iPhupho L’ka Biko is an Africanist jazz ensemble established in 2015 within the halls of the University of Witwatersrand by alumnus Nhlanhla Ngqaqu. Through its music, the band seeks to raise awareness and foster a spiritual awakening among humanity worldwide.
The band will be performing at Untitled Basement on 30 November, presenting amaGoduka namaTshipa: “The last gathering of migrant workers (those who always go to the villages in December) and city dwellers (those who haven’t been to the villages in a long time or just don’t have a home in the villages).”
AmaGoduka and amaTshipa are tributes to individuals who departed from their native lands in pursuit of prosperity in urban areas and those who have not returned. amaGoduka represents those who have family members anticipating their return to their homelands, hoping to share in the rewards of their hard work. Conversely, amaTshipa refers to the urban residents for whom Johannesburg has become a new home, individuals unable to return due to the obligations associated with their work in the city.
“AmaGoduka namaTshipa is an ode to the victims of labor migration and The Group Areas Act. it is a tribute to those who refused to dwell in concentration camps aka townships and insist on existing in the city of mine dumps. those who remain anchored in the land of their forefathers, time and again they go back to rejuvenate and regain strength. it is a tribute to those who have fallen victim to the city, to an extent that they now can’t even recognise themselves,” the group shared in a press statement.
The timeline presents a compelling narrative, particularly when considering the performance’s timing and the theme “amaGoduka namaTshipa.” The end of November signifies the onset of the well-known exodus of Black individuals returning to their ancestral homelands.
Regardless of whether you plan to return home, the band invites you to join them for a final dance with iPhupho L’ka Biko, live in the Alley at Untitled Basement. This evening promises to be extraordinary, brimming with Love, Healing, and Resistance.
Date: 30 Nov 2024
Time: Doors open at 4:00 p.m.
Performance: 08:00 p.m.