Jazz vocalist Tutu Puoane eager to showcase new album to 'my people' on SA tour

JOHANNESBURG - South African jazz singer Tutu Puoane has announced a mini-tour to South Africa in August.

The Antwerp-based jazz vocalist will be presenting the music of her current and award-winning double album project, Wrapped In Rhythm, which is based on and dedicated to the poetry of Lebo Mashile.

"I remember how deeply I was affected by the poetry collection In A Ribbon Of Rhythm. Ten years ago, this book had me in a chokehold. I often find things about my country so difficult to express; it all feels so strange after being gone from home for so long, and yet still holds a very deep connection to the land and people. The poems of Lebo helped me feel and express things I couldn’t express myself."

The award-winning 2005 anthology In a Ribbon of Rhythm by poet Lebo Mashile is a collection that deals with identity, otherness, violence against women and the elusiveness of South Africa’s "rainbow nation".

"Ohh, playing for a South African audience is essential for my soul. Really!!! I really need it. My people are the most musical people, so to be appreciated by South Africans is a huge deal for me. I look forward to people singing along in harmony from the jump, without me having to 'teach' them their part. South Africans are just a whole positive vibe, and I can’t wait to play this music for them in an intimate setting," said Puoane.

Talking to Eyewitness News, she said that music saves lives, and it’s a necessity in society.

"I think we all experienced how art saved us all during the global pandemic. Without authors, actors, musicians, dancers, etc, most of us would have gone literally insane without art. Maybe music cannot change political issues, but it sure saves lives. It’s scientifically proven that music is a necessity for our health. So from that perspective, art most definitely impacts the real world."

This adaptation from poetry to music was first released in March 2024 in a production by American musician/bassist/ producer Larry Klein. It has since won three South African Jazz Awards (Best Female Artist 2024, Best International Jazz Album 2024, Best Contemporary Jazz Album 2024).

"This career will humble you. I’ve learnt patience. I’ve learnt that not everything will come to you when you want it, but when the universe and the stars and your gods allow. Never giving up is also crucial to a lasting career, and being open to other avenues within the entertainment business. I’ve learnt to trust my female intuition more and always listen to how my body reacts to different people and circumstances. My gut feeling has saved me from a lot of unpleasant situations."

Puoane has lived in Antwerp, Belgium, since 2005. She is originally from Mamelodi in Tshwane. She went to study in the Netherlands in 2002, and since 2004, she has made Antwerp her home.

She reflected on how her journey began: "Like most Black children growing up in any South African township, music is a daily part of our lives. My grandfather, a self-taught classical pianist, had a piano in our home from the moment I was born. Watching my grandpa play was one of my favourite things to do as a child. I suppose that’s where the love of music began."

For this upcoming SA tour, Puoane told Eyewitness News that she wanted South Africans to celebrate and appreciate each other while they’re still alive and healthy, and collaborate with each other. That’s what this project is all about.

"Ooh, I’ve had a few highlights along the way. The fact that this Wrapped In Rhythm project is now complete, as a tangible thing I can hold in my hands in the form of CDs and vinyls, is my most recent biggest highlight. The fact that I managed to do it with all the people I wanted to do it with is a huge highlight."