Monday Blues

Monday Blues @ Cofi

2011-04-05T02:02:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues sessions have moved to the elegant venue Cofi in Rosebank. This venue is situated in the Zone. We've had two session there so far and everything is picking up well. In just these past two weeks we've seen brilliant acts to name a few, Ntsiki Mazwai's, Sliq Angel, Johnny Craddle, Skabangas and so many others.

Do join us at Cofi every Monday over the next couple of months, bring an instrument, a poem, song, dance and remember to tell a friend!!

See you on Monday!

For more info, please contact Siya on 076 249 4167 or e-mail: mondayblues91@gmail.com

Still your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

Monday Blues now @ Ko'spotong Newtown

2010-10-27T00:18:00.000-07:00

We'll Monday Blues turned 19 this month, we celebrated this legendary stage the whole month with brilliant performances. Monday Blues has now moved from Melville to Ko'spotong Newtown, lets get together this Monday 01 November and do what we do best..,poetry, jam sessions, live performances, comedy and more. See you there!!

Ntsiki Mazwai on the Monday Blues Stage

2010-03-30T04:02:00.000-07:00

Ntsiki Mazwai's performing a one man theatre show from collective poems on the Monday Blues stage... then we have the usual, live performances, comedy, poetry, jam sessions, good music... this is the type of session you can't afford to miss. See you Monday at Belvista, Troyville @ 19h00.

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Ntsiki Mazwai- biog

This is no languid butterfly, drifting aimlessly among forced, insipid blooms in an artificial hothouse. Ntsiki Mazwai is a hummingbird. Multi-hued. Bursting with the delight of life. Radiating energy as she drinks deeply of the rich blossoms that sprout wherever they find root, she pours these experiences out in a brilliantly coloured tapestry of poetry, dance and song.

Don't think her exuberance is a sign of superficial infatuation with "art" and "life". Young as she is, Ntsiki is no stranger to deep hurts, confusion, rejection and the cruelty of selfish relationships. The conflict of a culture in evolution, swinging from hip black street rap to western cannons of art and literature is reflected in her poems. This is not a woman who skates on the surface of emotion, but a sensitive being who feels the beauty and power of her art strongly.

Ntsiki is clearly conducting a love affair with words: words as poems, words as song, words as dance and wild combinations of all three. Her first foray into the excitement of her creativity was poetry. Then she realised that she could share those words and thoughts on stage and exposed an electrifying dimension of performance which she took to enthusiastically, finding another aspect of her personality and talents previously unknown. She embodies the issue of identity facing so many South Africans, shifting into "situational identities" rather than stabilising on a fixed, unalterable core identity as we strive to find a suitable merging of sometimes contrasting indigenous and western cultures, values and ideas.

From hugely successful beadwork to written poetry, from poems performed and danced to theatre and music, the constant underlying theme of Ntsiki's work is courage - courage to speak on painful or controversial issues with almost brutal honesty. "The book relates my journeys in a very personal way," she explains. "I want the work to help heal people so that they can tell their stories and then be brave to find their own voice and operate as full human beings, and not as the wounded spirits that fill our world."

MONDAY BLUES: TRIBUTE TO DINKIES SITHOLE (08 March)

2010-03-02T01:38:00.000-08:00

Monday Blues pays tribute to another great artist this week, Dinkies Sithole. There will be some of his work on display, friends, fans and collegues to honor his memory through various artistic expressions.

Dinkies Sithole

( 28.05.1970 - 20.12.2009 )

Born in Soweto, Dinkies Sithole is a painter, sculptor and acclaimed tap-dancer. He studied at the Pelmama Art Centre in Soweto and learned his dance techniques as a member of the Whizzkid Dance Group in Soweto in the late 1980s. He has practiced ballet, break-dancing and tap-dancing. As dancer and choreographer he has been involved in Arts Alive and the Grahamstown Arts Festival.

Sithole is much inspired by ritualistic and spiritual journeys, with his work (painting, sculpture and dance), way of life and love of nature being inextricably linked. Since childhood he has been fascinated by the philosophy and painting techniques ¬ using natural pigments on the raw rock face - of the San people. Following an exchange of ideas with Asian students during his exhibitions in New York and Vermont, Sithole has been influenced also by Sharman and Buddist philosophies. The work on show reflects a certain calligraphic quality, using oriental inks and collage techniques on textured rice papers. Sithole explores the relationship between the elements ¬ earth, wind, water and fire ¬ and his paintings speak of human spiritual experience in uncovering our hidden sentiments as we confront our reality in relation to time and space.

Selected solo exhibitions: Meditating with the Sharmans, Franchise Gallery, Johannesburg (2005); Dinkies Sithole, Hanover Street Gallery, Liverpool (2001); Leaving Room for the Eye to Discover II, Johannesburg Art Foundation (2000); Leaving Room for the Eye to Discover I, Johannesburg Art Foundation (1998); Imidlalo, Rembrandt van Rijn Gallery, Newtown, Johannesburg (1997). Selected group exhibitions: New Paintings, Durban Art Gallery, Unisa, Johannesburg Art Gallery (2005 ¬ 2006); Vermont Studio Art Centre Gallery, Johnson, USA (2002); Identities: CrossPath Culture, New York, USA (2001), Cross Overs, CrossPath Culture Studios, Johannesburg (2001); Black Visions, Mofolo Art Centre, Soweto (1995); Primitive Sculpture Exhibition, Newtown Galleries, Johannesburg (1992).

VENUE: BELAVISTA LOUNGE,
CNR BERTRAMS & CARNARVAR,
TROYVILLE

TIME: 20H00

CONTACT E-MAIL: t.ntliziyo@gmail.com

MONDAY BLUES - TRIBUTE TO MIRIAM MAKEBA

2010-02-25T23:22:00.000-08:00

Monday Blues is bring you another wonderful show this coming Monday. Throughout the month of March we will pay tribute to great South African artists and celebrate them the best way we know how. This Monday we celebrate Mama Africa, Mama Mirriam Makeba through music, poetry, comedy, jam sessions and more. Do join us and be part of this AFRICAN EXPERIENCE.

Zenzile Miriam Makeba was born in Johannesburg in 1932. Her mother was a Swazi sangoma and her father, who died when she was six, was a Xhosa. As a child, she sang at the Kilmerton Training Institute in Pretoria, which she attended for eight years.

Makeba first toured with an amateur group. Her professional career began in the 1950s with the Manhattan Brothers, before she formed her own group, The Skylarks, singing a blend of jazz and traditional melodies of South Africa.

Mirriam Makeba

Early Years:

In 1959, she performed in the musical King Kong alongside Hugh Masekela, her future husband. Though she was a successful recording artist, she was only receiving a few dollars for each recording session and no provisional royalties, and was keen to go to the United States. Her break came when she had a short guest appearance in the anti-apartheid documentary Come Back, Africa in 1959 by independent filmmaker Lionel Rogosin. The short cameo made an enormous impression on the viewers and Lionel Rogosin managed to organise a visa for her to leave South Africa and to attend the premiere of the film at the Venice Film Festival.

Exile:

Makeba then travelled to London where she met Harry Belafonte, who assisted her in gaining entry to and fame in the United States. She released many of her most famous hits there including "Pata Pata", "The Click Song" ("Qongqothwane" in Xhosa), and "Malaika". In 1966, Makeba received the Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording together with Harry Belafonte for An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba. The album dealt with the political plight of black South Africans under apartheid.

She discovered that her South African passport was revoked when she tried to return there in 1960 for her mother's funeral. In 1963, after testifying against apartheid before the United Nations, her South African citizenship and her right to return to the country were revoked.She has had nine passports, and was granted honorary citizenship of ten countries.

Her marriage to Trinidadian civil rights activist and Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee leader Stokely Carmichael in 1968 caused controversy in the United States, and her record deals and tours were cancelled. As a result of this, the couple moved to Guinea, where they became close with President Ahmed Sékou Touré and his wife. Makeba separated from Carmichael in 1973, and continued to perform primarily in Africa, South America and Europe. She was one of the African and Afro-American entertainers at the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman held in Zaïre. Makeba also served as a Guinean delegate to the United Nations, for which she won the Dag Hammarskjöld Peace Prize in 1986. After the death of her only daughter Bongi Makeba in 1985, she moved to Brussels. In 1987, she appeared in Paul Simon's Graceland tour. Shortly thereafter she published her autobiography Makeba: My Story.

Return to SA:

Nelson Mandela persuaded her to return to South Africa in 1990. In November 1991, she made a guest appearance in an episode of The Cosby Show, in the episode "Olivia Comes Out Of The Closet". In 1992 she starred in the film Sarafina!, about the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings, as the title character's mother, "Angelina." She also took part in the 2002 documentary Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony where she and others recalled the days of apartheid.

On 16 October 1999, Miriam Makeba was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In January 2000, her album, Homeland, produced by Cedric Samson and Michael Levinsohn was nominated for a Grammy Award in the "Best World Music" category. In 2001 she was awarded the Gold Otto Hahn Peace Medal by the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN) in Berlin, "for outstanding services to peace and international understanding". In 2002, she shared the Polar Music Prize with Sofia Gubaidulina. In 2004, Makeba was voted 38th in the Top 100 Great South Africans. Makeba started a worldwide farewell tour in 2005, holding concerts in all of those countries that she had visited during her working life. Her publicist notes that Makeba had suffered "severe arthritis" for some time

Her Passing On:

On 9 November 2008, she became ill while taking part in a concert organized to support writer Roberto Saviano in his stand against the Camorra, a mafia-like organisation local to the Region of Campania. The concert was being held in Castel Volturno, near Caserta, Italy. Makeba suffered a heart attack after singing her hit song "Pata Pata", and was taken to the "Pineta Grande" clinic where doctors were unable to revive her.

May sounds of her beautiful voice never stop playing in our hearts and minds.

Belavista Lounge
Cnr Bertrams and Carnarvar
Troyville
01 March 2010
21h00
R30
E-mail: t.ntliziyo@gmail.com

Monday Blues

2010-02-11T00:07:00.000-08:00

Monday Blues is bringing you another great show this Monday... poetry, jam sessions, comedy, open mics and amazing music. So do join us and remember to tell a friend.

Still your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

Zophea

Joy of Jozi, Daniel on Saxophone, China Pashe on Trombone and Levi Pon diMic.

Monday Blues - 01 February

2010-02-05T00:28:00.000-08:00

Ilse Klink

Dollar

Dollar on drums, China Pashe on Trombone and Steve on guitar and vocals

Your African Experience

2010-01-28T04:45:00.000-08:00

Thomas Gumede killing it on Comedy!

Kanyi, first time on the Monday Blues stage... it was a pleasure.

SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MONDAY BLUES, 01 FEBRUARY & REMEMBER TO TELL A FRIEND!

Clips & Pics from Monday Blues - 18 Jan

2010-01-22T02:37:00.000-08:00

Steady Rock Steady Rock

Monday Blues News - 18 January 2010

2010-01-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

Firstly, Monday Blues takes this opportunity to thank everyone who's supported the movement all these years.

Well, the first Monday Blues of the year 2010 kicked off with a bang. First up on stage was Mak Manaka, who blessed us all with wonderful poetry. Dressed urban and telling a bit of the city stories he's experienced ... and when it comes to words, he's a marvel.
Next up was Durel's Steady Rock: a positive messaged highly musical black rock band reigning from Soweto. Sindi Simpson came later with matured melodies that had a twist of street lang and good unpredictable concepts. Nina followed on comedy, experimenting on conscious comedy which was engaging because you'd decipher the intellect in the humour.
A young poet Bezi later came on and did her first ever performance, performing poetry. It was a good way of testing waters and thanks to the crowd of the day for accepting her into the performance world.
Steady Rock did another three songs to showcase some of the songs on the latest album Agent Provocatare Music- Crazy! The best or the highlight of the day was Kgomotso Tsatsi who sang beautifully while playing acoustic guitar overwhelmingly great. Such an unimaginable talent right in front of our eyes. SA has great artists. Kgomotso Tsatsi affirmed that SA still breeds great artists... and Monday Blues attracts all that. Later THABS and Mpho duo went on stage performing harmonies from the youngsters.

A big thank you to some of SA's icons that were present Steve Koena Mokoena, legendary Peter Makurube, Andile Magengelele and the list goes on. It gets better every week, so make sure you're there this coming Monday, 25 January 2010 at Belavista. Nina is back on comedy, Joy of Jozi, poetry, jam sessions, open mic and so much more.

Article in Sowetan by Edward Tsumele (21 Jan 2010)

Monday Blues - 2010

2010-01-14T00:53:00.000-08:00

The first Monday Blues in 2010 brings you Steady Rock, he'll be blessing us with his band, Nina on comedy.... jam sessions, poetry, good music and so much more.

Do join us at Belavista and lets kick start this year proper, still yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE.

Start Time: Monday, January 18, 2010 at 8:00pm
End Time: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 2:00am
Location: Belavista
Street: Cnr Bertrams and Carnarvar
City/Town: Johannesburg, South Africa

Monday Blues News - 07 December

2009-12-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

07/12 the “all together now” mood began, Ralph opened the stage with an amazing solo act guitaring (acoustic) and Jannous couldn’t help but join in with another acoustic guitar rigging harmonies. The poet Bheki laced some words over the music.

Sliq Angel with no hesitation went up did a super medley playing portions of Roots 2000 songs, skipping to Xhosa traditional songs… DOPE. Poetry extraordinaire Hlubi (First time on the Monday Blues stage), rendered a superb performance, there after followed Kabelo Mofokeng who blessed us with 1950’s poetry style by his acute vocab with that Sophiatown style emphasizing on words creating a rhythm at the same time adding a bit of modern poetry flow using Sotho, Tsotsi taal and the Queens language all at once! A true poetry evolution.

Sindi Simpson later came on and did a wonderful blues / poetry backed by a band: drums, base, acoustic guitar and keys. Candi Brown who’s also part of Dr Badela, also came on stage, freestyle singing and harmonizing… Jerome on basse, Asiah and Raphael jammed heavy sounds. Thuli the lead singer then did some already prepared four song set with Brett Alexander on basse, Asiah on drums and Raphael on lead guitar...SUPER!

To prove that Monday Blues is an integration platform, a non-stop Grande finale / jam session started, reflecting true musicianship among artists. Sliq Angel on electric guitar this time with Jerome on basse, Asiah on drums, Jannous on percussion and Sipho on keys… the arts were over flowing! Amazing!

So, don’t disappear in joining us at the next Monday Blues show… 14 December

Monday Blues Video Clips

2009-12-08T04:02:00.001-08:00

2009-12-08T01:26:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T01:10:00.000-08:00

2009-12-08T00:46:00.000-08:00

Monday Blues Pics from - 30 November

2009-12-03T06:33:00.000-08:00

One the line-up was:

Kgafela Magogodi

LesegoRampholokeng

Lefifi Tladi

Young Minds
Dimakatso
Jannous
Ralf & Thubi

Jam Session: Drums - Iziah, Basse - Bradley, Lead Guitar - Khosi........On vocals: Dice, Zweli, CIA

and more... it was a line-up to die for! Join us again 07 Dec @ Belavista for another wonderful line-up!

International Poetry Month hosted by Monday Blues @ Belavista

2009-11-18T00:51:00.000-08:00

As it's International Poetry Month at Monday Blues don't miss the next session 23 November as the line up will be amazing!

A big thank you to artists that blessed us this past Monday:

Jannous - Solo Guitar
Sipho Mthiyane from the Onion Eaters - Solo Keybaord, joined by poets Jeisie and Bheki
Sliq Angel
King Daniel - Hip hop over a live band

Lastly, thank you to the crowd... this picture is not complete without you!
DJ: Zweli
Host: CIA
Founder: Peter Makurube

Belavista
Cnr Carnarvor & Bertrams (Next to Spar)
Troyville

yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

2009-11-12T01:14:00.000-08:00

Monday Blues News:

From noticing the Monday Blues banner by the gate, it looked like the start of a good evening. Everything was set up at 20h00 the stage was ready for acts. The DJ ambiance music was themed on live recordings, Raphael Saddiq, Mirriam Makeba very exclusive live recording. Leaving us with the question “where does he get these?” …

First on stage, was Hyphen from Cape Town’s Archetypes (hip hop crew) rhyming over Paul Nice and Oh No’s beats doing justice on them. Howz that for dope beginnings?! Jannous later stepped up on base doing solo guitaring, amazing stuff… he had these paddles on the floor; one was a loop paddle so he played as if he was a trio. After was a three piece band, Khosi on lead guitar, Zulu on base and Smash on drums… playing a funk tune after a jazz standard after a hip hop instrumental they’re blessed with a variety.

Daniel ripped a cool performance with a live band. Twas like practiced, conscious rhymes and musical hooks over hip hop standard live beats. Next was the black psychedelic rock band called Organized Distortion. Showcased a couple of songs highly musical and with their art noise gained booking for a party soon to come!

Lastly was a jam session / grande finale, Jannous, Zulu, Khosi etc. The crowd was wonderful and to the venue, staff… BRAVO! Keep up the good service! C U Next week - 16 Nov @ BELAVISTA!!

Founder: Peter Makurube

Host: CIA

DJ: Zweli

Pic by: Lerato Maduna

Monday Blues now at Bellavista

2009-10-29T00:21:00.000-07:00

It's that time again where Monday Blues moves to another area... Let's all meet this coming Monday at Bellavista, kick off this new journey on good, positive vibes...

Start Time: Monday, November 2, 2009 at 8:00pm

End Time: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 2:00am

Location:Troyeville

Street:Corner Carnarvan & Bertrams

yo African Experience

2009-10-15T05:44:00.001-07:00

Dani Ndebele wrote

The very very very first gig I went to when I moved to Jozi was Monday Blues - Kofifi at the time. I was hooked on Jozi forever after...

2009-10-14T07:02:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues News

Monday Blues 12 October, everything was on time. At 20h45 Lebo the percussionist and Smash the drummer, kicked off the stage … nice combination of the two, afro-soul kind of stuff. Sindi Simpson and the Onion Eaters stepped up and rendered a very matured, entertaining poetry over keyboards and percussion. Malvern from Cape Town, (currently a street kid in Jozi) collaborated with the Deep Vibe Man on guitar, it was splendid!

Stone from PE, four piece band, played cover versions, it was well rehearsed and made a big impact… big up! Later was the Monday Blues activist, Sliq Angel! He played great as usual but to top it, he invited other artists who were in the room to come perform. Problem Child came first, Sol, Natti B, Zulu Boy and more. It came off brilliant! Masello came in on vocals accompanied by percussion and drummer machine samples... nice one. We want to acknowledge and give respect to the Monday Blues by loving and supporting the artists. We had a sound glitch, the crowd over looked that and the show went on, it was ecstatic.

On the poetry session there was Ntsikelelo done in Xhosa and English. After this Tina came on, sang over keys… it was magical melodies. Look out for Tina. The last was the drum and base jam, Tenda the vocalist joined in… that was the end of performances. See you next Monday, 19 October.

Monday Blues.... your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

2009-10-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

Below... artists that never fail to mention this legendary stage in their profile... click on their links to see their full profiles! As we celebrate Monday Blues birthday ths month, e-mail your story or experiences at Monday Blues for us to put up on the blogspot. meanzit@yahoo.com.

MXO eventually linked up with DJ Blaze and his Unity Recordings and before long was gaining recognition in Johannesburg by performing at venues like the Bassline, Horror Café, Monday Blues and other underground poetry and Hip-Hop spots including Jungle Connection, the Couch and Coffee, and more.

www.myspace.com/mxfunk

We are Blk Sonshine. We got together about 10 years ago in Yoeville which is a little suburb of Johannesburg in South Africa. We were both there playing our acoustic guitars at an open mic called Monday Blues. We went from doing little shows in South Africa to recording a CD in Los Angeles.

www.myspace.com/blksonshine

I (Ntsiki Mazwai) performed often at Monday Blues at the various locations it moved to, I later started hosting Monday Blues which groomed me for later gigs I would host..

www.ntsikimazwai.co.za/streetpop.php

Excuse me, I need some kwaito playing while I write this. Y mag had a soundtrack, abrasive in parts and with more than fragments of the toyi-toyi coming through, but it was largely kwaito that set the rhythm. Bennie was making us mal, Brenda was very much alive, TKZ were huge, Mdu was the man, Ghetto Luv and Ismael and Roots 3000 were nascent, blk sonshine were just jamming at Monday Blues and MXO was a little boy fresh from Dwezi (Ibayi) sleeping rough in a Mahala hotel, dreaming of getting onto that stage.

http://www.chimurengalibrary.co.za/

Monday Blues News

2009-10-08T02:07:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful Monday, 05 October 2009. It was like a too good to be true scenario. We got to Ko’spotong a bit strapped of time; found a hand full of artists were already congregated with a reasonable audience. At 20h30 everything was set-up and Leero was ready to kick-off. DJ Zweli worked the mood right before the first performance. We had an impeccable line-up, with various genres’ and the good amount of first timers on the Monday Blues stage.

Leero dusted off the stage with two songs; later Zweli from Joy of Jozi did a solo performance playing some blues, rock and afro grooves. Sliq Angel went on after that, to no surprise a great reaction from artists occurred when Shaun joined in on the drums, base guitarists and some back-up vocalists jumped on stage to join in. Sliq’s music is known and it was like they rehearsed plus the crowd loved it. Tumisani Dlamini aka Crocodile, Chester courageously sang a Zulu song about his travels around the world making a good impact with some dance moves… excellent.
There was a couple a jam sessions giving authenticity to the day, Nqobile is easy to remember, surprised the room with educated yet cultural melodies with limitless ranges. Russere is Zim national, played Mbire and sang those with good ears heard his amazing work. Sizwe Vena later blessed the stage with three songs, doing it with a full on band as well as back-up vocalists, Aviwe Damane carried it to the last.

We closed with back tracks, Mzantsi a raga hip hop soul act, DOC Tswana / English rap and Ntsikelolo Xhosa poetry over beats. Appeasing, the show ended, thanks to the crowd, artists, venue and the Melville community at large. See you on Monday live at Ko'spotong, 12 October!!

Monday Blues Birthday Celebrations throughout October

2009-10-01T05:17:00.000-07:00

This incorporation has been a special one in that Monday Blues was established 1991 October and Arts Alive in 1991 September. Both these companies have been running for years with nothing but drive and passion to uplift artists and the industry in South Africa. For the first time in both their existence, they joined forces and killed it!

So here's to a lifetime friendship between Monday Blues & Arts Alive!!

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This month we are celecrating this legendary stage's birthday, established October 1991 but Peter Makurube. It began in Hillbrow and has since been presented in various communities in Johannesburg. The format is based on performance of whatever art form and exhibitions of visual arts. It has staged live in music venues around the city and welcomes all cultural expression.

Yeoville has been our main base, starting in 1997. Our first home there was Jahnitos, where fantastic performers like JIMMY Dludlu, Zim Ngqawana and Sandile Dikeni played to full-houses every week. We then moved to Raymond Street, where Blk Sonshine was born. Both Neo and Masauko met there and formed this incredible group that went on to win many fans across the social and geographical barriers. Time Square, a few blocks up the road also provided some memorable events - Roots 2000 was born there (Sliq Angel/MXO). The two have since become big names in the music scene. We once again relocated to Orange Grove - this time to Club 206, where Victor Ntoni's career was revitalized. We also put a lot of artists on the map, among them, Waddy Jones(rapper) who ended up as a recording artist and television presenter. This venue attracted the biggest number of audiences for the movement. Other venues, Horror Cafe in downtown Joburg, Mega Music, Rosebank (Mama's) and many more followed.

The Monday Blues has been strong on poetry, music, film, dance art and comedy. Projects undertaken by the movement are varied and are aimed at improving relations between people both inside and outside South Africa. Our longest campaign is the anti-rape project - whose target is men who don't rape. The artistic approach toward discouraging and condemning this scourge has helped create awareness and breaking resistance from men in general. The idea is to encourage law-abiding men to beinvolved in combating rape. It went on for four years and we intend to keep highlighting this issue until there is no reason to do so anymore. We have also undertaken projects to eliminate other prejudices - homophobia, chauvinism and xenophobia. The latter project helped bring in refugees both political and economic into the mainstream of society in South Africa. To this day Monday Blues remains the most inclusive cultural movement on the continent.

So as we celecrate this beautiful creation throughout the month of October we urge all of you that have been to Monday Blues to share your stories and experiences at Monday Blues. Please feel free to put them up on the Monday Blues wall or e-mail them for us to put up on the blogspot. We know, groups have been formed, friendships started, careers revitalized, marriages formed, tell us all about it. CD's of MB recordings and T-shirts will be on sales at Monday Blues throughout the month so by all means, put that in your monthly budget :)

Lastly, a HUGE thank you to Peter Makurube for the initiative of creating such a beautiful stage. Not forgetting, thank you to everyone that has ever attended at Monday Blues show, whether it was to perform or to watch... Thank you all!

2009-09-24T23:51:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues line-up - 21 Sept:

Joy of Jozi
Leero & Aviwe & Tenda
Makomele Manaka
Smerf
Sliq Angel
Ternielle Nelson
Siya B
Venus Fly & Lady Fly
Rusty Dusty
Sol & Hugh

Big yoselves up!

This coming week is the last week of the Monday Blues and Arts Alive 2009 Incorporation sessions, we doing it big! So, be part of the African Experience... 28 September @ Ko'spotong Melville, starts @ 20h00.

Monday Blues & Arts Alive Incorp - 14 September

2009-09-17T01:45:00.001-07:00

Doors were open @ KO’SPOTONG MELVILLE , ALKA set-up sound in African time, well done…DJ Zweli selected tunes crate digging with mixing J Dilla’s recipes (the original tracks he sampled from) varying from Stevie Wonder, Worlds Worst bands etc.. for over an hour raising the bar for the artists and keeping the audience relaxed with good beats.

Up next was ZUMA FUNK songs of love, changing to praising the elders with “My Grandmother is a super hero”. DAMO MOKGATLA followed with heavy Sotho poetry edutaining. Masello Motana sang proudly three accapellas organic, refreshing and all. Next was Monday Blues own SLIQ ANGEL rocking the exclusive Monday Blues T-shirt performing a medley of his well known songs, he called randomly two back-up singers. It was as if they had rehearsed for it was airtight. He was followed by Nelspruit kings of funk JOY OF JOZI. They’ve been loyal to the Monday Blues stage and the crowd loves them, they know their music because LEERO joined in together with SIYA some nice R&B. After that was SIYA B (comic) he’s got material best way to describe it – it was a laugh out loud set! Back to back was SIZWE the KING RAT with poetry portrayed with harsh but loving still praising the devil in a dress, another lady blessed the stage AVIWE DAMANE singing accapella full of melodies that got everyone’s attention!

Then the Orlando West active muso all rounder S’PAMANDLA COSMIC blessed us with an acoustic pleasurable act, he sang beautiful original mellow but high notes blending with MCing rapping while playing guitar … what a dope one! He then was later joined by THUSI bass guitarist and SMASH the drummer… people requesting song cover versions, it was crazy! BONGEZIWE MABANDLA came up next with a band and started his own killer version of Jailer by Asa and went onto his Monday Blues well known original song GUNUZA. We continued with YOUNG J, first time on the Monday Blues stage, was forced to perform on guitar that was played by SLIQ ANGEL, damn was it nice! BADA BADA literally smuggled himself onto stage in the act doing a ragga (true story: someone in the crowd actually asked JUNIOR SOKHELE if BADA BADA (our own) was from Jamaica?...) Later was NTSIKELOLO xhosa poetry. As time was against us we had to cramp all 12 acts different art formed packed with motivation and knowledge into one memorable Monday Blues evening… your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE!

Monday Blues & Arts Alive Incorp - 07 September

2009-09-11T00:27:00.000-07:00

The first Monday Blues & Arts Alive 2009 incorp show kicked off with a bang! The line-up grew longer and longer as the night progressed. The opening act was done a group of comedians, first time on the Monday Blues stage and they go by the name NO TV, NO SLEEP. Nice way to start the evening! Next, we had an acoustic act by LILLY MILLION, who had the crowd very silent, she performed for the first time on the Monday Blues stage on acoustic guitar accompanied by the most beautiful vocals. The live band performances had everyone dancing, big thank you to L8 ANTIQUE, DR BADELA, JOY OF JOZI, BONGEZIWE MABANDLA & THE FRIDGE next time you hear that these bands are performing somewhere, make sure you check them out you won’t regret it! The DJ kept everyone dancing in between performances, big up DJ ZWELI! We did run out of time unfortunately, SLIQ ANGEL, SAMU, TIME, RASTI DUSTI n more couldn’t perform however they have promised to bless us at the next Monday Blues & Arts Alive incorp show on Monday: 14 September. Don’t miss out!

Monday Blues & Arts Alive bringing a breath of Fresh Air

2009-09-03T05:41:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues and Arts Alive have teamed up to bring you nothing but the freshest of poetry, jam sessions, open mics, live bands and so much more throughout the Spring month...Be sure to catch the first Monday Blues, Arts Alive show this coming Monday, 07 September @ Ko'spotong Melville. Starts @ 20h00, R30 gets you in!

Switch on to http://artsalive.com/ to keep up with events happening around Jo'burg brought to you by Arts Alive International Festival Johannesburg 2009!

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The month of August were we ran the Monday Blues Woman's Series was amazing thanks to the artists that performed and crowd that was always there till the very end! Big yoselfs up! Sliq Angel (Acoustic performance), Brother Moves On (Acoustic performance), Leero n the band (Band, vocals), Joy of Jozi (Live jazz band), Damo Makgatla (Poetry), Mac Manaka (Poetry), Inner Chi (Music, vocals, poetry), Bongeziwe (Acoustic performance), Dollar I (Poetry), Thomas & Siya B (Comedy), Samu, Aviwe, Marcia, jnr Mabokodo, Roger, King Daniel, Thusi, Mothofela, Sounds of Edutainment rep, Organised Distortion, Expresso feat. Purity, Dr Badela & Guests, Joy of Jozi, DJ: Zweli, Sound Alka..... The list goes on n on, you all know who you are that make this legendary stage live on with your contribution.

Host: CIA
Founder: Peter Makurube

2009-08-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

Tribute to Mama Miriam Makeba - Last Session of the Monday Blues Womans Month Series - 31 August

This is the last Monday of the Monday Blues Womans Month Series, hence this coming Monday we pay Tribute to Mama Africa, mama Mirriam Makeba. This AMAZING woman, blessed the Monday Blues stage on several occasions back when Monday Blues was still starting up... she was very much a big part of the Monday Blues family... so come thru, bring your favorite song by mama Mirriam, blessed us with poetry in her honor....

Not forgetting that this is the last week to bring clothes, shoes or any items you don't need to donate to charity. PLEASE, make the time to go through your cupboards, someone out there is in dying need of all those clothes collecting dust, that you don't wear anymore.

See you next Monday, 31 August... and keeping logging onto our blogspot to check out what Monday Blues has in store for you for the month of September!

your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

2009-08-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues News: 24 August

We NEED to firstly thank everyone that came through on Monday! I think it's accurate to say Mondays show was amazing! The line-up got longer and longer with each passing minute, the artist where geared up and so ready to bless the masses... thank you 4 such brilliant performances:

Sliq Angel (Acoustic performance)
Brother Moves On (Acoustic performance)
Leero n the band (Band, vocals)
Joy of Jozi (Live jazz band)
Damo Makgatla (Poetry)
Mac Manaka (Poetry)
Inner Chi (Music, vocals, poetry)
Bongeziwe (Acoustic performance)
Dollar I (Poetry)
Thomas & Siya B (Comedy)
Jam Session: Samu, Aviwe, Marcia, jnr Mabokodo, Roger, King Daniel

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DJ: Zweli

Host: CIA

Founder: Peter Makurube

2009-08-20T05:48:00.000-07:00

MONDAY BLUES NEWS

On the Monday Blues stage on Monday 17 August, we had amazing perfomances that had everyone holding their breath! Big thank you to the crowd for coming through:

Leero a loyal Monday Blues member, blessed us once again but this time accompanied by a three piece band! Dope!

Joy of Jozi, came of nice like they always do... beautiful jazz. Daniel was on drums, Gideon on base, & Dhina on keys.... amazing!!!

Had a band called Rent A Crowd, if you missed them this time around,be sure to catch them at the next Monday Blues, you won't regret it!

Jam Sessions at Monday Blues are always TOO NICE !! This past Mondays jam session was headed by Daniel on drums, Dhina on keys, Bradley on base THEN on vocals Levi Pon di Mic! & Samu! Make sure you're around for the next MB jam session!

DJ: Zweli

Host: CIA

Founder: Peter Makurube

MONDAY BLUES ... yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

Next session of the Monday Blues Woman's Month Series is 24th August, please remember to bring donantions in any form: clothes, toys etc. We have two more sessions in August before we have to take everything collected to homes for woman n children. PLEASE, take time to go through you're cupboards at home and take out items you don't need or use. Let's be giving good people.

THANKING YOU ALL IN ADVANCE!

Monday Blues - 03 August

2009-08-05T01:54:00.000-07:00

Over all we had a great evening as usual, the energies were in the right place. Everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves. However, there weren't enough female artists so ladies please come in numbers this Monday, please also extend the invitation to other beautiful woman...

On the Monday Blues stage on the 3rd August we had:

Thusi
Damo Mokgatla
Bongeziwe
Mothofela
Sounds of Edutainment rep
Organised Distortion
Expresso feat. Purity
Dr Badela & Guests
Joy of Jozi

A BIG thank you to the artists that performed and the crowd for showing up. We'd once again like to remind you to please go through your cupboards at home and bring through anything you don't use or need anymore, at the end of the womans month we will donate everything to charity.

Next session of the MONDAY BLUES WOMANS MONTH SERIES is on MONDAY, 10th AUGUST...yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

2009-08-05T01:45:00.000-07:00

2009-08-05T01:39:00.000-07:00

This band definately had the crowd of their feet with Good Vibes!!

2009-08-05T01:27:00.000-07:00

Rock band that gave an electrifying performance!

2009-08-05T01:04:00.000-07:00

Beautiful performance from these two ladies, poetry and vocals... kind of like a floetry vibe.

MONDAY BLUES WOMANS MONTH SERIES

2009-07-29T00:43:00.000-07:00

Woman’s day on 9 August has become a very significant day such so that it is a national public holiday. SA has elevated this day into the entire month of August becoming National Womans month. This month commemorates the national march of women 1956 to petition against legislation that required African persons to carry the "pass", special identification documents which curtailed an African's freedom of movement during the apartheid era. Monday Blues will run a series of Mondays in celebration of woman and the roles that they play in homes, communities and the world at large.

Monday Blues, in its current series of sessions that happen every Monday at Kospotong in Melville will run a Womans Month Series the entire duration of the Woman’s month:

Monday the 3rd August 2009

Monday the 10th August 2009

Monday the 17th August 2009

Monday the 24th August 2009

Monday the 31st August 2009

We ask all you powerful woman to come through on Mondays be it you DJ, sing, write peotry, play an instrument, or you're a designer, or a painter.... we'd love to see you there!

Check out updates weekly on facebook or our blogspot to see what suprise guest we'll be bringing you through out the month of August.

Monday Blues.... your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

Monday Blues News - 27 July

2009-07-29T00:19:00.000-07:00

We had a great evening at Monday Blues, the performances were amazing and the audience very pleasant.

Izwe, was on for the very first time on the Monday Blues stage. They are a live band, absolutely amazing!

Daniel - guitarist
Tuso - base guitarist
Nobuntu - lead singer
Linda - on keyboard
Ade - on drums

Bongeziwe, gave a wonderful performance accompanied by a band

We then had a jam session headed by Smash on drums, Tauriso on electric guitar, Bradley on up-right base, Tuso on base guitar... this was completed by peotry . Poets that blessed us:

Marcia
Mac
Smokey the Native Chef
Breeze

Thank you all for coming...

2009-07-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Next Monday Blues is on the 27th July @ Ko'spotong in Melville, as we approach Womans Month we ask all sisters to grace us with your presence. Let's have this legendary stage have a line up of woman only these next five weeks. Bring an instrument, a poem, a song or just be there to watch and listen...
Until then, be sure to make it through this Monday, starts @ 8h00... Monday Blues, your AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

Bradley on up-right basse n Frank from Kwani on drums... electrifying jam session!

2009-07-22T00:17:00.000-07:00

2009-07-22T00:14:00.000-07:00

Leero at MB - 13 July... he gave a brilliant performance!

2009-07-22T00:06:00.000-07:00

2009-07-20T05:13:00.000-07:00

2009-07-20T00:02:00.000-07:00

If u missed last weeks line up, be sure to make it tonight to Ko'spotong... bring a friend, an instrument, a poem... starts @ 20h00, R20 gets u in... C U THERE!

2009-07-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues news - 13 July

The line-up was amazing as usual, we had the following acts:

Leero was on acoustic guitar accompanied by great vocals
Bandile killed it on a poetry act
Fiona who's an amazing guitarist and vocalist from Germany blessed us
Joy of Jozi on jazz, they were FANTASTIC!
Then an amazing combination on a jam session, Bradley on up-right basse, Frank from Kwani on the drums & Tspoon from Joy of Jozi on guitar... beautiful jam session!
DJ: Alka
Host: CIA
Founder: Peter Makurube

2009-07-13T01:18:00.000-07:00

The next Monday Blues is tonight in Melville @ Ko'spotong, be sure to join us as we have a great line up for the night!!! yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

2009-06-25T01:06:00.000-07:00

the next MONDAY BLUES takes place on the 29th June 09, don't miss out... yo AFRICAN EXPERIENCE...

2009-06-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

2009-06-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

MONDAY BLUES NEWS - 22 JUNE

DJ: Alka
Host: CIA
Photo's taken by: Khanyiso Ndinisa
Founder of MB: Peter Makurube

Once again we had a fat line up, we were all blessed by great performances on the legendary stage:
Johnny Fantastic
Thobile
Kantolomba
Juan & Jon
Zen (Mr Fu and Johnny Fantastic)
Baby T, Spitjo, Kweriez
Mack, Paulo, Bulelani
Ade, Bulelani, Tebogo

Make sure to catch the next Monday Blues on the 29th June 09...

2009-06-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

2009-06-25T00:14:00.001-07:00

2009-06-23T05:19:00.000-07:00

2009-06-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues Profile

2009-06-23T04:40:00.000-07:00

Monday Blues is a cultural movement that accommodates both artists and the community. Monday Blues has an open mic platform were we allow people to come and showcase their talent in various artistic forms. It began in 1991 in Hillbrow and has since been presented in various communities in Johannesburg. The format is based on performance of whatever art form and exhibitions of visual arts. It has staged live in music venues around the city and welcomes all cultural expression.

The idea behind the constant change of venue and area is to give all communities a chance to experience the positive effects of arts on society that South Africa so needs after centuries of separation on the basis of color and culture. Our movement goes to a different area every six months though we stayed in Hillbrow for three years before moving on. Some of the areas we have been to are Brixton, traditionally a conservative neighborhood. We broke the mould of exclusivity and cultural isolation there. For the first time in our history ( by then 8 years) we had Afrikaans music and poetry performed by residents of Brixton. We've been to Radium Beer Hall, one of the oldest pubs in Johannesburg-where we had a great time even as regulars there ignored us for months, until the day we paid tribute to John Lennon. Melville has had its share of Monday Blues over the years, starting with the famous Bassline Jazz Club, now defunct. It was here we had the privilege of witnessing the greatest penny whistler of the last fifty years, the late Jack Lerole weave his magic on the Monday Blues stage. We returned to this venue several times, including an 8 month stint at Urban Note, directly opposite the Bassline. We also moved into the then, dark and forbidding Newtown Precinct, where we staged the show at Kippiesand Kofifi ( both sadly closed). Then few ventured into the area. Both venues provided milestones in ourhistory and that of the country's music industry. It was here where the late Moses Molelekwa met Moses Khumalo and others. They later collaborated on record and in live shows, when Khumalo joined Molelekwa's band.

Yeoville has been our main base, starting in 1997. Our first home there was Jahnitos, where fantastic performers like JIMMY Dludlu, Zim Ngqawana and Sandile Dikeni played to full-houses every week. We then moved to Raymond Street, where Blk Sonshine was born. Both Neo and Masauko met there and formed this incredible group that went on to win many fans across the social and geographical barriers. Time Square, a few blocks up the road also provided some memorable events - Roots 2000 was born there (Sliq Angel/MXO). The two have since become big names in the music scene. We once again relocated to Orange Grove - this time to Club 206, where Victor Ntoni's career was revitalized.We also put a lot of artists on the map, among them, Waddy Jones(rapper) who ended up as a recording artist and television presenter. This venue attracted the biggest number of audiences for the movement.Other venues, Horror Cafe in downtown Joburg, Mega Music (where the new Bassline is situated) Rosebank (Mama's) and many more followed.

The Monday Blues has been strong on poetry, music, film, dance art and comedy. Projects undertaken by the movement are varied and are aimed at improving relations between people both inside and outside South Africa. Our longest campaign is the anti-rape project - whose target is men whodon't rape. The artistic approach toward discouraging and condemning this scourge has helped createawareness and breaking resistance from men in general. The idea is to encourage law-abiding men to beinvolved in combating rape. It has been going on for four years and we intend to keep highlighting this issue until there is no reason to do so anymore. We have also undertaken projects to eliminate otherprejudices - homophobia, chauvinism and xenophobia. The latter project helped bring in refugees bothpolitical and economic into the mainstream of society in South Africa. To this day Monday Blues remains the most inclusive cultural movement on the continent. The youth, who comprise the majority of Monday Blues family, have benefited from these projects by connecting them with others across the continent. As leaders of tomorrow in Africa, we believe we they can benefit from a positive attitude and a shared vision for the continent. The movement has also attracted audiences and performers from around the world. France, Britain, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Japan, USA, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Brazil, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal, Cameroon, Spain, Finland, Kenya, DRC, Lesotho, Swaziland, Australia, Canada, Sweden among many others. Among the artists who have graced the Monday Blues stage in the past years : Tshepo Tshola, LouisMhlanga, Moses Molelekwa, Zim Ngqawana, Sandile Dikeni, Cudjou, Common Man, Jimmy Dludlu, Khaya Mahlangu, Blk Sonshine, Simphiwe Dana, Zena Mathews, Andrew Missingham, Brice Wassy, Musik Ye Afrika, Hugh Masekela, Myesha Jenkins, Ntsiki Mazwai, Mcoy Mrubata, Paul Hanmer, Sidney Mnisi, Jack Lerole, Munich Youth Jazz Orchestra, Lefifi Tlali, Abe Cindi, Pops Mohamed, Marcus Wyatt, Fikile Magadlela, Dorothy Masuka, Victor Ntoni, Moses Khumalo, Kagiso Lediga Feel A Sista, Sipho Mabuse, Bakithi Khumalo, Roots 2000, Fana Zulu, Afrika Mkhize, Masello Motana, HiltonSchilder, etc.

MONDAY BLUES - (1991 - 2001)

The Monday Blues was born in the bowels of Hillbrow in an underground club called Cotton Pub on the corner of cnr Quatz and Kotze a block away from the highest point on the hill - Highpoint, home to thousands of tenants all its 30 floors. From there one could see as far as Soweto, Kensington and the M2 east. Yet another sight was the most famous red light district in the land, Quartz street. Business went on 24 hours both for the girls and taxi drivers. Cotton Pub was situated under the Hotel Plaza, then catering to the lowest end of the market. It was there prostitutes took their clients. The Cotton Pub was sharing this alive space with all the others. There was a pub right next door to the Cotton Pub’s exit. Then Hillbrow was the place to be and people from all walks of life met in Hillbrow and the Cotton Pub was one of the magnets for the upper scale fraternity. It was here future stars met it each other, played together and paved the way for the ensuing boom of jazz and the emergence of new stars onthe creative music scene. The first musician to play Monday Blues was bassist Bakithi Khumalo, who is now among the world’s most respected musicians. He is based in New York City where he is playing with top stars like Grateful Dead, Marcus Miller and Diana Ross. He first came to international prominence after recording and touring with Paul Simon during Graceland.
The Monday Blues soon attracted more artists, poets, comedians, dancers and writers. Artists also exhibited their paintings every Monday. Among the writers we hosted Gomolemo Mokae, James Mathews and several international writers who had come to Johannesburg for the International Writers Conference - hosted and organised by the editor of New Nation (now defunct). Others who graced the Monday Blues stage were Sipho Mabuse and Tshepo Tshola (the latter has been a regular since 1991 to the present time. Remi Kabaka, an internationally recognised percussionist from Nigeria (based in NYC for the last 35 years) who had come to South Africa with Hugh Masekela’s Sekunjalo home-coming tour. The show began attracting younger musicians like the late Moses Molelekwa, Jimmy Dludlu, John Hassan, Jimmy Mngwandi, Frank Pako, McCoy Mrubata and Junior and Ishmael among others. The latter two were close collaborators who plied their trade on the mean streets of Hillbrow. Their appearance at the Monday Blues led directly to a stint with top rap act, Prophets Of The City. Junior and Ishmael then toured Europe with this band but later split to go their separate ways. Junior Sokhela co-founded Boom Shaka while Ishmael joined Skeem but has since gone solo. Monday Blues has been a positive platform for many other young artists since then. Between 2001 to present Monday Blues was hosted at the following venues:
Urban Note in Melville, Mzansi Orleans n Norwood, Mo’s, One Drop in Yeoville. We’ve also been busy with other projects such as Zimele Concert, Running the Streets that was a June 16 gig in Yeoville. We are now currently hosting at Ko'spotong in Melville.