Udaba Band ProfileUdaba (the matter/issue at hand) is a collective group of scholars/students, artists and
entrepreneurs who are commonly engaged in the production of a musical project. The
style of music that Udaba creates draws its influences from various music genres. It is a
fusion of jazz, vernacular lyricism and African indigenous music. The central theme of the
music is the use of African languages (isiXhosa) to inform especially illiterate rural youths
about the dynamic of culture within a transforming African society. The message it
carries deals with issues ranging from cultural and historical heritage to the present day
social and political challenges faced by the African continent.
Udaba draws their inspiration from Xhosa literature so as to translate it into musically
meaningful ways in the form of praise singing, lyrical essays and poetry. This is the
reason why they refer to their kind of music as Umculo Buciko (musical essays).
Since 2006 Udaba has performed in the Observatory Festival, Grahamstown Arts Festival,
in addition to the club performances from Imbizo Jazz Café (East London) to
Independent Armchair Theater (Cape Town).
Band member's personal profilesSakhile MolesheSakhile is from Edikeni (Alice), a small town in the Eastern Cape. He is a composer,
pianist, guitarist and a vocalist and is currently studying BMus degree in jazz studies at
the UCT (University of Cape Town) South African College of Music. He has been a
member of the Standard Bank National Youth Big Band and been involved in live music
performances around Cape Town, Johannesburg and Grahamstown arts festival since
2002. He has been recently invited by the state Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo
Ngcuka to perform in Sweden as a member of the South African delegation in
bi-national conference in the Schengen States. He has also been attending workshops at
the Zimology institute founded by the jazz icon Zim Ngqawana, and subsequently
performed as one of two vocalists in the Zimology ensemble 2007 in Johannesburg.
Dineo PuleDineo is from East London, Eastern Cape. She is a composer and a jazz vocalist and is
currently engaged in postgraduate studies in rural development at the UFH (University of
Fort Hare). Over the past few years she has recorded and performed with award winning
jazz artists Simphiwe Dana, African folk singer and social activist Tu Nokwe,
Mozambican Afro pop band Wantima and the Roots2000. She has also worked with
fine artist/photographer Tsakane Maubane on an upcoming visual art project.
Sibusiso MnyandaSibusiso is from Alice, Eastern Cape. He is a praise singer/lyricist and is currently
studying a BA degree in philosophy at the University of Fort Hare. In the last couple of
years, he has been a permanent feature in a series of poetry sessions known as Word o
Mouth, Izwi Likantu Spoken Word sessions in Cape Town and Grahamstown. At the
university, he has participated in various campus activities such as the Incoko, a
programme inspired by literature and the art of spoken word.
Pumelele LavisaPumelele is from Butterworth, Eastern Cape. He is a lyricist and a percussionist and is
currently studying BSocSc in anthropology at the UFH. He has been involved in the
conceptual development of various Eastern Cape community radio stations and has
worked as a program producer. In 2006/2007 he has been involved in three
documentary productions for SABC1 ("Headwrap": Fusing Xhosa literature with Jazz;
"Headzup Mzansi": Importance of language in music; "What's your story": Community
development). As a performer he has toured with the Guild Theatre company in festivals
across the country (2005/2006), and is one of the members of the recording Hip-Hop
duo Izithunywa Zohlanga. Currently he is visiting the University of Tübingen, Germany, as
a cultural exchange student.
Luyolo LengaLuyolo is from East London, Eastern Cape. He is a composer, lyricist and guitarist and is
currently studying a BA degree in African music at the UFH. He is a sound engineer and
has recorded several Hip-Hop projects (locally and internationally published), including
those of Izithunywa Zohlanga and Life Forces (2005). Since, he has performed
nationally promoting the Izithunywa Zohlanga project.
Session musiciansLwanda GogwanaLwanda is from East London, Eastern Cape. He is a trumpeter and currently enrolled at
the UCT Music College. He is part of the South African Standard Bank Youth Band and
has been performing nationally and internationally. He has recently returned from
Norway where he went as an exchange student (2006).
Bongiwe LusiziBongiwe is from East London, Eastern Cape. She is a vocalist and an African bow player,
currently studying a BA degree in African indigenous music at the UFH. She has toured
with the Guild Theater opera company abroad, and has performed alongside Sibongile
Khumalo at the Arts Cape (2007). She is currently one of the students forming the UFH
indigenous orchestra, conducted by Tandile Mandela.
Jonathan BuitendagJonathan is from East London, Eastern Cape. He is a drummer and currently tutoring
drum lessons for children at Vincent, East London. He is also enrolled at UniSA (University
of South Africa), studying a BA degree in theology.
Kingsley BuitendagKingsley is from East London, Eastern Cape. He is a ba**ist (also double ba**) and
currently a music teacher at Clarendon High School, East London. He has toured with
Guild Theatre company to Grahamstown Arts Festival (2006) and has been performing
with various bands from East London.
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