Mixed emotions have started to build up in maskandi singer Ihhashi Elimhlophe, just two days before he shoots his first live DVD in Soweto.
Time Out caught up with Ihhashi Elimhlophe earlier this week ahead the show at the Soweto Theatre, in Jabulani, over two nights this weekend. He had been rehearsing there since the beginning of the week.
A master of a suave maskandi sound, the legend wants everything to be perfect. After all, it is a historical moment for him. For a successful career that spans more than 40 years, Ihhashi Elimhlophe, 60, credits his longevity in the industry to discipline, hard work and God. A perfectionist, the guitarist has helped take the maskandi sound and transported across the globe.
“I am glad that this day has finally come. I don’t have any reason why I am doing a video now except saying it is God’s timing. I am grateful to uMdali for me still being here, singing and being able to shoot the DVD. I am excited and a little nervous at the same time. But I’m ready for the two days that I will be on stage.”
On his secret to longevity, the legend says: “I am not singing because I am chasing money. I am singing because I love music. Remaining true to who you are is very important. Secondly, I am still here because I have respect for my craft and for the people. What is important is to be humble. Never think that you are better than other people.”
The father of four and husband to musician and actor Ebony Ngcobo, has a challenge of choosing songs that will be featured on the DVD; understandable for someone with 29 albums. Ihhashi Elimhlophe dropped his first album in 1985 titled Wololo. A quick listen to his first offering, which is now available digitally, shows how he has evolved. He has since released hit songs such as Bambanani, Inyakanyaka, Umvumo, Inkiya-Nkiya, Intandane, Amakhekhe, Sabothoka Isdudla, Okwam Okwezandla and Amafong Kong.
“To be honest, it’s a challenge for me to choose songs because I have released a lot of music in these 40 years. I am going to make sure that I perform some of the old hits and also some from my latest album. People should expect a surprise when it comes to songs.
In his long and colourful career he has explored and collaborated with both young and old musicians in trying to advance his knowledge. He has collaborated with artists sucg as Oskido, Boom Shaka, Isixaxa Mbiji, Dream Team, Black Motion, Wanda Baloyi, Zuluboy, and the late Jabu Khanyile, among others.
At the time of these collaborations, many maskandi musicians were not open to the idea of working with artists from other genres. However, over the past 10 years there has been a wave of new and youthful maskandi artists who are making the genre more appealing by working with artists from various genres. Ihhashi Elimhlophe said maskandi needed such collaborations to be progressive.
He also expressed his concern about the new trend called "fan base" within the maskandi genre, where fans of a particular artist would only buy music and merchandise of that particular musician and shun the rest.
“As we grow older, we need people who will keep the genre alive. I am a bit concerned with this trend of fan bases, which causes fans not to support other artists. If you support a certain artist you are forced to buy that artist’s music. During our time, maskandi was selling and people bought any good album they wanted. In a case where all maskandi artists released at the same time, music lovers would buy all albums because we all offered variety.”
Ngcobo, who was forced to work at the age of 10 because his family was poor, grew up watching his two uncles and his father playing the guitar. He taught himself to play through a home-made three-string guitar, fashioned out of a cooking oil gallon.
Fast forward to 2022, Ihhashi Elimhlophe is a successful maskandi artist who has managed to make money through touring the world and music projects. Despite earning just R2.50c and sending some of that to his mother, yet he was still able to buy himself an acoustic guitar.
From there he moved to a township called Enseleni in Richards Bay, KZN, where he tried to find work but was turned down because he was too young.
“I ended up getting a job as a tea-maker in Enseleni. After a while I lost that job and focused on playing my guitar and I met two guys who recruited me to form a band. They taught me to play bass guitar. We used to perform at different schools in the area until we were scouted by the founder of Mthembu Sisters. That is how we moved to Johannesburg in 1976, during the [June 16] riots.”
When Mthembu Sisters disbanded, Ihhashi Elimhlophe worked with groups and artists such as Special 5, Inkunzi Band, Thisha Nzuza, Steve Kekana, Soul Brothers and Imitshotshovu.
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