The man behind the marimba
Video
07 JulyA celebration of South African traditional music and a giant of the genre: Dizu Plaatjies became famous as the founder of the 1980s band Amampondo when it toured the world during apartheid, bringing indigenous sounds and African music and melodies to European audiences. Now 63, the son of a Pondoland sangoma is performing his third act of life as a teacher and maker of indigenous instruments. Carte Blanche honours the keeper of ancient music as a Professor at the University of Cape Town where he manages a course in traditional musical performance, passing on the gift of playing to young, urban women.