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FELA
Thabo Lehlongwa is a writer, poet, cultural activist, film/tv producer, events organizer, urban culture historian and creative consultant. His foundation was laid in the hip-hop culture, where he started performing (miming) other people’s songs in 1988 as a junior member of the Silver Stars Youth Club, the group that recorded the first official kwaito album, Kwaito Nation, in 1989. He started writing his original works/lyrics in 1991 and his introduction to the music/recording industry was in 1994, when he featured on Robbie Malinga’s debut album, Kumnandi and Zulu R&B pioneer Sifiso Fakude’s hit single Like a King. Since the mid 90s, Thabo has been utilizing his organizational and creative talents to contribute to the development of South Africa’s youth and disenfranchised communities through public speaking, training and initiating multi-media projects, including workshops, events and TV/video productions. He has been published in a number of poetry journals, newspapers, magazines and other publications in the development and creative sectors. His spoken word/ works has been shared in clubs, streets, schools, radio,TV, churches, prisons and international conferences.
Thabo has also produced a number of documentaries under Sidewalk and as a freelancer, including the SAFTA Award- winning A Blues for Tiro, about the life of the BCM member who was the first South African to be bombed by the apartheid forces outside our borders. Other documentaries produced under Sidewalk include Sivelaphi Siyaphi- a Parliamentary Millennium Project film about the history of women struggles and the legacy of the 1955 women’s march, and People of Bethal, reflecting on the horrid events that culminated in the uncovering of the infamous Bethal Potato Farm’s Scandal. Similarly, he produced Word Down The Line, which stars legendary poet Lesego Rampolokeng, who engages dissenting poets of different generations on their thoughts around 20 years of democracy, and the relevance of “revolutionary” poetry in the post-apartheid South Africa. James Matthews, Mafika Gwala, Boitumelo Mofokeng, Jeremy Cronin, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Makhafula Vilakazi and Kgafela Magogodi are featured in the film. Most recently Thabo was a featured commentator in “Negotiated Settlement”, a documentary that takes stock of the Codesa negotiations and the aftermath. It also features political figures such as all post-apartheid SA presidents, TRC negotiators commissioners, including Roelf Meyer, Prof Qunta and opposers such as the late Chris Hani. Thabo is currently heading Lokshin Connexion Creative Stokvel, an association of creative professionals and entrepreneurs dedicated to using their skills towards lokshin youth economic development.
Thabo has also produced a number of documentaries under Sidewalk and as a freelancer, including the SAFTA Award- winning A Blues for Tiro, about the life of the BCM member who was the first South African to be bombed by the apartheid forces outside our borders. Other documentaries produced under Sidewalk include Sivelaphi Siyaphi- a Parliamentary Millennium Project film about the history of women struggles and the legacy of the 1955 women’s march, and People of Bethal, reflecting on the horrid events that culminated in the uncovering of the infamous Bethal Potato Farm’s Scandal. Similarly, he produced Word Down The Line, which stars legendary poet Lesego Rampolokeng, who engages dissenting poets of different generations on their thoughts around 20 years of democracy, and the relevance of “revolutionary” poetry in the post-apartheid South Africa. James Matthews, Mafika Gwala, Boitumelo Mofokeng, Jeremy Cronin, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Makhafula Vilakazi and Kgafela Magogodi are featured in the film. Most recently Thabo was a featured commentator in “Negotiated Settlement”, a documentary that takes stock of the Codesa negotiations and the aftermath. It also features political figures such as all post-apartheid SA presidents, TRC negotiators commissioners, including Roelf Meyer, Prof Qunta and opposers such as the late Chris Hani. Thabo is currently heading Lokshin Connexion Creative Stokvel, an association of creative professionals and entrepreneurs dedicated to using their skills towards lokshin youth economic development.