Todd Matshikiza a Legendary Jazz Musician?Why is Google Doodle celebrating him?
Today, Google Doodle pays tribute to the remarkable life of South African icon Todd Matshikiza. This colorful Doodle, created by South African artist Keith Vlahakis, celebrates Todd Matshikiza’s outstanding work, especially his orchestral cantata “Uxolo” (meaning “Peace”), which was performed at the Johannesburg Festival on September 25, 1956.
Who Was Todd Matshikiza?
Matshikiza was a South African pianist, composer, and journalist. Born on March 7, 1921, in Queenstown, South Africa, to a musical family, his father, a talented organist, taught Matshikiza and his six siblings to play the piano, while their mother was a singer.
Matshikiza earned a diploma in music and education from St. Peter’s College in Johannesburg after completing his studies in music. After his undergraduate studies, he dedicated his spare time to composing choral works and songs like “Hamba Kahle,” all while working as a mathematics and English teacher.
Eventually, the maestro founded the Todd Matshikiza School of Music, a private institution that primarily focused on teaching piano and jazz music. To make ends meet, he also worked as a salesman alongside a full-time career in education.
In addition to his educational endeavors, Matshikiza became involved in the early days of South African jazz, joining a group of music journalists. He authored two columns, one about jazz style and development and the other about township life. Both columns gained immense popularity.
In 1947, Matshikiza returned to Johannesburg, where he established the Todd Matshikiza School of Music, teaching jazz piano alongside the genre’s top African musicians. During this period, he was also part of a syndicate of African artists with the goal of promoting music and musical programs across the country.
Life in London
In 1960, Matshikiza temporarily left South Africa to escape the ongoing racial tensions. He relocated to England for a time, which he later described in his autobiography, “Chocolates for My Wife.”
London seemed like the ideal opportunity, as his musical “King Kong,” which chronicled the life of heavyweight boxer Ezekiel Dlamini, also known as King Kong, had gained immense popularity and was performed in London’s West End in 1961.
However, his time in England did not prove as fruitful as he had hoped. He struggled to make a mark in the UK’s local music scene. Later, he moved to Zambia, where he worked as a music archivist in the Zambia Information Service until his passing in 1968.
Contributions to Music and Journalism
Among all his achievements, he is most renowned for his contributions to music, including the famous song “Quick in Love,” featured in the movie “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” and his compositions for “Mkhumbane” and “King Kong.”
The merging of Matshikiza’s dual passions for jazz and journalism culminated when he became one of the first writers for Drum magazine. The combination of his expressive writing on jazz and a column dedicated to township life, titled “With the Lid Off,” cemented his reputation. His later columns were compiled in the book “With the Lid Off: South African Insights from Home and Abroad 1959-2000.”
As a composer, Matshikiza is well-known for his music featured in the 2013 film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” particularly his song “Quickly in Love.” He also composed music for two stage productions, “King Kong” and “Mkhumbane,” both of which gained significant recognition.
