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Dizu Plaatjies, Mzwandile Qotoyi And Jose Luis Quintana Aka Changuito
Amampondo co-founders Dizu and Mzwandile's collaboration recordings in Johannesburg with cuban master conga and timbale player Changuito and bata player Mayito in 1995 was hailed as an important milestone. During these sessions many of the now famous South African artists like Zim Ngqwana, Sipho Gumede, Mabi Thobejane and Amampondo worked with the cubans showing that friendship and comradry of South African and Cuban artists was well ahead of later political alliances. The name Fidel Pondo is in honour of Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela.
This album is an historic milestone celebrating the 10th anniversary of the first Cuban/South African cultural collaboration of the two countrie's finest percussionist infusing new rhythms into traditional Xhosa music.

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1. ANDILALANGA EBUSUKU (I DID NOT SLEEP LAST NIGHT)
Dizu Plaatjies, Mzwandile Qotoyi

2. YAKA YAKA (I HAVE GONE WITH THE HAWK)
LATOZI "MADOSINI" MPAHLENI

3. IKHAYA LISEMOMONDWENI (HOME IS MPONDOLAND)
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi

4. IHASHE (HORSE) PERCUSSION MIX
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi and Changuito

5. U MAZIPATHE LO (WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS SELF RULE COMES FROM, ASK GOD)
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi

6. AMAGUITO
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi and Changuito

7. INKOSI YAMAMPONDO (KING OF THE PONDOS) PERCUSSION MIX
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi and Changuito

8. SPHETUKANO (BAD LUCK CHARMS)
LATOZI "MADOSINI" MPAHLENI

9. MAJOLO (THE NAME OF A PONDO CLAN) PERCUSSION MIX
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi and Changuito

10. PHUMENTILONGWENI (COME OUT OF JAIL)
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi

11. UBUHLE (THE BEAUTY OF THE MUSIC) PERCUSSION MIX
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi and Changuito

12. YINTONI NALE IZANGE HASHE (WHO'S THAT PERSON THAT COMES ON THE HORSE)
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi

13. INKOSI YAMAMPONDO
Dizu Plaatjies,Mzwandile Qotoyi and Changuito

In 1995, two of the most accomplished percussionists from Cuba joined members of Amampondo to create the first ever Afro-Cuban collaboration in making traditional Xhosa music. Changuito, the master congalero and spiritual head of the Cuban Musicians has a long history (He was first introduced to the label by Airto Moreira). Also on the album is Mayito, who led the touring Afro-Cuban band, playing Bata Drums.
Fidel Mpondo is in essence inspired by the historic landrights battles of the people of Pondoland. The album is dedicated to president Fidel Castro but even more fundamentally to the Clan Chiefs who successfully resisted the British, the Boers and the apartheid regime in numerous uprisings and rebellions against overwhelming odds.
Robert Trunz