Maskandi at the Playhouse
Fans of Maskandi music are invited to the Durban Playhouse this weekend.
IF you’re a lover of Maskandi music, get your tickets now for a concert on 20 December at the Durban Playhouse at 11am.
The concert includes household names as Phuz’ekhemisi, Madala Kunene, Ezikabhaka, Madosini and Vumile Mngoma. The MCs are local personality Henry Dlamini, better known as Juba Special and radio personality from Ukhozi FM Ngizwe Mchunu.
Phuz’ekhemisi (which roughly translates in English as “Drink the Medicine”) needs little introduction to local music aficionados. Born Zibokwakhe Johnstone Mnyandu on the KZN South Coast, he is widely acknowledged as the king of Maskandi. He has taken his music to several countries in Europe, exposing the Maskandi style to a global audience. In 2002, he was one of the African acts invited to perform at the closing celebrations for the Soccer World Cup in Japan.
Madala Kunene has come a long way since he started busking on Durban’s beachfront at the age of 7 and now performs to audiences around the world and often shared the stage with great names such as the late inimitable Busi Mhlongo. Kunene’s repertoire includes playing for Nelson Mandela at a show to honour his release from Robben Island. The story goes that when they met again at another benefit show in Durban, Mandela smiled and said: “It’s you again. I wish you could play for me everywhere I go.” There could be no better tribute to a musician than that.
Vumile Mngoma started her maskandi musical group in order to play what she feels was the more popular umkhomazi style or umsinga style of Maskandi that most musicians were not performing. Vumile’s energetic dance and performance style is entertaining and has earned her fans around the world. She performed in Mexico, Dubai and France.
Madosini Latozi Mpahleni grew up in the Eastern Cape and is known for playing traditional instruments such as the uhadi and mhrubhe musical bows, as well as the isitolotolo.
Zamokwakhe ‘Bhaka’ Nzama won the SATMA 2014 Award for Best Song of the Year category with his popular group EzikaBhaka.
Tickets are R65 and bookings are through Computicket. Contact the Playhouse on 031 369 9456.
