Mr MacKenzie and Mr DtGnome:

Paul Simon/Ladysmith Black Mambaza is pretty much ridiculed around these parts, particularly by black musicians who find it all a little patronising. Not that one wishes to underrate Paul Simon, but, well, it is very much Simon on Simon for Simon, by way of short detour through Ladysmith B.M. That whole experiment was reflective of a short period in the '80s, when we had groups like Mango Groove, who also tried to do what Simon did.

Folk music - particularly from Britain - is emerging again for people in SA, but a lot of it is obscured by the current fad for "Celtic" and "Druid" music (a capella women's voices chanting, very Stonehenge type stuff) - it would be good to have your recommendations of who to listen to. Can you suggest anything? The global fusion thing in music is sometimes fabulous, but also, alas, sometimes a huge contaminant of art....

Mr MacKenzie - the pennywhistle and kwela are still VERY much alive and well. NOwadays it falls into a category called "township jazz" which is enjoying a massive revival. I don't know whether you have access to much African music where you live, but I very very strongly recommend you try to listen to an artist called Simphiwe Dana (she is quite new), also to Jimmy Dludlu (guitarist) and above all to a group called Bongo Maffin (yes, that IS spelt right!). These are all very exciting, vibrant genres which are continually evolving.

Thank you -