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Elias "Sparo" Sibiya is an artist, an event organizer, philanthropist and a Mamelodi resident. He is the man behind The E.S.S Festival . He took the time to let us in on the thought process of getting this event off the ground and why he chose to give back through the arts.

1.Why and how did it come to you to want to do an event like the E. S. S Music Festival?

As an event organizer that's been quiet for a very long time, I needed a comeback that was more than a hip hop show. So after coming with many ideas for about 6/7 years, this year in January I got the perfect plan and that's how the E. S. S Festival came about. It's been a long time coming, I just didn't have the perfect ex*****on plan back then.

2.Why the entrance fee of sanity pads and toothpaste and what's the plan after receiving them?

I believe in solving everyday problems and lending a helping hand where I can and this was a good way to kickstart the 1st event. I alone do not have the means to solve my community challenges alone, this was my way of giving back, through what I love.

Also my last event was around 2012 so I needed to come back with something that was going to give the festival a meaning not have it be "just another event" . The products will be distributed to schools, NGO's and the identified needy.

3.How has it been putting together this event and how has the support been like from your fellows artists and creatives?

Putting an event like this is a huge responsibility especially when you don't have funding and you have to keep digging from your own pocket time and again, but the support has been amazing from the community, artists and entrepreneurs at large.

4.Paint a picture for us as to what will be going down on the 2nd of May.

Music, flea market, podcast, fashion, food, digital and board games , baverages, beautiful people, fans , DJs & handcrafts. Fun with a cause. That is how the event will look like.

5.This is the 1st ever event, will we have another one next year, what's the plan going forward?

Yes! this is the 1st ever but we are planning to have it every year, hopefully with more sponsors on board. We will also have other events on the side, post and leading to this one.

6.How did the partnership with JackBhuda come about for them to offer their venue?

I bumped into the owner of the venue at a parking lot and I had 2 minutes to pitch my idea to him and fortunately he loved it.

7.What's your message to all the artists and creatives who came on board to help steer this ship with you and rallied behind you?

Thank you very much for your time and energy and understanding that I don't have funds to pay you. I am very grateful for that.

8.What are you most looking forward to on the day of the event?

Seeing lots of bags of the entrance fee products and lots of fun. I want to see people networking, meeting new people, new faces and enjoying the event.

9. What's your hope and wish for the community of Mamelodi?

To see more positivity and more people advocating for change one day at a time

10. Any S/O's, vote of thanks, last message?

I would love to send a big shout to
Jackbudha, Fikile Chauke, Temido, Pao N***a, Da Boombap Shaman, Bra Jimmy Lattrel, John Michael, Jonny Lass, Joe Valaza, Bonezee Bonzalez, KB Nokaneng, Sir fivenine, Bra Luu Devine, Shaba, all the media that gave us airtime and the artists.

Thank you to everyone who played a part and supported the idea.

Son of God is set to bless the E. S. S Festival stage

Sash Manindo, aka "Son of God" , is a South African Hip Hop artist, event organizer, and cultural entrepreneur.

Born Sisa Moloto in Witbank and raised in Secunda, Embalenhle, he relocated to Johannesburg to pursue music.

His music has earned him Top 10 placement on "Lenasia Got Talent" and a national appearance on "Idols SA". It has also taken him, over the years to many stages for live sets in clubs and pubs.

He describes his sound as real and honest and that he draws his inspiration from the late great Tupac. His music blends raw lyricism with social commentary and an unshakable presence.

Beyond the mic, Sash is the founder of Talentedsouls and creator of Hysteria, a successful, large-scale fashion show featuring professional models, live performances, and deejays that fuse street culture with high fashion and sound.

Now based in Pretoria, Sash Manindo continues to represent the Hip Hop culture while building platforms for emerging talent.

Catch him live at the E.S.S Festival, Jack Budha, Mamelodi on 2 May, blessing the stage with his talent.

Self-taught Lexx leads a village of art through "Artville Inks Tattoo Studio"

Mdu Khanyile aka Lexx is a self-taught tattoo artist born, bred and raised in Mamelodi East. He also specializes in pencil drawing, pen comic books, piercings and painting.

His inspiration and curiosity for tattoos came from watching a lot of cartoons as a student. He then started drawing what he saw in his scrapbook and at the back of his school books.

Lexx started off by tattooing himself, as a way to practice and perfect his skill, he then opened up to clients when he operated the business from his room and doing house calls in 2018.

Its been a long road since his high school years to 2024 where he went on to shows and exhibited his tattoo and piecing skills to the public.

His tattoo studio is "Artville Inks Tattoo Studio" which means a village of art , "proving you shouldn't think little of yourself coz a little village can grow along the way and become a big thing. Don't put limits to yourself, always be excelsior" he said

The business now fully grown and functioning, operates from Mamelodi East, Gardens Hinterland Avenue, ext 2 (next to a BP Garage). They currently work on a bookings basis, to avoid having to make a customer wait, which can take upto an hour at times.

Although he admits that operating a niche business like this one has its hits and misses. Some of the challenges he faces is that he provides a service which not everyone can afford, so they might want to negotiate for discounts but also the upside is that when you are good at what you do, you become the "go to guy" in your area when everyone requires the service you offer because of word of mouth.

What started off as a curious interest from cartoons, Lexx invested the skill that has paid off into making him one of the notable body artists around Mamelodi and his future plan is simply to expand and keep creating more jobs for future generations.

The E. S S Music Festival 2026 official media rap, is a man who wears many hats.

Known to many as Da Boombap Shaman, Mickenah Tafari is a multidisciplinary artist operating at the intersection of design, sound , cultural storytelling. With a foundation in Graphic and Brand design, He approaches creativity holistically treating visuals, music and identity as interconnected forms of expression.

As a music producer, his sound is deeply rooted in boombap, enriched with elements of neo soul, Afro rhythms and soulful textures. His production style emphasizes authenticity, rhythm and emotional depth creating soundscapes that feel both grounded and transcendent.

Beyond production Mickenah is the visionary behind a curated music platform dedicated to discovering and elevating underrated artists across genres. Through intentional playlisting, mixes and digital storytelling. He transforms music consumption into a guided experience that prioritizes feeling, narrative and cultural resonance.

Driven by a philosophy that merges artistic precision with spiritual awareness. Mickenah Tafari, Da Boombap Shaman is building more than a personal brand, he is cultivating a creative universe where design, music and meaning coexist.

Bonezee Bonzalez makes a return to Jackbhuda for The E. S. S Music Festival

Itumeleng Andries Monyai whose stage name is Bonezee Bonzalez is a musician from Mamelodi East. Bonzalez started creating his original compositions in 2004 and went on to join a group called "True Squad" in 2010.

In 2011 he went solo and recorded most of his songs, which were Hip Hop at Buffer Noyz Studios with producer Young Prowblem. He released his two hit songs "Ke Dese" and "I feel like Eminem" in 2013.

March of 2017 saw Bonezee release an Afro Pop song titled "Ngihambile" featuring Trinity, it won him a "song of the year" award at the Mamelodi Music Gallery Awards the very same year. The song charted number 1 on M**s Radio Top 40 for 3 months . He was also one of the winning people who auditioned, to perform at Dinho Cafe festival.

The success of the single inspired a change in the direction he would take as an artist. Bonzalez expanded to became a musician who didn't limit his creativity to the confinement of Hip Hop.

2019 the award winning artist hosted his 30th Birthday celebration at Europa with performances from Boypeza, Gomza, Sparo and many more. He also performed at Times Square Pretoria for the Mrs South Africa finalists event.

Bonzalez released his debut project, a 7 track EP entitled July, in 2020 which charted number 5 on Google play "best selling albums" for 7 days. That year he performed at the Inaugural Mrs and Miss Township South Africa finals.

In 2021 Bonzalez was a finalist nominee for Best Performer at Mzansi Arts and Media Awards.

Over the years, Bonezee Bonzalez has fine-tuned his artistry and expanded his creativity beyond just being a musician. The award winner has various talents ranging from being a DJ, event MC , Radio Personality, Writer, Voiceover Artist and an Actor.

He is part of the first generation to work at M**s Radio in 2011. He was also part of the first generation to work at Capital Live Radio and the first voice to go live on air.
Whether it's weddings, private functions , events, festivals , parties , funerals and sessions, Bonezee delivers a professional performance that has energy fitting for the occasion.

The last time Bonzalez performed at JackBudha was in 2018 and on the 2nd of May 2026 he will make a return after 8 years .

Temido Da Preacher Blesses The E. S. S Festival

Temido Da Preacher is a name that has done many rounds in the Pretoria Hip Hop scene for many many years and he continues to hold it down today.

Though he was born in Mpumalanga, Temido was raised in Mamelodi and that makes him a Pretorian through and through.

He is an MC/ rapper, song writer and sketch artist known for his raw Godcore, multilingual rap skills and wild loud gimmick style. He started rapping back in high school when he tested his rap skills during free time and has never looked back. He peaked in 2007 when he was part of a crew that was heavily booked in clubs and hotels around Pretoria CBD

He has since been part of organizing, coordinating, marketing & participating in numerous Hip Hop events both in Mamelodi & Nellmapius and surrounding areas. Some of these include NHHH Sessions, Kapa Drai, Extreme Sessions, Spaceroom, Reason2Rhyme, Bright Color Show, Kasi 9nine, Annual Ten ‘O six Event and black labone to name a few.

Temido draws his inspiration from the likes of the late DMX , Zola 7, KRS-One, Redman, M.O.P, Busta Rhymes, Pharaohe Monch , Pitch Black Afro, Eminem, Sizzla Kalonji and fuses that into his own style and sound which comprises of introspective lyricism, brutal honesty, and wild lyrical skill, combined with hyper energetic live performances.

He has worked and collaborated with
numerous crews and recording studios around Mamelodi & Nellmapius like Phoenix Flamee , GlocBoy/ DJ SickBeats, Sparo E.S.S (Beat Farm RSA), Raffaundassion (Dj S’queret D), Kontageous records (Ruffy) and Issa (PPL-X). He is also the founder and additional committee member of the MANELMO organization.

Temido Da Preacher will be at the Jackbhuda live stage in Mamelodi on the 2nd of May 2026 for the first ever E. S. S Music Festival living his dream on stage. Make sure you don't miss the sermon!!

Temido Da Preacher

The Elias Sparo Sibiya Music Festival : Giving back through the arts

The Elias Sparo Sibiya(E. S. S) music festival is the brainchild of artist and philanthropist who goes by the aka Sparo. He then got together a team of willing and like minded people to join him for this cause.

Because a lot of people usually go the NGO/ NPO route when they want to help the community or inspire change, he chose to go a different route, something that resonated with him as a creative.

The E. S. S festival is the beginning of inspiring change within the Mamelodi community through the arts. It is a lifestyle type of event that seeks to combine local musicians, fashionistas, tattoo artists, food & beverages sellers and entrepreneurs at large for a cause that will help them and the community.

These creatives will come together under one roof to showcase, share and contribute to a cause that aims to give back to the community.

The entrance is either sanitary pads or toothpaste and both if one is feeling extra generous and the quantity is up to the attendant. These will later be distributed through collaboration with one NPO “Anonymous Hope Organization” to schools, NGOs and those in need.

Though this is the first, it is the first of many because there can never be enough people bringing positivity and change in any community The aim is to hold this festival annually, with more sponsors on board and more beneficiaries.

The E. S. S charity event will be held at JackBhuda, Mamelodi on the 2nd of May 2026 from 4pm.

For more information please contact:
+27 71 623 7731 or email [email protected]

CALL OUT:

SAMRO is inviting applications for the 2024 Music Business Skills Programme, a flagship Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative in partnership with the Soul Candi Institute of Music.

The program equips SAMRO’s Full and Associate Members with essential skills to navigate the music industry, covering topics like copyright law, contract negotiation, brand management, and financial planning.

In its fifth year, the program has already helped 183 members thrive in the music sector. This year, 70 qualifying members will be selected for two cohorts starting 2 December 2024.

Applications open on 30 October 2024, and close on 15 November 2024.

For eligibility, applicants should have a minimum qualification of NQF level 4-6 or STD 8.

All completed application forms must be submitted to SAMRO by 15 November 2024 (a link with the application form has been shared with members).

For more info, contact [email protected].

Dreaming of being the next voice on YOU FM? Well, YOUR chance is here!
is back and we’re on the hunt for passionate presenters aged 25-35 who can rock the mic in both English le Setswana.
Send a 2-minute demo to [email protected] with the subject YOU DESERVE A CHANCE.
Deadline: October 31st.
Ts & Cs apply.