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Google Doodle Honors South African Jazz Icon Todd Matshikiza

Published

8 months ago

September 26, 2023

Google Doodle today celebrates Todd Matshikiza, a prominent South African jazz pianist, composer, and journalist. On this day in 1956, his cantata, “Uxolo” (Peace), was performed by the orchestra at the 70th Johannesburg Festival as reported by Inews.

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Born on March 7, 1921, in Queenstown, South Africa, Matshikiza was the youngest of seven children. His parents, a singer and an organist, taught him and his siblings to play the piano at a young age. He earned a diploma in music at Adams College in Natal and a teaching diploma at Lovedale Institute in Alice. Afterward, he taught at Lovedale before establishing his own music school, the Todd Matshikiza School of Music, upon returning to Johannesburg.

Matshikiza’s notable compositions include “Quickly in Love,” featured in the 2013 film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” and the scores for the theatrical productions “King Kong” (1958) and “Mkhumbane” (1960).

“King Kong,” which featured an all-black cast, told the real-life story of heavyweight boxer Ezekiel Dlamini, known as King Kong. The production achieved success with diverse audiences, including performances in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth in South Africa, and London’s West End at the Prince’s Theatre in 1961.

It was the success of “King Kong” and his growing frustration with South African apartheid that led Matshikiza to relocate to London with his wife, Esme Sheila Mpama, and their two children.

Matshikiza contributed significantly to journalism, particularly as one of the first writers at Drum magazine. He authored columns on jazz’s artistry and evolution and another on township life titled “With the Lid Off.” His journalism career allowed him to work for the BBC as a presenter and researcher during his time in London. He later moved to Zambia, where he worked as a broadcaster and a music archivist.

Matshikiza faced the frustration of being unable to return to South Africa, where his writing had been banned by the government. He passed away in Lusaka in 1968. His autobiography, “Chocolates for My Wife” (1961), chronicles his experiences in South Africa under apartheid and his journey to London, providing valuable insights into his life and the historical context in which he lived.