Who are the Eastern Cape Maskandi artists?
Whether or not people in the music circles agree that Maskandi music is the most listened, loved and followed by many people young and old across all borders of South Africa, Eastern Cape has for many many years being part of the rich Maskandi culture. A genre known to be made popular by the Zulu nation one would ague that just like any other music genre in South Africa in order for it to be popular back in the day, one had to move to the city of gold where all the means of everything one could think of was happening as far as entertainment industry is concerned. It is in Johannesburg where big recording companies such as Gallo, EMI, Sonny and other big players of the yester years were based. Till today even though things are starting to open up but Johannesburg is still leading when it comes to housing big companies that can play a meaning role in making an artist or a new music genre popular.
With the above being said, Eastern Cape as a province in South Africa has for many years being involved in Maskandi music just that the location in the past was never in their favor for the them to compete in the same level as the artist from Durban and Johannesburg but as years went by things started to open up.
Eastern Cape pride itself with Maskandi legends such as Tata Shushubaby whom even the likes of Mbuzeni Mkhize from Mkhomazi KwaZulu Natal respects and look up to. If you have a sharp ear for Maskandi music, you will notice the inspiration drown by Mbuzeni Mkhize from Tata Shushubaby style of play.
Home of legends
When it comes to Legends, the Eastern Cape province of South Africa is known for being home to many in all different spires of life including likes of the world acclaimed freedom fighters such as Tata Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela, Tata Oliva Thambo, Tata Steve Biko and Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela to name but few.
Back to Maskandi Legends of the Eastern Cape we also have the one and only Tata Inkunzi Emdaka a Legend of note who have stood the the test of time till this day. Here we talking of a living Legend who not only paved the way for the new Eastern Cape Maskandi generation but a Legend who as early as 1976 was already travelling South Africa with his music.
Mfaniseni Njemboqo from Ntsimbini in Flagstaff famously known as Njemboqo sadly passed away in 2010. He is with no doubt one of the Eastern Cape’s Maskandi music pioneers who has for many years mesmerized his fans his unique style of music. A Legend in his own right may his soul rest peace.
The history of Eastern Cape Maskandi music can never be told in it’s totality without mentioning Tata Makhalenkonxeni of the Amabhaca nation. These are some of the Legends who over the tough times in the dark history of South Africa kept the people happy and hopeful through their music. If the are any Maskandi history books written somewhere without their names being included, those books needs to be edited to includes these Eastern Cape Maskandi music giants.
Gobolempudulu is of the Eastern Cape talented Maskandi artists who cannot be left out when talking about Eastern Cape Maskandi artist. The was a time when Gobolembundulu gave his competitors in Maskandi music sleepless nights when it comes to scooping awards. With his huge following from his home town of Bhizana and surrounding, Gobolempundulu is sure a force to be recon with.
One can indeed write a book when it comes to the Eastern Cape Maskandi artists who are not only loved for their guitar skills but also for their comedic way of delivering their massage through music. Valangentsimbi is one Maskandi arstist who over the years have mastered that skill of making people laugh while delivering a sad massage. One example being the above song “Ndixingile” a sad story of a man who will not be able go back home for Christmas holidays because financially he is stuck. In the delivery of the song, Valangentsimbi makes it sound so funny so much that people forget about the pain which many of his music lovers might be going through.
Eastern Cape has a lot to offer when it comes to Maskandi music and it has Maskandi artists who are gifted in their own unique way. Here we hear the sounds of Philadane from Emandileni Mount Frere Kwa Bhaca in The Eastern Cape.
The new age Eastern Cape Maskandi artists
One would have to be the devil himself in order for him/her to even try to ignore the huge role these two young man from Centane in the Eatern Cape played in the growth of Maskandi music. Amawele ka MamTshawe comprised of two cousins Zama Ntenteni and Masibulele Gompo were the turning point of the Maskandi genre in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape were they mostly dominated. It is no secret that their unity and love for Maskandi music inspired the new generation of the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s in the Eastern Eastern not only to love and follow the Maskandi genre, because of them a lot of young man and woman got inspired to be Maskandi artists. Zama Ntenteni known to his huge followers and fans as Tornado and equally so Masibulele Gompo known to his huge following as Nongoma, together they are the pioneers of the new age Maskandi music trend that we see today in the Eastern Cape. It’s through their unwavering believe in their craft that saw them winning many awards amongst themselves both as a group and in their solo careers. Indeed when it comes to Maskandi music one can never under estimate or count out the province of Legends namely the Eastern Cape.
Abanqobi Bezizwe made up of Soundmind and Baphushe are just one of the many Maskandi group who we saw coming out of what one would call “Amawele ka MamTshawe Accademy”. Abanqobi as known to their fans have truly taken the baton and ran with it to the finish line as they too have now inspired their own generation of Maskandi artists. Soundmind in particular has lived up to his name as he has been involved in the production of many Maskandi songs playing both lead and bass guitar. Eastern Cape Maskandi Legends can be rest assured that the future of what they fought for all these years is in save hands. Eastern Cape Maskandi music is going no where but here to stay.
A rose among thorns Zukelwa Gompo known to her fans as Intombi Yamangwevu is the younger sister of Masibulele Gompo “Nongoma” and she is one of many artists who found strength that they too can do it through watching her big brother struggles and got inspired. Zukelwa on her own is a force to be recon with and she has not been done any favors but thrown in the deep sea to find her way back to the shore. If the is anything to say about her it is that, she has a bright future.
Sankwane from Ngcobo Eastern Cape is one of the vibrant and energetic Maskandi music artists known for his Ngcobo moves and unique music style. A social worker by profession, indeed we are now in the new age of Maskandi music mixing Maskandi music with education.
Bhinca LomXhosa is one artist who no one can predict his next move when it come music. Some will know him as Thando Mtyhobile from Kwa Nothenga village Xesi in the Eastern Cape, with more than 25 years in the music industry. Bhinca LomXhosa has done a lot not only for the music industry but for the Eastern Cape Maskandi music as well. He was there behind the scene not only as a spectator but as an active participant when Amawele ka Matshawe turned the Maskandi music game around. He used his experience not to shine but to add value to what he saw as a new era unfolding and indeed a new era unfolded and the rest is history.
Scorpion originally from Tsomo in the Eastern Cape and a former member of Abanqobi bezizwe. His love for his craft has led him to work with the likes Mbuzeni Mkhize on some of his recent music releases. Known to his die hard fans as “Mfo ka Nomemeza” give him the stage, sit back and watch why they call him “Scorpion”
They say “A leaf does not fall away from it’s tree” and indeed we see that in Balungile ka Njemboqo the daughter of the late Legend Njemboqo. One can see that Maskandi music has been and still is part of the Eastern Cape DNA and the future is looking nothing but bright.
Eastern Cape and it’s virous diverse Maskandi artists
When its come to Maskandi music make no mistake, Eastern has many artists whom in their own right represent the different tribes found in Eastern Cape under the ambarella of the Xhosa nation. Eastern Cape is home to the most diverse nation called the Xhosa nation, in it you will find tribes such as Amampondo, Abathembu, Amabhaca, Amahlubi, Amagcaleka and Amagqunukhwebe. The diversity of the people of the Eastern Cape is also seen it their diverse and beautiful cultures starting from the way they dress, dance, sing and their extravagant ceremonies. That is why each Maskandi artist their style will be influenced mostly by the area they come from back home in the Eastern Cape, it’s a sense of pride and belonging expressed through their music.
The are many Maskandi artists who are not mentioned on this post young and old not because they don’t deserve to be mentioned but due to the huge number, one would need to dedicate an entire site to capture them all.
Saba Mbixane
The history of Maskandi music in the Eastern Cape would in no way be complete without mentioning the name of the late Saba Mbixane aka Zwawu Zwawu as affectionally called by those who loved him dearly. The late Saba ka Mbixane was a Maskandi radio DJ at Umhlobo wenene fm with many awards and accolades attached to his name. I remember this one time at the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) when his competitor from Ukhozi fm known as Tshatha Ngobe literary cried tears because Saba Mbixane scooped every awards available on that prestigious night. That is how powerful Saba Mbixane was, loved by many across all borders of South Africa.
They say “A man with power can be very dangerous” but to the contrary Saba Mbixane used his power to uplift a whole generation of Maskandi artists in the Eastern Cape. It is during his time as a radio Dj that we started seeing Maskandi from the Eastern Cape starting to win awards and getting radio airplay. The late Saba Mbixane is to be accredited not only for the growth in which we see today in Maskandi music, he has laid an unshaking foundation even for future generations. He shall always be remembered for the love he had for developing not only Maskandi music in the Eastern Cape but also for giving back to the community in which he came from. In Saba Mbixane, indeed a great tree has fallen.
The beauty of Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape the home of legends not only pride itself with a variety of Maskandi artists, diverse cultures, beautiful outfits and extravagance cultural ceremonies. The province also pride itself with beautiful mountains, water falls, indigenous plants, beautiful house structure, bridges with to be admired, rivers, animals and mostly it’s loving people.
The are plants that are mostly found in the province of Eastern Cape, one would swear that God was bragging when he was creating the province of Eastern Cape.
The beautiful house structures of the Eastern Cape with it’s colorful decorations.
When former president of South Africa Thabo Mbeki also from Eastern Cape said “I am an African” this is what he meant when he said, he owed his being to the mountains, plants, trees, animals, bridges, rivers and valleys of his beautiful home.
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