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REUBEN T. CALUZA – THE B-SIDE – is a performance by singers and musicians celebrating the songs of the prolific and popular South African composer Reuben T. Caluza (1895–1969). In 1930, with his double quartet of singers, Caluza went to London to record his songs. Composers Philip Miller and Tshegofatso Moeng have arranged fresh interpretations of these recordings, which are performed on stage with live video projections created by the Brazilian video artist, Marcos Martins.
Born into a family of teachers, farmers and preachers, Caluza’s music was grounded in choral hymns, but his lyrics often challenged the oppressive, racists powers of colonialism. He became part of the “Internationalist movement” alongside intellectuals, Reverend John Dube and Sol Plaatje. The performance will feature songs like Silusapho lwase Afrika (iLand Act 1913), which was adopted as the official anthem of the South African Native National Congress (later called the African National Congress).
