Yogin Sullaphen Explained

Yogin Sullaphen
Birth Date:8 January 1986
Birth Place:Durban, South Africa
Years Active:2012–present
Current Member Of:uKhoiKhoi

Yogin Rajoo Sullaphen (born 8 January 1986) is a South African composer, music producer, live-looper and multi-instrumentalist. He is a member of the musical duo uKhoiKhoi, where his live-looping practices are a feature of their stage performances. Sullaphen is also known for composing and performing as part of theatre productions and performance art projects, which has earned him two nominations for Naledi Theatre Awards, which recognize excellence in South African theatre.[1]

Early life

Sullaphen was born in Durban, South Africa, and relocated to Johannesburg during his teenage years. He comes from a mixed-heritage background, with a South African Indian father and a Coloured mother. His diverse background exposed him to a wide range of musical influences, ranging from popular music of the 1970s and 1990s to Indian classical music and avant-garde jazz rock. Sullaphen did not receive formal music training until after high school when he decided to pursue a career in music and went on to complete a Bachelor of Music (BMus) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, majoring in composition.[2]

Career

Sullaphen began his career as a guitar teacher in a private school in Johannesburg before transitioning to freelance work in music, primarily focusing on composition and production. His work in music composition has earned him two nominations for Naledi Theatre Awards. He was nominated in the "best original score" category for the production "Jungfrau" in 2019,[3] and for "best sound design/soundscape" for "Strange Land" in 2020, both directed by award-winning South African theatre director Jade Bowers.[4] [5]

Sullaphen's work with acclaimed South African director and choreographer Robyn Orlin has been performed internationally. Between 2012 and 2017 his composition for "Beauty remained for just a moment…" travelled extensively in France and throughout Europe.[6] From 2021 to 2023, Sullaphen, as part of uKhoiKhoi, toured across Europe with Orlin’s stage production titled “We wear our wheels with pride…”;[7] and in mid-2024, uKhoiKhoi performed in several shows in France with “How in salts desert is it possible to blossom...”, Orlin’s latest production.[8] [9] [10] Sullaphen has also composed for and performed in shows internationally with choreographer and performer Kieron Jina.[11]

In 2019, Sullaphen, along with vocalist and performing artist Anelisa "Annalyzer" Stuurman, founded the live-looping band uKhoiKhoi. This duo blends indigenous and electronic music to honour their ancestors and address societal injustices.[12] uKhoiKhoi released a self-titled 3-track EP in 2020 and their second EP "Nongqawuse" was released in 2022.[13] In addition to the international tours with Robyn Orlin, uKhoiKhoi has performed across South Africa at festivals, such as Mieliepop[14] and Fête de la Musique,[15] and other live events.

Works and performances

Works for theatre and film

!Title!Date!Event / Venue, City, Country!Role
Beauty remained for just a moment before returning gently to her starting position (by Robyn Orlin with Moving into Dance Mophatong)[16] Sep 2012Biennale de la danse de Lyon, Lyon, FranceComposer
Down To Earth (by Kieron Jina & Marc Philipp Gabriel)[17] [18] Feb 2017Tanzfabrik Berlin, GermanyComposer, performer
May 2017Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Berlin, Germany
Jul 2017National Arts Festival, Makhanda, South Africa (SA)
Jungfrau (by Jade Bowers)Jun 2018National Arts Festival,[19] Makhanda, SAComposer, performer
Festival Theaterformen,[20] Braunschweig, Germany
Between Horizons (by Kieron Jina & Marc Philipp Gabriel)[21] Jul 2018National Arts Festival, Makhanda, SAComposer, performer
Emoyeni (by Umlilo and Sean K)[22] Aug 2018Song production (funded by Pro Helvetia)Producer
Rise of the African Queer (by Kieron Jina)[23] Apr 2019South African State Theatre, Pretoria, SAComposer, performer
Strange Land (by Jade Bowers)[24] Jun 2019Market Theatre, Johannesburg, SAComposer
Shhh! The Musical (by Jade Bowers & University of Johannesburg (UJ) Arts Academy)[25] Oct 2019University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, SAComposer, performer, song writer, arrangement, music director
Pause (by Kieron Jina)[26] Feb 2020Centre for the Less Good Idea, Johannesburg, SAComposer
Darkie (by Katlego Letsholonyane)[27] Mar 2020POPArt Theatre, Johannesburg, SAComposer, performer, sound design
Chameleon Home (by Kieron Jina & Mathias Becker)[28] Jul 2020Die Irritierte Stadt Online Festival, GermanyComposer, sound design
Mothers Grimm (by Jade Bowers & UJ Arts Academy)Jul 2020Virtual National Arts Festival,[29] Makhanda, SAFilm composer
Oct 2022Vrystaat Arts Festival,[30] Bloemfontein, SAComposer, performer
Zebras Crossing Video Series (by The Zebras Crossing Collective)[31] 2021Online videos (funded by British Council)Concept design, producer, composer
Pusha Pressa Phanda (by Dick d’vLz Reubin)[32] [33] Released May 2021Film (produced by Layla Swart)[34] Film composer
The Empire Builders (by Dintshitile Mashile & Kwasha! Theatre Company)[35] [36] Feb 2021Online (binaural audio play)Composer, recording, music & sound director
We wear our wheels with pride, we slap your streets with color…we say ‘bonjour’ to satan in 1820 (by Robyn Orlin with Moving into Dance Mophatong & uKhoiKhoi)Jun 2021Chaillot National Theatre,[37] Paris, FranceComposer, performer
Aug 2022Tanzforum Berlin,[38] Germany
Nov–Dec 2022Romaeuropa Festival,[39] Rome, Italy
Paris Autumn Festival, Paris, France
Le Théâtre Garonne,[40] Toulouse, France
Le Volcan,[41] Le Havre, France
Kinneksbond,[42] Luxembourg
tanzhaus nrw,[43] Dusseldorf, Germany
Mar 2023Dansens Hus,[44] Oslo, Norway
International Theatre Amsterdam,[45] Netherlands
Amare,[46] The Hague, Netherlands
Aug 2023Zürcher Theater Spektakel,[47] Zürich, Switzerland
Dec 2023Concertgebouw Brugge,[48] Bruges, Belgium
Breaking Down Walls (by Kieron Jina)[49] Jun 2022TalentLab, Théâtres de la ville de Luxembourg, LuxembourgComposer, performer
Skeletons (by Jade Bowers & UJ Arts Academy)[50] [51] Premiered Jul 20222022 Durban International Film Festival, Durban, SAFilm composer
African Exodus / Surplus Circus (by Sbusiso Shozi & Nhalnhla Mahlangu with the Centre for the Less Good Idea)[52] Feb 2023Komische Oper Berlin, GermanyPerformer
The Paper Double-Bill (by Jade Bowers & UJ Arts Academy)[53] Feb 2023UJ Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre, Johannesburg, SAComposer, performer
Dante and Mashudu (by Johannesburg School of Mask and Movement Theatre)[54] Mar 2023Atterbury Theatre, Pretoria, SAComposer, sound design, music director
UJ Arts and Culture, Johannesburg, SA
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban, SA
Magnet Theatre, Cape Town, SA
Breaths of Joburg (by Jade Bowers, Alex Halligey & UJ Arts Academy)[55] Apr 2023Hillbrow, Johannesburg, SAComposer, performer
Hybrid (by The Zebras Crossing Collective)[56] Jun 2023TalentLab, Théâtres de la ville de Luxembourg, LuxembourgConcept design, producer, composer, performer
I Release You (by Kieron Jina)[57] Aug 2023Zürcher Theater Spektakel, Zürich, SwitzerlandComposer
The Rise (by Kieron Jina)[58] Oct 2023Tramway, Glasgow, ScotlandComposer
Spatial Fabrications: An Uninhabitable World (by PreEmpt Group Collective)[59] Oct–Nov 2023Fak’ugesi Creators Online ExhibitionComposer
How in salts desert is it possible to blossom... (by Robyn Orlin with Garage Dance Ensemble & uKhoiKhoi)Jun 2024Festival de Marseille, Marseille, FranceComposer, performer
Festival Montpellier Danse 2024, Montpellier, France
Le Théâtre Garonne, Toulouse, France

Performances with uKhoiKhoi

!Event!Date!Venue
Social Distancing Festival[60] [61] 24 Mar 2020Online performance streamed from Toronto, Canada
Credo-Memoration[62] 25 Jul 2020Online performance streamed from Johannesburg, SA
Planet Afropunk[63] 22 Oct 2020Online performance streamed from the USA
Pendoring Advertising Awards13 Nov 2020[64] Online performances streamed from Johannesburg, SA
4 Nov 2021[65]
Sol.i.dar.i.ty[66] 8 Apr 2021Online performance streamed from Switzerland
Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival[67] Dec 2021Online performance streamed from United Kingdom
2nd World Sound Concert[68] 27 Aug 2022Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg, SA
Queertopia[69] 10 Dec 2022Victoria Yards, Johannesburg, SA
Mieliepop Festival2–4 Mar 2023Lothair, Mpumalanga, SA
Fashion Forward: A Sonic Experience with Thebe Magugu and Spotify[70] 15 Apr 2023Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg, SA
Fête de la Musique24 Jun 2023Newtown Junction, Johannesburg, SA
The Reimagining Heritage, Archives and Museums: Today/Tomorrow Convention[71] 13 Feb 2024Iziko South African National Museum, Cape Town
2024 SoCreative Summit[72] 10 May 2024Victoria Yards, Johannesburg

References

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  2. Web site: Yogin Sullaphen . 2023-10-30 . Fak'ugesi 2023 . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Naledi Theatre Awards . 2019-03-11 . Naledi Award Nominations Revealed for Productions Staged in 2018 . 2023-10-30 . Artsvark . en-ZA.
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  33. Web site: Yogin Sullaphen Composer . 2023-11-09 . IMDb . en-US.
  34. Web site: Layla Swart Producer, editor . 2023-10-31 . IMDb . en-US.
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  61. Web site: 2020-03-24 . Glastonbury cancelled? Come to the online 'social distancing festival' . 2023-10-31 . BBC Newsday . en-GB.
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