Picture of Celestino Mpho Matabane (RKM): supplied
World Accordion Day is celebrated every year on the 6th of May.
The accordion is used in a wide variety of musical genres – in Europe, Africa, North America and South America.
Naomi Meyer attended a South African accordion event (read the interview here) and below interviews Celestino Mpho Matabane, aka RKM or The Accordion Guy. RKM lives in Soweto and plays traditional Sesotho/famo songs.
Hi, RKM. What is your full name and what does it mean?
Hello, Naomi. My name is Celestino Mpho Matabane, and my stage name is RKM, for Ralikoriana Koete Masholu. The name simply means, in short, “Accordion Guy”.
Ralikoriana = accordion guy
Koete = gentlemen
Masholu = famo accordion dance songs that have no chorus
I am an accordion guy who plays dance songs – it is a nickname I got from a fellow famo accordionist.
How long have you played the accordion? Why did you start playing the accordion?
I started playing the accordion late in 2004. My late uncles from Lesotho were famo artists, and they used to host famo festivals/concerts. That’s where I first saw the accordion, and it sparked my interest.
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I started playing the accordion late in 2004. My late uncles from Lesotho were famo artists, and they used to host famo festivals/concerts. That’s where I first saw the accordion, and it sparked my interest.
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The reason behind my accordion playing is solely based on my love for sounds and music in general; it gives me an outlet to express myself, and it gets me into a realm/space I can’t explain in words, but which brings peace and excitement to my heart. I love the sound; it gives me goosebumps every time.
Playing the accordion is difficult. Did you take lessons somewhere? Did you see somebody play? How did you learn to play it?
Playing the accordion is no different from any other instrument; I wouldn’t say it’s difficult, but one needs to learn the basics to start playing. When my uncle passed on in 2004, I inherited one of his smaller accordions. Yes, when my uncles hosted the famo festivals, I saw other accordionists and percussionists play.
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I started as my uncle’s drummer/percussionist; he showed me three chords one day, and I took it from there.
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I started as my uncle’s drummer/percussionist; he showed me three chords one day, and I took it from there. I kept learning from other accordion players, looking at the way they played and memorising the sounds and chords.
An accordion is expensive. Where did you get your instrument? Is there hope for any musician who wishes to start playing but cannot afford an instrument?
I inherited my first one from my uncle, and the second one I got from a close friend as a gift from his father’s church. The recent one, my famo client also bought as a gift to help me keep honing my skills. All second-hand – I am yet to own a new one.
Yes, there is definitely hope for everyone and anyone who wants to play the instrument. I also had to go to other people who had accordions to play theirs, when mine broke. It’s not easy, but if you love it ... a way will be made.
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Yes, there is definitely hope for everyone and anyone who wants to play the instrument. I also had to go to other people who had accordions to play theirs, when mine broke. It’s not easy, but if you love it ... a way will be made.
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How is the Western accordion music different from famo music?
I think the biggest difference would be the formal side, or the academics. Most “African” musicians don’t have the ability to read music notation or write it. We play from ear and inspiration.
And also, the cultural elements like language and sounds familiar to us as “Basotho” are sometimes different. We all have our way of expressing it, but music is music in the end.
Can people watch you play online (YouTube, for example)?
I don’t have a lot of content specifically on YouTube, but I do have videos on other social media platforms, like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. However, I am going to start posting consistently on my YouTube channel soon.
Do you have advice for new players in townships who would like to start playing famo?
My advice to young, aspiring players would be first to love an instrument and the style of famo. Get a mentor – it’s easier. Also, go further and learn other forms/genres or styles of music, as this opens doors and more opportunities. Go get formal training if possible, as this adds an advantage to the skills. It’s possible if you truly love it.
I see that famo music has a long history. I read about its complex history in this article. It seems to me famo music started in the mines, when workers from Lesotho worked in gold mines, especially. The problem was that music was dragged into this picture of gangs and of violence, and the music scene became violent. Is this your understanding as well, or what is your own experience of this?
The article paints an almost exact picture of the gang violence and the fights among most of the famo music artists, especially the gang-affiliated ones. Fortunately, I am not badly affected, but I have experienced some scary situations, because some of the gangs or gang-affiliated people want to control the music and who we play for and where we play. So, the clientele these days is small because of the hostile environment the famo culture has become.
I lost a friend/someone I was mentoring because he was influenced to join such groups. One of my uncles was also murdered execution-style in a famo concert, because he didn’t want to join in. I also have been targeted by gangs for recruiting; some intended to rob me and take my accordion, but I survived it all.
It is actually hard to play at famo festivals/concerts now, because of the violence. They sometimes come and rob people or open fire at the concerts, and most of them are linked to the illegal mining gangs/zama zamas.
I could write a book about famo music and the violence in that scene. Most of the violence is instigated by gangs. However, we have other accordion players and famo artists who are not involved in the violence, and they live longer and get more clients than those who are gang-affiliated.
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However, we have other accordion players and famo artists who are not involved in the violence, and they live longer and get more clients than those who are gang-affiliated.
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A musician cannot live by making music simply for the sake of the love of music. (Artists cannot live by creating art for the sake of art alone!) Do you ever feel frustrated by people simply expecting you to play at events and not really paying you enough?
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It’s funny that you mention it, but most people don’t understand that music is a profession and we need to be paid for our services. Yes, it’s frustrating to me and to most people I play with or meet. Some have even quit because of that specific problem.
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It’s funny that you mention it, but most people don’t understand that music is a profession and we need to be paid for our services. Yes, it’s frustrating to me and to most people I play with or meet. Some have even quit because of that specific problem. It’s challenging to be in the music industry, so I also end up supplementing my income by getting part-time jobs or selling something to sustain myself and supply my basic needs.
Can people book you to play at functions, and how can they contact you?
Yes, I am available for bookings for weddings, birthday parties, concerts, festivals, studio sessions, collaborations, funerals and any other events.
Instagram is @Ngwanalerato_celestino.
Facebook is @CelestinoEurythmic.
TikTok is @CelestinoEurythmic.
Email me here.
LinkedIn is Celestino Matabane.
Also read:
Stephanus Muller praat met Lizabé Lambrechts, uitvoerende bestuurder van Nuuseum
From violence to violins: ’n onderhoud met Maria Botha van Muzukidz
Wêreldtrekklavierdag: ’n onderhoud met Leon Albert Oosthuizen
Kommentaar
Blessed to see this one. Thank you.
Interesting to read.