Thebe Magugu’s ‘Sonic Experience’ an extraordinary journey of folklore, music and style
‘Africans have always had poignant, urgent stories to tell’
Curated by Magugu in collaboration with global streaming service Spotify, the experience took cue from Magugu’s autumn/winter 2023 collection, dubbed Folklorics.
“As the name ‘Folklorics’ suggests, the collection looks at the past through a modern lens, much like the artists in my playlist,” Magugu wrote in a booklet given to attendees, highlighting his thought process.
“They beautifully combine the past and present – while offering slight suggestions for the future – through intelligent, genre-bending and Afrocentric stories.”
Through the Spotify Fashion Forward playlist, Magugu last month became the first African designer to curate a playlist on the platform. Nodding the influence of fashion on music, Magugu featured artists he listened to while he was working on his autumn/winter 2023 collection. The artists include anyone from from Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse to Brenda Fassie, Lebo Mathosa, Mafikizolo, Black Coffee, Skwatta Kamp, Kwesta and Cassper Nyovest.
“A special component of the collection is its fuel: The music from artists who I have the personal privilege of calling friends who led the collection.”
Spellbinding performances by Zoe Modiga, Ukhoikhoi and The Brother Moves On, staged across three different areas dubbed “Water”, “Earth” and “Fire” kept guests dancing through the night.
Image: supplied
Image: supplied