Camagwini has a story. A heart wrenching, tragic one but also a success story that she believes was orchestrated by her ancestral spirits. Indeed, her traditional Eastern Cape roots and spiritual calling are a huge influence on her look and sound. Though her voice reminds me of Amaqgirha (traditional people) singing at the rivers back in Transkei, Camagwini is far, far away from rural Eastern Cape life. She moved to Jo’Burg two years ago and though she was once laughed at and kicked out of choirs because of her unconventional voice, her debut Zivile, which means ‘they have heard me’ has seen her getting Best Newcomer and Best Adult Contemporary Album: African nominations at the South African Music Awards happening on the 2nd and 3rd of May.
My chat with her came just in time to capture the excitement of this proudly Xhosa rising star. We spoke about her village days, her family, Xhosa Culture and the super natural moment she had with Simphiwe Dana that led to her recording deal. But there was girl talk too is this sista session where we spoke about style, celebrity imitations, delicious dishes and, of course, her dream man. Guess what? This spiritual sister is crazy and fun too! And now it’s time for you to hear her story too…
Before we even go into the interview, how do you feel about the two SAMA nominations?
(smiles) I’m really honoured and humbled but I have to admit, that I’m very excited! I’m very happy! To me, the nominations show that I have been recognised and people appreciate my music well. I’m happy! No matter what happens the night of the awards, at least it will be said, whether you like it or not, that one day in the history of South African music, I was once nominated twice!
So were you born Camagwini?
My real name is Siphokazi Buti. Camagwini is just a nickname I got from the women in Idutywa when I used to go over to ezilalini (rural area) on my school holidays. It was to mock me without my knowing they were laughing at me. When they would sing iingoma zesintu (traditional songs) I’d want to join them, but I always used to sing off key. And they’d be like ‘he, look at the Camagu, there she goes’. I only found out later, then they started calling me it, and I liked it. But I guess they saw that I really wanted to sing and I really liked tradition, so it was great for them too to see this young girl from Port Elizabeth so interested in learning about her culture.
So where were you born?
I was born in East London, Mdantsane at Nu9. On the 31st of May 1983. I moved on early to Port Elizabeth e New Brighton, to live with my grandmother after three months of being born, after my mother passed away.
Oh my, very sorry to hear that, how did your mother pass on if you don’t mind sharing?
I’m told she was run over by a train. (Her eyes well up). Although sometimes I ask my self how it happened really, you know? How she could have been run over by a train because a train doesn’t just run you over. I sometimes think she threw herself at the train.
And what was going also going on in her head if she did that? I mean with the knowledge that she had a little baby.
And your father?
I don’t know my father, I’ve never met him, I only know his clan name. I know that I am Mamgqwashu!
Yho, that’s something, I did not know, so what was growing up like then for you?
Growing up was nice! Kwaku’mndani (she says that with a Port Elizabeth accent). I didn’t know that the person I was actually calling mom was my grandmother. It never felt like that. She loved me, and I know she still loves me. And she has taught me so much about life and about Ubuntu. I wrote a song about her ‘U Mama’ which pays tribute to her. She actually influenced my love for culture and traditional music, because we sang a lot at rituals. And she would tell me folklore stories (iintsomi) and I got some of my music from that, and I’m proud because I get to share the stories with the world. I use them as some of my interludes. Even the way I paint my face, with the white paint, that is how she used to do it. I felt like I was part of the family. And it never even bothered me the fact that my ‘mother’ was slightly older than some of my friend’s parents. I never knew. I had a normal upbringing. And I thought that my uncles and aunts were my siblings. But when I was old enough to understand, even though it was so hard for her to do it, u-mama’wam, finally sat me down and explained to me that she was not my biological mother, and how my mother had passed away….
Tell me about your encounter with Simphiwe Dana? I know you see it as a supernatural moment…
I think it was around November December in 2005, around the time ‘Ndiredi’ was a hit. I had gone to a gig in P.E where Simphiwe was performing and I was in the front row singing. Simphiwe didn’t even know me. Then just at the end of the song, she took my hand and held it up as she was singing with her eyes closed, until the song ended. It was something we both couldn’t explain, to this day. After her performance I went back stage to meet her since I was a fan. And I told her that I was also wanted to sing. She was very nice. She gave me her number and told me to call her when I decided to come to Jo’ burg. And she was telling me that she doesn’t usually do that at gigs, or give people her numbers just like that, but something was compelling her to do that. And when I came to Jo’ burg I called her and went to her house. She told me that the only thing she could help me with was helping me record a demo ( which I did, the songs ‘Chosi Chosi’ and ‘African Woman’), since she was busy promoting her album at the time.
That encounter to me sounds like it was orchestrated by the ancestors…how did you end up at Native Rhythms (The labels head Sipho Sithole signed Thandiswa Mazwai and Simphiwe Dana to Gallo and Siphokazi to his own label) with a recording deal?
I wasn’t studying or anything at home because there wasn’t money for me to further my studies. I remember it kakuhle (well). On the 5th of March 2006 I took a train to Jo’ burg. I thought ‘Let me go to Jo’ burg and try to sing because it will be better than not doing anything. That’s when I wrote the song ‘Akufani’ (meaning, ‘It’s better than…’). I wrote that song on the train. It was like a joke. You know how some people from the community are like, with remarks like ‘where does she thinks she’s going without money or any education?’ things like that. I knew it was not going to be easy in Jo’burg. My mother gave me her blessings and supported me.
So you ended up at Native Rhythms how?
When I was at Simphiwe’s (Dana), I met a photographer called Lungelo. He had brought Simphiwe’s music video and said to me that I looked like a musician. And I was like yes I sing and write songs. Because I thought he was fooling me, you know how the industry is; it took me two months to call him. He is the guy that said, ‘I’ll give you Sipho Sithole’s numbers, he has just opened a recording label. I think he might like your style.’ I didn’t even have airtime to call Bra Sipho, so I stole the phone at the Timber Place I was working at. He said I should come a certain day, I dropped the demo there and they said they’d call me. Early 2007 they called me and they said they like my music and are ready to sign me up. The contract was signed and we started recording Zivile in August 2007 and it was released in November 2007.
How did finally landing that deal feel?
I immediately thought of Simphiwe’s words that; ‘if you believe you are going to be a musician you’ll going to be a musician. Only you know if you are going to sing. And if you don’t get the deal, maybe you weren’t meant to sing.’
What did your mother say?
The first day she saw me on TV she didn’t believe it was me! She said, no that is not unomhlotshazana wam (little light girl). She’s very proud of me. She says that even if she were to die now. As her heath is very frail. …And she is always telling me to do this for me and to be streetwise and careful of people who’ll want to use me for money!
And how has the response been from people?
The response has been phenomenal and magnificent. At first I used to worry whether the audience is going to comprehend me. But every time I get on stage, I tell them ‘Please shut down you ears and your hearts, just give me your souls to work with, I would like to heal you!’ I get great response from people. My other highlight was this bhuti who called in when I was being interviewed at Jozi FM. He said I remind them of the rivers and I take them home! It makes me feel really great because I am doing big things in other people’s lives!
Who did you look up to musically growing up?
I’ve always liked Busi Mhlongo, u-Bhuti Ringo mostly because of language, Dorothy Masuka, Suthukazi Arosi I loved her so much! I used to bribe my friends to sing the Tu Nokwe song ('Iyoyoyo ubukhali bezembe') because I would get bored singing these R&B songs that we had sung in broken (English) lyrics all the time!
Has this always been you dress code?
Kakhulu! I’ve always loved to be many (have a lot of layers, and accessories). I’ve always loved the colours and everything beautiful, and dresses. I love the cultures that embrace colour, such as the Ndebele. They all are colourful those people.
What do you do for fun?
I like supporting other musicians and seeing them perform. Ayanda plays at Sophiatown in Newtown all the time, or watching Busi Mhlongo, Freshlyground, Siphokazi... Or I’ll just sit at home and hang out with my cousin uPhindile. Or I just sit on my own, and burn imphepho and listen to Ma Dosini, oh I love that woman!
What would people be shocked to know about you?
That I like doing impersonations and my all time victim is Rebecca Malope, on Gospel Time! Sunday nights I’m always glued to my screen! (Gives a lil' impersonation of Rebecca) and I think people will be surprised to know that I laugh a lot and I’ve different laughs!
What your favourite meal?
Umgqusho omhlophe (samp) and veges. Oh and chicken, I love it! I also like dumplings from self raising flour! And amagwinya (fat cakes) when they are still warm, I won’t lie, I hate kneading dough, but I’ll fry them. I don’t mind.
Do you have a boyfriend?
Not since I got to Jo’ burg. No I don’t have one yet, I’m still focusing on my career. But when I do find one, I hope that he will be as proud of his heritage as I am and one that will love me just the way I am. Not one who’ll try to change me. One who will say, ‘You know baby when you wear that long dress that makes you look like you are sweeping, you look good!’ A guy who’ll be a good father. But I know that most guys get intimidated by me. But because I’ve never had a serious relationship yet, I do wanna know how that feels like!
Okay onto something a lil’ more serious, When I listen to your music, I get a sense that umhlophe (you might have a calling). So do you have a calling?
Yes I do. It’s not an easy process though! Ukuthwasa is hard. The things you go through and the things you see sometimes are scary. And plus you know how it is when you tell your dreams to your family, they tell you to shut up, ‘where do you think we’ll get that money ,because it’s expensive to do the works that you have to do to acknowledge it (your gift)’. I acknowledged my gift to my ancestors, but I asked them to exempt me. Because I am still young and I want to sing and pursue my career. I requested (to my ancestors) to heal and work with them through my songs and through my music. I asked them to give me more songs to sing so that they can also be able to uku xhensta (traditional Xhosa dance). I also pray to my ancestors, that I don’t lie, and that I live life and be truthful at all times. I have even decided to take voice training as some of the songs that I get need a really, really strong voice. I want my voice to be fit for that, I don’t wanna play with these songs. The other day, I woke up with a dream. In this dream, there was a woman singing but her voice sounded like it was coming from down a fountain, or somewhere very far. It was very strong, I need my voice to be strong for that song. And I must tell you that I’m still going to sing it! I still have lots and lots of songs, crazy stuff! I’m still going to sing for Africa and the world!
