Amampondo
Encyclopedia
Amampondo is a South African percussion ensemble which was started by Dizu Plaatjies
in Langa
Cape Town
in 1978. The other founding members were Simpiwe Matole; Michael Ludonga; Mzwandile Qotoyi; Leo Mbizela and Mandla Lande.
, and in 1988 Amampondo were asked to play at Nelson Mandela
's seventieth birthday concert at Wembley
. This is fitting because, like Mandela, Amampondo are part of the Xhosa
-speaking tribes of South Africa. Upon his release from prison, Nelson Mandela promoted them as ambassadors of South African music, and later nominated them to represent their country at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games
.
Amampondo has entertained audiences with their broad spectrum of African traditional and contemporary compositions . They have taught and played the world over, from Israel to Japan, from Scandinavia to the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, Georgia
.
Collaborations
Dizu Plaatjies
Dizu Plaatjies is the founder and former leader of the South African group, Amampondo. He is a graduate of the University of Cape Town School of Music and now lectures there in African Music. Since leaving Amampondo he has started a new ensemble called Ibuyambo...
in Langa
Langa, Cape Town
Langa is a suburb found in Cape Town, South Africa. It was established in 1927 interms of the 1923 Urban Areas Act. Similar to Nyanga, Langa is one of the many areas in South Africa that were designated for Black Africans before the apartheid era. It is the oldest of such suburbs in Cape Town and...
Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in 1978. The other founding members were Simpiwe Matole; Michael Ludonga; Mzwandile Qotoyi; Leo Mbizela and Mandla Lande.
Origins
The group began as buskers on the streets of Cape Town. Under the guidance of their first manager, Bruce Gordon, they made their first recordings. They later joined up with the owner of the Clarement Records label, Donald Graham who guided and advised them through the release of the next 2 albums.Ambassadors of South African Music
They recorded an album entitled Give Praise Where Praise Is Deserved with Archbishop Desmond TutuDesmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
, and in 1988 Amampondo were asked to play at Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
's seventieth birthday concert at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
. This is fitting because, like Mandela, Amampondo are part of the Xhosa
Xhosa language
Xhosa is one of the official languages of South Africa. Xhosa is spoken by approximately 7.9 million people, or about 18% of the South African population. Like most Bantu languages, Xhosa is a tonal language, that is, the same sequence of consonants and vowels can have different meanings when said...
-speaking tribes of South Africa. Upon his release from prison, Nelson Mandela promoted them as ambassadors of South African music, and later nominated them to represent their country at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
Amampondo has entertained audiences with their broad spectrum of African traditional and contemporary compositions . They have taught and played the world over, from Israel to Japan, from Scandinavia to the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Leader's Departure
The group continue to perform but without their former leader Dizu Plaatjies, who has started his own project entitled "Ibuyambo".Current line-up (as of 2006)
- Simpiwe Matole - Soprano marimba, vocals, dance/acrobatics
- Mzwandile Qotoyi - Bass & piccolo marimba, African drums, percussion, vocals, and dance
- Michael 'Nkululeku' Ludonga - African drums, tenor marimba, vocals, dance
- Mandla Lande - African drums, percussion (djembe/congas), vocals, dance/acrobatics
- Blackie Zandisile Mbizela - Bass marimba, percussion, vocals, dance
- Nondzondelelo Fancy Galada - Lead and backing vocals, percussion, dance
- Mantombi Matotiyane - Lead and backing vocals, umrhumbhe, isitolotolo and dance
- Dave Mxolise Mayekana
Partial discography
- Khawukhangele - 1982
- Heartbeat of Africa 'Uyandibiza - Mountclare Productions - 1983
- The Pulse of Africa - Mountclare Productions - 1989
- An Image of Africa - Mountain RecordsMountain RecordsMountain Records is a record label started in Cape Town, South Africa in 1980 by Patrick Lee-Thorp.The record label produces mostly South African music and is known as the home of Cape Jazz recordings, having issued a number of albums by such names as Basil Coetzee, Robbie Jansen, Jonathan Butler,...
AM242 - 1992 - Intsholo - Mountain Records AM282 - 1996
- Inyama - Mountain Records AM302 - 1997
- Drums For Tomorrow - MELT 2000 BW096 - 1998
- Vuyani - MELT 2000 BW 2143 - 2000
- An Image of Africa - Live in Cape Town - Mountain Records DVD AM 4546 - 2007
- Intsholo - Mountain Records re-issue - 2010
Collaborations
- Give Praise Where Praise Is Deserved with Archbishop Desmond TutuDesmond TutuDesmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
- Shango - Juno ReactorJuno ReactorJuno Reactor is a musical and performing act known for the cinematic fusion of electronic, orchestral, and global music. Central to the project is Ben Watkins and his collaborations with a constantly changing ensemble of musicians from across the world, including percussionist Mabi Thobejane from...
- Electric Melt ELM8033 - 2000 - The Call - Alan Skidmore - Provocateur Records - PVC 1081 - 2001
- Ubizo - Alan Skidmore - Provocateur Records - PVC 1036 - 2003
- "Ku Kanjani EP" - Âme & Amampondo - Innervisions - IV33 - 2011