Concerts SA mobility fund recipients begin touring

The tours, which will run until 10 June, are intended to grow the careers of the artists by enabling them to export their talent and affording them the opportunity to collaborate with other musicians.

“Our music mobility fund has evolved from being a simple tour-funding mechanism, where you were mostly given monies through a grant, to a full tour support scheme,” Concerts SA project coordinator Ignacio Priego told Music In Africa.

Some of the musicians embarking on national and regional tours in Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries include Albert Frost, Mae Sithole, Benjamin Jephta, Carlo Mombelli and Femi Koya. 

Priego said it was the mandate of the artists to define their tour ideas and basic plan. “We leave this up to the musicians, the bands and their professional team of collaborators," he said, adding that the funding had significantly helped to develop the careers of recipients since it was first launched five years ago. “We believe there is intrinsic value in encouraging the mobility of South African music and musicians. Touring allows for speedy growth of musicians as it develops all musicians and music professionals involved in the tour,” he said.

No challenge, no fun

Priego said each phase of the Concerts SA mobility programme came with various challenges, many of them often faced by the musicians themselves. 

"The problems have to do with travel delays and cancellations, border crossings, unprofessional promoters or dodgy venue owners, among others. There are also some significant challenges that happen outside the touring period," he said in reference to the application process artists were asked to complete in order to be considered for funding. “Many received applications do not go through to the adjudication phase because of lack of compliance with our rules and regulations. So my main suggestion when applying for support is, don’t try to economise by going through the application documents too quickly and always make sure you read and understand everything.”

What artists say about the funding

South Africa-based Zimbabwean Afro-fusion vocalist Mae Sithole, who will be performing at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) with the help of the mobility fund in early May, said: “It means a lot to me to be able to travel with our band to my hometown for this exciting festival. It's an honour to perform at HIFA once again after so many years. It feels like a full circle for me. What's even more special is the chance to share the stage with my friends and band members who bring so much life, colour and charisma to our performances. That gives me goosebumps when I think about it."

Ezase West Entertainment, another recipient of the funding programme, will tour various venues across Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa with hip hop artists Beatmochini, DMB and F-Eezy until June.

“I am excited to be part of the Ezase West Entertainment All Stars Global Tour," F-Eezy said. "I'm  just about release my new album and thanks to this tour I will be able to share a live teaser with my fan base.”

Ezase West Entertainment founder and director Smanga Emotak said: “We want to show the world that anything you believe in is possible. When this first came as an idea, we took it upon ourselves to work hard and pull it off. I'm excited to tour my team and cast in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. There is hype already and venues are interested in hosting us for the first time out of our province.”