Concerts SA announces mobility fund recipients

Sixteen applicants were chosen of which 10 tour projects will be undertaken in South Africa. The remaining six take place in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The Concerts SA mobility fund boasts more 700 beneficiaries since 2013. The beneficiaries have toured Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and others.

Prominent artists who were awarded funding in previous years include Freshlyground, Madala Kunene, Moonchild Sanelly, Samthing Soweto, DJ Lag, Bombshelter Beast, The Brother Moves On and Sibot.

The mobility fund is established to foster development and networking among musicians who are already recognised in the industry. It also allows artists to collaborate with their peers in South Africa as well as other countries in the SADC region.

“The support from Concerts SA Mobility Fund gave my band and I the opportunity to tour and share my music with brand new audiences in a way that just would not have been possible otherwise,” former grant recipient Asanda Mqiki said.

“We were able to perform for the very first time as a full band outside of South Africa. I was amazed at their response to the music and we are already in discussions to return. ”

Below is the list of the January 2018 mobility funding recipients.

Regional (SADC) touring

• Albert Frost
• K-$ & DJ Doowap
• Tune Recreation Committee
• Mae Sithole
• Masandi
• Black Matter Collaboration comprising Mozambican beatmaker Nandele, Swazi artist Mr Freddy, and SA-based Lapetus Records artists Fifi the Raiblaster and Kanif.

National touring

• Benjamin Jephta
• Heels Over Head
• Capital Arts Revolution
• AmaThongo
• Dumza Maswana
• Carlo Mombelli
• Beatmochini & F-Eezy
• The Muffinz
• Hezron Chetty & the ZugZwang
• Femi Koya
• Ezase West Entertainment