I struggle so much with romantic relationships partly due to the darker side of my upbringing and a deep desire to heal before committing to anything new. But this valentine’s I was deep in my feels realizing that I have actually been single for many years and not from a lack of trying. That’s why bought a ticket to the Hue Café, one of my favorite spots in Durban to learn more about a healthy love. Nomagugu Makhathini is a singer, songwriter, lyricist, vocal coach and choir conductor. She is married to Nduduzo Makhathini a healer & acclaimed pianist. Their Nguni love story is so beautiful.
Nduduzo says in his years at Natal college, Nomagugu was one of the top 3 musicians he could use to gauge his success as a pianist. So one time, it so happened that Nomagugu didn’t have a pianist for a demo recording and she asked him to help her find one. He says he was the 5th person on her list which I found hilarious. The conversation led by the owner of the Hue Café Linda Majola on different aspects of black love. What I took from the discussion was that mutual values, respect, provision, companionship and collaboration are some of the building blocks of a strong steady love.
After they spoke about their love story we were treated to a meal of good music and just magical vibes. The first song was “Lakushoni iLanga”, The song was written by Mackay Davashe and made famous by Miriam Makeba. When she started singing I immediately understood the room I was in. The blessing I was now experiencing and the healing that was being poured into my cup.
The song is important in South Africa’s history because it speaks to a women searching for her love, who went missing during apartheid. If your partner went missing during that time, many horrible things could have happened to them. I thought it was the perfect song for the moment we are in. A lot of Black families were and are still broken because of what happened during Apartheid, the African family structure was broken. A majority of African men are struggling to return to themselves and build happy homes because in most cases they didn’t have that growing up too.
She sang more beautiful songs like “Nakupenda Maliaka” a Swahili love song by Tanzanian artist, Adam Salim , “Weekend Special” A tribute to Brenda Fassi , “Ngibambeni” by Princess Magogo and ended it off with the magical “There’s a music in the air” by Letta Mbuli & Caphias amongst many others. Nomagugu’s voice is just so crisp, deep, spiritual, soothing, generous & forgiving. It just blends so well with Nduduzo’s piano playing. You can tell that Sunday afternoon’s kwaMakhathini are full of harmonies & melodies. I must say it was such a treat.
I sat back into my chair and allowed myself to open up to the image in front of me. The image of a beautiful healthy black marriage, a true Zulu Love story. What a privilege.
I really can’t say more bandla, just buy a ticket ! Please also spend time listening to their work. The latest album available from the family is uNomkhubulwane , a tribute to the Nguni Goddess. The previous album was “The Spirit of Ntu”, Ntu is the ancestor of all the Aba-Ntu. We need another article to unpack the symbolism and significance of this work.
By Nomathemba Magagula
