UKZN Alumnus Performs at Jazz Centre

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The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music recently featured vocalist and UKZN Music graduate, Ms Mabu Mhlongo.

Mhlongo, originally from Mtubatuba in KwaZulu-Natal, is noted for her impeccable diction, purity of tone and her interpretation of the music of Princess Magogo ka Dinizulu and Busi Mhlongo, who are her main influences.

Mhlongo studied for a Diploma of Jazz and Popular Music at UKZN where she majored in performance under the supervision of Susan Barry, Demi Fernandez, Neil Gonsalves and Mageshen Naidoo. While at UKZN she co-founded the band, Eyami, which released its debut album in 2010.

The debut album was nominated for the South African Traditional Music Award (SATMA), while Eyami was a prominent band in Durban.

Mabu has performed at a variety of venues, including the 2013 Standard Bank Joy Jazz Festival, Moshito Festival also in 2013 and Puisano Cultural Exchange South Africa, which was endorsed by the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

She is currently working on her solo album due to be released by the end of 2015. The album will feature some of the well-known South African musicians who have played an important role in her musical development.

Melissa Mungroo and Thuli Zama