Matshikiza, Todd

MATSHIKIZA, Todd Thozamile 

 

b. Queenstown, 1921

d. Lusaka, 4 March, 1968

 

South African jazz pianist, composer and journalist. Todd Matshikiza was one of a family of ten, all of whom became singers or instrumentalists. He started to play the piano at the age of six, being taught by his father, a church organist. Matshikiza received his initial schooling at St. Peter’s Rosettenville in Johannesburg, and took his school-leaving exams at Adams College in Natal. He obtained a teaching diploma at Lovedale Training College and subsequently taught at Lovedale High School. Matshikiza was on the committee of the Syndicate of African Artists (1949-1954) who endeavoured to promote music amongst the disadvantaged communites of apartheid South Africa by inviting renowned visiting artists to include a concert in the townships in their schedule. In 1956, Matshikiza was commissioned to write a choral work for 200 voices and orchestra for the Johannesburg Festival, the result being Uxolo. In 1951, he joined the staff of the newly-established DRUM magazine. He later became its Feature Editor, and then News Editor of the POST, a newspaper printed by the same company. During 1960 and 1961, Matshikiza became involved in the writing of the music for KING KONG, a Union Artists’ production staged in Johannesburg and London that was to launch the international career of Miriam Makeba. Matshikiza also wrote the music for Alan Paton’s play Mkhumbane. Matshikiza remained overseas when the KING KONG cast returned to South Africa, working as a pianist, giving lectures on Black Music, and occasionally appearing in BBC programmes. He then accepted an offer to become an Announcer/Producer on Radio Zambia. Matshikiza was one of five South African Black artists who performed in the first Zambia Arts Festival, held at Luanshya in May 1965. Matshikiza died in Lusaka after sudden illness.

 

 

Vocal:

 

A! Soziswe 

 

Back of the Moon 

 

Basikelele Nkosi Bawe (Wedding Hymn) 

 

Be smart, be wise 

 

Damn him 

 

Death song 

 

Earth turns over 

 

eQonce 

 

Hamba Kahle 

 

Hambani Madoda (Bus queue song from: Mkhumbane – A. Paton) 

 

It’s a wedding 

 

Ityala Lalamadoda (Sad times, bad times) 

 

King Kong 

 

Kwela Kong 

 

Marvelous Muscles 

 

Party tonight 

 

Quickly in Love 

 

Uxolo

 

Instrumental:

Gangster’s knife Dance 

 

Township Sunday