Linda Ximba
Some of the country’s biggest stars shared the stage with disabled artists to blow the roof off Durban’s Playhouse at the We Can Arts Festival on Saturday.
Blind artists Babsy Mlangeni, Khazozo and Chaos Machafuko, albino Sgwili Zuma and wheelchair-bound Pinky 1st Lady shared the stage with big names like Phuzekhemisi, Ernie Smith, Thee Legacy and Big Zulu.
Guitarist Khazozo, who blew away the audience with his smooth voice and energy on stage, thanked event organisers for coming up with the concept.
“For too long we disabled artists feel discriminated [against] and neglected by event organisers. We need to earn a living through arts and we believe the corporate and other sectors must do away with this thing of sidelining us,” said Khazozo.
Such is his talent that jazz veteran Smith asked Khazozo to record a song just for the event. And they had the crowd eating out of their hands with their electrifying performance.
Chaos Machafuko would not believe his luck when he got to share the stage with his idol, maskandi veteran Phuzekhemisi. Together they performed “Imbizo Song”, which had catapulted Phuzekhemisi to stardom in the late 90s.
Veteran bubblegum musician Mlangeni took the audience down the memory lane with hits like “Sala Emma”. He had the audience up on their feet when he performed one of his oldies with Thee Legacy, “Isandla”.
The energetic young group Ladysmith Black Mambazo Offsprings left the audience begging for some more as they signed off with “Sibhekane”.
Gospel sensation Sgwili Zuma and Nqubeko Mbatha serenaded the audience with church hymns while Pinky 1st Lady showed she will be a force to reckon with in the Afro-pop genre.
Big Zulu closed off the set in emphatic style with his hits like “Imali Eningi”, “Volovolo” and “Voicemail” alongside wonderkid Lwah Ndlunkulu.
Albino model Nontobeko Mbuyazi directed the show with aplomb and Thabani Mazibuko, who is one of the event organisers, paid tribute to sponsors and those who came out in numbers.
Pictured above: Phuzekhemisi and Chaos
