(Menyatso Mathole)
The Rainbow
Restaurant & Concerts SA will present the Menyatso Mathole Quartet on
November 29.
Menyatso Mathole
was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and was brought up by a grandparent in
Thaba' Nchu. leaving the Free State when he was a little boy.
He learnt from most
of the older generation of guitarists. He lists what is a who’s who of South
African guitar legends: Enoch Mtalane, Baba Mokoena, Allen Kwela and so on.
However, his
biggest influence of all time is Marks Mankhwane, who was the first guitarist
Mathole heard as a young man growing up in Thaba' Nchu in the Free State. “I’ve
always wanted to be like Marks, to play like Marks, because his music is so
real to me, so honest. It’s always been honest to me. You can take a simple
Marks Mankhwane song and take it further, breaking it down, all this without losing
Marks’ identity in the song, without losing any of the melodies.”
Like most
youngsters of his generation growing up around the country’s townships, the
first musical instrument, if you can call it that, was the old can of oil, with
a board held together by nails. Twine, if one is so lucky, made wonderful
guitar strings.
He bought his first
“real” acoustic guitar for 15 shillings from an old friend in Thaba' Nchu, “who
didn’t think it was right of me borrowing the instrument all the time, and felt
that I should in fact be owning my own guitar”.
In 1980 Menyatso
Mathole co-founded Sakhile a combination of Malombo, Renaissance & Spirit
Rejoice. He produced six albums plus a maxi album with Sakhile and with this
band was involved in cultural exchange programs internationally and locally.
They commemorated their 10th anniversary as a group at Wembley Stadium
celebrating the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990.
In 1991 Menyatso
enrolled with the University of Cape Town to study music. The following year he
recruited Motlatsi Herbie Tsoaedi and Vincent Pavitt to revive the trio he’d
formed with Mandla Zikhalala and Percy Kunene before his UCT days.This trio
became one of the platforms for township musos such as Musa Manzini, Peter
Ndladla and Clement Bernie. His approach to African folksongs and jazz
standards attracted established musicians, legends like Robbie Jansen, Basil
Manenberg Coetzee, Errol Dyers, Robert Sithole and more to jam with him and
embrace his talent.
The Menyatso
Mathole Quartet will perform on November 29. Doors open at 13h00. Tickets R60
booked through https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=409794326
The Rainbow
Restaurant Estd 1981 is situated at 23 Stanfield Lane, Pinetown. More
information on 031 702 9161 or 083 463 8044 or email: bandwagon@artslink.co.za
or visit www.therainbow.co.za
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