(Nicky Shange poster)
The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music will present Durban
vocalist Nicky Shange on February 26, 2020.
While featured by the group Shana at the Bat Centre, she was
spotted by the late legend Mam Busi Mhlongo who was in attendance. Mhlongo was
so impressed and asked the young student who was studying music at Natal Technikon
if she was willing to work with her as a backing vocalist, an offer she
definitely could not refuse.
In 2001, she moved to Johannesburg where she became part of
Joyous Celebration. After leaving Joyous Celebration, she became a backing
vocalist for Thandiswa Mazwai, Malaika and Jaziel Brothers, to mention but a
few. Later she was noticed by Jonas Gwangwa whom she travelled with
extensively. Some of the countries she has performed in include Namibia, Benin,
Mozambique, Swaziland, Algeria, Mauritius, Germany and the Unites States. She
has also worked with Themba Mkhize and Sibongile Khumalo.
As part of embarking on a solo career, she moved back to
Durban in 2015. She has had several live performances in and around Durban, to
the delight of audiences. She has been writing songs since 1993 and refuses to
be boxed into a specific genre because of her versatility. African rhythms,
soulful sounds, and jazz are some of the music genres she infuses.
In 2016, Shange was the lead singer in a project called
Forest Jam Orchestra. The project consisted of musicians from Switzerland,
Mozambique and South Africa. The group performed live at Kaya FM and toured
South Africa and neighbouring countries. Recently, she performed songs by her
late mentor Mam Busi Mhlongo in a live broadcast on Ukhozi FM which honoured
fallen South African music icons. One of her immediate goals includes recording
a live album, which her fans will get to know her as a solo artist. Performing
live is one of the things that give her the greatest satisfaction as an artist.
Join Nicky Shange with her band Sanele Phakathi, Lebo Leqoa,
Bernard Mndaweni , Bethuel Tshoane, Sbu Zondi, Sfiso Cele, Thembeka Duma at The
Centre for Jazz and Popular music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN
Howard College Campus on February 26, 2020, at 18h00 (doors open at 17h30).
General Admission R90 (R60 pensioners, R30 students.
For more details, contact Thuli Zama on 031 26 03385 or
email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za
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