Cue Online (Grahamstown)
Thandeka Mapi
5 July 2009
Plainly dressed and sitting in the Wimpy, Madosini Mpahleni doesn’t seem queenly.
But Mamdos, as she is affectionately known, is the “Queen of Xhosa music”, for fans locally and abroad. She will be performing with the Swiss ensemble babel.
“Our performances are aimed at inspiring people to learn more about indigenous music and reconnect with their roots.”
Dizu Plaatjies, her nephew and a lecturer in African Music at the University of Cape Town, describes the collaboration with the group as “sea waves.”
“As two groups of performing artists, we use different musical instruments, but when they come together they create a beautiful sound like waves coming together.”
Beginning
Mamdos, who started playing music at 13 in Libode village of the former Transkei, uses indigenous instruments made from wood called uhadi (Xhosa bow), umrhubhe (mouth bow) and isitolotolo (jaw harp). Having learnt the skill from her mother, Mamdos also played at social gatherings in her village.
She was introduced to stage performance in 1994 by Plaatjies, who was inspired to do this kind of music by his family of traditional healers.
“My grandmother was a traditional healer, my father is also one and the music they sing inspired me to go deeper in knowing about the music and instruments that were used back in the day.”
Indigenous music is performed in traditional regalia. Mamdos explained that their performance will also have umtshilo (a traditional dance) and they will be dressed in imibhaco, iincebeta, beaded head scarves, and beads around their necks, wrists and ankles.
Mamdos, who refers to herself as iqaba (an illiterate), states that the dress code “makes me proud of my roots, what we need is for people to learn from these performances so that they
can pass this knowledge to younger generations”.
Treated like Royalty
Seeing Sibongile Khumalo seated at another table at Wimpy, Mamdos murmured “I must go greet her, I once performed with her and Gcina Mhlophe”.
Plaatjies believes that this kind of music is not well publicised here in South Africa, even though it is well known and appreciated abroad.
“The festival is a great platform allowing people an opportunity to listen to this kind of
music.”
Mamdos explained that everyone can relate to their music, as one of the songs they will be performing on Sunday is entitled: uthando lundahlule (I have given up on love).
“These are issues that both young and old people deal with, so we believe that this is music for everyone.”
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