Across the Sun ... Dr Spanky Gwangwa

Dr Spanky Gwangwa had to arrive at a place of forgiveness. "We have to forgive to forget," says Spanky. Having lived in several countries in Africa whilst in exile, she completed her studies as a dentist in Romania before returning home.

"We have to forgive to forget" - Spanky Gwangwa

On the iStart2 Show this week we chatted to Spanky about her life journey... the Soweto riots, life in exile, learning French and Romanian to complete her studies and coming home. To listen to the remarkable story of an extraordinary South African, just click play below:

Pierre du Toit and Keitu Gwangwa host the iStart2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30 (GMT+2). Check out our website on www.iStart2.com. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485AM in Johannesburg and nationally on DSTV audio channel 869. Radio Today also streams on its website www.1485.org.za and on 1485.mobi. Radio Today the station that cares. Radio that delivers!

Thought of the Day:

Are we just farting against thunder?

Have you ordered or downloaded the iStart2 CD yet?

Get it from iTunes here or on Amazon here.

Open Earth and Black Roses ... Sibongile Mkhabela

As a teenager, Sibongile Mkhabela, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Childrens Hospital Trust was one of the leaders of the 1976 Soweto uprising. She was an executive member of the Soweto Student Representative Council and the South African Students Movement's General Secretary. Sibongile consequently spent four years in prison at Constitution Hill, partly serving time for ‘sedition’.

We chatted to Sibongile about June 16, 1976, her life, her book "Open Earth and Black Roses," her views on creating a more sustainable world and  the legacy of Nelson Mandela. Sibongile is concerned about the fact that  "Green Environment" issues are often elitist. She asks questions about who really benefits from going green and feels strongly that the time for Africa to be a basket case is over.


To listen to the iStart2 Show and the interview with our guest, Sibongile Mkhabela, just click play:



Pierre du Toit and Keitu Gwangwa host the iStart2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30 (GMT+2). Check out our website on www.iStart2.com. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485AM in Johannesburg and nationally on DSTV audio channel 869. Radio Today also streams on its website www.1485.org.za and on 1485.mobi. Radio Today the station that cares. Radio that delivers!

Thought of the day:

 

More pictures of the #iStart2SingFestival at Constitution Hill on 31 May 2015

Join us in our SOUL of AFRICA journey around 
South Africa. Enter your art today!

Visit www.iStart2.com

#iStart2SingFestival - The Day in Pictures

Sharing the Fun ... Sharing the Sun ...

Thank you to all who made the 31 May 2015 a memorable experience. It can only get bigger and better! To see the day in pictures just click on the link:

The official iStart2 Sing Video:

Get your copy of the iStart2Sing cd today!

Buy on iTunes Here:  iStart2Sing

Keep it real ... Matthias Matthee

The #iStart2SingFestival is done and dusted. Matthias Matthee, one of our MC's was in studio with Keitu Gwangwa to chat about the event, his environmental work in the Botswana bush and his time in the Big Brother house. "Never loose touch with your roots and who you are," says Matthias.

"iStart2 Keep it real" -  Matthias Matthee

Matthias, a world traveller who has visited more than 25 countries and also lived in England, New Caledonia, Switzerland, Botswana and the Netherlands. He makes leather accessories in his own business and describes himself as versatile, funny, ghetto, vibrant and blunt. Nature, family and tequila makes him happy and he is sure his family would say that he is, “the hippie, the creative one”. The achievement Matthias is most proud of is starting an indigenous tree nursery in Botswana where he grew and replanted 2000 trees.

To listen to his views on sustainability and his interview with Keitu, just click play:

Thought of the Day:

Pierre du Toit and Keitu Gwangwa host the iStart2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30 (GMT+2). Check out our website on www.iStart2.com. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485AM in Johannesburg and nationally on DSTV audio channel 869. Radio Today also streams on its website www.1485.org.za and on 1485.mobi. Radio Today the station that cares. Radio that delivers!

Enter the iStart2 Challenge Today

www.iStart2.com

Nitshayelwa Nyimani ... Dudu Majola

Dudu Majola, a young artist from Soweto joins us in studio to chat about her song Nitshayelwa Nyimani that features on the newly released iStart2Sing Album. Dudu wrote the lyrics and performs it with composer Pops Mohamed. Also sharing their passion, TLC, a company specialising in non-alcoholic drinks, tells us about Tantalizing Liquid Creations.

Percy, Tony, Malose, Dudu & Pierre

"I believe we can create a better and brighter South Africa" - Dudu Majola

To listen to the show:



Thought of the day:

Pierre du Toit and Keitu Gwangwa host the iStart2 Show on Thursdays at 17h30 (GMT+2). Check out our website on www.iStart2.com. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485AM in Johannesburg and nationally on DSTV audio channel 869. Radio Today also streams on its website www.1485.org.za and on 1485.mobi. Radio Today the station that cares. Radio that delivers!

Let's Share the sun ... Therina Wentzel and Bob90 & The Bino's

Under the African sun there is a place for everyone; South Africa’s diversity is her strength and it is something to celebrate. Join the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa (NCPPDSA) in celebrating diversity at the iStart2Sing Festival at Constitution Hill on 31 May 2015. 

"iStart2 make a difference" - Bob90. 

His band, Bob90 & The Bino's, performs "One of Them" on the iStart2Sing CD and will be on stage at the iStart2 Festival

The full day festival will showcase a variety of art forms including music, dance, performance, fine art, poetry and writing. The event aims to create the awareness that artists with disabilities can function and perform with mainstream artists. Top artists will join iStart2 Ambassador Pops Mohamed in embracing the spirit of solidarity and highlighting diversity, disability and sustainability. 

“If persons with disabilities do not form part of our diversity thinking, then our society will not succeed,” said Therina Wentzel: National Director NCPPDSA. Bob90 is adamant: "Appreciate me for who I am. Forget my disability, then you can see what I can do".

 

With the promise of entertainment for all, the iStart2Sing Festival will be great day out for families. Artists like Black Coffee, Jonas Gwangwa, Ntsiki Mazwai, Zubz The Last Letta, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Pops Mohamed, Sheraaz, Zain Bhikha, Bianca Le Grange, Joshua na die Reen, 2J, ITU, Somerfaan and TapTap are already lined up, with more to be confirmed in the coming week.  There will be performances by the Field Band Foundation and DJ sessions on the youth stage.

The Festival is also literally “sharing the sun” with a R450 000 donation of solar lights to various charitable organisations. This donation serves to improve lives and educate disadvantaged communities about renewable, sustainable energy.

“When we focus on creating a sustainable world, when we let it sing from every village and every town, from every city and every country, we will be able to join hands and leave sustainable footprints for our children,” says Pierre du Toit from iStart2 Global

Therina and Bob90 chatted to us on the iStart2 Show this week:

Artists, organisations, charities, the media, the disabled community, and people who are serious about creating a sustainable world for all who live in it are invited to unite, join hands and celebrate diversity, in what promises to be a remarkable event.

The iStart2Sing Festival is a collaboration between the NCPPDSA, iStart2Global, National Arts Council, the WakaWaka Foundation and ISeeYou. It takes place on 31 May 2015 at Constitution Hill from 10h00 to 20h00. Tickets cost R100 per person and can be purchased from https://loveparty.nutickets.co.za/istart2festival or at the venue on the day. Artists wishing to participate should contact event management on (012) 667 5898 or iStart2Global@gmail.com or visit www.iStart2.com.

Thought of the Day:

 

Book Today and support Persons with Disabilities in South Africa
(We are all disabled)

Book here #iStart2SingFestival

iStart2 Believe Again ...Ntsiki Mazwai

She's powerful. She's hot. Often politically "incorrect". She has a stage presence that rocks the audience. She is also very kind and full of jokes when not writing open letters to view her strong opinions as a woman's activist, poet and musician.

Ntsiki Mazwai also goes by her clan name, MaMiya or sometimes, StreetQueen. Born in Soweto, South Africa, her unique style of fusing her inspirational poems with beats has proved immensely popular. On her latest hit, BELIEVE, Ntsiki collaborated with icon Pops Mohamed and produced another masterpiece. The song features on the brandnew iStart2Sing cd. A song confirming her deepest feelings: "I think we live in the best country in the world."

"iStart2 consciously receive love" - Ntsiki Mazwai

We had Ntsiki on the iStart2 Show this week to chat about her life as an activist, the challenges she has faced as an artist but also her focus on the future. "I have to be cool with people being pissed of by me," says Ntsiki.

Ntsiki and Pops Mohamed will be performing her newly released song at the iStart2Sing Festival later this month. She is also collaborating with Zubz the last Letta at this event. A few artists with disabilities will join them in a show that promises to be unique and powerfully entertaining.

To listen to the show and her new song, just click play:




Pierre du Toit and Keitu Gwangwa host iStart2 on Thursdays at 17h30 (GMT+2). Like our facebook page on www.istart2.com. Radio Today broadcasts on 1485AM in greater Johannesburg and nationally on ‪#‎DStv‬ audio channel 869. Radio Today also streams on its website www.1485.org.za and on 1485.mobi. Radio Today the station that cares. Radio that delivers!

Thought of the Day:

Join us on 31 May for the #iStart2SingFestival at Constitution Hill! 

Book Tickets here.

#iStart2SingFestival #iStart2Sing