Infuse The Muse.

It is all fine and dandy I give thanks to these muse’s around me but there one I had to save. This had to be my dad.

He had his roots deeply embedded in the soil of the Cape Flats that no matter where he went, he always came back there and if I reflect back how his face used to light up at just the sight of Table Mountain. Growing up, I remember how I used to hear the dreamy sounds of Herbie Hancock’s “ Watermelon man” play from the record player that rested on the counter top that I could never reached, smells of the mystical Nag Champa burning as if it calling for “Namaz” which is a sacred ritual perform by my father every morning to give thanks to the mystics for another day. Later on I got to the conclusion that this was the very ritual that started the magic; it had invited all of my father’s muses’ to join the open jam session that was about to commence.

My little hands used to hold the coat stand as I watched my father almost enter a trance-like state from deep within him. To me it was the most fascinating thing to observe because his head would go low-down and sway from side to side and his fingers would move in such a melodic way, almost like how blind people read brail; his fingers just knew what to do as if they were born knowing how to bring out the notes from the piano. Just as my little hands would grab the coat stand, so would they be grabbing onto various objects like the walls of backstage, the doors of his dressing rooms, recording studios, his office http://www.ufh.ac.za/centres-and-institutes/eavc/about.html ) and ultimately his hand. It led me into his world, the world where of crazed drunks’ and substance users, hazy underground jazz clubs and dysfunctional but brilliant artists from all walks of life, my father never had an itch for the spotlight. He was quite an elusive man, if I reflect back on those years, he was a very grounded and disciplined. 

Many occurrences’ happened in that way, I was surrounded by creative beings everywhere I went. In many ways this was the key to the creative process which belonged to him, sometimes he needed space … the space to be himself and alone with the music. He needed a space to be surrounded by his masters and channel them. Other times he needed people, because when fire and fire come together cause more friction, bigger fires and that’s how magic is born. There is no “ how-to-guide” when it comes to creating brilliant work and having something magical happens, that is what I have come to a conclusion about. You either stumble on it by accident or its your usual routine, nothing special cause if you keep at something, no matter how mundane it is, something different will occur.

Every now and again, I perform the same ritual he once did. He filters through many of the creative channels I have pursue in my own life and in many ways he is still here, a master in his own right.

Many people never understood why “ Hotep Galeta’s daughter “ does not know how to play the piano. My dad was a perfectionist, now please imagine little me sitting there pounding the piano like a scene from an Oliver Twist movie with bowls and spoons demanding more food, I kid you not that is what it looked like.

In all fairness he tried but it’s hard teaching your kids because they are close to you and of course it’s damn frustrating.

He passed on long before he could fill me with all his worldly knowledge and creative insights but the box he left me, that I hold very dear to my heart has and will come in handy much later as my journey carries on.

He did leave me with a few tips that I thought I would share with you:

1) Respect Your Craft; It will thank you for it someday.

2) Everything in Moderation.

3) Be kind, to yourself and the world around.

4) Be curious.

5) Work hard in all spheres on your life and take pride in all that you do, even if you would like to set your boss and the desk on fire, don’t. Just carry on giving your best even when people don’t give you theirs. People are stupid; don’t blame them cause they do not know any better.

And lastly, “Neff please put the dishes away when you are done!”

I miss you. I love you always. My hope is that , one day I could have just an ounce of your greatest be in my life as well as my work.

RIP <3.

The opening of the Miriam Makeba Centre of Performing Arts/ Audio Visual Centre in East London. My Dad created and nurtured this idea of preserving indigenous music as well as art in South Africa. http://www.ufh.ac.za/centres-and-institutes/eavc/about.html

This is the frontal view of the MMC, I remember coming here from primary school , sitting in on meetings with my dad and even taking paper from the printer and lying on the floor and drawing.

Back in the day , underground jazz clubs. Young Hotep on the keys. http://www.capetownjazzfest.com/

No wonder you had to flee from the country, busy with white ladies at the train station during the height of Apartheid . Oh my gosh ha ha ha ha !

Papa and Uncle Nat Reeves , back in the Big Apple! Looking dapper. http://harttweb.hartford.edu/faculty/academic/jazz/nreeves.aspx

Keep the muses close. Grandaparents x Father

In the recording studio at the state of the art Audio Visual Centre in the Eastern Cape. My father with his esteemed friend, poet and political activist Willie Kgositsile. It also just came to my knowledge that is the father of one of the coolest rappers from Odd Future http://oddfuture.com/ EARL SWEATSHIRT ! http://www.unisa.ac.za/news/index.php/2012/09/poet-laureate-keorapetse-kgositsile-lifelong-education-is-key/

Continuing your legacy. 2007 winner of the Johnnie Walker Pioneering Spirits award. Check out the Walk of Fame in Newtown, Johannesburg. http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sowetan/archive/2007/05/21/local-jazz-legends-are-now-walking-on-fame

One of my favourite albums, especially the song you created for my younger brother and myself . " Bolero for Nefertari and Jazz." http://www.allmusic.com/album/malay-tone-poem-mw0001477020

My Dad's last album , released around the time Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009. My Dad was truly inspired by this moment in history , considering he spent 30 years in exile in the United States. http://www.capetownmagazine.com/social/cape-town-creates-beads-and-beats-for-obama/118_22_10067

This how the magic is born.

Jam session. Robbie Jansen Band x circa : 2003. http://www.capetownjazzfest.com/