MATTHEW HIRSCH
Sea Point resident and TV personality Katlego Maboe is getting ready for the release of his debut single – Race Against Time – which aims to spark constructive conversations on race in South Africa.
The song has a slightly unusual roll-out, however, and isn’t being released on Mandela Day by chance.
Written and co-produced by Katlego Maboe, David Harmse and Ntokozo Mkhize, with vocals by Erica Appels and the Sing the Change Choir, pre-sales of the single RACE (against time) has been available on MiTracks as well as other digital platforms since Saturday June 18 at a cost of R10 each.
Mr Maboe said he aimed to reach 67 000 in pre-sales, with all proceeds going to the Anti-Racism Network South Africa (ARNSA).
“It’s a good tune and hopefully gets the conversation going and starts unpacking the issue and understanding the struggle,” he said.
“I’ve been making music since high school. In varsity I was also part of a group where we wrote our own songs.The song itself took us about two weeks to write and then it took about two months to produce. There is a deliberate play on words. The issue of race is a matter of urgency for all of us and we all stand to lose and suffer the consequences if we don’t solve the problem in time,” added Mr Maboe.
The Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada foundations developed ARNSA to respond to incidences of racism and to try to better understand the underlying causes of thereof.
Director Sean Moodley said: “ARNSA completely welcomes this partnership and congratulates Katlego Maboe on his great initiative to help combat racism in our country through the medium and power of music and song.
“Our belief is that colour should never divide us, and in saying so, the network will do whatever is needed to promote and endorse RACE (against time).”
Laura Santoni, director of Sing the Change, said the choir was “thrilled to have been given the opportunity to collaborate on this song.
“Through the power of music and self-expression, the youth are offered a voice and a creative platform that helps encourage them to contribute to a positive change on the issue of racism and other global issues.”
The song is available for pre-order on iTunes South Africa store.
If you don’t have iTunes, you can get it from the Google Play Store or at www.mitracks.fm/preorder/race-against-time
A live performance of the song is also available for viewing at www.youtube.com/watch? v=bBu2h2r1AVc
