I love listening to Latin jazz and salsa. In fact, I have a lot of Latin music and I listen to something different every day — Ishmael Miranda, Arturo Sandoval, Bobby Sanabria, Joaquin Pozo, Mario Bauzá, and so on. I like Latin music because of the fusion of rhythm and harmony — they play great arrangements. When it comes to Africa, I listen to West African music, but I know it too well. I enjoy Themba Mkhize.
If friends from overseas were visiting I would take them to Troyeville Hotel for some Portuguese food. I love the cuisine and the seafood. I would take them mountain biking if they were up for it. I do a lot of mountain biking around Jo’burg. I rip the downhills.
I watch a lot of European football. My favourite team for the World Cup is Spain; my favourite club teams are Barcelona and Chelsea. I have relatives who live in the Chelsea part of London. I am not a complete fan but I enjoy watching the game and appreciate different team strategies. Football is amazing, like how Barcelona can completely dominate their opponents for many games and then meet a team that just shuts them down. I have bought tickets to watch Côte d’Ivoire and Brazil at Soccer City with my fratelos [brothers].
If I were minister of arts and culture I would make sure the bylaws of the city in certain areas change to allow clubs and jazz venues to proliferate. There’s a shortage of venues for working musicians.
In the United States musicians perform all over the place, on the college circuit, in clubs. In South Africa we have to work to expand our performance circuit. I don’t think it’s the kind of thing you need to throw money at. It’s more about understanding how a city works and supporting the value of cultural activities. Good social life, happy city; no entertainment, grumpy city.
The authorities should also improve security around the venues at night to allow people to venture out and enjoy themselves. We must work at developing our street culture. The city should be owned by the people.
I don’t go out to eat a lot because my Zambian girlfriend is a chef. She works at Momas in Parkhurst. Her cooking is unbelievable. She makes beautifully balanced food.
My favourite newspaper is the Financial Times Weekend. There’s a lot of reviews of books and a look at the European arts scene. I follow what goes on in this way. I haven’t read a lot of fiction in a while. I read quite a lot of technical books, books on theatre lighting, audio mastering, theory of harmony and arrangement, also business strategy books.
I got an interesting book from a group visiting from the United States — it’s a collection of speeches by prominent African Americans from the days of slavery right up to Barack Obama. The title is Great Speeches by African Americans edited by James Daley. I delve into it now and then to remind myself about what we are doing.
If I’m in South Africa then I will be in Jo’burg. I like the big city. I also like Durban; the audience is great there. Cape Town’s also cool but Jo’burg is a mixed city. You can get urban African people, “lokshun” types, old South African inner-city menschen and also international people. It’s like we are all in it together. I like the anonymity and the vibe.
Richard Carter has directed and will be performing in Drumstruck at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square at Mandela Square, Sandton, from June 8 to July 10. He spoke to Percy Zvomuya