Hip Hop is On Trial

Most of us can mistake hip hop for an urban culture without a cause or a lost cause for that matter, as we digg deeper we can come to appreciate the complexity and power behind this cultural maschine tagged #HipHop. In a recent Intelligence Squared debate topic 'Hip hop is on trial", a panel of experts are convened to tackle the question "Does hip hop uplift  or degrade our society??

A fair question which from the onset probes our understanding of the hip hop culture and the references in contextualizing an approach to this debate. The IQ2 debate was nothing new in depsyphering the misconceptions or relating to the general perceptions that have always existed since the early days of hip hop. Amongs the panel of experts included Professors and Professionals in Journalism, Academics, Computer Science visionary and International Artists or Hip Hop activists including QuestLove, QTip, Estelle as well as prominent figures such as KRS1, Rev Jesse Jackson, Advocate Michael Dyson and Dream Hampton. Wow what a great way to gather great minds check it out if you part of our socials @paytcommunity its one of our prime viewings....#Googlehangout

Can we deny the fostering of misplaced values by the surge of commercial hip hop which promotes craz materialism and degradation of women. 'Base.. how low can you go" 'Base... how low can you go'by Michael Dyson arguing for Hip Hop. (what a way 2 debate,,but our general consensus was THAT the debate as informative and entertaining as it may be could have been much more broader outside American context,,cause as South African Hip hop journo who raised the question on which society are WE talking about??...#luvIt @BigUps)

'Hip hop is a culture of resistance, exposing contradictions and emmenating from a place of darkness in someway and as a result rebels from the opressive state of reality as a form of expression. It has the ability to liberate and enhance a society."

Whats interesting to observe is how has this culture transcended to language and freedom of expression. This has definitely sprung alive in African particularly as the hip hop culture has grown and embraced the linguistic element which has breathed a whole new life into this dynamic culture.
 A critical element to Hip hop is knowledge and as a robust culture let us be reminded that this is a culture that filters in visual art, language, dance and 
street fashion amongst many elements that makes it robust and a bigger vehicle than we conceive. {Formulation and creation of knowledge, liberating young 
kids minds for almost 4 decades @hiphop}


(((Hip hop has existed for merely 4 decades)), it comes as a great pleasure to usher in a brand new perspective in African context, that embraces cultural exchange. #PAYT introduces a Motswako brand that is about to take on a whole 
new wave of excitement. A paradigm shift which is commodifying art and 
embracing the concept of free Art. CC.Cruz Control produced by MM3rd is 
dropping FREE DOWNLOAD @DEXTRAWSTUDIO.COM



There I leaked it right b4 Midnight download official opening!!!

Love 2 be part of #paytcommunity

As a street cred thing Hip hop is OG. Its as real as it gets and Motswako as its foundation has a far reaching appeal that will resonate with most jammers anywhere around the world. The album is produced by a mastermind in music and digital era style, the brilliance of how this project was done considering that it is a CC second to the 1st.

Motswako Culture

[Originates from a place called Mahikeng South Africa and in direct translation means  "mixture']

www.dextra.com and meet everyone who formed part of this epic Album hosted by #Apu!!

Word is Bond!!

What creates that illusive sale;; what is most trustworthy than a word you heard recently and most convinced that it was in fact truth to your ears. It is the very thing that creates a societal cliche in saying "rumour says'//'heard it through the grapevine' or 'he says she says'...which all works out to reason as truth'

As human beings we are easily convinced; and that's because for as long as you can conceive it in your mind, what is being said, the thought of it being true even without logic, is enough to set a house on fire #ill imagination.

"the power of words is amazing'

In that sums up what happens to be always trending, is that entrepreneurial spirit that's founded on 'word of mouth' marketing. You don't really need the super billboards to get your niche. Define who you are and what you about and set it off by delivering on your service or product exceeding expectations and leaving a trail of 'word Of Mouth' advocates behind you...

When other people do the selling for you is the ultimate sales pitch and a win formula.

South Africa ounce leading brand Loxion Kulca started out as a cool hobby that turned into one of the biggest brands to hit the streets in late 90s. And what was very clear then and still is today is there is no better hustle than a good referral  because 3/5 times it means a new loyal follower totally #twitter-style and a whole lot of excess benefits.

Word is Bound Turn your fav hobby into mega bucks by starting small #building blocks!!/./

If you gona say it make sure its worth a listen!!#What-You-say??

OCTOBER15: The Start of the Mahikeng Siege #africanstudies

Once known as a “living museum’ portraying traditional African Villages and Culture

Credo Mutwa's Cultural Village

The larger cemetery of the MemorialBurial site of casualties of the Mahikeng Siege, is at the entrance to Credo Mutwa's Cultural Village,at Lotlamoreng Dam - a living museum portraying traditional African villages and cultures.

Credo Mutwa 

This place was a devine haven for Artists who used to work from here and many traditional artworks and sculptures were prepared here for tourists from Lotlamoreng Dam. Credo Mutwa, who has since moved in the 90s, is an artist, sculptor, author and prophet of international renown. Many of his prophecies regarding events in South Africa have proved to be uncannily accurate.

The inside of a recreational area@Credo MutwaVillage in Mahikeng South Africa

The 15 October 1899 Mahikeng Siege

These pictures were taken in 2009 and the place has since been neglected even though at some point was under the care of the North West Parks & Tourism Board. Lotlamoreng as a heritage site has been given back to the Tribal Authority the Barolong-Ba-Ratshidi who are the original custodians of this landmark, PAYT hopes to add value towards the restoration of Lotlamoreng in honor of the people of the Barolong and their Ancestors.#African Studies. As today marks the start to the Mahikeng Siege which has happened more than once in this historic town of Mahikeng. There are alot of disputes as to which dates marks the beginning ,lets just say like any other incident in life..always depends on who's telling the Story...

Mahikeng is the Capital City of the North West Province in South Africa and is known as the gateway to Africa, as it played a role for the political landscape of South Africa and Botswana. It has served as Capital City to three separate Countries under three different unique circumstances...follow our discovery and revelations of Mahikeng "a place amongst rocks' in direct translation from its Setswana meaning.

PAYT ADVENTURE: Naughty West Style!

The Sun City 400 a huge attraction for adventure sport enthusiasts!!

The Platinum Off-road calendar has become a hit annual program in the North West Province of South Africa which makes the most of the flat land and dessert-like features of the Platinum Province, besides the great weather. The off-road culture in South Africa is currently trending as a growing niche market that plays on the need to balance life with a bit of adventure and adrenalin rush that is synonymous with an “I’m alive’ mindset.

PAYT is 100% behind the culture of Off-road racing and any form of Adventure sport which range from biking all the way to Paragliding or Sky diving, all happen to be some of the coolest things you can get up to in the Naughty West as its affectionately known by its young people.

What do we love about the Sun City 400??

-      1.)     It’s a FREE GIG, we all love freebies

     2.)  A range of racing cars on display – some of the most amazing remodelled off road vehicles that you’ve ever seen!!

       3.)   A lot of the competitors and supporters slept at the Pilanesburg Tent Camp site that embraced the whole Bushveld lifestyle that makes Africa what it is!!

#BigUps to all the sponsors and supporters of this great initiative, which has developed into a great branding initiative for the Naughty West and Brand South Africa. 

Next one PAYT is checking out is coming to the Capital City Mahikeng, on 3 November find out how you can join us for a PAYT group experience email info@paytlive.co.za

PAYT can assist you in organizing a group experience if its you and at least two other individuals. Our Tours are packaged with local flavour be it Chef, Storytellers, MCs or DJ and includes two options of accomodation and transport.

Proceeds go to PAYT Trust as a Public Charitable Trust that invests in the education and industrial development of young people in South Africa and is also linked up to International organizations to leverage our Program impact for our members!! Visit www.paytlive.org for more information or email us to request to become a member

Trail of Thought

Posting thrills - PAYT  celebrates the guerilla art movement, where Art is becoming a political statement>>thanx to the Spear, everyone is forced to take a point of view on freedom of expression. Whether we agree or disagree with the Spear as an authentic artistic expression that deserves a platform, its irrelevant.The movement in itself is a strength and symbol of courage to voice issues through art. It is a passion that connects or links us to the core - 'Gaabomotho'; measured as creative input that brings issues of culture to the fore, demanding a retrospect that elevates what we see in who we are.

What sense of preservation of culture are we most inclined to in defining who we are as South African or Africans in general.How do we focus on self preservation through our customs and rich heritage.

Authenticity is a virtue

Enjoying the finer things in life goes way beyond caviar and champagne - dont get it twisted quality has everything to do with it. Living fine is about paying attention to or appreciating detail. #China City v/s home knitwear. Reasoning with yourself everyday about your actions in everything consumed is a sure start, but following it up with the right amount of recause is what determines the winners from loosers. It begins with You!!! Over and over you can start saying "it starts with me, let me be the change i want 2 see!!"

Street Cred ^^Stay Cultured

Without street cred your word of mouth is unplugged....so catch a hint and work on U!PAYT shines a spotlight on a feature by Snap App Ipad Magazine that themed their edition "Make Beautiful" //what a great spin off to focus on a concept so familiar and yet easily accessible!!

Here is what came from a San Francisco Photographer Travis Jenson on how to kill a photo shoot on the streets:


1. Try not to get caught up in perfection (it helps to try loosen up//and that is where true style comes from)

2. Embrace Wabi Sabi - being sneaky leads to trouble. (if its not good enough you are probably not close enough>>ask for permission befor taking pic or take a pic to seize the moment and then ask later.)


3. The key to good photography is good light


4. Don't be afraid to approach people


5. Study the work of others - real good trade!!


Street Art is one of our favourite reminders that beauty can be anywhere. Its about bringing life to an otherwise sterile spot, its turning the environment into a canvas. This wonderful organic art-form is a symbol of empowerment, creativity, resistance and enduring strength.

Insightful Art

2012 Art Exhibition ISSA

ARTTRIBUTE

If you grew up in a neighbourhood such as Mahikeng, then art would have been a foundation you build solid character and assumed esteem over who you are: the core of identity. My first experience of it was in the mid 1980s when I found myself inspired by a ballet dance class where I met a significant number of people who marked this time and place. This marked place is called Mmabana, which loosely translated means “Mother of Children’; established to be a haven that nurtures art but most importantly should be classified as the custodian for the well being of little ones>>untainted hearts, minds and free spirited creatures.

Two blocks from Mmabana is another marked place called Gaabo-Motho, offices of the provincial Department of Sports, Arts & Culture rumoured to be undergoing a name change for some reason. Gaabo- Motho means “Home to mankind”, meaning Art is home to humanity. It bears a sense of expression that is truely connected to who you perceive yourself to be as a person, which inevitably dictates an introspection on your own cultural heritage and if you have never probed your heritage then the real you in both physical and spiritual form is yet to be discovered.

Although Mmabana and Gaabo-Motho are far from being where they should be in terms of industrial capacity and relevance to 21^st Century, the foundation that existed over 100 years ago has shrubs of talent and vested interest in the Creative Arts, that the next years to come are re-enactments of sheer brilliance and foresight on the part of the likes of Sol Plaatje and many more who continued his efforts. What can be said about Sol Plaatje without ranting the obvious, the first African to write a Diary of a War: Black man’s view of a White man’s war, discovered long after the Mahikeng Siege. Quite sure he would have passed for a Bra Sol in today’s SA lingo, a Poet, a writer and a visionary / pioneer who co-founded the first Setswana-English weekly newspaper called “Koranta ea Becoana” in 1901, as well as a founding member of the South African Native Congress today known as the ANC.

This history is best captured by a talented Artist Georgie Bhunu who is known for his extensive work on the Barolong-Ba-Ratshidi Monarchy and his featured current work presented at his Art Gallery of “the Life and Times of Sol Plaatje” is a mavel. Bhunu has recaptured history and through his paintings has brought to life heroic stories about the Barolong peole and its lineage. His work has given profound meaning to insightful art, the likes that go from generation to generation marking time and a place.

Oil painting of Sol Plaatje

As a measure of continuity and that revealed in the connection between a Sol Plaatjie who resided in Mahikeng in the late 1800s and Georgie Bhunu exhibiting his 21^st century artwork in his Mahikeng gallery of paintings modelled from pictures that were taken over 100 years ago, lies the essence of true art – insightful Art.

By: Lerato Mosimane

Lost in Translation

If one had to inspire a whole generation by reminding them of who they are, at the same time translating an inconvenient truth about the past and present, how best could you do it?
This was the task at hand for the African National Congress and its new dispensation in South Africa marked on 8 Jan: celebrations of 100 years of the liberation movement/ struggle. The celebrations most likely where felt only in Bloemfontein, the Free State city was the host and the place where the historic formation of the ANC began; notably far from the euphoria that was felt when Nelson Mandela was released from Robben Island. In those days you simply felt the atmospheric buzz and an energy that took over for days, South Africans were full of hope and had a sense of an overwhelming victory.

The centenary of ANC's existence comes at a time when the ruling party in government is experiencing rive factionalism within its organization and marred by corruption coupled with mismanagement of tax payer's money. As a result a spring of service delivery protests reached their all time high in 2011, and likely to continue in 2012 as more and more South Africans living in poverty and despicable conditions without basics, are growing ever impatient with the ruling party.
But perhaps this is nowhere near the real rot of the "fruit of the pie"! What can be termed as "lost in translation' is seen in how the ANC, at a cost of R 100 m sought to inspire the people of South Africa at the Centenary celebrations. Where did it all begin and more importantly where is this Titanic ship sectioned into upper class and poor class, where the upper class are enjoying most of the ship's delights amongst a few and the bulk of the poor are cramped at the bottom sharing left overs.

National pride

 The proceedings of the Centenary celebrations kicked off with a service at the Wesleyan Church in Waaihoek, where the ANC was founded in 1912 known then as the South African Native National Congress.
This ceremony was followed by a formal address at a stadium and ended with musical play and act called Tshihumbudzo (the remembrance), which quite literally related the story of the ANC. The musical play meant to tell the story of 100 years in 100 minutes failed dismally to live up to the moment, and can be easily categorised as the worst theatrical display for a 21st century African audience. Tshihumbudzo lacked depth or a core theme,  loosely directed with very little creativity in set design, props and costumes.

Instead the most that was achieved out of this rushed musical was an overbearing cliched euro centric image of South Africans, failing to even distinguish time lines through spoken language and dress code, but most appallingly a complete disregard for cultural heritage and what it truly means to be a South African today.

Mirror our cultural heritage

A missed opportunity, this turns out to be for the ANC, leaving alot to be desired and more questions than answers. @PAYT embraces culture and employs ways to discover African heritage through discovery and an artistic expression of the indigenous. Tshihumbudzo should have explored a basic but yet powerful approach and theme to translate the historic by sampling the very man whose words inspired the inception of the ANC, Pixley Isaka Seme when he said "Forget all differences among Africans and unite in one national organization. Key words being Africanism and Unity @peace,love & understanding>>

What does it mean to be African?

A Digital Narrative

By:SA Photographer & Designer: Digidi Dyse

A showcase of the best digital narratives and digital news design for the iPad, mobile apps, tablets and ebooks have a captured audience ready to jet on a new media crusade that has changed the game altogether. The launch of the Ipad, arguably the most desired gadget of 2011, has since seen a surge of digital news cast including the likes of iMaverick.

The trick of course is to have the most user friendly, smart applications such as Blackberry Messenger (BBM), but have the capacity to deal with the heat that comes with high demand and the people's conventions. Blackberry suffered a set back towards the end of 2011, frustrated social media addicts experiencing withdrawals symptoms during "blackouts" we could say- "it was long time coming". Hijacked social media platforms such as BBM that assisted in mass mobilization of young activists for whatever the cause are "HERE 2 STAY". InfoTech is key in advancing connectivity, and in a place such as Africa its thriving,  the Arab spring certifies the power of digital media.

Perhaps far more compelling is the transformation of mainstream media affected by twitter, blogs and facebook, which now faces a tough time trying to compete with updates and news feeds shared online faster than you can say "Breaking News">>#tag has taken over!
As for the "Bad&Ugly">>the cellphone scandals and Household media woos xposed in 2011 reared its ugliness and left alot to be desired.....Now we know that what was once perceived to be informative, should be considered to be manipulation of the truth.
 So now we are witnessing an exciting era where the truth depends on who's telling the story and most bloggers and twitters have become advocates of #truestrory. Lets call it the reign of independent media>>new point of views and broader perspective. It may be said also that the digital media has created an opportunity for Digital Artists to stretch their range for creativity with graphic designs or visual content that coincide with today's applications ranging from smart phones to ipads and 3D motion picture.

@payt would like to shine a spotlight on digital narratives in Africa that tell African stories or a point of reference thats fresh and progressive. A review of the Audiobook "A-Dollar-A-Day", brings us closer to what the future holds for digital narratives in African context, seeking the solutions for Africans right here in Africa. "A-Dollar-A-Day" is a compilation of commentary as well as poets and musicians with a common vision the "rebirth of Africa". The Audiobook is produced by MM3rd of Dextraw Multimedia, a digital music producer who has his pulse on sounds of Africa with influences by JDilla, Madlib and MF Doom, maintains an authentic African experience, but most importantly has managed to sample some of the best narratives on political issues that range from Zimbabwe and its landreform policy, negative-ethnicity to African mindsets and population control.

"A-Dollar-A-Day" is a 2012 Souvenir marking 100 years of the Liberation Struggle of the African National Congress. A free download will be available @paytafrica.blogspot.com /@maishayetu.wordpress.com, so stay tuned in!!!

Marking 100 years of the Liberation Struggle

The Early Years – Part 1 by Richard Rive

During 1911, a thirty-year-old black lawyer with a growing practice in Johannesburg, South Africa, took the major initiative in organising a nation-wide congress of black representatives. This was an idea that had already germinated in his mind eight years before while he was still an undergraduate student in New York. His name was Pixley ka Isaka Seme. He was a Zulu barrister-at-law, practising in the Transvaal as an attorney of the Supreme Court of the Union of South Africa.

In this historic call, he emphasized the necessity for black unity.

“The demon of racialism, the aberration of the Xhosa-Fingo feud, the animosity that exists between the Zulus and the Tongas, between the Basutos and every other native must be buried and forgotten... We are one people. These divisions, these jealousies, are the cause of all our woes and of all our backwardness and ignorance today.”¹

On January 8, 1912, his hope seemed to be realised when personalities from black communities all over Southern Africa converged on Bloemfontein. Appropriately Pixley Seme, as the initiator, gave the keynote address.

“Chiefs of royal blood and gentlemen of our race, we have gathered here to consider and discuss a theme which my colleagues and I have decided to place before you. We have discussed that in the land of their birth, Africans are treated as hewers of wood and drawers of water. The white people of this country have formed what is known as the Union of South Africa – a union in which we have no voice in the making of laws and no part in their administration. We have called you therefore to this conference so that we can together devise ways and means of forming our national union for the purpose of creating national unity and defending our rights and privileges.”²

The assembled delegates then sang Tiyo Soga`s hymn, `Lizalise Dingalako Tixo We Nyaniso` (Fulfill Thy Promise, God of Truth) and Seme formally proposed that

“...The delegates and representatives of the great native houses from every part of South Africa here assembled should form and establish the South African Native National Congress.”³

His motion was seconded by Alfred Mangena, a fellow lawyer, who had been called to the bar two years earlier at Lincoln`s Inn, London. The African National Congress was born.

ANC President Jacob Zuma and Zimbabwen President Robert Mugabe expected to attend the Centenary Celebrations in Bloemfontein starting  Sun 8 Jan 2012



Delegation from the South African Native National Congress [today known as ANC] that went to
England in 1914 to convey the objections of the African people to the 1913 Land Act
Back Row (L-R) - Walter Rubusana, Saul Nsane; Front Row - Thomas Mapikela, John Dube, Sol T Plaatje



"A-Dollar-A-Day"

A-Tell It Like it Is Youth Venture!!!

I'd call it "SET-IT-OFF", but if we have to be literal then its a fresh release of what young adults in three separate parts of Africa voicing out their views on global politics and the course for Africa and its future. Inspired by the four strikes facing every African, plight of Ppoverty, HIV/AIDS, War and underdevelopment, coupled with a stretch period of bad leadership, there is alot to be desired..

A window of opportunity presented itself when PAYT invited Kenyan Social media journalist Muki Garang on an exchange program that lasted a month, hosting him in Mahikeng South Africa. The cultural exchange and network snowballed into an impromptu audio and musical recordings of the likes of Poets, MCs and Professional pioneers that each had a unique point of reference in piecing the picture for change towards a better future for all Africans. [Ounce and for all!!]

What makes this initiative unique is its broad perspective relating African issues from regions including South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe,Libya, Sudan and Kenya. The audio book "A-Dollar-A-Day" is a non profit initiative by a collaboration between PAYT and Maisha Yetu with a major publicity campaign in SA and Kenya within social media. The intention is to spread the word for young people to first rediscover themselves as Africans (#concepts>>Proudly African, Made in Africa and Made-4-Africa) and then start contributing to the bigger picture of decolonizing and breaking the cycle of slavery.