Zanethemba Mdyogolo

Zanethemba Mdyogolo is an artist from South Africa.  Zanethemba Mdyogolo (Makhanda, 1997) was born into a family where music was like a beloved relative, one more of them. He grew up listening to the uhadi lullabies his grandmother, Notinki Jane Mdyogolo, played from his early childhood. Yet it wasn't until his mid-twenties, after studying Computer Science in Johannesburg and returning to his hometown, that he made a conscious decision to carry forward his grandmother’s musical legacy. He spent countless hours by her side, learning the intricate art of the uhadi , a traditional bow that has been historically played by Xhosa women in the Eastern Cape. Their shared passion and talent led them to perform together as a duo at various events, including the National Arts Festival, until Notinki was diagnosed with memory loss. Today, Zanethemba continues to honour his roots by preserving this ancestral tradition, blending it with electronic music to create a bridge between past and present.