Yeezy Boosts and Jordans that looked like they were stepping on dust for the first time, Carvellas, Vans and All Stars that insinuated familiarity to gravel and high heels that seemed out of place were all domicile at Cape Town’s Ostrich Ranch last Saturday. The annual Ipotsoyi Spring Festival hosted by deejay duo, Groove Afrika attracted hordes of young black people from all parts of the Mother City – from Khayelitsha to Mitchells Plain, from UWC to UCT, and from the northern to the southern suburbs.
This was my first Ipotsoyi. I’ve never been interested, to me it has always seemed more focused on partying than music. I’m a music lover, far from a fun-lover. With superstars AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Riky Rick, Black Motion and Khuli Chana on the roster, this year’s line-up was too good to be true. Deejays and up-and-coming artists like Gigi Lamayne, Blaq Slim and Uno July were also on the bill.
The festival had two stages. I honestly have no idea what was going on on the other stage, my main focus was on the main stage. There were a few food stalls, a beer garden and an Xbox or PlayStation lounge. I was there for the music. And the food, I guess.
Amidst seriously smashed people walking around aimlessly, others lamming on their camp chairs and blankets, and cooler boxes filled to the brim, I managed to get closer to the stage.
The Cape Town acts – notably Blaq Slim and Uno July performed first, to lukewarm responses. Gigi Lamayne mimed throughout her set. She was lackluster until Khuli Chana showed up for his verse on her “Ice Cream” remix. The Motswako Originator remained for his set after Gigi had left. Backed by Trompie Beatmochini, he performed some of his hits including “Never Grow Up”, “Mahamba Yedwa”, “Tswa Daar”, “No Lie”. He also gave a shout to the late Skwatta Kamp member Flabba (read our tribute here).
Riky Rick’s set was infested with hits like “Boss Zonke”, “Do Like I Do”, “Nafukwa” and more. It seemed like he wanted to perform everything and ended up performing a minute of each of his hit songs. The crowd screamed “We want more” and he did a chorus to one other song of his that everyone but me seemed to know.
We had to wait for close to an hour for AKA’s set, which followed a deejay set by Groove Afrika. Setting up the keyboards and electric guitars for the rapper’s set seemed a challenge for the stage technicians. It was worth the wait. Hearing those synthesizers on “Sim Dope” and “I Want It All” live was what made his set one of the best for the night. The rapper, who was flanked by two bodyguards on either side of the stage, even performed his latest diss song “Composure”, to everyone’s amusement.
Black Motion was great. The live percussion never gets old. But it was a weird decision from the organisers to make them, as a house act, perform before Cassper Nyovest. I thought he had pulled out of the event. I left during Black Motion’s set. I hear Nyovest did perform but his set was cut short by a sound hiccup.
Overall, Ipotsoyi was great. All the acts I had hoped were going to impress, did. Waiting an hour in the queue to buy food, having alcohol spilled on me, watching drunk people fall over cooler boxes and camp chairs was all part of the fun. Looking forward to next year.
Images by Bulumko Gana.
