Langa Improvisations

Workshop

  • Two people work with electronic equipment at a table while a monitor displays waveform diagrams labeled "Divide by 3, 5, 7, 9" © Paul Modler
  • Workshop participants gather around tables with electronic equipment, circuit boards, and cables in a room with Japanese-style sliding doors © Paul Modler
  • Workshop participants seated at tables with electronic equipment, circuit boards, and oscilloscopes in a room with bright green chairs © Paul Modler
  • View over corrugated metal rooftops in Langa township with Table Mountain visible in the distance under blue sky © Paul Modler
Date(s)
Sat, 8 Jun – Sat, 15 Jun 2024
Duration
One week
Venue
Langa, Cape Town

At Prof. Dizu Plaatjies' house in Langa, community members gathered for a collaborative workshop blending traditional African music with contemporary experimental approaches. Co-led with Dr. John Richards, the sessions explored the integration of low-threshold electronics and traditional instruments. Together with Dizu Plaatjies and Simpiwe Matole of Amampondo, participants prepared a live performance, later presented at !Khwa ttu. The collaboration was embedded in the ongoing Circuitry-Based Sound research initiative.

Production & Documentation

  • Concept Development: Theo Herbst, Paul Modler, Lorenz Schwarz
  • Artistic Direction: Lorenz Schwarz, Dizu Plaatjies, John Richards

Collaborations

  • South African College of Music (SACM), University of Cape Town (UCT) - support and Bowed Electrons festival context
  • Prof. Dizu Plaatjies (venue host, artistic collaboration)

Acknowledgments

  • John Richards (Dirty Electronics) - workshop co-facilitation
  • Izan Greyling (UCT)
  • Paul Rommelaere

Funding / Support

This workshop was made possible through the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for university students – BWS plus, a programme of the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung. BWS plus supports innovative cooperative projects between universities in Baden-Württemberg and international partner institutions.