Representing in Phalaborwa!
So many of us are not from Jozi. In fact many of us are from everywhere but here: drawn to the gold rush, the vibe, the work opportunities… searching for success and a ‘piece of the good pie’ that our wonderful adopted city of Joburg generously offers us. But there’s nothing like going home to your town, kasi, village or street, nostalgia flooding your being at the emotions of remembering where you are from and how far you have come since you left for the big lights. Our writer Reuben “The Matrix” Malema paints exactly this scenario as he takes us through his visit to his hometown of Phalaborwa in Limpopo to attend the Cell C/Ghetto Ruff/Zola event on the weekend. Thanks for reminding us of how good it feels to make a triumphant return. Bring on the holidays. See our photos here.
On Saturday 28/07/2007 the Palamine Club – Namakgale – Phalaborwa (My Origins and Home base!!!), had its wide-open grounds teeming with bodies all out in full force and well adorned – partly in support of a charitable good cause and partly in a quest for an exhilarating night out.
For me and the ‘Jus Dat’ entourage, the night and fun started way before the official proceedings took centre stage as our convoy conglomerated at the Malepe residence in Namakgale (Di – 12 !!), a place all too familiar to me. In a very emotional way the setting evoked images of my childhood days in a juxtaposed collage of memorabilia against my now triumphant return to my Origins (The warm feeling really defies words and any attempt to express these emotions).
At 18:00, hazards flashing, our convoy took to the streets in a presidential-like parade with all routes leading to Palamine Club. Our entry through the VIP access point was indeed a very momentous occasion which got even Big Vic (one part of Jus Dat`s management and Executive production duo) in a near tear-jerking moment as in his own words: “We left home in search of greater opportunities in Johannesburg and now Palamine Club is paying homage to our achievements!” – If I never cried right there and then, I knew i`ll never cry that night ever again, because his words were not just his own, but sentiments shared intimately by many of us from Limpopo who’ve undertaken the same search for success in the Highveld of gold down south! Hence the emotional gratitude and heartfelt tribute to Big Vic and Tumelo Mailula`s success (Re a Thekga Bakone!).
The tight security venue was embellished with red and white, clearly symbolic of Cell-C`s corporate identity. At 19:00 Phalaborwa’s star Radio personality: DJ Eddie Crooks handed the stage over to one local star – DJ Pelo who kicked off the performance line-up to a seemingly slow to react crowd (my view at that point), but making us very proud none the less.
Now, if I did not know Jus Dat`s capabilities I could have sworn that Big Vic heavily bribed the home crowd, because after a perceived slow start – the crowd turned into an encrazed mob as Jozi`s new Hip-Hop duo: Jus Dat, radically redefined hip-hop, funk and hype! Performing some of their hits: Volume Up and the flagship Bengazi to an already running wild audience, all to be documented on their Pending DVD. Ghetto Ruff – not to be outdone, unleashed the brand new addition to their powerhouse stable: M’changani.
Apart from the fact that M’changani rhymes in a dialect of Limpopo origins, thus making it easy for him to connect at the same level with the crowd, this Bloke really did bring down the gauntlet! Getting the crowd to sing along to his tunes, he was even dubbed ‘The Chief of Palamine Club’ by some very ecstatic fans.
The Ghetto-Ruff assault on the crowd did in no way cease with M’changagi as Mpumi Philips and Stage Manager Jay commanded a legion of very talented and very well received stars like: the all too hip Morafe (Bafana ba Mahikeng!), Malik, Bravo, Gumshev (The F1 boyz!), Drencko, Masingita, Mgarimbe (Sista Betina!!!), Jub Jub, C.I.A, Slice, Amu and the flamboyant Jozi.
By Midnight the venue was still abuzz with fans, groupies and us members of the VIP fraternity. As late in the night as it was and as intoxicated as many were; it wasn’t too late for a fresh wave of energy to reignite the scene as our favorite philanthropist, actor, singer, Zuid Afrikaansche number one brand and superstar: Zola 7 painted the town red!
This Magna Cum Laude of Hip-Hop Kwaito fusion not only performed within the confines of the stage area, but got off stage and climbed on his up-for-grabs maroon Chrysler Crossfire singing the famous Tsotsi soundtrack: Umdlwembe!
Represent is grateful to have been an intricate part of this exciting journey to benefit those less fortunate than us. We also add our plea to the Make A Difference Tour call: Please go out and purchase the R10.00 starter packs as your money helps Zola and Cell-C to send many disadvantaged kids to school for the betterment of our great nation!
Thanks to all at Ghetto-Ruff (especially Mpumi Philips) for making this event a reality and as always for tagging Represent along – Sharpile!
4 more info visit: http://www.ghettoruff.co.za/ and http://www.komarecords.co.za/
Reuben-the Matrix-Malema
