Jazz music forms an integral part of South African history. It is a genre that echoed through township streets nationwide during the apartheid era, providing comfort to all those who listened. It carried the words and lived experiences of the marginalized across the globe during a time of violence and censorship. Today its legacy lies safely in the hands of custodians left behind by the many greats who built it from the ground up, preserving its sacredness.
Mimi Mtshali is one custodian whose dedication to this worldly genre has spanned well over two decades and displays the sincerest admiration. Elite Africans had the pleasure of speaking to the South African award-winning songstress and educator about her journey through life and the industry.
Mimi’s foundation in music is as solid as a rock as her humble beginnings instilled an organic reverence for her craft. Hailing from Vosloorus, she is proud of her background and all that has contributed to her success. Music has had an ever-pervading presence in her home.
Her family has always loved and appreciated it. “Those days were just simple.” she reminisces, “music was just music, and music was pure.” She recounts fond memories of her mother teaching her and her brother songs for their ‘Sunday Duet’ in the kitchen, an endearing tradition that sharpened and nurtured her talent.
As a young girl in Sunday school, her interest in music was further piqued by the formation of her church’s choir. She shared her desire to join in with her brother, who took it upon himself to prepare her through ‘tasks.’ “He gave me recordings to listen to.
People like Aretha Franklin and Yolanda Adams, and he said to me if you try and emulate these people, then maybe I’ll get you into the choir.” These tasks, she says, gave her the confidence to sing in front of crowds.
She cites the likes of Anita Baker, Busi Mhlongo, Letta Mbulu, and Sophie Mgcina as her inspirations which are merely the tip of the iceberg. She has had the privilege of working closely with jazz and opera legend, the late Sibongile Khumalo, “She took me under her wing and taught me so many things besides music and about respecting the discipline of the craft,”
Her love for jazz stems from listening to her favorite artists and paying close attention to how they use their voices. “I loved the scatting, and I loved the phrasing!” she shared when asked why she chose to be a jazz musician. “Jazz is a language on its own. It’s a language of telling a story,” She adds. “I love the freedom that comes with that, where you can be spontaneous on stage and play around.”
Coming from a family of educators, she had to incorporate music education with her love for singing. As a result, she obtained her degree from the University of Cape Town. This place would play a pivotal role in the trajectory of her career. She reveals that this is where she created a number of the songs that made it onto her award-winning debut album Essence of Love, including her hit single Goodbye Loneliness and Siyakubonga. She mentions that the positive reception exceeded her expectations of the album’s success.
Mimi has enjoyed sharing a stage with some formidable names like Lauryn Hill, Rita Marley and Cat Wailer, whom she worked with on her second album, Your Love. In addition, she divulged that she’d love to work with Lalla Hathaway in the future, which would be a collaboration so well-aligned. “Her approach to music is absolutely amazing.” she gushes.
Jazz music without live performance is impossible. The two go hand in hand, and Mimi stresses its importance for her. “We can’t let it die. We’ve got to keep it going at all costs,” she emphasizes. With the arrival of COVID-19 in the country, artists nationwide were placed in a crisis where they could no longer connect with live audiences. Mimi took this as an opportunity to go virtual. She kept the essential element of the genre alive by treating her fans to online performances through the lockdown period.
When asked what keeps her going in pursuit of her dreams, Mimi singled out the importance of having an unwavering passion for music. She also recognizes her privilege of being allowed to study music, “For me, it’s an investment that also allows me to make a living. I am able to take care of my kids and family today because I also teach music.” She sees herself as not merely just a singer but a businesswoman and diversifies herself in the industry.
In closing, Mimi shared some advice for young and upcoming female musicians, “Be grounded in your values and know who you are before entering this industry because it can take you in all sorts of different directions. Be disciplined in what you bring. Find yourself, find your sound, and have something to say that is uniquely you. Be authentic.”
Mimi expressed her gratitude for the gift of life and how she wants to continue using her talents and inspire more people and touch more lives. “I want to show people that a girl from Vosloorus, from the township can make it.” She also wants to take her music even further and reach more corners of the world, “I haven’t done that in a long time. It doesn’t have to be fancy; it can be anywhere, so; I am organizing that.” She also revealed that her new album is near completion, and she looks forward to sharing it with everyone in 2022.
