Ché Guevara

Ever been smitten with someone so much, that you think they’ve hit you with a love potion…or have a wholesomely wild night partying, that you suspect someone spiked your drink? Some things can be so good, that they have you chokeheld by paranoia and disbelief. Great live performers can leave you in such awe- an impression left on me after seeing Thandiswa Mazwai live.

I saw Mazwai for the first time last year at the State Theatre and man, I got it. ‘it’ being why she is King Tha. You have to understand, listing to records and seeing an act live are two different things; seeing an artist live can solidify a listener’s bond with the artist or put a dent on that relationship. Nas’ live 2014 performance in Mzansi was insipid, juxtaposed to that ferocious young man who spat on Illamatic. While I cared no mind for Wiz Khalifa, witnessing him live made me appreciate his showmanship.

Cape Town is fortunate to witness King Tha live this weekend at the Artscape Theatre, where she’ll be presenting her A Letter to Azania show. This is the same show she brought to Tshwane. Like any live dope act, King Tha brings out the greed in her audience-where we just want more, more and more. What was probably an hour set honestly felt like a good 20 minutes.

“We are so excited to finally bring this production to Cape Town. Fans are in for a show like never before,” Mazwai said in a statement. The show has already sold-out.

A Letter to Azania tracks a letter the singer is writing to “Azania” as a place of freedom that she says “Takes the audience on a sonic exploration of the utopian idea of Azania while expressing the melancholy that comes with a dream deferred.” Centering on love, the show opens with the words of revolutionary Ché Guevara, “the revolution is driven by great feelings of love”. “A love for the people, a love for country, and a love for justice,” adds Mazwai.

In this audio visual experience curated by Thandiswa in partnership with the Artscape Theatre, “Expect a range of sounds that have influenced my recordings and performances over the years: Jazz, Kwaito, Afro Funk, Reggae, Gospel and Traditional music. “There will be songs from her own albums, such as Nizalwa Ngobani, Transkei Moon, Ingoma, Jikijela, and renditions of tracks by some of her favourite musicians. “In the same spirit as Natalie Coles Unforgettable. This show includes a duet performance with the late great Hugh Masekela”

Letter To Azania is brought to Cape Town in association with Jägermeister. “One of Jägermeister’s core pillars is music and the supporting of the arts. Jägermeister is proud to be in association with Thandiswa Mazwai and A Letter to Azania.” Says Jägermeister Experiential Manager Ephraim Manana.