The Centre for Jazz and Popular welcomes The Meditators Reggae Band for the first time on their stage April 25.Founded in 1991, the band has established itself as one of the hardest working and most popular bands in Durban. Under the exceptional leadership of Sandile ‘Shante’ Bekwa, the Meditators provide quality reggae music ranging from Bob Marley to Peter Tosh, Lucky Dube, UB40, Jimmy Cliff, Ras Dawit Menelik Tafari as well as an extensive repertoire of original tracks from four albums: Tacklin’ Beast by the Horns (1991), Break Down Chains (1999), Jah Kingdom (2009) and Special Request (2011).
Full time band members are Ras ‘Barret’ Thabani Hlela (bass guitar) Ras Sfiso Mpanza (keyboards/vocals); Ras ‘Bunny’ Nathi Mkhize (drums); Ras Dan Msomi (guitar/vocals); Simphiwe Mthembu (trombone/percussion/vocals); Albert Chemane from Moçambique (percussion) and Ras Sandile ‘Shante’ Bekwa (lead vocals/lead guitar/songwriter).
The Meditators performs regularly at uShaka Marine World on the Promenade at Wahooz every Sunday, as well as Cool Runnings in Durban. The band recently attended the Seminar on The Role of Reggae Music in the liberation struggle hosted by the Jamaican High Commission in Pretoria, and also hosted popular Jamaican artists Tony Rebel and Queen Ifrika at the Durban International Reggae Festival for Celebrate Durban Festivities in September 2011.
The Meditators appear at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone building (UKZN) on April 25 at 18h00 (doors opens at 17h30). Tickets R30 (R20 pensioners and R10 students). More information on 031 260 3385 or email: Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za
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