Renowned South African jazz artist, Judith Sephuma, is doing her bit against women abuse by headlining this Saturday's Ladies in Jazz to round off their Artists United against the Abuse of Women and Children series of concerts.
"I am humbled that they (Ladies in Jazz) chose me because this is an important event and I'm honoured to be part of it," she says. "This performance is my way of acting against the abuse of women and children."
Sephuma will treat Pretoria audiences to songs from her second album, New Beginnings.
This year the songstress was bestowed both a Sama for Best Female Artist and a Metro for Best Jazz Artist. Sephuma received the same awards shortly after releasing her debut album, A Cry, A Smile, A Dance, which sold more than 80 000 copies. These latest accolades prove that she is truly at the top of her genre and a superb jazz vocalist.
"The reception of the new album has been very good. It has done well worldwide and has done more than A Cry, A Smile, A Dance did in a year," she says.
Sephuma's second release comes four years after her debut album. "The wait was not intentional," she says, "there was no pressure because the first album was doing very well."
In that time Judith did shows and performed for jazz lovers around the country. She has also collaborated with some |notable artists who have added different influences to her album.
She sings with Oliver Mtukudzi on Kepedza Nguva, Ringo Madlingozi on Kwazi Bani, a love song, and Stoan Seate's Setswana rapping adds a modern twist to A call and Re a Lotsha.
"I've always wanted to work with them. You also don't want to give people the same monotonous sound," she says of her collaborations.
New Beginnings reflects Sephuma's musical growth and maturity, but she's always been above her peers in terms of her sound and style.
She says that her involvement from beginning to end in co-writing and co-producing New Beginnings has made her more curious and she has learnt much about music production.
Sephuma recently remarried and had a baby. When asked which takes up more of her time, music or family, she reasons: "I believe one cannot do one without the other. I would crumble if it was not for the kind of support I get, especially from my family."
The artist says she is proud of the Ladies in Jazz, for what they are doing and because no one else is doing it.
The all-female sextet will open Saturday's show, followed by Sephuma who will seduce the audience with her smooth voice and songs such as the popular Mme Motswadi.
- The show starts at 8pm at the State Theatre Opera. Tickets, at R100 for balcony seats and R140 for main seating, can be bought through Computicket.