AFTER an absence of 30 years,
After 54 years in the business, the Burn Out legend is still fired up to ply his craft
South African music icon Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse returns to the Baxter Theatre tonight for a one-night-only performance featuring some legendary and up-and-coming talent including Siphokazi Jonas, Tony Cedras, Roeshdien Jaz and the South African Youth Choir.
WITH a humility and grace that surrounds him like a halo as much as his talent, Sipho “Hostix” Mabuse lives up to his name as a legend and musical treasure.
Tonight, for one night only, he will perform at the Baxter, where he’s returning after an absence of 30 years. He has an amazing team that includes young and emerging talent, such as Siphokazi Jonas, as well as established names in the industry such as son of Cape Town, Tony Cedras.
Mabuse will perform songs from his well-loved and considerable repertoire that spans decades.
If there’s one song of Mabuse’s that everybody knows, it’s Burn Out, and he promises he won’t be leaving the theatre without getting everybody in the aisles dancing to this song that has remained as popular today as when it was released more than 30 years ago. This 500 000-selling smash hit single changed the face of Afro-pop and township jive forever.
But the icon’s career goes back even further. He’s been making fans smile with his unique brand of music for 54 years. When he celebrated his golden anniversary three years ago, he decided to launch Music Exchange which nurtures young budding talent. He says: “There’s a tendency to focus on oneself and through Music Exchange I can also hand over my legacy.”
And he promises: “At the concert, we’ll be doing some riveting performances with some discovered talent from Music Exchange 2018 (MEX18) too.”
Mabuse likes to refer to himself as a curious musician and says: “As a creative person, you write things as they are, and how you write defines yourself.” He says because of this he has constantly been inspired to entertain.
From the age of 8, drumming earned him the nickname that has stuck with him ever since, “Hotstix”.
Today there are few instruments he can’t play. Flute, piano, saxophone, kalimba, alto flute, timbales and African drums all feature at some point in his repertoire.
His first band, The Beaters, later evolved to become Harari, one of the most successful acts on the music scene of the 1970s in South Africa.
Mabuse says when they split in 1982 he was devastated – in their heyday they toured and met fellow legendary musicians the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim, Robbie Janssen and a young Jonathan Butler. But life carried on and throughout the course of his career, Mabuse has become a musical ambassador for South Africa, performing in virtually every African country, as well as in the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy.
Back to the show, Mabuse says he is excited to be back after all this time. “It’s a rare gift to be able to take to the stage and still have a room filled with fans who love what you do. I’ve been all over the world, but this Cape Town show feels like a kind of homecoming.”
He adds: “The Baxter holds fond memories for me. We intend honouring the iconic venue with a stunning one-night show, playing all the hits and throwing in a few surprises along the way too.”
● The internationally acclaimed South African Youth Choir will perform at tonight’s concert, featuring the 14-piece ensemble that have just returned from a tour of the US.
● Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse and his band will return to the Baxter today at 8pm. Tickets are still available. They are R200 and R250 each at webtickets.co.za
As a creative person, you write things as they are, and how you write defines yourself Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse Music legend