One of South Africa’s most revered
singer/songwriters, Vusi Mahlasela has played a central role in
the evolution of contemporary South African music. An important
cultural figure during the notorious apartheid years, it’s
only recently that the rest of the world has begun to familiarise
itself with this unique artist. Prominently featured in the award-winning
2003 documentary Amandla!: A Revolution In 4-Part Harmony, Mahlasela’s
recent one-off appearances at the Falls Festival, along with his
upcoming national tour, should gain him new fans here in Australia.
Born near Pretoria in 1965, Mahlasela grew up and still resides
in Mamelodi, a creative township which has produced a number of
noted poets, writers, artists and musicians. “I’m
sure I learned to sing before I could talk,” says Vusi.
His octave-spanning vocal ability was evident early. “I
surprised myself. There was a choir competition, and there was
a part that was supposed to be sung by a girl because of the high
pitch, and all the other groups used a girl, but my group gave
it to me because I was able to hit those notes. We won the competition!”
He taught himself to play music on a remarkable homemade guitar
made from a converted paraffin tin with fishing line strings,
and soon discovered that he had a natural gift for original lyrics
and composition. “We used to listen to local acts on the
radio like Malathini & the Mahotella Queens, The Dark City
Sisters, and Miriam Makeba”, explains Vusi. “But then
it became difficult to find Miriam’s music because the authorities
banned it. It was only through the ANC’s Radio Freedom that
we heard them. We did hear a lot of American Motown hits, and
at first I did quite a few covers of those.” Mahlasela was
also strongly influenced by the music of Chilean protest poet
Victor Jara. “I was introduced to his work in ’88
when I joined the Congress of South African Writers. I was in
love with his music, because he was combining his poetry with
guitar, in order to get his message to the people. I saw it as
a vehicle that I could use in South Africa too.”
But given that Vusi’s songs frequently addressed political
and social concerns, it was inevitable that his music would be
frowned upon by South Africa’s apartheid regime. “It
was hard,” he admits. “I used to play a lot of community
events and political rallies, and in ’79 we formed a group
called ‘Ancestors of Africa’ which really led us into
a lot of trouble. My friends and I would be harassed by the police
and our instruments would often be confiscated. It was a really
difficult time.”
After the long-awaited release from jail of Nelson Mandela in
‘90, Mahlasela launched his debut album When You Come Back,
a collection of songs which is now considered to be a classic,
dedicated to the many returning political exiles. When the apartheid
government was finally voted out of office in ‘94, Vusi
was invited to perform at arguably the most important gig of his
life – Mandela’s inauguration as President of the
new ANC government. “It was amazing, so wonderful,”
remembers Vusi. “I was just pinching myself to make sure
I wasn’t dreaming, that it was real. For the first time
we didn’t have to think of racism because both black and
white people were holding hands together and singing. I thought
if only it could be like this all the time, South Africa could
be a paradise.”
He’s since released four other albums in South Africa; Wisdom
of Forgiveness (’94), Silang Mabele (’97), Miyela
Afrika (2000), and Jungle of Questions (’02) featuring his
Proud People’s Band. His internationally released 2003 compilation
The Voice continues to attract new global converts. In recent
years Vusi’s performed throughout Europe, Asia and America,
appearing at New York’s Carnegie Hall and the New Orleans
Jazz & Heritage Festival. He has also shared stages with Dave
Matthews, George Benson, Sting, Angelique Kidjo, and Paul Simon.
Despite his success, Vusi has remained closely linked with his
local community. He does extensive charity work for epilepsy and
HIV/AIDS organisations, and has established the non-profit Mahlasela
Music Development Foundation. “We launched it five or six
years ago to develop musicians who are already playing, to help
them both business-wise and musically. We also have outreach programs
for primary schools in the townships to encourage them to come
up with new music curriculums, an opportunity that we never had
before in the schools. The parents are very supportive.”
As South African Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer says,
““Vusi’s music is here to stir and delight us.
He sings as a bird does: in total response to being alive. He’s
a national treasure.”
