The Soweto Punk Festival
Nevermind the nyoso, here’s Soweto Punk
The Soweto Punk collective's first event, happening this November, marks a milestone in South Africa's steadily growing underground punk scene. We caught up with Tshepang Ramoba, BLK JKS drummer and founder of Soweto Punk, to discuss the scene’s roots, their upcoming event, future plans and their partnership with Uganda-based Nyege Nyege.
It seems the only way is up for Soweto rock ‘n roll. The scene, which Rolling Stone and i-D have both profiled, birthed one of the only thriving skate punk communities in South Africa, and it has a few more tricks up its sleeve.
Enter Soweto Punk. Spearheaded by members of the legendary BLK JKS, fast-rising Shameless and OG thrashers TCIYF, this initiative is all about helping local talent.
It’s set to kick off with an event featuring a stacked bill of local heavy hitters at Shameless lead singer and guitarist Musa Zwane’s studio space in Rockville on 30 November.
Tickets are just R80 and attendees can look forward to seeing the shoegaze-inspired Zondo Commission, unapologetic Aura Electric and newly hatched Weird Fruits, in addition to scene staples Shameless.
Soweto Punk aims to nurture local talent by offering management support, securing record deals and creating merchandise, with the team releasing a vinyl of the performances from the event. The LP will be created in partnership with Uganda’s Nyege Nyege festival collective, which was recently profiled by the New York Times.
“The idea kind of sparked during a chat with Sandile Mbatha (Bassist, TCIYF) on a BLK JKS tour,” Tshepang Ramoba, Soweto Punk founder and BLK JKS’ drummer/vocalist, says.
Reminiscing about the close-knit, coordinated nature of the early 2000s DIY punk scene, Ramoba suggested to Sandile that young bands collaborate to revive the movement’s ethos.
“He loved the idea and when we came back from tour I organised a festival, booking Shameless, Ruff Majik, Sio and more in partnership with Devil's Peak Beer Company.”
The event went well, but Tshepang felt it could be the catalyst for something bigger. So he contacted Sandile and Musa from Shameless about joining forces and building something collectively, emphasising that it should be open to further collaboration.
To Tshepang, the sense of camaraderie is one of his favourite things about the current Soweto rock landscape. It reminds him of formative experiences with his own Sowetan rock band in Cape Town.
"The scene kind of reminds me of when I was young. No matter where you come from, it's like, 'We're in this thing together’. It has a sense of community,” the musician says.
“Back in the day, everyone was friends. The people who owned the venues loved music and most of them were artists,” he adds. “Basically, BLK JKS was ‘born again’ in Cape Town. That was the influence.”
It’s exactly this kinship which drives their mission to create an inclusive space where outcasts can find their tribe and thrive. It also birthed Soweto Punk’s partnership with Nyege Nyege, with Tshepang befriending and approaching the organisers about the vinyl release after a BLK JKS performance last year.
As the drummer put it: “We need more venues and festivals that support artists.”
Soweto Punk will take place on the 30th of November from 3pm - 11pm at Musa Zwane Studios.
Book tickets HERE
Words by Neil Büchner Jnr for Letterhead