Anikki Maswanganye was the first female drummer in South Africa, performing since the early 1970s. She’s also a band leader, a talent scout, an entrepreneur and advocate for women in jazz. Through brand positioning and mentorship, Anikki remains consistent and tenacious in pursuing her goal of creating platforms for women jazz artists. Click on the arrows above to download the learning tasks.
Bonny Zulu and Band make the transition from backing vocals to the lead singer in the style and spirit of the great songbirds of SA music, Abie Cindi, Sibongile Khumalo, Sophic Mgina, Dolly Rathebe, Abigail Kubheka and Themi. Click on the arrows above to download the learning tasks.
Geoffrey Tracey is a sangoma, story-teller and music educator. Known as “mkhulu Hugh,” the grandson of Hugh Trcey he continues the legacy of reconnecting African cultures through music. Geoff is an authorised traditional knowledge keeper, working with the continuous and ancient African practices of the sangoma, reconnecting humanity to our spirit practices, our extra-sensory capacities and the ancient wisdom or what he calls 5D (fifth dimension) technology of the sangoma.
David “Qadasi” Jenkins, Maskandi vocalist, guitarist, concertina and banjo player from Empangeni performs with friend and highly respected Maskandi artist, Maqhinga Radebe reviving traditional Zulu Maskandi music, promoting Zulu culture, traditional music and social cohesion on recordings and performances worldwide.
With Twenty years of over 100 shows a year, Tidal Waves are considered the hardest working reggae band in South Africa. The band is lead by Jacob ‘Jakes’ Wulana (guitar & vocals) and perform original reggae music with blues, mbaqanga and rock influences singing in English, Afrikaans, Setswana and Tshivhenda. They have performed alongside reggae greats Ziggy Marley and The Easy Star All Stars.
His Majesty Herman Malatsi is a self-taught body contortionist, choreographer for movement, string instrument maker, clothing designer, motivational speaker and mediator for peace in Afrika. He is the continental cultural heritage and peace emperor, founder of the Messengers of Messages / motivational speaker / self-taught all around artist/ peace negotiator and underprivileged youth developer. He has assisted Afrika in her development through working with The UniverSoul Circus from America and their work in development through circus in Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal and Guinea Conakry. He performs with his daughter Princess Nokulunga Buthelezi, gold medal winner as Contortionist.
As an initiate of story-telling, instrument making and performance, Mosoeu Ketlele brings much power to the present and future of South African musician. He is an internationally acclaimed musician, actor, storyteller, teacher, puppet artist, theatre director and a show creator. Mosoeu plays a variety of South African Traditional instruments such as Setorotoro (Zulu/Sotho), Umakhweyane, Urhadi(Zulu/Xhosa), uMtshingo(Zulu flute), Ixxhara(Khoi San), Lebhalabhala (Ndebele flute), Serankura(Tswana), Vuruvuru (bull-roarer), Traditional Drums, Mofaftlafatla (Sotho shakers) and the bird whistles, frog sounds and cricket sounds.
From his roots as a drummer for the traditional healers, iziNyanga and diviners, izaNgoma, through his arts education at the Joint Enrichment Project (JEP), to his personal studies at International Library of African Music (ILAM) and to his collaborations with masters of music such as Tananas and Stimela, Mosoeu is at the very cutting edge of a unique sound of South African music that is both OLD and NEW and a contribution essential to community art centred education.
