A traditional Xhosa musical instrument rarely heard, the uhadi bow, was among the possessions of its 80-year-old musician owner, Notinki Jane Mdyogolo, lost in a fire that gutted her Grahamstown home on Tuesday.
A traditional Xhosa musical instrument rarely heard, the uhadi bow, was among the possessions of its 80-year-old musician owner, Notinki Jane Mdyogolo, lost in a fire that gutted her Grahamstown home on Tuesday.
Mdyogolo was lucky to escape with her life after her Thatha location house caught fire while she was sleeping at around 11pm.
Speaking this week to Grocott’s Mail, she said she was woken up by the smell and jumped up to check.
As she opened her bedroom door she saw flames all over her four-roomed house.
Mdyogolo saw that she had no option because the fire was already raging.
She ran to another room in an attempt to jump out of the window.
“I tried to open the window but I couldn’t because I was already afraid that I was going to die. I hit the window with an object and jumped out of the house.
“I screamed for help and my grandson who was sleeping in a house next to this one of mine quickly arrived.
Community members then also arrived and tried to fight the fire.
“But they failed because the fire was already all over the house.
“I lost all my belongings that night, my music instrument, two fridges, oven, TV set and a whole lot of other furniture. “I have now moved in to live with my daughter because I have no other place.
“Although I’m very sad about losing everything, I thank God that I managed to escape.
“I had no other way but to try and save my life by jumping out of the window,” said Mdyogolo.
International Library of African Music (ILAM) former director, Andrew Tracey described Mdyogolo as a person who dedicated her life to helping others.
Tracey said they met Mdyogolo a long time ago. He said Mdyogolo used to play a Xhosa musical instrument called uhadi – a traditional bow.
Tracey said it is rare to find people who know how to play it. “It’s unfortunate that her house burnt down and she lost her bow. I know her by her brilliant playing. “I used to call her to my classes at Rhodes to give lessons in traditional Xhosa music instruments.
“She would jump up and say ‘this one has passed’ when she heard a student playing the instrument nicely. “While I was still an ILAM director she used to come and participate in events that we organised.
“Mdyogolo also used to perform in the National Arts Festival. Although I don’t remember her going out of the Makana area, she is well known around here for playing her musical instrument. She has made a great contribution to the community by playing that uhadi.
“She was not dependent on playing the music but that is one thing that she loved doing a lot,” said Tracey. The uhadi bow is a single-string instrument with a calabash for a resonator.
Thembinkosi Mdyogolo, son of Notinki Mdyogolo, said there was an electricity outage in that area on the evening of the fire. He said the electricity went out at around 7pm.
“My mother then decided to finish off cooking supper by using a paraffin heater. “We don’t know what started the fire.
“It can’t be the heater that started the fire, there is nobody that could be still cooking at 11pm.
“Fire fighters were called and they managed to stop the fire. She lost everything that she had in the house, furniture, clothing and her musical instrument.
“Incidents like these could be avoided if people could be made aware when there is going to be electricity outage,” said Mdyogolo.
Makana municipality spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo confirmed the incident: “Yes there was a power outage and the cause of the fire is still being investigated,” she said.
