Represent Review: Alter Route Soweto
Soweto’s left-of-centre youth culture is alive and gathering… Banele Rewo and photographer Tiko Ngobeni hung out this past weekend with Soweto’s brightest young exceptions to the rule. (See our Alter Route Soweto photostory here): We love you….We love you…We love you sang Mothusi Thusi the vocalist, guitarist, flautist …actually, everythingist for the The Layders. This was after the 10 hour concoction of music, visuals, food in a cultural blend that can only be prepared in Soweto. There’s a pile of information available on Soweto for those interested, however nothing can articulate the tingling of senses experienced when Soweto’s multiple subcultures collide in art and expression. On the surface Alter Route Soweto is a gig meant to foster artistic expression within the young urbanites in the city and the peripherals. However one could not avoid noticing the dominance of subtle nuances – such as the drive for success through art, the importance of independence of thought and the buzzing entrepreneurship that defines an “Alter Route individual”. This is a person who believes in creating magic through design and clothing such as Thesis Clothing situated in Dube, Soweto, Thesis is the first choice of wear for an “alter Route individual”. Thesis had a “pop up” shop in one of the rooms of the Burnt House where the event took place and I am eagerly anticipating the next “pop up” anywhere. OB the Vegetarian Chef chopped up ingredients that stuck true to the theme of alter routing from the normal diet of cardboard meat served up at you favourite fast food restaurant. Veggies were served in everything even in the garage turned stage where the“Meat the Veggies” band heated us up to boiling point with their locally produced lounge music served with simmering smooth vocals. Alter Route Soweto is not a gig…it’s more than what the organizers describe as a “ multi-genre, multi-cultural and mix-flavoured brew of celebration for all”. It is more than appreciating a young black operated skateboarding label and apparel design from Krooked. It’s a movement that in the literal sense alters perceptions of Soweto, The City and ultimately the individual. See our Alter Route Soweto photostory here. Words: Banele Rewo Images: Tiko...
Take the Alter Route through Soweto
I’ve never known how to feel about the tourist buses and taxis that bump through Soweto crammed with foreign faces pressed up curiously at the windows, only stopping at very specific touristy haunts- on one hand, it kind of eeks me out, on the other, it’s what tourists do in any interesting place… and damn Soweto is interesting. And tourism brings many great things with it, including strange sock-sandal combinations. Thing is, those buses are only ever going to catch the surface and perhaps cliched view of the charm-oozing hub that makes you never want to leave- but there’s an underside to Soweto that’s been brewing over the last decade as an evolving creative youth explores and reinvents their identity in a postrevolution South Africa. Be privy to this change as it’s happening right now, get to a celebration of hip and happening Soweto in 2009 next weekend at Alter Route. Oh and don’t tell the sock-and-sandle clad tourists, we’d like to keep it to ourselves for a bit as it’s just so… nice: Winter is on its way out, summer’s almost here and what better way to awaken the hibernated senses with Alter Route Soweto on Saturday August 29, 2009 at Est 1912, Rockville Soweto. Alter-Route is an exhibition that encapsulates the spirit of its surroundings and serves it up through a mix of visual, auditory and culinary ingredients that would appeal to everyone. Kgomotso Morena, event organizer, says “Soweto has passed the phase of being labelled a township. Its streets have changed, its face has undergone reconstruction and its mentality has grown. Throughout all this change, its youth has been preparing a multi-genre, multi-cultural and mix-flavoured brew of new age talent and Alter Route Soweto is a collection and celebration of all that.” All this means is that, apart from one hell of an event, Alter Route Soweto will be a platform for the brands that will be on display to be exposed to new markets and new patrons, it’s a way of showcasing unconventional artistic elements in hope of bringing people of diverse backgrounds together. For R30, the public will first be treated to the renowned Dr Badela, The Layders, Wysdiman, Meat the Veggies, Wireless Gee and playkaystat who will all not just satisfy your hearing but set the mood for the entire event. Then, as if that isn’t enough, Soweto’s finest vegetarian chef, Far a field from Shifty, whose repertoire ranges from delectable gourmet cuisine to simple yet equally tantalising takeaways will be seen cooking up a storm and selling some scrumptious bites. What’s a celebration without some visual stimulation? Guests’ eyes will be amazed...
We will be back!
