MADOSINI: MUCH MORE THAN LIP SERVICE
2020 National Arts Festival Featured Artist is the legendary Madosini, who is keeping traditional instruments alive
THE National Arts Festival has announced that its 2020 Featured Artist is the master storyteller, composer and legendary indigenous musician Madosini Latozi Mpahleni, popularly known as Madosini.
Each year The National Arts Festival pays tribute to an artist who has made a significant mark on the arts landscape and has consistently exhibited exceptional talent, shaping the narrative of South African art.
As the featured artist, Madosini will perform in two collaborative performances, one featuring members of her traditional ensemble from Libode, and a second as a kind of thanksgiving to her supporters and for her good health, which will include her friend Pedro Espi-Sanchis playing the traditional ixilongo flute and various special guest musicians.
She will also present a musical storytelling performance for children and several bow-laying workshops for arts educators and musicians.
Madosini, who only speaks Xhosa, said through Espi-Sanchis’ translation she was honoured to be named the 2020 National Arts Festival Featured Artist.
“Madosini said it’s her most cherished wish to be able to share her music and to communicate it to everybody in South Africa, because she is very conscious that she’s one of the last keepers of this wonderful music and traditions that she learned from her mother and community.”
She also reflected on a recent health problem, when she was hospitalised in France and unable to return home due to financial constraints, which stirred a national uproar.
Madosini suffered heartcomplications during a performance in France in November.
She said the support she received during that time was a testament that she occupies a special place in the hearts of many South Africans.
“She spent two weeks at the hospital in France, when she seriously ill, was something that really made her feel very fragile in a way and even more determined to share her music with the people in South Africa, where she belongs.
“So coming to the festival and being selected as the featured artist is a great honour and a great opportunity to showcase her talent and the few songs she inherited from her mother,” said Espi-Sanchis.
He added that Madosini also reflected on another health problem when she was much younger.
“She also remembered the time when she was sick with polio and was unable to play with her friends, and her mother coming forward and teaching her to play uhadi, long before she got married, because uhadi is an instrument traditionally played by married women.”
Madosini said she was looking forward to performing at the National Arts Festival in June. “Being told that I’m coming to the festival has made me happy, like a calf feeding from its mother. If I had my way, I would wake up tomorrow and go to eRhini (Makhanda or Grahamstown).
“I can’t wait to teach you umrhube and about lived experiences of our cultural practices that you don’t practise any more. In my youth we did not use sour milk for umphokoqo (mealie pap) we used amavilo – you probably don’t know what they are, I will tell you about it when I see you in eRhini.”
National Arts Festival artistic director Rucera Seethal said: “Madosini is our national treasure. She has kept alive the tradition of Xhosa music rooted in oral tradition, in particular the distinctive sound of the uhadi (music bow), umrhumbe (mouth bow) and isitolotolo (Jew’s harp).
“A musician, composer and storyteller, she also makes instruments, has performed and collaborated widely and continues to teach the body of knowledge she has carried over her lifetime. We are proud to feature her sonic and cultural legacy at this year’s National Arts Festival.”
Born in 1943 in the Eastern Cape, Madosini maintains Xhosa as her spoken language. However, in many ways she has superseded translation through her musical language.
Madosini has performed internationally, including at Womad festivals, where she was also documented in their Musical Elders Project.
Over the years she has performed with renowned artists Ringo, Thandiswa Maswai, Derek Grepper, Hilton Schilder, Gilberto Gil and many more.