User:Siphofako/sandbox

Archie Makoa Sopazi (Dat)

Archie Makoa Sopazi, better known by his stage name Dat or Dat MVC, is an hiphop musician from the township of Gugulethu, Cape Town, South Africa. He is regarded as one of the pioneers of the local hiphop subgenre called Spaza. He is acknowledged for his involvement in youth empowerment initiatives such as the ‘Hip Hop Kaslam' awards which aimed at uplifting local musicians.

Spaza music is a hiphop subgenre performed mainly in IsiXhosa street slang, Tsotsitaal and a combination of various indigenous languages. Notable acts of the genre include Driemanskap, Rattex and Maxhoseni.

Archie is a founding member of an NPO and movement named ‘Hip Hop Kaslam’, where he and fellow artists create platforms for younger artists to share their talents, and develop the skills to make a living out of their art. They work with a great range of artists, from rappers, to dancers and visual artists. DAT and his peers are also using the arts to preserve local tongue and culture.