Umoya Uthethile Baxter 20 May 2023

A musical tribute to Latozi Madosini Mpahleni
Umoya Uthethile
Directed by Thabisa Dinga
Baxter Concert Hall
20 May 2023

Umoya uthethile - Composer unknown
An old Xhosa traditional song used to connect with ancestral deities during
traditional rites of passage.

Wenu seGoli - Latozi Madosini Mpahleni
Madosini’s composition concerns mine employees who fled their rural
homesteads in search of employment in Johannesburg during the late
1900’s. These men spent less time in their homesteads, resulting in their
wives living a life of infidelity.

Mvimbeni Latozi Madosini Mpahleni
Madosini’s composition focuses on her experiences at traditional gatherings,
when she encountered greedy neighbours who denied their visitors food at
festivities. So, she wrote this song to convince others also to be as stingy
with their food in the same way they do to you.

Awunangqondo Gatyeni
This is not Madosini’s composition, but was chosen because it was her
favorite song, highlighting Madosini’s love of storytelling. The song title
means “You don’t have common sense”. Thabisa Dinga adapted the song
from ikosetina to umrhubhe for this rendition.

Horn Procession
This piece is a poem for Madosini, written by Lindokuhle Matina.
The English translation of the poem is as follows:
Listen closely my people.
Listen to the horn cry in adoration of Madosini.
Your gift has brought healing to nations.
You, the alchemist that poisons despondency.
Your music - a mending medicine to the broken hearted
We salute you for your contribution
You have made your people very proud.
Though death has stolen our time together,
we hope these songs bring you peace in your sleep.
Thank you for all that you have done.

Isigebenga
This song was chosen because death is like a thief that took Madosini too
soon from us.

“Ukufa ulisela”
Gqawa boa - Composer unknown
The song Gqawa boa is a traditional San song learned from Marlene Makina,
a San Jazz musician. Thabisa Dinga learned the song from Marlene last year
during her honours field work excursion to the Khwa Ttu heritage site, West
Coast. Thabisa adapted the song to umrhubhe. The lyrics of the song mean
“stop looking at my man, go and find yours”. This song pays tribute to the
San people, who first used umrhubhe as a hunting tool and later started
making music from the tool. The Xhosa adopted the tool and discovered a
different method of playing the instrument by bowing the umrhubhe like a
violin and discovered a sound ‘rh” and decided to call it umrhubhe. Thabisa
worked closely with Madosini for her honours research about bow music
and believes that this song highlights Madosini’s character and storytelling
personality.


Umthwa umntwane zulu - Indwe
This composition by INDWE (Nomawethu Dineo Pule), a South African
singer/songwriter, who draws her sound from bow player Nofinisi Dywili. In
this song, Indwe pays tribute to the San speaking people, which the Xhosa’s
borrowed several words and clicks to empower the Xhosa language.

Uthando luphelile - Latozi Madosini Mpahleni
Madosini composed this song when she was suffering from Polio and
couldn’t be with her friends because she couldn’t walk to visit them. The
song says, “I have been deserted by love. I am crying for wanting to go.

”
Xhego lekula - Latozi Madosini Mpahleni
Madosini’s composition on her romantic life. In this song, she tells how,
owing to her illness, which affected much of her youth and adolescence,
she got cut off from love, and how, as a result, she only opened up to falling
in love when she was quite old.

PROGRAMME NOTES BY THABISA DINGA
DIRECTOR
Thabisa Dinga
CO-DIRECTORS
Keketso Bolofo
Bronwen Clacherty
LIGHT DESIGN
Bennie Arendse
SOUND DESIGN
Izan Greyling
CHOREOGRAPHY
Thabisa Dinga
PROJECTION ARTWORK
Bronwen Clacherty
PROJECTION OPERATOR
Vuyisani Mkhwambi

IMAGE SOURCES FOR POSTER:
PHOTOGRAPH
Mbali Mankala
ILLUSTRATION
Christol, Frédéric (1850–1933):
Au sud de l’Afrique. Avec 150
dessins et croquis de l’auteur
(1897), Public domain, via
Wikimedia Commons
IMAGE SOURCE FOR STOP FRAME
ANIMATION:
Hut scene:
https://www.khwattu.org/
Madosini: Madosini (1997) “Power
to the Women” Platoon Records


MEMBERS OF UCT IBUYAMBO

MARIMBA, UHADI, KUDU HORN,
PERCUSSION, VOICE
- Keketso Bolofo
UMRHUBHE, VOICE, PERCUSSION - Bronwen Clacherty
UMRHUBHE, VOICE
- Thabisa Dinga
VOICE
- Siviwe Dlukwana,
Buhle Gombela
, Angela Kekana
UHADI, VOICE
- Sikho Gaika
, Ntombekhaya Halam
, Ongezwa Hlwele
, Sinathi Mdingazwe
, Mihlali Ngweni
, Asiphe Ntyinkala
, Natasha Ramncwana
, Nare Sebola
NYUNGA NGYUNGA, VOICE, PERCUSSION
- Bongo Javu
ENNANGA HARP, KUDU HORN, VOICE
- Crescens Katerus
, Mbuyiseli Makhanda
, Ayakha Soga
UHADI, VOICE, PERCUSSION
- Siyabonga Kawana
UMRHUBHE, VOICE
- Lindokuhle Matina
ENNANGA HARP, MARIMBA, KUDU HORN,
VOICE
- Lakheni Ntsodo
NYUNGA NYUNGA, VOICE
- Nkuthazo Santi
, Masakhe Tupana