The band appeared earlier this year alongside
Starkravingsane on the Robin Auld end-of-tour gig at
the Riverclub. The group has a regular slot in a
Long Street restaurant, and Robin Auld added them to
his bill after hearing a rough recording of the
group's live sound. Their first official album,
"African Rhythms" was recorded live in around three
hours in St. James Anglican Church by Frank Smuts,
and was produced by Beverley Gough, the group's
mentor and manager.
Abavuki
Abavuki are a group of young musicians from Langa, a
Township near Cape Town. Their name, which means
“Wake up, early birds” refers not only to their
youth, but also to their philosophy of seizing the
moment and getting things done for themselves. They
developed a love of music at a young age and started
playing with various groups.
Towards the end of 2001, they came together and
began creating their unique brand of African Jazz,
using marimbas, percussion, brass instruments and
even an operatic trained voice, weaving traditional
African rhythms and melodies into a contemporary
format, which is highly danceable and almost Latin
American in feel.
Abavuki
The group consists of:
Bongani Ngesi who is 18 years old and attends Langa
High School. He plays marimbas and drums and has
been playing since he was 8. He loves jazz and house
music.
Siyabulela (Sabu) Gongxeka is 15 years old and a
pupil at Spes Bona High. He plays marimba and drums,
does back-up vocals and dances. His favourite music
style is kwaito. Sabu and Kim played at the World’s
Children’s Prize awards in Sweden this year.
Ndima (Andile) Makubalo is 20 years old and is
currently studying carpentry at Sivuyeli College.
His father introduced him to classical music at a
young age and he became a fan of Mozart. When the
Cape Town Symphony started an outreach program to
teach young people he jumped at the opportunity to
join. He plays the trumpet.
Mkhokheli (Kim) Masala is 15 years old and a pupil
at Langa High. He has a highly developed sense of
rhythm and plays marimbas and drums. He has been
playing since the age of 7 and has composed much of
the music Abavuki plays. He listens to African music
in his spare time.
Abavuki
Thando Sishuba
(20) and Zwelibanzi Dukwano (17) are cousins.
Thando plays the trumpet and steel pans and sang
with his school choir. His choice of music includes
Jazz and African. Zwelibanzi’s vocal range is quite
astonishing and he is known by the other members of
the band as their Secret Weapon.
Mzwamadoda Matsila
is 21 years old and is studying at Sivuyeli
College. He plays the trombone, trumpet, drums and
steel pans. He arranges most of the music that the
group plays. At home, he listens to Jazz.
Abavuki
Thulani Mtyi
is 20 years old. He plays the trombone, steel pans
and sings. His inspiration comes from the many
great musicians who originated from Langa. His
choice of music includes Kwaito and R&B.
Miyo Sakabula (28)
was instrumental in getting this group of young men
together and hopes to pass on his knowledge of
traditional rhythms and dances to the next
generation. Miyo plays drums, bass marimba and the
recorder.
Vuyani Nkosi
is 19 years old. He is the latest addition to
Abavuki and plays the trumpet. He enjoys Kwaito and
Jazz.
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