Todd Matshikiza

Todd Matshikiza (1921-1968) Musician, journalist and broadcaster.

Biography

Born in Queenstown, Matshikiza had his early education at St. Peter's, Rosettenville. He matriculated at Adams College and then studied at the Lovedale Teacher's Training College, where he later taught. Here he was able to exploit his natural gifts and he started a musical society and a dramatic group.

In 1960 he was banned and left the country, to die in exile.

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.

As a writer

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

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.

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

Tucker, 1997. 127-128.

Book review by Vuyo Mvoko, Leadership SA, 30 June 2001.

https://www.flatinternational.org/template_volume.php?volume_id=158

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

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