LUSOLOTJA: THE MUSE!...

We have seen him in festivals, gigs, exclusive parties, and all other entertainment events that you can think of; in and outside the country.
Unlike the obvious artist, deejay, poet, painter and other artists, Lusolotja is the shadow that inhibits and breathes life to talents.

He has been aligning himself to the local entertainment industry for as long as ‘history’ can tell.
Not only does he breathe life and encourage talent, he also educes Africanism and is cultured in all imaginable aspects.
The born and bred Mbabanian, born Lusolotja Sabelo Ginidza, is also a teacher by profession.

“Sadly, I have never practiced a single day as a teacher, the art bug bit me earlier in my life and I have never looked back,” he said.
Gcwala could not ignore his love for the arts; especially since he has always been behind Swaziland’s golden boy, Sandziso ‘Sands’Matsebula.

We had a moment with him and this is what he had to say about his love for the arts in Swaziland and more:
The journey into the love of arts
My love relationship with the arts started in the dusty streets of Sandla where I broke out as a break dancer in one of the greatest crews I’ve known, from there I went on to join the sibhaca group at my school, I’d juggled my sibhaca dance with the choir a state of affairs that would persist until I graduated from UNISWA. I’ve had a very long relationship with event planning and management since high school as well, something that also went on even at University level.

I dabbled with TV as an all rounder, presenter, producer, part-time director. Working as a youth activist against what was termed as a calamity at the time, HIV/AIDS. So that brought me to television and production!
So by the time I was a student at the university I was working full-time in the arts! My activism gave me the opportunity to liaise with artists at a time when very few people believed in the local artists.

Local music was not big at all, save for gospel, I didn’t believe in using gospel since by its nature it’s discriminating, either you are saved or not. So I opted to work with secular musicians as it were, thus marking the beginning of my relationship with the arts so to say.

I love all arts!
I love all the arts I guess you could say I’m an arts connoisseur, I live and breathe the arts. None is my favourite I just live to see the betterment of all artistic expression in the kingdom. I’m glad to say I’ve worked with fashion designers, musicians, visual artists, actors, film makers the whole lot. Working with creatives is not like a typical nine to five, things keep changing the whole time! It needs one to be on top of their game the whole time.

Growth in arts
The growth in the arts over the past few years has been amazing to say the least! What’s interesting is that this has been largely organic, growing without the aid of big business or government. Art practitioners have had to go it alone for the longest time with hardly a cent thrown at them by corporate Swaziland, yet the guys and ladies kept at it! Honing their skills perfecting their craft, now the result are there for all to see.

‘Mused’ names…
I moved into the art space and found some mentors there, Knowledge Makhanya for instance, this giant liked me since high school and mentored me, so it only followed that I would do the same to other young people. I’ve worked with Samkeliso Nxumalo, The father of contemporary film making in Swaziland, together we established SAVUSA Pictures, to try and tell the Swazi story. We realised that some dudes have made music, but need quality music videos, at the time it was expensive to produce music, imagine if you have to make a video!

So we decided to be those guys that made videos, as a result we had Thulumsindvo, for the love of hip hop, we got it, and others, looking back I’m glad we did it cause we inspired a whole generation. We produced these videos using our own resources, KRTC didn’t have money for a video, and we felt he needed a video so we did it!

I mean we got it, is the video that introduced Velemseni into the music scene; the rest as they say is history!
I’ve worked with most premium artists in this land! GMC, Maz, Vammose, Mabongza, Snoop, the spin doctors, STORM, the show down, Nana, Spirits indigenous, Kantolomba, Bholoja, Siyinqaba, The Film Lab, rooted soulz, July 22 legacy festival, Siyavuka arts festival Jiggs at House on fire! Too numerous to mention. I’ve been inspired by the Spirit of these artists to make something out of absolutely nothing! As a result the while nation was happy!

Lusolotja big on festvals
Festivals… we need more of these in this country. His Imperial when opening the Trade Fair this year called on the nation to look into means and ways of improving the arts, we need to do this as of yesterday!  Let’s make Swaziland the playground of the region, we have what it takes, beautiful scenery, wonderful people, high quality high grade, what more do we want?

Last words from the Muse
This is our time. Let’s produce more quality...

We are blessed - dd cool
Swaziland’s veteran DJ Mdumiseni ‘DD Cool’ Simelane confessed on the magnificent work that Lusolotja has contributed in the country towards the arts.
“Everyone need that one person who will believe in their works and guide them through, with words of encouragement and support, while pursuing their career.
Swaziland is lucky to have Lusolotja. I am lucky to have him in my life, to inspire us daily,” he said.
He continued saying that every country needs such people; MUSES.
“Sometimes, hope is all that one needs to make it in their career; either in arts or outside. Swaziland is truly blessed to have this man,” he said.

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