Vibes return to Potchefstroom after two years

The Fvckitup music and entertainment event is set to happen again after two years, on Saturday 19 March 2022, at Karee Lapa, Potchefstroom. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the event could not take place for the last two years. 

Lefa Sobuthongo, a North-West University (NWU) alumnus and one of the event’s organisers, said that it started in 2017 with the goal of catering for the black students of the NWU Potchefstroom campus, who felt that they were not being catered for in other events around the university.

Sobuthongo said he felt that Jool (also known as RAG, Reach out And Give), an event organised by the NWU Potchefstroom campus’ RAG student council committee, is not “inclusive”. He said that it does not include a line-up that black students would appreciate.

Refemetswe Mosiemang, third-year biochemistry student at the NWU Potchefstroom campus, agreed with Sobuthongo, saying that some events do not cater to black students’ “vibes” and that that is why there are events like Fvckitup. “By vibes, I mean … they don’t include the artists whose music we [black students] dance to”, Mosiemang said.  

According to Sobuthongo, Fvckitup was specifically created to cater to the entertainment needs of black and coloured students.

Kabelo Sebolai, one of the event’s organisers, said students were only getting the “vibes” at pubs. Because of this, they decided to create an annual event that is for the students, by the students, where they can come together and have fun.

According to Sobuthongo, not only is the Fvckitup event for entertainment purposes, but it is also a platform for the young and upcoming artists where they can showcase their craft. Sobuthongo emphasised that providing the youth with a platform to showcase their talent made a statement that they (as Fvckitup) believe in youth.

“Believe in young people with every chance you get”, he quoted the late South African rapper, Riky Rick as saying. Sobuthongo quoted the rapper to encourage others to give the youth the exposure they need and emphasised what they (as a brand) stand for.

According to Sobuthongo the Fvckitup brand prides itself in its “originality”. Therefore, there will not be anything new, just “good vibes and entertainment”.