(David Jenkins/Qadasi.
Pic by Amy Jenkins)
David Jenkins, also known as Qadasi, will perform at The
Luthuli Museum in Groutville on May 22.
Jenkins/Qadasi is an accomplished Maskandi musician who
developed a deep passion for Zulu culture and music at a young age growing up
in Empangeni, in the heart of Zululand. He will be visiting the museum for two
performances with a full band. The band will be at Luthuli Museum during the
day to facilitate a schools programme for young learners and in the evening the
museum opens its doors to anyone from the community who would like to watch
this young Maskandi artist and his band in action.
Now based in Durban, David Jenkins is following his dream of
being a professional Maskandi musician and is proud to be a SAMA (South African
Music Award) and two-time SATMA (South African Traditional Music Achievement)
Award nominee. With the release of his latest album titled, Uhambo Olusha (A New Journey), his quest
to revive traditional Zulu Maskandi music is well underway.
Over the past couple of years, he has accomplished a great
deal as a South African artist, with some of his achievements including opening
as the support act for Maskandi legend, Johnny Clegg, an appearance at the FNB
Stadium for the first annual Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day, a brief tour
in Ireland, and performances alongside Ladysmith Black Mambazo in Amambazo – The Musical. Qadasi is presently under the independent
label, Sande Entertainment, headed by Sibongiseni Shabalala, a member of
four-time Grammy Award winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
His latest album, Uhambo
Olusha, is the end result of the sounds he has been developing over the
years and was nominated for Best Maskandi Album in the 2014 SATMA Awards and
Best Traditional Album in the 2015 SAMA Awards. It encapsulates influences from
many of his idols, ranging from the likes of Phuzekhemisi and Mfaz’ Omnyama to
Johnny Clegg and Paul Simon. The record was self-produced along with
co-producers, Mthandeni Mvelase, a highly respected name in the traditional
music industry, as well as Maskandi extraordinaire, Maqhinga Radebe, who is
also a very close friend and mentor of Qadasi, and a member of the Qadasi band
as guitarist. Other members joining them on stage on May 22 are Sandile Dlamini
on bass guitar, Malungi Msomi on keyboards and Gcina Khumalo on drums
Qadasi performs at The Luthuli Museum at 18h00 on Friday (May
22) in 3233 Nokukhanya Luthuli Street, Groutville. Entrance fee R20.
This performance is supported by Concerts SA and produced by
iSupport Music Business and Luthuli Museum.
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