Jazz Queens sing New Brighton’s praises
● Walk down memory lane as township celebrates 120 years
Members of the legendary Jazz Queens from New Brighton boldly described the township in the early 1960s as the hub of the Eastern Cape’s talent when it came to acting, music and specifically jazz.
One of the founding members of the Jazz Queens, Vuyelwa Qwesha-Luzipo, 72, was born into a musical family.
Together with Thandeka Marwanqa, 60, they said Sunday afternoons would attract a number of people who would come out to watch either choirs or musical groups perform.
The two were taken down memory lane as New Brighton celebrated 120 years of existence this week.
Qwesha-Luzipo said originally there were five members of the Jazz Queens, however some had since died or relocated.
Qwesha-Luzipo said the road leading to the Jazz Queens being formed was a magical journey.
“I grew up in a small home close to the Mendi Arts Centre.
“Welcome Duru, a wellknown composer, lived opposite my home.
“When artists such as Winston Mankunku Ngozi [saxophonist], and Gibson Kente’s cast would arrive, Duru would ask if they could sleep at my house.
“As a child, this was so exciting. Seeing these internationally renowned artists walking through my door, having a conversation with my father about music, and even singing together, was magical,” Qwesha-Luzipo said.
She grew up in a community where she saw groups such as Abancedisi, Inkqubela and the Walmer choir perform on Sundays.
Before starting the Jazz Queens, she was part of the Soul Jazzmen, which performed alongside the legendary Sipho “Hotstix Mabuse”, The Jazz Plan, and The Jazz Ministers.
“The Soul Jazzmen was started in about 1964 by men from New Brighton.
“They already knew I came from a musical family, but they saw me performing in a musical play in 1972 called Scandal by the late Vuyisile Bojana, who acted in Shaka.
“Back then, there were plays such as Sizwe Banzi is Dead by John Kani.
“The artistry was busy, so I jumped at the opportunity to sing with the band, because it was the most popular group that specialised in jazz in the Eastern Cape.
“People such as Hotstix were even nervous to perform after local groups had performed in New Brighton, because their performances were that good,” Qwesha-Luzipo said.
According to her, after they won a jazz competition at the Jabulani Amphitheatre in Johannesburg in March 1974, the winners were meant to perform in New York, but their group never got to perform, leaving them disappointed.
“Ken Gampu [one of the first black SA actors to be featured in a Hollywood film] was the master of ceremonies in that jazz competition.
“We were looked down on because we came from the Eastern Cape.
“We were the only group from the province there.
“We let our drums and bass guitars do the talking and we destroyed that stage.
“We were announced the winners.
“By the time we arrived back in Port Elizabeth, everyone knew.
“We were welcomed warmly,” Qwesha-Luzipo said.
Despite the disappointment of the New York trip, she said they continued performing.
She left the group in 1983, however, the jazz music bug called her back in 2004, leading to the birth of the Jazz Queens, which had Gqeberha abuzz.
“We performed as the Jazz Queens at events organised by minister Nathi Mthethwa, Pemmy Majodina and Danny Jordaan.”
From watching musical performances on Sunday afternoons to later singing with her icons, Marwanqa started off as a guest performer in a Black Slaves show in 1977, before joining the band.
“Black Slaves were first called Black Panthers, but due to the political affiliation of the name in America, the police threatened to ban the band if they did not change the name.
“We would tour Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Cape Town.
“I remember how I would hear that in New Brighton bands would have practice sessions while political meetings were happening on the other side of the room.
“My father was on Robben Island, my uncle who was a musician died in exile, which is why our parents did not want us to be involved in politics.
“So music became a way to voice frustrations.
“We cried and laughed with the community through music,” Marwanqa said.
She said the Jazz Queens also assisted schools by teaching skills such as vocal training.
‘Seeing these internationally renowned artists walking through my door, having a conversation with my father about music, and even singing together, was magical’