SA singers join forces to launch albums

Le Roux’s Unoyiwawa, which is named after a mythical African hero, features jazz, soul and Venda rhythms. The album is Le Roux’s first after she began her career as a backing vocalist 14 years ago. Since then she has worked with artists such as Mpumi Dlamini, RJ Benjamin, IFani, Letoya Makhene, Blondie Makhene, Tlale Makhene, Yonela Manana, Theo Nhlengethwa and Tresor.

The 78-year-old Bulane, who is Le Roux’s mentor, will be launching the album Ha Mojela, which is her first since 1970. In the 1970s, Bulane went on to focus on an acting career and will now present a number of compositions that she has written in the past four decades.

Le Roux and Bulane, who is also known as Neno, have a long-standing history together. The two met when Le Roux was studying ethnomusicology at the University of the Witwatersrand where she was exposed to Neno’s music for the first time in 2006.

Le Roux says she requested an interview with Neno for a school project after which the two developed a musical relationship. “If it wasn’t for Neno and Seipati Bulane Hopa, I would have never given our music a chance,” Le Roux said.

Although Neno and Le Roux have not collaborated in studio, Le Roux has used one of her mentor’s compositions that the two singers will perform together at the album launches in Johannesburg.

Neno and Le Roux, who plays the mbira, will be accompanied by an ensemble comprising Nhlanhla Neville Radebe (double bass), Yonela Mnana (keys), Mabeleng Moholo (percussion), Vumile Mchunu (vocals) and Musa Nkosi (praise poetry). 

Tickets for the two events are available via Quicket.