With the release of his fourth album, amaXesha, on May 5, South African artist Bongeziwe Mabandla assumes leadership of the Black Alternative sound from Africa that is gaining popularity throughout the globe and asserting its position as one of the most distinctive musical genres.
On one of the biggest music stages in the world, Bongeziwe Mabandla made his debut on A Colors Show wearing a stunning mustard attire that was accentuated by a beautiful blue backdrop. He gave one of the most affecting performances of his upcoming single, “sisahleleleni (i).”
Colors is a unique aesthetic music platform showcasing exceptionally talented artists from around the globe, focused on promoting the most distinctive new artists and original sounds. Bongeziwe is one of a handful of South African musicians to earn a performance on the coveted channel, with previous artists including Sho Madjozi, Sjava, Yungen Blakrok and ByLwansta.
His upcoming album amaXesha, meaning “The Times”, is also the sound of the enigmatic spirit of African soul – as Mabandla is known – distilling the themes of time and compatibility within the vast fields of love. Written during South Africa’s stringent pandemic lockdown, Mabandla found the time in that isolation to introspect on the importance of connection, especially how this impulse can keep us going back to the same kind of experiences and outcomes in our love relationships. “The loops of our lives,” he calls it.
You can pre-save the album and listen to three singles released earlier in the year, ‘noba bangathini’, ‘ndikhale’ and ‘ukuthanda wena’, ahead of the full album release on the 5th of May. Watch the colors video below:
