Legendary South African musician Thandiswa Mazwai will release her much-awaited album Sankofa on 10 May 2024. She shares more
Affectionally known as King Ta, Thandiswa Mazwai is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Born in 1976, a year that inked its mark in South Africa’s history books, in which Youth Month was born, Thandiswa grew up in a political environment, as her parents, who were in the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, were activists and journalists. She grew up surrounded by books and the teachings that Africa is her home and that’s where her obsession to travel throughout the continent began.
The singer, whose voice is an instrument to share issues she’s passionate about, says that although she bumped into music as a career, she’s grateful that her destiny found her.
Mazwai has been in the music industry for 30 years, and her music transcends borders and generational gaps. Her reason for continuing to pursue her musical career remains the same as when she started: to make her late mother proud. She adds that now, she wants to leave a legacy for her daughter that she can be proud of.
She advises young people to use their youth to their advantage by being tjatjarag (forward). “This is how I met and built lasting relationships with legends, including Bra Hugh Masekela and Mam Lelethi Mbuli. I just threw myself at them! Also, listen to elders. That was my anchor in this industry.”
Legendary South African musician Thandiswa Mazwai will be releasing her much-awaited album Sankofa on 10 May 2024, her fourth in eight years. This will be celebrated with an album launch at Carnival City, Johannesburg on 11 May, and shows at the Durban Playhouse on 31 May and the Artscape in Cape Town on 20 July.
About the album, she said: “Sankofa in the Ghanian language Twi means to go back and fetch what’s been left behind – what is important, what honours you, and what needs healing. How apt that as I prepare to launch this new work, my seminal album Zabalaza, celebrates 20 years. For me, this is the year of Sankofa.”
Recorded in Johannesburg, Dakar, and New York, the album combines archival Xhosa music, jazz and west African rhythms. It includes songs produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, Chris Bruce, Nduduzo Makhathini, Tendai Shoko and Thandiswa.
About the Sankofa Tour, Thandiswa says: “I am so excited to share this new music with my fans. It is such a privilege to still be able to do what I love after 30 years in this industry. Ndibulela ngazozibini for all the love and support. We promise a show full of love and celebration.”
The album can be pre-saved at Sankofa. The single Kulungile (feat. Nduduzo Makhathini) is out on all platforms.
Thandiswa’s Tiny Desk Concert, now on half a million views, can be viewed at: Tiny desk
ALBUM LAUNCH – CARNIVAL CITY
11 May 2024, 8pm
Tickets 350-1000
Tickets at Computicket:
DETAILS ABOUT DURBAN PLAYHOUSE
31 May 2024, 8pm
Tickets 350-600
Tickets at Webtickets
DETAILS ABOUT ARTSCAPE CAPE TOWN
20 July 2024, 8pm
Tickets 350-600
Tickets at Webtickets
Image source: Instagram
