WeeklySA_AdminLIVEWIRE: Young artist stoking up fires of traditional music icons…
By Gugu Sibiya
Growing up on a staple diet of mbaqanga, marabi, kwela and Afropop, it was inevitable for Amanda Nkosi to be bitten by the bug of the rich, rhythmic fusion of these homegrown melodies.
“I was raised by my grandfather Michael Mabaso. As fate would have it, he was a record salesman. His repertoire included songs by legendary Miriam Makeba, Mahlathini and MaHotela Queens, Dorothy Masuka and later Busi Mhlongo. I was so drawn to their music, it wasn’t long before I knew the lyrics by heart and enthusiastically belting these hits effortlessly,” narrates the lively Nkosi.
“The music struck a note within me, I promised myself that’s what I’d sing when I broke into the industry. Busi’s collection occupies a lion’s share of my heart because I dream about her.
She’s pointed me towards songs that are doing well for me in the marketplace. Her music has broken the stereotype that young people don’t like traditionally inspired songs,” she says with conviction.
In 2013, Nkosi stumbled to her big break.”I was opening for Zahara on the same stage my icons MaHotela Queens were performing at, for a Mother’s Day gig.
The late Mam Nobesuthu Mbadu recruited me to join the Queens. Mam Mildred Manxola was retiring due to ill health. I was sad for her but ecstatic for the door opening for me!
“Heart in my hands, I stepped into those big shoes. Ma Nobesuthu lovingly trained me and in 2017 when she was seriously under the weather, graciously handed me her baton. I’d finally realised my dream”.
Nkosi says, in spite of the amazing world the Queens have opened to her, she’s more determined than ever to build her own legacy. “We’ve performed all over the world. The reception is always breathtaking. Crowds love our unique brand of sound coupled with our moves on stage,” she says, chuckling.
“We really showcase our culture, thereby representing our country well. With each show, respect for my icons just grows. Hooking up with the Queens was the best thing to happen to me,” she gushes.
“I’m in awe of the Queens’ 57-year legacy. I pray that I’ll still be performing in my golden years, as they do. I’ve already started building my catalogue of music. Whenever I’m not touring with the Queens, I catch a few performances where I push my brand as Ntunja. I sample audiences with my brew of music. The youth love it but it takes my mature fans back to the halls of Sophiatown, Madubulaville, Alexandra, Lady Selbourne or Mkhumbane,” says the cultural exponent.
Before all the fanfare and razzmatazz, Nkosi cut her music teeth with Sunshine band as a vocalist while still in college in 2006. This was followed by a stint with a local jazz band in 2011.
Mother luck smiled at Nkosi in 2010. “I was fortunate enough to be one of the chosen beneficiaries of Tu Nokwe’s Umoja Flying Carpet Cultural Exchange Program. We went to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Norway for three months at a time. The objective was to teach each other about our culture, find commonalities and further develop values that are mutually beneficial to our countries,” Nkosi says.
It was time to show what her mama gave her when she graced the stage of the internationally acclaimed Umoja. “It’s a vibrant musical that narrates township culture through song and dance. We immersed ourselves in the storyline, enjoying ourselves in the process,” Nkosi recalls. An interlude that was followed by a link with a Kwa Thema, Springs production, Nail Him.
“Lockdown gave me an opportunity to check out the industry. When I was sure about my next move, I dropped my single, Imali under Intethe Records. I was ecstatic when it hogged the number one spot on itunes for three months” reveals the go-getter.
The bright star from Kwa Thema, insists it was by God’s grace that Imali attracted collaborations with popular acts like Heavy K, rapper Kid X of CaraCara fame and UK’s Dickson Bruv. A hook-up made possible by her publishers, Universal Music.
“I’ve just released two songs for Ubhova Odlisaladi’s documentary. Solifela Lelizwe and uZulu Uyahlabeka honours the brave, fallen warriors of the battle of Isandlwana. At 5 000 likes, the tracks are doing well. Good news is I’m dropping my LP at the end of September,” she promises.
“I’m really working hard towards cracking the Zulu market and earning my stripes in this exciting, yet complex, industry.
“There’s no doubt that I’m on my way towards building my legacy. And for that, I’ll be eternally grateful to my loving grandfather” she says, sending a quiet prayer for him”.
