"As an orphan music became a mother a father to I."

Picture : Baba Pantherah I real name Happy Vuyelwa Sangweni, photo courtesy of Thabs .




Q&A: This is an interview between Me and Happy Vuyelwa Sangweni known as Baba Pantherah I, Producer, Poet emcee, Hip hop activist, Lyrical freedom fighter a conscious vernacular emcee who usually touches base on political injustice, black consciousness, self-empowerment and a good poet and story narrator. Is the anymore to say? Usually words may say a lot yet it is always good to hear it from the source directly without any edits.


Q: Please take me through your creative process with every project that you?
A: I was first spotted on IXL album it was the first project from Mpumalanga to make its way straight to Hype Magazine, also featured on Mpumalanga's Mixtape Kasi Xplosion vol 2 also worked with mad lab ku Witape mixtape..2009 started IZAZI Hip Hop Movement we dropped 2 Mixtape 'The chosen Zazi and Lyrical Freedom Fighters then I did solo project' Nhlabathi in 2013 oh also Ku project ka Dj Pringle which i prophesized in 2016.

Q: what are your full names?
A: Happy Vuyelwa Sangweni

Q: Can you please tell us more about your discography?
A: Our Father Pantherah I is a producer, poet emcee, hip hop activist, lyrical freedom fighter a conscious vernacular emcee who usually touches base on political injustice, black consciousness, self-empowerment and a good poet and story narrator. Pantherah I is one of the few emcees that promote education and self-empowerment amongst fellow black people. He likes to fuse a bit of umculo wezimbongi on his raps to bring more than just a typical hip hop flavor on a track. He has 2 projects with IZAZi and 1 solo project but due to ciphers, battles and hip hop sessions he is not a stranger on the streets of vosman, ezinambeni, ackerville and more townships around Emalahleni and Middleburg. Our Father also shared a stage with the likes of teargas, jub jub, mshoza, molly, sbuda p also worked with Assessa the 2014 red bull 10k challenge winner and 2015 SAHHA best female.

Q: When did you first realize you can do rap?
A: as they say a poet is born not made ngezwa the likes of immortal technique, POC, Wu tang Clan, Zola then I was moes I'm not alone owenza lento.

Q: Why did you choose hip hop music?
A: I did nah choose Hip hop but Hip hop choose i... Us Zulus we call it umCulo wexiMbongi did nah know twaz called Hip Hop.

Q: Place of birth
A: Witbank Moolmans mine barracks.

Q: Do you have any current projects that you are working on?
A: Bantu Education iphi (EP) which I'll drop this year.

Q: What kind of effect would you like your music to have on people?
A: Want people to be lightened up about the whole system I wanna see a black child saying it’s not Jesus when he/she mayebona umfanekiso of white Jesus.

Q: What is most important to you, lyrics or beat?
A: As a lyrical freedom fighter a political preacher Lyrics are more important I even have acapella track on mi next project

Q: Why is your music important to you?
A: As an orphan music became a mother a father to i and it make's things for I to past a message to a black youth Bantu Biko they used political movements to Mina i use music.

Q: How does your music advance the culture of hip hop and what is your contribution in your own perspective?
A: Hip hop started in the underground at the beginning conscious was it and here I am still keeping real hip hop alive

Q: Where do you lay down your tracks? Are you indie or signed with a label?
A: I'm the indie artist and I do everything in mi bedroom studio.

Q: Where would you like your music to be listened to the most? Who do you target with every song that you make?
A: I want mi music to be listened most in poor townships like Vosman, I target the black youth.

Q: How to you decide on the features for your songs?
A: Concept and the beat decide for me.

Q: What is the name of the title song that best describe or portrays your work &why?
A: "Not Without A Fight" that song touches both politics and life we face as poor people and yizo izinto engincolisa ngazo iphepha nge ink.first line of the song goes 'Kamane ngife' I was always say my music will get me killed.

Q: what inspires your music?
A: Life I live

Q: Links, physical address, contact details and artworks for discography?
A: Facebook page :IZAZI HIP HOP MOVEMENT y'all find links and everything there .. Also add me ku; Facebook : Baba Pantherah'i Sangweni
If you wanna join the movement zong’thola eVosman ext 16
Email : Ourfather810@gmail.com .

Q: What can you say about yourself?
A: My music speak for me won't say much about mi self