Maestro has a passion for teaching
IT’S Tuesday evening as I unpack my camera bag, take out my notepad and wait for the knock at the door from Zululand’s talented music director, conductor and University of Zululand (Unizulu) music lecturer, Bhekani ‘Mbhexeshi’ Buthelezi.
The purpose of this meeting is to obtain more information about his various works, the Unizulu choir and his passion for music and shaping young minds.
For this reason, I got myself a new notepad, knowing he would have much to share, especially about music, culture and arts in general.
At only 39 years old, he is already making waves in the entertainment industry, and continues to educate students about life, arts and music.
His story started on the dusty streets of eNkonjeni Reserve in eMahlabathini where he grew up.
He was bitten by the music bug while at Nkonjeni Primary School, and his interest grew more intense when he was at Ekudubekeni High School, where he became a member of the school choir and learned about harmonies.
’I was fascinated by Brenda Fassie and other musicians of that time. I imitated them, using beer crates to create a stage and a spoon serving as my microphone.'
Mbhexeshi, as he is known to many, also became part of various isicathamiya, indlamu and ingoma groups from the area.
‘Many didn’t understand my fascination with music and they didn’t take it, or me, seriously.'
But when Mbhexeshi became a conductor in Grade 10, that changed and many people began noticing his talent.
‘I was exposed to different genres of music, and it opened my world,’ he said.
After completing matric, it was no surprise when the music man enrolled to study music at the University of Zululand, graduating with a BA in Music.
Once qualified, he studied towards a PGCE education qualification and soon started shaping young minds as a music
teacher.
In 2006, he began working as a teacher at the high school he attended before moving to JG Zuma High School in Durban.
He also taught at Mzingwenya and Bajabulile primary schools in eSikhaleni, as well as at Empangeni High School.
In 2012, he was appointed music lecturer at UKZN before moving to
Unizulu where, apart from his lecturing duties, he also conducted the Unizulu choir.
Being in the big league
Mbhexeshi is a music producer and editor who continues to work with the best in the country.
He is part of the production team of the popular SABC 1 music show Imizwili as music supervisor under Ukhamba Productions.
He is also a lyric technician with Joyous Celebration, an opportunity he describes as ‘luck’.
‘Luck is when hard work meets opportunity, and that’s what happened with me. I got a chance to meet the founders of the group and they decided to take me on board after looking at the work I had done.'
This local maestro has also worked on the Clash of the Choir SA show – an M-Net music search competition.
On this programme he worked closely with the late Robbie Malinga and Lindelani Mkhize.
Over the years, Mbhexeshi has worked with other great talents such as Khaya Mthethwa, Mthunzi Namba and Jabu Hlongwane, and toured countries like Dubai, USA, France, Germany, the Kingdom of eSwatini, Mozambique, Zambia and Kenya.
Apart from his musical career, Mbhexeshi has also been involved in theatre and worked with Duma kaNdlovu of the popular SABC soapie, Muvhango.
This year, he is pursuing a PhD in music and wants to specialise in education.
‘Let an African child learn African music. I want to focus in doing research in African music and teaching our children,’ he said.
He recently recorded a new album with the Unizulu Choir at the Playhouse in Durban.
However, Bhekani says his children, Lwandle (14) and Abelwe (30), and his fiancé Nqobile Ngidi are the cornerstones of his success.