In 2023, we had the pleasure of hosting Thembinkosi Mavimbela &Jerzy-Popieluszko Zwelakhe Nkosi. AKA ‘Plu-Tal Finesse’. In their weeks at the Sophiatown Arts Akademy, the duo created poetry-cum-jazz interventions that left us crying for an album. Soon to come, we hope.

Photography: Solomon Moremong

Thembinkosi Mavimbela AKA Mavimbs studied a Bachelor of Music Degree (BMus) at the University of the Witwatersrand majoring in Performance and Composition. He has been active in the music industry since 2009 as a professional touring musician. He has worked and travelled with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) to the United States of America in 2011.

He has been highly involved with jazz combos such as the Ekaya Big Band with Abdullah Ibrahim, Themba Mkhize, Marcus Wyatt, late Zim Ngqawana, Sibongile Khumalo, Hugh Masikela, Simphiwe Dana’s DVD’s, Msaki and is currently Music Director for Ntsika (from The Soil). He has featured on various albums including Sisa Sopazi’s Images and Figures, Tumi Mogogrosi’s Project Elo, and McCoy Mrubata’a  Bra Skap Vol: 2. He was the musicians for the movie Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Mavimbela co-wrote two theatre musical productions – Milked Voice and Igama – with Director and script writer Slindile Mthembu. He is also a professional educator at Phineas Xulu High School, where he teaches bass guitar and runs a school Big Band.

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Jerzy-Popieluszko Zwelakhe Nkosi. AKA ‘Plu-Tal Finesse’  was born in Soweto, Johannesburg in 1990. He began his formal education at SholoMane Primary.. he later attended Malvern Primary School  and when his family relocated to Ennerdale, he went on to complete his primary schooling at Odin Park Primary and matriculated at Fred Norman Secondary in 2008.

He then went on to study Dramatic art.. psychology and English.. African literature and theology respectively.

 He is an upcoming artist; a trained thespian and a seasoned creative writer. He has written innumerable poetry and verse and compiled numerous anthologies. His writings reflect on his time on the planet and can be classified as personal and social and although born raised and has lived in Johannesburg all his life.. his work maintains universal appeal