From medicine to music
DEFAULT: ANSWERING PHONE LANDED CHINOAMADI JOB AT T-MUSICMAN
She is producer of the popular Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival.
Soweto-born Mantwa Chinoamadi wanted to become a medical doctor when she was young because she always wanted to fix things that were broken.
Her life went in a different direction, however, and she ended up as the producer of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz and managing director of T-Musicman, the company behind the annual music event which will be staged this year at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 27 to 29.
She is also behind a special Standard Bank Joy of Jazz event focusing on Women’s Month to be held on August 9 at Constitution Hill. It’s an invitation only event for women in the arts and is called Celebrating a Woman’s HeArt.
It was by default that Chinoamadi became involved with T-Musicman, a company that produced and promoted local talent.
“I used to attend a computer college in town next to where my brother-in-law, Peter Tladi, CEO of T-Musicman, had an office. I would catch a lift with him back home in the afternoon and while waiting for him in the office, I would answer the phone when the receptionist was out,” she says.
“I remember bugging the late Queen Radebe, T-Musicman’s office manager, to teach me how to help her with artist inquiries. At the time, T-Musicman managed big names such as the late Bra Hugh Masekela, Rebecca Malope, Jonas Gwangwa and Tsepo Tsola, to mention a few.
“When I completed my course, I simply employed myself and did so well that they had to take me in and make me a staff member.”
Chinoamadi, an energetic individual with strong administrative skills, has always had a love for music which was instilled in her from an early age by her father.
“My father loved music and he would play the music of Mankunku, Jack Du Pree, Brook Benton and many other Jazz artists.
“What attracted me to the industry was the adrenalin rush. I enjoyed staying up late at night and waiting to make an important phone call to an artist overseas.”
Working closely with Peter Tladi, who was also a record producer, and his team, Chinoamadi reached a stage where she was introducing her boss to various new artists with the prospect of recording and promoting them.
“He always encouraged me to present new artists to him,” she says. “I think, with hindsight, he was preparing me to become a concert producer. Out of this was born the concept of the Joy of Jazz and from early beginnings it developed into a premiere jazz event which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year.
Chinoamadi has been its producer for the past nine years.
Being a female in a male-dominated industry has been a driving force in her life.
“Forging a space where you are respected as a producer and not merely a female producer is my everyday highlight,” she says with pride.
Chinoamade, who also enjoys singing when the occasion arises, has no favourite artist, adding that she loves all vocal jazz artists.
Her family are also involved in music. A nephew, Tumi Tladi, is a hip-hop artist and she says she is “forced” to listen to his genre.
“Another nephew loves acid jazz, my brother-in-law loves smooth jazz and my sister loves R&B. We are just people who love music. I listen to music according to my mood of the day and what I am feeling at that moment,” she says. Asked what she thinks of the state of South African music, she replies: “I think there is great evolution happening in the jazz scene. We see a lot of great young cats emerging. It is healthy. There is life because of the development of both artists and audiences.”