RETSI PULE @ 85

FILM TREATMENT

LOGLINE : Eastern Cape’s self-taught jazz vocalist Retsi

15 minutes In Production

Series: iMbizo yamaKhono

Production Company
Sausage Films

Website
[Link]
SYNOPSIS
Retsi Pule is a South African Jazz vocalist and a living bridge between far afield as Johan-nesburg.
the musical eras, styles and approaches to Eastern Cape Jazz. Born 19th
of March 1940 in King Williams Town, Retsi’s positive musical influence The Third Act is profiles the return of Retsi Pule to Ginsberg. His journey
revives the historically impressive Eastern Cape, Xhosa Jazz Legacy. comes full circle to the Biko Centre, the land of his youth. But his youth is
as eternal as the spring. Culture and memory unite, music is liberation as
“Music is as wide as the universe!” This is the broad-mind and positive 85, Retsi Pule continues his jazz mission to share the music that puts a
attitude Retsi embraces to stay dedicated to his jazz mission. smile on your face.

The 15 minute interactive educational documentary is structured in 3 This episode forms part of a complete learning module including
Acts. The opening Act in-troduces the man. Growing up in the Xiniwe transcriptions of the composi-tions Logic, Masakhane, Biko, Namhlanje
household in Ginsberg, Retsi develops an approach and style to a Siyajabula, uMsenge and High Spirits. Detailed work-sheets, chapters and
musical career that has kept him fit and well for 70 years. Born one of six, a full album published as additional educational resource to not only bring
all musically inclined he has a particular love and talent for music. He is the student up close with the magical man from Bisho, but also to inspire
actively involved in school, church and local choirs. The choir he listens to your own creativity
is Ixhanti led by one of his early role models, Mr Mangcu. And out of the
choral music, his love for jazz is born.

The second act is the journey of Retsi Pule whose positive attitude
continues to build the music community in Eastern Cape. His career
emphasises positive change through sharing basic sing-ing skills. Against
all the odds of the oppressive dark age of apartheid and historical legacies
that remain.

Retsi is a creative soldier and a cultural activist. His jazz career begins in
Duncan Villageat the legendary musical Mbambisa home.

Retsi is attracted to the jazz standards that speak to his spirit and soul.
And as a lead vocalist, is billed in the jazz towns of all shapes and sizes
in Port Elisabeth, Queenstown, King Williams Town, East London and
locations of Ginsberg, Mdantsane, Duncan Village and Zwelitsha. Retsi
performs with the great bands and artists of the ages, igniting the fans as
KEY THEMES AND CONTEXT
XINIWE LEGACY : A primary influence is the Xiniwe Family home where JAZZ AGAINST APARTHEID: Since 2022, Retsi has intensively
he grows up. He is one of 6 siblings, all musically gifted and singers hymns workshopped and mentored aspirant and up and coming talented singers
in the Anglican Church, choral choirs and adult choirs in the community. with basic singing skills and the love of Jazz. This initiative started with
Pule’s grandfather is the African intellectual Paul Xiniwe, Lovedale graduate the Homecoming for the legacy of Johnny Dyani, a former Duncan Village
and owner of Esperance Hotel in King Williamstown. Together with his wife resident and member of the Junior Four Yanks acapella group.
Eleanor Xiniwe née Ndwanya they enrolled as part of the African Choir,
which was invited to sing before Queen Victoria in Britain 1891. BASIC SINGING SKILLS: Retsi’s spirit is as young as the spring. Retsi’s
mission is to mould talented and aspirant singers. He has a different
EASTERN CAPE JAZZ HUBS: Venues are a great influence where he approach to singing jazz music and intends on infusing and inculcating in
listens to live music. Zwelitsha Communal Hall hosts live performance. There the minds of the youth this new approaches. These include vocal exercises,
are a few swinging ensembles, with a strong Afro - Cuban and Brazilian listening, tuning, composing and improvisation.
flavour in their repertoire. Big bands in Eastern Cape particularly during the
50s- 70s have a great positive cultural impact amongst black communities. EASTERN CAPE JAZZ TOWNS : The Soul Jazzmen are based in Port
Elizabeth / Gqeberha / ‘The Friendly City’ and perform primarily in New
TETE MBAMBISA: During his early upbringing, Bra Retsi Pule is also a Brighton Township at the Grattin Street St. Steven’s Anglican Church
resident of Duncan Village and it is here a meeting with Tete Mbambisa Hall, and occasionally as well at the Rio Cinema. ‘King’ Jury Mpehlo:
will eventually happen and this relationship will also play a major role in Benevolent and renowned veteran Jazz vocalist in Grahamstown arranged
promoting Bra Retsi Pule as a jazz vocalist. He performs as a guest in his performances. Queenstown known as Komani today is fondly known as the
bands - the close harmony vocal group ‘The Four Yanks,’ and the all-star ‘Little Jazz Town” and features regular performances from Queenstonians
biggish band Soul Jazz Men. including; trumpeters Dennis Mpale, Mongezi Feza, David Mzimkhulu and
upright bassist Mongezi Velelo (hubby to sensational songstress Margaret
Mcingana).
LEARNING TREATMENT
Pre - Task Post - Task

His music is a personal love which no vocal coach ever taught. From lower New generation composer Chester Summerton has explored his
primary, Retsi developed an interest choral music, graduating this love by musical roots. He says, “Here is a musician who weaves the polyphonic
testing his agility with the tonic solfa, overlapping into chromatic scales. traditions of township choirs — the very sounds that filled my family’s
living room — into the modal landscapes of jazz. The result? A sound
His key is a positive mind frame. And that starts with intuition. For Retsi that feels both ancestral and avant-garde, where structured choral
intuition is intertwined with conscience. Whilst conscience is a guide for voicings dissolve into improvisational “uMngqungqo” , a Xhosa term for
behaviour, intuition is the map to sustaining creativity in the evolving that trance-like state of musical flow.
business implications of the music industry.
“The “nostalgic beauty” of his work lies in its refusal to conform. A
Retsi starts the morning and his daily regimen with his own morning prayer, phrase might begin with the swanky blues of Sinatra, twist into a Xhosa
gratefully and faithfully welcoming the new dawn of day. And before he folk melody, and resolve in a McCoy Tyner-esque chord cluster. For
retires to his bedroom in the evening, he must say an evening prayer, and in a young arranger like myself, this fluidity is both a challenge and an
his case the ‘Lord’s Prayer.’ invitation — a reminder that jazz, at its core, is a dialogue between
tradition and rebellion. Retsi’s genius lies in his refusal to be boxed. In
His first port of call is good health. Naturally that should encompass healthy transcribing Retsi’s arrangements, I was struck by how seamlessly he
living habits such as a big NO to all alcoholic beverages whose end - integrates choral techniques into jazz.
results cause an involuntarily break down of ones’ behavioural inhibitions
inducing misjudgement in the brain patterns. “This duality reflects a broader truth: in South African townships, choral
music is not merely a gateway to jazz; it is its lifeblood. Schools in the
He engages in consistent moderate physical exercises, engaging in daily Eastern Cape still treat choir as sacred ground, a tradition Retsi upholds
breathing exercises. He has a healthy diet and shying away from tempting through mentoring young singers today .
nice processed foodstuff such as amongst others as oily fried foods,
over - laden sugary treats/desserts, highly salted cold meats with artificial “As I prepare these transcriptions for publication, I’m reminded of Retsi’s
preservatives including cheese, salad dressings, margarines, refined foods own words: “No one is who they used to be an hour ago” . His music,
as in mealie - meal, white bread and pasta. He has a healthy eight hourly like the Eastern Cape itself, is a living, evolving force.”
sleep pattern a day, which if necessary is inclusive of a healthy afternoon
nap. Compositions Featured: Logic, Masakhane, High Spirits, Namhlanje
Siyajabula, Umsenge (Tete Mbambisa) and Biko.
Reflection: A lead vocalists lesson in the power of a positive attitude.
RETSI PULE @ 85
SALES STRATEGY

1.) TEACHING MODULE : Includes 15 minute documentary released free

2.) ALBUM RE-RELEASE : Includes the re-editioning of Look into your

3.) PRINTED BOOKLETS : Physical learning and the sheets can be printed
on demand for specific programmes studies.

CREDITS

Filmed at the Steve Biko centre 2023 filmed by Ben B Mthembu and 2025 filmed by
Thulani Ngongo and Lubba Mbena. Performances: Retsi Pule in collaboration with
vocalists Siphokazi Ngxokolo-Bili and Neahtyah Mbuyazwe and pianist Sinethemba
Bili (2024) and with Jazz Against Apartheid Band (2022 - 2023) filmed by Derrick
Makaula. Writer: Struan Douglas Photography: Vuyo Giba Musical Direction:
Chester Summerton Research: Nstikelelo Vimbayo Sponsors: Presidential
Employment Stimulus NFVF with support from ECDC and Steve Biko Centre