Maskandi bands are filled with culture and heritage, the proudly South African music genre has some serious feel-good vibes, one band honoured Johnny Clegg.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – Vukazithathe and Nselemafu’ is a Maskandi band made up by Bheki and Matt. The guys come from KwaDweshula and KwaDukuza. Bheki has been playing Maskandi for more than 30 years while Matt’s Maskandi journey started in 2005 when he began learning from the late Brush Dlamini.
“We played together for 3 years and he taught me the fundamentals of Maskandi. In 2017 I was introduced to Bheki, and we started playing together regularly. As our friendship grew, new songs were composed, culminating in the recording of our first album together: ‘Kukhon’ Izinsizwa’.”
“Some of our songs talk about love, others are about problems in our country such as lack of respect for elders and violence. In these songs, we encourage people to solve problems through kindness and love!”
Together the guys have made some incredible music with many songs featuring right here on Good Things Guy for uplifting our Fridays. Maskandi, also known as Maskanda, is a kind of Zulu folk music. Matt messaged us to share a video they made in honour of the late Johnny Clegg.
“Bheki and I (Vukazithathe and Nselemafu) mainly compose and play our own maskandi songs, but recently, during one of our jam sessions, we decided to do a cover version of an old Juluka song, “Thula umntanami”, in honour of the late Johnny Clegg.
Siyamkhumbula uJohnny Clegg, nobungane bakhe noSipho Mchunu… kwaba isibonelo esihle kuthina abaculi bakamaskandi, nakubo bonke abaphila ngaphansi komthunzi welanga. (We remember Johnny Clegg and his friendship with Sipho Mchunu…a great example to us, and to all people!)
We hope the video is a blessing and an encouragement”
Watch their performance in honour of Johnny Clegg below.
by 