Mozambique: ENI Open Day
Asanda Mqiki and band Workshop
3:36 CAT | 2 February 2018
Asanda Mqiki and band Workshop
Singer-songwriter Asanda Mqiki is an heiress of the Eastern Cape's rich cultural heritage of jazz, choral tradition and deeply rooted musicality. Mqiki has spent the last few years carefully carving out a name for herself around South Africa. Her signature style reflects her love for jazz, R&B and soul, and Mqiki’s powerful voice reflects great emotional maturity, captivating audiences across the country.
Born in Port Elizabeth on 26 June 1987, Mqiki’s earliest introduction to music was through her father. She recalls music being played all day in her home. At a very young age, she was exposed to the music of jazz heavyweights like John Coltrane. She started working on compositions during primary school and has been performing since 2002.
Her first musical involvement came as part of the choir at Cowen High School, which instilled in her the rich roots of exploring the choral tradition that she carries into her music today. In 2006 she moved to Johannesburg to pursue studying contemporary music at the National School of Arts. Her time there helped shape her musical talents and provided a platform to performing as well as carving out skills which helped her voice and music direction. It was around this time that she decided to pursue music full time.
Around 2011, she became the lead vocalist in the band Take Note, recording two albums with them and playing the prestigious Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival. Mqiki has subsequently shared stages with the likes of artists such as The Soil, Sibongile Khumalo and Khaya Mahlangu. She performed for consecutive years at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown since 2014, and was awarded the prestigious Standard Bank Gold Ovation award in 2015. Mqiki describes this as a huge milestone for her and a humbling experience, being the only musician that year that won Gold.
She draws great inspiration from vocalists like Sibongile Khumalo and Rachel Ferrell, whose work she looked to for help with understanding breathing techniques and who have both inspired her to be bolder on stage.
Asanda Mqiki and her band will guide a workshop on their process of musical creation and collaboration between the various elements that make up the band: Asanda Mqiki (lead vocals), Thoba Goba (drums), Mthokozisi Mabusa (piano), Qaqambile Qingana (keyboards), Kamva Goba (percussion) and Joash Soobramonay (saxophone).
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 7 2018 from 14h30 to 15h30
Entrance: Free
Address: Centro Cultural Franco Moçambicano (CCFM, Av. Samora Machel no. 468, Maputo
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