Thokoza

THOKOZA, a 5-piece female vocal group, is the brain child of Thuli Dumakude, with its roots in Durban. Thuli, who moved to New York City in 1979, had been involved in a number of theatrical and music/dance productions that celebrate the cultures and arts of South African and African American people.  In 1989, after eight months of hard work and daily rehearsals, THOKOZA made its entrance on stage in Brooklyn New York with raving success.  

Upon returning home more than a decade later, Thuli looked for women who enjoyed the challenge of a capella singing, and found the five powerful voices she was looking for after auditioning a number of women.  A highlight for the group was being invited to perform at Nelson Mandela’s 80th birthday in Johannesburg. 

VOCAL STYLE

The group combines the ingoma’busuku (Zulu night music) vocal style and features a diverse repertoire of older Zulu celebration songs, church influenced songs, fun filled works and original compositions which still speaks of the need for social change. Based on the indigenous Zulu song and dance traditions, the style reflects the strong influence of western hymn and choral singing and includes elements of African American music introduced to South Africa in the nineteenth century by touring troupes, and later recordings of American jubilee and gospel quartets. The result is a smooth, open choral sound featuring precise harmonies, interweaving vocal parts, tilting rhythms, and unmistakably African vocal inflections and ornamentations.