In an effort to keep the children away from the streets, the Institute for Music and Indigenous Arts Development (Imad) has decided to teach young people musical instruments.
Imad is a non-profit organisation that empowers and teaches young people jazz music, mainly at schools.
Imad project manager Babalwa Mentjies described the initiative as part of empowering young people from the so-called disadvantaged communities.
“We started this project in 2007. We are working with learners from primary and high schools in Khayelitsha and Athlone. In Khayelitsha, we practice at Eluxolweni Primary School in the G section. While in Athlone we are practicing at York Primary School.
“We teach learners from Grade four to Grade 12. However, there are few individuals from the community who also joined us out of love for the music,” said Mentjies, adding that the classes are also open to the residents who want to join. Participants must be between the ages of 19 to 35. Classes are free.
She said they train participants how to play different musical instruments like trumpet, drums, bass guitar, lead guitar, trombone, piano, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, jazz voice, music history and theory. She said they aim to keep the children away from the streets.
Mentjies said they also teach them how to sing in choirs, with a special focus on the Indigenous Cape Jazz genre. She stated that music is not on the curriculum at many schools which makes it difficult for learners to adapt quickly.
“Imad presents young musicians with the opportunity to develop a talent that will ultimately contribute to their futures. The organisation provides a meaningful alternative to gangsterism, drugs, and other harmful occupations in the townships by nurturing individual skills. The support and encouragement that we grant them will help them to become successful professional musicians,” said Mentjies.
She said students had played locally and abroad. “Last month, we performed at theMakhanda Arts Festival in Eastern Cape. We performed at Arts Cape several times. We went to Musikschule Soest in Germany in 2020,” she explained.
Malibongwe Magatyana (19), one of the students from Site C, plays bass guitar. He joined Imad in 2020. He said he learnt a lot in the organisation about jazz music.
“Imad shows us anyone can sing jazz regardless of where they come from. Also, we learnt that besides being on the stage performing you can also play a part in the music by becoming a composer, an arranger, a music teacher etc. They also encourage us to go to school so that we can have something to fall on,” said Magatyana, adding that they performed at Baxter Theater and Artscape.
