Intsholo

1. Almost Eighteen

2. Ntyilontyilo

3. Kraal

4. Guala Matala

5. Got To Find

6. Prayer

7. Naughty Boy

8. Rites

9. Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
In 1988 Amampondo were asked to play at Nelson Mandela's seventieth birthday concert at Wembley. This spectacular performance established their international reputation as one of the world's best percussion groups, and seen by millions on television worldwide was a huge success for the band. All their fees were donated to the ANC demonstrating their political activism during this period, but unfortunately on their return the ANC's cultural desk had banned them from performing either outside or inside South Africa. They claimed it was a result of them playing in Israel and Taiwan, but having just played at Mandela's concert the boycott was somewhat surprising. Unable to perform for four years, the band stayed in Langa and concentrated upon educational programs in an effort to teach South African culture in schools. These workshops and the satisfaction gained from giving something back to society helped keep the band together. Eventually help arrived with the assistance of Archbishop Desmond Tutu with whom they had previously recorded an album 'Give Praise Where Praise Is Deserved' after he won the Nobel peace Prize. He wrote to the ANC complaining about the boycott, and it was shortly reversed unleashing Amampondo once more onto the international stage. Carrying their clearance letter they set off for Germany and France in '92 with five months grace before the boycott was reinforced ! However by this time Mandela was about to walk free giving them his blessing. When he was released he started recommending them for work having seen one of their videos whilst in prison. He promoted them as ambassadors of South African music and to this day they remain his favourite band. It was he who nominated them to represent their country at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games held in Atlanta in '96.

Having traveled the world transporting their music to over thirty countries, their dynamic display traverses cultural and historical boundaries and has made them the popular percussion ensemble that they are today.

Product Description
Intsholo brings a world of sound together, fusing the thrilling energy of western brass sounds with the pulse of African marimbas and percussion. Intsholo's music is truly an intercultural experience, a celebration of the kinship of man.

The newly formed musical group Intsholo (Xhosa for "sweet sounds") comprises members of the internationally recognized African marimba group Amampondo and the Solid Brass Quintet who are members of the Cape Town Symphonic Orchestra. Although these two groups represent different styles of music, they have successfully merged into a unique musical combination.

Amampondo's leader Dizu Plaatjies heard Solid Brass for the first time in Mmbatho, Boputhatswana. The quintet's performance of classical and jazz music impressed him and thus we have Intsholo.

Intsholo,Amampondo

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