BY PHUMZILE NDLOVU
MBABANE – Something is being cooked!
Fresh from selling out their show on Friday at the at the British High Commissioner’s residence, Sisonkhe Kollektiv is in the process of working on their debut album, which is expected to be launched next year February.
This was confirmed by Nelisa Lawton today (Tuesday, October 29, 2024). Sisonkhe Kollektiv is the brainchild of Into Music Society and The Jazz Gallery. It was formed in June 2024, the 21 strong members’ ages range from 14 to 63 years old.
When reached for comment Lawton shared that they are working on their debut album. “About 11 members of the Sisonkhe Kollektiv are songwriters. We are hoping that by end of the festive season end of January, we will come together and produce an album. We are excited.”
According to Lawton they can’t sing cover songs forever, its time they did their own original songs, and having diverse members of the group ranging from Hip Hop, Jazz, Afro Pop and Rnb, they have 11 songwriters who will come together and work on music that will fuse with the group.
It is worth mentioning that the group made their debut performance at the recent sixth edition of Standard Bank Luju Festival Food and Lifestyle Festival on 2 August at the luscious Malandelas lawn in Malkerns. They gave a thrilling performance on the first day of the festival, at the Main Stage.
It is worth mentioning that the one-of-a-kind ensemble features some of Eswatini’s award-winning legendary and new-age musical talents, from singers, a drummer, a saxophonist, a pianist bassist, a trumpeter, cellist, violinist and guitarists, who remarkably fuse Jazz, opera, neo-soul and spoken word.
According to Lawton they are always willing to teach and assist each other and felt it was time to widen the musical family buy including aspiring young musicians living with disabilities that did not easily allow them opportunities to participate and perform with others.
To date, the collective has performed during King Charles 111 birthday celebrations and at The Jazz Gallery celebration of International Jazz Day.
The members are;
1. Mongezi Simelane (Cello)
2. Aliselihle Tfwala (Vocals & Poetry)
3. Kwanza Kamau (Violin)
4. Luluzy (Vocals)
5. Mlandvo Paules (Trumpet)
6. Siphosethu Mkhatshwa (Trombone)
7. Sihlelelwe Mncina (Saxophone)
8. Daniel Chulu (Bass)
9. Sakhile Sambo (Guitar)
10. iYA (Vocals)
11. Ndumiso Dlamini (Piano) MUSIC DIRECTOR
12. Mwesigwa Kisaakye (Drum
13. Itallo ( Trumpet)
14. Zwile (Saxophone)
15. Siphesihle Tfwala (vocals)
16. Nothando Dlamini ( Vocals)
17. KrTC Thamsanqa Sibandze (Rapper)
18. Samantha Rudd (Vocals)
19. Msimisi Sithole (Vocals
20. Tengesihle Mimi Gwebu
21. Celumusa “Ceceboy” Mkhatshwa
