Bongeziwe Mabandla is excited to go back to France as he announces the amaXesha tour.
Since his first album, “Umlilo,” came out in 2012, Bongeziwe Mabandla has gained a devoted following.
Due to its colonization of a few African countries, France has a strong link to the continent. This is especially clear in Paris, where a lot of Africans have moved away.
Bongeziwe Mabandla, a South African musician, loves playing in Europe more than anywhere else besides South Africa for the same reason.
I like playing France because I know they really value what I do there. Mabandla tells The Citizen, The French are open to African musicians, and there is a strong diaspora in Paris that I really enjoy.
He told us that he wants to spend more time in France this year. His amaXesha tour, which is in support of his record with the same name that came out in May 2023, was just announced by the South African.
Tour life
Part of Mabandla’s tour includes shows in New York, which will be his first time there as an artist. This isn’t his first time touring Europe, though.
Mabandla said, It’s unique because it’s my first show in New York. I’ve been wanting to bring my show to the US for a long time.
The musician from the Eastern Cape said that he and his band had been waiting for tours in North America and chose to book their own.
The show is now sold out, and plans are already being made for the next one at the end of 2024.
Since putting out his first album, Umlilo, in 2012, the independent artist has gained a cult following. His fans are so loyal that he tours in places where some of South Africa’s biggest signed acts can’t go.
I believe that our different ways of doing things are beginning to pay off. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to get things done. Masandla said, I’m just lucky to have people around me who really care about me and what I do. He says that the progress he’s made is due to Black Major, his management team.
Few artists enjoy being on tour; some even miss their homes while they’re away. But Mabandla said that technology has made things easier when they miss home.
I miss home a lot, but being online and using WhatsApp video calls make it easy for me to experience things from afar, so I don’t feel cut off from what’s going on at home, he said.
His workouts are the ones that get messed up the most when he’s travelling.
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Writing Process
Some singers need to get into a writing zone after touring, but Mabandla writes music while on tour if the mood strikes. Travelling with his producer, Tiago Paulo, also helps.
When I have an idea, I can put myself in a bubble to work on it further. This could be on an airplane, backstage, during sound check, or somewhere else.
His fourth album, amaXesha, came out after 2020’s iimini. It was well accepted by both die-hard Mabandla fans and people who aren’t in that group.
This album, like its name, makes me think of a time for everyone. For me and a lot of other people, this record made us think about who we are. These songs will describe these times in my life, the singer said.
House producer Ntokzin remixed the album’s first track, “Sisahleleleni,” and Mabandla said he likes how other artists use his music.
I love coming up with new sounds and taking my songs to places I didn’t think they would go, he said.
Sisahleleleni in Ntokzin’s version is different, but it is just as beautiful and moving. Some people really liked how it fit the Amapiano ear while still staying true to the original.
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