After decades of friendship and informal jamming together at clubs and festivals, Madala Kunene and Syd Kitchen, two of South Africa's most enduring musical sons, have joined forces in the creation of Bafo Bafo.
This exciting, cross-cultural collaboration between two highly individual guitar stylists creates a musical landscape that is magical and absolutely unique. Indeed, Bafo Bafo deliver a musical tapestry that is a living embodiment of the magical "new" South Africa. Their ability to naturally fuse cultural elements from the diversity abundant in multiethnic South Africa sets in motion an ethos that is being echoed across Africa: the collective thought that now is the time for Africa, if she works together. Bafo Bafo is therefore a musical manifestation of the ethos behind the drive for Africa's renaissance.
The collaboration is a creation of its time.
The musical magic of Bafo Bafo results from the synthesis of both musicians' diverse contributions. Syd Kitchen's eclectic use of musical elements that traverse Celtic, Afrikaans, jazz, Cajun, Eastern and African influences is balanced and complimented by Madala Kunene's uncanny ability to develop a Maskanda groove that burrows itself into your consciousness. Kitchen plays nylon and steel string acoustic guitars, recorders, hosepipe flute, percussion and sings. Kunene plays steel string acoustic guitars, mouth bow and sings. All the music is organically co-written and sung in Zulu, English and Fanigalo (urban slang).
One of their songs says "manje isikhathi sesifikile" ("now is the time, and it is here"). It is Bafo Bafo's time. It is Africa's time. —Courtesy Calabash Music
