Vincent Keter

I started playing guitar at the age of 17 in Johannesburg. In February 1986 I met Mbongeni Cija in a shebeen on a wasteland hilltop overlooking the Wilgespruit Fellowship Centre in Roodepoort. He taught me how to play Mbaquanga guitar picking style. I joined a nine piece band a year later. We played township jive and songs based on the guitar pieces Mbongeni had taught me. I have always been passionately interested in African music of all genres. I also liked listening to Rock and over the years the two interests grew together. I would describe what I play now as Alternative Rock heavily influenced by African guitar music: Mbaquanga; Kwela; Marabi; Township Jive; Juju; and Afrobeat. But there is also a strong English Folk influence which has been with me since early childhood. Over the past year I have been working closely with Senegalese musicians in London, in particular a singer of great talent called Laye Sow. Together with my close family/friend, guitarist Lucien Windrich, himself a renowned South African musician, we recorded an album of Laye’s songs. This has been an invaluable experience. In my current recording work I am returning to my long standing interests.CURRENT MOON moon phase MyGen Profile Generator