The first leg of the popular national radio station Ukhozi FM’s music workshops kicked off in East London’s Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre, known as the Miriam Makeba Hall, in the Buffalo City Metro last Friday.
The station, which boasts over 7.6 million listeners, has partnered with the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) to conduct music workshops in the station’s broadcast footprint area: Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Gauteng province, and KwaZulu-Natal.
To mark Transport Month, a month to increase awareness among South Africans on road safety, the station is celebrating with a competition powered by SAMRO.
“Artists in the province were asked to record a demo song that is no longer than three minutes, which encourages safety on the road. Each province will have a winning song that will receive R25,000. The final winner will receive an opportunity to record their song officially with KZN Music House. It will also be playlisted on Ukhozi FM,” said Seapolelo Mmoni, Media Relations Manager of the SABC.
Mmoni said a task team, including the Ukhozi FM team and relevant stakeholders, was specially created to choose the winning songs.
Elated Eastern Cape cash prize winner Nokuthula Mzendana from Ngxakaxha in Dutywa said she saw posts about the competition on social media.
The talented Nokuthula spent a sleepless night rocking her restless twelve-month-old baby boy, but in the morning, just before leaving the house for the workshop, she composed her song and put together a tune that won her the prize money.
“My song is titled “Masikhuseleke ezindleleni,” meaning “Let’s be safe on the roads,” and the message is in the title. It is a call to drive with caution so that we reach our destinations, especially now that the festive season is upon us,” she said.
