Youth Day commemorates the Soweto youth uprising of June 16 1976.
With a new single out called Khekheleza and another show coming up at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens on September 16, Focalistic has loads to be grateful for.
TshisaLIVE caught up with the musician.
As a young person in South Africa, what are some of the issues you wish our leaders would pay attention to?
I wish the attention of our leaders was on the shortage of leaders. I think the shortage [thereof] is hiking the unemployment rate because a lot of people are taught algebra when they could be taught business management in high school.
I think the shortage of leaders is badly affecting the youth and the next generation to come. [We need to start with education, finding a different way of teaching, a way that's tailor-made for South Africans.”
Your message to upcoming artists who aspire to walk in your footsteps?
Stay true to yourselves, be unique, tell your story as artists. We forget the true meaning of an artist. An artist is meant to reflect their times. So reflect what's around you, how you feel, how you've experienced life and there's no way you'll go wrong. Your biggest power is that you are you.”
With the freedom you have to travel the world and perform, what do you want your legacy to be?
One of leading the pack, of breaking boundaries. Being able to travel the world, I'll never take that for granted, but I still remember a time when people said you can't travel the world rapping in s'Pitori, it's not even an official language, and being able to see the grace of God and hard work take us across the world reppin' Pitori and representing were I come from. The genuine story, staying true to the genuine story of where I come from. For me that's the legacy that I want, to have created a future for the next generation, to have led them to open-base thinking and showing them that it's all possible.
We need to take entertainment more seriously: Focalistic on youngsters in the industry
Image: Supplied
Youth Day commemorates the Soweto youth uprising of June 16 1976.
With a new single out called Khekheleza and another show coming up at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens on September 16, Focalistic has loads to be grateful for.
TshisaLIVE caught up with the musician.
As a young person in South Africa, what are some of the issues you wish our leaders would pay attention to?
I wish the attention of our leaders was on the shortage of leaders. I think the shortage [thereof] is hiking the unemployment rate because a lot of people are taught algebra when they could be taught business management in high school.
I think the shortage of leaders is badly affecting the youth and the next generation to come. [We need to start with education, finding a different way of teaching, a way that's tailor-made for South Africans.”
Your message to upcoming artists who aspire to walk in your footsteps?
Stay true to yourselves, be unique, tell your story as artists. We forget the true meaning of an artist. An artist is meant to reflect their times. So reflect what's around you, how you feel, how you've experienced life and there's no way you'll go wrong. Your biggest power is that you are you.”
With the freedom you have to travel the world and perform, what do you want your legacy to be?
One of leading the pack, of breaking boundaries. Being able to travel the world, I'll never take that for granted, but I still remember a time when people said you can't travel the world rapping in s'Pitori, it's not even an official language, and being able to see the grace of God and hard work take us across the world reppin' Pitori and representing were I come from. The genuine story, staying true to the genuine story of where I come from. For me that's the legacy that I want, to have created a future for the next generation, to have led them to open-base thinking and showing them that it's all possible.
It's all about showing people that dreams are valid. The world will be a better place once people are open to different options and different possibilities, and dreams that they have are made possible or even seem possible because just the energy of waking up every day and doing something productive is what we need. That's my legacy, motivating people to do that.”
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