Valencia Govindasamy
A performance that is not to be missed, by Bheki Khoza ( pictured) and Tu Nokwe, takes place next weekend at the Rainbow Restaurant. With this show being a long time in the making, the pair have played together in the past, but have recently undertaken more jazz gigs.
Tonight caught up with Nokwe who shares what it’s been like working with Khoza: “Bheki is a true legend and master teacher. The concept of us playing together came naturally with time. As the call to survive was taking over, my focus was gradually shifting away from the music and I was becoming less and less of me (and that was painful). In introspection, I was asking: how I can come back to me, to the childlike me that just wants to share the joy that’s in the heart with others? Bheki came just around that time, asking: ‘How come you’re not performing anymore, we miss your sound? I used to enjoy making jazz with you in those years’. He happened to have a guitar in his boot. We agreed to just make music for the sake of music and I found myself back to jazz and all the other musical doors began to open.”
Nokwe says music represents joy and when in joy, healing is possible. I ask how her music has changed or progressed over the years.
“In my 50 years in the industry, I have come to realise that the music doesn’t change or progress so much as it is me who changes and progresses. The music comes to meet me where I am. These days, I am feeling more like in my childhood, all those genres I grew up listening to have come back to me. And I’ve started thinking of how to mix those with new genres; I’m more and more curious how to integrate the old and the new, the past and the present, and also feeling free in a blend of a variety of cultures. Every time I travel… I integrate new sounds and types of music, so that brings change to the music, too.”
Joining Nokwe and Khoza on stage will be Melvin Peters on piano, Mandla Zikalala on bass and Sbu Zondi on drums.
Shedding light on her new album, African Child, Nokwe says it represents the happy and brave child in her: “The inspiration behind it was from my soul, sending a message that I and others must keep in mind that life is full of many possibilities, we must play life without losing the fun curiosity of a child because all things are possible in God’s eyes.”
Nokwe says they will also play at the Chairman on Friday and the UKZN Jazz Centre on Saturday after their Rainbow gig. She will also offer a song and life workshop to a school supported by the Mazisi Kunene Foundation on September 31.
l Bheki Khoza and Tu Nokwe at the Rainbow Restaurant, Sunday. Doors open 1pm. R80, Webtickets.