The genesis for this project began in January of 2015, when I saw a performance given by a group of teens from the rural South Africa township of Winterveldt, who were in Washington, DC on a cultural exchange trip sponsored by the Bokamoso Youth Foundation. The foundation funds the programs of the Bokamoso Life Center, which helps nurture the dreams of young adults who live in Winterveldt through college scholarships, mentoring, and life skills training.
Impressed with the indomitable and vibrant spirit of these youth, I decided to travel to Winterveldt in June of 2015 to volunteer at the Bokamoso Life Center. My vision was to collaborate with the teens from Bokamoso on a songwriting project and ultimately produce a music video of the song. I also wanted to involve local musicians from Winterveldt in the project. Instead of creating a brand new song, I chose to do a remix of "Honesty," a song I had previously released, in the style of house music, a genre that is extremely popular now in South Africa.
Prior to my arrival in June, Thapelo Mashaba, who directs the music and dance programs at Bokamoso, and Mmule, who oversees Bokamoso's daily operations, went to work spreading the word among musicians in around Pretoria about my interest in collaborating on a project.
With Mmule (left) and Thapelo (right)
One of the musicians that Thapelo contacted, Joseph Moshidi (aka DJ Boogieman), generously offered the use of his studio for our recording project, and connected me with Dr. Malinga, a house music celebrity, who had become famous a few years with his re-release and music video of the song "Via Orlando."
With DJ Boogieman expertly handling the recording in the studio, we were able to produce a house version "Honesty" with both Dr. Malinga and a chorus of teens from the Bokamoso Life Center providing vocals.
DJ Boogieman (left) and Dr. Malinga (right) in the studio
With the Bokamoso teens who sang on our new recording of "Honesty"
We shot the music video for the song on site at the Bokamoso Life Center. Special thanks to Thapelo Mashaba for shooting the video and helping with production.
After the shooting of the music video for "Honesty" with the Bokamoso teens