Off the record

Here comes Mashava!!

by Samkelo Ngwenya

MASHAVA used to peacefully walk the streets of East London with deep thoughts and music in his head.

That has since changed and curious fans and admirers are now singing the music that was once secretly part of his spirit.

The 22-year-old is the latest Eastern Cape kwaito find and has seen his life changing dramatically.

Ever since Mashava, real name Sandulela Xobongo, dropped a cracker of an album entitled Emzantsi three months ago, things have changed for the better.

"It has been a long time coming but finally I have released my own album," says Mashava with a smile.

Mashava, who grew up in the dusty streets of Mdantsane, got involved in music at an early age, forming a dance group called the Yonwaba Youth Club in zone six.

"We would dance at weddings, concerts and parties," he recalled.

The dance group's popularity grew and they were spotted by KK productions promoter and manager Koko Godlo in one of their regular gigs.

In 1993, the foursome joined Godlo's stable and released an album titled Vezithanga under the name of Amagroovies.

The group became an instant hit in South Africa's second biggest township, Mdantsane, with the album reaching gold status.

"We received tremendous support from the public and after this we decided to release more work," Mashava explains.

Unfortunately the group did fare as well with follow up albums.

"We listened to many unfounded stories about our careers and management. This led us to part ways with bra K.K (Godlo) and after that many unfortunate things happened to some of us," he said.

The down to earth singer recalls how they, at some point, roamed the streets of Hillbrow looking for a record deal without avail.

"These were very risky times in my life but I had to go out there and prove my potential," he said.

Mashava and his Amagroovies crew went back to Godlo and things started to look up again.

It was last year during the recording of his stablemates' first solo album, Super's C-section, that Mashava realised that he could also record a solo.

"Working with Super inspired me and I came up with my own songs," he said.

All that is history now and Mashava's debut solo is steadily climbing up the local charts.

The highlight of his career was performing with the legendary Manhattans and Temptations groups who were touring East London.

* Tonight sees the kick-off of Mashava's Eastern Cape tour with a performance in Peddie.

* The well renowned Port Elizabeth based Lulama Gawulana jazz quartet will be conducting a jazz revival show starting with a performance at the Mdantsane Hotel tomorrow at 7.30 pm and rounding off the tour at the Smokey Swallows on Sunday at 8pm. Tickets are R20 single and R30 double.

* An East Londoner has made the city proud by being chosen as one of the national winners for the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters 2001 talent search programme.

Louis Smith came tops in the trombone category and will receive his award on November 27 in an evening that will see him performing on the same stage as the headline act Al Jarreau.

Judges were Sipho Gumede, Don Albert and Don Laka.