Press Release – For Immediate Release
Johannesburg, 21st October 2016
Music Mobility Fund selects 21 new music tours
Concerts SA supports national and SADC regional touring
The SAMRO Foundation is proud to announce the results of the October 2016 round of the Concerts SA Music Mobility Fund. Initiated in 2013, this fund offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours across southern Africa. A total of 21 applications were successful and will be supported in South Africa (16 tour projects) and in the SADC region (5 tour projects).
This round’s recipients for national touring support are The Mike Rossi Project, Yonela Mnana Quartet, The Rudimentals, The Viwe Mkizwana Ensemble, Mark Fransman’s Sonik Citizen, Jeremy Olivier, Ancient Agents Quartet, Sun Xa Experiment, Vanessa Moodley, Korreltjie Kantel, Stuart Reece, Nhlanhla Mahlangu’s Dani Mali Quintet, gqom pioneer DJ Lag, Spha Mdlalose Quintet, The Make-Overs, and the collaborative tour of Durban-based rappers Breeze, MX and Inseezy.
Recipients of the regional (SADC) touring fund are vocalist Gabisile Motuba, who will be launching in Mauritius and Namibia her collaborative album with Malcolm Braff and Tumi Mogorosi; Freshlyground, who will be performing for the first time at Sauti Za Busara Festival in Tanzania; Nkoto Malebye, for various children and youth activations in Mozambique and Namibia; Bethuel Tshoane Quintet, for performances and workshops in Botswana; and Sazi Dlamini, who will be doing an indigenous bow collaborative tour in Madagascar with valiha virtuoso Rajery.
The final selection was based on alignment with the objectives of the Mobility Fund and conditions as set out in the call for proposals. Concerts SA project manager Nailla Dollie says: “This latest round of the Music Mobility Fund received 121 applications from established and emerging musicians from across the music spectrum. With the quality of submissions increasing year on year (this round was no exception!), the task of selection was extremely difficult for our dedicated panellists. The thought and organisation evident in the submissions made were inspiring, and we wish all the successful applicants safe travel and enriching tours!”
Since inception, the Music Mobility Fund has supported more than 100 tours through six funding rounds, and has featured artists like Ihashi Elimhlophe, Carlo Mombelli, Tlokwe Sehume, Nibs van der Spuy, Morayks, and Thandi Ntuli.
Former recipient and jazz vocalist Titi Luzipo reflects on how this support impacted her latest tour: “The Mobility Fund is a great initiative designed to promote artists in South Africa. My project Songs my Mother Taught Me has received nationwide recognition through the Mobility Fund. With Concerts SA (CSA) help, I have toured four cities and have had ten successful shows. The funds made it easier for me and some of my band members to travel and pay for our accommodation. The support I got from audiences was overwhelmingly great with most of them having heard about this on the radio, newspapers and TV: this was all through the help of the CSA team. As an independent artist, it was so easy for me to focus on the music while being assisted in publicity and media releases. Overall, the Mobility Fund is undoubtedly one of the greatest platforms to kick-start your music on a wider scale.”
The Music Mobility Fund is administered by Concerts SA, a joint South African/Norwegian initiative housed under the auspices of the Stakeholder Hub within the SAMRO Foundation. It receives financial, administrative and technical support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the SAMRO Foundation and Concerts Norway.
Working with musicians, promoters, venue owners and audiences, Concerts SA aims to support live music in South Africa by finding and implementing ways to create a vibrant and viable live music circuit. It also aims to develop an interest in and appreciation of live music by showcasing music performances and conducting workshops at schools. For more information please visit our website, follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter , or like us on Facebook
