Johannesburg - Self expression and unlimited creativity.
This is what the Night Embassy by Jägermeister residency programme is all about.
A few months ago the programme announced open applications to creatives in South Africa to come and present their visionary ideas and concepts. The selected group of people - the Ambassadors - will be exploring new directions in nightlife culture through various artforms from November 12 to December 4.
These Ambassadors have received a major boost to their practices with the support of Night Embassy Johannesburg. They are recipients of mentorship from the as well as the production and infrastructural support needed to enable them To help them create fresh new directions in Joburg’s nightlife, the Night Embassy Creative Board will mentor them and they will also receive support in the form of production and infrastructure for their residencies.
The four collectives selected to make their wildest nightlife event ideas come true in November are: Unmuted. by Lincoln Long and Draper, Other Village People by Andiswa Dlamini and Kefiloe Siwisa, Kombonation by Kananelo Kabelo Sello and Kgotso Selomah as well as DormantYouth by Thelma Ndebele.
Ndebele’s DormantYouth aims to build architectural structures specifically for catering in the Joburg nightlife.
“I want to add interesting physical installations into the club space as an additional layer to the excitement of going out. Architecture can be a fun element to engage the visual senses to accompany the many interesting sounds heard in our night clubs.”
Ndebele’s residency is expected to be an installation fit for music, performance and film nested in an unexpected context.
“This is important for other young professionals in the built environment to look beyond what our professions have historically shown us. I think this residency will show an alternative perspective of architecture beyond its technical and formal predisposition.”
Kombonation’s Ambassadorship is an opportunity for them to create an alternative ‘kasi’ nightlife experience on a bigger scale.
“We've done so on our own from 2017, just never on a level that allows the world to see and be part of this togetherness. We're honoured and appreciative of this platform.
Their raw visual storytelling allows them to create clothing that expresses the narratives that exist within and beyond photographs.
“Our art is by the kasi, for the kasi and beyond. By being Ambassadors of the Night, we get to drive home what's really important to us; visual literacy. With our understanding of how the medium of photography plays a powerful role in history and that many of the kasi dwellers aren't able to finish or even go to school, we've taken it upon ourselves to enforce this crucial skill among our people as a means to enhance learning as a whole.
We want to empower our people to become critical thinkers so that they're always considerate of others and their surroundings. This way our dream of safer streets and therefore fun filled nights are a reality.”
Founded in 2016, Other Village People (OVP) has two queer-focused platforms, SSS (Same Sex Saturday); a party space that runs in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and Grounded; an intimate series of alternative experiences from hikes to dinners and everything in between.
OVP creates experiences for LGBTQIA+ communities to feel liberated, to live in the truest reflection of self, connect, celebrate, and find their tribe.
“There is a lack of safer spaces that prioritise LGBTQIA+ communities, and within the prevailing heteronormative constructs, LGBTQIA+ are often faced with discrimination, micro aggressions and even hate crimes. Our concept is about creating queer-centered spaces that normalize and celebrate our differences as if it’s always been that way.”
Unmuted, an independent record label, has now morphed into a network of future thinking entities.
“This Ambassadorship is providing us with new ways of thinking and working which we would not have been exposed to. The support from the Night Embassy and Jägermeister will help us bring to life what we always thought was impossible. This unique opportunity allows us to be in new spaces and conversations that will help further our mission to UNMUTE as many people as we can.”
The duo will be welcoming people into a new standard of music experiences.
“We believe that there are so many new ways to experience music than what we are used to. This will be a music experience like no other. Working with the board has been an absolute dream. It almost feels like a cliche how perfect it is. Through this experience we have been exposed to so much that we didn’t know and at the same time we’ve been made to feel and be more confident in what we do know. Jägermeister and the Creative Board have helped us understand our brand and ourselves on a deeper level and that is something we just cannot put a price on.”
On December 11, following the residency weeks, Night Embassy will close out with a big underground party in Johannesburg.