Pearl Connor
NATHAN ”Dambuza” Mdledle, who has died aged 72, was the lead singer with The Manhattan Brothers, and found fame in Britain when he starred in the Fifties musical King Kong. Blessed with a magnificent baritone voice, good looks and a charming manner, Mdledle was the spokesman for the group.
The son of an organist in Pimville, he was encouraged to sing in the school choir and soon teamed up with his school friends Joe Mogotsi, Rufus Khoza and Ronnie Majola to form The Manhattan Brothers.They began busking in the streets as 13-year-olds, learning songs and working out movements for their act after school. The Brothers played township jazz, and wrote songs about prison, work, poverty, recreation and love.
While busking one day outside the Ballandin Hall in Soweto, the teenagers were discovered by a talent scout from Gallo Africa. It was the start of an international career which took them all over the world. In the Fifties, they recorded over 150 titles for Gallo and toured throughout Southern Africa.
It was a hard life. They were old-time entertainers, often playing with no microphone or PA system, but it turned them into fine professionals. Backing them were some of the best musicians of the time: Kiepie Moeketse on alto sax, Mackay Davashe on tenor sax, General Duze on guitar, Boysie Gwele on piano, Jacob Lepere on bass, Willie Malan on drums and Dollar Brand and Todd Matshikiza on piano.
Then, in the mid-Fifties, the Brothers recruited Miriam Makeba as their singer. She remained their vocalist — singing their most famous compositions, including The Click Song — until she left for America to make the film Come Back Africa in 1959.
Despite their success, they were told they were not entitled to royalties for their recordings — a situation that to this day has not been resolved.
In 1958, Leon Gluckman, a South African actor, got together with friends to produce the first African jazz opera, King Kong. It was based on the life of Ezekiel Dhlamini, a black boxer who became an idol in the townships, but when he was prevented by law from fighting white boxers, his career fell apart. Convicted of murdering his girlfriend, he had barely started a 15-year prison sentence when he drowned himself.
Mdledle was cast in the title role of King Kong opposite Miriam Makeba as the shebeen
In 1961 the production arrived in London. Mdledle emerged as an international star, and when the production closed, the Brothers decided to remain in the UK.
Within a couple of years, the Brothers were invited to return to South Africa to play. But they were refused visas and became virtual exiles. Again they were unable to make contact with Gallo about their royalties.
By the late 1960s they decided they didn’t want to carry on — without recognition, or the money that was due to them. For the rest of his life Mdledle worked as an actor.
Then, in 1990, Mdledle and Mogotsi appeared together in London in the concert marking Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. For the first time in 30 years, the Brothers saw the possibility of returning home.
Mdledle had hoped that under President Mandela they would succeed in their claims. He was disillusioned and disappointed at the failure of all efforts on their behalf.
His death marks the beginning of the end of a South African legend.
Nathan ”Dambuza” Mdledle, born April 23 1923; died May 17 1995