SA: Bongani Givethanks features Xitha Makgeta on new single

The song will be featured on an upcoming album and documentary and is available for streaming and download on all major digital platforms.

‘A Sonic Remembrance: Chief Mngobane ka Gegana’ is a spiritual reclaim and relocation of ancestral connections to the land, rivers and mountains. The track was written and produced by Makgeta and Bongani Givethanks, respectively.

“The title was inspired by the memory of the Ndebele tribesmen led by Chief Mngobane Ka Gegana, or Mokopane Kekana I, translated through music and poetry,” Bongani Givethanks told Music In Africa. “We try to recollect and relearn our stories to inspire and advance our artistic overlook.”

He said the song formed part of an ongoing research project aiming to rediscover, recollect and relearn Ndebele history.

“To us, this project is a research and documentary exploitation of our culture and tradition. Documentation and archiving for future reference is what we hope to achieve, and we hope to get the support that will allow us to travel to do more research and finish creating this whole project.

“This project is important to South Africans because it seeks first to document and archive the heritage and historical stories of the Ndebele tribesmen from their origin through their journey to occupying most of Mpumalanga province and also their migration to the northern province of Limpopo. We are telling our stories our own way.”

Born Bongani Sibanyoni, Bongani Givethanks is an all-round spiritual musician with an experimental approach to music. Over the years, he has joined and formed music bands with various acts like Rhythm Kulcha Afrika, 60 Hertz Projects, Madkind and Mood Capacity Projects, among others. His has performed at Smoking Dragon festival, Market at The Sheds, OSS Music Festival and Black Labone, among others.