South Africa’s Thando Skwatsha is a versatile performer whose music, theatre and drama aim to spread hope and love.
The multi-talented musician and performer, connects with his ancestors through the release of his much anticipated single “isaziso”.
Drawing inspiration from his cultural background and rich Xhosa heritage, isaziso is a melodic afro-pop single written in Skwatsha’s mother tongue of isiXhosa. Loosely translating to ‘notification’.
“isaziso is directly translated from my home language, isiXhosa, as “notification or an announcement,” says Thando.
It speaks about the person I am perceived as by my closest friends and family. With specific reference to the first line of verse one. ‘ Ndakhuliswa mna ekhaya bathi ndikhulile bathi ndikhulile, kodwa ndisengumntwana’ which speaks about who my family sees me as compared to who I am when I am around them. It also is also my first entirely vernacular single.”
Thando explains how he strongly feels that he should be heard by his ancestors in this particular time. Especially because he is transitioning into adulthood.
He adds that his parents can only guide him up to a certain point and because of this, he needed to connect to a higher power for guidance. Powerful! We must say.
TAKE A LOOK:
A multilingual and poetic writer who hails from Gugulethu township in Cape Town. Skwatsha is known for combining heartfelt melodies with his powerful vocals and remaining true to his sound.
The performer also penned ‘isaziso’ as a way of notifying his ancestors of the man he has become. With hopes that they would be pleased. As they should, the boy is out here making means.
“I’ve grown so much – not only in my music but as a man overall. This is my way of telling my ancestors ‘hey, this is the man I’ve become – here I am. I hope you’re proud of me’”, he expresses.
Given that Thando has a charismatic stage presence and having traveled the world as a choral lead singer, sharing his gift with music lovers.
Skwatsha recently landed a recording deal with emPawa Africa. A shiny new record label and artist-start up incubator owned by Afrobeats star Mr Eazi.
Under which he will be releasing an anticipated full-length project entitled ‘iimini nentsuku’.
‘imini nentsuku’ will be released on November 18, and made available across all music streaming platforms.