Bongeziwe Mabandla is more than just a singer…he’s the voice of the new generation
By Lebogang Mgiba He’s more than just a singer but an artist that uses his own voice to stand for what he believes in. For me, when it comes to music, there should be some emotions involved in order for me to get deep into it, otherwise there’s no point. I don’t mind listening to some ‘Ok” songs once in a while but I really appreciate artists that are story tellers and Bongeziwe is one of them. I was left in awe the first time I heard his debut album, UMLILO and wanted to find out more about him as an artist living in South Africa today. 1. You performed with Joss Stone when she was here in S.A, how did that come about? I got a call from a guy in Cape Town who was handling Joss Stone’s S.A tour concert and he told me she would like to do some cool things with South African artists. So I sent my music to him and he told me if she likes it, she will then invite me to do something with her. A week later I got a call saying Joss Stones really likes my music. Zahara and I did a performance at Balcony TV and second day we went to Soweto together which was nice and then she also invited me to Carnival City for her concert and we performed Isizathu together. 2. Interesting. How was the experience though? It was absolutely wonderful; Joss Stone is such a kind, warm and friendly person. I really like people like that. 3. How is your song writing process? I’m actually busy writing now and that’s why I got these musical instruments. This time I’m working with a band to kind of develop the song. It’s one of the things I didn’t have on the first album, UMLILO. I just did things, but I’m happy that it happened that way. With the first album, I didn’t really understand what I was doing. I wrote the songs in a guitar chilling in a studio and then they would be interpreted from there. Now I’m aware of what’s happening around me and I understand music more than I did when I was 24, making the first record. 4. What is Ndibonisiwe and Isizathu about? Let’s start with Ndibonisiwe. What I was trying to communicate was that, sometimes you can be in a situation that is not good and the song is about escaping and running away. When you see that things are not working out, it’s better to escape to something better or try something that works for you. It was also written about me trying...
D’BANJ & BIG NUZ LIGHT UP THE ALL STAR LINE-UP FOR MTV AFRICA ALL STARS KWAZULU-NATAL WITH SNOOP LION
D’Banj (@iamdbanj) and Big Nuz (@BigNuz_Afro) are the latest urban megastars set to electrify music fans at MTV Africa All Stars KwaZulu-Natal with Snoop Lion. The first ever MTV Africa All Stars concert, staged by MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) and KwaZulu-Natal Province, takes place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium (@MMStadium), People’s Park in Durban on 18 May. Charismatic Nigerian singer-songwriter and crowd-pleasing live entertainer, D’Banj has risen to stardom thanks to his innovative fusion of AfroBeat, AfroPop and AfroFusion sounds, delivered in a combination of Yoruba, English and Pidgin English. The self-styled “koko master” and multimillion selling recording artist achieved global attention thanks to his 2012 smash-hit “Oliver Twist”, which sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and debuted at number 9 on the UK National charts just behind the likes of Rihanna and Tulisa. Inspired and influenced by the late AfroBeat maestro Fela Anikulapo Kuti, D’Banj has won a whole host of awards including Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009, the BET Awards of 2011 for Best International Act and Best African Act at the 2012 MOBO Awards. Fresh from their appearance at the MTV Africa All Stars tour in Nairobi, Kenya are the undisputed kings of kwaito, Big Nuz, the insanely talented trio that comprises Jojo (aka Mampintsha), Mzi (aka Danger) and Sbu (aka R Mashesha). Since forming in 2002, these awards-winning Durban homeboys have confidently transformed the South African dance music landscape, growing under the guidance of their mentor, DJ Tira, and gracing innumerable clubs and stages at home and abroad with banging dancefloor favourites such as “Umlilo”, “Ntombenhle”, “Serious” and “Newlands West”. D’Banj and Big Nuz join Snoop Lion (@SnoopLion), Fally Ipupa (@fallyipupa), Professor (@professorkalawa), 2Face (@2faceidibia), Flavour (@2niteFlavour) and Zakes Bantwini (@ZakesBantwiniSA) on the bill for the concert. Additional exciting artists will be announced shortly. Doors for MTV Africa All Stars KwaZulu-Natal with Snoop Lion open at 17:00 CAT on Saturday 18 May, and the first performance starts at 18:30 CAT. To get your tickets for MTV Africa All Stars KwaZulu-Natal with Snoop Lion, priced R40, go to Computicket outlets, the Computicket website (www.computicket.com), the Computicket call centre (0861 915 8000) or branches of Checkers, Checkers Hyper and House & Home stores (see Computicket for terms & conditions). For an awesome preview of what to expect at MTV Africa All Stars, check out the highlights of the MTV Africa All Stars club tour, airing on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) from 10 May. Featuring high octane performances from Africa’s biggest live performers, the series takes music fans on...
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