Indigenous Too to Brazil

This is not revival, ethnography or academics, but a journey by Africans for Africa and its art – we are both consciously African apprentices on our journey to attain the knowledge from the oracles, sages, diviners and all loci that hold the essence of the spirit and spiritual properties of African music. Our music is not dying, but it is slowly fading. But, here in the changing climate, the ‘winds of change’ are providing enough air for those who wish to set sail in a direction toward the heart of a thriving music and art culture in southern Africa. From the early Venda Timbila, which are no more, the Lesiba in Lesotho, to the Khoi/San bows, our path is in southern Africa to make our mark on southern Africa – by defining its music and conceptually changing what we all think constitutes as southern African traditional music. But, all africans are connected therefore we will learn from even those on other shores for they might tap into parts of us locked away by colonialism tools.

We therefore have dedicated our spirit in search of our traditional spirits and healers – their medicine, sound and vibration; our map will follows their song! Be it the drum, bow or horn we will venture to move like the cultures and instruments of old like the nomadic Khoi and San! We are two aspiring artist born and bred in Cape Town, raised in every corner of its city. From Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Langa , Retreat, Bellville and Mowbray, our paths have led us through many parts of this province. As performers we have travelled to Brazil, Mozambique, Johannesburg, Swaziland, and Durban.

Indigenous Too is an Afro Centric Music Duo made up by Ernie Koela and Sibahle Sky Dladla. Ernie is an African music disciple, Black African multi- instrumentalist,traditioanilst composer writer, poet, playwright, director, singer, co-founder of Azanian Aesthetics, academic, instrument maker and dancer. Ernie is currently doing a masters in African music playing a variety of instruments such as ; the berimbau ,uhadi,umakhweyana, African percussion: such as ( dunn-dunn and djembe) ,mbira ,nyunga-nyunga , marimba, timbila and guitar. He has performed at the international fringefestival in Edinburgh, the Grahamstown Arts Festival, Riaz Festival in Mozambique and UCT Ibuyambo shows African groove, Jarabi and Simbi. Sibahle Sky Dladla is an African instrumentalist, a poet, a songwriter, the founder of Blackroots Marimbas and an African Music student at University of Cape Town. Sky has also recently returned from Mozambique where she took part in workshops on traditional Mozambican instruments such as Timbila, nyungwe nyungwe, chitende and Makonde drumming. Sky’s past performances include the Cape Town Marimba Festival (2009,2010, 2011,2012), Barack Obama’s Speech at University of Cape Town 2013, Table of Peace 2013, Budget Speech 2013, Moshito Music Festival 2013, UCT Ibuyambo, Zambezi 2013, UCT Ibuyambo, Amagwijo 2014, UCT Ibuyambo, Makisi 2015, UCT Ibuyambo, GLOMUS Camp Brazil 2017

Indigenous Too has been invited to the Dia de Ouro Festival In Brazil by the capoeira group Cordao de Ouro. They have also been invited to Jongo mestre Allesandra Rebeiro's home and academy to learn Afro Brazilian music,dance and history.

We ask for financial support to make this trip possible. This trip is important for the continuation and survival of Afro Centric Art. At the end of this trip we hope to bring back the fruits in the form of an exhibition and release of our EP "Finding pieces of Azania"

Thank you