Born in 1953 in Umzinto, on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast in South Africa, Shiyani Ngcobo grew up listening to maskanda music, which narrated the Zulu experience of hardship and migrancy, and then took on the style himself.

Sometimes when I am sleeping I just get an idea. Then I get up and work with this, and maybe on the next day when it is finished I will call my family and they will sing with me

As a musical form, it is recognized by the ‘picking style’ of guitar playing, and by the rapidly spoken sections of Zulu praise poetry (izibongo). Shiyani has remained true to the essence of early maskanda, but what makes him unique is that he mixes maskanda styles rather than keeping them separate and is able to make this unique musical tradition of the Zulus still strike a chord as a powerful contemporary sound.

Following his UK tour, he answered a few questions from Fly’s Lydia Martin.

What can the rest of the world learn from South Africa’s own story?
They can see that many people are using their imagination to find a way to make their lives work.

South Africa has many challenges. The government in the past did not make it possible for people to meet together to talk about their problems. Now with the new government in South Africa we need to learn to come together to talk about our problems and to work together to share a common burden and not to be divided as we were before. People need to feel that their voice will be heard and that they can decide how to change their lives.

The problem is money… you see, money is life and where there is no money people turn to crime. You are not safe when there are people with nothing. Another problem is that the government do not think about how things work for the people

Your music is specifically Zulu. What does that mean to you?
It is not like that for me… no… I am a Zulu but this is just a name. Everyone is from God we are all the same — I am Shiyani… I am a human being I am not so worried about this Zulu idea.

You grew up in a community forced into migration that faced enormous hardship. What are your memories of growing up in this community?
There were many troubles when I was growing up. It is very hard for me to talk of this time… there was trouble with my parents and my mother left. The people were unsettled and there was a lot of fighting between them.

What role does maskanda music have in the Zulu culture?
Maskanda may be seen as Zulu music, but I am not sure about this name — it is not a Zulu name but it has a mix in it maybe from Afrikaans. We used to say someone who was just walking playing his guitar was “umakikele okwahe”, cutting it in his own way.

What stories, feelings, events does maskanda music narrate or express?
Maskanda talks about the things from everyday life: sometimes it is about love, about a woman, sometimes it is about the government or about arguments between people. My music comes from what I see.

You must talk to young people so that you can sing about things that they know about. You also need to listen to different music, jive, reggae and other music, so it is not just about the words but also the sounds. You must know what younger people like to hear.

Are you tempted to try electronic and synthesised instruments and sounds?
No, never

The way you play maskanda is unusual because you mix styles and rhythms. What led you to do this?
I want to keep my audience listening. I do not want to play all the same styles and rhythms I like to move around so that people do not know what to expect next.

How is maskanda music received today by the younger generations in South Africa?
I think young people are more interested in maskanda now. There was a time when they used to say no this is for the older people… but now they can see it is also alive and can carry change too. My style gives every part a chance to be heard… I like the different voices to be heard, to talk together equally, just like we need to do! Every voice has a chance to be heard in this style that is why I like it.

Although this album is called Introducing Shiyani Ngcobo you have had a career as a musician for over 30 years. What have been the highlights?
I think when I won the maskanda competition here at the University of KwaZulu-Natal — it was the first time I got money for my music and I was full of the idea that this is something people would like to hear.

Is this your first international tour? What are you hoping UK audiences will experience or learn listening to your music?
No I have played in France, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Malaysia and Cameroon. I hope the people will learn about who I am.

Who inspires you?
My music comes from inside me. Sometimes when I am sleeping I just get an idea. Then I get up and work with this, and maybe on the next day when it is finished I will call my family and they will sing with me.

2005 has been named the Year of Africa and Tony Blair is hosting the G8 this year. What would you like to say to the world leaders meeting?
What can I say..? this is a difficult question. Tony Blair is a big man, and Bush he is a big man too. They need to listen and care about those who are smaller than them. They have a big responsibility to see the ordinary problems that people face and to let us speak and be heard too.

—The South African maskanda musician Shiyani Ngcobo has recently been touring in the UK, as well as playing a session on BBC Radio 3 this weekend on the back of an album release by World Music Network Introducing Shiyani Ngcobo in 2004—