Madala Kunene & Bernard Mndaweni Downloads

Bernard Mndawene is currently one of the very best electric bass players in South Africa, extremely flexible and through his various work experiences with other artists from the MELT stable he has shown to be at home with any kind of current music. He is equally at home with the Maskanda styles of... Learn More »

Bernard Mndawene is currently one of the very best electric bass players in South Africa, extremely flexible and through his various work experiences with other artists from the MELT stable he has shown to be at home with any kind of current music. He is equally at home with the Maskanda styles of Madala Kunene or Busi Mhlongo - both artists he works with regularly. Bernard is happy to play Jazz with the likes of Sipho Gumede or get down to play some real fat garage or house grooves with DJ Mario Cee in his typical Zulu style. His recent work as a founding member of PedXulu brought him together with artists like Byron Wallen (UK), singer /percussionist Ricky Randimbiarison from Madacascar and Thabang Tabane.

Sibusiso performed several concerts with Madala in Scandinavia and during the NANTES ( France) festival and played to acclaim in Holland, France, Norway and currently Switzerland. He has recorded extensively in both South Africa and the UK.

Bernard is the Deputy Secretary of KDI (KwaMashu Development Initiative), a successful youth upliftment program in his township.

Two master guitarists with two distinct styles perfectly rhythmically underlined by one of the most versatile electric bass player – all 3 from Durban in KwaZulu Natal where the adventure of melting of styles has long become reality and not just an empty phrase.

The first melting gatherings that left a mark in South Africa’s rich musical landscape took place in 1994 and 1995 when overseas artists like Jose Neto, Airto Moreira, Jessica Lauren, Changuito and Byron Wallen gathered in Johannesburg for the Outernational Meltdown recordings and concert series.

It was then when the late Baba borrowed Neto’s guitarist to play some of the finest riffs to be recorded on the legendary Outernational Meltdown album.
Another important and spontaneous encounter took place between Madala Kunene and Max Laesser who became friends leading to a collaboration of the two guitarist hailed by the European press as a meeting of two geniuses comparing it to the legendary recordings of Ali Farka Toure and Ry Cooder.

6 years later Baba and Madala gathered to record the album FIRST DOUBLE 1&2 that has its origins in the funky Mbaganga styles of the Soul Brothers and the more traditional and serious Maskanda Rap (or Madalaine as Kunene calls his unique style of playing).

The album title takes reference to bets placed at horse races and contains mostly songs with traditional background. The 12 minutes song or lamentation Siyakhala by Madala Kunene is about the disrespect for Shaka the Zulu king. Madala and many of his fellow citizens are crying because Shaka’s grave is next to a busy road and buildings and that there is no respect.

On this album Madala and the late Baba were joined by friends and collaborators like Sibongiseni Mdima on Drums, Mabi Thobejane on Percussion, Eddie Mahiba on Organ and Bernard Sibusiso Mndaweni on electric bass.

Titled ‘First Double 1 & 2’ this album continues the tradition of collaborations by guitarist Madala Kunene with fellow guitarists. The release of the album coincides with Madala, Baba and Bernard’s recent appearances at the 2002 North Sea Jazz Festival and Arts Alive Concerts. Produced, recorded and mastered by Chris Lewis

Madala Kunene (acoustic guitar)

"Madala Kunene's acoustic groove is oxygen for soul adventurers the world over." Richard Pithouse

Born in 1951, Madala Kunene began his musical career busking on Durban's beachfront at the age of seven. As a player for the African Wanderers FC, the teenage Madala was torn between his love of football and music, playing guitar at home after matches. Like many great South African guitarists he came from the school of the home-made guitar - cooking oil tin and fish gut for strings. And it was from this initial base of invention and desire that allowed him to become a popular performer, go professional and launch a profound solo career.

Madala has developed a completely original style of playing guitar based on ancient divination music and most of his inspiration comes to him in dreams. He explains the influence his poetic dreams have on his song writing relating the inspiration for ‘Abangoma’ on ‘K’onko Man’. “You know when you get a fright in your sleep and your body shakes and then you suddenly wake up? That’s what happened with Abangoma. I must have been inspired by my ancestors because I just got up, picked up my guitar and wrote the entire song”. Madala is profoundly connected to his ancestry, “It was my ancestors that didn’t want me to go to school. They gave me a talent so that instead of school, I played my music”. It is somewhat ironic that Madala is now a teacher himself, sharing his musical skills with children and juvenile offenders in KwaZulu-Natal.

His legendary and unique guitar playing blends Blues and African Folk, moving between frivolous and intense expression, poignant silences and spiritual harmony. His debut album for MELT produced by Airto Moreira and titled ‘Kon'ko Man’ is a tribute to all of this - telling his unique stories. Madala’s remix Ubombo by Smith & Mighty and now by DJ Rudeboy Paul are played regularly on YFM paying respect to his style and integrity attracting listeners beyond and age concernsMadala’s list of collaborations and work on both a local and and international level is extensive and includes projects with Airto Moreira, Sipho Gumede, Busi Mhlongo, Max Laesser, Syd Kitchen and the late Doc Mthalane. His first international collaboration with Swiss guitarist /songwriter Max Laasser in 1997 was compared with Grammy Award winning album of Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder by the European press.

Madala, Max Laesser and Lungiswa Plaatjies undertook number of central European tours between 1998 and 2000 following the release of the album MADAMAX. After a couple of concerts at the Bassline in Joburg with Syd Kitchen, Madala returned this September to Switzerland for another major international collaboration with Max this time accompanied by fellow artists Sibsusiso ‘Bernard’ Mndaweni, Lungiswa, Simpiwe Matole, Mandla Lande and Michael Ludonga of Amampondo.

The late and beloved Baba Mokoena Serakoeng (electric guitar)

Jazz, blues and Mbaqanga guitarist Baba composed music for Gibson Kente's musicals 'Sikhalo' and 'How Long'. 'Sarafina' playwright Mbongeni Ngema was impressed when he first heard Baba’s “Soul Brother Style” guitar playing and asked Baba to join the band for his musical 'Township Fever', which opened at Johannesburg's Market Theatre in 1991. The show went on to tour America, opening in New York. After the 'Township Fever' tour, Baba worked with Letta Mbuli and Caiphus Semenya in shows around South Africa. Baba returned to Mbongeni Ngema's company, touring Europe with 'Sarafina', 'Magic at 4am' and 'Mama'. MELT discovered Baba’s unique guitar sound during the Outernational Meltdown recording in 1994 and feels privileged to have him collaborating with Madala lending the album its special groove.

Sibusiso Mndawene aka Bernard (Electric Bass)

Currently one of the very best electric bass players in South Africa, extremely flexible and through his various work experiences with other artists from the MELT stable he has shown to be at home with any kind of current music. He is equally at home with the Maskanda styles of Madala Kunene or Busi Mhlongo - both artists he works with regularly. Bernard is happy to play Jazz with the likes of Sipho Gumede or get down to play some real fat garage or house grooves with DJ Mario Cee in his typical Zulu style. His recent work as a founding member of PedXulu brought him together with artists like Byron Wallen (UK), singer /percussionist Ricky Randimbiarison from Madacascar and Thabang Tabane.

Sibusiso performed several concerts with Madala in Scandinavia and during the NANTES ( France) festival and played to acclaim in Holland, France, Norway and currently Switzerland. He has recorded extensively in both South Africa and the UK.

Bernard is the Deputy Secretary of KDI (KwaMashu Development Initiative), a successful youth upliftment program in his township.
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