Xhanti Nokwali
Wed Apr 3, 21:00 - Wed Apr 3, 23:00
The Athletic Club & Social
ABOUT
The music from Xhanti Nokwali’s debut album
Umthombo speaks to the many injustices that are a
continuous experience for the majority of Africans
across the world, it offers collective self reflection,
as a way to reconnect with culture and identity, as a
step towards universal harmony.
BIO
He first released a series of singles in 2020 and 2021
via Bandcamp, building up to the first single
Intlokomo which is featured on the recently released
Netflix film 'Banyana Ba Style' and the second single
‘Ezeyeza’ which is an expression of the difficulties
South African natives are experiencing with adjusting
to democracy.
Produced by Nduduzo Makhathini, recorded at the
ECAVC studios in East London and published through
an organisation founded by Msaki, ALTBLK>> , the
fusion of isingqi and jazz are central in telling a story
that is a representation of Xhanti's upbringing, his
deep connection to the rural space and the influence
of iintsomi told by his mother. The album features
some of South Africa’s finest musicians, Asher
Gamedze on drums, Bali Ntunja on guitar, Tumi Pheko
on trumpet, Amandla Zamxaka on alto sax and
Sakhile Twala on bass.
Xhanti Nokwali continues to travel around the
country, building organic momentum through his
foundation , fostering collaborations across the
industry through productions such as Classic
Calabash (by the Cape Town Music Academy),
Embo Festival(by City of Joburg) , Owning Our Living
Heritage (a research project by Abantu
Development Agency) and Umculo Sisininzi
Documentary ( by Fika Create).
Currently touring a collaborative project titled ‘Folk
Memoir’ with Itai Hakim, audiences can look forward
to hearing Xhanti perform Umthombo in various live
showcases .
ALBUM
UMTHOMBO
https://platoon.lnk.to/umthombo- xhanti-nokwali
Through his compositions , Xhanti leans into
vulnerability, using a multi-textured voice and
nostalgic writing style to express his connection to
the heritage of being umXhosa. The sonics act as a
gateway intended to inspire the imagination and
transport audiences into a space of healing. The
music is drenched in the melodic and rhythmic
patterns of ukombela and those who engage the work
travel with the sound into this place of harmony
brought about by this trance-like state.
Xhanti Nokwali is a storyteller through sound. His
music is the coming together of isingi which can be
traced from his exposure to ilali and is influenced by
South African jazz, folk and maskandi, forming a sonic
tapestry that speaks to our contemporary realities.
CONTACT
+27 76 9209 341
XHANTI
NOKWALI
A R T I S T P R O F I L E
FEATURES
IZANUSI - SIZANGENGOMA
IVA - UMHLABA OPHEZULU
https://www.instagram.com/xhanti_nokwali/
NEWS
https://trace.tv/music/independent-musician-xhanti- nokwali-releases-new-album-umthombo/