Singers on a drive to 'be the best'

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KNYSNA NEWS - A group of talented local singers aim to take the music world by storm, but they realise that to be the best you need the best equipment to get there.

Afro Quartez, the group of four operatic singers already well-loved by Knysna residents, dream of making a living out of singing as it is something they all love.

Some of the members have been singing since preschool, and others found their love for singing in church, and it is this love for music that brought them together in 2010.

At that stage they were all part of the Petro SA Singers.

Read a previous article: Local boys make their voices heard

The group is made up of Thembinkosi Bokwe, Lonwabo Khontsiwe, Siyabonga Melento and Mzukisi Mana.

They either take existing opera songs and put an African twist on it or rearrange a pop song it into a more operatic version.

"We are also working on some original numbers that we will hopefully be able to perform soon," says Bokwe.

For the group to further their careers and make music full time, they need the proper equipment to support their act, and to this end they will be holding as many gigs as possible in the coming months.

The equipment they need, says Bokwe, will be some professional microphones, speakers, a mixing desk that can take multiple channels, monitors used on stage by the singers, and a small array of stage lights they can take with them when they perform.

Melento says they realise they need the best to become the best.

"We are also considering incorporating a female vocalist. There's a girl called Shaza from Sedgefield who we have performed with," he says.

According to Bokwe, the group has done a number of charity performances as well as a way to give back to Knysna.

"We also try to help out the choirs at Percy Mdala and Concordia," he adds.

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Their next performance kicks off on 28 October at 18:00 at Ron’s Freshline Fisheries at the Railway Siding Dockyard, corner of Long Street and Waterfront Drive (behind Tait Marine), Knysna.

Bokwe says this will be a gala evening not to be missed.

"We are all looking forward to the gig very much. We've played there before and now the owner has asked us to come back again," he said.