“IT’S HARD TO DESCRIBE MYSELF WITHOUT DESCRIBING MY MUSIC,”
SAYS MUNEYI MASIBIGIRI, TSHIVENDA FOLK MUSICIAN AND UJ ARTS & CULTURE ALUMNUS.
“My sound is very mellow and the idea behind my music is to connect people and create a platform of vulnerability, even with the language barrier,” he continues. As a member of one of the smallest language groups in South Africa, that language barrier is real, but as Masibigiri is realising, this is not always a negative thing. As a full-time musician, songwriter and guitarist, Masibigiri looks to his background and culture for his inspiration, building a sound that reaches back as well as stretching forward into new generations.
“Right now I am building on my sound, trying to be heard and solidify my presence, but not limiting myself to a specific genre or aesthetic. I am grounding myself in a certain space and I want to become a preserver of arts and culture, particularly Tshivenda culture. My heart is really at the core of preserving the language.” With his love of the Tshivenda culture at the heART of his art, Masibigiri sees himself as a bridge between the older generation, often seen as boring and stuck in their ways, and the younger
Muneyi Masibigiri – continues to Connect and Create
47
ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker