Dizu Plaatjies

BIO

Born and bred in Cape Town, South Africa, Dizu Plaatjies is the founder and former leader of South Africa’s internationally celebrated marimba group, Amampondo.

His compositions and arrangements of traditional songs appear on seven albums by his former group. After over 15 years of touring with Amampondo, he recorded his debut solo album in 2005 entitled 'Ibuyambo'. The CD was released together with a stage show. The event featured Dizu and other local artists.

Since he embarked on a solo career, he has done several international tours like being chosen to showcase his group at the Womex in Seville, and shows in Canada, France, Germany, the U.S, Algeria, the U.K. and Morocco.

His second solo recording 'African Kings' is a project using traditional instruments (Mbira, Uhadi, Umhube, Akadinda – to name a few) and the maskandi style acoustic guitar. His approach on this production was more contemporary than his previous neo-traditional recordings. The album won the 'Best Alternative African Album' at the 2009 SAMA award.

In February 2016, he released a record that fuses African and Western instruments. Featured are his Ibuyambo players but also guest artists, guitarists Derek Gripper and Allou April from Cape Town, The French/Chillian duo, Sueno en la Fabrica, also from France the jazz ensemble L'Arbe Canapas, From Holland star drummer Lucan van Merwijk, ans others. The album is a mixture of contemproary jazz-rock and traditional African composotions performed with the polish of a completely up to date production. It was recorded in South Africa and France and mixed in Germany.

Besides music, he is a teacher who has visited the US, Australia, and Scandinavia to lead workshops. He has performed in the Czech Republic, where his collaboration with local folk artist Jiri Pavlica has made Dizu a major attraction in that country being awarded a gold record for their recordings together.