''Zabalaza'' is the first solo release from the

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

n musical performer,

Thandiswa Mazwai Thandiswa Nyameka Mazwai (born 31 March 1976) is a South African musician, and is also the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bongo Maffin. She is also known as King Tha. Her debut album ''Zabalaza'' (2004), which attained double platinum status ...

. Before this album, Thandiswa was most famously known as the lead singer for the kwaito group

Bongo Maffin Bongo Maffin is a South African kwaito music group formed that was originally formed by a Zimbabwe-born musician DJ Appleseed Johannesburg in 1996. They released their first studio album, ''Leaders of D’Gong'', in 1997, followed by ''The C ...

. ''Zabalaza'' (which means ''Rebellion'' in the

Xhosa language Xhosa (, ) also isiXhosa as an endonym, is a Nguni language and one of the official languages of South Africa and Zimbabwe. Xhosa is spoken as a first language by approximately 8.2 million people and by another 11 million as a second ...

) incorporates elements of kwaito, traditional

Xhosa music Xhosa music has long been a major part of the music of South Africa, especially in the field of jazz. Since olden times, singing has been a tradition and part of culture among the Xhosas. Xhosa music is characteristically expressive and communicat ...

mbaqanga Mbaqanga () is a style of South African music with rural Zulu music, Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today. The style originated in the early 1960s. History Historically, laws such as the Natives' Land Act, Land Act ...

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...

, and

gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music, and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. Gospel music is com ...

. Several producers and vocalists contributed to the album: Tshepo Tshola features on "Ndilinde"; Xhosa traditional vocalist Madosini sings on "Lahl’umlenze"; Mandla Spikiri produced "Kwanele"; and "Transkei Moon" and "Ndizokulibala" were both produced by D-Rex and

Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick Jean-Paul Maunick (born 19 February 1957, Mauritius), better known by his stage name Bluey is a British guitarist, bandleader, composer and record producer. He has led the British acid jazz band Incognito since its formation in 1979. With Inc ...

of the band

Incognito Incognito is an English adjective meaning "in disguise", "having taken steps to conceal one's identity". Incognito may also refer to: Film and television * ''Incognito'' (1937 film), a Danish film * ''Incognito'' (1997 film), an American crime ...

. Malambule produced all other songs on the album, and he is the album's

executive producer Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...

. The members of Mazwai's backing band were selected from more than 400 candidates after three days of auditions. As additional preparation for the recording process, Mazwai embarked on a pilgrimage to her mother's home village in the

Transkei Transkei (, meaning ''the area beyond he riverKei''), officially the Republic of Transkei ( xh, iRiphabliki yeTranskei), was an unrecognised state in the southeastern region of South Africa from 1976 to 1994. It was, along with Ciskei, a Ban ...

, moving on to spend a fortnight in Mkhankato, Madosini's village in the heart of rural Transkei. Here she was exposed to the original sounds of Xhosa traditional melodies, and was introduced to the Uhadi, a traditional Xhosa one-string harp. Over the two weeks, Madosini imparted cultural wisdom, explaining the philosophies inherent in the creation of Xhosa music, respect for others and self, recognizing the spiritual realm as the true source of the music, and the key role of nature in the creation of music. ''Zabalaza'' was released by the

Gallo Record Company Gallo Record Company is the largest (and oldest independent) record label in South Africa. It is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is owned by Arena Holdings. The current Gallo Record Company is a hybrid of two South African record label ...

's Gallo World Vision (GWV) label.

Track listing

#"Mkhankatho Interlude" – 0:35 #"Nizalwa Ngobani?" (''Do you know where you come from?'') – 6:44 #"Emzini Interlude" – 0:21 #"Ndiyahamba" (''I'm Leaving'') – 6:19 #"Zabalaza" (''Rebellion'') – 6:41 #"Revelation" – 8:13 #"Indaba Interlude" – 0:18 #"Lahl' Umlenze" – 6:10 #"Ntyilo Ntyilo" – 5:13 #'Ndilinde" (''Wait for Me'') – 5:51 #"Kwanele" (''It's Enough'') – 6:06 #"Ndizakulibala" (''I Will Forget You'') – 5:22 #"Transkei Moon" – 5:57

References

{{Authority control 2006 debut albums Thandiswa Mazwai albums