Originally from Durban South Africa, SHIKISHA is a captivating trio of women who mix the traditional Zulu-, Sotho-, Xhosa- and Shangaan-dances, chants and drumming of day-to-day tribal life with the searing electric sounds of the contemporary South African township.

SHIKISHA performance is a powerful union of voice and movement. Their Zulu chants and dance has developed into the perfect vehicle for their interpretation of modern dance music or the contemporary polyrhythm of the African continent.

In Zulu SHIHISKA means "belt it out, to sing and dance like you´ve never danced before." With intoxicating rhythms, powerful voices and eye-catching beadwork costumes, like those that acted for centuries as a medium to articulate language amongst Zulu and other South African tribal people, SHIKISHA has earned the name.

It came as no surprise when JULIA MATHUMJWA, front lady of the group, took on the challenge to do a cover of the old SEX PISTOLS hit "PRETTY VACANT". Julia recalls: "When OLIVER CROOKE, our bass guitarist and musical arranger, came forward with the idea and original arrangement, I spontaneously reflected on the children in the South African townships ghetto and the punk attitude that linger in my mind from my early years in London. I understood the energy and made the co-relation. We had to dance and belt it out!"

A natural beauty, JULIA MATHUMWJA, founding member of SHIKISHA, was born in Durban. Trained as a model on leaving school she began her performing career by winning five beauty contests. In 1973 she joined at production of UMABATHA (the Zulu-version of Macbeth). In 1974 she joined IPI TOMBI when the show went to London and continued to work the West End theatres until forming SHIKISHA in 1981.

Since then SHIKISHA have excited audiences from Sweden to Jakarta, their first inspiration came when they participated on the MIRIAM MAKEBA World Tour 85/86. Followed by shows in many African countries: Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Guineau, Senegal, Tunisia. Asia: Jakarta and Bali. Europe: Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Spain, Turkey, Greece and Italy.

Invitation to perform on the world live circuit usually come via international, cultural’ world relief organisations and WOMAD festivals. In February 1995 SHIKISHA made their third tour of the shows in Washington, Baltimore and Pennsylvania. Whilst in the US the group also put on performances for Council and Museum of Art and did some college gigs for GSU Campus Committee.

The brand new recording contract with SONY MUSIC and production deal with John Francis- Anders Hansson Production, means that the next chapter in SHIKISHA´S career is guaranteed to be an exciting one.

DANCE * DRUM * SONG



Shikisha - Zulu Dance, Drum and Song
Shikisha performance begins with traditional drumming and chants, reflecting ceremonies and day-to-day events of tribal; including birth, circumcision, war and marriage.

The Miners’ Gumboot Dance is a hybrid dance, developed from the different tribal traditions amongst the gold miners of Johannesburg, South Africa. This energetic and amusing dance form, crosses all language barriers within the miners. These miners are confined in the compounds without any entertainment provided, so they gather every Sunday to release frustration by entertaining themselves.

SOUTH AFRICAN BEADWORK
Beads have been popular amongst the Zulu and other South African tribal peoples for centuries. Beaded dress is common to men, women and children, and certain designs, patterns and colours symbolise identity of tribal, religious and social groups. The medium of beadwork has developed into an articulate language. Beaded panels can be literally read like pages of a book, the bead colours and designs having different meanings. SHIKISHA have continued this traditional craft and also developed an original contemporary style. Now they can show how to create stunning Zulu beadwork in workshops both at Shikisha Arts and in schools, art centres, playschemes, colleges, community centres, events and festivals.

SHIKISHA performed at London’s prestigious venue, The Royal Albert Hall, as part of the South Bank´s Dance Festival. Since then, the women have worked with SHIKISHA throughout the UK and have been invited to the USA for Black History Month Celebration and have also visited Spain, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland and Canada.

Band and other members who occasionally perform with SHIKISHA are: Ruby Serame, Pinise Saul, Pauline Hawthorne, Lucky Ranku, Joe Legwabe, Shawn Stephenson, Lucky Moyo, Lionel Barnett and Oliver Crooke.

SHIKISHA have performed almost all over Africa between 1983 till now.

AFRICA: Djibouti, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Guinea Conakry, Senegal, Tunis

ASIA: Indonesia (Jakarta & Bali)

CANADA: Toronto

EUROPE: All over Britain, Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Italy.

JAPAN: Tokyo Dome

SHIKISHA´S repertoire is not a musical or cabaret act only, but an experience - a journey into a people´s suffering of trials and tribulations.

Due to the political situation in our country a lot of our customs have vanished.

The master oppressed every sphere of our lives, but overlooked one aspect, our language. Through that loophole, the masses mobilized, sang and chanted, That is what SHIKISHA is about to show you. Yes, we sing whether we win or lose.