Maftown Heights Untold Stories Documentary Premiered to Acclaim
On the 13th of June, the much-anticipated documentary “Maftown Heights Untold Stories” held a successful private screening event at Ster-Kinekor: The Zone @Rosebank, drawing an illustrious crowd of culture tastemakers, artists, celebrities, media personnel, music industry supporters and Maftown artists’ alumni. The premiere, hosted by the documentary executive producers Khuli Chana and Refiloe Ramogase, was met with overwhelming praise and excitement.
Screening Episode 1 titled “ORIGINS” taking a look at where it all started for the music, the birthplace of Motswako, from the untold story of Maftown to the genre and associated artists gaining media traction and cementing themselves as mainstream artists: attendees were visibly moved and inspired, sparking conversations about the documentary’s potential impact on the local and international music scenes.
Among the notable attendees were Kabelo Mabalane, JR, K.O., Siya Metane aka Slikour, L-Tido, DJ Sabby, DJ Vigi, Ayanda MVP, Lamiez Holworthy, MsCosmo, Lala Tuku, Tshepi Vundla, Lynn Forbes, including renowned Maftown artists KayGizm, Towdee Mac, Stoan Seete, Thasman, Fifi Cooper, HashOne and Lerato Sengadi (representing HHP), who have been instrumental in shaping the Maftown music scene. Their presence underscored the documentary’s importance and the community’s pride in showcasing their untold stories to the world.
“We are thrilled to see such an incredible turnout and positive reception for the ‘Maftown Heights Untold Stories’,” shares Refiloe Ramogase. “This project has been a labour of love, and we are excited to share the rich tapestry of Maftown’s history with a broader audience.”
Khuli Chana at the Premiere
Khuli Chana adds: “[It] was very emotional. It was beautiful to see everyone’s reaction and the support given. The Maftown story is an important story to tell.”
Following the screening, a lively Q&A session was held. Moderated by Kabelo Mabalane with the following sitting on the panel: JR, Ms Cosmo, Kabelo Moremi (Channel O / Sobering Podcast), Towdee Mac (documentary music score), Nic Roux (documentary producer Molotov Cocktail), Refiloe Ramogase (documentary executive producer), and Khuli Chana (documentary executive producer); the conversation anchored on the journey of producing the documentary and the significance of preserving and sharing Maftown’s cultural heritage, as well as paying homage to the voices and entities that made the Maftown Heights festival the iconic cultural vehicle as we know it.
The first episode of “Maftown Heights Untold Stories” aired on Channel O on Saturday, 15 June 2024 at 16:00 repeating at 19:00, offering viewers an intimate look into the lives and legacies of Maftown’s most influential figures. This series promises to be a landmark in documentary filmmaking in SA and a proud moment for the Maftown community.
· Part 1 – 15 June 2024
· Part 2 – 22 June 2024
· Part 3 – 29 June 2024
· Part 4 – 6 July 2024
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