Sawubona. Let me tell you what happened when Dr.Madala Kunene and mnumzane Sibusile Xaba had a residency at Kwantu Village. From 16 – 22 February, they put work on what was to be their duo’s debut album, kwaNTU.
“We always dreamed of doing an album noBaba,” said Xaba about the project , “It’s amazing that it’s finally come to life.”
They spent the whole week rehearsing, making new music, and vibing with the energy of Kwantu Village and it’s Villagers.
The duo was joined by Percussionist mnumzane Gontse Makhene, who was there in all the glory of the Makhenes. About him on the album, the Jazz Writer nkosazane Gwen Ansell wrote he was, “…so integral to the sound he probably merits a front cover credit too.”
They were later joined by the Singer nkosazane Fakazile Nkosi. Then there were later features that took place beyond the Kwantu Village residency. Those features are Musician mnumzane Kholofelo “Naftali” Mphago, Artist mnumzane Daniel “Stompie” Selibe, and others.
The final product, was a 10 track artifact mined from the stuff of Afro-Folk, Madalaline, KwaNtu Roots Music that doesn’t pretend like it knows everything. But it does.
“There’s a song I’m hearing,” said Dr.Kunene, “which I think will be a very good song. It’s titled Izimpisi.” The tune is in the classic Dr.Madala Kunene style of singing childhood play songs, and turning them into a high art form. A song that affirms the parent’s protection from izimpisi, the wolves.
Then there is him, Sibusile Xaba on Umkhulu Omkhulu: An Ode To Credo Mutwa. A Xaba tribute is always rich with fine composition and poetry, “…imvelo yamupha indaba yokuvusa amaZulu…”(Nature gave him a story to awaken the Zulus) – forever affirming the sovereignty of Sanusi Credo VusamaZulu Mutwa.
The Jazz in Dr.Kunene’s fingers shines through his guitar on this track, right before he switches for his istolostolo later. He plays it in Izimfiloji, a sound skhaftin’ that teaches one how to listen to music again, in case convention has boxed our taste.
A mystical piece that explores sound art, and how it would possibly sound in a BaNtu mythical field. Istolotolo, clay whistles, drums, distant animal sounds that you’re not sure whether they’re there or not, and an old man groaning his blues in a space where he thought no one would hear him.
“Before music, there is sound…” Xaba has said about the approach to some of the music.
There are other key compositions that showcase each artist for who they are. Like the song Thisha, which I think is for nkosazane Fakazile Nkosi to hold to her chest as one of her best deliveries yet. Very hygienic vocals and lyrics, “Impilo uthisha, uzofunda.”(Life is a teacher, you will learn)
The take on mnumzane Winston Mankunku Ngozi’s Yakhal’inkomo on the song Inkomo, is another reminder why Mphago and Xaba are old friends.
The album was made possible by Mushroom Hour Half Hour(SA) and New Soil(UK). It officially came out on 31 October 2025. You can purchase it on https://madalakunenesibusilexaba.bandcamp.com/album/kwantu.
“An intergenerational duo of musical shamans working in the grand lineage of Zulu guitar” -Dr. Uhuru Phalafala