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Jeudi 16 Septembre  Concert  Derek Gripper et la chanteuse Xhosa  Madosini

20h30 - Alliance Française 155, Loop Street R50 non members / R43 AF members

Cape Town guitarist Derek Gripper is a solo performer of new music from the Western Cape of South Africa. His intimate and virtuosic style of guitar playing evokes the "the imagery and mystery of the rural areas of the Cape" by merging the techniques of classical guitar with the guitar styles of Africa and South America . “A unique insight into South Africa and its music,” Gripper’s music continues in a tradition which began when two musicians met on a small farm called Sagtevlei to work on connections between new classical composition and the music of the Cape . This marked the beginning of an eight year collaboration between Alex van Heerden and Derek Gripper, and was the the birth of a music which, in the words of van Heerden, “is impossible to play if you don’t believe in magic.”  Since Alex’s passing early in 2009 Derek has continued to share this new approach to making Cape music in his numerous recordings. 

Madosini, The Queen of Xhosa Music, is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in Xhosa music today. She continues to expand on the traditional repertoire of her chosen instruments by composing new songs and instrumental pieces.  

Madosini was born in a village called Mqhekezweni, about 10 km west of Umtata in the Eastern Cape . While she was still young her family moved to the Libode district in eastern Mpondoland. Taught by her mother, Madosini began playing, composing songs, and making instruments at an early age. Her skills on instruments could be heard at social gatherings and she was loved by all. When she was 12 Madosini fell ill and spent much of her time making and playing instruments, developing a love for music which has stayed with her throughout her life. Her first commercial recording came when a film crew paid her R8 to record eight songs. Mysteriously some of these songs began being heard on commercial radio and in music stores in other parts of the country many years later, but Madosini was never compensated. Eventually Madosini’s renown caught the attention of Dizu Plaaitjies, leader of Amapondo, who eventually persuaded Madosini to join his group which she performed with in many parts of the world.

texte Alliance Française et photo