THERE are very few musicians alive today who know how to play the makhoyane, the traditional instrument of the Swati. Most are elderly. Enter Thobile Magagula who is bringing the instrument back to life with Hypno-rock and Africhant. With great precision and agility, Thobile Magagula holds the calabash of the makhoyane - a tall, gourd-resonated braced musical bow - to her chest and strikes the taut wire with a dried stick or piece of hard grass. This creates a rhythmic pattern as she chants and sings narrative songs about local stories and the struggles of life. Read more... /bird story…