IN CONVERSATION W/sibaTHATHU
How did sibaTHATHU come together as a collective, and what inspired you to specialize in Gqom, a genre deeply rooted in KwaZulu-Natal?
I (SHY) have always been a fan of GQOM and been secretly following it since its inseption but i never had a platform to engage with the sound until i met uNosii who approached our DJ school seeking assistance with learning how to DJ, more specifically how to DJ GQOM. By the time she was ready to gig, we had established a small GQOM bond where we would share songs and the latest news in the GQOM World. Through that the love for GQOM intensifired but starting out uNosii was a bit afraid to come out as a GQOM DJ because we didnt know any gqom producers and promoters around Johannesburg so she thought it would be hard for her to get bookings. Although we are both individual DJs, sibaTHATHU came about as a way to collaborate and introduce GQOM to our local scene so we can create some sort of an ecosystem where we could share our passion for the genre with our community and the event spaces around us.
As a DJ collective that runs its own events like UMGQIBELO and sibTHATHU Presents, what challenges and rewards have you experienced in promoting and expanding the reach of Gqom music in Johannesburg and beyond ?
We didnt know anyone promoting events that are GQOM influenced so our biggest challange was creating a space where we would play GQOM freely to people who enjoy it because we knew that GQOM had a following in the city. The biggest reward was finding a GQOM community in Johannesburg and watching it grow everyday is just an exaptional thing to witness and be a part of.
What are your goals for the future of SibaTHATHU, and how do you plan to expand the reach of Gqom to the global dance music scene through your performances and events like UMGQIBELO?
Our primary goal remains consistent: to nurture and preserve the culture of GQOM. Every action and plan we undertake is centered around this objective. Our overarching strategy is to propel GQOM onto the global electronic dance music scene. Simultaneously, we aim to facilitate opportunities for GQOM artists from KZN and other coastal regions to perform and immerse themselves in Johannesburg's vibrant dance music scene. Likewise, we seek to expose Johannesburg to the raw talent that fuels the GQOM movement through our visually immersive event series called UMGQIBELO that we organise in partnership with D[nowhere]J.
What are your goals for the future of SibaTHATHU, and how do you plan to expand the reach of Gqom to the global dance music scene through your performances and events like UMGQIBELO?
Our primary goal remains consistent: to nurture and preserve the culture of GQOM. Every action and plan we undertake is centered around this objective. Our overarching strategy is to propel GQOM onto the global electronic dance music scene. Simultaneously, we aim to facilitate opportunities for GQOM artists from KZN and other coastal regions to perform and immerse themselves in Johannesburg's vibrant dance music scene. Likewise, we seek to expose Johannesburg to the raw talent that fuels the GQOM movement through our visually immersive event series called UMGQIBELO that we organise in partnership with D[nowhere]J.