Tutu Puoane returns, wrapped in rhythm

THE first time I heard Tutu Puoane's music was not quite by choice. It was at the 2008 Cape Town International Jazz Festival. That same year when the US-based The Manhattans came down to South Africa.

- UNATHI KONDILE

Jeni Fletcher, who headed up the PR for the jazz festival back then, was tired of us young journalists drinking up a storm in the media lounge. She went around and gave a few of us access passes to the Rosies Stage, telling us we will be blown away by the next performer. Curiously, I went. The auditorium was quite full. I sat. And then it began. Tutu's voice held us all captive for an entire hour. There are no words to describe that voice. Her rendition of Carlo Mombelli's Mango Picker has forever remained ingrained in my mind.

Born in the then-Pretoria and now living in Belgium, Nontuthuzelo 'Tutu' Puoane is no stranger to Cape Town. From 1998 to 2000 she studied music performance at UCT. She lived in Rondebosch, Newlands and Sea Point before moving to the Netherlands to study further.