If you chat to gospel singer Bongani Maduna (pictured) you will get the impression he is shy. But when you listen to his music, you will experience a different side to the 28-year-old singer and songwriter from KwaZulu-Natal. With his latest album, Makhelwane, on the market, Maduna is shaking off the timidness.
“This is my fourth album and I thought it was important to chat to my fans about the importance of a clean lifestyle,” he said.
“I think the biggest challenge that most youths face is drug abuse. There are so many things that we as young people can be busy doing, but instead we spend time on the wrong things.
“I also talk a lot about respect. Respect for ourselves, for our parents and for our society in general.”
Maduna has established a relationship with maskandi musician Thokozani Langa, so it comes as no surprise that Makhelwane is influenced by maskandi.
“My first three albums were produced at my home studio,” he says.
“Although the music was good, the quality was really not the best.
“When Thokozani agreed to help me out it reflected well in my music.
“Makhelwane will sound like nothing you have heard from me before.”
For Maduna, music has always been his final destination. As a young boy he played a keyboard at taxi ranks and bus stations throughout KZN.
This prepared him for a musical future that would see him composing his own material and playing an instrument, a thing few artists can brag about.
To distance himself from the average gospel musician, Maduna has fused gospel themes with maskandi, one of South Africa’s top-selling genres.
“People love it because not many people fuse the two,” he said.
“I know a good number of South Africans love maskandi and another fraction loves gospel music. It only makes sense that I got these two groups of fans on one project.”
Maduna is inspired by fellow gospel artist Lundi Tyamara and his producer, Langa, and hopes to collaborate with them.
“When I first heard Lundi, I knew that I wanted to be a gospel musician. I love the way he expresses himself in music. Thokozani is also talented beyond words,” he said.
“I am also looking at adding Sifiso Ncwane because he is a brilliant singer.”.
As Makhelwane has just been released, Maduna is looking at doing promotional events throughout KZN and, he hopes, beyond.
“I have a lot of shows planned, but the dates will be revealed as time goes on. For those who haven’t seen my work, look out for a video on SABC in two weeks, for the title track Makhelwane.”
• Makhelwane is now available for sale at your nearest music store.