Back in 1978, Mbulaheni Joseph Matsiari and his friend Joe Mathonsi would take their guitars to football matches just to while away time and entertain local soccer fans. All along, the master and passionate bassist from Chavani village, not far from Elim, composed many songs just for the fun of it, without recording them. He always had a dream that one day he would release an album of his own, wherein he would capture these impromptu creations. The dream, however, kept on being elusive.

Now, 46 years later, at the ripe age of 65, the retired educator has released his first jazz album, titled “Living in the Modern World.” The eight-track album was recorded at Diamond Studio in Chavani and boasts tracks such as “Money,” “Xenophobia,” and the title track, “Living in the Modern World.” The album was put together with the help of Fanie Khalanga and Joe Mathonsi.

“The new album is a dream come true for me. I have always dreamt that I would one day entertain and educate the community in a broader way. I used to play before small gatherings, but my message could not go far as it could not be accessed as recorded music,” said Matsiari.

He said that even though he had started playing music a long time ago, as an educator, he had had little time to concentrate on producing music. “I was married to my profession to see learners achieving their grades. This delayed my music, but as soon as I retired from teaching, the music bug came back to haunt me. With the help of my friends, I managed to put together this album,” he said.

Looking at his age, Matsiari is obviously of the old school, and it came as no surprise that he fell for the jazz genre. “‘Living in the Modern World’ is no ordinary album, and it reflects the journey I travelled over the years. The music is my life experiences and my observations on what is happening in this world. My music is to teach and pass on messages to the wider community,” he said.