I just discovered your music randomly on Apple Music. Heard “Born coloured - not born Free” without knowing its name or its background. While hearing it, I was filled with deep sorrow. I could hear the “chirimilla”, a traditional mayan instrument that, when played, cries injustice and melancholy. Without knowing the story of this piece, as Guatemalan, as a daughter of the colonialism in Latinamerica, I was already connected to It. So happy to have had discovered your music. Beautiful!
Thank you so much for this. This shares a lot in terms of your creative thought to your album. I'm Xhosa, a black born and raised in WC, whose parents originated in EC. There's an elderly gentleman (that's 'colored') that has shared some thought provoking perspective on the so called colored identity. It is common cause that this labeling black, white, Indian and colored was an apartheid construct to divide and conquer all the oppressed in SA. His irritation is that in the post colonial state, a democratic SA, a democratic government (ANC led), to redress racial imbalances caused by apartheid regime, the same artificial racial divide has been kept and used by a democratic state. More infuriating is within ranks of freedom fighters were the so called colored people that fought the colored labelling as they were consciously aware it was designed divide and rule the oppressed. I once visited Iziko Slave Lodge in Cape Town. Shocking is just how many people that were brought into South Africa as slaves are now loosely called 'colored', thereby erasing their history and rich cultural tapestry and it's diversity. So yeah Benjamin, you might be called 'born-free', reality is we are not,and it would take your generation to define what being free means. Your music explores these complex themes oh so well. Thank you for your offering.
Top 10 favourate Benjamin Jephta songs. In this order: 1. Mombelli, Pt.1. 2. Homecoming. 3. Evolution, Pt.2. 4. Born Coloured- not Born-Free (Resurgence) 5. Identity. 6. One for the Plein, Pt. 1. 7. Be Strong. 8. Choice. 9. The Path. 10. Mombelli, Pt. 2. As you can tell, he is my favourate SA jazz musician. When it comes to creating albums, I do not think there is anyone in (young) SA jazz who is as creative as he is and who is able to create a cohesive and memorable piece of work. Each of his albums is a journey with him as he reflects on the world and the kinds of things that affect and influence him. His music is sensitive, experimental, well-thought-out, and accessible, without sacrificing any depth. I listen to a lot of contemporary SA jazz and Jephta's music stands out as it has an undeniable uniqueness that is difficult to explain. I suspect that he is the only one in the game that never has a song that is just a "filler" for an album because I am always able to recognise his music as distinctively his in every song. All this is to say that I CANNOT WAIT for the next project!
Despite all the negativity and the so-called shame that comes with being coloured (before, during, and after apartheid), it is almost like an unspoken fact that the majority of them have decided to embrace the term, the culture, and the essence because they found pride and beauty in being coloured (the same as townships. Remember, townships were shanty towns that are still struggling today, but the majority of the people have found pride in coming from a township). Some do not merely see "coloured" as a race but more like an ethnic group because there are accents, dialects, foods, and lifestyles.
No one is born Coloured, you are ragistered by law as Coloured. 1950 classification law. So the definition of Coloured in democracy is completely different to the definition of Coloured when it started by the British in 1800s. I think you should do more research why you called or why your foreparents were called Coloured. It has nothing to do with black or white people. And no you are not black. Because black is not an identity, and if it was, then you will be a Brown person. Bruin mens. We never has the same struggle as them.
Wow you completely miss the point of identity and freedom by telling someone’s that they are wrong about what they have clearly taken an enormous amount of time to decide how they identify. You miss the point huni!
I just discovered your music randomly on Apple Music. Heard “Born coloured - not born Free” without knowing its name or its background.
While hearing it, I was filled with deep sorrow. I could hear the “chirimilla”, a traditional mayan instrument that, when played, cries injustice and melancholy. Without knowing the story of this piece, as Guatemalan, as a daughter of the colonialism in Latinamerica, I was already connected to It. So happy to have had discovered your music. Beautiful!
Moer😭, I hear your protest and I concur and respect you for the bravery to challenge the narrative. But the music man 🙆🏾♂️
Thank you so much for this. This shares a lot in terms of your creative thought to your album. I'm Xhosa, a black born and raised in WC, whose parents originated in EC. There's an elderly gentleman (that's 'colored') that has shared some thought provoking perspective on the so called colored identity. It is common cause that this labeling black, white, Indian and colored was an apartheid construct to divide and conquer all the oppressed in SA. His irritation is that in the post colonial state, a democratic SA, a democratic government (ANC led), to redress racial imbalances caused by apartheid regime, the same artificial racial divide has been kept and used by a democratic state. More infuriating is within ranks of freedom fighters were the so called colored people that fought the colored labelling as they were consciously aware it was designed divide and rule the oppressed. I once visited Iziko Slave Lodge in Cape Town. Shocking is just how many people that were brought into South Africa as slaves are now loosely called 'colored', thereby erasing their history and rich cultural tapestry and it's diversity. So yeah Benjamin, you might be called 'born-free', reality is we are not,and it would take your generation to define what being free means. Your music explores these complex themes oh so well. Thank you for your offering.
Love it. Biko defined us all as black and that is how the black conscious movement came about. I salute you Benjamin.
I can't wait ,I already heard some of it at the kzn school jazz festival and it sounded awesome
Top 10 favourate Benjamin Jephta songs. In this order:
1. Mombelli, Pt.1.
2. Homecoming.
3. Evolution, Pt.2.
4. Born Coloured- not Born-Free (Resurgence)
5. Identity.
6. One for the Plein, Pt. 1.
7. Be Strong.
8. Choice.
9. The Path.
10. Mombelli, Pt. 2.
As you can tell, he is my favourate SA jazz musician. When it comes to creating albums, I do not think there is anyone in (young) SA jazz who is as creative as he is and who is able to create a cohesive and memorable piece of work. Each of his albums is a journey with him as he reflects on the world and the kinds of things that affect and influence him.
His music is sensitive, experimental, well-thought-out, and accessible, without sacrificing any depth.
I listen to a lot of contemporary SA jazz and Jephta's music stands out as it has an undeniable uniqueness that is difficult to explain. I suspect that he is the only one in the game that never has a song that is just a "filler" for an album because I am always able to recognise his music as distinctively his in every song.
All this is to say that I CANNOT WAIT for the next project!
Saw you at the Hidden Spaces on Saturday - you were amazing.
Benjamin! You’re sooo important! A luta continua. ❤️
🙏
I can't wait. ❤
🙏
Terrific video, looking forward to hearing the work!
Thanks 🙏🏽 Album is out on my Bandcamp 👌🏽
Looking forward to hear from you Mnr Jephta
Yes Sir. Hope you enjoy the new offering!
Despite all the negativity and the so-called shame that comes with being coloured (before, during, and after apartheid), it is almost like an unspoken fact that the majority of them have decided to embrace the term, the culture, and the essence because they found pride and beauty in being coloured (the same as townships. Remember, townships were shanty towns that are still struggling today, but the majority of the people have found pride in coming from a township). Some do not merely see "coloured" as a race but more like an ethnic group because there are accents, dialects, foods, and lifestyles.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥
🙏🏽
Thank you for the music and meaningful perspective.
Thanks fam 🙏🏽
What a great video, good luck for the release, sounds amazing!
Thank! It's out on all streaming platforms. link in the description.
So inspiring!
Thanks Kat ❤
Great stuff Benji ! You have something to say….
🙏
son of the soil.
No one is born Coloured, you are ragistered by law as Coloured. 1950 classification law. So the definition of Coloured in democracy is completely different to the definition of Coloured when it started by the British in 1800s. I think you should do more research why you called or why your foreparents were called Coloured. It has nothing to do with black or white people. And no you are not black. Because black is not an identity, and if it was, then you will be a Brown person. Bruin mens. We never has the same struggle as them.
Wow you completely miss the point of identity and freedom by telling someone’s that they are wrong about what they have clearly taken an enormous amount of time to decide how they identify. You miss the point huni!
@@Stassjafull 200% agree - some people should pause for 3 days before making stupid comments