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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

MAFIKIZOLO THRILL NAIROBI WITH SPIRITED PERFORMANCE AT BLANKETS & WINE



So what if Kenyans do not understand a word of the ubiquitous Zulu song, Khona, by South Africa’s sartorially and sonically gifted band, Mafikizolo? One thing that was understood at the Blankets and Wine concert, is Kenyans love a good live act.
Blankets and Wine celebrated its 50th edition concert in Carnivore over the January 4th weekend. The crowd no doubt screamed the wrong lyrics, but it didn’t even matter because Mafikozolo’s presence on stage was entertaining and the melodies familiar to the attendees. The amped up crowd chanted “KHONA” with the kind of gusto you’d expect to see at a Gor Mahia match. “If you’re going to play around with the love I gave you, bring it right back here,” Nonhlanhla Mafu summarizes of the song’s meaning. Khona won the “Most Gifted Dance Video” at the 2013 Channel O Video Music Awards.
Nonhlanhla is poised and lady like as she sits alongside her equally fashionable band member, Theo Kgosinkwe, at the Southern Sun Hotel. “Music and fashion go together. We’ve always taken our act very seriously.” Both members are impeccably groomed and well dressed. During the interview, Theo sports a colorful masai bracelet and fitted green blazer paired with a Mandela tee. Nonhlanhla wears a Barbie-esque pink lipstick, which compliments her flawless skin, and bright floral pants. It’s not hard to see why she started a clothing label, NN Vintage.
Mafikizolo’s latest album, Reunited, celebrates intercontinental languages and musical influences. This is most evident in the singles, Happiness and Nakupenda. One thing that devastated the fans and band members was the death of Mafikizolo’s third member, Tebogo Madingoane.“We were not going to look for another member. He would have liked that, not to be replaced,” says Theo. Since Tebogo’s death in 2004, the remaining band members pursued solo projects, but Mafikizolo are stronger together and that was clear at the Carnivore grounds this past weekend.

The combination of having a live band, entertaining dancers and a string of hits which the audience recognized was a winning combination and a great start to the 2014 Blankets and Wine program. The popular event is in the process of becoming a festival, instead of a one afternoon event, which features a mix of different genres from various African countries. Speaking specifically on Kenya, Muthoni The Drummer Queen said: “We need to export the music. All these Kenyan bands deserve to be known on the continent.”
For more info, log onto: www.blanketsandwine.com
By Josephine Opar.



















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