportedly received over 600 000 applications, with applicants each paying a R200 application fee. The university made an enormous profit of R150 million to just reject applications,” a PSA statement said.
From the institutions’ viewpoint, the financial strain they face is real. Universities like Wits carry the weight of providing world-class education in an economy where many students can’t afford to pay tuition. Some students register with fee waivers, which is a progressive move, and many owe thousands in unpaid fees. Yet, the university must continue operating – paying staff, maintaining facilities, and ensuring academic quality.
Speaking to IOL, Wits University’s spokesperson, Shirona Patel, said the university employs hundreds of assistants, senior students, and part-time staff to support the application, administration, and orientation processes at the start of the academic year. Additionally, the university highlighted the ongoing costs of maintaining online platforms and associated technology.
Still, one can’t help but ask: If a large institution like the University of Johannesburg (UJ) can process thousands of applications without charging a cent when one is applying online, why can’t those who charge application fees follow suit?
According to UJ news, the university received more than 760 000 applications (study choices) from 400 000 applicants. UJ said in a Facebook post, almost 99% of these applications were made online, meaning they were processed without an application fee.
This raises the question: Is the application fee truly an administrative necessity?
In a country where education is supposed to be a pathway out of poverty, monetising the application process, especially when rejection is more likely than acceptance, begs for critical reflection.
FEATURED IMAGE: A list of South African universities without application fees. Photo: Nthabiseng Baloyi
In a country where government controlled electricity supply is often unreliable, Asiphe Nhleko’s water-powered generator offers a sustainable alternative.
Wits student invents a water-powered generator.
Nhleko is supported by Wits to continue breaking barriers and being a champion for innovation.
The generator could power mines, households and businesses.
Asiphe Nhleko is a second-year Mining Engineering student at Wits University. She came up with Hydrogen, which is a water-powered generator. It is registered under her company, Innovation for a Sustainable Future.
The idea for the generator came to Nhleko when her mother got sick and needed support at home. At the time, electricity was one of their biggest costs.
“What makes our generator unique is that it only requires a small amount of water to start, and once it begins, it continues generating power without stopping,” said Nhleko
Nhleko needed to ensure that the generator could operate for a long period of time, as she stays far from home. When she goes home, she can refill the generator, and the process continues.
Nhleko is unable to share more operational details regarding the project. She is currently in the process of registering for Intellectual Property (IP), ensuring that her work is legally recognised and safeguarded.
While the idea came to Nhleko easily, building the prototype was not in her skill set. So she consulted her friend Musa Molefe, who has no tertiary education background. “He is so talented in terms of his technical skills,” said Nhleko. “I know that whatever that I say he can make it, with his hands,” said Nhleko.
After telling her mentor, Isaiah Chiraira (25), studying a Master’s in Electrical Engineering at Wits, about the project, he encouraged her to proceed. He helped to do the electronics and 3D modelling of the generator and helped in securing funding.
“Everyone at the engineering school has been incredibly supportive. They believe in the idea, some have even helped by conducting research for me. I had the innovation, the concept, but not all the solid research to back it up,” said Asiphe.
Asiphe believes her project has the potential to assist with the energy crisis in South Africa. She mentions that the project is beneficial, as it can power basic household items. Her main goal is to target the mining industry. “It’s millions that are spent per day on electricity in the mine[s], to power machines and just to power the mining plant[s],” Nhleko said.
Asiphe Nhleko is ambitious, with a clear vision for herself and her project. She says, “In the next five years, I see myself as a successful entrepreneur… I believe that us as young minds have all the solutions to the world’s problems.”
FEATURED IMAGE: A profile photo of Asiphe Nhleko: Supplied/Luphumlo Golela
Wits postgraduate students tackle a conversation on black masculinities in South Africa, examining the impact of apartheid, absent fathers, and social pressures.
Book club dives into Dr. Malose Langa’s, “Becoming Men: Black Masculinities in a South African Township.”
Langa examines the lives of 32 young boys living in Alexandra, over 12 years.
Panellists highlight the performative nature of both masculinity and femininity, signifying the need to create ‘safe spaces’ for positive self-expression.
For their first pick, the Division of Student Affairs’ Postgraduate Book Club, discussed Senior Psychology Professor, Dr. Malose Langa’s book, ‘Becoming Men: Black Masculinities in a South African Township.’
Langa’s work looks at a study done, from 2007 to 2018, on 32 boys from the Alexandra township. In chapter one of his book, ‘What makes a man a man’, Langa starts with the grim environment, “The place is overcrowded and underserviced, and poverty, violence, and crime are rife.”
Through his study, Langa examines how masculinities were understood and formed over time, and the roles these developments played in negative masculine outcomes, such as abuse against women and other men, alcoholism, gangsterism, and more.
“If crime is being committed by young males, then it means that young males are who we need to focus on, and that’s how the journey started,” said Langa on the night.
Through stories like that of Hilton, a young boy who struggled with his sexuality, Themba, a teen father who fought for a relationship with his daughter, and Simon, the youngest son of four who tried his hardest to reject the norms that took boys down dangerous paths, we learnt about how masculinities in a township are a performance.
In the chapter titled ‘Backdrop to Alex – South African Townships and stories in context’, Langa explained that through a community’s fight against the Apartheid regime “various other forms of violence also increased in townships, including violent crimes …[the] rise of the ‘jackrolling’ phenomenon, whereby gang members committed violent crimes that included harassing, kidnapping and raping young women.”
Iracelma Adriano, a BSc Honours student in Geography at Wits and panellist at the book club, said, “There was a time in the book where the boys actually had to take photos with their disposable cameras and then they had one-on-one interviews with prof and they showed parts of their daily life, what was important to them, and afterwards there was a focus group and now they had this pressure of other men around them, and what they shared was different, and this to me just solidified the idea that masculinity and femininity are things that we perform, they are not inherent or fixed constructs.”
Reading these stories and appreciating the personal journeys of these boys exhibits how masculinities are shaped by historical forces and the subsequent social expectations that arose. Langa’s study reflects a key idea within feminist thought – that gender identities are not predetermined but constructs of society, politics, and history.
To dive deeper, specifically for the context of this book, one must look at the intersectionality discussed by the feminist movement, which recognises that identities are also shaped by one’s experiences and influences. Absent fathers and the vacuum mothers fill was one of the issues discussed. While mothers were credited with helping boys understand their emotions, the flip side was that this was trumped by the societal expectations to be more masculine, ‘Jaro-boys’, who were sexually successful with girls, defining them as men.
Langa’s book ends with a call for the urgency to create ‘safe spaces’ for ‘listening, hearing, and action’, calling for proactive educational measures, encouraging conversations around masculinity, and support for mothers as role models for emotionally healthy sons.
To end the book club’s discussion, the professor emphasised that the “responsibility is on all of us, what is it that you are doing in your private space?”
FEATURED IMAGE: Dr. Malose Langa’s book, “Becoming Men: Black Masculinities in a South African Township.” Photo: Ekta Seebran
A student was fatally shot during a protest at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha campus.
The tragedy unfolding at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) is more than just a case of a violent protest. It is a symptom of a long-standing problem of neglect, unfulfilled commitments, disregarded voices, and the worsening conditions many students endure while pursuing their education.
A protest about poor living conditions at a student residence quickly spiralled into chaos, as three students were shot (one killed and three who sustained minor injuries). A 54-year-old suspect has since been arrested, it is alleged that he was a residence manager at the university. Initially, the institution then rushed to control the narrative, focusing on whether the deceased was a registered student and highlighting that the protest turned violent and broke residence rules.
But we ask a much deeper question: would students have taken to the streets, would tempers have flared, would any lives have been put at risk if student accommodation were safe and truly dignified?
Across many universities in South Africa, student accommodation is in crisis. Insufficient space, maintenance issues, unsafe buildings, and lack of proper oversight have become commonplace. Many students, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, leave home with big dreams only to arrive at residences in horrendous conditions or no accommodation at all.
So, when these students sleep in unsafe, unhealthy, dilapidated buildings that go years without maintenance, is it actually a surprise that frustration boils over?
If a protest can escalate into gunfire, regardless of who pulled the trigger, then there is a visible failure in how institutions protect both students and staff. A campus should be a space of learning, safety and open dialogue.
Violence does not just happen, it grows where people are unheard, unseen and uncared for. If the conditions in the residences were decent, and students had a safe place to sleep, perhaps there would have been no protest and certainly no bloodshed.
Higher institutions must come to a realisation that these student accommodations are not just buildings, beds and bathrooms. It is about whether students feel safe, respected and valued in the place they call home for years of their academic lives.
FEATURED IMAGE: Abena Mahlahlane. Photo: File/Paul Botes
The multi-award-winning artist continues to prove that he has mastered the art of capturing his listeners’ emotions with his sound.
Since debuting in 2018 with his album “USHUN WENKABI”, Big Zulu’s versatility has made him one of the most complete creators in South Africa’s music industry – and his latest offering is one worth listening to.
Big Zulu’s fifth studio album, ICALA LE MPUMELELO dropped on April 11, 2025, featuring several artists including Shwi Mntombazane, Nkosazana Daughter, Zakwe, Siya Ntuli, Zeh McGeba, Zee Nxumalo, Aymos, Maseven, Emtee, Toss, Sir Trill, Xowla and Zakwe – on songs ranging from hip hop to afro pop.
Big Zulu’s music is the kind that one effortlessly falls in love with. After listening to the album only once, I was captured and able to pick the tracks that stand out the most.
Unlike some artists who make music based on trends, Big Zulu invests in making music that has a message, resulting in longevity of his work because what he sings about is relatable.
In the album’s opening track titled “ICALA LE MPUMELELO” the artist tells a story that many in South Africa relate to – raised by a caring grandmother who worked as a maid to provide food on the table, taught him survival skills, then succeeding against all odds.
“MTHULISE”, “MINA NGEDWA” and “MBALI YAMI” demonstrate the artist’s consistent devotion to love songs. Track 2, MTHULISE, stands out as an emotional and sad song. The artist sings about the challenge of being in a relationship with someone who is an orphan because when they cry, you also cry.
Big Zulu takes listeners on an emotional rollercoaster – from sadness to feeling like turning up in a club with friends vibing to “iNkululeko”, a rap track featuring Toss & Sir.
In a song already released in March, “ABAZAZI BAFUNANI” featuring Emtee, Big Zulu appears to have turned their rivalry into a beautiful collaboration.
This is certainly an album worth listening to.
Vuvu Rating 7/10
FEATURED IMAGE: Big Zulu’s album cover. Photo: Big Zulu‘s Instagram
The second block is in full swing, but an estimated 100 Wits students still don’t have a place to sleep.
Libraries, bathrooms and the streets are some of the places homeless Witsies scramble to find shelter in every night
The university lacks sufficient beds to meet demand, especially after a spike in first-year admissions.
Wits is offering food and emergency accommodation support, but sustainable solutions require broader systemic change.
The right to human dignity and adequate housing are enshrined in the South African constitution, but for some 100 homeless Wits University students, they remain a distant reality.
The university only accommodates a fraction of its student population. Of 37,295 registered students, including 25,200 undergraduates and 12,098 postgraduates, Wits has just 5,700 beds available across its 15 on-campus residences spread around Braamfontein.
Many students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or without bursary support, feel abandoned by a system that seems to be failing them.
One affected student, Monkopane Mokgalabong, is a first-year geology student from Tzaneen, Limpopo, who revealed just how dire the situation has become.
“I’ve been sleeping in a security guard’s office near Charlotte Maxeke because I had nowhere else to go,” he told Wits Vuvuzela. “Sleeping outside wasn’t an option. I even had to beg the residence manager for help, but nothing came through.”
Defunded by NSFAS due to academic failure at a previous institution, Monkopane says he was shocked he could even register this year. “My luggage was too much to go back home, and I come from a disadvantaged background. Wits was always my dream university,” he said.
Deputy President of the Wits SRC, Boipelo Setsepu said: “We started engaging with management on this last year. They are aware of the issues, but our demands haven’t been met. We’ll have confidence in management if they finally come to the table and meet us halfway.”
Setsepu confirmed the depth of the housing problem, particularly for returning students and postgraduates. “At the start of the year, there was an oversubscription of first-year students. That alone created a deficit of beds for returning students; we have about 78 spaces left, mostly for male students under 24.”
Wits communication officer, Tiisang Monatisa said: “It is estimated that there may be over 100 students in need of accommodation… More than 450 students have been supported through the Wits Hardship Fund, and we expect to assist about 800 by the end of the year.”
To address the crisis, Wits launched the Transitional Accommodation Programme, backed by a R10 million allocation. “This year alone, 333 beds were acquired. The programme continues to support students as vacancies arise,” Monatisa said.
Wits also cited efforts beyond accommodation, pointing to food relief from Wits citizenship and community outreach as part of its student support infrastructure. “A thousand students receive a hot meal per term day,” he said.
The reality remains that the scale of the problem far outweighs the available resources. For many, the dream of studying at Wits is shadowed by nights spent in libraries, guard rooms, or even on the street.
FEATURED IMAGE: A picture of a student sleeping in the library. Photo: Phenyo Selinda
A new musical weekly incentive to get over blue Mondays.
“I love you all and I’ll, see you here next week!” Those were the parting words of Carlo Mombeli, associate professor and the head of Wits University’s Music department. Mombeli’s words were not only an indicator of the intimate feel of the room but also a reflection of his intentions.
Wits Jazz Tuesday’s is a weekly musical showcase put on at theWits theatre lobby by the students and staff of the university’s music department.
Writing this, I felt like a miner who had just discovered gold or a scientist who had just uncovered the inner workings of one of Earth’s many mysteries.
Two audience members performing an item. Photo: Sechaba Molete
The night was ushered in with the cry of the first musician’s trumpet. At that moment, the theatre lobby turned into a terminal with the audience members being passengers eagerly awaiting a journey that transcended space and time.
Words cannot adequately substitute the feeling of physically being present at the feet of a live music ensemble, but in my attempt to use a linguistic medium, I would describe Wits Jazz Tuesdays as a place for community.
The Wits Jazz Tuesday community survives off an ecosystem made of jazz lovers, musicians (instrumentalists and vocalists) and aspiring musicians. Mombeli’s hands-on approach to leading this weekly musical gathering further strengthens its community feel, with him encouraging audience members to showcase any of their musical abilities while he volunteered one of his students to back them up.
The tapping of shoes on the ground, the nodding of heads, the closing of eyes and the occasional yelling of inaudible sounds were all markers of a common understanding and appreciation of the jazz genre.
The programme began with pure jazz and improvisation by specific student bands selected in advance. As the evening progresses and audience members are invited to perform, genres such as indie pop and alternative music become more frequent.
The evening struck the right balance between indulging the tastes of jazz fanatics and virtuosos while catering to the tastes of music lovers in general.
Wits Jazz Tuesday’s was an interactive experience that demanded engagement. Midway through the programme- Mombelli asked everyone to participate in creating the evening’s soundtrack by mumbling in a specific tone. Despite the awkward giggles and concerned comments that followed this request, Mombelli remained committed to democratising jazz and its creation.
This was further reflected in his decision to make the showcase free and invite everyone to join him and his students again next week. It was a fun and heartwarming experience. Its inclusive nature is reassuring and relaxing. The weekly showcase on Tuesday evenings serves as a reward for surviving Mondays!
I would give it a solid 9/10.
FEATURED IMAGE: An image of Wits University’s music students performing a song
In episode six of We Should Be Writing season 7, the team unpacked the evolution of music as a form of expression and protest, through four decades in the South African context. The episode explores the journey of South African music and its consumers from the 80s, 90s, early 2000s and contemporary listeners. From the […]
