from bars to stars: a true story of redemption

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An old Zulu adage goes“Umuntu akalahlwandawo” which, looselytranslated, means “Youcannot discard a fellowhuman being”.So even as local ladsVava Cebekhulu andBheki Thabethe began a15 year jail term in 1996for their role in an armedrobbery, they wereconfident society wouldeventually come toaccept them back,provided they found trueredemption.

NOW, two years after their parole, theyhave released a 12-track album, starred inthree local TV productions and compileda movie soundtrack. “In prison you have two choices,” saidCebekhulu, who hails from Chesterville.“You either align yourself to destructiveelements like prison gangs or you takeadvantage of the opportunities offered bythe Correctional Services Department. Wechose the latter.”

In prison the pair formed theirentertainment company, Is’khathi seWashi(the ticking of the clock), a reference tohow time well spent (even behind the wallsof Westville prison) always amounts tosomething worthwhile.

“We started by entertaining otherinmates through music and drama. Littledid we know that our talent wouldreverberate beyond the prison walls,”Cebekhulu said.

Popular Ukhozi Fm Deejay, Linda “MrMagic” Sibiya offered them a slot on hisafternoon drive time show as motivationalspeakers. Thabethe said it was an offer theycould not refuse.

“On Linda’s show we spoke aboutprison life and its dangers. It also gave usan opportunity to debunk the commonmisconception that anyone who has beenin prison is a castaway of society,” he said.On their release in 2006 the duo wasted notime in knocking on the doors of majorentertainment companies.

“Getting a record deal is never easy andthe stigma of having been arrested did notmake things easier,” said Cebekhulu.But a local company Tsotsi Entertainment,which offered to release their debut kwaitoalbum, Is’khathi seWashi, saw theirpotential.

While searching for record deals, theyalso approached film and TV productioncompanies and they got their first roles,albeit minor, as taxi drivers on the SABCdrama series Soul City in 2007.

The former partners in crime were tolater ‘go back to prison’ when they securedthe weightier roles of prison gang leadersin another drama series, Bay of Plenty

which is shot in Durban.They also found time to pursue solo

projects.Thabethe coordinated a documentary

called Umgababa from the Ashes shownlast year on SABC. It explored the politicalviolence that ravaged the area in the 90’s.As someone who grew up in the area, itwas a project close to his heart.

Cebekhulu meanwhile worked on thetheme song for a locally produced actioncomedy I wish I was in Jail which wasshown nationally in selected Ster-Kinekorand Nu Metro cinemas in 2006.

The two are currently criss-crossing thecountry promoting their album andplaying to enthusiastic crowds.Recent gigs include live performances atthe Coca-Cola Colab concert, Ukhozi FM’sMagic tours, national government imbizo’sand the yearly Umgababa and Durbanbeach festivals.

The pair may have achieved more thanthey could have dreamed of when theywere locked away 12 years ago, but theyare quick to acknowledge the pivotal rolesplayed by others in their success.

They singled out Correctional Servicesofficial Wiseman Dlomo, Linda Sibiya andChris Hurst from the University ofKwaZulu-Natal’s Drama Department.Dlomo, who has been in charge of theirprobation and features on track 2 of thealbum, said he had complete faith in thepair. “They are a shining example that ex-offenders can indeed change,” Dlomo said.

“Unfortunately, not everyone whowalks in through our doors is willing towork with us to bring about that change.”

words and pictures | SIYABONGA MAPHUMULO

From bars to stars:A true story of redemption