Dizu Zungula Mzikantu Plaatjies, Professor of African Music Performance at the South African College of Music at UCT, is one of South Africa’s leading traditional artists and cultural historians of African Music. He is the founder of the music group Ibuyambo and former leader of South Africa’s globally celebrated traditional African group, Amampondo, who recorded and toured locally and internationally in the 1980s and 90s. The son of a traditional healer, Plaatjies’s upbringing in Lusikisiki, immersed him in Mpondo and Xhosa culture and traditions. His ability to revive, revamp and communicate old cultural practices and teaching methods has led to countless teaching and performance engagements locally and abroad.

The UCT Ibuyambo Orchestra brings you “Camagu” to honour the career and contribution to the future of African Music of Prof Dizu Plaatjies as he ends his tenure at UCT. Music by Dizu Plaatjies, directed by Mhlanguli George and co-directed by Bronwen Clacherty.

Photo Patrick Lee-Thorp.