South African multi-award winning singer and songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla has released a soulful Amapiano remix of his hit single ‘Sisahleleleni’ from his highly successful album amaXesha, released earlier in the year. The single has now been reimagined by South African Amapiano producer and DJ Ntokzin, securing the #1 position on Apple Music’s Amapiano Lifestyle playlist.
‘Sisahleleleni’ was first premiered on A Colors Show earlier this year, with the video having garnered over 200 000 views since release. Bongeziwe became the fourth South African artist ever to perform on the celebrated music platform.
Following the single’s release was his highly anticipated album amaXesha, which became The Guardian’s Global Album of the Month, and an exclusive interview and editorial shoot with the coveted Nataal magazine, who showed deep fascination to his sound, saying, “There’s always something new about the Bongeziwe Mabandla experience. In this album, he opens with a storm before the first track ‘Sisahleleni (ii)’, an upbeat introduction driven by a powerful voice and choral background – it’s a striking sound of things to comeAfter selling out international tours across Europe, the UK, and most recently eight in South Africa, his talent and demand is unmatched.
On his recent South Africa tour, legacy South African newspaper The Daily Maverick described his stage presence brilliantly, “His connection with the audience is visceral, the captivation experienced by the crowd a simple, thrilling product of the musical captivation of the performer on stage.” Now breathing new life to one of his most successful global anthems, prepare to indulge in a vessel of warm melodies and beats, masterfully transforming a melancholic emotion into the healing properties of the dancefloor.
“When I wrote this song I was going through a lot of changes and I was excited about the future,” says Bongeziwe, “This song is about finally following your calling and path. I realised that I had imprisoned myself in many ways and this song was about getting free. In essence it’s a song that asks ‘Why are we still here if we are no longer happy? What is it that keeps us here?’”
“Teaming up with Ntokzin on the album’s most recognisable songs was a suggestion from the label Platoon,” adds Bongeziwe, “we had an instant connection and I think we share a mutual respect for each other’s work. This remix really captures the kind of song that I have been wanting to do for such a long time. What I love about it is that it has all the elements of a soulful song and also the dance Amapiano sound.
Listen to the ‘sisahleleleni’ remix by Ntokzin, out now on all platforms.
