Some knew him as Dollar Brand, others by his adopted moniker of Abdullah Ibrahim, which he began using in the late 1960s after his conversion…
Artist Profiles: Abdullah Ibrahim
Tag: South African music
Artist Profiles: Dizu Zungulu Plaatjies
The son of an African herbalist, vocalist, percussionist and dancer Dizu Zungulu Plaatjies was born on 5 February 1957. His parents called him Zungulu, ‘the…
Artist Profiles: Mzwandile Qotoyi
Mzwandile Qotoyi – Bass & piccolo marimba, African drums, percussion, vocals, and dance. Born on 12 November 1951, in Langa, multi-instrumentalist Mzwandile Qotoyi is known…
Artist Profiles: Simpiwe Matole
Simpiwe Matole – Soprano marimba, vocals, dance/acrobatics. Born on 29 May 1963, Simpiwe Matole is the only boy in a family of daughters and was…
Artist Profiles: Michael ‘Nkululeku’ Ludonga
Michael ‘Nkululeku’ Ludonga – African drums, tenor marimba, vocals, dance. Born on 15 November 1962, in Langa, drummer and marimba player Michael ‘Nkululeku’ Ludonga was…
Artist Profiles: Mandla Lande
Mandla Lande – African drums, percussion (jembe/congas), vocals, dance/acrobatics. Born on 30 May 1962, in Langa, Mandla Lande means ‘power’ and is the name given…
Artist Profiles: Blackie Zandisile Mbizela
Blackie Zandisile Mbizela – Bass marimba, percussion, vocals, dance. Blackie Zandisile Mbizela was born on 27 December 1961, in Langa. ‘Zandisile’ has no direct English…
Artist Profiles: Nondzondelelo Fancy Galada
Born in 1970 in Langa, Nondzondelelo Fancy Galada started singing a repertoire of mainly African choral music at the age of eleven with the Thembani…
Artist Profiles: Lulu Lungiswa Plaatjies
Dizu Plattajies’ niece, Lulu Lungiswa Plaatjies was born in 1973 and has performed with Amampondo since the age of nine. She appeared on the first…
Artist Profiles: Amampondo
Amampondo was formed in 1979 by Dizu ‘Zungulu’ Plaatjies, and was originally made up of seven young men from the same neighborhood in Langa Township,…