"“usomizi mhlongo, unathi msengana norandall abrahams bazoqhubeka nokujaja njengoba bekwenzeka ngonyaka odlule. azikabi bikho izinhlelo zokuqalisa ijaji elisha elizovala isikhala.”" I’d like to begin this discussion on the topic of the music of indigenous tradition, particularly the music of Mantombi Matotiyana, by reminding the reader that this is, in fact, hardly the kind of music we can expect to see dominating the airwaves on television or radio in South Africa. Indeed this is music that is also not widely taught at local universities, where the main thrust of studies in music is weighted either towards elevating the study of the music of European composers who lived as long ago as the 19th century (what is generally termed classical music) or the music of composers writing in the tradition of Jazz during the 20th century – these are the two kinds of music we have been taught to value and consider worthy of academic analysis. The music of indigenous tradition is by contrast generally not regarded as available for, nor indeed requiring, deep analysis.