A mechanic by profession, Mnkandla temporarily swapped his greasy overalls and spanners for the microphone and dedicated his album partly to his soccer club – Highlanders. The new release also carries two refined Ndebele child-play tunes, which the singer says are meant to encourage a return to tradition for the modern youth.
“My main genre is traditional music, but I decided on House in this album so that I can reach out to the young generation,” says Mnkandla. “I realised that House appeals to the youth.”
The title track, two traditional songs, Wozongen’ungene, Qhela Umkhumbi and a love offering – Wamuhle, which is probably the best song on the album, are most likely to be highly appreciated in Bulawayo, where both Highlanders and House music are a hit.
The 34-year-old mechanic-cum musician, who runs a car repair garage in Hillbrow, near Central Johannesburg, first broke into the music scene in 1995, where he joined then Bulawayo-based Ndebele mbaqanga group, Isizukulwane, for a relationship that spanned the next four years.
In 1999, he left the band to seek greener pastures in neighbouring South Africa, where he continued to sing on a part-time basis and recorded his debut album, The beginning/Shikisha in 2004 which was a flop due to poor marketing.
Post published in: Entertainment