It was almost a statement to the rather noisy GICC crowd from the Soweto String Quartet's (SSQ) Music Director Sandile Khemese, who was also playing first violin.Even though the crowd refused to 'Shut and Listen', SSQ, just like the band that played on while the ship was sinking in the movie Titanic, did not stop the music. Clad in their famous Zebra jackets the violinists' brothers Sandile Khemese on first violin, Thami Khemese on second violin, Makhosini Mnguni playing viola and with the absence of cellist, Reuben Khemese the young Themba Machobane played the Cello.They were joined on stage by a backing four-member band comprising of a drummer, guitarist, percussionist and pianist.
The Soweto band played the remakes of various Kwela classics from the 50s to the 80s. They performed their own version of Mariam Makeba's Patapata, as well as the South African popular folklore 'Mma Themba' and 'Take Five'. SSQ also did a violin medley of Paul Simon's Graceland collection including 'Homeless', 'Diamonds on the soles of her shoes', 'Graceland' and 'You can call me Al'. The crowd stood up when they played the world famous 'Imbube', also known as 'The Lion's Roar' from their Renaissance album. The last two songs they did were the rhythmic Mariam Makeba's version of 'Patapata' and 'Kwela' from the Zebra Crossing album.
