Hailing from the heart of Zululand, David ‘Qadasi’ Jenkins is a SAMA Award-winning musician on a quest to revive the powerful sounds of traditional Maskandi music. Having toured extensively both locally and abroad over the last 10 years alongside friend and mentor, Maqhinga Radebe, Qadasi’s eclectic fusion of Maskandi and western folk music is successfully making its way into local and international music scenes.
David Jenkins, also known as Qadasi, is an accomplished vocalist, guitarist, concertina and banjo player who developed a deep passion for Zulu culture and music at a young age while travelling through Zululand with his late father who was a journalist.
This interest grew exponentially over the years, and as a result, his love for traditional music was born.
After matriculating in 2010, Qadasi released his first studio album under record label, Sande Entertainment headed by Sibongiseni Shabalala of five-time Grammy Award winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. His second solo album, released in 2014, was nominated for a SAMA (South African Music Award) and SATMA (South African Traditional Music Award). In 2015, Qadasi was honoured to receive a KwaZulu Natal Young Achievers Award for ‘social cohesion through Maskandi music.’
With two solo albums and three collaborative releases featuring friend and highly respected Maskandi artist, Maqhinga Radebe, Qadasi’s quest to revive traditional Maskandi music is well underway.
David first met Maqhinga in Durban in 2010 when enquiring about a concertina tuner. After a ‘jam session’, thus began their story and the two have become firm friends, with Maqhinga initially taking the role of music director and producer of David’s first solo projects.
In early 2016, Qadasi went on to record a collaborative album alongside Maqhinga titled, ‘Lashis’ Ilanga’ – an organic, acoustic record which was ultimately nominated for a 2017 SAMA Award for Best Traditional Album. The duo released their second collaborative album in 2019 titled ‘Ungabanaki’ which won a 2020 SAMA Award for Best Traditional Album.
Qadasi and Maqhinga recently released their third studio album titled, Asibonge.
Over the past several years, the two musos have travelled home and abroad with their eclectic fusion, taking it to audiences in the UK, Europe, Asia, and throughout South Africa.
Aside from promoting Zulu culture, traditional music and social cohesion, Qadasi and Maqhinga have both been actively involved in rhino conservation, working alongside the Kingsley Holgate Foundation and Project Rhino as Rhino Art Ambassadors.
