South African musician Spoek Mathambo has been chosen as one of three individuals to launch Vodafone’s Firsts initiative, which aims to document major ‘world’s-first’ events and experiences.
Mathambo contributed by creating a series of recordings using collected sounds from numerous cultural groups across South Africa. He collaborated with local musicians from three distinct communities for the project.
“It has been a long-term ambition of mine to work with talented and inspiring musicians and to unite South African cultures through music,” he said.
Mathambo made use of Vodafone Cloud to upload his musical collaborations and share them with his colleagues who were mixing them into one piece of music in Cape Town.
Using mobile technology Mathambo said he was able to “work quickly and stay connected with my team in the studio and musicians in the communities for true collaboration”.
British surfer Tom Lowe and Indian boxer Mary Kom were also involved in the project.
Lowe documented his experiences surfing the “world’s most dangerous wave” at the northern tip of Baja California, Mexico, and Kom set up a women’s only self-defence camp in Manipur, India, and is working on a self-defence app.
“Vodafone Firsts is about personal innovation and inspiring people to think in a new way,” said Vodafone Group brand director Barbara Haase.
The Firsts initiative follows the first multi-sensory fireworks display in London to mark the New Year.
