Ingoduko is a homecoming…the appreciation of African music by Africans…where it began. Feel the nostalgia of home through song. This musical performance is a celebration of our culture and gives voice to the Xhosa indigenous instruments – uhadi and umrhubhe.
The focus is to identify ways of preserving and teaching indigenous music to young people and anyone interested. With this production, we hope to encourage people to come back home to themselves and promote healing through music/song. It is meant to be a nostalgic process as the two bows that I play have had that effect on my journey as a performer. Additionally, I want to create a platform for the participation, performance, and consumption of indigenous music.
Ingoduko aims to afford people access to information and skills centered around singing and playing indigenous instruments. Furthermore, we aim to document and archive the music for future generations and inspire holistic documentation of indigenous music of different cultures.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Thandeka Mfinyongo Band:
Thandeka Mfinyongo – lead vocalist, uhadi & umrhubhe player
Nkosinathi Matomela – Keyboardist
Grant Van Royeen – Bass guitarist
Zama Qambi – Perscussionist
Noxolo Blandile – Backing Vocalist
Siviwe Nomkala – Backing Vocalist
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Thandeka Louisa Mfinyongo is a musician born and raised in Nyanga East, Cape Town (South Africa). Mfinyongo’s love and passion for performing arts started at a very young age while at church. In 2017, she graduated with a Performer’s Diploma in Music and in 2018, graduated with an Advanced Diploma in African Music, both from the University of
Cape Town. She specialises in two Xhosa instruments, uhadi (gourd/calabash bow) and umrhubhe (mouth-bow).
She recently finished her Master’s in Music Performance at SOAS University of London, with a major in kora. Mfinyongi is currently doing her PhD in Ethnomusicology at Rhodes University.
Mfinyongo has performed in various stages including the Baxter Theatre and ArtsCape Theatre. In 2008, she joined a drama, dance and music group called Rainbow Arts Organisation and soon after, sang in the His Favour Gospel choir, which recorded an album in 2013. She has performed at the Zabalaza Festival in March 2013 (Baxter Theatre) and in a June 16th musical production at ArtsCape Theatre (as part of a collaboration of group of young people from different communities). Mfinyongo also writes and has performed one of her poems at the Land Act 1913 Commemoration which took place at the Homecoming in District Six. In March 2014, she was involved in the International Jazz Festival Skills Development, sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture. Between 2014 and 2017, she was part of the UCT iBuyambo Ensemble. Mfinyongo is one of the founding members of musical group, Azanian Aesthetics (2016).
In May 2018, Mfinyongo released her first single called Wenza Ngabom and made her debut on local TV show, Hectic99. In August 2018, she had her first solo performance at Baxter’s Masambe Theatre. In November 2018,
she had the opportunity to perform with the legendary Madosini (known as “The Queen of Xhosa” instruments), as part of an event called ‘At the Feet of a Living Archive’ at Youngblood Gallery in Cape Town. In May 2019, Mfinyongo performed at the Global LBQ Conference which was held in Cape Town. She did an Eastern Cape tour with two of her
friends, performing in Gqberha and Makhanda. In the same year, she performed at AfroBru in Johannesburg alongside Morena Leraba a performance organised by OneShushu Day.
In 2019, she worked with Zyo on a song called Brighter Day which was released on the 14th of June 2019. In June 2019, she performed at The Awakening Sessions in Kimberly and in July, she performed at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda alongside renowned musician Dumza Maswana. In August 2019, she performed with the lead singer of the Freshlyground, Zolani Mahola for the Take a Child to Theatre Benefit Concert at the Baxter Theatre. In October 2019, while at SOAS University of London, she performed in Young Gifted and Black during Black History Month, and in November the same year, she performed at the Antariksha, a fundraiser event organised by Sister Library and SOAS Indian Dance Society. Mfinyongo also worked as a Social Media Ambassador for the SOAS School of Arts. In November
2019, she performed at the South African Embassy event which was held at the International Maritine Organisation Headquarters in London, alongside the Kalahari Band.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, she did virtual performances. The first one was organised by the House Concert Bombay in India and the other by the Global Hope Festival. She is currently flying high with a single called ‘Ingoma Yam’ released in collaboration Zyo and Kitso and a feature on the cover of ISH London magazine. In March 2021, Mfinyongo shared a stage with one of South Africa’s celebrated musicians, Zoe Modiga and BandaBanda. She recently did a solo performance theme Ingoduko at Gqeberha hosted by Inverness on Tulla. In September, she had a performance at Selective Live in Cape Town and recently got a feature with Drum magazine. In November, she performed at Sognage in Joburg alongside one of the celebrated bands in South Africa, Urban Village.
In Feb/March 2022, Mfinyongo received a funding at National Arts Council to do a Buyel’embo/Ingoduko project, which included an instrument building workshop and a performance in Durban. She recently performed at the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards at Nederberg Wine Estate, Cape Town.
Zama Qambi was born in Cape Town in 1979. He started doing gumboot dancing around the streets of Nyanga and was invited to perform at different churches. In 1993, he joined Sunrising Youth Project where he began to fall in love with percussion. Following that, he joined different projects and through that process performed in a number of countries including Hong Kong, Sweden, U.S.A, China and Oman as well as on cruise ships. In 2017, he joined Thandeka’s Band and now performs all over South Africa.
Noxolo Blandile born and bred in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. She graduated from UCT where she studied Theatre and Performance specialising in Acting. Prior to studying at the Drama school she was trained as a puppeteer at UNIMA SA under the supervision of Cindy Mkaza, Aja Marneweck and many more puppeteers. Noxolo traveled locally and internationally to Germany and to the United Kingdom performing puppetry. In 2018, with Geoffrey Hyland, she was part of a group of students selected to travel to China to perform at the biggest Festival in Haiku.
Between that, she did music and recorded under the supervision of Zolani Ponco, well known as Pzho. The journey continued as she’s been Thandeka Mfinyongo’s backing vocalist for the past 6 years.
Grant van Rooyen is a talented bassist and composer. He attended music schools and music workshops, and developed his own unique bass technique that will have you moving to the vibrations of his groove.
Siviwe Nomkala is well-rounded composing and performing artist from Cape Town. He studied music with specialisation in African indigenous instruments (percussion) and Classical vocal training at the South African College of Music (SACM). He has had roles in numerous theatre productions as well as live performances as a solo artist. His involvement as a member of UCT Ibuyambo Ensemble, developed his skills for more experience in the performing industry as a solo artist.
Nkosinathi Matomela is a passionate and versatile musician and composer from Cape Town whose love for music started at a young age. He began his musical journey in a high school choir and while in his final year at high school he started playing the piano and keyboard. His journey continues as he finds his feet as a solo artist performing more of his music.