Xhanti Nokwali

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

[email protected]

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/

DIRECTIONS