Madala Kunene Tribute at Kwantu Village – 15 & 16 December
In association with Concerts SA and Kwantu Village, revered veteran Zulu folk guitarist Madala Kunene headlines the Folk & Griot Festival (FAGF) in Utrecht with a special tribute programme on the long weekend of 15th and 16th December 2018.
“Bafo”, as Madala Kunene is affectionately known, is visiting Kwantu Village after completing a successful national tour with Mabi Thobejane, marking his 50th year anniversary in music.
Commonly referred to as the king of the Zulu guitar, Bafo has no interest in genre specifications and prescriptions. His brand of blues operates in an opaque space where cool jazz, maskandi, mbaqanga, and a myriad of East Coast blues intersect.
The Madala Kunene tribute will culminate in an intimate two-day celebration featuring fellow griots who have worked with the man himself – Sowetan percussionist Gontse Makhene, and Swati folk guitarist Sibusiso Nkambule.
The performances are based on Madala’s minimalistic expressions, which he calls Madala-line. “The Madala-line is not only about rearranging the strings on the guitar but it is also about how you play it,” he says. “You don’t have to take on too much responsibility or to play too many chords. Just play what feels right for the mood and the moment.”
The tribute will have other activities around life and times of Bafo, such as a dinner with dialogue, an art exhibition, and action painting. Master classes and drumming sessions by various artists and art practitioners will also take place over the long weekend.
Legendary vinyl collector and digger, DJ Bob, will be playing his music collection befitting to the life and times of Madala Kunene. Please see the 15th & 16th December festival line-up and programme for a full list of art, music and lifestyle activities.
The Folk & Griot Festival (FAGF) is an art, music and lifestyle festival that celebrates the tradition and heritage of story-telling. This edition sees the official launch of the festival from 15th to 28th December, having hosted Sun Xa Experiment & Ntsane Lerato Lichaba (Urban Village) in 2016 and 2017 respectively as Folk & Griot Session (FAGS). The line-up consists of exciting and innovative griots who blend diverse artistic expressions, influences and folktales with true traditions of folklore.
The Madala Kunene Tribute is supported by Concerts SA through the Music Mobility Fund, a funding mechanism which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music.
Artist Links
Website: www.madalakunene.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/madalakunenesa
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/madalakuneneofficial
Hastags: #MadalaKunene #FAGF #ConcertsSA #MobilityFund
Events Listing
Utrecht – Folk & Griot Festival @ Kwantu Village
Saturday 15 December – 8pm – R50 (standard) / R150 (guest)
Address: 46 Voor Street, Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal
Bookings: 071 182 0613 / info@kwantuvillage.co.za / www.facebook.com/kwantuvillage
Utrecht – Folk & Griot Festival @ Kwantu Village
Sunday 16 December – 8pm – R50 (standard) / R150 (guest)
Address: 46 Voor Street, Utrecht, KwaZulu-Natal
Bookings: 071 182 0613 / info@kwantuvillage.co.za / www.facebook.com/kwantuvillage