Jika ... it's a fact

Music group Mi Casa is coming to NMMU

Yes, it’s a fact, South Africa’s coolest band is coming to Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. That’s Mi Casa, a trio of talented musicians, who are going to share their special brand of swing at a concert to close a successful Diversity Month at the institution.

But did you know, in line with their hit song, Jika, which is Zulu for the truth or a fact, that the band’s lead singer is an Eastern Cape man?

Yes, J-Something may have Portuguese ancestry, but he grew up in Port Alfred, just down the coast from us, and attended school in Grahamstown.

He’s a Graeme boy, who matriculated in 2006.

And perhaps more interesting is that the suave-looking Joao da Fonseca (aka J-Something) was a brilliant sportsman. That’s what they remember. That, and his ability to sing gospel songs.

He played cricket and rugby for the all-boy’s school’s first team.

“He was captain of our first rugby team,” recalls fellow Graeme schoolmate Hlumelo Ncopo, who was a few years behind Joao, and now works for NMMU.

Joao da Fonseca was an excellent sportsman

Another NMMU student who was in grade 8 when the lead singer was in matric, and is now studying Human Movement Science, also recalls his excellence on the sports field.

“He was a brilliant centre,” says Seve.

Music had featured, yes, but not with the force of J-Something’s one-time athletic ability.

Interesting how that happens.

It’s interesting how we people remember in a certain way and are understandably surprised when they do not turn out as we anticipate and are certainly not, as in this case, leading the top music group in the country!

I don’t suppose the Stellenbosch University BCom Marketing graduate hadn’t contemplated life on the music stage either … but destiny has a way of getting in the way.

Legend has it that Joao, and fellow musicians Moshe Kgasonae (Mo-T) and Sipho Mphahlaza met at a roof top party late in 2010 where they put on an impromptu performance …

“The sheer improbability of the group’s existence … three musicians landed up being in the same place, at the same time, with such incredibly strong music chemistry … “ says their promotional material.

Jika or no jika, we’re thrilled that Mi Casa is coming to:

· NMMU’s Vodacom Indoor Centre on South Campus at 7pm on Wednesday 27 April

If you’d like to be there to watch the one-time school sports star and his musical friends, tickets are R10 to staff and students (with your official card) and R20 to the public. These can be obtained from the SRC Chambers on South Campus or at the door.

If you’d like to know more, contact Sesethu on Sesethu.gqomo2@nmmu.ac.za