Written by: Mfundo Knowledge Mthembu

Songstresses Thulile Zama, Neo Dube and Rhea Blek brought the BAT Centre down at the ladies night live show yesterday.

The purpose of hosting the ladies night live show every first Thursday of the month is to support young and upcoming women in jazz music.

The organiser of the show for promoting young and talented women in jazz music and offer them platforms to showcase and grow their talents, is a jazz artist herself.

“I am a Durban based musician,” said organiser, Zethembiso Mdletshe. “Today we are having ladies night to encourage female performers to continue performing in Durban and we do this in support of female performers. It is mostly Durban based performers. We do this to encourage and empower women,”

Mdletshe has recently returned from overseas where she met her inspiration, the legendary Jill Scott.

Vocalist Thulile Zama is another force to be reckoned with and she has a few amazing yet big things up her sleeves.

“I am mostly known for my all female jazz band called ‘Heals Over Head’, which is based here in Durban. My recent project if I were to call it, is the tribute to Mama Africa, a tribute to Miriam Makeba so I thought tonight for ladies night I would do one or two of those tracks just to market them. That project is in November,” said Zama.

Another youngster joining in is Neo Dube. She may be only 20 years old but her voice is incredibly great. All the way from uMlazi, Dube is certainly on the right track with her start up music career and has her eyes on other projects as well.

“I’m an artist and afro soul singer, I just released my album on the 30^th June 2017. I started singing at the age of 12 right after I knew I could dance and music took over. It’s been an amazing journey and it is actually expanding to greater and greater heights,” said Dube.

She added that she has set goals for herself and that she is hoping to achieve them over time. Additionally, Dube is planning on acting, radio presenting and only the sky is the limit.

Adding to the mix is famously known Rhea Blek who also wowed the audience with her fashion, hair and astonishing voice.

“I am a musician giving out music to the whole world. (For) this year’s short terms goals I am planning on releasing two EP’s. Long term, I want an album. I want to have my own recording label. I want to have my own artists as well but that’s the whole goal in terms of music,” said Blek.

She is determined to create an opportunity for other upcoming musicians to share their art globally.

*Caption: Neo Dube live at the Ladies Night Show