BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – Impeccable sonic, melancholy sounds, distant drums and strings and an overall vulnerable set of lyrics best describe Mbongiseni Bholoja Ngubane’s latest offering.
A twitter user in 2018 once wrote : Eswatini artists will drop their music like a rumour.
This is what staunch Bholoja fans felt like yesterday when they woke up to the news of his new album titled ‘Imphilo’, which he announced on his personal instagram account in the early hours.
The eccentric African contemporary album boasts of well written and concise tracks that total up to 11.
The 1hr 9 minutes offering by the award winning prince of African Jazz is soothing and welcoming to all themes of life.
There is a specific song that seeks to address letting go of anger and self sabotage by encouraging the listener to not give up. Another song seeks to drive out being patient with self not giving up.
‘Lugagadvu’ is the title of the song, for a good seven minutes Bholoja uses his comforting voice and infectious lyrics to describe an invaluable compendium of useful information about drought, giving up and life struggles.
Another magical offering on the album is’ Mkhulu longakimi’ which sounds like a personal audio letter to God from Bholoja.
The percussions used towards the bridge of the song relaxes the message of appreciation Bholoja is sending out to his God.
“All forces will perish, as long as I believe in him as long as I put him first. Mkhulu longakimi,”, reads the singer’s lyrics.
When speaking about the album, Bholoja said he was really honoured and grateful to have worked with great musicians,
“My production Company(Future Paradise)and marketing/ Management team(One World Records and Koda) worked with me on this lovely project.
I have learned a lot about being patient. It has been years of searching, looking to be distributed digitally in Africa, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, USA, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, UK, Japan,Benelux, China,” said Bholoja.
He further said, he was going to keep his fans posted in regards with the launch and accessibility of Imphilo album.
“In God I trust and feel blessed. For appropriate partners.Im glad we found potential and experienced partners, One World Records. God is faithful indeed,” he said.
Bholoja known for his infectious sense of humour and optimism, his voice has become a mouthpiece for the underprivileged. Singing in Siswati and English, his music, Swazi Soul, blends alternative soul, gospel, jazz, blues, and African traditional rhythm.
His powerful lyrics combined with a striking multi- coloured voice has won respect and expanded his music internationally.
Bholoja, born Mbongiseni Ngubane, is to be considered one of the most relevant figures of the contemporary African music scene.
After the success of his first album, Swazi Soul, released in 2009, Bholoja gained vast appreciation and earned ample recognition in Southern Africa, becoming the first Swati artist to achieve international exposure solely through the works of his music.
He draws his inspiration from Swati tradition and seeks to preserve the country’s cultural heritage through his songs.
His music is a response to the changing global situation and African growth challenges. This passionate artist soon became Eswatini’s rising symbol of its native rhythms, melodies, arts and culture.
Maintaining Swati traditions is his greatest inspiration and his way of living, becoming a mouthpiece for the underprivileged, bringing forward a message of hope to the victims of true social and health pandemics.
Bholoja’s unique and original brand of music, which he calls Swazil Soul, quickly gained popularity in Southern Africa, and his distinctive and outstanding voice has become its symbol.
It is hard to classify his characteristic music as it meanders and bends between his various sources of inspiration, such as alternative soul, gospel, jazz, blues and African traditional.
What is certain about his music is that it is cloaked in social commentary, and it speaks to the listener. His enduring popularity is largely a result of his music lyrical strength, depth and individuality.
A large number of his songs focus on the social and economic issues that govern peoples’ daily lives. With an infectious sense of humour and optimism that prevails through all his music, Bholoja’s appeal extends to young and old alike.
In 2009, he recorded his debut album, Swazi Soul, in Paris, France through the help of the Alliance Francais du Swaziland. In 2015, he completed Swazi Soul II in Pretoria, South Africa. Swazi Soul III is currently in the final stages of production.
Some of his other musical achievements include:
Best Upcoming African Musician 2009 Artist at Visa Pour la Creation hosted by Culture France.
His growth as an artist has seen him sharing the stage and studio with great names in the music scene, such as Hugh Masikela, Erika Badu,
