TIMELESS MAGAZINE Issue 02

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TI M ELES S MAG ISSUE 02 OCTOBER 2017 TIMELESS MAG LIMPOPO BORN JAZZ MUSICIAN WHO MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF IN THE UK By Godlive Masinge - Images provided by Mphuzi Chauke “Mama, you are my shield because in the wars of life you have fought for me [Mama, u xitlhangu xanga. Etinyimpini ta vutomi undzi lwele]” Mphuzi Chauke is a recording African Jazz artist from Maphophe Village, Limpopo Province, South Africa. He has been in the music industry for over 11 years performing with his band in the United Kingdom and recently in South Africa. Mphuzi Chauke’s love for music started at an early age. He grew up listening to legends of XiTsonga Traditonal music by the likes of Dr Thomas Chauke, General MD. Shirinda and Samson Mthombeni. He made his first guitar using a 5 litre tin of Castrol Oil and fishing strings; and taught himself how to play guitar. “I remember making noise everyday to my mother and my siblings playing my guitar”, he says. Things took a turn when he went to the University of Cape Town to study Civil Engineering. “My next door neighbour had an acoustic guitar and he used to play it outside his flat”, Mphuzi adds. He asked him to teach him how he played but he was not interested, as a result he had to rely on looking how he was playing and that’s when he picked up few chords here and there. In the late 90’s Mphuzi Chauke started writing his own African Jazz music hoping that one day he will get a chance to record it and many people will hear it. In 2002 he moved to live and work in London, United Kingdom. One of his luggage was his acoustic guitar. In 2005 he was invited by the UK’s Green Party to perform at their Annual Fundraising Event. This time he had no band to play with. He asked Dominic Angadi to join him and they performed as a duo at this event. That was the beginning of the realization of the life-long ambition to pursue music. In 2006 he increased his band line-up and was joined by Sam McGowan on lead guitar, Keith Miller on second guitar, the late Steve Bullen on bass and Thierry Deneux on drums and percussions. Together they performed at pubs and bars around London including the Nottingham Live Music Festival in 2007. In the same year Mphuzi and his band Pamoja (Swahili for togetherness) supported Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirit at a festival at Chepstow, in Wales. They also performed at Kingston Carnival in London. Sutchara Baton joined the band as the backing vocalist together with Issue 02 Timeless Magazine 10
TI M ELES S MAG ISSUE 02 OCTOBER 2017 TIMELESS MAG www.bgmpmedia.co.za BGMP Media Group Keith Miller who doubled up as a backing vocalist. Steve Bullen was later replaced by Dave Auguste on bass, Barry Wright also played lead guitar and Kenny Chitsvatsva (former Bundu Boys drummer) played drums from time to time in the absence of Thierry Deneux. Mphuzi Chauke finally returned to South Africa in 2013 and started working on his debut album tittled Vuyani which was released on the 01st of May 2016 and it is currently receiving airplay on all SABC radio stations and Community radio stations in South Africa. Promotional activities that have been planned to promote the album include Radio Promotion campaigns on Public Broadcast stations, Commercial radio stations, Community and Campus-based firstly in Limpopo Province and then outside Limpopo. Appearances which were planned are currently busy at shopping malls and private events where the album is being promoted. Mphuzi Chauke is the singer/songwriter, lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist in his 9 piece band. Victor Vukeya plays bass guitar in the band while multi-instrumentalist and producer, Judah Vukeya plays first keys. Drums are played by Gudlhuza and lead guitar is played by Tshepo. Finally, backing vocals on the album are provided by: Sonnia Maluleke, Tintswalo Manganyi and Vukosi Mabasa. Mphuzi’s music addresses social issues affecting ordinary people out there. For example, in his song Mama, he pays tribute to his late mother and other mothers who raised children on their own.“Mama, you are my shield because in the wars of life you have fought for me [Mama, u xitlhangu xanga. Etinyimpini ta vutomi undzi lwele]”, the chorus goes. In his song: Vuyani, he pays homage to many people who fought and even died for our freedom and argues that it is time to help rebuild the country now that freedom has been attained. Listening to Mphuzi Chauke’s debut album Vuyani, one can only assert that this is just the beginning of a great musical journey for the artist supported by a great and capable band. Mphuzi Chauke appeared at Mapungubye Jazz Festival 2016, Limpopo Province’s Premier event held at Polokwane Cricket Field on the 17th December 2016 and shared the stage with legendary Caiphus Semenya, Thandiswa Mazwai, Zonke, iconic Angelique Kidjo and Selaelo Selota among others. At the beginning of 2017, Mphuzi Chauke and his team have appeared at one of Limpopo's biggest event Marula Festival in Phalaborwa in February and Xitsonga Music Awards in Giyani in March. Issue 02 Timeless Magazine 11
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TIMELESS MAGAZINE Issue 02

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