““TEAMWORK makes the dream work.”
Buffalo City musicians collaborated and created an awe-inspiring project that would have been improbable to achieve individually: the EC Studio Lock-in Session, music camps that offer artists a platform to learn from one another, grow in their craft, and hopefully collaborate. This happened after singer and dancer Zintle Kwaaiman took to social media to air her frustrations about the slow pace at which the Eastern Cape music industry was working.
Kwaaiman posted: “Why don’t we have a studio camp in the Eastern Cape? Where is the unity? Artists move to bigger cities to feed the soul and join big leagues.”
In an interview with Mthatha Express, co-founder of EC Studio Lock-in Session Rapulane Mothlabane, popularly known as Malume Womdantso, said, “I was inspired to take action after seeing a Facebook post by my good friend, Zintle Kwaaiman. I immediately reached out to her, and we had a chat about our shared vision of empowering Eastern Cape artists. With her enthusiasm and support, we embarked on this journey together.”
Mothlabane says they quickly assembled a team, began reaching out to stakeholders for assistance, and received a lot of support from several local businesses. Initially, they planned to host a Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) exclusive programme, but due to the overwhelming demand from all over the province, they decided to open it up to everyone.
He says the response was overwhelming: “We received over 130 applications on the first day and over 2,600 applications within three days. It became clear that there is a dire need for mentorship and studio lock-in sessions in the Eastern Cape.”
Mothlabane said their vision is to travel the province, providing opportunities for all aspiring artists.
“We understand that not everyone will be selected for this round, but we are committed to creating more opportunities in the future.
“We are driven by our passion to see the Eastern Cape music industry thrive. We believe that by nurturing local talent, we can generate revenue for families and contribute to the province’s economic growth.”
