Grand Master DJ Ready D is launching an exciting new venture involving a uniquely Cape Town sound which he hopes to make world famous.
After weeks of anticipation and social media hype, Ready D, real name Deon Daniels, has unveiled his Ghoema Dance Challenge.
Daniels says the Ghoema Challenge is part of his new song called ‘G-Squad Anthem’, which is a fusion of traditional Cape Town minstrel music known as ghoema, hip hop and dance music.
According to Ready D, it is the first track of its kind, pushing the boundaries of music evolution and has inspired hip hop dancers of Cape Town to come up with new dance sequences to accommodate the energy and thinking behind the song.
“The ghoema is one such unique sound that I believe should be celebrated as part of not only African culture but South African culture too,” he says.
“Globally we are seeing Africa’s influence on music getting stronger and stronger, more and more Africans are making it onto the global scene and so are the unique sounds from northern, eastern, western and southern Africa.
“Through the G-Squad Challenge, I am looking to introduce the sound to the rest of the continent and the country and share the Cape Malay cultural sound with the youth especially, because in order to know your future, you have to first know your past.”
Ten-year-old award winning dancer Leah Miller from Athlone has been named ambassador for the campaign.
Leah Miller has been named ambassador for the campaign. Picture supplied
The competition will be judged by Melissa de Vries, the producer and presenter of “A Walk with Mel”, Vouks, a Cape Town-born professional dancer with 17 years of experience, Shameelah Kinnear, a professional dancer who starred in Honey 3, and Elvina Vee da Silva, who opened the dance school, The Rhythm Factory, based in Cape Town.
“We want to celebrate these musical roots through the use of the ghoema drum,” says Daniels.
He urges dance crews or individuals to join the challenge by downloading the song from JOOX app.
And with the app, you stand a chance of winning R25 000 in cash.
Ready says: “Simply record a dance using the G-Squad Anthem track found on the JOOX app.
“Use the hashtag #GhoemaDanceChallenge to enter on social media and stand to win R25k.”
Watch the new Ghoema Dance Challenge here:
VIDEO: Supplied