Danceafrica Launch featuring Boddhi Satva
By Brown Sugar , 07 Jul 2009 | (36) Comments
Boddhi SatvaFor the past five to six weeks there has been much excitement in the (SA UK-based) house scene as the official launch of DanceAfrica approached.
The trio’s ‘teaser’ introduction to the market when they warmed up for Jimpster in May was deliciously tantalising moreso to people who had not attended if the comments made on that article were anything to go by. Irfan, Selektaa and Levi Live capitalised on the momentum created from their first party and hyped the official launch quite impressively. These facebook statuses during the week leading to the event would have definitely convinced me to reconsider my weekend plans if I hadn’t intended to make my way to Spektrum on Saturday night!
Deejay Selekta Mission NGIYABANGENA is ON 2nyt!! countin seconds 2b playing alongside BODDHI SATVA @ club Spektrum,M4 6AY,Manchester.Its gonna be RAMPED!! WARNING: Arrive b4 11pm.C u der. Heres my 2 new mixes 2 warm u up http://djselektaa.podomatic.com/ If u dizzy,pls ring 0776xxxxxxx or 0792xxxxxxx
Molefi Dinga Mathe Its Boddhi Satva next!06th June@Manchester’s Premium nightspot Sankeys(Spektrum).It doesnt get better than this!SELEKTA(SLICK MANAGEMENT),IRFAN RAINY(RAINY CITY MUSIC) and LEVI LIVE(LEVI LIVE)!
Irfan Rainy DANCEAFRICA with BODDHI SATVA this saturday @ SPECTRUM
I thought it best to arrive early and avoid the queue situation (it was a bit nippy) but I was surprised to find that I had to wait a good 20 minutes at the door and this was well before midnight!! The crowd definitely did well on punctuality and it was nice to see the room comfortably snug before the usual 2 or 3 am.
” Boddhi Satva created a distinct ‘break’ between his set and the ones before.”
After two rounds of awkward three-tracks-each (sort of) warming up/ relaying between Levi and Selektaa, there seemed to be a bit of confusion in the DJ booth over who would kick-off the proper 30 minute relay and it ended up being Levi.
Levi Live just has a way with music that is becoming almost as unique as his fingerprint and ‘pulls’ you in as you watch/listen to him perform. He dropped tracks like ‘I Cling’ and ‘Circles’ by Nathan Adams amongst others flawlessly. And when Boddhi Satva did his thing on the dance-floor my mouth was agape the whole time cos I was just amazed that a guy that big could get down like that! Speaking of which, he was shaking his thing with Levi’s wife Orefile for the better part of the evening…if I were Levi, I’d be more than a little worried …hmmmm…. Annnyway…when Levi’s first relay was over and Boddhi Satva eventually took a breather, I told him the above and his response was very short – This guy (Levi) is the only person who’s made me dance..after Osunlade! Whoa!!
Selektaa took up the headphones after that and truth be told he had a rough start which pretty much sums up how the rest of his set went. One out-of-sync mix-point can be excused, maybe even two but THREE???And all this during your first 3 tracks? Long story short, Selektaa was definitely NOT at his best that night which was sad considering the significance of the gig. To give Slick supporters their dues, they stood by their stalwart in the beginning but even they looked visibly frustrated after a while. Understandably, he remained hidden for most of the night in the opportune corners of Spektrum when he wasn’t behind the decks except for the few times he made an appreciated appearance on the dance-floor. The Levi and Selektaa relay played itself out in this orgasmic and anti-climatic manner for close to two and a half hours and then it was time for the guest DJ set to begin.
Now, in order to fully comprehend and absorb Boddhi’s set, one must first understand its origin and crucially, its intention. His sets are deeply embedded in spirituality and the man becomes immersed in what he does. Donned in his signature beads and filling the booth with his seen and unseen stature, Boddhi Satva created a distinct ‘break’ between his set and the ones before. True to his trademark sound, he began with several tribalistic tracks and immediately captured the crowd’s attention. Some thirty minutes later the musical journey continued and deepened into an Afro-tech feel – a vibe so intense not many can (or could on that night) relate to. Just as suddenly as he had submerged into realms unknown, he seemed to for lack of a better word – awaken by playing a classic Ten City track which most unfortunately also flew over many people’s heads, but definitely not over those of core Community Party people! When I thought it could get no better, Boddhi played Arnold Jarvis’ Inspiration and Spektrum collectively came to a standing ovation; the broad smile and amazement on his face spoke volumes. Taken up by the fantastic reception to Inspiration he returned…
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A picture says a thousand words, take some next time.
Noted Mike. Thanks for the feedback!
now i smell a rat with brown sugas articles.Something very similar last 3 articles:LEVI THE GOOD,SELEKTAA the UGLY.
And pretty clear,Brown Suga is either levi associate or some1 always with Levi.Could there be some conspiracy here?
Its also very sad,that the editor seem to be promoting such biasness.Where is this taking the struggling SA-UK industry to really now?
this very sad,pretty sad indeed.
I received (am clearly still receiving and will probably will receive) a lot of flack for this article as communicated to me by the kwaito.co.uk website management team. Briefly it was felt that the piece should not be published at all because (amongst others) it would cause rifts in the industry and taint Selektaa’s image as he is an inspiration to many young guns (the critic’s words not mine). Luckily the web team felt otherwise.
I appreciated the concerns raised and actually modified the article slightly. I don’t understand why criticism is not taken for what it is. Some days you’re the bird and some days you’re the worm, no one is immune to that logic especially if you are involved in an activity in the public arena.
For some reason, I was expected to blindly heap praises even where they were undeserved. Everyone gets heat, and I think its how you REACT to it which will determine whether you grow or stagnate. Vinny da Vinci has been criticised for not pursuing music production more aggressively – I don’t ever recall him demanding non-publication of articles or threatening to shut down websites because of this. And those critics are not haters or wanting to bring him down, at his highest level of the game, making music and not just playing it is almost ‘expected’. He’s chosen the path that he has and with much success – he’s still the only DJ from the South who’s held down a long-standing residency in the ultimate venue, Pacha Ibiza in spite of not producing. Fresh Sikwane has also been slated for ‘losing his depth and passion for house music’ because of some of the choices he’s made in his career. His move from YFM to 5FM was seen by many of his loyals as betrayal with people calling into his last radio shows and threatening to stop buying his CDs because he was moving to a ‘white’ station. At the same time, many supported his move. Closer to our (current) country of choice, several years ago Levi made the mistake of continuing to play despite being drunk at a certain gig. This obviously affected his judgement and he made several mistakes including taking off a vynil which he was playing at the same time (and the music stopped abruptly). People rightfully lashed out at him for that and none of them would have accepted being dismissed as ‘haters’ because what they were angered by was accurate and factual.
I do not have a personal vendetta against any single individual in the industry but at the same time I don’t think we should simply accept mediocrity and keep quiet because any sort of criticism is seen as destructive and as hating. In my trying to do this in a balanced manner and to the best of my abilities, any negative critique is hating whilst positive mentions are seen as licking *ss which confuses me to no end. If we collectively accept that DJs at the level that Sky Flexx, Levi, Roots, Selektaa etc are at can get away with mistakes such as repeatedly not being able to mix/imbibing too much whilst still ‘on the clock’/bad-mouthing/ not being a united front and supportive amongst themselves and so on; this industry will continue to be riddled by mediocre guys and gals who force issues (technically and otherwise) because they see the big dogs getting away with it time and time again. Basically, these guys are practicing their craft sometimes successfully and unsuccessfully at others. I think it will benefit ‘young guns’ immensely to see both sides of the story and not just the glossy, ‘can do no wrong’ side which is often portrayed.
Ntobe i have no knowledge of Brown Sugar and there is certainly nobody that is always with me apart from my wife,if people feel they like my sets and they follow me around,there is nothing i or anyone can do about it.
Hope you are not insinuating my involvement as i think that will be SAD indeed!
Brown suger,,i bet you were a Dj who failed in the past..i can grantee you cant Mix to save your life with your fake bourgeoisi English off a boat my man…You one sided on this arctical…..grow up,,..we africans in a foreign country.. were is the unity?…..why the hell i waste my time with the web-site…
Brown sugar, Y DO YOU KEEP ON reporting mainly about these 2 djs,and Y if selektaa is mediocre dj(as you think),dont you appreciate the bigger picture he has given the SA-UK industry,but you only look at minute mistakes,wich i’m sure he always redeem himself all time when given the time is right.The big djs i have seen,like Osunalde, louise Vega,Knny dope..they all have their bad days,but their overall work and contribution is always remarkable.I have never been to low attendance SLICK event,and I have never heard any foul mixing by the said dj or his ‘academy’.Theres very few ladys that can be able to tell a whack dj,i’m 1 of them.Lots of now good djs learnt,promoted and still promoted by Selektaa.Your examples with fresh,vinny dont really correspond with this,wena you are just on an agenda.I have been to 5 of Levi promoted gigs,unfortunately not his birthday in London,but from grapevine,and few dj friends who were there….no comment. I was expecting you Brown sugar to give feedback,but you DIDNT.
Can you please focuse on other promoters/djs so that we will have overall picture,if you really care about the SA-UK industry in general,either than Levi.THANK YOU
There is an issue with the Levi Birthday gig, I wonder why a review was not written for that gig. Brown Sugar was probable not there but I definately saw Samkelo the kwaito.co.uk editor enjoying himself, sure there where lots of positives and he should have wrote an article.
For those like Ntobe who hear from the Grapevine, it was a very good gig. All the Dj played well. The only set I didnot like was from Obie, I thought he did not control his volume very well, but there is lots of potential there.
Mario Cee was the best, I will give 5/5 (it was to good to be real)
Levi was on fire I would say 4/5
Skyflexx 3.5/5
What else, the crowd.
The crowd 3/5
Venue and Sound, well those who have been to lounge 34 know how good it is.
Mduduzu Moyo : I am all for unity amongst Africans but you and I both know that that is not the notion that inspired your comment. Unity means we support whoever throws a gig regardless of their name, we don’t hate our neighbour because their car is more expensive than ours, we strive for collective upliftment in all spheres (literacy, family, entertainment, business etc). Would you argue so emotionally had it been Levi who fluffed his mixes on such a platform? Or Toots, or Sky, or Ayobaness DJs, or Stebo…?? I don’t think so and that, my friend is why I say that TRUE unity is something not even my grandkids will see. Please do not mistake being united as a group against another group/person of your own colour as unity.
Ntobe, you raise a lot of points but unfortunately not all of them are relevant to this particular article (in many ways you remind me of Skeem).
- I do not think Selektaa is mediocre - for reference, please see the Jimpster gig review. I used the word when speaking of some of things we are SOMEtimes subjected to by those in the industry as a whole. And most importantly, the article title is ‘DanceAfrica Launch featuring Boddhi Satva’, it does NOT say ‘The ups and downs of DJ Selektaa’s career’. Anything mentioned in here about him, Levi or even Irfan is based on limited observation of them during the 6/7 hours in which this gig took place and only that. Selektaa’s stature as a promoter or anything else unrelated bears no significance. Please remember this context at all times before you declare allegiances and biases towards anyone of the 4 guys involved on the night.
- I work a very demanding full-time job and have many other self-fulfilling activities other than going to gigs. By now it is clear the type of music I like and the minimum standard I like to fork out money for. I’ve repeatedly appealed that other people approach Samkelo and his team so we can have different viewpoints on either the same gigs or even better, review more gigs. To my knowledge no-one has stepped up yet except a ‘do-or-die’ challenge to myself from Grimmy West. Because I physically can’t nor am I interested in reviewing all gigs, I decided to only cover those with a ‘big’ main act. I fell ill over the weekend of the Mr Mama (Slick) gig, Mr O had immigration problems and Fistaz Mixwell also didn’t come thru. Levi Live is not a big name (in the same way these 3 guys, Manoo and Boddhi Satva are) and that’s why I didn’t review that gig.
Mdu Croydon: Amen!! It’d be lovely if you could become a co-reviewer..??
I take serious offense to people insinuating that i am ochestrating the articles.I have invested a lot of time and money into my career and have become what i am today through no a** licking or sinister acts.
Skeem,Ntobe and all the Slick crew you can stop levelling personal attacks because all you doing is just exposing yourselves!
On the last article i detailed out my achivements i dont need a BROWN SUGAR to propagate my name!
Mdu croydon,you are right Mario Cee was on absolute super charge,and i enjoyed myself to the fullest even though i nearly got caught speeding on my way there,but thanks for the review Mdu,you have always been neutral.
Interesting! As a party animal. I foresee beef and negetive growth of the industry,wich is/was on a good course. And whateva the case is,Levi should know who Brown sugar is and they have met several times and spoken.Its a real shame to see such articles really. I really don’t see any positive contribution through these articles from Brown Sugar.
I am still wondering who Brown Sugar is, has any one ever watched the movie”THE USUAL SUSPECTS” , Brown Sugar is probable just a fairy tale. This is what I donot understand if Brown Sugar is Levi’s side kick then why this refering to Levi in the Party ft Jimpster….:
“Having not heard him play in donkey’s years, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was pleasantly blown away.”
And this:
“Given Slick Management’s sizeable following, I expected to see many more of Dj Selekta’s peeps but they didn’t come out in their droves”
“Dj Selekta’s mixing was flawless and on POINT which is always appreciated and he held his own on the night.”
To me this suggests this person has been to lots of Slickmanagement Gigs than he has been to Levi’s. I am starting to think this Brown Sugar is a fairy tale.
First Article on Manoo was written by Grimmy W and edited by Lebohang the Editor.
Second and third article are written by some one else but still edited by Lebohang.
But the bottom line remains Southern Africa Gigs have to be reviewed. And well done to who ever come up with the Brown Sugar idea at list not one person can be blamed….lol! well except the editor ( whom I think comments here as Brown Sugar, see the Red quotes similar to staff comments).
I know kwaito.co.uk has strongly denied that Grimmy W is the writter, but I just realised he was not at the Levi Birthday Bash so obviously could not write about it. lol!! Does any one know if Grimmy was at the All Black?
True Mdu. I was at ALL BLACK.Grimmy was there,djying as well,I saw on the ALL BLACK pics on SLICK Fam Group.I doubt its Grimmy,but 1 person trying to take over where Grimmy left,but obviously this 1 coming on a 1 sided foot,and to destroy the other 1.This Brown Suga spoke to Levi during jimpster and Boddhi,also was very close to Levi during Manoo gig,knows Levis wife,Orefile,but never spoken to Selekta in 3 of these gigs while he/shes able to isolate minor tings Selektaa does.I”m just wondering if the ”SA dj/promoter” he/shes referring to on Manoo gig who could it be.I wasn”t there,but I could easily draw,it could be Selektaa(apologies if I”m wrong).Selektaa was not even djying on Manoo gig,I guess,but something negetive mentioned.I still maintain Levi knows this BRown Suga!!
this brown suga person needs to be stopped, mr editor i cant believe you allow such horendous articles on ur website. sies brown sugar u deserve to be stot dead…. nxa!!!
Ok hold on..Mafika are you now threatening my life?
Honestly now, please calm down!
I mst say dis brown sugar person is causing a lot of fights amongst our fellow africans. Ppl pointing fingers at eachother sayin sum r linked to brown sugar.
This is sad.
As for Levi, my man ur jst diggin a huge grave again dude. y dont u jst leave it jo and stay away. im jst a young lad whos still learning to dj and all da drama attachd to it. To see comments made by U my role model, im must say, im very disappointed in u. i kno u dont care wat i fink but my brother pls dont b draggd down by dis side mate.
they r jst pokin to make u react and ur givin em wat they need, i.e anger. knowin u, u cnt keep silent. Pls bro for ur own sake stay away and forget about it. coz da mo u entertain dis da mo ppl fink ur linkd, de was a time i thought u were linkd after reading da comments u made. but i trust my instinct dat ur better dan dis.
Represent wat u play, meanin ur soul. pure clean and smooth. dnt b trapped in da drama to make dis website wat it is. ur makin a come back in da africn scene and its not gud.
much respect my broda, keep da music rockin.
frm ur fan.
Levi live is a legend, if he stays away frm dis rubbish, if nt den i withdrw my fan status im sure u got loads…. tah
”honestly now, PLEASE calm down!” lol
Akenishiye u Levi lina bo tsikinoski, go hang yoselves lingazos’jwayela lapho. nithunyiwe yini?
yes brown sugar YEBO!! i am threatening u,God help u I dont find out who u really are. u deserve 2 die same way dis industry will if u keep writting these trashy reviews.You are distructive & 1 day the tables will turn.Sies maan, rrhaa!!!!
Honestly dis is wrong. brown sugar please please stop. Your killing too many friendships. Nobody knows whoz brown sugar, and as normal everyone is a bit suspecious of each other. There is too much anger goin on. Its soo bad.
Cnt u write about sometin else like dis youthday, what it means to south africans, or about people living in the uk without proper papers. things da realy make a difference in a positive manner. cherity functions and changes in the law that affects foreigners. stuff like that.
Your slowly destroying Us. Look at all da comments, 80% are negative 10% are people accusing one another and 10% support what your doing. come on.
I have writen a letter to the embassy about this. There need to be control of the negative influence forced by the reviews
welcome to the UK, I am really suprised why people are talking like there donot read newspaper. Or maybe there donot. I think this is good journalism. It is far from crossing the line , very far.
This is as funny as when i started high school, being bullied. There’’s a bully on the loose, and that bully is enjoying themselves right now.
Having said that. It’’s very funny how no more than 10 people can change names, and contribute to killing a nice site. The writer has done nothing wrong in particular. The editor/owner of the site has to think big. Are these articles building my brand, or damaging it. (i.e can such things be used by other media like I have seen with savibes articles)
These articles are offending the very few (3 or 4 people) that are being written about all the time.
It seems like someone has identified a weekness somewhere, and taken advantage of that weakness to share their own personal fealings on this site.
This is called a personal journal and not a review or blog. It’’s a shame, but life has never had winners.
At the moment the winner is the bully, cause He/She is losing nothing over the articles.
Mafika - I acknowledge your death threat.
Embassies? People please lets calm down. Some of you go on on an on about destroying each other and the industry but I fear you are becoming what you most detest.
In true African form (sad but very true), someone (me) says something you don’t agree with and the guns are out (quite literally). Can we not just differ in opinion? and just agree to disagree?
Like I said before, when I don’t like something (which Im well within my rights to), I’m tarnishing the African nation in its entirety but when I dish out compliments, Im sucking up.
This has been/is and continues to be our downfall. Pick up a newspaper as Mdu Croydon said. People in the public arena are critiqued not critisized constantly over far more life-changing issues than a mere gig - people take it on board life goes on.
This is about parties after all…phhhhew! It seems we’ve forgotten about that.
PS Peter Konkha : When you call to check the status of your complaint letter with the embassy, please tell them to re-send me my endorsement letter to be a UK correspondent for Sowetan (not a joke).
I wish house would go back to the underground,back to the initmacy,not abt the crown you pull,african house djs have lost the love,look at all the tops house djs,always respectful to one another,even more respectful to their fans,go 2 a karizma gig n u will knw wat am on abt…..as for me as long as this political f**keryy continues am going bak to where house music was originally made.tht is in my house….for the love
you are comparing urself to newspapers, LMFBAO!!!!U gotta be joking, those critiques write about people who’ve made it already not fellow Africans trying to make it.People r trying 2 tell u that u’re killing the industry & you’re still continuing. Shame on my dear, i get the feeling u’re jut a bored housewife… but like I said KARMA!!!
can we maybe talk about the gig? i think we’ve digressed sufficiently.
Can comeone comment who was ACTUALLY there?
i would love to see day things turn around on you brown sugar swirrry!!! you are demeaning your own african people….your day will come babe.
Mafika my swirrry, my babe, you misunderstand me. Don’t internalise these articles too much. See them for what they are.
I dont know how to try make this any clearer so I will just stop trying.
You can try justify Brown Sugar,but I also echo the fact that your 3 articles have been pure bias for public viewing and if some of us see it that way,it means a lot of other silent readers will judge it that way.Its either you hv a personal vendetta against Selektaa while promoting Levi or just want to push yoself as a ”correspondent” by stepping
On some well known djs.Try other ways please
Well Charles I think the responses to Brown Sugar’s articles have been more focused on him/her than the article at all.
The article before this praised all the Dj on the night, and do you know what the response was Charles?
People said s/he was licking ass. That was the response Charles.
Me I think Brown Sugar should write what s/he feels like,
You see mostly positives on a night, people say you are licking ass.
You demand a higher standard from Dj you know are good and just didnot perform on the night , you are killing the industry.
***And Mr editor could we please ban unregistered users from commenting as their seems to be making multiple comments under different names to bias the response.
Mdu pliz stay away, your vacab is too limited n your contributions are always invalid. go hang yosels mgaxa
These articles by blacksugar are informative esp. for someone like myself who reads reviews before attending gigs.
Anyone has a problem with that, lol. i thought so… no one has.
As I was there on the night in question I too feel the need to add my 2 pence worth. Let me start by saying that personally everything that has been said by Brown Sugar seems to me to be fairly accurate, I too felt that Selektaa’s set left much to be desired and was a disappointed as I have one of his many mixed CDs that are on high rotation amongst us South African house music lovers and he didn’t even slightly meet the standards he has set for himself on these mixed CDs , there could various reasons to that which I’m sure only he knows. Moving along to Levi Live who delivered a soulful set, more Jozi like with the track Live On by Wookie getting EVERYBODY on their feet singing along, a stroke of genius from his part that I feel endeared him to the crowd for the rest of the night. I’m not saying that Levi’s set was about that one track only, what I’m saying is that on the night there was a buzz and a sense of excitement every time it was Levi’s turn to play however when it was Selektaa’s turn the crowd went out for a smoke or for the mandatory breathe of fresh air. So based on that I feel that Selektaa on the night was a disappointment, and I am looking forward to him redeeming himself as I am sure he can.