LWAMONDO - Ntshengedzeni Mamphodo, disabled traditional music artist from Lwamondo near Thohoyandou, did not experience a meteoric rise to fame, because he had worked hard and very long hours to be where he is today.

He took everyone by surprise by defying disability while making a name for himself in the local music fraternity. Ntshengedzeni (61), a father of 14 (from two wives), who uses his hands to crawl because he was born without proper legs, plays the Mbila dza Madeze (a self-made Venda musical instrument made of wood and hammered nails, to produce a sound similar to that of the marimba). Despite his disability, the fame-hungry musician, who always strived for success, has so far released three albums and his songs are mostly played on Phalaphala FM’s traditional music programmes.

“I would like to call upon other disabled people to wake up and do something to uplift their communities, rather than sitting and waiting for the government’s social grant. I will never allow my disability to stop me on my way to success, because playing the Mbila is the only gift that I can offer to my community. I put aside my disability and worked hard to realize my potential. It is only my body that is deformed, but my mind is razor sharp and I make sure that I use my talent fully, to the benefit of my community. It is my social responsibility to contribute to the development of my community and no one can stop me,” he said.

Mamphodo told Mirror that he started playing Mbila in 1957, but he became more serious in 1970 when he received some informal lessons from his late father in law.

“My career started to blossom when I recorded my first single, Damu la Phophi, in 1970. Thereafter I took a long recording break and bounced back in 1997 when I released Nambi ya Sia-lala. My second album, Musidzana vho mu phula ndobo, followed in 1998 and my latest, Mbila Jive, came up in 2002.”

Despite his disability, Mamphodo has so far traveled to Pretoria, Johannesburg and Polokwane to perform. He receives a standing ovation whenever he performs. His young wife, Phophi, is his backing vocalist and she also assists him when he ascends or descends the stage, because he does not have a wheelchair.

“I also receive invitations to play in traditional gatherings like coronations of chiefs and cultural rituals. My music is aimed at reviving the African cultural heritage and promoting traditional norms among our people. The young generation has deserted traditional music and I feel it is my duty to instill our true African spiritual music, which will make our ancestors happy. But my problem is that I cannot afford to buy a sound system to make my music better heard, because I have a big family to support.”

Mamphodo said he is highly disturbed by people who feel pity for him whenever they see him.

“Why feel pity for me? I was also created by God. I am like anyone else, except that I cannot walk. I live a normal life like everyone on earth.”

Songs that have made Mamphodo the darling of the local Mbila music fans for the past years include Mbilu yanga i a vhavha, Vha-musanda shango li khou dzhiiwa and Vho dzulela ngomu.

Because he cannot walk, Mamphodo’s home is always full of friends and visitors who enjoy seeing him playing his music. Besides playing the Mbila, Mamphodo is also a renowned player of the Tshihwana, a Venda musical instrument made of wood and tied with strings.