Eh Letha (4 The People) is an avant garde, dynamic music and poetry production which foretells a utopia of triumph and redemption. This production toys with the semantics of the Nguni language (eh letha) which loosely means, return/bring back with English (a letter). Inscribed poetry tells the story. As the Adungu (Ugandan harp) airs with ancient strings, the voice echoes pastures green and serendipity of accompanying instruments from piano, conga drum, violin and clarinet.
With 4 musicians on stage representing the cardinal points of the campus within 4 elements of earth. This production redirects human psyche to a hope that never fails, a hope that reinvigorates. This is eh letha for the people to remember the blessed assurance.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Music Composer & Curator: Asakhe Cuntsulana
Adungu & uHadi: Asakhe Cuntsulana
Piano: Bonelela Mavuso
Percussion & Poetry: Siliziwe Jako
Clarinet: Musa Makgato
Stage Manager: Thina Maqubela
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Asakhe Cuntsulana is a music composer, published author, music educator and language practitioner from the Eastern Cape. He plays the Adungu (African harp) from Uganda and Xhosa uHadi bow which are the center for his creative process and inspiration. Asakhe, through music invokes the metaphysical parameters of life in which music is the force that cultivates healing, restoration and reflection. Through music Asakhe creates a sonic experience that bares witness to the power of Mvelingqangi (the Creator) and his people. Asakhe has performed during the 2022 official opening of the Grahamstown National Arts festival at the Guy Butler Theatre, featured his debut performance Ingoma yoHadi during the festival and has performed at the Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg, University of Fort Hare and Syracuse University
Bonelela Mavuso is a jazz pianist and composer who searches for an honest expression in music. With harmonic curiosity, he develops musical narratives that unfold as a result of both deliberate searching and chance discovery. Bonelela affectionately called “Bones” by his friends is now completing his masters in jazz performance at Rhodes University and his harmonic language on the piano transcends beyond the realm of the natural into the supernatural realm like a doctor throwing bones.
Musa Makgato, also known as Musa Keys is a dynamic clarinetist from Johannesburg whose limitless sound on the clarinet brands a unique sound and identity. Musa is musically gifted and also plays various wind instruments such as a trumpet, alto horn and french horn. Musa is currently studying bachelor of Music at Rhodes University with clarinet as his main instrument. He is a member of the SSM youth Orchestra and Wind Band in Johannesburg as well as the Rhodes University Chamber Choir in Makhanda.
Siliziwe Jako well known as Syleez is a Poet and percussionist whose roots are in Alice, Eastern Cape. Introduced to poetry by his primary school teacher, Siliziwe has emerged as an orator of spoken word story teller within and beyond the Eastern Cape. He has taken his poetry to England stages of Europe through winning the Recite Your Own poetry competition in 2020. The qualified Electrical engineer and self-taught percussionist fuses his indigenous spoken word poetry with modern day musical instruments which are played by his newly formed energetic band called Ubuntu Makwande.
