Channelling Tsolo’s magic through music
Bongeziwe Mabandla’s second album draws on the spirit of home
Bongeziwe Mabandla’s music is an adventurous presentation of alternative African music. The haunting way he plucks the guitar strings allows for his emotions and sincerity to bleed through, making for profound and perceptive story telling. This is part of the magic that makes him a unique voice in the urban folk space. He has carved this niche for himself with a blend of African traditional sounds, folk stylings, a contemporary sensibility and captivating isiXhosa vocals. Umlilo, his debut album of 2012, was a meditation on self and politics. It struck a chord due to its emotional quality and the freedom with which Mabandla lays bare his vulnerabilities. Open and honest, the messages in his music are shaped by how he allows himself to look inward in order to make sense of the world. He carries this signature trait into his second album, Mangaliso, which is notably groovy and includes some electronic instruments, but maintains the ambient feel of Umlilo. Mabandla is on a tour that ha...
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