4 minute read
Who are You? I am Pilani Bubu
I am Pilani Bubu
A South African singer-songwriter, TV presenter and creative entrepreneur, PILANI BUBU is a self-funded, self-managed, self-published independent contemporary folk artist who won Best African Adult Contemporary Album at the 2020 South African Music Awards. She is also the host of the one-on-one interviews for an exciting new video advertising opportunity for Arena Group Holdings’ SA Home Owner publication, and will also soon be hosting digital video content for The Media and The Media Online too.
PLEASE SHARE THE ROUTE YOU FOLLOWED TO BECOMING A
MULTI-SKILLED CREATIVE. When
I was a little girl, as far back as I can remember my parents had us involved in all kinds of extramural activities. They encouraged us to learn new things and made sure we were exposed to as much as possible. We were encouraged to read and explore as we travelled as a family. I think this kind of open and supportive environment is what gave me the confi dence to pursue any kind of creative project or endeavour. From the age of 9 and until my university days, I played the piano, marimba, recorder and violin, was in an orchestra, and sang in various bands and national and chamber choirs. Now add to that list extra lessons in English, knitting, ballroom dancing, debating and so much more.
I started out studying towards a BCom LLB degree, but then chose marketing and eventually found myself working in the fi eld because I needed a more purposeful journey. I found that whatever gave me the most creative energy is what I would lean into. When I quit the corporate world, I started by formalising my studies in interior design at Inscape and recorded my fi rst-ever EP. I believed that all my passions could work together to help me fund my fi rst love, which is music, but in a far more enjoyable way than simply working a job.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES YOU ARE MOST CONCERNED WITH IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ARE YOU INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING SOME OF THEM?
I am most concerned with social justice and addressing the resultant social ills of the generational trauma left behind by the legacy of apartheid that still exists in South Africa today. I’m also interested in issues of poverty and the plight of femicide and gender-based violence.
I work with various organisations including my own, Amplifi ed Voices, to build campaigns addressing and advocating for various human rights. I produce creative work, music and art that talks to these issues, articulating various perspectives of them to help amplify our voices for change.
WHAT THREE THINGS CAN YOU NOT
LIVE WITHOUT? A calendar/scheduled notebook. Lipstick – all day every day. Laptop – my whole life and creative ideas are archived on it.
WHO IS YOUR SUPERHERO
AND WHY? Oh man, that’s a very interesting question. I feel that there isn’t a superhero Pilani Bubu based on the heroes I would like to see represented. I want to see the strong African women who build and nurture society be represented for all that they do for black society and black children, in particular, in the most dire and disenfranchised of circumstances. So if the Black Panther of Wakanda could be female, that would be a great start for me.
IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME YOU WILL BE…
Likely touring the world seasonally and living on the road more. I will probably have about seven musical projects in my repertoire, have written a book, attempted having a child, done a season or two as the host of an international design TV show, been an ambassador for a great cause and made impactful strides as the founder of my own social enterprises.
Header here Header here Header here
Net ligenis et et latia exerem voloreria ide sumquas re ipsa il ipsam inia sum
NAME OF WRITER
TEcta sed eumque offic tem is aut qui non re, qui dit, vendio es molum fuga. Name pos sit mostotatates ex et, invendit labores id minctas eres ma volupta turestore officab oreriatur?
Dolorestia nosam nis el invendic tecabor re quam et
25 June
6 August 9 July
27 August 16 July
1 October
Learn more
