Godessa

Although we started out with just beats and rhymes, Godessa performs with a live combination of Southern Africa’s most skilled musicians including dj, bass, drums, percussion and keyboards. A live Godessa performance is a combination of not only Hiphop but Reggae, Dub and Funk as well as lead vocals by multi talented member of Godessa, EJ von Lyrik and Spoken Word by Burni Aman. Past performances include a number of Hip-Hop events and festivals held in South Africa such as the African Hip-Hop Indaba, Rage for Revolution, Strike a Chord, Oppikoppi, North Sea Jazz Fest, Spier Poetry Festival and Klein Karoo Kunstefees. International events under our belt include Black August tour featuring Talib Kweli, Black Thought, Jeru Da Damaja as well as the Blackalicious Blazing Arrow Tour. We have been invited back to the USA on 2 occassions for the bi-annual hiphop conference, Planet Hiphop in New Jersey featuring artists such as the legendary Chuck D of Public Enemy, Toni Blackman and Afrika Bambata. Godessa has also toured Havanna, Cuba as part of a cultural exchange programme between the South African and Cuban governments. We were also chosen by the UN to participate in the their first hiphop conference held in Barcelona, Spain to represent our country as Messengers of Truth. Each year the band tours various parts of Europe including countries such as The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, France as well as the UK. We have performed at festivals and clubs alongside superstars like Redman, Terence Trent D'arby, Salif Keita, Julian Marley, Busta Rhymes, Kelis, Spearhead and Limp Bizkit as well as collaborating with hiphop artists and crews from Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Seneagal, Somalia, Canada, Amsterdam, Brazil and Switzerland.In our lyrics, we address social issues affecting our community as well as global issues such as privatisation and globalisation. We believe that our talents should be used to educate and inform and not just entertain audiences. Godessa is based on the belief that women represent eternal life through giving birth, carrying knowledge with the balance of being psychological and analytical thinkers. The group is also driven by the need for more representation of positive black women as role models within all forms of media and entertainment.Godessa has enjoyed plenty of airtime on radio and television since our debut single 7 years ago. We are playlisted on national radio stations such as Goodhope fm, Yfm and Metro fm to name but a few. Television appearences include Channel O, Mtv Base and various entertainment magazine programmes. Most of the countries we have performed in also play our music from the BBC to National Swiss Radio, The Czech Republic, France and Belgium. We have been featured in many international magazines such Newsweek, One World, Amnesty International Youth Mag, Undercover, Cosmopiltan and Glamour.DISCOGRAPHY Social Ills 12” and cd. Available in South Africa on African Dope Records and in Belgium on Lowlands.Spillage debut album. Available in South Africa produced by High Voltage Ent. And distributed through KMD.The ‘Rogue State of Mind’ collaboration album. Available in South Africa by High Voltage Ent and distributed through KMD. Also available in Switzerland on Nation Biz Distribution.Godessa’s music can also be found on various compilations and albums in South Africa and abroad. Our music is available online at www.kursemusic.co.zaWe are currently recording our next album which is due for release in November 2007 and will soon be going into production for a fictional commercial film inspired by our lives titled, The Fringe. The film is written by Chris Roland, produced by The Imaginarium and also has the support of David Gale and MTV Films.CONTACTS We are interested to hear from you if you would like to book us for live band performances, interviews, conferences and workshops.For bookings and more information contact Shameema Williams @ 27 21 447 88 35 or 27 83 922 53 88.You can also contact Grenville Williams @ 27 84 471 0429EMAIL [email protected] cc [email protected] SPACE ID www.myspace.com/capeflatsdiva www.myspace.com/shamecptOFFICIAL WEBSITE www.godessa.com