At least once in a musician’s life, they stand on a stage and realise they are exactly where they are supposed to be.
For Lindokuhle Njabulo Hadebe — known to those who have felt his music as Safe Energy — that moment was probably on March 25, 2023, at Curiosity Backpackers in Johannesburg.
That was the night he opened for The King of the Zulu Guitar, father of Madalaline music, and Order of Ikhamanga recipient: Dr. Madala Kunene.
The torch, whether passed or simply witnessed, found its mark. Safe Energy has not looked back since.
The Songdreamer from Soweto
Safe Energy is a Johannesburg-based musician, well on his way on dreaming up a sound for Mzansi music.
“Music brings and gathers individuals together. It is a universal expression that sings one song.”
— Safe Energy
He started his music journey writing rap music at the age of 17, back in high school. Time, as it should, gave him an ear for the sound that should define the spirit of the time in Mzansi. One of his offerings as a rapper, is the EP Sizophumelela, a collaboration with Suup Zulu. The project is an experimental New Age Kwaito sound. Raw Hip Hop beats with a kwaai attitude, and so are the lyrics and statement.
Though he says about the EP, “… that was my birth book really, phases and phases…”, and somehow, he seems to see it as something moved passed. But the EP, was to define the type of musician he would be, as he continued to say, “…but this Folk/Mbaqanga music is in my spirit.” With a clear indication of his interest in Mzansi golden sounds dreamed anew.
A self-taught guitarist, and now the lead vocalist for the band Ntozakwantu, where his vision is to, “…bridge the gap between organic instrumentation and digital pulse.”
His sound is a warm home cooked mixture of “AmaHubo, avant-garde textures, blueish jazz tones, and the soul of Mbaqanga, all while borrowing spiritual depth from Malombo music.”
The Music That Gave Birth To Safe Energy
As South African musical heroes, he draws on the Madalaline of Dr.Madala Kunene, the Malombo sounds of Dr.Phillip Tabane, and the combination of both — and more — done by mnumzane Sibusile Xaba.
A self-proclaimed “songdreamer” — which he calls “balancing what’s happening when asleep, when awake” — and just like his musical heroes Kunene and Xaba, he has also shared that he dreams his songs.
Beyond the 2023 opening for Dr.Madala Kunene, he also opened for his icon on 14 December 2024 at the Folk & Griot Festival — a music and lifestyle showcase that takes place annually at Kwantu Village, Utrecht, KwaZulu.
As a Hadebe, the space was a homecoming experience for him. Kwantu Village is a space that does cultural work, part of which includes preserving the legacy of AmaHlubi, home to the Hadebes and Mthimkhulus — whose name Safe Energy sings in the song Izulu.
In 2024, Safe Energy was selected as a Top 4 finalist at The Gauteng Live Project, Sport, Art & Culture. The same year, he appeared on and received radio play on The World Show with Nicky B, a chance for a national audience to experience his sound.
A postgraduate in Journalism and Media, he carries the training of one who records, defines, and shapes the times. His message as a musician is to “liberate the spirit and heal the audience listening through song.”
He believes that “these gifts are meant to return to the creator — as creative, vulnerable, and honest as they should be.”
Then you can say that not only does Safe Energy play music, but he plays vision. Amen.
Quick Facts
| Artist | Safe Energy (Lindokuhle Njabulo Hadebe) |
| Origin | Soweto, Johannesburg |
| Education | Postgraduate in Journalism & Media |
| Band | Ntozakwantu (lead vocalist) |
| Musical Style | Folk, Mbaqanga, |
| Key Influences | Dr. Madala Kunene, Dr. Phillip Tabane, Sibusile Xaba, Soul Brothers, Busi Mhlongo, Oliver Mtukudzi |