By: Nomatshawe Bangani
Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) MEC Bulelwa Tunyiswa handed over DJ equipment on Tuesday in East London to Duncan Village artists who own home studios. The programme was aimed at affording young artists with resources that will enable them to produce their own music from the home studios.
Speaking at the handover ceremony MEC Tunyiswa said ¨As a department we are responsible for the development of artists and when we received a cry from young artists from Duncan Village who are in need of music equipment last year, we and the office of Buffalo City Metro Municipality Deputy Executive Mayor Zoliswa Matana visited these home studios. We saw that these young artists have talent that needs to be developed by the department and today we are handing over to them modern quality music equipment which we believe will assist them in producing quality music.
The MEC also stated that as a department they have been visiting art centres across the province and donating them with what they need at that particular art centre.
BCMM Deputy Executive Mayor Zoliswa Matana who was also in attendance said ¨As a municipality who is close to its people we are often faced with a challenge of not having the financial muscle to cover all the needs of community. This is why we have decided to collaborate with this department to work together in developing talents of young people in the province¨
She also encouraged community members to come forward with their pleas in order for the department to assist and work together with them.
One of the beneficiaries Lwazi Kekeza who is a music producer said he is grateful for the donation as he did not have his own equipment, meaning he had to outsource it. ¨Now I will also have an income as I will be able to produce beats and songs for other artists¨ he said.
Nkosincedile Voyi who was also a beneficiary pleaded to local radio stations to assist them by playing their music as it is the only way it can be heard by the public.