THE UHADI GROUNDING

THE UHADI GROUNDING

Indigenous music is potent and is a great source of healing power.The Intimate Session is a safe pit stop to recharge, reflect and connect with the universe. This session recognises the turbulent emotions we are going through as young adults in South Africa. The aim of the session is to help us nourish the soul with sound vibrations of the traditional isiXhosa musical bow, uHadi, and the grounding communal singing.

¨I find myself in search of healing all the time. It seems every level of growth has a greater obstacle. As a young adult in South Africa, overcoming these obstacles can be a lonely, daunting and draining process that none of us signed up for. My intention with Intimate Session is to gather with the youth of South Africa and connect through the roots of indigenous music in an attempt to comfort each other.¨ ~ Odwa Bongo

GUEST ARTISTS

Loyiso Mali

Lwandile Sigaqa

ODWA BONGO BIO

Admired for his extensive vocal range and cultural interest, Odwa Bongo is a contemporary uHadi instrumentalist and vocalist. He graduated at the South African College of Music at UCT and was awarded the Dean's Merit List Award in recognition of his consistent academic excellence in Music Performance. The Wire, powered by Celebrity Services Africa acknowledges Bongo as one of SA’s Top LGBTIQ+ creatives alongside Rich Mnisi, Thebe Magugu, Muneyi & Desire Marea. He won the Best Tenor Soloist Award and travelled the world with the Drakensberg Boys Choir. In 2012 he was the vocalist for the Standard Bank Schools Big Band at the Standard Bank National Arts Festival. His love for his culture scored him a national TV feature on SABC 1's Youth Culture documentary series. He also featured in a cultural documentary powered by The University of Cape Town, where he was researching an important thanks giving ceremony of the Xhosa tribe. The star is also working closely with the Cape Cultural Collective to promote inclusivity, diversity and social cohesion through Arts and Culture. Bongo´s talent has afforded him to collaborate with the likes of Dr Madosini, Camagwini, Zolani Mahola and Morena Liraba. The singer was featured on Kechou & Dumama’s buffering juju album. The album is making more waves in Europe. Recently, Bongo’s uHadi Experience (which aims to restore dignity and respect to South African Bow Music) was featured at WOMAD South Africa. uHadi Experience has also successfully graced reputable theatres in South Africa, The Artscape & The Baxter Theatre. For the first time in his career, Bongo has released his hit single Nomathemba which is available on Bandcamp and soon to be available in all online stores.