Maskandi
Maskandi (also Maskanda) is a form of Zulu music, Zulu folk music, originally associated with migrant workers,University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN; , ) is a public research university with five campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University ...
. He died near
Durban
Durban ( ; , from meaning "bay, lagoon") is the third-most populous city in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in the Provinces of South Africa, province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Situated on the east coast of South ...
on 18 February 2011.
History
Early life
Shiyani was born in 1953 in the province of
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...
, South Africa. He was born to two members of the Zulu people, and their musical styling would later influence much of his work. When Shiyani was 13 he became fascinated with Maskanda music after his brother, Khetuwise, introduced him to the traditional piece ''Sevelina''. His father was an alcoholic who would frequently beat his mother, which eventually led him to leave home in 1970 and lead the life of a
migrant worker
A migrant worker is a person who Human migration, migrates within a home country or outside it to pursue work. Migrant workers usually do not have an intention to stay permanently in the country or region in which they work.
Migrant workers ...
throughout South Africa. Eventually he met his life partner Gertrude and settled down in Kwa Makutha near Durban.
Beginning of musical career
In 1989 Ngcobo won a
Maskandi
Maskandi (also Maskanda) is a form of Zulu music, Zulu folk music, originally associated with migrant workers, where he would teach Maskanda guitar for the rest of his life. After many years, he acquired a manager, leading to concerts in Norway, Cameroon and Malaysia.
Rise in Europe and America
At the
Rainforest World Music Festival
The Rainforest World Music Festival (often abbreviated as RWMF) is an annual three-day music festival celebrating the diversity of world music, held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, with daytime music workshops, cultural displays, craft displays, ...
in Malaysia, Ngcobo caught the eye of producer Ben Mandelson who recorded several demo tracks that ended up on a BBC Radio 3 session. These demo tracks led to Mandelson traveling to South Africa to help Ngcobo record ''Introducing Shiyani Ngcobo'', his only album, which was released in 2004. In support of this album, Ngcobo embarked on a European tour that featured stops in the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Switzerland. In 2007, Ngcobo made his one and only trip to the United States, where he played a concert at
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...
.
Death
Ngcobo died in his home outside Durban on 18 February 2011. Despite his high profile, he lived a very humble life and when he died, his daughter Khanyisile had to go on the radio to solicit for funds to help pay for the funeral. He was later included in the
World Music Network
World Music Network is a UK-based record label specializing in world music.
The World Music Network website features news, reviews, live music listings, and guide sections on world music. It also features an online "Battle of the Bands" competi ...
's compilation ''The Rough Guide to African Guitar Legends'', which came out on 15 March 2011.
Musical style
Ngcobo was known for using his songs to give a picture of the life of a Zulu migrant worker and used the lyrics of his songs to examine themes of broken families, loss and masculinity in a constantly changing culture. Dr. Kathryn Olsen wrote of his style that Ngcobo, "asserts a version of masculinity that derives meaning from the experience of dispersal resulting from conquest and domination." Musically, he blended drums of the ''ngoma'' dance style with a more traditional Maskanda guitar style. Unlike many of his compatriots, Ngcobo resisted the use of electronic drum kits and
synthesizers
A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
, instead using a more minimalistic and traditional style of a single acoustic guitar and bass. On occasion, Ngcobo would also play a rudimentary instrument made out of a 5-litre oil can, wood, wire and nails known as an ''igogogo''. These sounds came together to create what was called a "more intimate aesthetic" than many other contemporary Maskanda guitarists. Ngcobo himself referred to his style of playing as "the guitar that speaks."