MADOSINI, world musician of Langa township
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Published: March 15th 2015
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MADOSINI opened her heart and her home to us.
We arrived totally unannounced at her door with her neighbour Nhoza, our guide in the Townships. There, sitting on her bed with her tired legs resting on a plastic crate, hand washing clothes in a basin as she sat, was one of the world's top musicians for the traditional instrument known as the Mouth Bow ( that's in english but I think it's correct name is sistolotolo).
With a totally unselfconscious warmth and unhesitating hospitality MADOSINI welcomed us all, crowding in to her tiny space, then she called for her instruments.... The Uhadi, a hollow reed with a single metal string, and the Umhrulshe or gourd. Before she could play for us she must first remove her top because the fabric would interfere with it's sound as Nhoza explains in this little video clip I made. With the assurance of royalty, Madosini then tucked a towel around her bosom and settled down, choosing until she found the instrument combination she needed. For us, she performed a traditional song of Welcome to visitors who have been traveling.
Out of respect for her I taped only snippets
of our visit and a tiny part of the song. I didn't want to give the impression of coming to exploit her by making a free recording to use later. After we left Nhoza said it would have been fine to record it all, and that Madosini herself would have wanted it. Damn!!! Still, the visit was an outstanding highlight not only of Langa township but of my entire South African journey.
MADOSINI is in her 70's and that is her tribal name which shows respect for elders. She is a global performer, traveling overseas to perform at concerts. She speaks only her tribal language which I think might be Xhosa and has no formal education. Even simple arithmetic is done using an old counting method and she has no understanding of foreign currencies. But music is her passion. It is what she lives for and she will play at every opportunity, as we saw. She has been exploited by the people who promote her performances, and has obviously not seen the financial improvement in her living conditions which reflect her status as a world music performer. Right now she is overseas in Europe on tour, once again. Touring
is a hard life for her, but love of music drives her to perform.
MADOSINI lives in Langa township in one of the better standard of buildings. I.e. Not a corrugated galvanize box but a solid building, an apartment with perhaps two bedrooms shared with numerous family members. While we were there school was over and children were returning home, in addition to her sister and two toddlers who were already there when we arrived. There is electricity and water at the dwelling, which the shacks do not enjoy.
On leaving her humble crowded dwelling she held me tight, kissing my hands over and over. I was overwhelmed by her love and acceptance, the welcome she offered to me, a stranger. Meeting Madosini, world musician, queen of the Mouth bow, was magical.
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