NEWS:

Khangula Music enters into joint venture with Sony BMG

Khangula Music and Sony BMG have entered into partnership to release Nkwanyana's ground breaking Maskandi album, "Thwasa". Thwasa is in stores now and a launch was held on the 14th of August at the Sony BMG auditorium in Westcliff, Johannesburg. Khangula Music and Nkwanyana are very happy to be releasing on Sony BMG and are thrilled with the attention and focus that the staff there have brought to the project.

 NEW RELEASE: Thwasa | Nkwanyana

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PRESS

FT Weekend | London Edition
Byline - David Honigmann

Five Stars *****

Mahoyana Nkwanyana is a guitarist from KwaZulu Natal who has had a career in musical theatre. Here he revisits the classic age of mbaqanga : the music invariably starts with a playful maskanda vamp before the deep basslines, groaning concertina and joyful saxophones kick in. The words tell of faction-fighting and of women missing their migrant-worker husbands. Producer Andy Innes is also musical director for Johnny Clegg's band, and Thwasa has the punchy clarity of an early Juluka record; as if Kwaito never happened.

Mahoyana Nkwanyana was born in the hill country of Kwa-zulu Natal near Greytown and grew up under the Apartheid system of government in South Africa. He started playing Zulu traditional guitar at the age of ten and he is currently an acknowledged master in both the Zulu traditional and “Shameni” styles. These styles are set apart not only by their rhythmic and melodic differences, but are also played in completely different tunings and originate from different geographical areas of Kwa-zulu Natal.

Nkwanyana's soaring voice complements his guitar styles beautifully in a set of original compositions that can only be described as "breathtaking". From the first track to the last, the songs have a vitality and purpose that speaks to your heart. The cd liner notes contain full translations of the Zulu lyrics in English, so the listener can fully appreciate the message of the album.

“Thwasa” is the result of 3 years’ worth of collaboration and recording with Andy Innes, currently musical director and guitarist for the South African singer / songwriter, Johnny Clegg.

Mahoyana Nkwanyana lives with his wife and children in maBomvini, Kwa-Zulu Natal, near his birthplace, where he gains his inspiration and writes his unique brand of “Maskandi” music.

Genre Zulu Traditional / World
Public Distributed Release Feb. 2008
Internet Release Nov. 25th, 2007
ISRC # ZA-K22-07-00001 to 00010
Catalogue # CDKHNG001
EAN13 # 6 001651 037678

Credits Mahoyana Nkwanyana (Vocals | Zulu guitar | Bass); Andy Innes (Producer | Guitar | Bass | Keys | Programming); Silindile Ntini & Sonto Khumalo (Backing Vocals); Mandlenkosi Zikalala (Bass) ; Trevor Donjeany (Bass); Bukhali Bengu (Bass); Brendan Ross (Alto and Soprano Saxophones); Zamokwakhe “Magqagqa” Hlongwana (Zulu Concertinas). Tracked at StudioPxc, Johannesburg, SA and in Paris, France. Mastered at StudioPxc, Jhb. Design by Pixelchurch.

Track Listing

Thwasa - Nkwanyana
Vele Kunjalo - Nkwanyana
Wabonani - Nkwanyana
Amabomvu - Nkwanyana
Akeniyeke - Nkwanyana
Yaze Yabuhlungu - Nkwanyana
Inhliziyo Yami - Nkwanyana
Nga Khala (Ngiyayithulisa) - Nkwanyana / Innes
Baqale Phansi - Nkwanyana
Ngiyam'khumbula - Nkwanyana

All songs published by Mathambo Music