The music of Philip Tabane - An historical analytical study of Malombo music of South Africa

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate the origin and development of the thinking, make up, evolution, meaning, impact, essence of originality, and attempts to reclaim the true identity of African music of South Africa from 1963 to date by Philip Tabane through his concept of Malombo Music. This study introduces Philip Tabane’s biographical background, and sketches out the socio political milieu in which he has had to do creative work, maps out stages of development of Malombo music, and investigates how media was bent on shaping a particular public opinion about Malombo music. The latter is juxtaposed against Philip Tabane’s own philosophy of music making. The research further investigates what Tabane’s own definition of Malombo is. Primary and secondary sources of data are consulted, including a collection of primary data drawn from continuous dialogue with Dr Philip Tabane himself from 1990 to 2008, and getting to do media scan of public statements made in interviews with journalists. One on one discussions were held with Dr Philip Tabane in order to understand and verify popular views held about him and about his work. Secondary sources included newspaper articles, journals, policy documents, and internet survey. Findings of this research are a record of Philip Tabane’s life, discography; philosophy; compositions; key debates on the management of heritage; rights and ownership of intellectual property in South Africa; analysis of Tabane’s compositional and stylistic format; Tabane’s national and international profile; and suggestions for the development of true national heritage and culture. Above all the research findings will help in providing necessary understanding of South African music history, especially future challenges on concept development in music, ownership and rights, recommended amendments to the existing legislative framework that governs broadcast and copyrights, as well as the very history of one of the least celebrated but honoured son of the soil, Dr Philip Nchipi Tabane. Additional information available on a CD, DVD stored at the Merensky Library on Level 3 Copyright