bookofswagWe are Young n Free
The 16th of June does not only mark the day a group of students from Soweto took to the streets to raise grievances about having Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, it also happens to be today’s official youth day holiday. How people, young and old celebrate it is entirely their democratic right.
The month of June in itself has been recognized as the month to celebrate the future of our nation, “youth month”. 2014 in Soweto saw the second installment of deejaying duo, Naves and Sphectecular of metro fm’s “young n free” event. Last year’s turn out was enormous at Zone 6 venue in Diepkloof zone 6. But a designated area situated at the very bottom of Nike stadium in Klipspruit was to play host this time around.
Young people of all legal ages came in droves, looking as cool as can be and some in respect to the youth of 76′ came dressed in their school uniforms, well some might not have been in their uniforms but the idea was welcomed.
The line up this time around wasn’t as jam packed as it’s predecessor but the names listed to perform and to keep the blood running to keep us warmed up, as the temperature dropped was of A list entertainers.
Major league DJs like pop artist “Pink” got the party started with some “NAK” and “Hip hop”, get acquainted with “NAK” it’s New Age Kwaito, a Kwaito instrumental with some witty raps or vice versa. As the sun set, things really got up to speed when veteran Kwaito lenyora “Thebe” took to the stage to give us a bit of some accredited authentically mzansi classics, that got all the not so young, singing along.
This holiday couldn’t have come at the worst day of the week, Monday. The fun had to be hurried along but never to be short lived, as Mzansi’s biggest music group and also most dynamic, Micasa took to the stage after an amazing mix of hip hop and house set by one of the longest serving artist & DJ in Kwaito and house music, the legendary and alleged Brains behind one of South Africa’s biggest contributor musically, independent record label Kalawa Jazzmee, Oskido the big “O”. He dropped some pretty suspect club bangers just to show his grasp of the market he operates so successfully in.
If you’ve heard the great Oskido play you know, he’ll be with a mic by his side letting you know which song and why he is playing it, got to love this dude. While Micasa and their team prepared back stage, the crowd was indeed fired up even the cold beers doing the rounds wasn’t to bring the chills to the masses, Jsomething with his adorable Zulu accent English dialect and his Portuguese swag, serenaded the ladies and some males I might add, lol. The sounds of Micasa are honestly a delight for whatever gender and so we danced away. One of the country’s most successful entertainers, DJ Sbu wasn’t to be left out of the festivities as,he cruised into his set with some old school Kwaito and then introduced one Soweto’s rising lyrical geniuses, hate him or love him, you cannot deny Siya Shezi’s lyrical ability, if you don’t understand Zulu or rather tsotsi taal, you are in dire need of a dictionary, his delivery, style and wit is impeccable. In Soweto his back yard the crowd was eating out his palm with oohs and aahs! Sbuda wouldn’t leave before he encouraged the youth to go to school.
Wait! The party had just began because the Motswakolista with a porny tail was announced to be back stage and the crowd was hysterical, ladies and gents enter: Cassper Nyovest, and boy did he hold no punches”excuse the pun”. Cassper took to the stage and delivered a couple of new joints featuring chad da don, we all kind of knew he was holding back 2 of his most accomplished jams in his artillery, before that he chose to salute KO and take a jab at AKA, no surprises there. Soon as he dropped his biggest hit to date “Doc Shebelaza” the joy of music lovers could not be contained by an air tight jam jar, the crowd erupted, taxi driver’d and jumped with ecstasy. Gusheshe then followed suite and the same reaction, the people here were indeed young and free. The hosts made a moving entry when it was their turn to #turnup , they dropped a classic struggle song and each held a South African flag, their speciality is in the much loved hip hop and it dropped, brought the house down, hit after hit.
Vuzu had their cameras roaming around the scene, mostly in the VIP, Miller genuine draught and MTN came to the party, with MTN giving away some party favors for those who were willing to purchase an additional MTN sim and airtime, all who came through the door were greeted with black beanies that read young’n free. Whichever way you enjoyed this Youth day we sure hope you did so responsibly.