Vusi Mahlasela’s mellifluous world music hybrid of folk, blues, mbaqanga and jazz has earned him an international reputation as an acoustic bard of rare poetic repute, a South African Bob Dylan if you will.
A virtuosic vocalist and finger-picking guitarist, on landmark recordings such as When You Come Back (1991) Mahlasela’s songs of freedom proved a potent voice in our nation’s struggle against apartheid. On Wisdom of Forgiveness (1994), Silang Mabele (1997) and Naledi Ya Tsela (Guiding Star) his multilingual messages of truth and reconciliation shifted our collective consciousness beyond an apartheid autopsy to call for a united struggle to make our fledgling democracy work.
It’s this message that the man affectionately known as ‘The Voice’ shares when he performs songs off his latest Sama-nominated album, Say Africa this weekend. Joining ‘The Voice’ on stage are all male a cappella kingpins D-Seven.
The Fugard Theatre, Caledon Street, District Six, April 29 and 30, 8pm. Entrance is R150 to R200. Book at Computicket.
‘In one tune, some composition fragments of mine will be combined with a Muganda beat. In another song, Mozambican storytelling interacts with abstract hip-hop,” says Rene Desalmand.
‘There are also Caribbean elements and funk elements and so on.” The Swiss saxophonist is explaining the polymorphous nature of his multi-cultural combo’s shapeshifting style of ‘African Crossover’ fusion. Watsamba M’Diou (‘good food” in the Chopi vernacular) was formed in 2009 when Mozambican musicians Matchume Zango and Rolando Lamussene joined Desalmand during his residency in Maputo and Johannesburg. After trading notes on each other’s composing and arranging styles, they then incorporated the rhythm section of Alex Pedro (bass) and Ibrahimo Mussa (drums) and began to showcase their tight, rhythmically-driven songs in Maputo.
‘I am looking forward to performing some energetic sets and witnessing loads of interaction between our music and the public,” says Desalmand, ‘In our first shows in Maputo it was amazing how far we could go as far to play music that was abstract while rhythmic and keep the crowds dancing.”
Swingers Jazz Club, 1 Wetwyn Road, Wetton, May 2, 9pm. Entrance is free.