SA: Maskandi duo Qadasi and Maqhinga to tour Cape Town in May

The tour is courtesy of Cape Town Music Academy, a not-for-profit organisation working to create performance opportunities for local musicians.

The South African Music Award (SAMA)-winning group, which comprises David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins and Maqhinga Radebe, will launch the tour at the Athletic Club & Social. This show will be followed by performances at Alliance Française du Cap and Cafe Roux Noordhoek on 13 and 14 May respectively.

Qadasi and Maqhinga have toured across the UK, Europe and Asia, with “a quest to revive the powerful sounds of traditional maskandi.” The duo hails from Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, and the two musicians are widely known for their novel sound and vibrant approach to traditional maskandi music, fusing traditional Zulu and Western folk music.

The duo has released two albums to date, including Lashis’ Ilanga (2016) and Ungabanaki (2019), which won the Best Traditional Album Award at the 2020 SAMAs.

Separately, Qadasi has recorded two studio albums, which scored several SAMA nominations. He is an accomplished singer, maskandi guitarist, and concertina and banjo player who developed a deep passion for the Zulu culture and music at a young age.

Radebe, meanwhile, has released five collections, which received SAMA and South African Traditional Music Award nominations. His musical journey began in the mid ’90s after he was given the opportunity to tour the US with Ladysmith Black Mambazo (LBM). On Radebe’s return to South Africa, he co-founded the group Shabalala Rhythm alongside LBM members Sibongiseni and Thamsanqa Shabalala. He has also shared the stage with renowned South African musicians including Hugh Masekela and Soul Brothers.

Purchase tickets to the performances here.