Dorothy still continues to grow in leaps and bounds as a jazz artist, despite some 40 years as a singer. Emotive jazz compositions, penned by the artist herself, Lendaba is an awesome album, showcasing this legendary talent at her finest
During a long and winding career of over fifty years, Dorothy Masuka has entertained and inspired audiences and fellow musicians alike with her innovative and very unique sound. She graced the covers of Drum and Zonk! magazines and became no longer just a musician but also a cover girl, a leader of fashion and an icon of glamour and sophistication.
Her story began in 1951 when the then sixteen year-old Zimbabwean girl recorded her own composition Hamba Nontsokolo with Troubadour Records in Johannesburg. The song launched Dorothy Masuka s career: it proved to be an instant hit and has since become a South African classic. Suddenly she entered the world of the country s top vocalists like Dolly Rathebe and Miriam Makeba. It was only a matter of time before she joined the great testing ground of African musical talent, Alf Herbert s African Jazz and Variety where she soon received top-billing.
By composing her own songs that were inspired by events occurring throughout the country, she provided a lot of insight into socio-political issues of daily township-life. Or as she put it: When writing a song, you talk about things that are happening, have happened or will happen. I see something and will sing about it . In 1961 she left South Afirca for a while and discovered to her shock that, as a result of her commentary, especially in the songs Dr. Malan and Lumumba in which she clearly identified herself with African nationalism, that the authorities would not allow her to return. I didn t do anything wrong. I was just singing some messages to the people, but I suppose the messages were not what some other people wanted to hear me sing. And they wouldn t give me a visa to return to Johannesburg. The next few years were spent in Malawi and Tanzania, where she soon became the champion of the independence cause in Africa through her music. Consequently she travelled to New York and spent some time in London where she performed at the Palladium. The longing for home was great and in 1965 she decided to return to Zimbabwe, which created a stir both musically and politically. As a result of her political affiliations her life was threatened and, faced with the prospect of arrest, she fled to Zambia where she stayed for the next sixteen years. Dorothy s musical career took a backseat for a while and she worked as an airhostess while raising her family. While in exile she graced stages in France, Italy, Germany, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania and England. In 1981 when Zimbabwe gained independence, she could finally return and resume composing and recording.
