Todd Matshikiza

Todd Tozama Matshikiza (b. 1921 d. 1968) was a South African jazz pianist, composer and journalist.

Overview

Matshikiza came from a musical family. He graduated from St Peter's College in Rosettenville, Johannesburg and went on to obtain a diploma in music and a teaching diploma. He then taught English and Mathematics in Alice until 1947.

During this period, Matshikiza composed songs and choral works; in particular "Hamba Kahle", now a standard South Africa piece.

Matshikiza moved to Johannesburg in 1947 where he got married in 1950. He taught for a while and opened the "Todd Matshikiza School of Music", a private music school, where he taught the piano. cite news | first=John | last=Matshikiza | coauthors= | title=Todd Tozama Matshikiza | date= | publisher=Vista University | url =http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/people/bios/matshikiza,t.htm | work =Dictionary of South Africa biography | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-03 | language = ]

His main interest was jazz. As this didn’t bring in a regular income, he worked in a bookshop and then as a salesman.

From 1949 to 1954, Matshikiza was a committee member of the "Syndicate of African Artists". This group aimed to promote music in the townships by getting visiting artists to perform there. Cite web|url=http://www.sacomposers.up.ac.za/m_Matshikiza_Todd.html|title=MATSHIKIZA, Todd Thozamile |accessdate=2007-02-23|publisher=Dictionary of African Composers|author=Alexander Johnson & Chris Walton]

In 1952, Matshikiza was asked to join Drum magazine and was one of the first writers, together with investigative journalist Henry Nxumalo. He wrote a jazz column covering the township scene, particularly in Sophiatown, where he commented on the likes of Kippie Moeketsi and Hugh Masekela who both played for the The Jazz Epistles. . He also covered township life in his regular column "With the lid off". He subsequently worked for the "Golden City Post".

His love of classical music inspired him to compose the choral piece, "Makhaliphile" in 1953 which he dedicated to Trevor Huddleston. This was a combination of classical, jazz and traditional themes. In 1956, he composed "Uxolo" (peace) commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg.

In 1958, Matshikiza composed the music and contributed to the lyrics of a musical " King Kong" which had an all-black cast. The musical portrayed the life and times of a heavyweight boxer, Ezekiel Dlamini, known as "King Kong". This musical was a hit in 1959 and played in the West End of London in 1961. ("King Kong" launched the international career of Miriam Makeba who played the shebeen queen of the "Back of the Moon", a shebeen of the time in Sophiatown).

Frustrated by apartheid, Matshikiza moved to England in 1960. However, he found it very difficult to break into the English music scene. Sometimes he played jazz gigs in nightclubs. He freelanced for various publications and wrote a regular column for Drum entitled "Todd in London".

Missing Africa, Matshikiza moved to Zambia in 1964 where he worked for the "Zambian Broadcasting Corporation". Again, he felt stifled musically and took up a position in 1967 as the music archivist for the "Zambian Information Service". In this capacity he travelled extensively building up the archival collection.

Matshikiza remained frustrated that he was unable to return to South Africa where he had been banned by the South African government. He died in 1968.

His son John Matshikiza was a world renowned Actor in television and film. He died September 15, 2008 in Johannesburg, aged 54.

His grand-daughter, Lindi Matshikiza has followed in the footsteps and is a rising theatre actress and director herself.

Books

* "Chocolates for my wife", Todd Matshikiza, Hodder & Stoughton, 1961
* Also - David Philip Publishers, 1982, ISBN 0-90-839683-X
* "With the lid off, South African insights from home and abroad 1959-2000", T. Matshikiza J. Matshikiza., M&G Books, ISBN 0-620-26244-3
* (John is the son of Todd and worked for the Mail & Guardian).

ee also

[http://www.sacomposers.up.ac.za/m_Matshikiza_Todd.html Todd Matshikiza’s entry in the Dictionary of African composers]

References