Sivhara ‘Family Man’ Mulaudzi
Marcus Garvey regularly spoke on the neighborhood’s street corners, Malcom X also used the soapbox or street corner speaker approach to talk to the people. The people stopped and listened. Sivhara Mulaudzi sings for the people at Shopping Malls. Taxi Ranks or under a tree at the Village corner. People stop and listen.
Sivhara Muluadzi is no Malcom X nor Marcus Garvey, but his approach is definitely in line with these great men. Reaching out to people who otherwise cannot afford to attend a music concert, people who are too busy and stressed to be thinking of an outing, people working for the minimum wage that is enough to only cover the transport fare to and from work, people who work long hours and get less pay. The people who are part of the Most Unequal Country on Earth, the working class. Sivhara Mulaudzi offers a sort of relief from the daily stress, some small entertainment to ease up the pressure. He understands how music can touch souls and how it reconnects to the source.
He sets up with a band and starts playing, often announcing on his FB page where he will set up. He puts on a full on show and performs as he would perform in a live gig set up. His five piece band is made up of his wife on keys, his daughter who is now 13 years old and has been with the band since the age of 8 as the bassist. Bennet Marifhi on drums, Jabulani Mahlaba (RIP) on keyboards and Walter on Keyboards, He performs regularly in these spaces and that is the best part, for him as a musician, to make music for the people and perform live because of the kind of vibe it creates when performing in front of an audience of music lovers. He explains:
“I perform anywhere regardless of the class or level of the people because I just want my message to be heard. It’s also a part of rehearsals so that the band can always be ready for any show. It’s also possible for most of the artists who wait for bookings to not be able to perform for over a year. When I am booked for a massive show, it is a bonus because I can do my own shows“
On how he manages to sustain himself and his family, in an industry that is so hard and hostile to independent artists and bands, Sivhara says:
“I am able to manage this because I entered the Music Industry without expecting money in exchange.I am able to do many things without a sponsorship deal and management. Everything is possible because I am a hard worker when it comes to music.“
Not only is he a hard worker, he is also a self taught multi-instrumentalist (Keyboard, Guitar, Drums, Bass) who taught his wife to play keys and his daughter, Nurunwa the Bass.
“I was able to do this because music was within me. It was easy for me to teach my wife the keyboard because she was supportive of my music. It was also easy for me to teach my daughter the bass guitar because she was born into a musical family and she can play that keyboard also. It’s easy for me to manage the band because I work with my family.“
Sivhara ranks among some of the greatest reggae musicians today. He has amassed a huge following outside of South Africa particularly in Malawi, just like Senzo Mthethwa before him. He has performanced in Zimbabwe and Botswana. When he speaks of Malawi, he lightens up and is very appreciative of what he has manage to achieve independently:
“Performing in Malawi was exhilarating. I have a large following in Malawi because they love Reggae and they understood me quickly. I am also making preparations to go back there this year “
Sivhara was born and raised in Hakhakhu village, Venda, in the province of Limpopo, where reggae music was listened by everyone and was regarded as important, “a day doesn’t pass without a reggae song being played and Reggae artists from where I am from help build each other up so that we are all at the same level“. He was very respectful and attentive of his immediate surroundings and how the national and global affairs impacts on his village and shapes his life. That is what led him to his Pan Africanist approach towards life, music and family. When he is not out performing for the people or on tour, he is in the studio recording songs for the people. To date he has released 6 studio albums. He has shared the stage with many great artists from Limpopo, including Kenny Wailer, Colbert Mukevho, Lufuno Munzhelele, Bashy JahBless, Lutendo Munyai, Radical Dread and more. In 2022 he was a nominee at the South African Upcoming Artists Music Awards (SAUMA) and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
“I have to work wholeheartedly and giving up is not an option. I will continue delivering my music to the public whether there is money or there isn’t money.”
Sivhara mulaudzi