Madala Kunene - Live at Grahamstown National Arts Festival

South African Folk and Blues legend Madala Kunene is a regular and welcome performer at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. The traditional African Blues man, guitarist and singer/songwriter started the Grahamstown Festival circuit when he first busked with percussionist Munki Ncapayi from the original Drum Café in Cape Town. Munki since moved on to run a Drum Café in Canada. Guitars for Africa was a project initiated by David Marks of 3rdEar Music in the early 90’s. It included a stellar line up of guitarists many of whom are no longer with us and joined the long line of South Africa’s guitar heroes. The project was presented at the National Arts Festival featuring Madala Kunene, Shiyani Ngcobo, Syd Kitchen, Steve Newman, Tony Cox, Johnnie Fourie, Edi Niederlander, Plagal Cadance, Sipho Mchunu, Mike de Jager, Ken E Henson, Sandile Shange, Demi Fernandez and George Mathiba. Madala also performed with his late friend Syd Kitchen presenting their album Bafo Bafo. Iconic Syd Kitchen was a South African guitarist, singer-songwriter and poet best known of his uncompromising attitude and views towards what he called the mafia music industry. On a totally different stage and Art project Madala performend with Durban’s Flatfoot Dance Company’s ‘Bhakti’ fusing and melting with African and contemporary dance and the confluence of classical Indian dancer. Accompanied musically by Mandla Matsha on djembe, Vishen Kemraj on Indian tabla and Madala Kunene on guitar. BHAKTI, the Sanskrit word for ‘devotion’, conjures the spiritually uplifting spinning of the Sufi dervishes as Eastern mystical philosophy joins forces with African contemporary dance and music rhythms; all of this celebrating a South Africa alive with a proud and rich cross-cultural history. Madala’s 2018 live performance at The Standard Bank Jazz festival stage was a highlight and at the same time the Launch platform for a 2 months long tour of South Africa celebrating BafoMadala’s 50th Anniversary of sharing the stage with the late Malombo drummer Mabi Gabriel Thobejane. Rehearsals took place in Durban and drummer Paki Peloeole Kgosietsile was acting as the Musical Director. LINE UP: Madala Kunene – Acoustic Guitar & Stortoro Mabi Gabriel Thobejane – Percussion & African Drum Paki Gilbert Peloeole Kgosietsile – Drums Lerato Lichaba - Electric Guitar Matthias Abächerli – Electric Bass SONG TITLES: 1. Segwawa 2. Msila 3. Konko Man 4. Impukane 5. Washa 6. Gumbele (Storotoro) 7. Abangoma 8. Izinkomo Zobaba 9. Khono Thwele 10. Mfo Ka Zibhebu Credit Outro Track: Zürich to Cullinan by Madala Kunene & Carlo Menet STAGE & VENUE: STANDARD BANK JAZZ FESTIVAL 2018 DSG Hall Grahamstown Saturday 7th July 2018 All Composition and lyrics by: Mzwakhe “Madala” Kunene Publishing administered by: SALT ROCK Publishers CC (SONY Publishing) Filmed by Robert Trunz Video edit by Zulu Wonder in Durban South Africa Front of House and live recording by Leslie van der Veen Mixed and mastered by Chris Lewis in London, England Photographs included are from various sources, not all identified but with a BIG thanks to all who have contributed. We identified and thank: Val Adamson, Simon Lewis, Ernst Aschi Kehrli, Muntu Vilakahzi, Mamodise “Dice” Mailula, Felix Von Wartburg, Peter Rorvick, Dick Jewel, Emídio Josine, Robert Trunz, Lungelo Mntambo, Luiza Magongwa, Kalindi Matjokana, Pete Williams, Nicky B, Tolo Pulo, Siya Meyiwa, Matthias Abaecherli. Video footage by Dick Jewell, Chris Lewis, Michael Cross, Robert Trunz, Lungelo Mntambo, Lianne Cox, Kalindi Matjokana, Norma Fletcher, Tolo Pulo & Siya Meyiwa. Thanks to Alan Webster & his formidable team for featuring us in Grahamstown. Executive Producer: Robert Trunz Forest Jam, Southern Africa ℗© 2022 Durban 22.3.2022 www.forestjam.org