Multi-talented performing artist Nakhane to collaborate in concert with eccentric and equally gifted visual artist Lady Skollie at Lyric Theatre on Friday

This is an unusual concert that promises new possibilities of collaboration across artistic disciplines and should not be missed easily.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

He is definitely one of the country’s most talented and multi-faceted artists -a writer, actor and musician, who in a short space of time, has stacked his claim on the South African contemporary art space. Well internationally too, as a performer and songwriter of note.

His is a journey of inspiration and dedication, and well, talent too. In good doses to boot. Though currently based in London, the rather bitingly cold capital of the English island of the UK he has called home since the advent of the Coronavirus, Nakhane, to the delight of his local fans has been holding concerts in South Africa regularly ever since, travelling between London and Johannesburg.

Those who may have not attended those previous shows, one or two as my memory is failing me right now, before now have another chance as he and other interesting artists are booked to perform on Friday at Gold Reef City. You better be prepared for the enchanting sounds of Nakhane and the rest of the artists this Friday. This concert is special, and rather unusual in a way, as it also features one of the country’s most eccentric but highly talented visual artists, Lady Skollie.

I’am sure you must be wondering, Lady Skollie in concert, what is going on? You actually should not be as Lady Skollie, though her specialist area of the arts is a brush and paint that she actually uses so well, she has always been a performer for all the years that I have known her. Well performer of a different kind. Without a stage. In a way, those that have followed the evolution of Lady Skollie as a painter, whose practice is proudly steeped firmly in her Khoisan origins, will not be surprised that she is collaborating with Nakhane in concert.

A garrulous artist, Lady Skollie in her own right, has always been a performer of sorts. And I am not lying, I witnessed her take to the decks entertaining guests at fine art auction house Strauss &Co.’s events last year as a DJ. It is true. And of course those who have been to the opening of her exhibitions would know that apart from her works that would be on the walls, she herself would be part of the exhibit. Either talking loudly assertively or even arrogantly, If you like, about her work and her evolution as an artist.

The case in point is the recent opening of her current exhibition at Standard Bank Gallery in central Johannesburg which she landed as part of her prize for snatching the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award for visual art 2022. Guests had to listen to Lady Skollie for what appeared to be close to an hour, speak boldly about her art practice, but notably how she deserved that award, and how she was representing all the artists that go with the identity of Coloured in South Africa.

That is Lady Skollie for you –highly talented, talkative, assertive and even arrogant. It is simply her nature and therefore you can imagine come Friday, what will happen on the stages of the Lyric Theatre when two highly talented artists, Nakhane and Lady Skollie collaborate. This is definitely a show that one should not miss in Johannesburg. Unless of course there is a pressing commitment that cannot be cancelled. If not, I would advise that cancel it and make your way to the Lyric to witness what promises to be an interesting concert that could in fact open possibilities for further artistic collaborations cross disciplines on the South African contemporary art scene.

Nakahne and Skollie are not the only artists though that will be on stage as there will be also fresh talent that will reveal what they are made of artistically on that evenng..

Award winning artist Lady Skollie and rising young artists Muneyi and Gemma Fassie will join Nakhane on stage. Tickets are available through Computicket from R250 upwards. 

Nakhane, the multi-talented, award-winning, London based, singer, songwriter, novelist and actor will return for this very special show. He is looking forward to collaborating with an artist he has long admired. ““What Lady Skollie did for me was bring painting to the here and now. It was no longer an older person’s practice, but my generation’s as well”

It will be a visual collaboration of note between Standard Bank Young Artist Of The Year for Visual Art Award Winner, Lady Skollie, and Nakhane. Bassline Live’s Brad Holmes says this collaboration will “Blow the audiences visual and audio minds away.”

Holmes says “Lady Skollie has not been shy to acknowledge her admiration of Nakhane, she openly calls herself their groupie. The feeling is mutual with Nakhane equally being a fan of Lady Skollie’s feminist, activist focused art. Fireworks are to be expected when these two creatives get together! In her words, Lady Skollie says about Nakhane’s album “You Will Not Die saved my Life!”

Also performing on the 24th are artists from Msaki’s ALTBLK community. Muneyi recently having released his acclaimed EP  ‘For All The Boys I Like’ is billed as the Support Act for the evening, with promising singer Gemma Fassie opening the show.

Muneyi cannot contain his excitement. “Nakhane is one of my idols, they don’t know this, but, when ‘You Will Not Die’ (2018) was released, I studied it while at gym everyday, and ‘Star Red’ won my heart, alongside other tracks, so, it’s a full circle moment for me, because I absolutely adore this human, and having attended their previous show in the country the year before, I kept thinking, I’d like to play with them one day (no pun intended). I am grateful for manifested moments that come to fruition. I’ll see all you geighs, femmes and thems on Friday the 24th!”

Gemma Fassie says “Music has been my lifeline for the longest time. It’s kept me sane in this world we live in, and, being supported by a team such as ALTBLK has made me feel part of a family, a community of like-minded people. Opening up for an artist such as Nakhane and alongside Muneyi is an amazing opportunity and I can only thank ALTBLK for believing in me and my craft. I’ll be performing some unreleased music and some songs you might’ve heard.”

“The Live at The Lyric Series of annual concerts are always unique, in that they bring together super talents to create one of a kind live music performances, such as the Sun El Musician and Friends with The Anchored Sound Orchestra, conducted by Ofentse Pitse last year and Msaki’s Delta Love Experience this March, which opened the 2023 annual series. Both of these were sold out concerts! To have the collaboration of Nakhane, who in my opinion is one of the most super talented individuals on our beautiful planet, and uber talented feminist, activist, artist Lady Skollie’s artworks involved, I am so privileged to witness and work with them both” Says Paige Holmes from Bassline Live.

This show is sponsored by the SAMPRA Development Fund (SDF) and Bassline. The SDF is a Corporate Social Investment arm of The South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA) that was established to meaningfully contribute to the development and sustainability of its members, music promoters, and the entire South African Music industry.