Kholeho started playing music at seven in the dusty streets of Langa Township, Cape Town, South Africa. Notwithstanding, apartheids iron-fist, which held his country, his people and himself, in a tight grip, he blossomed into a multi-talented artist committed to the community. From music, he dance-stepped into theatre, and then into film. He regularly participates to international music, drama and poetry workshops and festivals.
In 2002 he launched his debut CD, Marimba Mosala, enthusiastically received both by the crits and the public. He will soon launch other two CDs, Siyababona and Ke thabile .
Music
A singer extraordinaire, Kholeho leads Asazi on marimba and percussions. An innovative composer and songwriter, and a versatile saxophonist sometimes seen on guitar, he strongly believes in composing his own music, distilled from his roots mixed with every days life. Kholeho has worked with many known African stars, like Mzwakhe the peoples poet Mbuli, Benjamin Zephania, Simba Morri, and extensively with artists worldwide. He is also a co-founder of several popular South African bands, such as Zap Dragons, a pioneering afro-rock band and the Ancestors, a group of leading South African musicians experimenting with Afro-Punk; and lately he mentors the young upcoming hip-hop crew Archetypes.
Theatre & Film
Kholeho worked in various dance/theatre productions as a music director/writer and performer, with established South African companies (Pace Dance, Jazzart, Artscape). In 1985, he co-directed the traditional music play, Vusisizwe, followed in 1990, by Idlozi, a play about African Ancestors, both performed at the Baxter Theatre. From his story-telling background he developed an interest in writing, and since 1995, he got involved in movie productions. He wrote a few short scripts for Khula Film Company and worked for a script development project initiated by the award-winning director, Zola Maseko, in Johannesburg. Previously he acted in Corner Café, a high-class short movie shot in Cape Town by Tim Green (now an award-winning director), and worked on various soundtracks for documentaries and short movies, like Elephant Kingdom.
Community
During the struggle Kholeho incorporated activism into his music and viceversa. He now describes himself as a community person. His first band, Amajingqi, a marimba cum-gumboot dancing ensemble, was a community project, offering workshops for the youth. In 1990 he taught percussions and marimba at Amsterdam University (1990). His most recent project is the Percussion Academy, an outreach music programme for school children in some of the least privileged schools in Cape Town, in cooperation with SCCT, the local Scalabrini NGO.
What the critics say
It was about time that Kholeho came up with an offering all of his own. And what an offering it is! Earthy music with a touch of global relevance. Having had extensive experience and travel with music and musical theater, he had the right ingredient to conjure up a tasty African stew. His love is marimba, which he minimally combines with acoustic strings, congas, djembes, doun-dounds and percussions bringing out African based World music. (...) The CD is aimed at the world stage. May Mosala conquer it!
Ymag, October 2001
If it is pure marimba sound you are looking for, then this is the CD for you to have. It is packed with hypnotic and smooth sounds of marimba and drums, well blended with guitar (). Simply a must-have.
Mosala shows what can be done on marimba.
Pick of the week, Hola, 21 October 2001
It is very exciting to hear Kholeho sing because there is a special energy in his music, which I think comes from the time of apartheid, when music was one of the few possible forms of protest.
Riccardo Moretti, musician
And this is what Kholeho says
We dont know where we are going but we know where we are coming from, Asazi, my ongoing music project, means precisely that and takes the audience on a journey, where the destination is unknown. Asazi is a versatile band that draws on a pool of musicians residing in different countries and promotes cultural exchange.
Asazis sound is old and yet extremely new. The music is a free-style polyrhythmic-afro funk, a clear mixture of contemporary sounds and indigenous melodies, evocative of the universal spirit of ubuntu (togetherness/humanity). The sound is directly from the Ancestors, the message heals, bridges gaps created by apartheid and other evil systems around the world. One of Asazis favourite song, Evil spirits fade away, epitomises Asazis lyrics.
THE SHOW
Kholeho can play Azasis music solo or in any of the combinations suggested below, and he can run drumming workshops wherever he goes.
A. Kholeho Mosala and Lucky Paliso (South Africa)
B. Kholeho (South Africa) + 1/2/3 musician from Europe, including African musician living in Europe
These are a low-budget effective formula, as the Reunion and the Italy example has demonstrated. In 2000 Kholeho and guitarist Makweru (also from South Africa), where invited to Reunion for 2 weeks where they workshopped music with a handpicked group of musician from other SADC countries (Reunion, Mauritius and Madagascar) and performed in Reunions main clubs. In 2005 Kholeho and Lucky played in Italy at Maggio Fiesolano, and worked with Italian musician Riccardo Moretti (link). These options promote real cultural exchange and networking amongst musicians, in line with Asazis objectives.
OR
C. Full band from (Kholeho + 2/3 musicians from South Africa) + 2/3 musicians from Europe.
For performances, workshops and CDs, write to [email protected] and Kholeho will find a tailor-made option that suits your needs and your budget.
