Kolelo

KOLELO is a five-piece band that performs an uplifting, eclectic mix of African music. Although the group is based in Cape Town, South Africa, its members hail from all over Africa, such as Tanzania, Mozambique, and of course, South Africa.

What is “KOLELO”?
An area in Central Tanzania, also called Morogoro Matombo, which is a spiritual place where people come to summon their ancestors. One can only come to Kolelo if he/she is pure.

Who are KOLELO?

Adeson Nchimbi
Songwriter, Voice, Guitar, Percussion

Born Tingi Village, Ruvuma, District Mbinga in Southern Tanzania

Musical Background
Adeson started singing in the school choir at the age of 6, and joined the church choir at the age of 7. He joined his first band in Songea, Orchestra Vuma Vuma (1985) and then played with Tembo Jive whilst in the army. Adeson taught himself how to play guitar in 1991, but only acquired his first guitar five years later.

Musical Influences
Atomic Jazz, Super Volcano, Stimela, Manu Dibango, Franko (reggae), High Life, Pakanga and Mbila.

Musical Highlights
At the age of 16, Adeson moved to Dar-e-Salaam in 1985. There he performed with popular bands New Survivors and the Munasa Band between 1991 and 1996. He then travelled to Zimbabwe for 1 year, but returned back home to start his band, Kolelo Cultural Music Power, in Dar-e-Salaam. In 1997, Adeson travelled with Kolelo to play in Malawi. He left Malawi for South Africa in June 1998 and has been living in Cape Town since, performing as a solo singer/guitarist and playing with various groups such as Madosini, Adepo, Azania, Jackson Phili, Dizu Plaatjies from Amampondo and many others.

Slehe Abdalah
Percussion, Voice

Born Dar-e-Salaam, Tanzania

Musical Background
Slehe is a self-taught singer and percussionist.

Musical Influences
Reggae, High Life, Pakanga and Mbila

Musical Highlights
Slehe performed with the Munasa Band between 1991 and 1996. He travelled to Zimbabwe with Adeson Nchimbi for 1 year, and then returned with him to Dar-e-Salaam to perform with Kolelo Cultural Music Power. He then played with Kolelo to Malawi in 1997, and left Malawi for South Africa in June 1998. He has been living in Cape Town since, and has worked as a fire fighter in the Cape Peninsula National Park and as a freelance percussionist.

Texito Langa
Drums, Percussion

Born Maputo, Mozambique

Musical Background
As the son of a musician, Texito was registered by age 4 for the local music school. His musical career began five years later at age 9, when he began drumming for the National Music School. His brother, Dario "Jack Lang" Langa (guitar player), and Texito formed their first band, Headed, which later became Hanged. This group grew to be one of Mozambique’s most popular bands.

Musical Influences
Tony Williams, Elvin Jones (Afro-Cuban), reggae, jazz and traditional Africa styles such as mapiko, timbila, tufo and others.

Musical Highlights
In 1993 Texito was invited by the singer Chude Mondlane to join her band Afrithmics as a percussionist. They worked together until 1994 when he founded Asaga, together with Chico António and Zé Maria.

Since then Texito has been traveling back and forth between Jo’burg and Maputo, playing with many artists such as Ernest Dawkins, Eero Koivistoinen, Tony Yucatán & Antenor Bogéa (Brazil), Trevor "Jabulane" Hall (Jamaica), Enrique Sales (Cuba), Tlale Makhene, Jeff Maluleke and Gito Baloi, amongst others.

He has also played numerous festivals worldwide, such as Music Crossroads ’97 in Harare, Zimbabwe; the Førde Folk Music International ’98 in Norway; St. Olav Festival 2000 in Trondheim, Norway; the Kulturhuset 2000 in Tromso, Norway; Göteborgs Kalaset in Sweden, 2000; Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany; Festival D'Agosto 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique; Urban Voices 2005, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Cape Town International Jazz Festival in 2006 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Daniel Eppel
Lead Guitar

Born Johannesburg, South Africa

Musical Background
In 1986, Daniel and his family immigrated to the United States, where Daniel attended Junior and High School in Memphis, Tennessee. His music career was kick-started early when he was selected to join the All-State Jazz Band (which chooses only one guitarist per state) while still at High School. Soon after, Daniel was granted a Performance Scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, from which he graduated in 2003.

Musical Influences
Daniel’s unique style incorporates many different genres, such as jazz, soul, blues, Afro-Cuban, and various West- and South African music. His influences include John Scofield, Kanda Bongo Man, John Shannon, Amahkansela, Pat Metheny, Medeski Martin & Wood, Wes Montgomery, and of course, Stevie Wonder.

Musical Highlights
While in Memphis, Daniel performed with the True Gospel Choir and CJ and Qwest, a straight-ahead jazz group. He also joined Master Blaster, p