Singer in tune with language, culture
YOVANI Naidoo, a South Indian vocalist from uMhlanga, outside Durban, represented South African Tamil singers in an international programme at the weekend.
Tamil singers from 15 countries collaborated for the Anbudan Thamil Global Music Concert in support of establishing a Tamil Chair at the University of Toronto in Canada.
The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) hosted the virtual concert on Sunday.
It was streamed on CTC’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Naidoo, 21, said: “This is a great initiative and I was blessed and humbled to be a part of it. The effort aims to have Tamil as a subject at the University of Toronto. As a youth and a young woman, it’s an honour to propagate for Tamil culture and language.”
Born and raised in uMhlanga, Naidoo is completing her final year of studies for a BSc: Biological Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Naidoo recalled when she first fell in love with Tamil music.
“I was 5 years old. At the time, my parents used to have weekly prayers at home and I would mimic the Tamil words and sing according to the tune of the different songs. My parents noticed this.”
By the time Naidoo was 9, her parents had enrolled her with the late Guru Beama Naidoo, where she was trained in the harmonium and keyboard.
She was also tutored in music by Pragalathan Vadival (Carnatic music); Mala Lutchmanan (Tamil); Dr Kanada Narahari (sitar); Rozanne Botha (violin) and Ashley Kiston (music compositions).
Naidoo has been trained in both Eastern and Western genres of music and can sing in Tamil, Telegu, English and Hindi. Her debut CD, Dheiveega Dharisanam, features regularly on local radio.
Highlights
In June 2019 Naidoo performed live with international singer P Unnikrishnan and his daughter, Uthara. In 2012, she toured California, where she represented South Africa at the World Tamil diaspora conference, and India.
Besides singing, Naidoo plays the harmonium, sitar, violin and keyboard.
From an early age she has been a regular gold medallist at the South Africa national eisteddfods.
Naidoo is an ex-member of the KZN Youth Orchestra, where in 2015, 2016 and 2017, she played the violin.
Naidoo was selected for the Canadian Tamil Global Music Concert based on her referral by Solly Pillay, a businessman and musician, and her music profile and accomplishments.
“The organisation also used my Facebook page in order to shortlist me as a worthy candidate to represent my country and the Tamil community.”
International successes
Late last year Naidoo entered an international competition that was advertised on Facebook. She submitted two music videos, for two out of the three categories. She recently received good news from this front too.
“Yesterday (Sunday) was a double celebration because the results from the platform known as the International Film and Music Festival, based in India, was streamed on YouTube and Facebook. My music video titled Krishna Leelai is a proudly South African production, composed by Shawn Kiston and the lyrics were written by Segai Kiston. It was selected as one of the top 10 best music videos in the category. A special mention and preview of my second submission in the, innovative song cover category was also recognised.“
“The judging panel consisted of esteemed playback artists, musicians and composers from India.”
Naidoo is ecstatic that her doors to an international platform have been opened.
Her music career can be followed on Facebook @YovaniNaidooMusicSA.