7 March 2009
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele has announced that a Music Academy
will be established in the province.
Speaking at the funeral service of the late Philani âAmenâ Mkhanyawo, which
was held at the Menzi High School Sports Ground in Umlazi earlier today 7 March
2009, Premier Ndebele said that the provincial government will assist in the
establishment of the Ithemba Music Academy as a fitting tribute to the late
Amen.
âThe Ithemba Gospel Choir has become a role-model to the youth all over the
province. So classy is their talent that other music groups copy them. Ithemba
struggled against many odds and have risen to great heights. Amen was a
founding member of Ithemba and played an integral role in the group. As a
tribute to the life and contribution of Amen, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial
government will assist in the establishment of the Ithemba Music Academy, which
was one of Amenâs dreams,â said the Premier.
Amen, a father of three children, was shot several times at his home in
N-Section Umlazi on 26 February 2009. Thousands of people, including members of
the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government Executive Council (Cabinet), Members of
the Provincial Legislature, Councillors and Religious Leaders, attended the
funeral. Premier Ndebele and his wife Zama, personally assisted Ithemba in
their musical career and the group was extremely thankful to the Ndebele
family.
Premier Ndebele said, âThe senseless death of this gifted and talented man,
at the prime of his life, is callous and unnecessary. Amen, as he was fondly
known, was focused and a go-getter. His brutal killing is, yet, another blow to
our society. Crime and criminality is a scourge that continues to bedevil our
communities.
âAs government, we are working hard towards building a normal society. We
turn to you members of the church, communities, people who worship at mosques
and temples, the imams, priests and pundits to join us in building our
communities. Together we can win the fight against crime.
âThe Ithemba Gospel Group was discovered in the early part of 2001 at the
funeral of Mama Mboxela. The group was a combination of raw talent and
determination, from eager young people, to spread words of inspiration. They
were not an organised group or managed by a promoter. They did not sing for
commercial gain. It was the former Mayor of Durban, Theresa Mthembu, who first
heard Ithemba and spoke highly of their talent. Singing at the funeral of Mama
Mboxela they were truly discovered and later developed.
âIthemba started off with young people, who wanted to carry the message of
hope and building a better future in KwaZulu-Natal. We intervened and assisted
with the development of the group with simple things such as getting uniforms
for the group, allowing them to perform at government functions and helping
them to spread the message of moral rejuvenation in our society.
âIn 2003, while I was MEC for Transport, 19 people died in a vehicle crash
at Babanango. At the memorial service, the families were overcome with pain and
grief. But it was the quiet and soft hushed musical tones of Ithemba that
brought comfort to the bereaved families. Their music has depth.
âIthemba became ambassadors of change with their well-strung melodies and
lyrics. Young men, coming from townships and holding full-time jobs, found
themselves singing for hope in their spare time. Ithemba is a success story of
triumph over adversity. The lives of the members of Ithemba are woven like the
story of our province from hopelessness to hope. Ithemba sing with passion in
their hearts and a zest for change.
âWith the help of many of us, Ithemba brought out their first CD in 2005.
But with sheer determination and their own initiative, the group launched their
second CD last year,â said the Premier.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
E-mail: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
7 March 2009
