Videos

American writer and musician, Saul Williams, is known for his groundbreaking spoken word and alternative fusion sound.

He is one of the headlining international acts at the Bushfire Festival, which takes place from May 25 in Malkerns Valley, Swaziland. Williams will be performing alongside Nigerian-German singer Ayo, Brazil’s Flavia Coelho, Swaziland’s Nancy G, Boloja, Afro-soul artist Lira, award-winning house band Micasa, South African legendary group, Mango Groove and many more.

Apart from featuring in several films and publishing five anthologies, Williams has seven studio albums to his name, with Volcanic Sunlight, released in 2011, his most recent.

We caught up with him, shortly after the Paris leg of his tour, to talk about his first time performing in Swaziland.

Have you ever performed in any other African country before?
I’ve performed in South Africa, shot a film, last summer, in Senegal with Alain Gomis (dir.). I have also been a tourist in Mali, Gambia, and Morocco.

Bushfire is amongst one of the biggest cultural festivals in Africa; what are your expectations?
When I travel, it is seldom about my expectations, rather, I’m open to see, meet, taste, listen, and learn. I was very happy to learn about the ways in which Bushfire contributes to both the Swaziland economy and donates its profits to those orphaned by the Aids epidemic. I too, have lost several family members and friends to this epidemic and to be able to share my work and know that I am participating in the change I wish to see and for others to experience, is all for the good. I also expect that I might meet some good people and possibly make some new friends.

What should your fans expect?
I have fun performing. If my fans are lucky they should have fun too.

How should a new audience receive you and your music?
I’m not sure. A first encounter with music or a musician is sometimes a charmed experience, but it depends very much on the state the listener is in when that moment comes. I can only hope that whereever they may be, in their personal lives, and in the magic of the day that it hits them where they least expect it.

Do you consume anything else from Africa?
I’m a big fan of West African and Ethiopian cuisine. Some of my favorite literature has come, specifically, from Nigeria. In terms of music I am most often listening to music from Mali, Congo, and electronic music from South Africa and Angola.

If you could get an opportunity to do an impromptu collaboration with any musician during your stay here, who would it be?
I think it would probably be the Kasai Allstars (Congo). I’ve listened to them a lot over the last 2 years.

There’s a lot of African in your art and sound; can you please tell us about your African connection
I’ve spent a great deal of time on the continent of Africa and have had some life altering experiences while there. I also grew up very connected to South African theater in New York and then went on to do several South African plays while in school. In terms of music, I discovered Fela’s music as a teenager and that really flipped my whole perspective on sound, politics, and rhythm. But truly, it’s impossible to subtract the African-American connection from the discussion. My interest has been life-long and has spanned through several mediums and connections. Even before I started traveling, I was reading African literature, studying history, etc. I grew up in a family of activists. We didn’t drink Coca Cola as children and dodged several other companies because of their involvement in Apartheid. When the play Sarafina was on Broadway, I saw it seven times (they sent free tix to my father’s church). When I lived in Brazil, visited Jamaica and Haiti – all before ever visiting Africa, I was amazed at how the cultural retentions they held onto were somewhat different from what we retained in America. I’m a student of life and the world around me, and I’m clear on the fact that there will always be more than I know.

What is the inspiration behind Explain my Heart?
I started writing the song in a small Palestinian village called Bilin. The song is about having a healthy, open heart and how that may sometimes feel contradictory to the environment we actually live in.

Bushfire is a Pan-African explosion of live music, theatre, poetry, film, circus acts, dance and visual arts from all over the globe. Established in 2007, the festival raises awareness and funds for Swaziland’s most pressing social needs.