Language:

Xhosa

Genre:

Afropop

Instrument:

Male vocals

Biografi

Vusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane was born in 1965 in Lady Selbourne, near Pretoria, and grew up in Mamelodi township, where he still resides. Vusi never knew his father, lost his mother at a young age, and was raised by his maternal grandmother. Growing up in Mamelodi, a cradle of creativity that has produced a number of noted poets, writers, artists & musicians. The young Vusi began to teach himself to play on a homemade guitar, a remarkable instrument made of tin cans anq fishing line. Vusi can't "remember a time when he wasn't singing-" I'm sure I learned to sing before I could talk"- and was a seasoned performer by the age of seventeen. He soon discovered that he had a flair for composition and began to write his own music and lyrics.
From the outset, Vusi ' s songs addressed themes of political and social significance, and so he found
himself in demand at political rallies and cultural events. His message of peace also drew him into close contact with poetry groups, especially the Ancestors of Africa, a rousing group of poets, musicians and actors, formed in 1981. He recalls, "We were picked up and harassed in all types of situations, going to church every Sunday and being forced to sign apiece of paper at the police station first. If I was going out of town for a wedding, it had to be reported to the police first. They kept on harassing me with the things I was doing. But I stuck to it."
After joining the Congress of South African Writers in 1988, Vusi developed a new level of confidence as a poet and a writer. He struck up a creative friendship with South African poet Lesego Rampolokeng at the same time he was falling under the spell of artists like Miriam Makeba and Phillip Tabane. He was also exposed to the work of Victor Jara, whom Vusi acknowledges as a central influence on his own music and lyrics.
His first record, “When You Come Back” was recorded and released by Shifty/BMG in 1991 and produced by Lloyd Ross. The album is widely acknowledged as a South African classic. Then, in 1994, Vusi was asked to perform arguably the most important gig of his life: the inauguration of South Africa's new president, Nelson Mandela. That same year, with South Africa undergoing massive transition, Vusi released his second album, “Wisdom of Forgiveness.” The album saw Vusi receive a finalist nomination for Best Male Vocalist at the FNB SAMA (South trican Music Award). Vusi has released three albums since 'Wisdom', including the Gold-certified and double SAMA winning 'Silang Mabele' (1997), 'Miyela Afrika' in 2000, and his most recent 'Jungle Of Questions' (2002), .vhich Vusi produced and recorded alongside his Proud People's Band backing outfit.
Vusi is featured in Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony, the celebrated film about the importance of music and song in South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle. After garnering two awards at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, Amandla! was released to theaters across North American in February 2003 and earned tremendous critical acclaim and more awards. The Amandla! companion album, which spans forty years of South African music, was released on ATO Records and features four songs by Vusi, in addition to Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim and others.
An accomplished guitarist, percussionist, composer, arranger, band leader and performer, Vusi now enjoys a growing following that spans worldwide.

SILANG MABELE
BMG/1997

MIYELA AFRIKA
BMG/2000

JUNGLE OF QUESTIONS
BMG/2002

Click record company for review.

THE VOICE  
ATO/BMG/2003

Vusi Mahlasela is a talented singer and (song)writer with a great voice. Nobel Prize winner Nadine Gordimer says that "Vusi Mahlasela sings as a bird does: in total response to being alive. He is a national treasure." Well put.
So what about "The Voice"? Does this specially compiled CD give the man full credit? I'm not quite sure. "The Voice" is made for the American market. I'm a European. Personally I like things less polished, less commercial. There's of course no doubt that this man can sing, he sometimes gives me goose bumps, with his light tenor/falsetto song.
But the commercial wrapping/arrangements of these songs make them too sweet. Vusi Mahlasela seems to be very inspired by Paul Simon. (He also plays the guitar.) These sweet arrangements, with flute, violins and synthesizer take away the rough edge that I think would suite some of these serious songs about identity and South African problems better. When you dive into the pop area like Vusi Mahlasela does on this album, you are dependent on catchy melodies. And Mahlasela delievers. "Silang Mabele" could be a hit in America, it's international pop music with an African feeling. Possibly the album's best track. "Troubadour" sounds like Paul Simon himself with a gentle guitar backing. Well, this album is nice and professional, with an army of musicians joining in. But after having heard it right through, I nearly get the feeling of having had too much sugar spin at the fun fair. It might very well be a breakthrough for Vuli Mahlasela in America.

Startpage    Artists, search    Articles and interviews    Links   

Design: Idar Lind
English: Katherine Stewart-Kreisman (katherine.scharansky@virginmedia.com)
Swahili: Francis Chagula (francis.chagula@malvik.kommune.no)
Swahili: Habiba Rajabu (habiba@online.no)
Flags: 3Dflags.com

This site is a member of WebRing. To browse visit here.