Sing For Change
Questions For Sam
Sing For Change Blog, 13 May 2009
See more questions and answers at the Sing For Change Blog
South Africans Encouraged to Sing for Change
Cape Town Magazine, 8 April 2009
A young South African boy, Sam Kaase, has written a song called "Insurgence", to change South Africa
Sam Kaase,
18, who is a former member of Cape Town’s South African Youth Choir, is
using music to plead with South Africans to speak out for a better way
of life. "Don’t fear – together we can fight crime and initiate
change," he says.
Politicians Patricia de Lille,
Helen Zille, Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Bantu Holomisa have all added
their voices – quite literally – to his recording, showing that they
also truly care about South Africa and its people.
Buthulezi,
who contributed to the song by singing the chorus and providing a
voice-over message about crime and moral regeneration, has a strong
musical connection in his family.
His mother, Princess Constance Magogo kaDinizulu was a respected composer and singer of Zulu music.
Part of the song’s lyrics
go as follows: “I’m calling my country, and I’m calling Africa. I’m
calling those people with passion for change. I’m calling all leaders
to come let’s unite now.”
All the artists performing
with Sam (on keyboard, drums, flute, trombone, violin and back-up
singers) are children still at school. “We wanted to preserve the fact
that this project was done by the Youth for the Youth, and whole of
SA,” said Laurika Steenkamp of Music At Work, who arranged for the song
to be recorded.
“This project was inspired by
God saying to me that I must get SA singing together. I had no idea how
to even start such a project. Then Sam came to our studio to record a
demo of Insurgence. Immediately I knew this was the song!” said Steenkamp.
“When I wrote the song Insurgence,
I wanted it to be a voice for the people in and out of our country who
cannot be heard in their horrific day-to-day circumstances, people who
experience endless tragedies and have no-one to turn to. The overall
inspiration of the song is the unstable political situation of this
country and how it affects the citizens and the country at large,” said
Kaase.
Cover Art
Contributors
Mr Buthelezi with Henk Steenkamp (sound engineer Music@Work) in his office at parliament where his contribution was recorded. Mr Buthelezi also sings in the chorus.
Pictures of all the kids at the studio
(Sam not included)
Insurgence
Lyrics
When I was a Little boy
I thought this world was safe
Until I learn t to read
Then all this crime and suffering was clear to me
People filled with rage
They kill for fifty rand
Old man of fifty five
Have the nerve to rape young girls of five years
Chorus
Come, South Africa
Insurgence wont help us
Let's initiate this change
and this change will surely echo to the wide world
Children kill their folks
It breaks my heart cause it's for money
abortion clinics full of girls
Who should be in school preparing for their futures
Where's this country heading to
When our leaders don't even want to see eye to eye
someone help me sing this song
Before it's too late and no one can hear it
Chorus
Come, South Africa
Insurgence wont help us
Let's initiate this change
and this change will surely echo to the wide world
Come, come South Africa
Insurgence will not help us
let's initiate this change
Transformation will then begin
Some politics are corrupt
Some Africans kill others
Some police work with criminals
Who on Earth can we trust?
Cure for Aids cant be found
Rates of drug abuse rise
Some teachers don't do their jobs
When do these nightmares end?
When do these nightmares end?
Chorus
Come, South Africa
Insurgence wont help us
Let's initiate this change
and this change will surely echo to the wide world
Come, South Africa
Insurgence wont help us
Let's initiate this change
and this change will surely echo to the wide world
I'm calling my country, and I'm calling Africa
I'm calling those people with passion for change
I'm' calling all leaders to come let's unite now
And bring this change
