If Langa was a song, what song would it be and why?
Ooooh, what song would it be...
The thing about Langa, Langa is...
not taking it back from the fact that ulanga which is the sun which actually I feel like probably has something
to say with why Langa was named Langa, but I know it's named after Langalibalele, when it's hot it felt
like the sun hits, sits at you, so any song about Langa would have to do with how
the sun Embraces this Township, yeah, yes [ laughs]
I can't sing, I wish I could sing, I can't sing yeah
Hum a few lines um oh my gosh or whistle
A few lines?
or hum a little tune.
a little tune......
Oh my gosh.....
or whistle a tune.....
[ claps hands ]
That's just what came to mind right now
That's what I would sing.
Where is Langa?
In Cape Town.
Where is Langa, where exactly, I mean how would you describe, how do you get to Langa?
That's a very good question by the way can I tell you, funny question uh this
is I'm so happy on this question because I always struggle with this right so I like
I said I was in private school right and I I need lifts a lot to go home or to get picked
up for games, now I have to be smart, I couldn't say Langa is next to Bonteheuwel, and I couldn't
say Langa is next to Athlone, there's only one thing I could say, you can guess, it's near Pinelands, the moment
I mentioned the word Pinelands, "oh I know Pinelands, let's go", literally I kid you not and
that for me was a like a reality check, I don't know it was it just made me feel, I don't know
what exactly I kind of haven't really sat down what I thought but I've experienced it
a lot, where describing Langa is like very tough, like the moment I say Athlone uh
it's like "oh sorry I can't" or ""aah naah", but the moment I say Pinelands, I'm saying it's right
near Pinelands, like when you go to Pinelands, and obviously I know, but if like that that even
kind of that explanation for me was also an Insight of, I might think Langa's safe, it's beautiful
and stuff but there's still people out there who don't know what's happening in here and
so you asking me that question really brings me back to that feeling of like having to
navigate how to describe Langa or whatever I'd say by the airport, and the airport is
so far, you know, so so yeah where's Langa really ....[ laughs ]
Is Langa a city a town, what do we call it, is it a town a suburb what do we call it?
[ laughs ] There's a saying in Xhosa that says
"uLanga yoDolophu" meaning Langa is a town. Even though it is not a town, but we from Langaare saying it is a town
because we don't see any difference between town and us, even those who are coming from the villages and
those who are coming outside of Langa they see Langa as a United Nation they see Langa
as New York, because some of the things we have they do not have.
What makes Langa different from all the other areas or townships ?
I like the Alex example as this is more or less, nearly the same origins, Langa and Pinelands were planned by the same
town planner. Langa was supposed to be what then was called The Garden City
that's why there's a book called The Forgotten Garden City about Langa, it's the only Township
that's got squares it's got trees everywhere is that with the planing of the day, and everybody
knows everybody, it's a very tight community we call it in slang, people from Langa, a "Binne Plaas "
everything happens within, and if you look at the architects in Langa, it's very different
very very English if you can even look at the church across the road and the churches
around they're based on churches like the Presbyterians but based on the churches in Scotland the
Methodists or the churches in London and so on even the schools, the schools there were
still attached to the churches they were started by Missionaries, it's the only Township that's still
got schools named after churches like this is called the Zimasa is called the Anglican Church Thembani is
called the Methodist Church AME and so on so on, so that makes Langa different, the
fact that Langa is the only place where one street had 11 jazz bands, the Esigcawu Avenue
because jazz was the music in Langa, if you did not know jazz, you were not from Langa.
Tell me about the music from Langa, because Langa is known for its music.
oh music, I think art started in Langa that time, we use, there was a hall a big hall where events
were hosted every Sunday, we used to go to the afternoon stand, us, young girls and
boys, and our seniors, there were bands, people who were involved in bands, there was the Cordettes
the Merry Macs, they used to host events dancing was the main thing in Langa, we used to attend
dances
What's a song back from those days, how did it go, so your favorite song from those days?
Our favourite songs were, by um, Abigail Kubeka, Miriam Makeba...
Miriam Makeba, that's the click song yes? Yes the click song.
Do you know that one, can you give us a few lines please
[Music]
What role does music play in life?
In life, not Langa?
[ laughing ] No I think in life.....
I think music is a
is a, is a, is a journey it's a journey that everybody alive should take, I mean we all
know that when you're angry and we hear a beautiful melodious piece, you become at peace
with yourself, your anger somewhat goes away when you're happy when you merry when you
sad, music is your answer to your misery or whatever adverse situation you find yourself
in. So music is really uh
the way, the way we live is musical, I'm talking as musicians with think music, with sleep music
so without music
we don't find ourselves we are found wanting, you know, so it's a it's it the music really
fills you with a feeling that can take you too years back you can I mean by listening
to music even if you can even remember stuff that happened 30, 40 years ago it it somewhat
triggers what was was lying dormant in your in your in your mind so music really is a
it's a journey, for me
What's in the water in Langa, you've had some of the most remarkable people that have come from
this area, so Langa seems to produce the most fantastic people in South Africa, what's in the water?
what makes such dynamic people come from this area?
It's not what you put in the water, it's
what you draw out of the water the water is very addictive, friendliness, the only place
when you walk down the street nobody, the person doesn't know you, they say night, you know, and the
history of being the longest urbanized group of black people it's in Langa, so they've
been in the city for more than 200 years they've been around here, and being small everybody
knows it and it's very welcoming, that's why you found that after '85 a lot of people flocked
to Langa because it was the safest the friendliest the most hostable, hospitable, place a wide
range of arts you know and music and food, and we accommodated people who come from other
people and the food that we bring and the music that they bring, the famous Amampondo,
when Madiba was asked who's his favourite band he said Amampondo, just down the road
they're still around, they love here in Langa. So what else, why would you move out of Langa when you have the world in Langa.
Is there a saying in isiXhosa that describes Langa or sums up Langa?
mmm "unccwele" , Langa unccwele
Which is... it's a place of Grace, yeah....