Popular musician, drummer and theatre producer and play writer, Atlas Philani Duma established Sagiya Foundation out of his love for both art and entertainment and his commitment and passion for community development.
Having launched the Dim-Dep Enviro Blitz under the umbrella of Sagiya, Duma is now busy with rehearsals for the Dim-Dep: Faces of Environmental Success – an ongoing interactive and creative theatre production.
Duma is the founder, author and director of the musical.
The title Dim-Dep is inspired by the sound of that is made by the African drum when hit using hands (dim dep, dim dep), and is also the abbreviation of “Drum and Indigenous Music Development Project”.
His passion for the environment and culture is evident in his theatre, writing and music initiatives.
Duma is the sole director of Sagiya Foundation. He graduated from the former Natal Technikon in 1999 with a National Diploma in Light Music.
Duma’s accolades include being declared a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Legend of Jazz and a host of other awards.
The Dim-Dep musical received an award in 2016 by the Ethekwini City Council’s Durban Solid Waste (DSW) for being the best Community Environmentalist group.
Speaking about the importance of Dim-Dep Duma said he wanted to inspire change in the public’s attitude towards environmental issues.
“I noticed that people are not aware about the importance of taking care of the environment but rather focus on how they can make money from it. Through Dim-Dep we want to raise awareness and remind the general public about the need to be self-sufficient, to take care of the environment and reduce the carbon footprint.
“The production stresses that taking care of the environment is not just a middle-class issue but a dilemma that involves everyone. We are also teaching small communities to integrate their behaviour towards fighting pollution and addressing issues. Not leaving out that sustaining the environment is everyone’s issue,” said Duma.
Duma said the audience should look forward to having a refreshingly unique experience with the Dim-Dep cast and expect to be taken on an adventure.
“We will be taking the production to the local townships as well as conducting mall and community activations. The audience should anticipate to be taken on a great adventure from the Stone Age into the modern era,” explained Duma.
“I have received feedback from various schools with regards to the marks of children who attend the live shows. They highlight that there has been an improvement in their results and their understanding of the importance of preserving the environment,” he added.
Apart from running the Dim-Dep Environ Blitz, Duma’s organisation conducts community engagement initiatives and motivational talks in schools to educate pupils about the importance of preserving our planet throughout the year.
Duma hails from Bulwer, a small township in Pietermaritzburg. After he completed his matric, he relocated to KwaMashu.
He was a member of the band Renaissance for five years.
After leaving the band, he joined a production called We are Alive Kids with Edmund Mhlongo as the lead for two years at Kwa Mashu Community Advancement Projects (K-CAP).
After the production, he started his own musical band titled Sagiya Band.
Some of Duma’s other achievements include the 2002 Old Mutual Jazz Encounters Award for Best Composer.
Taking Dim-Dep national for the first time has not been easy according to Duma.
“Dim-Dep has been only done at a provincial level and not nationally. Because of shortage of sponsorships and limited resources it never reached out the way I wanted it to. We are now hoping to change that,” he said.
Dim-Dep features a multitude of musical genres that changes the historical landscape: from Afro Blues to mainstream Jazz, Bebop, Cool Jazz, Modern Jazz, Pop, Hip-Pop, Maskandi, and House music.
Founder, author and director of Dim-Dep: Faces of Environmental Success
Atlas Philani Duma with Theatrical Director, Sibongiseni Zephania Nzama
Author: atlas duma
http://www.sagiyafoundation.co.za Atlas Duma’s Biography (www.sagiyafoundation.co.za)
Official Name: Atlas Philani Duma
Nationality: South African
Age: 50
Languages: English, IsiZulu and IsiXhosa
Occupation: Founder and CEO of Sagiya Foundation
Legacy: Founder of SDDS, Sagiya Records, Sagiya Publishers
Contact Details: Cell: 081 373 8185, Email: atlasduma06@gmail.com
Creative and Innovative Experience:
Founder, Director and Producer of Sagiya Virtual Jazz Festival that was streamed on www.Skyroomlive.com in November 1 to 30, 2020. Responsible to organize and present SAGIYA_KZN International Jazz Day Festivals.
Mr Duma is a founder of Sagiya Foundation, SDDS (Sagiya Digital Distribution System) and SagPRIC (Sagiya Port Radio and Internal Communications). SDDS is a computer system that is assisting South African Artists to compete with the world, heading to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. SDDS is Duma’s solution that will be closing a gap between digital and conventional methods of distribution of music, books, Audio Books, videos, pictures etc. South Africans can be able to have access as end users to upload and download SagTunes, SagVideos, eBooks, Audio Books and Custom Pictures from SDDS and monetise their artworks. Thanks to Invotech Business Incubator for making it possible for SDDS to get Seed Fund for Research and Development of the SDDS patent and the prototype design.
Mr Duma played a vital mentorship role for Lee Philisiwe Ngamlana for Sagiya Foundation to win MYIC (Maritime Youth Innovation Challenge). Mr Duma and Ngamlana are busy creating (Sagiya Port Radio and Internal Communications) SagPRIC Radio as a winning idea that put them in position three among 200 innovators that entered MYIC 2018 competition, hosted by Innovate Durban, TRANSNET and other business partners.
Mr Duma is synchronizing his trading and innovative ideas by use of Sagiya Foundation. The Foundation operates as two legal entities, namely: Sagiya Foundation Pty Ltd for business operations, SME’s EDP (Entrepreneurs Development Programmes). Mr Duma has registered Sagiya Foundation NPO for funding attraction, CSI, Investments opportunities and social development.
Sagiya Foundation Pty Ltd operates by use of three major business operations, such as Sagiya Records, which released prominent artists including Royalson, Gabriel YoungStar, Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble, Bongani Nkwanyana, to mention but few. The 2nd Unit is Sagiya Publishers, which currently published books, such as “Preparation for University” by Qiniso Ncwane and AP Duma himself as an editor and a co-writer. Other works published under Sagiya Publishers include “Bishop SK Mngomezulu and Lighthouse Bible Church”, written by AP Duma and OJ Radebe. “Kukude Lapho Sivela Khona” is an IsiZulu novel written by AP Duma and published as an eBook.
The third unit is Sagiya Theatre. It produced Izintombi Musical HIV/AIDS edutainment project that was witnessed by more than 6 000 high school learners. Sagiya Theatre produced Dim-Dep the Musical 2015, 2016 and 2018 and released it as DVDs that were distributed to all Ethekwini Municipality Libraries. Dim-Dep Musical 2015 and 2016 were presented in The Playhouse Company Opera Theatre accompanied by classical orchestra, KZN Music legends, including Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble, Madala Kunene, Prof Anthony Rippon, Neil Gonsalves and Xolisa Dlamini. Mr Duma is an official scrip editor for “King Zwelithini Zulu The Musical”, which was performed in Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 2018.
Mr Duma’s Dim-Dep Musical 2015/2016 introduced Ntokozo “Sngqazu” Ngcobo in professional Theatre as Major Character in a production called Nandi The Musical, thereafter she got casted for Mzansi Magic’s Ifalakhe Movie Series. Ntokozo got nominated through Mr Duma’s Dim-Dep Musical 2016 DVD for SATMA Awards 2016 for her dynamic poetry that she featured in a production. Duma contributed a lot towards her successful launch of her poetry book entitled “Amaloba the Traces”
Atlas Duma as a Musician:
Duma is an award-winning music composer, arranger and a drummer. He possesses a National Diploma in Jazz and Popular Musical from Technikon Natal, currently known as DUT. He also acquired Assessor Certificate on Conducting Outcome-Based Assessment from QED, which is accredited by ETQA, Service SETA and MAPPP SETA, which is now CATHSSETA. Mr Duma is registered as an Accredited Assessor of Unit Standard and Outcome-Based Assessment. He is the drummer and one of the composers in Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble (UJE), which has signed under Sagiya Records. He is a leader of his band called SAGIYA Afro Jazz Band, which heats major festivals, such as Grahamstown Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Ugu Festivals, Midma Dam Festival, Corporate Functions etc. Duma was a band coordinator and drummer for the first Crown Gospel Music Awards 2012. Performed with Gcina Mhlophe in Nozincwadi Festivals in KwaNgcolosi and in an Opening Plenary for the United Nations Summit in ICC 2017.
Artistic Activities in Tertiary Institution
Mr Duma started to be involved as professional drummer while he was still studying Music at Technikon Natal. At Technikon he established and became a president of a student organization called Technikon Natal Arts Students Re-Development Project (TECHNARP). This organization created a platform for students to discover their performance abilities, exposure and self-confidence that enhanced their performance abilities, academically, artistically and commercially. The musicians that were exposed by TECHNARP include the following: SAGIYA Band, SHANA, Nqubeko Mbatha (Joyous Celebration), Johan Mthethwa (Joyous Celebration) Black Coffee, Shota, Demo, Swazi Dlamini, Xolisa Gqoli Dlamini, Thamela Maskandi Afro Fusion, Zakhele “Zakes Mantwini” Madida. After Mr. Duma’s graduation, TECHNARP continued with his vision under the leadership of “Zakes Mantwini” until the department of music was transferred to the University of KwaZulu Natal.
Music Educator/Facilitator
Mr Duma is a former Music and Dramatic Arts educator in Isibonelo High School (KwaMashu) 2011 – 2012 and in Siyaphumula High School 2014 – 2015
He currently works as a freelancing music facilitator in different music centres, such as Playhouse Company, Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre, BAT Centre and Msunduzi Music School.
He facilitates on musical subject, such as Marimba and percussive ensemble, Drums, Musical Theatre, Rhythm Studies, Ensemble, Keyboard Technics, Improvisation, Composition, Music Business, intellectual Property and Copyright.
Mr Duma’s Record Label
He is the founder and the Director of Sagiya Records, which released professional artists such as:
1. Mduduzi Magwaza “Siyabonga Njnji” – Former Mango Groove Pennywhistle player;
2. Yoyalson (Live in Sagiya Virtual Jazz Concert 2020)
3. Gabriel YoungStar Ft Jeaychroniq, Khaya Dladla and Tudor with a trending single “Indovozi” Gqom.
4. Khombisile Miya with an album “Ungcayi Lweqhikiza” (Maskandi)
5. Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble with an album “Ezintabeni” (Jazz) SATMA Awards Nominees 2017
6. Nozuko Nguqu with an album “Mavula Kuvaliwe” (Gospel Maskandi)
7. Amabhungu with an album “Amabhungu” (Mbaqanga)
8. Mfazomabikibiki with an album “Abakholwayo” (Maskandi)
9. Masiza with an album “Let us Jive” (Afro Soul)
10. Princess M with an album “Ngiyabonga” (Gospel) produced by Mr Duma but release by another label
11. Amantombazane Asogwini: “Amaqhawe” (Afro Jazz) Produced by Mr Duma release by another label
12. Dim-Dep The Musical 2015 and 2016 DVDs;
13. Ntokozo Sngqazu Ngcobo single “Africa my Africa” (Musical Poetry) SATMA Awards Nominee 2016.
14. Producer of UJE-HHC (Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble Horn Hang up Concert) – Live DVD Playhouse Co.
Achievements:
1. 2020: Elected by Herbie Hancock to produce and present International Jazz Day Celebration
2. 2020: Elected as the General Secretary and Public Officer of CCA (Cultural Connections Africa) NPO founded by Katherine McVicker from New York.
3. 2019: Received a Seed Fund to establish SDDS (Sagiya Digital Distribution System)
From: Technology Innovation Agency. Through Invotech Business Incubator
4. 2018: 3rd Position in Maritime Youth Innovation Challenge (MYIC 2018)
Presented by: Innovate Durban sponsored by TRANSNET – Durban TPT
5. 2017: Best Community Environmentalist (Certificate) Presented by: Ethekwini Municipality (DSW)
6. 2016: Certificate of Recognition as KZN Music Legend Presented by: University of KwaZulu Natal (Centre for Jazz and Popular Music) and Sagiya Foundation
7. 2002: Best Music Composer Award Presented by: Old Mutual Jazz Encounters.
8. 1997: Best Afro Jazz Band Award (Sagiya Band)
Presented by: Shell Road to Fame
Contact Details:
Organisation: SAGIYA Foundation
Cell (Calls/WhatsaApp): 081 373 8185
Email: atlasduma06@gmail.com
Web: www.sagiyafoundation.co.za
