MAPAPUTSI will be part of the Tribute to Kwaito Legends event on Thursday, 14 October at the Soweto Theatre in Joburg.
Mapaputsi, whose real name is Sandile Ngwenya, told Daily Sun the event empowers kwaito legends, as wella s honours legends and those who have died, such as Mandoza.
Mapaputsi said: “We started kwaito music and we made South Africans shake with our unique music and most importantly, this is our local genre. I feel great. This music makes us relevant to the current musicians as we go down memory lane.”
He said he was not expecting the invite and to be part of the event, but he was humbled.
Mapaputsi said he would be performing his popular songs such as Izinja and Clever.
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“I miss kwaito music as it is my lifestyle and culture. Kwaito is still loved by many people and even today when I walk in the kasi, people are still celebrating me.”
He said last December he released his single, Indoda and is planning to release another one later this year. He said people can expect his album in February next year.
He said kwaito paved way for amapiano.
His message to other kwaito legends is to keep united and move forward together to help the younger generation.
Mapaputsi said people should expect a bomb performance, saying he’s proud to reunite with other kwaito legends.
Kwaito legend Joe Nina, whose real name is Makhosini Xaba, said: “I’m very excited about the event and happy that I will be meeting other legends while we are still alive,” he said.
“This is a great moment to sing together while we are still alive,” he said.
Other kwaito legends include Zola 7, Thebe, Professor, Nestum and Trompies.
City of Joburg spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said: “The Tribute to the Legends is a standing project that has been conceptualised to pay tribute to artists in different disciplines. In the previous Arts Alive Festival in 2020, the tribute was to one of South Africa’s celebrated jazz musicians. This year, Arts, Culture and Heritage decided to pay tribute to kwaito artists.
“The main reason for celebrating kwaito artists this year is because of the role they have played in the music industry in paving a way for economic emancipation of music artists through the establishment of independent record labels.”
Modingoane said they’d honour departed kwaito legends including Mshoza, Mandoza, Tsekeleke, Ma-Willies, Makhendlas, Spokes H, Zombo and Purity.
