Todd Matshikiza - Revision history

Darryl: /* As composer */

2025-07-14T14:06:26Z

As composer

Darryl: /* As a writer */

2025-07-14T14:02:03Z

As a writer

Darryl at 14:01, 14 July 2025

2025-07-14T14:01:39Z

Darryl at 13:59, 14 July 2025

2025-07-14T13:59:38Z

Darryl: /* As composer */

2025-07-11T15:36:19Z

As composer

Darryl: /* Biography */

2025-07-11T15:35:21Z

Biography

Darryl: /* Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance */

2025-07-11T15:34:32Z

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Darryl: /* Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance */

2025-07-11T15:33:30Z

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Darryl: /* As composer */

2025-07-11T15:31:23Z

As composer

Darryl at 15:30, 11 July 2025

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 ===As composer===
-Matshikiza has composed many choral works and songs which were heard regularly over the radio. Among his compositions are a musical praise poem for Trevor Huddlestone called [[Makhalipile]] (“The Undaunted One” – 1953) and  a cantata for 200 voices and a 70 piece orchestra called Uxolo (“Peace”), commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg (1956).
+Matshikiza composed many choral works and songs which were heard regularly over the radio. Among his compositions are a musical praise poem for Trevor Huddlestone called [[Makhalipile]] (“The Undaunted One” – 1953) and  a cantata for 200 voices and a 70 piece orchestra called Uxolo (“Peace”), commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg (1956).
 The Johannesburg choir which entertained the Queen mother during her Rhodesian visit sang Todd's beautiful farewell melody "Hamba Kahle" and at her request she was presented with a special recording of this song.

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 ===As a writer===
-In 1952, he became, along with Henry Nxumalo, one of the original writers of the new ''[[Drum]]'' magazine, then edited by [[Anthony Sampson]]. He wrote musical criticism and also covered a large range of urban subjects, making piercing social commentary in such regular columns as With the lid off. His journalistic career continued when he left Drum for the ''[[Golden City Post]]''. His articles include “How Musicians Die” (1953) and “Jazz Comes to Jo’burg” (1957).
+In 1952, he became, along with [[Henry Nxumalo]], one of the original writers of the new ''[[Drum]]'' magazine, then edited by [[Anthony Sampson]]. He wrote musical criticism and also covered a large range of urban subjects, making piercing social commentary in such regular columns as With the lid off. His journalistic career continued when he left Drum for the ''[[Golden City Post]]''. His articles include “How Musicians Die” (1953) and “Jazz Comes to Jo’burg” (1957).
 His autobiographical account of his time in London (''Chocolates for my Wife'') was published by Hoddder and Stoughton in 1961.
 The first half of ''With the Lid Off: South African Insights from Home and Abroad 1959-2000'', by Todd Matshikiza and [[John Matshikiza]], a book published by Mail and Guardian Books in 2001, is a collection of Todd Matshikiza's ''[[Drum]]'' magazine columns. An elegant writer, his columns exude humour without reducing the daily struggles of ordinary black South Africans for survival and a better life.
 ===As composer===

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:01, 14 July 2025
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−	'''Todd Matshikiza''' (1921-1968) Musician, journalist and broadcaster.	+	'''Todd Matshikiza''' (1921-1968) Musician, composer, journalist and broadcaster.

	==Biography==		==Biography==

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 '''Todd Matshikiza''' (1921-1968) Musician, journalist and broadcaster.
-==Biography==
+In 1964, he took up an offer from the fledgling Zambian government to be a newscaster and producer for the Zambian Broadcasting Corporation. He left broadcasting to become music archivist for the Zambian Information Service in 1967, travelling extensively to collect traditional Zambian music. However, he was dispirited by the fact that he could see no early prospects of being able to return to South Africa (where he had become a 'banned' person).
-In 1960 he was banned and left the country, to die in exile.
+He died in exile in 1968. Todd and Esme had a daughter, Marian Linda, and a son, John Anthony.
 ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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 ===As a writer===
-His articles include “How Musicians Die” (1953) and “Jazz Comes to Jo’burg” (1957).
+In 1952, he became, along with Henry Nxumalo, one of the original writers of the new ''[[Drum]]'' magazine, then edited by [[Anthony Sampson]]. He wrote musical criticism and also covered a large range of urban subjects, making piercing social commentary in such regular columns as With the lid off. His journalistic career continued when he left Drum for the ''[[Golden City Post]]''. His articles include “How Musicians Die” (1953) and “Jazz Comes to Jo’burg” (1957).
 His autobiographical account of his time in London (''Chocolates for my Wife'') was published by Hoddder and Stoughton in 1961.
@@ Line 21: / Line 28: @@
 ===As composer===
-Matshikiza has composed many choral works and songs which were heard regularly over the radio. Among his compositions are a musical praise poem for Trevor Huddlestone called [[Makhalipile]] (“The Undaunted One” – 1953) and  a cantata for 200 voices and a 70 piece orchestra called Uxolo (“Peace”), commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg (1956). Between 1957-59 he helped write the synopsis, composed the music and wrote the Nguni lyrics for the musical ''[[King Kong]]'' and in 1960 collaborated with [[Alan Paton]] on the musical show ''[[Mkhumbane]]''.
+Matshikiza has composed many choral works and songs which were heard regularly over the radio. Among his compositions are a musical praise poem for Trevor Huddlestone called [[Makhalipile]] (“The Undaunted One” – 1953) and  a cantata for 200 voices and a 70 piece orchestra called Uxolo (“Peace”), commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg (1956).
 The Johannesburg choir which entertained the Queen mother during her Rhodesian visit sang Todd's beautiful farewell melody "Hamba Kahle" and at her request she was presented with a special recording of this song.
 == Sources ==
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 https://www.flatinternational.org/template_volume.php?volume_id=158
 Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.

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 ===As composer===
 Among his compositions are a musical praise poem for Trevor Huddlestone called [[Makhalipile]] (“The Undaunted One” – 1953) and  a cantata for 200 voices and a 70 piece orchestra called Uxolo (“Peace”), commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Johannesburg (1956). Between 1957-59 he helped write the synopsis, composed the music and wrote the Nguni lyrics for the musical ''[[King Kong]]'' and in 1960 collaborated with [[Alan Paton]] on the musical show ''[[Mkhumbane]]''.
 == Sources ==

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 ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
-Misrepresented by the chronichlers of the ''[[King Kong]]'' project as an untrained amateur, he was actually a highly accomplished musician. A successor of [[African vaudeville]] impressario [[Motsieloa]], he worked with several bands as pianist, including the Harlem Swingsters and the Jazz Dazzlers, was Drum magazine’s music editor, and a serious composer.
+Misrepresented by the chronichlers of the ''[[King Kong]]'' project as an untrained amateur, he was actually a highly accomplished musician. A successor of [[African vaudeville]] impressario [[Motsieloa]], he worked with several bands as pianist, including the [[Harlem Swingsters]] and the [[Jazz Dazzlers]], was ''[[Drum]]'' magazine’s music editor, and a serious composer.
 ===As a writer===

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, 11 July 2025
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	Misrepresented by the chronichlers of the ''[[King Kong]]'' project as an untrained amateur, he was actually a highly accomplished musician. A successor of [[African vaudeville]] impressario [[Motsieloa]], he worked with several bands as pianist, including the Harlem Swingsters and the Jazz Dazzlers, was Drum magazine’s music editor, and a serious composer.		Misrepresented by the chronichlers of the ''[[King Kong]]'' project as an untrained amateur, he was actually a highly accomplished musician. A successor of [[African vaudeville]] impressario [[Motsieloa]], he worked with several bands as pianist, including the Harlem Swingsters and the Jazz Dazzlers, was Drum magazine’s music editor, and a serious composer.
		+
		+	In 1960 he was banned and left the country, to die in exile.

	===As a writer===		===As a writer===