Titi Luzipo. Photo: Loyiso Mali Embo Photography

TITI Luzipo will be performing at The Orbit, 81 De Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, as part of her national tour of Songs My Mother Taught Me, a celebration and remembrance of the songs she learnt from her mother, Vuyelwa Qwesha, from 8.30 pm on Wednesday, May 25.

“It has always been my dream to relive my mother’s songbook while she is still alive so that she may witness the wealth I have through her. It was then that I realised that I am my mother. She is my future and I am her past. Her songbook had become alive again and has helped many others realise their inner melodies. Her song book has become a living legacy,” Titi says.

For the opening show of this tour, taking place on Africa Day, Titi has put together an impressive line-up of special guests and collaborators, including Gloria Bosman, Zwai Bala, Amaeshi Ikechi, Siphokazi, Thandi Ntuli (piano), Viwe Mkizwana (bass), Sphelelo Mazibuko (drums) and H3 on the horn section: Sthembiso Bengu (trumpet), Senzo Ngcobo (trombone) and Linda Sikhakhane (saxophone).

Titi, who has a degree in jazz performance BMus from the University of Cape Town and a performing arts qualification from the University of the Western Cape, is known to have a voice that is older than her. She has become Nelson Mandela Bay’s favourite jazz voice.

“My mother was not as liberated as I am. She had no freedom. The apartheid regime limited their expressions in song and resulted to scarce performances. The aim of Songs My Mother Taught Me is to bring alive those songs which could not be sung and relive the moments shared by those before us and celebrate them as heritage.”

Titi’s mother – Vuyelwa Qwesha Luzipo – is a renowned jazz singer who came to fame in the 70’s as lead singer of The Soul Jazzmen, which featured greats such the late Zim Ngqawana, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Feya Faku, Tete Mbambisa and many others.

“When she realised that I was starting to take after her musically she taught me all the songs she used to sing in her days.  This was the beginning of great things for me – I couldn’t understand the melody at the time but it spoke to the sentiments of my heart.”

“Songs My Mother Taught Me is self-explanatory,” Titi adds. “It highlights the greatness of our wealth in our past. I’ve always had a heart for South African music and celebrating the legacy and heritage thereof. That is the aim and the reason why I would like to grow it further: the education in the South African music history.

“Whilst researching my mother’s favourite tunes and those she sang in her day, I started to equip myself in knowledge of this music and have always had the desire to share it with an audience. I I have absorbed great rich information that could be celebrated and known by generations to come. That’s why as part of this tour I hope to host workshops for people and mostly children from disadvantaged schools and villages, empower them with this history and later demonstrate it with my band.”

Titi Luzipo’s Songs My Mother Taught Me tour is supported by the Music Mobility Fund, a funding mechanism administered by Concerts SA which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours

Tickets are R130. Inquiries: 011 339 6645.