ESINAM and Sibusile Xaba: Presenting The Duo’s Debut Album, Healing Voices

Sawubona.

There could be many outcomes from the meeting of two people. It could be a life-long friendship. Co-operation in riots.

Or, like ESINAM and Sibusile Xaba, to play music that is a burning and casting of things. A travelling to and back of a sound. A kaleidoscope of Ghana, southern African and other global grooves. And most probably intergalactic undertones too.

The Coming Together of Two Musicians

Nkosazane ESINAM’s touch in music, has been said to have a fair influence of that Ghana Highlife and Ewe people music, traditions both rich in drums and percussion. In Healing Voice, she is on flute, synths, fx, percussion, and vocals.

Mnumzane Sibusile Xaba on the other hand, brings the guitar finger-picking, which is prevalent in Maskandi and the Zulu guitar, everyday music of KwaZulu-Natal, where he comes from. And that relentless Malombo sound with strong percussion as it’s base.    

Healing Voice

Flowing Keep Flowing, which is the first song they recorded. It’s based on a previous collaboration they had done before, Flowing River, which appeared on ESINAM’s debut album Shapes in Twilghts of Infinity(2021).  

The Flowing continues with Xaba opening the song with guitar after the sound of toys, “Ngabe inkinga yini?” [What could be the problem?], he asks over the guitar. He is followed by his collaborator with her flute. “Wagudla amaya/ wagudla izintaba/ Ngabe inkinga yini?” [You’re walking across hills/ You’re walking across mountains/ What could be the problem?]. As they have been both referred to as “Wanderers”, probably the line could be more personal then we know.

But it takes an upbeat turn in the middle of the song, because a wanderer can’t wonder too long about their travelling. They must keep flowing, then the song becomes a sing and dance along. With both of them chanting.

Now there is something that should be said of Xaba’s voice, specifically on this number.

It’s taking a shape of Zulu blues tone like never been cast before. A rich and moist texture to it. He is growing into a vocalist who can do it even without his signature guitar. A voice given not through talent, by time.

Final notes on Flowing Keep Flowing is, listen to it using good headphones of a sound system. Then please remember to pay attention to the percussion, and the dub towards the end.     

“Working with Sibusile,” nkosazane ESINAM said, “I learn from him as a human, he’s very connected to nature, spirituality…As a musician he has a special way of singing and using his voice, as well as the sound of the guitar.”

On Dololo, you hear the warrior-like chants that were once compared to that of the late mnumzane Shaluza Max. They are accompanied by strong percussion, and then joined by ESINAM, who seems to know how to be a giving collaborator, and willing harmony maker.

The guitar has a Mzansi/Mbaqanga, yet global inspiration. But if you really want to know how the southern African guitar merges with a more global style, listen to Umhale, wait for the transition that takes place about 3 minutes into the tune. You go know.

The sound of the Mbaqanga guitar still finds a way to show itself, and don’t let ESINAM’s flute catch you off guard if you’re the prone to reminiscing type. Far away you go. You must listen to Umhale until it ends. With Xaba also playing the role of the praise poet, reciting the clan names of the Xaba people, “Nonkosi, owashwabadela izinkomo nezimpondo zayo!”

With Shwabada’s hand in music, you must come expecting transitions that take place in the middle, or right towards the end of the song.

[Take the song Tribute To Johnny Dyani (With IzangoMa)for example. It’s a 6 minute 30 second tune, with a transition on 5:30 –and that transition is the birth right of every groove lover. His music commands patience, a kind of delayed gratification.] 

Back to Healing Voice, the Ghana traditional song Yema, is probably what the media is saying when they describe the duo’s music as “cosmic gospel”. Led by Xaba on vocals, it also seems to be like an outdoor recording, with many voices singing and clapping in the background. With ESINAM joining on flute with a rhythm that is part-war-cry-part-dance-with-me.

“Her musical vocal is up there,” says Xaba about his Dogbatse, “…sky high, a super talented musician…all the instruments she plays she plays them exceptionally well…”

It’s written that with their music, “Each track is a reflection of their cross-pollination”, something the duo also calls “Interspiritual Jazz”. They describe their approach simply:

“We make music as art, we make music as medicine. These songs are created with a strong connection to our soul and the music of our ancestors. It’s a musical collection of rhythms and melodies that touch our heart and soul — sounds of healing voices musically charged with authenticity and creative inspiration”.

Xaba adds that the album is about “freedom and unconditional love” — and that the songs came to them effortlessly.

 “They bring a huge array of influences to the record: electro, spiritual jazz and roots music including Ghanaian highlife and traditional songs from Zulu and Ewe culture” – Silent Radio

Nanu’s Final Thoughts On The Album Healing Voices

We all hear different things in music during different times. There’s something that I’m hearing on this album, but I have to be honest, I’m not sure what I’m talking about.

Now please come here: when you note the sound of Healing Voices as a whole album. The style. The expression, you can pick something interesting up.

With the inspiration and mixture of different sounds like Folk, Jazz, Mbaqanga and so much more.

But what you pick up the most is something the South African bassist and composer mnumzane Johnny Dyani mentions in an interview with mnumzane Aryan Kaganoff, with was published on Chimurenga.

Just for context, Dyani was talking about mnumzane Eric Nomvete, the South Africa saxophonist and composer. He was referring to him playing at a certain event. “Everybody was playing so called jazz and this old man was hip enough that he had original stuff…He was himself. And within a song there would come all this…How shall I call it, SKANGA…The Family of Black Music.”

When you continue reading the interview, you can say that what this SKANGA is essentially, is a kind of DNA you find in all music by people of African descent.  

So what to expect from Healing Voices album? Think SKANGA. 

Healing Voices Africa Tour

ESINAM and Sibusile Xaba, are currently on their Healing Voices Africa Tour. They have covered places like Ghana, Mozambique, eSwatini and South Africa, they set to perform in Johannesburg, Braamfontein at Untitled Basement, 06 June 2026.