25 FEB. VIKI MANGALISA & FRIENDS
Viki Mangalisa on vocals and guitar
Kazi Ngcukana on backing vocals and Mbira
Mapadi on guitar and vocals
with Kenny on guitar, Moeketsi on percussion.

Who is Viki?
Viki is the owner of a butchery in Langa. She lives in Guguletu in the only house with electric fencing and a harp. She plays it beautifully but didn't bring it for this gig.

Instead, she brought along a team of friends. One of them was Mapadi, who performed the second set. This was a delicious surprise, as Mapadi not only has a great voice but great songs too.

Viki is an exceptional singer and is a writer of beautiful songs. It's the kind of soulful, searing truth music that people immediately respond to and ask `who is this?' As a butchery owner, music is not her means of making a living. So the music that comes out is truly a music of release. It is something special, not at all tainted by the need to turn those pieces of poetry into pieces of gold.

What did we want to achieve?

The last time we worked with Viki was in 2003 at the Women of the World Festival at the Artscape Theatre. Back then she was called Kwezi Malaika, working with a guitarist named Jason.

She has subsequently changed approach, written many more songs, and remained elusive. For two years now we have been trying to get her to perform, and this happened to be the right opportunity.

What came out was a highlight of the entire series and some lovely recordings. Jethro plays it every morning to inspire him for the day.