The Karoo frontier town of Aberdeen
WATCH THIS!
Moses Lesco Levi & The Ancient Singers
UMANYANO, Part II: The Interviews
greats, and it didn't take me long to realise I have now met another. When he started playing me the variety of material he has ready to record, I also realised his uniqueness as an artist. Reggae music is 'the people's music' because of its many origins. Moses revealed to me that he is not only a reggae artist, but that he also honours all his musical origins – the Afrikaans, Xhosa, and Zulu music played to him when he was a child and heard throughout his youth. And as we began exploring this music together, I also became acquainted with the depth of Moses and Masterboy's ongoing community vision and efforts. This wasn't just an individual wanting fame and fortune – this was a reggae artist with lineage and roots, combined with the example of daily community activism. 'Do good and good will follow you', is one of Moses' personal creeds. It turns out that both Moses and Masterboy are Elders in The Universal Movement of The Rastafari Royal Family
(UMRRF). Masterboy is both their National Vice Chairman,
in this community of Aberdeen and in Graaff-Reinett, where they spread their message of: 'More sport, more music, more indigenous activities, less crime.' To this end they started UMANYANO (Unity) in 1997 – a three day event held annually on 2nd November, catering mainly for the youth, in which sports, indigenous dancing, indigenous games, a prize-giving, a live performance by local artists, and free food for the day are the order of the day. This they accomplish annually without any government or local economic support. Their intent in initiating UMANYANO was in response to the growing disease of racism they experienced throughout their community. Also, Masterboy believes that, 'building all these RDP houses without any facilities for developing the children in our community is community suicide'. See in-depth interviews with Masterboy here.
UMANYANO is therefore a hand reaching out from
the Elders to the youth, a hand of upliftment in an environment where there is no foreseeable economic or political hope. The greater communities of Aberdeen, Lotusville and Thembalesizwe currently experiences up
and Chairman of Elders Council. Moses is also the founder of the local Aberdeen soccer team. They are Elders here
ODYSSEY?34
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DIGIMAG