Album lore

Iintaba Azihlangani, released on Nothembi & Son Music in December 2024, presents Nothembi Mkhwebane’s ten-track collection rooted in maskandi and afro soul traditions. The album’s instrumentation and vocal delivery reflect a dedication to the rural Zulu musical idiom, with tracks such as "Usamariya" exemplifying the intricate picking patterns and plaintive melodies characteristic of the genre. The record’s modest footprint, with just over a hundred scrobbles on Last.fm, marks it as an intimate artifact within the contemporary traditional music canon.Nothembi Mkhwebane’s work here sustains the lineage of maskandi while weaving in elements of afro soul, offering a textured resonance that speaks to both preservation and subtle evolution. The songs unfold with a measured, unadorned earnestness, favoring organic instrumentation and narrative lyricism. This release stands as a quietly resolute testament to the enduring vitality of South African vernacular music forms.

Album lore

Iintaba Azihlangani, released on Nothembi & Son Music in December 2024, presents Nothembi Mkhwebane’s ten-track collection rooted in maskandi and afro soul traditions. The album’s instrumentation and vocal delivery reflect a dedication to the rural Zulu musical idiom, with tracks such as "Usamariya" exemplifying the intricate picking patterns and plaintive melodies characteristic of the genre. The record’s modest footprint, with just over a hundred scrobbles on Last.fm, marks it as an intimate artifact within the contemporary traditional music canon.Nothembi Mkhwebane’s work here sustains the lineage of maskandi while weaving in elements of afro soul, offering a textured resonance that speaks to both preservation and subtle evolution. The songs unfold with a measured, unadorned earnestness, favoring organic instrumentation and narrative lyricism. This release stands as a quietly resolute testament to the enduring vitality of South African vernacular music forms.