“Poets are always overlooked by promoters when it comes to gigs. It is time now that we stand up and take our rightful place in the entertainment space,” said poet Pfariso Tshifhumulo.

Loyal listeners to community radio station Makhado FM were thrilled to hear the voice of Nganea Ndou, known as “Zonze”, on the airwaves again after he had taken a year-long break from the industry.

Faced with challenges arising from new developments in the music industry, rhumba music artists in South Africa have joined forces and formed an organisation to support themselves. The organisation, South African Rhumba Artists United (SARAU), was launched in Vhembe in the middle of April.

The elders of the Tshivenda music group, Adziambei Band, have warned that the new generation seems to be reluctant to preserve their indigenous music, which is full of African identity and wisdom. Luckily for them, some young musicians still care about traditional music. One such local “son-of-the-soil” artist is Joshua Tshikalange, who is taking Tshivenda traditional music to another level.