Viva Amapiano!: It makes its debut at Market Theatre, replacing popular annual jazz programme, potentially forcing sitting rearrangement

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTs Editor

The Market Theatre in Newtown, is known for its theatre programming during the year, and come December, it lightens up the mood within its premises by often ending the year with a jazz programme. Things this year are different however. It is now ending its year programme by embracing amapiano. This development points to one thing, and it is that things have dramatically changed as far as the genre of amapiano is concerned. It is now going into spaces that one would never associate with this kind of music only a few years ago.

Whether you like it or not, amapiano, this South African brewed music sound has indeed arrived. Embraced by mainly the youth first locally, and slowly spreading its tentacles of influence throughout the world, amapiano rules the dance floors, from Cape Town to Cairo, London to New York these days.

Mainly derived from the music that came with freedom, and again championed by the young creative minds in the music industry at the time, kwaito, amapiano has taken that sound to another level. Whereas kwaito’s influence was limited to southern Africa and actually struggled to go beyond Zambia, amapiano is not only a sound dominating the whole continent, but is fast becoming a global sound to take note of. Even though there are questions about the limitation of this sound, particularly when it comes to live performances, its strength limited to studio works where the country’s leading producers do their magic, there is no doubt that in Amapiano, the country has invented a new sound that is influencing dance and music trends globally right now.

Its detractors however argue that what will limit this sound globally is the questionable performance part of it, as often its exponents, mostly DJs and their producers who are good in studio work, often struggle when they need to perform live in front of an audience. In other words, they are unable to match the quality and consistency they produce in the studio on stage before a live audience. And this is not something new when it comes to this part of music development in South Africa. Some will recall incidents during the era of kwaito when kwaito artists were sometimes not well received when they ventured into the African continent, performing live. Audiences were sometimes not impressed by the artists’ heavy reliance on technology than actually performing. This seems to be the same issue that ampainao artists are facing.

Be that as it may, that does not affect the appreciation of this sound championed by a number of producers that have since emerged as leaders in this sound. For example, you look at the phenomenal influence of a producer such as Kabza De Smal. The young man has his footprint everywhere when it comes to creating hits in the amapiano genre. He is clearly in a class of his own, even though there are other talented amapiano producers in the country right now as this genre takes centre stage as far as dance music is concerned in South Africa at the moment.

And therefore many will not be surprised by the decision of the Market Theatre this festive season ditching its usual jazz grove programme for an amapiano grove in its theatres as their festive music menu. The theatre is obviously playing by the ear, giving the audience, especially the youth what they want. It is most probably a wise idea as the theatre will be able to introduce young audiences to the theatre, an audience that normally gets catered for by the club scene. Hopefully they will get hooked to the idea of going to theatre to watch theatre proper after their experience of the intimacy of a theatre space.

It will also be interesting how the theatre will handle a crowd that is not known for theatre etiquette, especially when it comes to seating arrangements and reacting appropriately to music with due consideration to others seated next to them or behind them. For example, can you stop someone spontaneously jumping up on their chair to dance to a tune they love being played by a DJ in the name of etiquette? Will the theatre seats for example, be turned into dance floors and how?

And of course there is that small matter of drinks during a performance in theatre. Will the theatre waive its rule of no drinks during performances in the theatre? This question is especially relevant because often, an amapiano concert always goes well, when one is, let us just say, not 100 percent sober.  Will the theatre producers allow revellers to take their drinks in? At the same time, with a certain kind of sitting arrangement pertaining to theatre applying, one would not want a situation where the whole bottle of Carling Black Label is emptied on one’s lap by an inebriated dancing body touched by the performances. This is sure to become something to consider as the theatre brings amapiano in its spaces.  The theatre producers have to take these facts into consideration because the young crowd likes shaking their bodies, especially when their favourite Djs are on the decks and they are playing their favourite amapiano tune. In the process and in this situation of excitement, it is too easy to not remember something called theatre etiquette.

Be that as it may, it is now official: Amapiano sound is making its debut at the Market Theatre this December in a festive season programme dubbed Live @ the Market Theatre, featuring amapiano and Afro grooves, that have Afrobeat vibes. But perhaps most importantly, this is the heralding amapiano becoming mainstream in South Africa, being accommodated iin scared spaces such as a theatre set up. Viva Amapiano! Its avid fans must be celebrating this acknowledgement of amapiano as part of the broad South African cultural mosaic by not only accommodating the sound at the Market Theatre, but in the process replacing a usual popular end of year jazz programme at the Market Theatre.

And among those scheduled to perform are a mixture of amapiano and Afro music exponents, who include Sun-El Musician, Makhafula Vilakazi, The Brother Moves On, Lady Du, Femi Koya, Muntu Vilakazi, Maria McCloy, Malome Vector, Wenawedwa, Ms Jones, DJ Stopper Bells, Lady Amar, DJ Roto, Ms Party and Sanelisiwe Yekani as MC.

A press release from the Market Theatre received by CITYLIFE/ARTS this week announcing this programming says the following:

“If music be the food of love, play on,” wrote dramatist, William Shakespeare in the play, Twelfth Night. It is the twelfth month of the year, and music is what the doctor ordered this December at the Market Theatre after a dramatic year on the stage. As a nation under a groove, December or Dezemba is a uniquely South African proposition and as an institution of artistic excellence, the Market Theatre has curated a musical spectacular that will usher the citizenry into the festive season from Friday 9 December to the 17th.

Live @ the Market will take part over two weekends featuring the talents of Sun El and Lady Du for the house and piano enthusiast and Makhafula Vilakazi, The Brother Moves On and Femi Koya for the discerning Pan African listener.

In this gathering, we want to invoke the spirit of love and relentless compassion, sacrifice and strength, care and tenderness. We will be reminded of how music-making has opened up our imaginations to what a truly just society might look like. We will be reminded of how moments of freedom do not only have to end on stage. We can carry them everywhere we go the in the same ways that the musicians in this line-up illustrate.

Let’s fine-tune those dance moves because ziyakhala manje kuguga othandayo! Get ready for a fantastic and entertaining weekend that will get you in the mood for the holidays!

The John Kani stage will feature live band performances for only R250 for a day pass, followed by DJ performances for only R100 at a cordoned-off area outside the theatre.

Over the years, the Market Theatre has hosted numerous music events, but this is our first time tapping into amapiano as part of our efforts to create an inclusive artistic space.

The Pan African weekend kicks off our lineup on Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of December 2022. African music has shaped much of our lives and continues to inform our understanding of ourselves as a people. Our music has not only been about entertainment but through it, we have been able to articulate or experience our desires. Musicians participating in this Pan-African experience include The Brother Moves On, Femi Koya, Makhafula Vilakazi, Malome Vector, Muntu Vilakazi, Ms Jones, Wenawedwa, and Maria McCloy.

Amapiano traces its roots to Kwaito, blending Zulu fork lore with South African sounds. Its rhythm and beats are clear and distinct. With continuous piano keys in the music, deep bass, jazz and percussions with melodic voices, the Market Theatre will host Sun- El Musician, Lady Du, DJ Stopper Bells, Lady Amar, DJ Roto, Ms Party, and Sanelisiwe Yekani as MC to close out the musical festivities.

Don’t miss a beat with this year’s Live @the Market music extravaganza!”

The 2022 Live @The Market seasons line up and ticket prices:

PAN AFRICAN WEEKEND

Date & Time	Artists	Ticket Price
Friday 9 December 17h00 – 21h00	Sanelisiwe Yekani DJ: Wena Wedwa Malome Vector	R250
21h00 – 22h00	Dj: Maria McCloy	R100

Date & Time	Artists	Ticket Price
Saturday 10 December 15h00 – 21h00	Makhafula Vilakazi DJ: Ms Jones The Brother Moves On	R250
21h00 – 22h00	DJ: Maria McCloy	R100

Date & Time	Artists	Ticket Price
Sunday 11 December 15h00 – 19h00	DJ: Muntu Vilakazi Femi Koya	R250

AMAPIANO WEEKEND

Date & Time	Artists	Ticket Price
Friday 16 December 16h00 – 21h00	Stopper Wadi Bells Lady Du	R250
21h30 – 22h30	DJ Lady Amar	R100

Date & Time	Artists	Ticket Price
Friday 16 December 16h00 – 21h30	DJ Roto Sun El Musician	R250
Saturday 17 December 21h30 – 22h30	DJ Ms Party aka Olwee	R100

To make block bookings please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950 or Bandile Luvalo 078 4344 860 or www.webtickets.co.za