Mpoda Entertainment
MPHODA ENTERTAINMENT is a company that represents Artists like Mpho Motheane-Shuping and her Band Uvimba which provides African Jazz, Afro- Fusion and Traditional African Dance Music. The Band has graced world stages to standing ovations and has performed in and around South Africa and Internationally in Countries like Cuba and Santo Domingo, Holland, Japan, London and a
t Wurzburg Africa Festival in Germany, I’lle De France Festival in Paris, the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, California to mention just a few. MPHO has four recorded projects namely;
1. A single – IHOBE
2. Compilation – Images of Africa, volume 3
3. Full Album- Sabela
4. Revival ( the best of Mpho )
Mpho Motheane-Shuping is currently teaching voice Training and Singing at Intyolo Music School and Khanya development school in Guguletu, she also taught voice training and singing at Prompt Music School which was based at The Athlone Technical College. She has done outreach programmes under the Auspices of Uvimba Theatre and Music Laboratory at Andile Primary School in Guguletu, Teaching Drama, Dance, singing and voice Training. DAVID SHUPING is the Manager and Band leader of MPHO & UVIMBA Band, a pianist, music teacher, a composer for more than 20 years, David took the Band to Japan, Holland, Cuba, Santo Domingo Germany and France and is currently working on a solo jazz Album which is due early 2014. Before that and still continued working with Ngcukana Brothers (Duke& Ezra). Also worked with MAPP Jazz Ensemble and travelled with Young Bakuba to Singapore, Abakhaya Marimba Band to London and recently with Bongani Sotshonondo and Mpho to Los Angeles, California to Pan African Film Festival and done workshops and performances at UCLA (University of California Los Angeles).I have been featured as a pianist at Brenda Fassie’s tribute which was held at LANGA Community Hall during the 2010 world cup. We’ve also ventured into films and featured in documentaries as sound track composers and actors under the auspices of Footprint film Company and for City Parks composition of the theme song for their workers and World cup theme song which was played during match intervals and recently the Quality Beverages (Jive) cool drinks theme song. David Shuping is currently Teaching Piano and Theory of Music at Intyholo and Khanya Music Development projects respectively which are based in Guguletu and involved with Intyholo Big Band as Keyboardist. Apart from Teaching he’s done acting on stage and Television. He worked as Facilitator for Arts organization of the Township performers (TOPS) which had offices at the Baxter Theatre. MABHOVU Phondolomzi Dolosi was born in Cape Town from Gcaleka parents who hailed from the Transkei. He’s a Guitarist of note a session musician, Arranger, composer and music Director and in some instances he subs as a Bass Guitar player. His career in Music started in Cape Town in the ‘70’s when he met a well renowned bassist and Music Teacher by the name of Spencer Mbadu and together they worked with a traditional Mbaqanga outfit JOLA QUEENS and ABAFANA BOMYEZO and recorded an album in 1973.Mabhovu worked in the private sector since those days working as a Musician on fulltime basis was difficult and on weekends he will do gigs with his Band. His music skills improved when he joined the Jazz Workshop under Merton Barrow. In 1987 Mabhovu went into Music on full time Basis with a quartet “Pitch Black” and did lots of gigs with them until the late Ms Anneline Malebo of Joy Fame approached him to join THABURE a Band that was based in Lesotho, whilst in Lesotho we performed in night clubs and private and corporate functions and Festivals.Thabure entered Gilbeys Music for Africa Finals competition. In 1990 Mabhovu moved from Lesotho to Johannesburg in search of greener pastures and met Artists like M’coy Mrubata and later on Ringo Madlingozi whom He forged a relationship that will stand the test of time. I worked with Ringo and Alan Comeron from Gecko Moon project as session guitarist and still worked with Ringo when he (Ringo) decided to venture as a Solo Artist, He was his Guitarist and session Guitarist in his recording projects of Buyisa, Into yam, Ntumba and a single Cape Town to mention a few and he was appointed by Ringo as Musical Director in all of his projects and also on the UB40 song” Cover up” which he plays Guitar and featured in Zenzi Lee Makeba’s album DAY-NIGHT. Mabhovu as he is affectionately known worked with the Dorkay House Big Band as a Guitarist and subs as a Bassist for Artist like Dorothy Masuka,Thandie Classen Sophie Mgcina, Dolly Rathebe and many more…..they did private and corporate functions,Festivals, concert Halls, clubs and pandolitical Rallies. The other Artist he worked with are Sipho” hot stix” Mabuse, Sibongile Khumalo,Soweto String Quartet, Thembi Mtshali, Mara Louw, Abegail Kubheka, Gloria Bosman, Miriam Makeba, Brenda Joice from (USA), Maria Nkomno (Malawi) and African Renaissance Big Band conducted by the late Victor Ntoni and the Reggae Bands that I worked with are Jambo, Harley and the Rasta Family, Sons of Sellassie from Cape Town.Mabhovu has a promo CD which got Air play at Khaya FM’s Sunday Jazz programme which was hosted by Nicky Blumenfeld. Mabhovu is currently working and developing his concept of recorded folklore nursery rhymes for children to learn to cope with challenges for generations to come. As a solo Artist Mabhovu worked at Moyo Restaurant and clubs around Johannesburg and at Percane Restaurant in Houtbay Cape Town. Mabhovu is a solo guitar player, duo, trio and full Band to orchestration level with instruments like acoustic and electric Guitars and vocals.
