Association of Reggae Promoters in South Africa – RPA
In 2016 Zingiswa Makhanda, Mandla Maseko and Lenah Mochoele founded the Reggae Promoters Association (RPA) and registered it as an NPC. They saw the need for a collective that would represent Reggae Promoters across the country, as it is difficult to getting funding for a genre that is still marginalized in South Africa. On January 29, 2019 the RPA held its second meeting at City Lodge in Newtown, Johannesburg to pen out new objectives and map the way forward for the Association and new board members were elected.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and brainstorm the objectives and values of the association.
Objectives outlined are:
Social Responsibility
Economic platform
Skills Development among others
Values outlined :
Integrity
Accountability
Delivery
Commitment
Transparency
Communication
Fairness
The RPA is described on their official documents as:
A national association formed to promote the development and economic interests of its members, namely reggae music promoters (reggae event organisers, tour organisers and convention organisers) at a national level both to the public, and to other organisations, such as reggae associations, legal institutions, government structures, music councils, broadcasting institutions, consumer councils, copyright tribunal, diplomatic institutions and parliament.
The main objective of the association is to formalise, professionalise and commercialise the business of Reggae Music in South Africa, by partnering up with reputable organisations within the music industry to create platforms to commercialise the music to ensure that artists and reggae promoters are able to generate wealth from being part of this rich musical industry.’
To become a member, one has to complete an application form and return it to: reggaepromoterSA@mail.com or submit it to any RPA Executive Officer. There is a membership fee of Fee R200 per annum or R50 quarterly. This fee is non-refundable and will be used towards RPA quarterly meetings. There is also an option to be actively involved and to hold a position within RPA in 2020. Only Promoters who have a solid track record are invited to join RPA, others are not excluded as there will be an incubator program for up and coming promoters.
The Association hinted that in the future they may secure government funding which they would in turn distribute to members who request funding from the association. A meeting with The Minister of Arts and Culture has been confirmed and the Association will get a chance to highlight and share concerns that are still facing the Reggae fraternity in South Africa
A decision was taken to include one member from the Mzansi Reggae Artists Association MRAA (NOT Affiliated with MzansiReggae) – MRAA is an association mainly run on a Whatsapp group administered by Black Dillinger – to sit on the board as to be able to give input/advice about any matters pertaining to Artists. And one member from the RPA to sit on the MRAA board to give advice/input to matters pertaining to Promoters. The Interim Board will sit for the next two years.
The board members of the RPA
Founding member, Lenah Mochoele – ex- tour manager of Lucky Dube on African destinations and author of Walking A Mile In Your Shoes: My Spiritual Journey With Lucky Dube – has since resigned due to other commitments.
Zingiswa Makhanda – Managing Director
Zingiswa Sigaba is Founding Director of Reggae Promoters Association and also Director of Miller Communications. Miller Communications brought us Reggae Roots n Culture in Maboneng in 2013; The Once off Reggae Spring Jam in 2015 where Sizzla was a headline act and performed in a 3 piece suit at Maboneng Swimming Pool. Both Events were sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture.
Mandla Maseko – Chairman
Mr Mandla Selby Maseko is the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Downtown Music Hub (an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture) and also a Lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology. He is also the Chairperson of the Association of Independent Record Companies of South Africa (AIRCO); Chairman of Limpopo Arts Foundation and former Deputy Chairperson of Moshito Music Conference and Exhibitions. Chief executive officer at Black Eagle Media Group the company which organised the Reggae Xplosion Indaba 2017: Re-positioning Reggae Music – Unpacking the Music industry revenue streams and royalty regime. The panel, chaired by Mandla Maseko, included Adv Ras Sipho Mantula, Zingi Sigaba, Carlos Djedje and and a host of Industry professionals in high ranking positions. It was followed by Reggae Xplosion Benefit Concert. Black Media Group also acts as Carlos Djedje management.
Dr. Thandeka Kunene – Treasurer
Chief Executive Officer of House of Hemp (Pty) Ltd.
The Self Proclaimed Cannabis Queen. Thandeka Kunene has become the first black South African to obtain a PhD in entrepreneurship with a thesis focusing on a mathematical model outlining skills that are key for the success of small, medium and micro enterprises
Fortune Muambadzi- Board member
Fortune Muambadzi an IT Specialist and also Director of Rudebwoy Ent, an organization that offers PR, Music Recording Studio, Artist and Talent Management, Music Publishing, Sound and Stage. Rudebwoy Ent represents P Postman, Colbert Mukwevho, Jahzo, Ben Priest and other artists in other genres like Pop, Hip Hop and Gospel.
Fortune Muambadzi was also a preliminary Chair Person of the South African Reggae Music Association (SARMA) when it was formed in September 2013. The Association is now defunct with only the Western Cape Region holding desperately to it, but has never produced any tangible results.
Richard Siluma – Board Member
Richard Siluma also known as Saggy Saggila is one of those heroes and legends of the South African music industry. He is a singer, song-writer and master producer and arranger with five Reggae studio albums.
Mapaseka Matekane – Secretary
Mapaseka Matekane runs an events company Le-Bless Productions based in Bloemfontein. Their latest big project was Jah Mason Live in Bloemfontein in 2017 which had a dismal attendance. Le Bless Production also brought Tydal Kamau to Bloemfontein.
In Attendance from the Artists Association:
Otis Malema – Black Dillinger’s Manager – MRAA
Nkululeko Madolo (Black Dillinger) – MRAA
Bright Ndebele (Gangalee) – MRAA
Angolah Maseko – Artist – MRAA
Promoters in Attendance:
Bongani Sibiya (Benjy Dread) – Promoter of the Annual Clarks Party in Soweto
Tebogo Senona – Promoter – Ms Sowetan organised the extinct Dancehall Reggae Awards
Kholofelo Sewela–Promoter
Layla Gibbons – Ruff Cut Label
For more information email reggaepromotersSA@gmail.com
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