THE SMOKING DRAGON EXPERIENCE: A TESTAMENT TO COMMUNITY, CREATIVITY, AND COLLECTIVE LEGACY

The “We Are The Money” movement is a living vision of what township creatives can achieve together, committed to healing communities through art and creating sustainable paths for overlooked artists.

Our journey to Smoking Dragon Festival 2024 marks a significant step toward this vision. As one of South Africa's most anticipated independent music festivals, it serves as a space where culture, music, and art intersect.

By managing one of the festival’s seven stages on New Year’s Eve, we showcase the brilliance and resilience of township and rural artists, standing as ambassadors for a larger movement.

THE ROAD TO SMOKING DRAGON: COMMUNITY IN ACTION

The journey to Smoking Dragon has been extraordinary. Through various activations across Johannesburg, township artists have supported one another. This is what working group economics looks like.

Despite challenges, the “We Are The Money” family remains strong. We invite you to join us:

As supporters: Your ticket purchases and donations help cover costs and support artists.

As collaborators: Your skills and contributions are invaluable.

Together, we demonstrate that the township creative economy is the future.

A MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE: HONOURING OUR BROTHERS

We acknowledge the sudden passing of Gift Nkomo, a member of our Smoking Dragon lineup. His art and spirit resonated deeply with many. We also commemorate:

ViceThe13th

Emdee

Phaks Manis

These individuals were our brothers and collaborators. Their legacies will live on through our work. We will honor them on stage, celebrating their dreams.

To those not mentioned by name, we see you, remember you, and this is for you too.

COLLABORATION ON A NATIONAL SCALE

Our presence at Smoking Dragon is about building bridges. Collaborating with national powerhouses like Ilsa Roberts proves that unity among township creatives and established leaders is necessary.

This embodies the “We Are The Money” movement: breaking barriers and creating opportunities for artists at every level.

THE FINAL LINEUP IS HERE

The final lineup for our Smoking Dragon stage is ready. These artists embody the spirit of this movement as storytellers and healers.

Join us:

Get your tickets to Smoking Dragon Festival.

Support our campaign with resources and donations.

Share our story to amplify township creatives' voices.

A CALL TO ACTION: THIS IS FOR ALL OF US

As a creative arts activist, I believe we are in a defining moment. The “We Are The Money” movement focuses on collective investment in one another.

At Smoking Dragon Festival, we celebrate life, legacy, and unity. We will remember those lost, honor those building, and inspire future participants.

This is more than a stage; it is a statement.

This is more than a performance; it is a revolution.

We Are The Money. And we are calling on you to stand with us. See the final lineup in the images below.

Let’s make history together.

For Gift Nkomo. For ViceThe13th. For Emdee. For Phaks Manis. For all of us.

See you at Smoking Dragon.

Revolutionizing South Africa’s Festival Landscape: The Power of the ‘We Are The Money’ Movement at Smoking Dragon Festival

In the world of creative arts, opportunities for township and marginalized artists have often been stifled by systemic barriers, limited resources, and an industry that historically centers mainstream voices. Today, a new chapter begins, led by the visionary team behind We Are The Money and it’s founder, Dumisani Radebe, an unwavering advocate for township empowerment. This movement, backed by a coalition of creatives and anchored in communal strength, is rewriting the narrative through a strategic partnership with South Africa’s largest festival—Smoking Dragon Festival.

The First-of-its-Kind Collaboration: A Stage for Township Talent

For the first time in the history of the South African festival circuit, an independent, community-rooted movement will manage a main stage at Smoking Dragon. This New Year’s Eve spectacle will be curated by We Are The Money, making space for the raw, authentic, and often unheard voices from townships and rural areas. This groundbreaking collaboration is not just a symbolic step; it is an official alliance with a major, predominantly white-owned festival—a sign that the South African arts landscape is slowly opening its doors to new voices.

“This isn’t just about a night of performances; it’s about systemic change,” Dumisani Radebe shares. “It’s about showing that township artists can not only participate but lead and set new standards in the industry.”

Building a 5-Year Plan for Sustainable Creative Employment

At the heart of this collaboration is a vision that extends beyond the festival stage. The We Are The Money movement aims to establish a new, permanent employment mechanism over the next five years. This model will ensure ongoing work for artists, event planners, technicians, and other creatives, fostering a culture where local talent has consistent access to opportunities.

This strategic plan is about more than performing—it’s about cultivating an ecosystem where artists can thrive year-round. It envisions annual partnerships, a network of township-led creative hubs, and skill-sharing initiatives that teach and empower the next generation. Figures such as Ilsa Roberts have paved the way, supporting the nurturing environment needed for these initiatives to bloom.

Redefining Creative Opportunities for Marginalized Artists

What does this all mean for the average creative in Soweto, Khayelitsha, or Gqeberha? It means recognition, income, growth, and a tangible path toward artistic careers that were once just distant dreams. By holding this space at Smoking Dragon Festival, the movement is spotlighting the potential of marginalized artists on an international stage.

The festival is a starting point, but the impact aims to ripple out to other corners of South Africa, creating a circuit of events where township artists are celebrated, supported, and prioritized. It also shifts the festival landscape to recognize that investing in these communities enriches the broader creative tapestry of the country.

A Call for Support: Sponsorship and Innovation

To maintain momentum and transform this initiative into a longstanding tradition, We Are The Money invites like-minded sponsors and innovators to join the cause. With the right partnerships, this can be more than a one-off event—it can be the genesis of a new era in South African arts and culture. The support from sponsors will not only cover the logistical and administrative challenges but also provide a safety net that empowers artists without the burden of financial strain.

“This isn’t just about one festival; it’s about creating an employment structure that sustains artists, technicians, and visionaries for years to come,” Dumisani emphasizes. “We are proving that the arts in townships are not a charity case; they are an untapped reservoir of brilliance.”

The Countdown Begins: Ticket Sales and Support

As excitement builds for the Smoking Dragon Festival, ticket prices have seen an increase to R950 as of today. This investment goes beyond just experiencing a festival; it’s about supporting a movement that is laying the foundation for lasting change. 

🎟️ Secure your tickets here: https://qkt.io/RedAlertAtSMD

Join us in supporting a transformative journey that not only celebrates the arts but redefines who gets to create, lead, and benefit from South Africa’s rich cultural landscape. With every ticket purchased, every partnership formed, and every voice raised, we are stepping closer to a future where the arts are for everyone, from the township streets to the world stage.

#EmpowerTownshipTalent #WeAreTheMoney #SmokingDragonFestival #SustainableArt #CreativeActivism #SupportLocalArtists #5YearPlan

Important Update on Our Cause at Smoking Dragon Festival

To our community, supporters, and collaborators,

As we prepare for our presence at this year's Smoking Dragon Festival, we are reaching an important crossroads in our mission to build a lasting, independent creative movement for Black township and rural artists. We have encountered significant challenges in our fundraising efforts that highlight a crucial truth: the traditional strategies used by well-established brands simply aren’t designed to support movements like ours. Our focus on sustainability, transparency, and true independence requires a fresh approach that is deeply connected to our values and grounded in doing things the right way from the start.

Why It’s Essential to Get It Right—Even If It Takes Longer

We’re building a future for Black, independent artists, and we must do so with patience and by the book. Any shortcuts or compromises now may undermine everything we aim to achieve long term. If we rush, or if we simply replicate old systems that don’t work for marginalized voices, we risk falling into the same traps that have kept Black artists and communities from achieving ownership and real impact.

Getting it right means moving with a careful eye on the future, ensuring that every step we take now builds toward a sustainable presence for Black creatives. This process requires time, patience, and above all, the unwavering support of people who understand the stakes. True change isn’t built overnight, but when built right, it lasts. By working carefully and establishing robust frameworks, we can avoid the cycle of exploitation and marginalization that has persisted in the industry, where township and rural artists have historically had limited ownership over their work and opportunities.

Ending the Cycle of Exploitation in Artist Bookings

We must address the cycle of dissatisfaction that has long plagued marginalized artists. Traditional booking systems, where artists are booked without ownership and a say in the broader mission, leave our artists disempowered. This outdated model fails to honor the hard work and creativity of artists who have deep roots in their communities. It’s time for a new model—one where township artists are not only the talent but are also in positions of influence, shaping their careers and communities in ways that benefit them directly.

If we continue with old systems, this cycle will persist, and the very voices we seek to uplift will remain sidelined. Our movement is dedicated to challenging this model by centering ownership, transparency, and fair distribution of resources.

This Year’s Fundraising Efforts as a Blueprint for the Future

Given our short-notice involvement this year, we are calling on our community to help us make this inaugural event a success. This year is a blueprint, a testing ground for us to develop a self-sustaining funding model that we can refine and strengthen over the coming years. By supporting us now, you are helping lay the foundation for a new, equitable model of artist support that will ensure township and rural creatives thrive at events like these in the future.

Your support today—whether through donations, sponsorships, or simply sharing our mission—directly contributes to a larger movement that aims to change the landscape for artists who have been historically excluded. We’re not asking for a one-time handout; we’re asking for partnership in building a future that belongs to us all.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Ilsa Roberts, the founder of Smoking Dragon Festival, for creating this opportunity to bring marginalized creative voices to the forefront. Her commitment to inclusivity has allowed us to showcase township and rural talent on a larger stage, giving them the platform to share their art, their stories, and their culture with a wider audience. This collaboration marks a significant step towards bridging gaps in the creative industry, and we are honored to be part of a festival that values and uplifts diverse voices. Thank you, Ilsa, for recognizing the potential of our artists and empowering us to organize in a way that truly respects and celebrates our community.

Thank you for being part of this journey. With your support, we can establish a new, sustainable model for Black, independent artists—one that prioritizes ownership, integrity, and long-term success.

In solidarity,

Dumisani Radebe 

We Are The Money Movement

wearethemoney.info@gmail.com

Phone: +27 69 248 4230 / +27 (63) 008-1839

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/WATMFacebook 

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/WATMGroup

Your support will mean the world to us ✊🏾!

#MAKWANDE!

From: 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/525253040096012/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

“We Are The Money” Movement: Pioneering Township Arts & Creative Economies– A New Chapter with Smoking Dragon Festivals

“We Are The Money” Movement: Pioneering Township Arts & Creative Economies – A New Chapter with Smoking Dragon Festival

Johannesburg, South Africa, September 2024 — We Are The Money, a dynamic movement born out of Soweto, is set to embark on a groundbreaking journey, cementing its role as a transformative force within South Africa’s creative landscape. Our upcoming pilgrimage to the legendary Smoking Dragon Festival this New Year’s Eve is not just a moment of triumph for township and rural artists—it is the beginning of an enduring partnership that will elevate marginalized voices and redefine creative economies in South Africa.

Founded on the principles of unity, mutual support, and township empowerment, We Are The Money has spent years fostering a network of creators who actively share skills, resources, and platforms. Our mission is simple but profound: we believe that the arts, music, and culture can heal communities and uplift economies, and that by investing in ourselves and one another, we become the very engines of our collective success.

A New Chapter: “We Are The Money” x Smoking Dragon Festival

We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with the prestigious Smoking Dragon Festival, where We Are The Money will be curating an exclusive stage. This marks not only a significant achievement for our movement but also the start of a continuous relationship that promises to create more opportunities for township and rural artists to shine on global platforms.

Our stage at Smoking Dragon - “RED ALERT” will be the official stamp of arrival. Its where there will be a celebration of homegrown talent, featuring an eclectic mix of live performances, visual arts, and cultural exhibitions. This pilgrimage is part of a broader mission: to build a circuit of creative experiences across township South Africa, starting in Johannesburg and expanding outward. Our line-up will feature some of the most authentic show-stoppers of our time the likes of, Ms Funkedellic, Siza Nkosi, Lerato Phiri, Dollarman Masaka, Gift Nkomo, Izangoma Zezulu, Njabz, Drain Brain Experience, Soul Gumede, Sthokzo, Shadee Infinity, Dr. Equinox Funkie Freddie and many more. Our incredible deejays include Dj Flex, Scratch Tuesday, Bio Mechanikal Dj Makeshyft, Vinyl Vine & many more here as well. 

Road to Smoking Dragon: Join the Journey

In the lead-up to Smoking Dragon, we will be hosting a series of events and activations under the “Road to Smoking Dragon” campaign. These include creative showcases at Emagine Audiovisual headquarters and Urban Zulu, where the public, artists, and sponsors are invited to experience the energy, passion, and vision that fuels We Are The Money.

This journey is more than a moment; it is a movement. It signals the beginning of a continuous transition, where township creatives work hand-in-hand with platforms like Smoking Dragon to forge sustainable careers in the arts. We invite everyone—creatives, businesses, and supporters—to join us, contribute, and become part of this revolution in South African culture.

Your involvement helps us cover logistical and administrative costs while empowering our artists. To make this vision a reality, we urge you to purchase your tickets to Smoking Dragon and support the artists who will take center stage in a performance unlike any other.

About “We Are The Money”

We Are The Money is a township-based movement that believes in building economies from within. Our collective of creatives from Soweto and beyond actively shares resources, knowledge, and platforms to create self-sustaining opportunities for one another. We advocate for a working group economics model that celebrates creativity, unity, and self-empowerment.

LEND A HAND TO A GREENER FUTURE!

GET YOUR TICKET TODAY ON THE FOLLOWING LINK, OR SCAN THE QR CODE

RED ALERT TICKET PLUG

For press inquiries, artist participation, sponsorships, or more information on how to support the movement, please contact us at:

We Are The Money 

Phone: +27 69 248 4230 / +27 (63) 008-1839

Facebook: 

We Are The Money

Instagram:

@wearethemoneygroup

We Are The Money – The revolution is priceless, at all costs.

We Are The Money - Smoking Dragon

 

Amplify the Unheard: Support Township Creatives at Smoking Dragon Festival

On Behalf of the We Are The Money Collaborators 

We came together and created an event circuit that is to work together in creating creative experiences across the different available spaces in township-SA, beginning with Johannesburg and its peripheries. 

In our short existence, we have been invited to expand on our enterprising by creating an unforgettable experience - through curating one of the 7 world-class stages at Smoking Dragon (New Years Eve) Festival. Is proof of us having a thriving movement, at the same time, at test. We believe we are ready, and that it is time. 

Join us in sparking a creative revolution! This year, we’re bringing township and rural artists to the forefront at South Africa’s largest music festival, Smoking Dragon. With your help, we can make this a game-changing moment for the arts. Purchase your ticket today and directly support our efforts to cover all logistical and administrative costs, ensuring our movement thrives and dignifies the talent of underrepresented communities.

We kick-off our activations on the 5th of September at the all amazing Urban Zulu roof top in Marshalltown, with a great installation of music through both digital and analogue mediums from the most amazing of DJs including the legendary dj Flex of the Dungeon Shack crew. Arts, Music literature and permaculture will be a huge part of the days observation. Come connect and share positive vibration towards an opportunity for unity again.

Then, on the 27th of September will be celebrating the birthday of Dr. Equinox at the Emagine Audiovisual headquarters in Dlamini. We will be celebrating heritage in our creative style. Musical performances, exhibitions and much more will be explored to bring about the great spirit - which to carry us to do something together that we can be proud of. 

The festival runs for an incredible 5 days this year, from the 27th December to the 1st of January 2025 and we are heavily on the drawing boards to bring about an incredible program like never seen before. 

Before the festival arrives, we will be putting all out thoughts on raising funds through this “Road To Snoking Dragon” campaign. While will still be building our line-up, we have and are still planning more activations to meet, engage and create with you. We hope to hear from you through the ways that we will continue to make available.

GENERAL TICKETS  will go up in price

  as the different phases are sold out

*EARLY BIRD = R500

19th July - 30th August 

* FIRST PHASE = R750

31st August - 5th October 

* SECOND PHASE = R850

6th October - 10th November 

*FINAL PHASE = R950

11th November -  27th December

🎟️ Buy your tickets now and be part of a movement that empowers township creatives. Every ticket you buy directly funds our cause!

#WeAreTheMoney #AmplifyTheUnheard #SupportTownshipCreatives #SmokingDragonFestival #CreativeRevolution #BuyTicketsSupportArts

“Poetry Will Save Me”

“Poetry Will Save Me”

We are prompted daily to say these words from a laced script, delivered in a great beat. Now the question is whether-or-not a tape is in the making? Please have the courtesy to say Siiz, coz that would be appreciated greatly. This is my intro to echo in the amazing spirit of this Goddess of a lady. Anything else as replacement is possibly even crazy. This moment is the most important thing in space. Believe and see it, is a chief embrace. Piece of cake of anyone carrying a name meaning “Praise”. To God, Her Majesty, His Grace. UyaSiza Nkosi, hence the people pray.

We have so quickly become fans of Siza Nkosi’s voice in poetry that the whole journey is nothing short of a scholarly experience – a timeless gift to any who has any level of a relationship with words. One thing that magnifies our adoration for her spirit is her usage of poetry to explore space and vacate from tradition. She gives us the view of poetry in the same breath as graffiti has been for painters. They just occupy any space they deem needs it. No matter the reasoning behind it, they take their position and exist, complete as they are. This is an admirable trait in any kind of setting. We do share in the belief that poetry is more a tool for engagement than the uses that have found themselves in the way of the modern poet.

Siza Nkosi is a poet known to stretch the boundaries of convention to acute limits, while looking as innocent as a butterfly on a sunflower. Founder of the House of Siza, teacher of creative writing at Sol Plaatje University in the Northern Cape, representative at the UNESCO culture sector committee, among a myriad of other contribution positions in service to the majestic literary legacy of African people. She is a magnetic marvel in practically any space she occupies. She is indeed a total manifestation of the power of words in creating worlds.

So, whether on stage slashing multi-linguistic mastery on the microphone, or with a band. A jazz band, then a rock band. Or perhaps killing a “Griselda Type Beat”, sometimes she may read from her laptop. If not that, she’ll be reading from her anthology – Ugrand Malume – which has her in studio collaborating with some of the greatest musicians of our time. You shouldn’t be surprised to see her rocking in the belly of the big hole in Kimberly. This Soweto born giantess thrives in connecting people and spaces in her usage of words as the glue of preference - effortlessly so.  We therefore thought it great to share this amazing piece of her work in an exhibition room at the Big Hole Museum.

A Big Hole in A People's Soul

Show some black love to this amazing creative genius as we grow with her on this important, vastly spiritual journey. Support a “Black Genie-US” in her process of becoming. Through ourselves, we heal ourselves.

One Love

D. Quavers.

Remember to get yourself a Ugrand Malume book, t-shirt or hoody. The prices are listed below:

 

Book: R150

T-shirts: R250

Hoody: R440

FACEBOOK: 

Siza Nkosi

House of Siza

INSTAGRAM

@siza.nkosi

FAMILY:

WE ARE THE MONEY

Photos courtesy of:

Hugh Mdlalose

Dumisani Radebe

Siza Nkosi

All Rights Reserved by:

The Black Genie-US Group

 

EAVCRATES EPISODE 2 A MASTER'S CLASS with Bra Khaya Mahlangu

 

The inter-generational cultural exchange dialogue has become a well settled concept in the popular, creative world and yet, the results are yet to show proof of a realized understanding. Besides our love for talking about this understanding of such and other positive ideals, we survive by sounding cool and turning around and living as if that’s enough. Unfortunately, coolness has a random expiry date.

We now know that without action, there can be no revolution, nothing changes. Well, all accept where EAV is concerned. The value of self-knowledge is critical to our principles – which are rooted in the restoration of dignity, self-awareness, & prosperity. These ideals cannot be reached with an understanding of how we’ve come to be. That we will find in listening to and studying great teachers like uBabu Bra Khaya Mahlangu – a national treasure in music. 

The role uBab Khaya has and is playing in the South African & greater global, major & independent music scenes is a combination of phenomenal, humble, generous and highly developmental one. It is one of an unfathomable magnitude. Whether it be through gifts of the household South African jazz classics, teaching young musicians to play, make a living and even go on to becoming superstars of the live music scenes, ubaba has given a fair share of his life in support of others. Myself and many friends included. All with a humble and joyful spirit. A true father in our jazz spheres.

HE is why we as EAV can speak a different conversation when it comes to inter-generational engagement. We speak from a place of using what we have to do what we can – in the knowledge that it is what we do, and not what we think that stands out. Here is our father giving himself to a moment in history, where all he stands to gain is the ears of the present audience. However, what is more evident in his poise is that he is happy doing just this. This a factor we hold in high regard.

Check him out here in a tape made at Native Rebel with the Peanut Butter & Jam Band – a movement that was first to be documented by EAV –playing the famous “Yakhal Inkomoi by Winston Mankunku. This is a documentation of an inter-generational, instrumental and sonic dialogue between a father and his sons. There are great lessons here.

One Love

Dumisani Radebe. 

ENJOY THE VIDEO HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNHQuGUagew