I want on a TEDxTALK marathon by watching a range of talks which interested me. Whilst on the marathon, I came across the TEDxTeen – Mteto Maphoyi: The Power of Listening.
The story of Mteto Maphoyi is a remarkable one. Born in a township of South Africa’s Western Cape Mteto‘s father abandoned him, his mother and two brothers at the age of four. His father left behind a Pavarotti CD and it became the only connection Mteto had to his father. Mteto played the CD constantly and eventually started sounding out the Italian lyrics to teach himself to sing “Santa Lucia” and “‘O Sole Mio.”
Music became his escape and soon Mteto the Six Tenors with his friends. The group of six teenagers sang opera on the streets to support their families in their township. After his mother died of HIV/AIDS, Mteto fell into a pattern of crime, joined a gang and endured multiple stabbings.
Mteto used music to pull himself out of the gang life. Mteto is currently receiving formal training at South Africa’s prestigious Black Tie Ensemble at the State Theatre in Pretoria and stars in the documentary, The Creators: South Africa through the eyes of its artists.
Mteto‘s story reminded me of the film Nairobi Half Life. Both Mteto and the protagonist of Nairobi Half Life had a passion which they wanted to pursue. They actively pursued it and circumstances led them to crime, but it was their passions which saved them in the end. Goes to show that no matter how big the storm is, there will always be sunshine!