Decolonisation through music

Music has the power to carry history, identity, and resistance all at once. In this article, we explore decolonisation through sound, focusing on an artist who challenges dominant narratives through language and rhythm. Our guide in this exploration is Quintin Goliath, aka Jitsvinger— a multi‑award‑winning performing artist from Cape Town and the originator of Afrikaaps.

 

Header picture by Newton Stanford

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This feature unfolds in two distinct but closely connected parts. In part I we trace Jitsvinger’s artistic journey and his relationship to language. In the song breakdown of part II we move from conversation to close listening, diving into four of Jitsvinger's tracks to unpack the ideas, influences, and cultural layers embedded in his sound.


Part I: Language, identity, and storytelling from the Cape Flats

Growing up on the Cape Flats—a region shaped by forced removals under apartheid and persistent misrepresentation—Jitsvinger's engagement with words began early. What started as playful experimentation, freestyling with friends and exploring rhythm and sound, gradually revealed the political and poetic potential of language. Now working as a writer, composer, poet, performing artist, and educator, Jitsvinger moves fluidly between disciplines. Central to his practice is Afrikaaps, a term he coined to reframe Afrikaans as a language shaped by marginalised communities, rather than colonial authority alone.

''Can you introduce yourself for people discovering you for the first time?''

Jitsvinger: "I’m a performing artist—I do spoken word, music, storytelling. I see myself as a word designer. Everything I do comes from my own words, my own experiences.I love telling stories. For me, it’s about where I come from—the Cape Flats, the kasi1, the streets. That’s where the stories live. And storytelling, for us, is also education. It’s how we share history, how we pass things on."

 

1Kasi: a neighbourhood in a city or area around a city occupied predominantly by black South Africans.

Jitsvinger
Jitsvinger. Photography by Newton Stanford

"You mention the Cape Flats. How did growing up there shape you as an artist?"

Jitsvinger: "I grew up during a time of struggle, characterized by apartheid, protests, and the State of Emergency. As a child, you don’t fully understand it, but you feel it. There were protests, police, tear gas… sometimes you couldn’t even go to school. Or you would be in class and suddenly everything stops because something is happening outside.

But at the same time, there was this strong sense of community, of resistance, of expression. That shaped me. It made me aware that art is not just entertainment—it’s a voice."

There were protests, police, tear gas… sometimes you couldn’t even go to school.
Jitsvinger

"Your music blends Afrikaans and English in a very unique way. Could you tell us more about Afrikaaps?"

Jitsvinger: "Afrikaaps, for me, is both a language and a form of reclamation. It comes from the way people on the Cape Flats actually speak—a natural mix of Afrikaans, English, and other influences shaped by history, community, and lived experience. Growing up, that mix wasn’t something we questioned; it was how we communicated, how we told stories, how we made sense of the world around us.

But at the same time, there was always this outside perception that “proper” Afrikaans had to sound a certain way—more formal, more “correct.” What we spoke was often dismissed or seen as less than. Afrikaaps challenges that. It says: this way of speaking is valid, it carries history, it carries identity. It’s not broken Afrikaans—it’s a fully formed expression of who we are."

"There’s a strong sense of identity and representation in your work."

Jitsvinger: "Yes, because representation matters. The image of the Cape Flats in media is often negative—filled with depictions of violence, crime, struggle. But that’s not the full story. There’s humanity there. There’s culture, creativity, love, resilience. Those are the stories I want to tell. Because if you keep repeating one narrative, people start believing that’s all there is."

Jistvinger (Quintin Goliath) in rehearsal. Behind him is Nomapostile Nyiki.Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
Jistvinger in rehearsals. Behind him is Nomapostile Nyiki. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

"Let’s talk about your musical influences. Where does your sound come from?"

Jitsvinger: "Music was always in my family. My father loved music—he was into gospel, but also artists like The Beatles, Phil Collins, Percy Sledge. There was always music playing in the house. At family gatherings, we would be singing, dancing, mixing different styles. That’s where it started for me. So my sound is a blend of hip-hop, jazz, gospel, and Afrikaans influences. It’s all connected."

So my sound is a blend of hip-hop, jazz, gospel, and Afrikaans influences. It’s all connected.
Jitsvinger

"If someone new listens to your music, what’s one thing you hope they take away?"

Jitsvinger: "That there’s more to the story told about us. More than what you see in the media. More than stereotypes. There’s depth, there’s culture, there’s humanity. I hope new listeners just embrace the music. To feel the energy, the language, the rhythm. I want people to feel something real. To connect. To understand where we come from. And also—to stay young in your thinking. To stay open. Music brings people together."

"Final question before we dive into your songs. What keeps you motivated?"

Jitsvinger: "Family. Community. Purpose. The fire comes from knowing why you do this. It’s not just performance—it’s something bigger. It’s about frequency, energy, what you bring into a space. Not just for me—but for the people."

 

Part II: The Song Breakdown

In Part II, we turn to the music itself, with Jitsvinger guiding us through a selection of his songs.

1. Identity - Benjamin Jeptha feat. Jitsvinger & Eden Myrrh

Jitsvinger: "This track starts with questions. Real questions—about who we are. “What is the value of our skin? The language we speak? The culture we embrace?” It’s about confronting identity. Because a lot of what we think we are comes from someone else’s vision. So the song challenges that—it brings a new definition, a better knowledge of self.

The line “in opstand met die tong van ’n bom, plant dit in die kop.” refers to rebelling with the tongue. Language is powerful. What you say, how you say it—it plants something in people’s minds. It can explode, it can shift perspectives. So for me, it’s about using language as a tool of resistance, but also of awareness. Once something is planted in the mind, it grows."

In opstand met die tong van ‘n bom, plant dit in die kop
Jitsvinger in Identity

Lyrics
[Verse 1: Jitsvinger]
Kom ons vra ons self wat is die waarde van ons vel
Die taal waarin ons gesels die culture wat ons omhels
‘n Figment van iemand anders se vision ek confront dit
Met ‘n nuwe definition better knowledge of self
In opstand met die tong van ‘n bom, plant dit in die kop
Want steriotipiese images verdom die flam
Is die spirit en die pride vir ‘n moment society se noms
Verstom met violence
Ek wip in die pilot seat
Live met die guidance leaps and bounds beyond defeat
Coloured anomaly bra hier kom ek sonder die slawe status deur
Koliniaale goverment polisies beskadig
Nog in die nuus oor wapens of is dit iets oor drugs
Comic relief vir clowns, sonder material met substance
Verdiep jou gedagtes, stiek uit jou bang ding
Jou view is corrupted, divide and rule is die culprit
Indiginous beteken ook is my land but
Wie ek is word vervang met 'coloureds'
So wat van my san roots
Gemeng in die bloed, die rebel is hooked
Progression is die next step, jiks
Nou breek uit op die vloer raak wys
Nou battle ek die bourgeoisie
Rattle in jou boots kaptein
Slaapende reus van waar ek die uit dag het gekom
Laat dit gebeur stiek uit
 
[Chorus: Eden Myrrh]
Look what we became
Though we don’t know where from
We got a name and a past
Somewhere in the middle, we're cursed
We're finding light in the dark
People not liking the dark
Oooh

Look what we've become
Though we don’t know where we're from
Identity lost somewhere in the middle, we're curse
We found a light in the dark
People not liking the dark
We’re a nation still finding its heart
Its heart, its heart

[Verse 2: Jitsvinger]
Kom ons vra ons self wat is die waarde van ons vel
Die taal waarin ons gesels die culture wat ons omhels
‘n Figment van iemand anders se vision ek confront dit
Met ‘n nuwe definition better knowledge of self
In opstand met die tong van ‘n bom, plant dit in die kop
Want steriotipiese images verdom die flam
Is die spirit en die pride vir ‘n moment society se nom
Verstom met violence
Ek wip in die pilot seat
Live met die guidance leaps and bounds beyond defeat
Coloured anomaly bra hier kom ek sonder die slawe status deur
Koliniaale goverment polisies beskadig
Nog in die nuus oor wapens of is dit iets oor drugs
Comic relief for clowns, sonder material met substance
Verdiep jou gedagtes, stiek uit jou bang ding
Jou view is corrupted, divide and rule is die culprit
Indiginous beteken ook is my land but
Wie ek is word vervang met 'Coloureds'
So wat van my San roots
Gemeng in die bloed, die rebel is hooked
Progression is die next step, jiks
Nou breek uit op die vloer raak wys
Nou battle ek die bourgeoisie
Rattle in jou boots kaptein
Slaapende reus van waar ek die uit dag het gekom
Laat dit gebeur stiek uit
[Chorus: Eden Myrrh]
Look what we became
Though we don’t know where from
We got a name and a past
Somewhere in the middle, we're cursed
We're finding light in the dark
People not liking the dark
Oooh

Look what we've become
Though we don’t know where we're from
Identity lost somewhere in the middle, we're curse
We found a light in the dark
People not liking the dark
We’re a nation still finding its heart

Look what we become
Though we don’t know where we're from
We got a name and a past
Somewhere in the middle, we're cursed
We find a light in the dark
People not liking the dark

Look what we've become
Though we don’t know where from
Identity lost somewhere in the middle
We're cursed, we find a light in the dark
People not liking the dark
[Outro: Eden Myrrh]
We finding light in the dark
People not...
People not...
People not liking the dark
We find a light in the dark
People not liking the dark
We find a light in the dark
People not liking the dark

2. Jitsvinger - Breinsuiker feat. Akwasi

Jitsvinger: "Breinsuiker is like… mental sweetness. Not just surface-level attraction—it’s about being drawn to someone’s mind. Someone who stimulates your thinking. “Niemand het ’n smaak soos jy nie”—no one tastes like you. It’s rare. It’s about connection through thought—someone who challenges you, who makes your mind move freely".

Niemand het ’n smaak soos jy nie
Jitsvinger in Breinsuiker

Lyrics

Vers 1

Jis-jis-jaaaa
Ahaa..
Soek daai brein
Soek daai brein
Soek daai brein
(Kwaai)
Checkít

Ooee gorgeous, waar sal ek begin?
Settle innie mood
Laat ek jou bedaar met lekker blues chords
Op die guitar met 'n Spanish move
En pour my thoughts oorie pentatonic skaal wat ge-"loop" word

Gooi jou skouers op gemak
Djys te oulik,
Wonderlik, move soes djy voel
Byt jou onderlip
Ek hou dik en observe wat djy ondervind
En tokkel dit met my kop chocolates
Hier is nog 'n stuk

Ek druk ‘it stout
Binneboud, dik gesout
Limits word min soes ons klim
Dit grip en ‘it klou
My verse druk ek in jou mik
Simmer down,
Sections word gelig op relax mode
Ons chill vanaand

Los die stres af
Poenas, skop jou skoene yt
Voel verlig soos ek die tension yt jou voete vrywe
Toegegooi van ‘ie pleasure,
Daai is die move
Babes, glo my: die‘s net die wegtrek
Laat ek proe....

Chorus
Breinsuiker,
Niemand het ‘n smaak soos djy nie
Soet goed is skaars so,
Kyk hie’ ek soek daai Breinsuiker
‘n Smart individual altyd onder kaarte
Wat met my gedagte vry
Dies Breinsuiker,
Niemand het ‘n smaak soes djy nie
Soet goed is skaars so,
Kyk hie’ ek soek daai Breinsuiker
‘n Smart individual wat my stimulate
Ek is down vir my slim getuie

Vers 2
Checkit,

Side B vi jou Einstein
Hier kom nog 'n stanza times vier
Twice as nice
Opposites word betrokke
Van soggens tot die volgende oggend
Like-mindeds op soek?
Lok hulle in!

Hou die prente weg ons kan dit skets met net die woordeskat
Werk jou intellek, jou cerebellum word oorgevat
Finesse jou nerves ek is reg om te serve
Slip in attack mode, ek hou jou in check hoor net die purr

"Djys poenankies ek wil jou sommer op eet"

Soes 'n boks delights alleen sonder stop
Soet, sexy en sopnat
Sapiosexually ge-olie vi tackle mentally
Sy ken haar storie

Al issie uiterlike mooi
Vi my sit dit binne
Jou wysheid laat my kwyl onmiddelik
Spin dit in 'n sin op 'n sin
ô! Versin is ek
Gorgeous het my al om haar vingers
ô! Is dit lekker??!

Witty en soe aan,
Daars nooit 'n kaart missing
Ek geniet myself met haar level bokant matriek
Hoë graad asb die’s moerse quality
Ek sal haar voete soen om haar boeke te dra
Vir…
Chorus
Breinsuiker,
Niemand het ‘n smaak soos djy nie
Soet goed is skaars so,
Kyk hie’ ek soek daai Breinsuiker
‘n Smart individual altyd onder karate
Wat met my gedagte vry
Breinsuiker,
Niemand het ‘n smaak soes djy nie
Soet goed is skaars so,
Kyk hie’ ek soek daai Breinsuiker
‘n Smart individual wat my stimulate
Ek is down vir my slim getuie

3. Skiroemba - Jitsvinger feat. Youngsta, Monox

Jitsvinger: "The wordplay in my music starts with the beat. You listen first—what kind of rhythm, what kind of movement is there. Then the words come. I play with them—Afrikaans gives you that freedom. You can bend it, stack sounds, create textures. Sometimes it’s not just about meaning—it’s about how it hits. The sound, the rhythm, the repetition."

Kalm is die wenner
Muscle op die kennebak is ‘n machine
Jitsvinger in Skiroemba

Lyrics

Jitsvinger vers:
Jitsvinger die man in’ie middel
Terug vir’ie aksie
Begin’ie round met ‘n manoeuvre
Klank is ‘n bazooka
Movement uit die Kaap is lank overdue
Ma se kind ek belowe
Wikkel ‘ie plate, ruk uit die bass bins
Lig op’ie vuiste sit die wapens in’ie safe
Skud die bewysstuke
Tyd vir radikale rukke verlaat jou in ‘n vibe stukkende huise
HOE LYK HULLE!!??
Vanaf’ie stoep af is’it too damn duidelik
Raak woelig, sit ‘n skyf in’it
Funky skanky Buddah
Ge-park in’ie palm vannie medulla
Flêtse emcee van ‘ie get-go
Flex op ‘n def beat daai’s WESKUS fris
In effect, bekstuk spit bullets yt die boeke
Boekant al’ie gevrektes!
Hardloop met die ammo
Tel op by die kilo
Kalm is die wenner
Muscle op die kennebak is ‘n machine
Klem-in-die-kaak se chemical sit panic in elke mechanic
Met die remedy by die supply
Is julle met my?
Honderd present rymklets tref met ‘n vet vyf
Teen’ie bek
Hier’s nog vir julle
Jitsvinger kom met die sterk medisyne

MONOX: Chorus
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Kom luister na my melodie
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Ons doen’it met ‘n harmonie
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Kyk hoe lekker garrit hie’
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Is ‘n poenankankie yeeeeh!
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Kom luister na my melodie
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Ons doen’it met ‘n harmonie
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Kyk hoe lekker garrit hie’
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Is ‘n poenankankie yeeeeh!!

Youngsta vers:
Jitsvinger salute dit is ‘ie young one
Stiek yt wild: Y-Gen gazlam
I got a bakkie fulla ouens, Bantam or a Hilux
Now put your Y’s up for the Y-Gen
We styling, our time spent either writing or rhyming
I’m grinding, nevermind them I’m timing, go high-end
Even when I stop I won’t be behind them!
Coz the ouens got left in the race
The gun went off still standing in place
I’m in the lead no man could’ve chase
Now brace yourself you got slapped in the face
Sorry, harties, kwaad raak speel’ie saam ‘ie
Rather be Mahatma Ghandi
Fighting the power and now he’s a teacher
Aweh Jits, yor I’m so proud of the feature!
Is it?
Is soe my broe,
Us two is a like a G-thang
Goku, Dragonball Z with a Kaapstad twist
Coz I change Super Sayan any time I lus
Like: uuuuuuur!!!
Stronger than Rambo
Young’ with a chiskop Jits with an afro
But that don’t define us
You know where to find us
In CPT amongst the best of the rhymers
It’s Young!!

MONOX: Chorus
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Kom luister na my melodie
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Ons doen’it met ‘n harmonie
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Kyk hoe lekker garrit hie’
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Is ‘n poenankankie yeeeeh!
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Kom luister na my melodie
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Ons doen’it met ‘n harmonie
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Kyk hoe lekker garrit hie’
(SKIROEMBA! Ah-Rah-Ri-ô) Is ‘n poenankankie yeeeeh!!

Skiroemba
Soundsystem, larrit doema!
Almal op’ie park is woelag!
Summertime vibes, koel af!
Movement soldaat, salute ya!
Almal op’ie yard, van’ie stoep af!
Jy sit nog op jou gat, kavuka!
Jitsvinger, Youngsta: is ‘n poenankanankie yeeeeeeh!

Skiroemba
Six by nines larrit doema!
My whole drape lyn is woelag!
One comma five vir’ie koel af!
Ouens op’ie blok, salute ya!
Ou bra staan op van’ie stoep af!
Waar gaan jy nou? Kavuka!
Jitsvinger, Youngsta: is ‘n poenankanankie yeeeeeh!!

4. “Hoe Lyk Hulle” - Jitsvinger feat. Roksha

Jitsvinger: "This song is about unity. “Saamstaan issie movement”—standing together is the movement. Whether it’s live shows, CDs, cassette, whatever format—it’s about bringing people together through music. And the title—Hoe Lyk Hulle (literally: 'What do they look like') refers to recognition. Who are “they”? What do they represent? It’s about seeing yourself in the movement, in the people around you. And also celebrating what’s good. Because nowadays, people are so focused on negativity, especially on social media. We forget to look up, to appreciate. So the song is also about bringing something positive into the space—what do you bring to the table?"

Saamstaan issie movement soldaat
Jitsvinger in 'Hoe Lyk Hulle'

Lyrics

Nou begin die excitement
Ek skud die mic soes ‘n blinkplaat en maak moves,
Staan soe, flight-case innie bagasie rak
Is daai tyd, nou rukkie ding tot laat toe

My taktieke huisves soes ‘n baksteen hou
Klassieke rymklets sonder tuxedo’s en cufflinks
Flow is fantasties soes ‘n paar Grassies suedes
Cousin, getuig: hiers ons!
Op elke blok en al wat geluister word
Is yt met ‘n force
Ek sorg vi kwaliteit
Van Kuila tot innie Clark Estate
Ek hou die fort

Niks lekker nie, hoor die man?
Lig die energy, is annie brand
Jou drie blikkies, kennetjie en aan-ann
Wenners innie tragedy struggle continue

Saamstaan issie movement soldaat
Ek unite hulle, plaaslik of oor CD
Kasset of ‘n LP
Perform ‘n revolution lankal overdue

Die salute sittie Vlak juis innie kol
Soe rukkie jol ennie yard, check’ie vocal
‘n Globetrotter, soe vat dies en hou dop,
Die host vanaand: Jitsvinger
Ennie style: Original for Life!

CHORUS
Change die kanale
Skyf ‘n bietjie nader
Hoe lyk hulle?
Vir ‘n uiternasionale flavour
Die is dan gevaarlik
Hoe lyk hulle?

VERS TWEE
Hiers daai bobbin karakter sonder flop
Tjaks in jou lokasie oppie job
Operate die vloer tot daar by die pool borde
Koppel oppie route, smokkel yt die boot
Officer, dies bokant die law soes geheime dienste
Hiers daai medisyne vir pyn verlies
Die aim is innie bewyse
Edutainment net die einste kopstof byrie dosyne!

Flows yt die Argitekbek hou die Kaap vernac perfek
Nogge dose laat die can’t-gets connect!
Met die mic dek ekkie tafel
Klem innie kaak-so lyk die saak?
Behep is hulle!

Druk oppie nommer, die gaan vir elke soldier
Slaties tussen’ie brasse, daars’ie foutie
Wat?
Jits blaas die article
Tot laat toe
Ennie style: ORIGINAL FOR LIFE!

CHORUS
Change die kanale
Skyf ‘n bietjie nader
Hoe lyk hulle?
Vir ‘n uiternasionale flavour
Die is dan gevaarlik
Hoe lyk hulle?
Change die kanale
Skyf ‘n bietjie nader
Hoe lyk hulle?
Vir ‘n uiternasionale flavour
Die is dan gevaarlik
Hoe lyk hulle?

Follow Jitsvinger

A major thanks to Jitsvinger for sharing his story and sound. Check out his latest release DJAS EFX here.
Follow Jitsvinger on social media and find more of his music on:

Bandcamp / YouTube / Website / Instagram / Facebook


Download Jitsvinger's original songs in this article via the following links: 

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